“I kinda like it. Come here.” He drew her against him, cradling her aching head on his shoulder. “Ice water,” he murmured. “Stick your face right into a bowl of ice water, try to get some food in your system, then you just have to tough out the rest of it.”

“Okay.” She’d have preferred just staying there for the rest of her life. “I have to go. I shouldn’t have slept here last night.” With her face pressed against him she didn’t see the disappointment and the hurt shadow his. “I can’t imagine what everyone will think.”

“Right.” His eyes were impassive again when he drew her away. “You go on and shore up the damage to the Templeton name.”

“I didn’t mean—”

“Forget it.” He wasn’t going to let it touch him. “Forget it,” he repeated. “Why don’t you go riding with me tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow?” She pressed her fingers to her eyes. If she didn’t get them out of the sun soon they were going to implode. “We have the treasure hunt.”

“We’ll go in the morning. You’ll be back for Seraphina.”

Riding. It had been years since she’d ridden in the hills, through the forest. “All right. I’d love it. Can we go about eight? That way I can—”

“Sure, eight.” He gave her a quick pat on the cheek before walking away. “Don’t forget the ice water.”

“No, I—” But he had already disappeared around the side of the building. Baffled by his rapid shift of mood, she considered following him. Then she looked at her watch and accepted the reality that her obligations for the day didn’t allow time to puzzle out the enigma of Michael Fury.

No one asked questions, demanded answers, or voiced disapproval. When Laura tucked her children into bed that night, she realized she had gotten through the entire day without having anyone question her absence from her own bed.

Oh, there’d been vibes in the air. Worry, curiosity, but she’d dodged even those. She’d survived a hangover as well, and the world had not come to an end.

Maybe, just maybe, Laura Templeton did not have to be perfect after all.

She left her daughters and crossed the hall to her own room. There she freshened her lipstick, brushed her hair. She needed to go and join her parents and the old friends who had come for dinner. She needed to make certain everyone was comfortable and entertained.

And, oh, she needed to stretch out for five minutes. Just five, she promised herself as she lay down crosswise on the bed. A quick catnap would set her up, help her get through the rest of the evening.

The minute she closed her eyes, she was dead to the world.