Gabe stared. Some had already slipped his mind. “You’ve got an impressive memory, Goldilocks.”

“Yes, I do.” At her nonchalant response, he grinned. Calling her beautiful sent her into a tizzy. Remarking on her intelligence? Not a problem.

He leaned over her shoulder to look at the lengthening list, and when he put his arm behind her back, she relaxed against him.

And he smiled because, no matter how late the evening ended, she’d be in his bed afterward.

Chapter Twenty-Two

On Thursday, Audrey strolled through the sunny downtown, heading for Lillian’s to do some weeding. As she walked, she jotted down notes on ways to make the downtown tourist friendly.

The empty spot on the municipal building would be a great place for a map of the businesses and maybe one of the interesting places outside of town.

She’d see what Lillian thought.

Lillian was so much fun to talk with. It was wonderful to realize she’d become a good friend. Even more, she acted almost like…a mother. Pushing Audrey, encouraging her, always on her side. When Audrey had told her about Spyros, Lillian had been furious. And terrified for Audrey.

Sarah had been the same.

I have friends.

And a lover. Oh, God. She pressed her hand over the quivers in her belly. Such a lover.

She’d grumbled about getting up this morning. Laughing, he’d given her a steaming cup of coffee and pulled her outside to see a pair of loons on the lake.

Why did sharing something so minor feel so special?

Smiling, Audrey popped into the grocery store to get a soda and check when Dante would want a break.

After getting his schedule, she stepped back out and stopped short. After the dimly lit store, the bright sun practically scorched her eyeballs. Remaining in the recessed doorway to let her eyes adjust, she opened her drink.

A voice came from someone around the corner on the sidewalk. “…soon be littering the streets with their garbage, plastic bottles, and soda cans.” The man’s voice was familiar.

A woman—no, two women—made sounds of distressed worry.

“Yeah, we’re gonna be smothered with tourists, and, I hate to say it, but there’ll be druggies and perverts with them. Crime’ll go up.” The man heaved a sigh. “I got a bad feeling our small town will never be the same. Our kids won’t be safe here.”

The man’s Southern drawl was quite distinctive, and Audrey straightened in surprise. That was Officer Baumer. Heavens, did Gabe realize his officer was spreading such negative propaganda about tourism?

Surely, Officer Baumer knew how much the people here needed the tourists and the money they brought in, and yet he was scaremongering.