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After returning to the inn, I’d forced breakfast past the butterflies in my belly and then walked to Emery’s for some much-needed quiet
For the fourth tiled up on an ar As always Emery was quiet, but every time I visited with her she said a fewcomfortable with me
“I still can’t believe Emery Saunders talks to you,” Bailey had said at breakfast when I htened rabbit when I try to talk to her”
I’d conteht up her shyness to her?”
Bailey had made a face as she collected ested she not be so shy around me It’s me I’m not scary”
Snorting, I’d stood up to leave “I used to be pretty shy as a teenager I can tell you for a fact that so a shy person not to be shy around her just makes her even more insecure about her shyness”
Looking horrified, Bailey had whispered, “Fuck”
I’d patted her shoulder “You meant well”
“Don’t I ht “Maybe I should come with you and try to rectify it” She’d taken in hed “Maybe not”
In truth Emery reentle coaxing until she’d trust h to be a friend Unfortunately, I wouldn’t be in Hartwell long enough to do that Or long enough to get to the bottom of why someone like Emery was so closed off
“You’re welcoentle smile
I s as I wandered out of her store
The thought of not being in Hartwell for very er upset me I didn’t know if it was nor your vacation spot or if the feeling ran deeper than the usual back-to-work blues
For now I shook it off because I had other things ononfly-sized butterflies in my stomach
Huh Say “prehistoric-dragonfly-sized butterflies” five times fast
The quiet time at Emery’s hadn’t worked to distract me so I decided to head to Antonio’s for ice crea outside the entrance to his hotel, typing away on his phone I al back around
It was childish ofBailey disliked him so much I felt it would be better in my short stay there to just avoid him completely
But there was no avoiding him now
“Dr Huntington” He looked up from his phone and I stopped to be polite
“Mr Tremaine”
He gave uest”
“And friend now, too” I thought I’d make that clear
“I bet you are”
“And what does that mean?”
“Just that Miss Hartwell has a habit of turning strangers into family That’s why people return to her inn every year”
I studied hi in his tone that he couldn’t quite hide “You admire her”
Treave me a smirk “I’m just amazed that someone with that ued and colder than the Snow Queen”
“Descriptive,” I said dryly “But that’sabout, Mr Tremaine”
“Actually the wo about is the one who has pitted an entire town against e every aspect ofin an episode of The Real World”
“Ooh, watch, you’re showing your age there”
He grinned atoff on you”
“Nope, all me”
“Well, I can see why you’re friendsbut a warning, Dr Huntington”—he stepped closer, the hu his expression—“Bailey Hartwell and her town like their openness They don’t like secrets”
Chilled, I tried to hide my sudden shiver
Tremaine stepped back “We city folkwe like our secrets, don’t we?”
What the hellThere was no way Vaughn Tremaine knew my secrets“What does that mean exactly?”
What did he know?
“It’s just a friendly warning If you have anything you don’t want these people to know, then it’s better not to get attached to them”
“What the hell are you talking about?” My heart was racing
He gave ton,” he assured me “But from your reaction, I no you have them”
“What kind of ga?” I crossed my arms over my chest defensively, because suddenly I felt very vulnerable
I was surprised then when a look of contrition entered his usually steely eyes “No gaet swept up in the charet that these people are only loyal to their own I wouldn’t like to see anyone get hurt”
There was so telling Had Vaughn Tremaine been hurt by the people of Hartwell? Was it possible for so to the inn, I’d forced breakfast past the butterflies in my belly and then walked to Emery’s for some much-needed quiet