I didn't have any problem." He cleared his throat. "Lizzie thought we might be hungry. She sent enchiladas and salad. There's a bottle of wine in here, too." He held up the shopping bag in his hand.
"I can't believe she did all that. I guess you told her you were coming to meet me."
"Yes, and she offered her car so I could make a clean escape."
"That was a good idea. I'm glad you were able to leave the inn without anyone realizing it. This all feels a little crazy and surreal to me."
"I'm sure. It's not your life."
"No, but it is yours."
"Unfortunately, yes. It's the least favorite part of my life."
"It was weird to see myself in a photo with a headline that had nothing to do with the truth," she said.
"They don't care about the truth. Fiction always makes more money."
"I guess. Why don't you come into the kitchen? We can open that wine and see what Lizzie packed for us." She led the way down the hall, taking the time to pull her head together. She hadn't expected him to bring dinner, which meant he'd be staying for more than a few minutes. She wanted him to stay, but after the tension that had flared between them, she was also a little worried that keeping him in the friend zone would not be easy.
As they entered the kitchen, he set the bag on the table, while she pulled out some wine glasses and looked for a bottle opener.
"You called this a cabin, but it's a lot nicer than that," he commented.
"The exterior is more cabin-like than the interior. That's the beauty of it. You get the charm of a cabin in the woods with all the modern amenities." She pulled out the opener and took it to the table, along with the glasses.
"And this place is for sale?"
"It will be going on the market next month. We're still waiting for a new stove, some lighting fixtures, and a washer and dryer to arrive. The owner is a friend of mine. She and her husband moved to Dallas a couple of weeks ago. They're staying in corporate housing, so they've left all their furniture here until they find a place to buy. In the meantime, I'm taking care of all the little details that need to happen before we list."
While Dante opened the wine, she unloaded the rest of the shopping bag. There was a delicious-smelling tray of enchiladas, a side of guacamole, and a green salad filled with veggies and tortilla strips. A small container of dressing had also been provided. It was like a picnic date. But she really shouldn't start thinking about it like that. She grabbed plates and utensils and then sat down across from Dante.
He handed her a glass of wine. "Are you showing this house to Mark Langley?"
"No. It's too far from the clinic for him. He's interested in one about three blocks from the house I share with my mom. She's very excited about that idea," she added, rolling her eyes.
He gave her a small smile. "Still on the hunt for dirt?"
"I haven't had a lot of time to do that, and after I told you about the fire, I lost some of my drive."
"Why?"
"Saying it out loud made it seem like I was grasping at straws. I'm not someone who usually jumps to conclusions or makes up conspiracy theories, just so you know."
"I didn't have that impression."
"What impression did you have?"
"That you love your mother and that you can't stop worrying about her just because she's feeling better."
"You're right. My mom says I have to step back. I have to let her be better. I have to trust that she is. But I have a difficult time with that. She's not a hundred percent, and this man came out of nowhere."
"Not really nowhere. He has a job history, a personal history. You didn't find any criminal records, did you?"
"I honestly didn't go that far." She opened the foil covering the enchiladas, pleased to see they were still warm. "We should eat before these get cold."
"Sounds good to me. I'm starving."
She filled their plates, then said, "I know we should talk about the pictures. That's why we're here."
"Let's do that after our meal. I don't want to lose my appetite."
She was fine with delaying that conversation. "Okay. How has your week been going?"
"The rehab is more difficult than I imagined, but the clinic is first-rate, and my therapists are very good. I