mind swinging by the lodge to see what this festival is all about.”
He closed her door gently then, letting his comment linger as he circled his way behind the vehicle, and pried open his own door. “It’s probably the only time I’ll get to take a look, seeing that I wasn’t invited to go.”
Burke reached for his own seatbelt, sensing her eyes on him. He waited to look up, keeping focused on the action of clicking the belt, guessing at what her expression might show.
The latch gave out a click, and Burke raised his gaze beneath the yellow interior light of his car.
Incredulous. That was the look on her face. Wide, questioning eyes. Lips parted in surprise. And hints of a grin tugging at the corner of her pretty mouth.
Burke took advantage of her silence by adding to it. “In fact, I’m pretty sure I was uninvited. Is that a thing? What do you call it when the host tells you not to come?”
Her jaw dropped now. “You’re kidding. I did not tell you that you couldn’t come. Just that…you didn’t have to pretend to be my fiancé for the whole town. I already feel wretched enough for lying to my granddad. I can’t imagine lying to everyone else.”
There. That’s what he hoped to hear. She was decent and good, not wanting to carry on the charade. That didn’t mean she returned his affection, but at least that motivation didn’t rule it out. Had she said something like, I just don’t want you to get the wrong idea—that would indicate that she didn’t feel anything for him.
“Besides,” she added after he’d started up the engine. “What reason would I have to parade around the festival with you? To save face? Or rub it in Brittany’s face that I do actually have a guy?” She shook her head. “I just can’t.”
Burke surveyed her face as she spoke, noting that cute little crease between her eyes. “So it’s not because you want to spare me of a tedious time?”
Justine shook her head and reached for the open pack of Mentos. “No.” Her face was serious at first, but then a scolding look crossed her features. She gave his arm a playful slap. “And I resent that. It will not be a tedious time. The autumn festival is so much fun.” She peeled back the wrapper, pried out a piece of candy, and handed it to him before grabbing one for herself.
“Now you’re just rubbing it in my face,” he accused, tucking the candy into his cheek. “I’m just going to be sitting there twiddling my thumbs, failing to catch fish, and surfing through cable stations to find some golf.”
She pulled a cringe face. “You like watching golf on TV?”
He grinned. “Love it.”
“Sheesh. That really does sound boring. All of it. How did you manage to survive in Manhattan all this time?”
“Manhattan’s exciting. There are a million things to do.”
Justine lifted her chin proudly. “I’m sure I’d be equally bored in your super crowded, way-too-loud, air polluted part of town. Probably can’t even go for a walk.”
Burke looped around the large drive and headed down the narrow path toward the gate. It was twilight out, dark enough—especially beneath the trees—to need the headlights. He flicked them on.
“People walk in New York,” he assured. “Heck, some even walk all the way to work.”
“All the way from their tiny crowded apartment on the 2nd floor to the suite across the street on the thirty-ninth floor? How charming,” she said as they came to the gate.
“I’ll get it,” he said, but Justine was already shrugging out of her seatbelt.
“It’s easier when the passenger does it.” She climbed out, hurried to the gate, and swung it open. She squinted against the lights as they passed, then closed it behind him once he was through. In seconds she was back in the car.
“You’d prefer to walk in the middle of nowhere?” Burke asked, ready to pick up where they’d left off. “Not a café or donut shop in sight?”
“Yes,” she said.
“How do you know? Have you been to a big city?”
Her mouth went from partly open and poised to a straight line at his question.
“See?” he pressed.
“See, what? I didn’t even answer the question.”
“Okay,” he said, a chuckle escaping his lips. “Have you?”
She lifted her chin once more. “By choice—no.”
“But you’ve never even tried it.”
“I don’t have to,” she insisted.
Burke pulled onto the main road. It was darker than dark beyond the headlight’s beam now, a fact that