Chapter Four #2
"Fair point." She took another sip of her latte. "And when this is over, I return to Chicago, and you continue with your life here."
Something in her tone caught my attention—a certain finality, as if she was reminding herself as much as me that this was temporary.
"That's the plan," I agreed, ignoring an unexpected twinge of disappointment.
Why should I care? She was just passing through, like so many summer visitors to Wintervale.
Besides, someone like her—ambitious, city-oriented, probably making more money in a month than I did in a year—wouldn't look twice at someone like me under normal circumstances.
Lark finished her croissant and wiped her fingers delicately on a napkin. "Then I believe we have an agreement, Mr. Foster."
"Wade," I corrected. "If we're supposedly dating, you should probably use my first name."
A hint of a smile touched her lips. "Wade, then."
"And the cookout tonight?"
"I'll be ready at six."
I nodded, watching as she gathered her purse.
Despite her closed-off demeanor, there was something about her that made me curious—some vulnerability beneath the polished surface that she kept carefully hidden.
I remembered the way her expression had softened when she talked about cats, the genuine smile that had transformed her face.
Two weeks of pretending to date Lark Hayes. It was just business—mutually beneficial and temporary. So why did I have the nagging feeling that I might be getting in over my head?
***
I pulled up to the Evergreen Inn at exactly six o'clock, parking my truck in the circular driveway.
The historic Victorian looked picturesque in the early evening light, its gardens in full summer bloom.
Through the renovations, Rory and Cass had preserved the building's character while adding modern comforts—the perfect blend of old and new that made it Wintervale's new signature accommodation.
Lark was waiting on the wide front porch, perched on one of the rocking chairs.
She stood as I approached. She'd changed from the blue sundress she'd worn earlier into fitted white shorts and a sleeveless peach-colored sweater.
Her blonde hair was pulled back, tiny pearl earrings catching the evening light.
"Right on time," she said, descending the porch steps to meet me.
"Wouldn't want to keep you waiting," I replied, opening the passenger door of my truck for her.
She slid in and immediately pulled out her phone, checking something on the screen before tucking it away as I got in the driver's side.
The drive to the town square took less than five minutes.
Wintervale wasn't big, and most destinations were within walking distance of each other.
But I'd thought Lark might appreciate not having to navigate the crowds in whatever shoes she'd chosen, which looked more suited to city sidewalks than our uneven pathways.
"So," I said as we drove, "a few things you should know about tonight. The cookout is a weekly summer tradition—burgers, hot dogs, potluck sides. Very informal. The mayor will be there with Edna, obviously, and probably half the town."
"Including Zoe Blake and her camera?" Lark asked.
"Almost certainly," I confirmed. "Are you ready for that?"
She nodded, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "I've handled hostile depositions and multi-million dollar negotiations. I think I can manage pretending to enjoy your company for an evening."
I laughed. "When you put it like that, how could I possibly be nervous?"
The square was already bustling when we arrived—tables set up on the grass, the scent of grilling meat in the air, children chasing each other between clusters of adults. Strands of fairy lights had been strung between the trees, ready to illuminate the space once the sun set.
I found a parking spot and came around to open Lark's door, offering my hand to help her down from the truck. Her fingers were cool against mine, her grip firm but delicate.
"Welcome to summer in Wintervale," I said as we approached the gathering. "Ready to make our debut?"
She took a deep breath, straightening her shoulders. "As ready as I'll ever be."
We hadn't taken more than a few steps into the square when Tyler spotted us and waved us over. My best friend stood by one of the grills, spatula in hand, a knowing smirk on his face.
"So the rumors are true," he said as we approached, his eyes flicking between Lark and me with obvious curiosity. "Wade Foster finally met his match."
"Tyler," I said with a warning look, "this is Lark Hayes. Lark, this is Tyler Jenkins, my oldest friend and occasional pain in my ass."
"Charmed," Tyler said, extending his hand to Lark. "Don't believe anything he tells you about me."
"I'll keep that in mind," Lark replied with a polite smile, shaking his hand.
Tyler flipped a burger, then leaned closer to me. "Dude, when you said you were bringing someone, I thought you were messing with me."
"Why would I joke about that?" I asked, keeping my voice low.
"Because you haven't dated anyone since—" He cut himself off, glancing at Lark. "Well, you know. It's been a while."
I felt a flash of irritation. "Things change."
Tyler raised his eyebrows but said nothing more on the subject. "Burgers will be ready in about ten minutes. There's drinks in the coolers by the gazebo."
I guided Lark away, my hand lightly touching the small of her back. "Sorry about that," I murmured. "Tyler lacks certain social graces."
"It's fine," she said. "He seems protective of you."
"We've known each other since kindergarten. He's like the annoying brother I never had."
As we made our way through the crowd, I introduced Lark to various townspeople—Jacob and Bailey Wilder, the town's lawyer couple; Rory and Cass, who she'd already met at the inn; Logan and my aunt and uncle Diana and Mike.
My mother Ellen stood chatting with Diana, the family resemblance between the twin sisters unmistakable.
I noticed Logan's shy smile as he hovered near his mother; he'd always been a miracle child for them after Diana's many miscarriages, and as her only child, he'd grown up looking to me like an older brother.
Mayor Snowcroft and Edna were circulating through the gathering, stopping to chat with different groups. When they spotted us, the mayor's face lit up with obvious approval.
"Wade! Lark!" he called, making his way over with Edna on his arm. "So glad you could join us tonight."
"Wouldn't miss it," I replied, shaking his hand.
"How wonderful to see you again, dear," Edna said to Lark, her cat-ear headband replaced with a floral scarf tied around her silver hair. "Are you settling in well at the inn?"
"Very well, thank you," Lark said. "It's a beautiful property."
"From courtroom rivals to life partners!" the mayor said with a chuckle, squeezing Edna's hand. "Who would have thought our thirty-year property dispute would end in marriage? Isn't life glorious?" He leaned over and kissed Edna on the cheek, causing her to blush and giggle like a schoolgirl.
Lark raised her eyebrows at me, and I leaned close to her ear. "I'll fill you in on their backstory later," I promised quietly.
"I hope we'll see you both at more festival events," the mayor continued. "The artisan market opens tomorrow, and of course, there's the regatta on Saturday, right before our wedding." He beamed at Edna. "We're having it at the inn—quite poetic since we once fought over that very property!"
"The universe has a sense of humor," Edna added, gazing adoringly at Theodore. "Thirty years arguing over a building, and now we're getting married there. I do hope you’ll both attend—the whole town’s invited!"
I couldn't help but smile at their obvious happiness. For all their eccentricities, their love for each other was genuine and hard-won.
"We'd be honored," Lark said smoothly, her lawyer's diplomacy on full display.
After the mayor and Edna moved on to greet other guests, I led Lark toward the food tables. "Hungry?"
"Starving, actually," she admitted. "I skipped lunch."
We filled our plates with burgers and various potluck sides, then found a spot at one of the picnic tables. I noticed several people watching us with undisguised interest, and Zoe Blake discreetly taking photos from across the square.
"We have an audience," I murmured to Lark as we sat down.
"I noticed," she replied, taking a bite of her burger. After swallowing, she added, "This is actually really good."
"Tyler may lack social skills, but he knows his way around a grill," I agreed.
We ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes before Lark asked, "So what's the story with the mayor and Edna? Rivals turned lovers?"
I smiled, wiping my mouth with a napkin.
"It's quite the Wintervale legend. Edna inherited a claim to the property that's now the Evergreen Inn from her uncle, Cyrus Barrington.
She wanted to turn it into a cat sanctuary.
Theodore, who was already mayor, had plans to develop it into a commercial property to boost the town's economy. "
"Let me guess—they fought over it for years?"
"Decades," I confirmed. "The property sat empty while they battled it out in court, in town meetings, anywhere they could.
Then last winter, Bailey and Jacob got involved in the legal dispute, circumstances threw them all together during a snowstorm, and somehow, in the middle of all that. .. Theodore and Edna fell in love."
Lark's eyes widened. "That's actually kind of romantic."
"Wintervale has that effect on people," I said with a shrug. "Something in the water, maybe."
A bark interrupted our conversation as Bramble, the scruffy black terrier that had become the inn's unofficial mascot, darted under our table. Before either of us could react, he had snatched a hot dog from Lark's plate and taken off across the grass.
"Hey!" Lark exclaimed, half-rising from her seat.