She let out a breath of relief. "Well, I'm happy to have it confirmed." Her gaze moved past him to Hannah. "He's not lying, is he?"

"No, he's fine," Hannah said with a smile. "I better get back to work."

"Thanks, Hannah," Lizzie said. "I'll see you tomorrow at happy hour, right?"

"I wouldn't miss it."

As Hannah left, Lizzie's gaze swung back to him.

"Did you really need confirmation from the nurse?" he asked. "I'm not a liar."

"I don't think you're a liar, but I suspect you like to spin things into whatever you want them to be. And if it's in your best interest to be fine, then that's what you'll be."

He couldn't argue her point, so he didn't try. "Let's go. I have calls to make."

"You also still have my phone."

"I'll give it back to you at the inn. I realize now I should have used that leverage before we came here."

"It wasn't that bad, was it?" she asked, as they walked toward the door. "You don't have to worry about that cut getting infected now."

"I wasn't worrying before."

"Do you ever worry?"

"If I do, it doesn't last long. I fix whatever is bothering me."

"And you can always fix it?"

"Most of the time. Or I let go and move on."

"You and I are very different," she commented. "I worry about everything, most of which I can't control or fix. And letting go is almost impossible. I don't like to quit even if I probably should."

A serious expression ran through her gaze, darkening her green eyes. He had a feeling she'd gone to an unhappy place, which surprised him, because it was quite a contrast to the peppy cheerleader who was planning to make lemonade out of her slightly bruised lemons. But then almost immediately, her face lightened, and determination reentered her gaze.

"At least I don't have to worry about you anymore," she said. "That's one item off my list."

"You really didn't need to be concerned."

"You weren't looking at your swollen face; I was. Anyway, let's get you to the inn so we can start turning your obligation into a vacation."

"And I can get back to work."

"That, too," she said, giving him a smile that warmed him all the way through.

He felt a little bemused by his reaction. He didn't want to like her. She'd caused his accident and forced him to see a doctor. She was bossy and pushy, a ridiculously determined optimist, and she'd already given him a big headache. On the other hand, she was also beautiful, and caring and generous. He frowned.Not that any of that mattered.He would only be in Whisper Lake for five days. She was his innkeeper. He was her guest. It was not going to be anything more than that.

Chapter Three

As Lizzie drovehim to the inn, Justin used her phone to call Eric. Fortunately, he'd had Eric's number memorized since he was eighteen years old.

When Eric answered, he said, "It's me. I had to borrow a phone."

"Why? You're never detached from your phone," Eric said, surprise in his voice. "I almost didn't answer. I thought you were a telemarketer."

"It's a long story. I had a small accident with the car. My phone and computer were damaged."

"What about you? Are you all right?"