Page 21 of 15 Summers Later

Fortunately, the band started playing again, one of their most popular tunes, and the rowdy crowd in the bar stomped its collective boots and whooped in delight. Soon the small dance floor started to fill.

“Come on, Austin. Let’s go.” Nicole saved the day, as best friends do, by grabbing the other guy’s hand and tugging him out of the booth. “Madi, you and Ryan should dance, too. This song is great.”

Glad of the distraction, Madi jumped up. Ryan basically had no choice but to follow her as she hurried toward the front of the stage and the speakers, where the music was so loud there was little possibility of a conversation.

They danced through that song and the next two, all of them raucous party songs, until she was breathless and damp. When the band started up a slower number, Madi headed to the bar, where she asked Mark Keller for an ice water that she carried back to their table.

Luke was still there, she saw. He was sipping at a beer and tapping his toe.

Ryan grabbed a seat across from him. Madi sipped at her ice water, then set it back down on the table. “Thanks for the dances, Ryan, but I need to run.”

“You can’t leave! The band said they have another hour to play.”

“It’s been a long day and I’ve got to work tomorrow, I’m afraid. Sorry. My boss is a bit of a tyrant.”

Luke, the most easygoing employer she could possibly want, merely rolled his eyes, but Ryan didn’t appear to notice. His features filled with disappointment.

“That’s too bad. I would have loved the chance to talk to you more about Ghost Lake.”

Which was exactly why she was leaving, Madi thought. “Maybe another time,” she said, though she meantnever.

He frowned. “I thought Nicole said you worked at a vet’s office. They’re open on Saturday?”

Caught in the lie, her gaze met Luke’s. To her vast relief, he swept in to save her.

“Not usually, but we do have to work tomorrow morning. I’ve got to go vaccinate some new lambs on a local sheep farm. I’m afraid I can’t possibly do it without Madi’s help.”

Ryan looked between her and Luke. “He’s your boss? The tyrant? But you were dancing with him.”

“I guess we caught him on a good night,” she said.

“Right. Get a beer in me and I’m almost human,” Luke said.

Madi wanted to hug him for rescuing her. “It was really great to meet you, Ryan,” she lied.

“I’ll be around all summer. I’d love to get together again. You’re a great dancer, plus I would love to hear more details about Ghost Lake!”

Yeah. Right. That was absolutely the last thing she wanted to do. In fact, she would now do her best to avoid Ryan O’Connor for the rest of the summer. Too bad, too. Not only was he great-looking but he was a good dancer and he liked to read. That normally would have been a huge mark in his favor.

That stupid book.

“I’m sure I’ll see you around. Nic is my roommate and best friend, and it looks like she and your pal Austin are getting along great.”

The two of them, she saw, were dancing close together and seemed extremely chummy. She had a feeling she would be seeing plenty of Austin over the next few months, until the leaves started to change.

“Are you sure I can’t give you a ride home?” Ryan asked.

She held up her keys. “I’ve got my own car. I’m good. You stay and have fun.”

“I feel like I should at least walk you to your car.”

“I’m leaving, too.” Luke slid his chair back. “I can walk her out. I think we’re parked next to each other.”

Oh hurray. She owed her tyrant of a boss big-time. She could imagine Ryan following her out to the parking lot. Something told her he was not the kind of guy who would let go of a topic of conversation, especially when it interested him.

Nicole and Austin returned to their table, their hands entwined. Her friend looked at Madi, holding her clutch that was only big enough for her phone, her keys, a couple of mints and maybe a tube of lipstick.

“You’re taking off?”

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