Page 97 of Hound Dog
“Tell me about it. But, hey, I had one shot to make this first date memorable. I figured I could suck it up and deal with some loons for a few minutes.”
I snuck a peek at my watch, noting that it had been almost thirty minutes… way more thana few. “I’d say you succeeded.”
“It gets better. According to the loon sanctuary Facebook page, a Red-throated Loon has been spotted in this cove several times over the last couple summers.”
My spine straightened. “What? I thought they’re mostly in Canada and Alaska.” According to my books, they’re not just rare in this area, they’re practically nonexistent.
Finn shrugged. “I know, but they’re speculating that a couple of them migrated here and have been breeding in New Hampshire for the last two summers. So, now there’s something like eight of them that have been spotted.”
“Oh my God. I’ve always wanted to see one,” I said. “They’re—”
“Full disclosure,” Finn said. “This isn’t just a coincidence. I know you’ve always wanted to see one.”
“How?”
I knew I hadn’t told him that. We’d only ever talked about birds once on our hike together.
“I saw the page marked in your book the day we went hiking.”
I sat there, staring blankly at him, amazed, and a little shaken by this disclosure.
Had Finn changed this much since I’d first met him all those years ago? Even Ben, for as well as he’d known me, didn’t pay much attention to my birdwatching hobby. He thought it was lame and had called me ‘granny’ more than once.
We stayed there observing the beautiful birds for at least another twenty minutes before my growling stomach prompted Finn to pick up the oars.
With a sigh, I set the binoculars in my lap. “I don’t think the Red-throated Loon is going to make an appearance tonight.”
“I’m sorry,” Finn said. “I knew it was a long shot, but I was hoping for a little bit of magic.”
Magic. My heart turned over in my chest at the word. Tonight alreadywasmagical, with or without the Red-throated Loon.
His gaze fastened onto my face, riveted, then slowly moved down my body like a soft caress. A dizzying current raced through my body, the tips of my breasts tingling in response to his languid survey.
I cleared my throat, trying to throttle the intense feelings buzzing in my body. “Don’t be sorry. I just know that if I don’t eat soon, I’m going to get hangry, and no one wants that.”
Pressing his lips together, he gave a thoughtfulhm. “Hangry Haylee. Sounds scary.”
“Scarier than a loon attack, that’s for sure.”
Lifting the oar, he grinned at me. “Don’t make me regret telling you that story.”
“Aw, that’s cute that you think I’ll ever let you live that down.”
With a chuckle, he shook his head, dipping the oar back into the water. “Man, you weren’t kidding. You’re cranky when you’re hungry. We’d better get you fed before I lose a hand.”
I should have known betterthan to expect some sort of simple dinner out with Finn. Instead of rowing us back to shore, he pulled up to the nearby island and tied up the canoe.
Just up a small path was a cabin.
An abandoned cabin.
The sort of cabin where people get murdered.
“What is it with you and horror movie location dates?” I asked.
He brandished me with a cheeky smile in return. “You’re the one who said you love horror movies.”
“Love watching them. Notlivingthem,” I grumbled as he opened the cabin’s front door.
