Page 2 of Take Me Slowly: Part 1
"What are you doing, Fiona?"
I glanced up to see the hazel-eyed man looming over both of us.
"I'm being friendly, Connor Ferguson," Fiona said tartly. "Something you and Riley could do with a lesson in."
"We're friendly," Connor protested. "We just don't go offering accommodation to blow-ins."
"Bullshit," Fiona scoffed. "Your whole livelihoods depend on people visiting Aurora Hollow."
"Tourists who don't stick around," Connor said. He gave me a look that suggested I'd fit into that category if he had his way.
I decided right then to stay for longer. Just to show him Leah Kent wasn't going to be pushed around.
"What makes you think I'm not a tourist?" I asked easily.
He leaned back, regarded me before raising his finger and moving it around in a circle in the air. "You have that look about you. Like you're not here for zip lining or white water rafting."
"Him and Riley run the adventure tourism around these parts," Fiona said. "Mostly people don't die doing stuff with them."
I looked back in time to catch her smile. She was clearly trying to get a rise out of him.
"Mostly?" Connor sounded disbelieving. "No one has ever died on any of our tours."
"Yet," I said. I couldn't help getting in on the shit disturbing. That would teach him to be more welcoming.
"Right." Connor's voice was tight. "There's a first time for everything. How about a freebie, city girl?"
I let my gaze slowly slide back to him and smiled. "No thanks."
"Chicken?" he asked. He raised his stubbled chin in challenge.
"Sensible," I retorted. "I don't want to be your first fatality. Besides, think about what that would do for your reputation. Not to mention the potential lawsuit from my family." He didn't have to know that wouldn't come.
He leaned in closer, letting me smell the coffee on his breath. "Honey, that's what waivers are for." He straightened up, his smile all smug, as if somehow he'd won this round.
"It's still a no," I said. "So, Fiona, you were telling me about a cottage? I think I might stick around town for a while."
Connor grunted in annoyance before turning around and stalking back to his seat.
"Don't worry about him," Fiona said, flapping a hand in his direction. "Those guys always get restless at this time of year. When everything slows down, they take it personally. Like somehow it's their fault no one is coming. The truth is, folks are getting kids back to school. And you know, a lull never hurt anyone."
"It's good to have a break sometimes," I agreed, not quite meeting her gaze.
"Exactly," Fiona said. "Sarah, finish up your breakfast. We have time to show Leah to the cottage before I have to get you to school."
Sarah groaned. "Do I have to go to school?"
"Yes, you do," Fiona told her firmly. "The law says so and so do I."
"The law sucks," Sarah declared. "I'd rather go fishing."
"She'd fish all day every day if she could," Fiona told me. "She's really good at it too. I hope you like fish, because we always have much more than we need."
"I love fish," I said. "Maybe you could teach me how to catch one."
"Right now?" Sarah looked hopeful.
"School," Fiona reminded her. "Then homework. Then fishing. Maybe Leah could come along with us on the weekend. We know a few places only the locals know."
