Page 47 of Seaside Cowboy's Marriage of Convenience

“We still have a bunch of businesses in town we can visit to show the portrait.” She stopped, looked up the town map on her phone, then cross-referenced the list she’d made. “We can stop by a few and cover the rest tomorrow.”

“We should ask them if they or their friends or visitors have any videos or photos from the festival. Especially of the crowd.”

“I’ll find the niece’s information, and we can call her or even go there the day after tomorrow. If that works for you,” Rachel said.

“Sure,” Austin and Kennedy replied in unison.

They stopped at souvenir shops, a hairdresser, and then another café where they got takeout dinner. They asked the employees and owners, but so far, nobody had seen the woman in the portrait—or so they said. More than a few had festival images on their phone, but none showed anyone like Zoey.

Austin chatted to everyone and made them chuckle while Kennedy bought souvenirs and food and left generous tips. Rachel offered her card and received promises to send the festival videos or photos. Most people here were used to the festival, but their acquaintances, friends, and relatives from out of town—sometimes out of the country—visited for it and more than likely had taken a bunch of pictures.

Disappointment stabbed Kennedy, but she held her head high. The bags Austin carried emanated an enticing aroma, but her hunger evaporated.

“Hopefully, we’ll have more success tomorrow.” His fingers tightened on her shoulder.

“Hopefully,” she echoed.

Once the three of them reentered the castle, Caramel and Smiley met them with loud barking.

Kennedy’s heart warmed as she leaned to pet the dogs. “It feels great when someone is happy to see you.”

Austin feigned offense as he rubbed each dog’s back. “I’malways happy to see you.”

And that was the most amazing thing in her life. But then, that was the kind of person he was. He was happy to see people and animals, and they were happy to see him—well, unless the visit contained an unpleasant procedure. Case in point, Caramel and Smiley abandoned her and were hanging on him now. He lifted both dogs, and they licked his face.

Her gaze lingered on him, getting caught in the undercurrents of his eyes, an unknown feeling growing inside her. Or maybe she knew what the feeling was but was too scared to name it yet.

Then her gaze snapped to the hotel curator who asked if they needed anything. Kennedy thanked the woman for all her help.

The castle boasted a combination of modern and historical that appealed to both the desire for convenience and the curiosity about times past. Electric light fixtures, discreetly shaped like candelabra and sconces, now fitted niches in the stonemasonry. In the great room, majestic two-story tapestries of ladies in ball gowns and men in uniform or vivid battle scenes hid the wiring on the wall. Metal shields with coats of arms and big-screen TVs reflected each other while arrow loop windows in the towers now had glass to keep in the heat during the winter.

Earlier, they’d explored the ramparts and parapet walk, both replete with battlements to repel assailants, as they linked the towers anchoring the defensive outer wall’s four corners and the lesser turrets along the way, though most were closed to the public. Maybe this part should be closed to the public, as well.

Kennedy grimaced from a pang of remorse and muttered, “I feel guilty intruding on a history that should be preserved untouched.”

“Don’t,” the curator assured. “Income from the public, among other things, funds this place’s renovation and upkeep. You’re not intruding, but helping us preserve this piece of history.”

Yet Kennedy realized her privileged life even more. Once back in the US, she was going to give her people bonuses.

As Smiley took his leash in his mouth and ran to the door, she remembered they needed to walk the pets. “Does the castle have a garden?” Well, they had promised a fenced-in yard, hadn’t they?

“As every self-respecting castle should.” The curator raised her chin, apparently offended by the question.

“Why, yes, indeed.” Smiling, Austin scooped up the puppy.

Rachel wordlessly followed them to a courtyard garden beside the main building the brochure called the castle keep.

The fenced-in garden had traditional pink roses and some representatives of local flora Kennedy didn’t recognize, though their sweet fragrance blended nicely with the more aromatic rose scent. Rachel hung near the roses, so immovable a butterfly landed on her shoulder.

The leashes weren’t needed here. Caramel barked her demand to be put on the ground, and Austin followed her orders. Then the dogs started chasing each other, which put a smile on Kennedy’s face.

Then just being near Austin put a smile on Kennedy’s face.

Austin snatched a flower and handed it to her. She breathed in the aroma. She’d literally never stopped and smelled the roses until now. There was a whole wide world out there she hadn’t paid attention to in a while. While roses weren’t her favorite flowers, they still fascinated her. The man near her fascinated her.

He took her hands in his, sending a pleasant wave through her. “Sorry we didn’t get closer to finding Zoey today.”

The painful reminder made Kennedy wince, but she squeezed his hands to show her resilience. “It’s just one day. There’s still hope.”

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