CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

“Where are we going this time?” I ask as I walk up to James. It’s our second date, and he’s scheduled it for the middle of a Sunday afternoon.

“You’ll see. Come on,” he says, grinning as he takes my hand in his and leads me down a barely discernible path in the woods.

I can’t help echoing his smile as I follow him.

“You said you have a couple of hours, right?” he asks as we take a right turn deeper into the woods, where the trees are so dense their branches block out most of the light.

“Yup. I don’t have to be back until four.”

I told Ben I was going with Sharon to the farmer’s market this afternoon.

She’s taken Lisa along with her to pose as me in case Ben checks up on me, and because it’s absolutely freezing and sunny outside, Lisa is wearing a scarf that covers her mouth and sunglasses that hide most of her face. If Ben thinks I’m lying and goes to the market, he’ll see Lisa’s hair, which is naturally the same color as mine and is pulled into my signature ponytail, and her