I laughed. “Nope.”
“And there are animals in the woods.” She whispered it, like she didn’t want to alert them she was coming.
“Sweetheart, the only animal in the woods you’ll have to worry about is me.” I glanced over at her. Her eyes were wide, her expression half-pleased, half-terrified.
“Couldn’t we just go to a nice, quaint little B & B around here?”
“What fun is that?” I turned into Pete and Georgia’s driveway. “No, I want to take you camping for real for one night. You can manage one night without luxury, can’t you?” I put the truck in park and looked at her.
“One night?” she asked shakily.
“One night.”
She thought for a second, then sat up straighter. “OK. Yes. I can handle camping for one night. And you,” she went on imperiously, “can handle a black tie Great Gatsby-themed fundraiser for the Historical Society.”
“Black tie?” I pretended to think. “I don’t think I own one of those.”
“Black tie means you wear a tuxedo.”
“Well, I sure as fuck don’t own one of those.”
She patted my arm. “I’ll take care of everything.”
“No way. I’m not going to any fundraiser.”
“Scared I’ll throw a scone at you?” Cocking her wrist back, she pretended to take aim.
I laughed and opened the driver’s side door. “Actually, I’d like to see you do that.”
She jumped out and met me around the back of the truck, and we began to unload it. “Come on, please? It will be fun.”
“You don’t really think that.”
Her turn to laugh. “Not really. But I don’t think camping will be fun, either.” We started to walk through the dark toward the shed, arms loaded with empty crates and boxes. “Actually, you know what? I think we would have fun at the fundraiser.”
“Oh yeah, why’s that?”
“I think we would have fun anywhere.”
I smiled, wondering who’d feel more out of place—Margot in a sleeping bag or me in a tux? It was a close call, but I think I’d win. Plus, I was only comfortable spending this time with her because whatever was between us would end when she left. I didn’t want to make any promises that extended beyond that day. “I’m sorry, Margot. But no.”
She sighed. “You’re so unfair. I have to leave my comfort zone for you, but you won’t leave yours for me?”
“You’re going to leave your comfort zone for you. I’m going to teach you valuable survival skills. Like how to light a match.”
“And when is this happening?”
“Let’s see. Today’s Wednesday, tomorrow night I’m watching Cooper, so how about Friday night?”
“Deal. Do I need a certain kind of clothes for camping?”
We reached the shed, and I laughed as I pulled the door open, picturing her decked out head to toe in some kind of designer camping gear, all in white. “Nope. You can wear anything. Or nothing’s fine too.”
“Hey, you two.”
I jumped, nearly dropping the armload I held, my nervous system kicking into high gear. It was Georgia walking toward us, and she hadn’t meant to startle me, but it took a moment to breathe normally again.
“Hey, Georgia.” Margot greeted my sister-in-law, but her eyes were on me.
“How’d it go?” Georgia asked, hands in her back pockets.
My heart was still beating too fast as I moved inside the shed and stacked boxes against the wall.
“Great,” Margot said. “I had a ball.”
A second later I felt her hand on my back—a brief, reassuring touch. She didn’t say anything, didn’t even make eye contact, but I knew what she was doing…and I appreciated it.
“A ball?” Georgia laughed as we came out.
“Yes. And I have a bunch of ideas for you.”
We began to walk back to the truck, and Georgia followed. “Margot was a natural,” I told her. “We sold out of everything we brought.”
“Really? Wow!”
“Did you get to see the house?” Margot asked.
Georgia shook her head. “Tomorrow at ten. Want to come along?”
“I’d love to!” Margot looked at me. “Unless Jack needs me for something.”
Fuck, she was cute. I smiled at her. “No, you can have tomorrow off.”
We reached the truck and Georgia peeked in the back. “You really did sell well today, huh?”