“Are my eyes deceiving me?” Reva Dawson asked. Of course Reva would be the first one to see them together. Reva had a nose for news.
Moira turned toward the infamous town blogger, noting how Gil’s hand tightened on hers. He wasn’t letting go and neither was she. They were in this together.
* * *
“Your eyes are not deceiving you, Ms. Dawson,” Gil said, trying to maintain a pleasant tone.
Reva hurried up to them, her gaze firmly set on their clasped hands. “You two are dating?” She looked up with a broad smile. “Oh, this is good.”
Gil had no doubt this would be the first bullet point on her blog tomorrow. He could only imagine what she planned on saying.
“How long has this been going on?” she asked. “Is Moira the one you were purchasing flowers for the other day?”
Gil cleared his throat. “Good evening to you as well, Reva. Are you on your way to the animal adoption fair?”
She frowned slightly at his obvious change of subject. “Well, yes. I thought I’d see who was adopting a new pet. That would be good news for my blog tomorrow. My readers love a good dog story.” Her smile returned in dramatic fashion. “They love a good love story too.”
Gil squeezed Moira’s hand, trying to reassure her that everything would be fine. He was nervous, too, though. It’d been a while since he’d dated anyone seriously, and he hadn’t since he was mayor. This was a big deal for him. More than he’d realized when he’d suggested it last night. It was necessary though. He didn’t want to live in secret, and he wanted this thing with Moira to work. A foundation of hiding didn’t seem like the right thing to do anymore.
“Enjoy the animal fair,” Gil told Reva. “Maybe you’ll find a lovable canine or feline to bring home with you.”
Reva chuckled. “I have four at home already. I think I have my hands full. They keep me in good company when I’m writing my blog though. They’ll keep me company tonight, matter of fact.” She winked and hurried past Gil and Moira.
Moira looked at Gil, and he couldn’t quite read her expression.
“Hmm. By the look on your face, you’re completely freaked and ready to bolt,” he said, testing the waters.
“It’s too late for that. Reva has seen us.” She offered a nervous smile. “And I wouldn’t turn around and run anyway. I want to do this. Like you said, we can’t have all our dates at your place or mine, and I want more dates.”
Gil leaned in and brushed his lips over hers. “I want more dates too. As long as they’re with you.”
Moira laughed softly. “You don’t want to keep playing the field, Mr. Most Eligible Bachelor of Somerset Lake?”
“I never played the field to begin with.”
They started walking again. The animal adoption fair could be seen up ahead now. There was a big banner that read FUREVER HOME sandwiched by huge red hearts with paw prints inside.
“I have to admit, when I attend these things, it’s so hard for me not to bring home at least three or four dogs with me.”
“You don’t think Goldie should have a friend?”
“I know golden retrievers are traditionally happy-go-lucky, but she’s the jealous type,” Gil said. “It’s going to be hard enough for her to adjust to sharing me with you.”
Moira looked a bit more relaxed as they approached the crowd and entered a large gated area where the dogs were contained on leashes with their handlers. “It takes a lot of volunteers to work this place, huh?”
“Oh, yeah. All for a good cause.”
Moira glanced around. “Since you come to these events a lot, I’m assuming you know the volunteers.”
Gil nodded. “Yeah. All of them.”
Moira looked at him hopefully. “Will you introduce me?”
He tilted his head. “You thinking about becoming a volunteer?”
Moira smiled and lifted a noncommittal shoulder. “You never know.”
“First running for mayor and now volunteering with rescue animals. You are one surprise after another these days, aren’t you?” Gil teased. “Come on. I’ll introduce you to the organizer, Beth Chimes.”
“Beth?” Moira asked, brows lifting.
“You know her?” Gil asked.
Moira shook her head quickly. “Not yet, but I’d love to meet her.”
“Your wish is my command.” Gil led Moira toward a table where three women were sitting. Folks had tried to set him up with Beth last year. She was young, single, and attractive, but there were no sparks between them.
“Hey, Beth,” he said.
Beth looked up from a notebook set before her on the table. “Mayor Gil.” A broad smile formed on her face. “I’m so glad you could make it.”
Gil gestured to Moira, who looked shell-shocked again. “This is my friend Moira Green.”
“Um, hi. Nice to meet you,” Moira said.
He got the feeling that Beth made Moira nervous somehow, which he found odd.
“You’re running for mayor.” Beth’s gaze moved to Gil, and her smile faded. “Against you.”
“That’s true.” Gil nodded.
“I was so sorry to hear about the town’s plans to demolish your mother’s business,” Beth told Moira. “I speak to your mom all the time when I stop in the bakery.”
“Right. I’ve seen you there,” Moira said.
“Well, now we’ve officially met. We can speak to each other next time.” She looked at Gil apologetically. “I mean, maybe there’ll be a next time before Sweetie’s closes.”
Gil wanted to move on from the topic of Sweetie’s and the Hannigan Street parking lot. “What can we do to help today?”
“Just being here is enough.” Beth stood from her seat. “Having both of you here is sure to reel people in. If you could just walk around and love on the animals. That’ll encourage others to do the same. Maybe snap a few pics and post on social media if you can. To draw more attention to the event. I would love it if every animal here found a good home today.” Beth looked at Moira. “That never happens, of course, but one can hope, right?” She stuck her hand out for Moira to shake. “Nice to meet you, Moira.”
Moira shook Beth’s hand. “You too. Really. You seem happy.”
Beth smiled awkwardly. “Oh, well, meeting new people and matching them with their ideal pet makes me happy, I guess. See you around.”
Moira glanced at Gil as they walked away.
He still couldn’t read Moira, and maybe that was part of her appeal. She was a good mystery, which he’d never been able to resist.
“Beth seems nice,” Moira said.
“She is. She’s really passionate about giving these animals good homes.”
“Was she acting the same way she normally does, when you see her?”
Gil cast Moira a questioning look. “Why do I get the feeling there’s a motive behind your wanting to meet Beth? Maybe Beth is your motive for wanting to be here today too?”
Moira fidgeted with her hands. “My main motive today is spending time with you.”
Gil wasn’t quite believing that in full, but he returned the sentiment. “Mine as well.” He pointed at the dogs they were approaching. “Ready to pet on some lonely dogs?”