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“I want to hear all about Blake.”

“Sure. Thanks for Georgina.”

I spend that night and the next two at Blake’s apartment.

We don’t go out. As amazing as it is, I’m starting to have doubts. Does he not want the town to know that we’re together? Are we together?

Soon, it will be Friday, and I’ll have Chase again and then I’ll have to go home. And I have no idea how he feels about that. But I’m too much of a coward to bring it up.

We’re having a great time. I’ve been so miserable the last few months that I don’t want to end this illusion of a happy-couple life.

Thursday morning, I’m in my office sitting at my computer, arguing over email with a band that’s supposed to come on Sunday that suddenly wants us to pay for their plane tickets and is threatening to cancel at the last minute, leaving us in the lurch, when a woman walks into my office.

She’s tall—maybe five eight—in her late thirties, not wearing any makeup on a face that was probably beautiful ten years ago, but is all angles now, and while not quite pretty is still striking. She’s wearing plain jeans and a T-shirt, and her mousy-brown hair, streaked with gray, is up in a ponytail.

I don’t know her, but I’m hoping she’ll leave quickly. I don’t want anyone here when Georgina shows up.

“How can I help you?” I ask, standing up.

“Are you Amelia?” Her voice is a little bit grainy, and she has a local accent.

“Yes.”

“Madison told me to find you here. I left my bags in the car.”

It takes my confused brain a few seconds to put two and two together.

“Georgina?” I whisper, even though there’s no one but us in the office.

She laughs at my shock. “Yes.”

I squeal. “I would never have recognized you.”

“I get that a lot. Most people think I’m a teenager. And I let them think that.”

“But your hair! It’s not black.”

“I wear a wig.”

I manage to close my gaping mouth. “Welcome to Dogwood Grove.”

“Thanks. I’ve been here a couple of times before. But long before I got famous. It’s charming.”

She says it with a sincere smile on her face, and I believe that she’s actually happy to be here. I can only imagine how different it must be for her staying in big cities and hotels all the time.

“We’ll get you settled at the hotel, and then you’re free to walk around town. For your cover, I was thinking of introducing you as someone who came to interview for a job. I’m looking for someone to work here. Is there any name that you like to use?”

“Nina. It’s what my family calls me.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Amelia

I show Georgina—Nina—to the hotel, helping her with her bags. She takes pictures of everything, from the hotel to the festival decorations, even random buildings, like city hall.

I have to get back to work, but we make plans to have dinner at the Mountain View Grill.

Blake messages me to ask when I get off work, but I tell him that I’m busy.