Which was why Rafe was sticking by her side.
Aida, the waitress, stopped by their table for chit-chat and to take their orders. When another table waved to get her attention, she finally left them alone to talk.
“So, what’s up?” Rafe asked Nick.
“That’s what I wanted to know. Did you hear anything on who set the fire?”
Rafe shook his head. He’d made some calls this morning. “The fire inspector can only confirm arson. The state police in charge of the investigation questioned people, but nobody saw anything definitive. Basically, they know nothing.”
Nick frowned. “What about you, Sara?” he asked, lowering his voice. “Any news from New York?”
She shook her head. “According to our captain, the guy I’m supposed to testify against is smugly asserting he’ll get off. The D.A. takes that to mean I should watch my back. But it’s all inconclusive.”
“And we’re on the lookout for anyone suspicious now that most of the tourists are gone,” Rafe said. “Anyone come to mind?”
To Rafe’s surprise, Nick nodded. “Guess who didn’t leave town?”
Rafe narrowed his gaze.
“Biff and Todd,” Nick said before either Rafe or Sara could reply.
“What are those two still doing here?” Rafe asked.
“They said they were in the wine business, so I would have thought they’d be gone with the rest of the festival people,” Sara said.
“Lunch is ready!” Aida arrived with her hands full of plates. She served them all quickly. “Anything else I can get you?”
“Ketchup for the burger,” Nick said.
“Some more coffee would be great, please.” Sara lifted her empty cup.
“I’m good,” Rafe said.
“Back in a jiffy!” Aida promised, rushing off to fill their requests.
“I’m going to have the captain run a check on those two,” Rafe said of Biff and Todd. “Can you get me their full names from Angel?” he asked his brother.
“Will do.”
Rafe took a bite of his turkey club sandwich.
Beside him, Sara picked at her salad, her wary gaze darting around the room. Obviously, she was more interested in the customers than the food.
Knowing nothing he could say would distract her, Rafe made small talk with his brother as they all finished their meals. Soon they had paid and were back outside in the hot, humid summer air. Compared to the weekend, when the festival had been in full swing, the streets were empty, people preferring to be inside where the air conditioners kept them comfortable.
“Nick! Sara! Rafe!” Angel called their names and came running toward them. “You won’t believe it! I can’t believe it!”
“What’s going on?” Nick asked first.
“I just had a phone call from the features editor at the Daily Post in Manhattan! She’s going to include my bed-and-breakfast in a story about great summer getaways!” Angel practically shook with excitement.
“That’s the same paper that prints the Bachelor Blog,” Rafe said, immediately wary.
“That’s how they heard about my B and B,” Angel said, her tone more tempered now that the conflict of interest overtook her excitement. “Look, I know I was wrong to let the Bachelor Blogger know about you being here, but can’t I be excited that it led to this kind of exposure?”
“Of course you can,” Nick said, surprising everyone.
“Right,” Rafe agreed. “It’s just that the less exposure this little town has, the better as far as I’m concerned. At least until it’s time for Sara to go back to the city.” He shot a worried glance her way, but he couldn’t read her feelings from her expression.
“Amanda Stevens, that’s the editor, is coming here tomorrow for a firsthand look. She’s going to do an interview and bring a photographer to take pictures. And the timing is perfect, because just this morning, Biff and Todd decided to move into the Hilton for the rest of their vacation, so I have rooms available.”
“Biff and Todd moved out?” Sara asked, obviously as surprised as Rafe.
“They said they’ll be around town,” Angel replied, “but they wanted a pool and a gym, all the amenities a full-service hotel offered.”
Those two were odd ducks, Rafe thought.
“You all have a funny look in your eyes.” Angel’s gaze darted from Rafe to Sara. “Did I step in it again?” she asked, confused.
Rafe didn’t want to upset her. She was an innocent bystander in all this drama, and she deserved success.
“You did nothing wrong, and of course it’s okay to be excited,” Sara said. “I’m thrilled for you!”
Angel smiled. “I have to go clean up for my guests. And I need to cook!” She started back down the street, when suddenly she turned. “Nick?”
“Yeah?”
“Come help me?”
Nick paused, obviously surprised by the request.
Rafe nudged his mute brother in the side. “Go.”
“I have to work.”
“Call in sick,” Rafe said wryly.
Nick nodded, his brain seeming to catch up. “Right. Coming!” he called out to his wife. “See you later, bro.”
Rafe inclined his head, grinning.
Nick raised one hand in a wave and walked away.
Alone at last, Rafe turned to Sara. “Do you want a break from all this? We can figure out what to do about the features editor later.”
Her eyes lit up. “Always. What do you have in mind?”
“Going out on my boat. Away from people, places and things.” His favorite place on earth that he wanted to share with her. “Are you game?”
She nodded. “Sounds like heaven.”
He could not agree more.
SARA STOOD HOLDING on to the rail in front of her as Rafe propelled the small speedboat across the lake. There was not another boat in sight; the peace and solitude was all-encompassing. The wind blew her hair, and the sun baked down on her body, freeing her mind and her spirit.
“This is fabulous!” she called to him.
“I’m glad you like it.”
She liked the view more. Not the beautiful trees and shoreline landscape, but the sight of shirtless Rafe in bathing trunks that hung low on his hips and revealed his tanned body and hard abs. Then there was the scar, which was a constant reminder that he’d taken one for the team.
For her.
Sunglasses covered his eyes, and the wind blew his dark hair off his forehead, giving him a sexy, rakish look.