Nathan showered and changed into clean clothes, figuring he’d treat his evening out with Autumn like a date to make it easier to blend with the residents of Smithsburg. Waltzing into a local hangout and announcing he was investigating a murder had a way of sealing lips and making people nervous. But taking a woman out for dinner had a way of inviting gossip, and if anyone had learned what had happened at the Trail’s Edge, they’d be eager to talk about the case.
Which suited his motives perfectly.
At precisely 7:00 p.m., he knocked on Autumn’s door. She opened it almost immediately, making him wonder if she’d been waiting for him, and if she had, why it sent a pulse of excitement through his body. He was doing this to find justice for his sister, not have an affair with a pretty outdoorswoman.
He let his eyes wander over Autumn. Her hair was loose around her shoulders and she wore a pair of black trousers and a green fitted top. It was a casual outfit, but it would catch the attention of every man in the restaurant.
A possessive streak tore through him and Nathan found himself disliking the idea of her flirting with someone else. He had suggested this outing as a means to gather information, purely professional. Yet seeing her now, his interest roved south of professional, straight into the full burn of sexual interest.
He focused on their professional relationship. Autumn could point out people most likely to have heard rumors about the killer, or better, have useful information about the case. It didn’t matter how she looked. His attraction shouldn’t factor in to their relationship.
Realizing he was staring, he strove for indifference. “You look great,” he said.
She touched the ends of her hair with her left hand. “Thank you. You look nice, too. Maybe a little too dressed up for the Wild Berry.”
“I’m more comfortable in a suit than I am in hiking gear.”
She shrugged and stepped onto the porch, pulling the door closed behind her. He tamped down the disappointment that she hadn’t invited him inside. His primary intention was to find Colleen’s killer. As Autumn moved past him, her shoulder brushed his chest and he caught the scent of pine and spice, a unique and yet distinctly feminine scent.
The drive down the mountain took twenty minutes and it was another five to the Wild Berry. Nathan parked next to a pickup truck with a rusted-out bumper and a red sedan with a plush monkey pressed to the back window. He took the keys from the ignition and turned to Autumn. “I’d prefer it if we pretended to be a couple.”
Autumn fiddled with the strap of her handbag. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
He set his hand on her upper arm and smiled at her. If anyone saw them, he didn’t want to blow his manufactured story. “I’m an outsider. If they think I’m with you, people will open up.”
Autumn reached for the door handle. “If you think it will help. But I think you’ll find most people are pretty blunt regardless of your relationship to me.”
Nathan liked the idea of having an excuse to keep Autumn close. “It will help.”
They climbed out of the truck and he circled it to stand next to her. He set his hand on her lower back and she jumped. She glanced over her shoulder at him, questions in her eyes. In response, he lowered his mouth close to her ear. “Just playing the part.”
He guided her toward the entrance to the restaurant, and the sound of country music seeped through the door and covered windows into the parking lot. As he opened the door, the music grew five times louder, nearly deafening. Nathan scanned the restaurant and the patrons, a few who looked from their beers to Autumn and him, most who ignored them. After entering the bar, they found an open table near the window. He held Autumn’s chair, waiting for her to sit.
The formality was intentional. Everyone in the room would recognize this was a date. Once Autumn took her seat, Nathan did the same.
A waitress with blond hair nearly to her waist tossed two menus on the table, and then set her hand on her hip, jutting it toward Nathan. “Hey, Autumn, who’s your friend?”
Nathan caught a fleeting look of annoyance on Autumn’s face.
“This is Nathan Bradshaw. Nathan, this is Francine.”
Francine turned her attention to Nathan, letting her gaze linger on his face. “Nice to meet you. Can I get you a drink?”
“I’ll have an iced tea,” Autumn said, folding her hands on her lap, an edge in her voice.
What was the dynamic between Autumn and Francine? The waitress seemed friendly enough.
Francine looked at Autumn as if forgetting she was there. “Okay, sure thing. And for you?” Francine faced Nathan, giving him a smile he’d bet had earned her a good number of dinner dates.
“Same for me. Thanks.”
Francine jammed her pad into the apron tied around her waist. “I hear you had some trouble up at the campground.”
Autumn’s eyes flashed with momentary panic.
“Not at the campground,” Nathan said, keeping his voice low and calm.
Francine leaned in. “I heard you found a body in one of the cabins.”
Autumn looked horrified, but Nathan chuckled, dismissing the lie. “Rumors can grow out of control quickly.” He’d promised to run interference on rumors, and he would do just that.
Francine opened her mouth, but the look Nathan gave her had her clamping it shut. He wanted to stoke her curiosity without making Autumn uncomfortable or causing her problems at the Trail’s Edge.
“We’ll come over to the bar a little later to talk,” Nathan said, looking across the table at Autumn.
Francine sighed. “I’ll be right back with your drinks.” She spun on her heel and strutted away from their table.
Nathan moved his chair closer to the table. Autumn’s jaw was set and she glanced over in Francine’s direction a few times.
“You two don’t get along?” he asked.
Autumn shifted in her chair. “We went to high school together. She was the prom queen and I didn’t go to prom. She’s friendly when she wants to be.” Autumn heavily accented the word friendly. “She’s currently dating my ex.”
Nathan caught something in her tone. Jealousy? Francine might be a good resource. Though she had come to their table and dug for information, she’d probably heard more rumors around town than he had. “Is your ex here?”
Autumn glanced around and then shook her head. “No. He’s not.”
Sensing she wasn’t in the mood to talk about her former relationship, he changed the subject. “We’ll give our waitress time to let the crowd know they might get a firsthand account of what happened at the Trail’s Edge. Best way to drum up rumors about the killer and conversation about the trail.”
Autumn studied his face, and he could see she didn’t care for the idea of rumors flying. She blew out her breath. “I don’t want everyone talking about me.” Worry tinged the corners of her eyes.
“They won’t be talking about you. They’ll be talking about the Huntsman.”
Autumn brought her hand to her forehead. “I have a business to run. It’s bad enough what’s going on at the trail, but encouraging more rumors only fuels the fire.”
“I don’t want to cause trouble. I need information.”
“I don’t want the Trail’s Edge or my family caught up in this disaster,” Autumn said.
Protective of her family. Nathan