Page 17 of Love's Cure

Nick gave her a thoughtful look. “Sounds like you’re already into him. Why don’t you see where it leads? You can end it whenever you feel it isn’t right.”

Crystal looked away. That’s pretty much what they’d said to one another when she and Nick realized their marriage was more about one friend taking care of another. He’d always been protective of her.

“Okay, thanks. I knew you’d be honest with me.” She hesitated. “I still wonder why he doesn’t talk about his family, but then again, I never like to talk about mine.”

“Just enjoy getting to know him. You don’t have to decide anything beyond that.”

“Thanks.” Crystal rose and headed inside, pleased by Nick’s encouragement. She and Emmett weren’t even dating yet. They were just two people getting to know one another as she helped him get acquainted with the area. Maybe that’s where it would end.

CHAPTER SEVEN

After Emmett finishedhis breakfast, Crystal pulled her car around to the front. Typical of her, she’d made sure they had plenty of refreshments packed in her red Toyota RAV4. A cooler sitting in the back seat held bottled water, apples, and cookies. Emmett loved her chocolate chip cookies.

“You don’t mind me driving?” she asked him as he buckled himself into the passenger’s seat.

“I figure you know your way around, and it’ll be easier for you to have the wheel.”

As they took off, she liked that he wasn’t a man who would feel his manhood threatened by giving control to her.

It took less than an hour to reach Portsmouth on the coast of New Hampshire. She pulled into a parking garage and turned to him. “This is a very walkable city. Besides the restaurants and shops in and around Market Square, there are many other things to see.”

“Okay. Let’s pretend we’re both tourists. Where should we start?”

“I think we should take a guided tour to get the lay of the land this morning, and then we have a choice of visiting historic homes of famous Navy captains, merchants, explorers, and governors, or we could visit Strawbery Banke, the oldest neighborhood here, which has 32 historic buildings. We can meet people there dressed in costume. Or we could take a scenic drive to Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse in New Castle. Or visit Wentworth by the Sea Hotel & Resort. There are lots of things to see.”

“Wow! All of this in a relatively small area. I say we start with a guided tour and go from there, just as you suggested.”

“Let me call to see if we can have a private tour.” Crystal phoned the number she’d written down earlier, and after arranging a tour to begin in a half-hour, she ended the call and turned to Emmett. “We have time for a cup of coffee before the tour. Let’s go to Market Square. We’ll meet our guide there in thirty minutes.”

In Market Square, they found a Dunkin’ coffee shop and took seats inside. After ordering a decaf café mocha for her, Emmett ordered a plain coffee for himself.

“I like what I’ve seen so far,” said Emmett, sipping his coffee and staring out at the people strolling the brick sidewalks in the square.

“It’s charming,” said Crystal. “And in some parts of town, it’s like taking a step back in history. I’m glad you like it. It’s an easy place to come to when needing a break from Lilac Lake.”

“I understand how you might need that. I suppose I’ll reach that point too.” Emmett got to his feet as an older woman called out to Crystal and walked toward them.

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