Free Identity Crisis by Eliza Daly Page B

arm around Olivia’s shoulder. Surprised by his touch, it took her a moment to remember they were supposed to be a couple. She relaxed against him and placed her hand on his back, a sense of comfort washing over her. “Thought it would be a great spot to celebrate our anniversary. Get away from the city and enjoy a lake sunset with a great bottle of wine, and do a little star gazing.”
    That did sound romantic, especially for Ethan.
    “How many years?” the woman asked.
    “Been dating a year,” he said.
    “Dating a year … ” She wore a curious smile, like she was wondering if Ethan would be popping the question during their stay.
    “Who’s in that picture?” Olivia asked, avoiding an awkward conversation about their potential engagement. Ethan didn’t appear bothered by what the woman was implying, but he’d had years of undercover practice. She and Ethan supposedly being a couple was going to take some getting used to. However, she had to admit she was already too comfortable with his arm draped over her shoulder.
    “That’s Esther Williams and my grandma. She used to rent a cottage on Shadow Lake. Next lake over. My grandma used to swim with her.”
    Was her grandma Kate Donovan? Was this woman Olivia’s cousin? They were around the same age, but didn’t look a thing alike. The petite woman’s shoulder-length blond hair had hot pink highlights. A Tinker Bell tattoo peeked over the top of her low-cut white camisole, and cut-off jean shorts accented her tanned legs. She smelled like coconut suntan lotion and nail polish remover, apparently in the process of removing her chipped pink polish. Olivia glanced down at her own professionally manicured red nails.
    “I’m Tracy,” the woman said.
    “Ethan and Oriana,” Ethan said.
    “Houdini vacationed here also, but we don’t have his picture. He lived in Appleton just a few hours away when he was little. Came here a few times. That’s why he chose to spend eternity here.”
    “Eternity?” Ethan said.
    “His ghost haunts the lake,” she said matter-of-factly. “Especially on Halloween, when he died. You’ll see water splashing, like someone’s swimming across the lake, but nobody’s there. Don’t worry. It’s a friendly ghost. Just like the one here at the inn. My great-grandpa. He built this place in 1905.”
    Tracy was Olivia’s cousin.
    Olivia’s heart hammered in her chest. Ethan’s arm was still draped over her shoulder and he gave her a reassuring squeeze, undoubtedly realizing Tracy’s relationship to her. She relaxed slightly, trying to envision her and Tracy swimming together, playing Barbies, and painting each other’s nails. Would Tracy remember even though Olivia didn’t?
    “He’s usually in room five. His old bedroom. But sometimes he hangs around outside at night keeping watch.” She walked over to a small wooden desk. “Ever been to this area before?”
    Olivia shook her head. “No, we haven’t.”
    “We’re from Chicago,” Ethan said. “Don’t get to the country much.”
    Olivia glanced down at her conservative white Marc Jacobs sundress and Louis Vuitton carry-on bag. If she’d grown up here, she might have ended up sporting pink hair and working in the family business like Tracy. Like her dad, she couldn’t picture herself living in Five Lakes.
    “Once you’ve conquered the mini-golf course next door and taken a canoe trip, you can rent a jet ski from Raymond just down the lake. And of course we have plenty of champagne and strawberries if you’d like a romantic evening enjoying one of our gorgeous sunsets or alone in your cottage. We also have a room available in the inn if you’d like, it’s more romantic than the cottages.”
    Ethan slipped his arm from Olivia’s shoulder and rested his hand on the small of her back. He smiled, gazing into her eyes. “I think we prefer the privacy.”
    Holding his gaze, she swallowed hard, nodding slowly in agreement. He broke their trance, peering back over at