The Hometown Hoax (The Hoax Series) Read Online Free Page A

anything to him either way.
    Regardless of whether or not he found her attractive, and regardless of whether or not he found her temper and feisty personality a challenge that intrigued him, if she said she had a boyfriend, then that was that. Travis had made a point, multiple times, about how his single sister-in-law Tessa would be on this camping trip, but apparently she’d gone and gotten herself a boyfriend without telling anyone. Now that she was taken, he wouldn’t step on anyone’s toes, even if said anyone had a ridiculous fake-sounding name like Dick Strokerman and had decided to stay home and work instead of joining his good-looking girlfriend for a week in the woods away from life’s regular distractions.
    “Because he’s very busy at work right now and couldn’t get away,” she said, raising her chin slightly.
    “Do you have a picture of him at least?” Mary asked.
    Tessa bit her lower lip and shifted in her seat. If he wasn’t mistaken, she suddenly looked nervous. “Um, sure. Let me see if I can find one on my phone.”
    He leaned back in his chair. The notion of having to gush over some picture of her boyfriend made his stomach feel like he’d eaten bad sushi. She flicked her finger across her phone screen repeatedly. Why was it taking her so long to find a photo? Surely she had taken plenty of pictures with her new, serious boyfriend, hadn’t she?
    “Here’s one,” she said, flashing her phone screen around the table almost too quickly for him to see. From what he’d glimpsed, it looked like a guy in a suit sitting on a park bench sipping an overpriced coffee. Typical New York.
    “You can hardly even see him he’s so far away.” Martha clucked her tongue as if she were disappointed. “You must have a better one than that.”
    “I like this one. He looks so content.” She shrugged. “I don’t have many pictures of us. When we’re together, we’re usually too busy doing stuff to stop for a photo op, I guess.” Tessa stood from the table, stretching out her long, languid body like a cat waking from a long nap in a sunbeam. “It’s been a long day and I’m tired of being interrogated, so if it’s all the same to you, I’m going to head to bed early tonight. Which cabin am I staying in this time?”
    While Tessa zipped up her boots and grabbed her bag, Martha consulted a piece of paper she’d pulled from her pocket. “The campground was surprisingly booked this week, but I managed to get enough beds for all of us. Looks like you’re in cabin thirteen.”
    “Great. I’ll see you in the morning.” Tessa disappeared out the door without another glance back.
    Logan savored the rest of his dessert then enjoyed a coffee and a game of poker with Travis. When he’d sufficiently kicked his buddy’s ass at cards, he figured it was a good time to call it a night. The day had been long and grueling and he still needed to write down the ideas for new physical education games he’d thought of on the drive. With classes starting in less than two weeks, the pressure was weighing heavily on his shoulders. He needed to do well if he hoped to turn his term teaching position into a full-time one until he could find a way to open a new gym. Without this new start in Cutter’s Creek, he had nothing—no job, no family, and no life to go back to in New York.
    His personal training studio in New York had been a dream come true, one he’d worked hard for, but rent was high and competition was too stiff. He hadn’t been able to find clients when the big brand name gyms offered so much more than he could. With his savings depleted, he’d had no choice but to close up shop and fall back on his teaching degree. Luckily Travis had been able to call in a favor and get him a temporary position as the elementary school gym teacher.
    He might’ve earned his teaching degree, but he’d never imagined himself doing it forever.
    Someday soon he’d love to open another training studio. Maybe even right in