King's Castle

“I’m not saying anything like that.” The two sisters are going to have to talk this issue out on their own. “But your sister needed a refuge and cabin number two was empty.”

Slick doesn’t look convinced. In fact, she looks downright miserable. It’s time for hot cocoa, some peppermint schnapps, and a fire, I decide. “The dogs are cold,” I lie. “I need to get them inside. Ready to go back to the house?”

Slick nods. The lure of the animals is too much for her to deny, even though she’s feeling glum. I pick her up again and this time her protests are feeble. She’s preoccupied with the information about her sister. If the dogs and the booze and the fire don’t distract her, I guess I’ll have to use something else.

Chapter Eight

Hayden

“Isn’t this the best croissant you’ve ever eaten?” Cyn says as she pushes another plateful toward me on the coffee table. She covers them in a warm honey butter that is like heaven when it hits my tongue. I’m sitting in the living room on the floor surrounded by the dogs with a fire blazing away. I am warm and full. I can understand why a woman would want to come here. It feels safe and accepting. Almost as though you’re home. My mind is still whirling with everything King told me about this place and it gives me a better understanding of why my sister would want to be here.

“Why are you being so nice to me now?” I lick my fingers. “What are you after? I’m better when people shoot it straight with me.” I grab another warm croissant as I pet Winter’s head. She’s quickly becoming my favorite. I’m pretty sure at one time she was the runt of her litter. She’s smaller than the other dogs and seems a bit clingier.

“As much as King and I tend to bicker I don’t think I’d like the idea of him not living close to me. We’re cousins but it often feels more like we’re brother and sister.” I already have an idea of where she’s going with this. “He traveled a lot when he was in the Army. He’s back here now and it would hurt if he left again.” I can understand that. It’s the same way that I feel about Danny.

“So you should get it. I want my sister to come back home.”

“I do. But I think you’re forgetting that your sister is the one that wanted to come here. She needs a place to lay low and well—” Cyn lets out a long sigh— “we kinda need her too. Your sister is a doctor. A top notch one at that. Ours is getting older. She wants to retire. We don’t just need one but the town could use one too.”

“I need to talk to her,” I admit. There is so much more happening here than I know. This isn’t as easy as I thought it was going to be. To top it off, King isn’t helping me keep my head on straight. With every promise, or better yet, demand, he makes to me, I soften a little more toward him. He both frustrates and excites me at the same time.

“I think we might need you, too.”

“I’m just a vet tech.” I rub Snowflake’s head. She rolls over, showing me her belly. I give it a little rub.

“I’m talking about King.”

I peek over at her. “What about him?” I try and play it cool. He left me in the living room to do some work. Told me that my sister would be here soon.

“I don’t know. You did something to him. He’s acting all weird.” She reaches over and grabs my hand. “Don’t take him with you. We need him here, too. He keeps everyone safe.”

I can see the worry in her eyes. Our conversation from a little while ago makes a little more sense now. She’s afraid of losing him so I need to reassure her that I’m only here for one reason and it’s not King.

“I only came for my sister.” Something funny settles in my stomach as the words leave my mouth. I put the half-eaten croissant back on the plate, suddenly losing my appetite. Why does talking about leaving here upset me? I think King is doing something to me, too. I oddly enjoy all of his manhandling ways and straightforward comments. Sure, I pretend they irritate me but it makes me feel girly. Sexy even. For once, I’m not just one of the boys. He sees me in a different light and I’m eating it up. Not only that, he is making all these plans as though we are some done deal. Plans that are all too enticing, but they should send me running for the hills.

“That might be why you came to begin with but things tend to change rather quickly. Kind of like the weather around here. One minute it’s calm and then the next thing you know, it’s a full-blown blizzard.” I keep quiet because I know she’s right. King already has me feeling unsettled. “Especially when it comes to matters of the heart.”