The tour was wrapping up, the lingering guests listening to the last stories woven by the Keepers, but I didn’t move.
Because he was still here and because I still hadn’t stopped thinking about what I’d heard.
Not the kiss—that came later—but the private moment I hadn’t been prepared for. An image that still rattled through me at the worst times, creeping up my spine, pooling warm and restless low in my stomach.
I hadn’t meant to intrude, and I certainly hadn’t meant to walk into his house that day, catching him in the kind of moment that can’t be undone—can’t be unfelt once it had settled under the skin.
And now?
Now I stood in the dark and wondered—had Cal done itagain?Had he thought about me like that since the first time? Had he muttered my name in the dark the way I’d heard it spill from his mouth that night, rough and wrecked, nothing like the cold detachment he pretended to wear like armor?
Lately, I had become obsessed with the thought. A slow burn started in my stomach, crawling lower, settling deep.
I swallowed hard, pressing my nails into my palms, forcing the thought away before it dragged me under.
“Okay, this is way spookier than I expected,” Kit said, suddenly appearing at my side, rubbing her arms. “I thought this was gonna be like a campfire-story situation, but this is legit terrifying. I feel like we should be holding hands.”
I huffed out a laugh but looped my arm with hers. “You need me to protect you?”
Kit scoffed. “You, protecting me? Okay, tough guy.”
Her tone was teasing, but I took the opportunity to shift the conversation before my thoughts wandered back where they shouldn’t.
In the evening light, against the dune cliff, the farm looked moody and menacing, not at all the memory-making family destination I was striving toward. I sighed, looking out over the fields. “I feel like it’s all coming together, you know? Like the hard work is finally paying off.”
From the corner of my eye, I saw my little sister make a face. “Yeah, Stan’s place is great ...”
I stopped to look at her. “What?”
Kit went to speak but paused. I pinned her with my best older-sister look so she’d continue. “Well, come on—I mean, you’re giving him ideas, but you’re not actuallydoingthe work, right?”
I blinked at her, momentarily stunned.What the heck? Even my little sister doesn’t think I can do it?
I swallowed back the sharp pang of tears before I let my emotions overtake me.
“I’m doing a lot of work, actually. Almostallof it, to be exact. Sure, I have help, but I’m not sitting on my ass eating bonbons while everyone else gets their hands dirty.” I held up my mangled manicure. “Do these look like they’ve seen the inside of a spa?”
Kit held up her hands in defense. “Whoa. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize the sweat equity you were putting into the place.Noted.”
“Sorry.” I softened. “I’m just a little tired and grumpy.”
Clearly my defensiveness was also indicative of some inner sore subject ... maybe I needed to work on that.
As we followed the group across the grass toward the dune cliff, I pointed to the front porch of the inn, where the cat was curled on the top step. “Speaking of things that need protecting ... I may or may not have manipulated Callum into adopting a stray cat.”
“I’m sorry, what?” Kit blinked, holding back her laughter.
I crossed my arms, tilting my chin up. “She’s scrappy and one-eyed and has the attitude of someone who’s survived a war. It seemed like a perfect pairing.”
Kit stared at me for a long second before her lips curled into an absolutely evil grin. “Wait—you thought he needed some pussy and brought him an actual cat instead of”—she gestured toward me—“dishing yourself up on a platter?”
My laughter and eye roll were immediate. “Trust me. Callum doesn’t want anything I have to offer.”
Kit hummed, unconvinced.
And now I was lying to myselfandmy little sister. Great.
The truth was, I still remembered exactly how it feltwhen he kissed me. How his hands had tightened on my waist, how his body had pressed firm and unyielding against mine, how his features had darkened before he?—
