Page 45 of Shiny Things

I sat in my car with the Davenport house looming over me. Why the hell had I let Gia talk me into coming back here?

Her car wasn’t in the drive, so I just sat there waiting. There was no way in hell I was going back in there without her, and I’d made that pretty damn clear when she called again on my drive back to tell me she would be a little longer than expected. Unfortunately, I was already pulling into the drive at the time.

I could see Helena pacing in the grand entryway. Every now and then she’d stop and look out at me, but she didn’t make a move to approach, and I was not getting out of the car until Gia arrived.

It felt like hours passed, even though it was mere minutes, before a car pulled up behind me. I started to get out until I realized it wasn’t her.

I settled back into my seat and sulked a bit longer.

A tap on my window had me nearly jumping out of my skin.

I looked up to find Mayor Ryan Davenport standing there motioning for me to roll down the window.

“Hi Kim.”

“Uh, hello Mayor.”

“Ryan, please.”

“Um, okay, Ryan.”

I didn’t know him well. Actually, I knew him the least of all of Elias’s family. Ryan Davenport was somewhat of a big deal around Ravenden, and that made him plenty intimidating.

“Heard Mom was being a bitch today and thought you could use some backup.”

I snorted. “Did Gia send you?”

“Nope. Elias did.”

I groaned. “He told you?”

“I sort of bullied it out of him.”

I eye him skeptically.

He laughed. “What can I say? Knowing the guy my entire life gives me some advantages. I know how to get him to talk even when he doesn’t want to.”

“So are you here to tell me how I’m not good enough for him and should walk away now before things get any more serious?”

“No. You’re his true mate, right? That makes you family. And we take care of each other around here.”

My jaw dropped and then closed again. I had no idea how to respond to that.

“I always wanted another sister. Truthfully, I thought Dean would fall first. But I can see it. Elias is loyal to a fault. And he instilled that in each of us. I’ve got your back. Mom has her issues for sure, but she too loves her family above all else. That’s going to include you too.”

I laughed. “Yeah, I doubt that will ever happen. You didn’t hear her putting down my Flock this morning.”

“I’m well aware of her elitist nature. But I also know my mother. Initially, she won’t be thrilled one of her boys is stooping so low as to mate a Grimes. But when she sees how happy you make my brother, she will love you beyond common sense. Wait for it, it’s coming. Because I’ve never seen Elias as happy as when he told me about you. I barely recognized the guy.He is literally head over heels in love with you, if you weren’t aware of that.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m aware.”

“And what about you? Do you love him too?”

I had no idea what look crossed my face, but it made him grin. I didn’t even have to say the words.

“That’s what I thought. Welcome to the family, sis. Now, if you want to just hang out here until G arrives, that’s fine, but if you’d like to get back to work in there, I promise to stick around and run interference. If she steps out of line, I’ll handle it. But really, I’m impressed you walked out on her like that.”

“You are?”

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