Page 26 of The Rusalka and Mr. Right

Kev goes on. “I’m always the steady guy. The oldest. The one who didn’t get hurt playing sports, the one who didn’t stay out past curfew. The one who worked, saved, and paid for the last load of college classes and my own car.” He stops with a sudden grunt, pulling me back to him, and spinning me into his kiss. “I’m the boring one,” he says when he lets me go.

He’s so far from boring. He’s steady. A haven. Things that must flee, must hunt, must hide—we love those safe places. He doesn’t realize that to someone who has rarely known peace, his declarations are a siren’s song. “You are not boring. You are steady. A calm sea.”

“You make me think about running wild. Make me think about how with the right girl, things are settled, but they never have to lose their excitement. Even the calm sea still has waves.”

Oh, God. He speaks to my heart and doesn’t even know it.

“You barely know me,” I fight the urge to melt into his arms, to let someone enfold me, someone to share my wild nights and tranquil days, to try to recapture a life I believed I would never find again.

“I want to get to know you.”

He’ll only be hurt. And losing him will only hurt you.

But I’m nearing my last century. He’s in his only century. Maybe... For just a little while...

“I am not the steady one. I don’t have much. Ican’thave much. I can’t stay put.”

“Did Gregor make you stay put? Does Pine Ridge?”

Curse him, yes. The truth escapes. “Yes.”

“Well,I’min Pine Ridge. I’m no fisherman, but I have a steady job. I want to shoot my shot. I figure I’ve got as much of a chance as rich boy Todd,” Kev’s voice holds no pressure, and his hand slides back into mine as if we never stopped walking.

He trusts me.

Men should never ever trust me.

I want to shout out that I’m a monster. I’ve killed before. “I’ve hurt people before. Men.”

“Yeah? I’ve hurt women, too. Sometimes doing the right thing is painful. Ending things has to happen.”

“Oh, I ended things, but I’m afraid it was the wrong thing,” I whisper, eyes dark and unfocused for a minute, seeing blood blooming in icy water.

We’re back by the river. If we swim several miles downstream, my house boat is moored at a sloping bank where there is no dock, practically hidden by tall grass and trees that bow to reach the water. It looks uninhabited, and it should be. It’s uninviting for a reason, meant to keep people away unless I pursue them. If Kev saw it, he would understand. I’m not normal. Not his sort of normal.

The other direction leads to White Pines, where people are still grilling and eating. I can see sparklers and bottle rockets against the darkening evening sky. “Your car is this way,” I whisper, pointing.

“Yep.”

Go. Go, I’ve hinted as much as I can without making you summon the police or scream in terror.

“Can I give you a lift home?” he asks.

“No, I’m in the opposite direction,” I say quickly.

“Then can I see you tomorrow night?”

“I’m trying to warn you not to let me hurt you. My... My past and my associates mean I’m a very bad risk. Poor investment,” I say, anxiously smoothing my hair over one shoulder.

“Your voice keeps breaking, baby. Like you don’t really believe it.” Kev sizes me up, head cocked, hand on his chin.

He looks far too cute like that.

“Would you hurt me?” he asks.

“No! Not on purpose.”

“Good. Can I see you tomorrow night?”

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