Page 7 of The Selkie Santa

Oh here goes,thought Noah,Dina wants something.Already his mind was scrambling, trying to work out how to get her out before Harper arrived. “Not great timing Dina, I’m sorry. I’m about to go out to dinner.”

“Noah, Ireallyneed to talk to you,” she pleaded.

Noah didn’t want to engage in conversation with his ex, but she looked upset. Really upset. He hated when anyone was upset. And Dina, well, she had meant something to him once. He wasn’t callous. He just had to hear her out and get her to leave before Harper arrived.

“Okay come in, but I’ve really only got five minutes.” He stepped aside and Dina swept past him and sank down on the bench seat in his galley. And then, to his utter horror, she burst into tears.

Panicked, Noah glanced at the clock. This wasn’t going to be over in five minutes, was it? “What’s happened, Dina?” he asked, trying not to sound exasperated.

Dina’s face crumpled and tears gushed from her eyes, sending her mascara running in dark rivulets down her cheeks.

“Oh Noah,” she sobbed. “ I—I’m pregnant.”

Mal said to a rather distracted Harper, “Okay you can piss off now. you’re driving me nuts hopping around the place like a marsh fly. Go find that bloody selkie of yours.”

Harper muttered her usual, “we’re just friends” line, and Mal rolled his eyes and shooed her away with a flourish of his filleting knife. With a giggle, Harper scampered upstairs to get showered and changed. Ten minutes later she was hurrying across Motham Quay, wearing a simple flowered cotton frock,under which she was sporting a very nice g-string and a tiny lace bra.

Which made her body hum with every step she took closer to Noah.

It was dusk now; wharf workers were making their way home. A few did a double-take when they saw her.

“Hey there Harper.” Tom, a friendly minotaur, grinned. “Looking good.”

Brianna, his orc companion, gave a low wolf whistle. “Where you off to all dressed up like a fae princess? Got yourself a hot date?”

“Nah, just Noah.”

They both nodded. Everyone was used to seeing Harper and Noah hanging out together. If anyone made a comment at the café, she’d pass it off with a “phttt, nice guy. Wouldn’t date another selkie.” She always made sure she didn’t catch Mal’s eye when she said it. Folks seemed to believe her, or maybe they were just too hungry from working the docks to be interested in anything but the creamy chowder she was serving up.

But maybe after tonight… maybe she’d be able to drop the act. Sing from the rooftops that she loved Noah Shortwater.

Making her way around to the far jetty, she navigated the uneven cobbles in her summer sandals. She was just about to step onto the gangplank when the warm, deep rumble of Noah’s voice stopped her. And then another voice, this one whiny and high-pitched, made her blood freeze in her veins.

Dina…

What the hell?

Harper scampered away and ducked down behind a bin on the other side of the jetty. Hiding in the lengthening shadows, she watched as Noah accompanied Dina to the edge of the deck. And then… hell, he… hehuggedher.

Those muscular arms that Harper had earmarked as hers, went around Dina’s waist, and just like that, Dina’s head plopped onto Noah’s shoulder. Harper watched, horrified, as her hand landed on his bicep and curled around it like she freakin’ owned him.

“Oh, Noah, I’m so sorry for everything…"

It seemed to Harper that Noah held Dina closer. Was he going to kiss her? Oh gods, please no. Unable to watch, Harper squeezed her eyes tight shut. When she dared open them again, Noah was helping Dina carefully across the gang plank, like she was made of porcelain or something.

If either of them looked across the jetty now, they’d see her crouched here like a hob goblin. And to top it all off, the bin stank of rotting fish entrails. When she finally dared peep out from behind it, Dina was sashaying away, flicking her dark hair over her shoulders, her heels tapping a retreat on the cobblestones.

Harper pressed a trembling hand to her mouth to curb the nausea riding up her throat. After another minute, she stood up and wobbled to the end of the jetty, desperately trying to calm her heart rate as the sea air mixed with her unshed tears. She couldn’t confront Noah now, she’d probably rant and rave and, goddess, she had no right to. They weren’t dating. Noah had every right to hug whoever he wanted…

Except not Dina. Anyone but Dina.

She stood there for a good ten minutes, staring at the stars gradually pricking the sky above her head, and tried to ignore the prickles at the back of her eyelids. This was supposed to be her and Noah’s night. She’d dreamed of this moment for so long. And now, she couldn’t get rid of the image of Dina’s head snuggled against Noah’s broad chest. The place where Harper’s head was supposed to be snuggled tonight.

A sharp stab of betrayal nearly winded her. Even if there was a logical explanation, it still cut like a knife. Noah had clearly initiated that hug… there was no denying it. And you could tell by the tone of their voices that they’d been having a very intimate exchange. Whatever they’d been discussing was serious, emotional.

Oh gods, what if they were getting back together…

But if they were, why would he have asked Harper out to dinner? Unless Dina had turned up unexpectedly… but then, he hadn’t been acting like he didn’t want her there. If anything, the reverse. He’d been solicitous, affectionate even toward her.

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