Page 38 of Snows Sinful Seven

I smile down as I finish washing my plate. “Me too.”

“I LOVE IT OUT HERE,” I sigh happily as we walk down the trail towards the village. “There’s something about being outside that makes everything feel right.”

“Yeah,” he says quickly. “I know what you mean.”

“Oh!” I gasp, eyes widening with excitement. “Look!” I point to a squirrel. He’s down on the ground, gathering things from the forest floor.

Brady chuckles. “Cute little fella.”

“Hi there.” I smile as I crouch down, my pale pink dress flowing out around my feet. “Aren’t you just the cutest.”

The squirrel pauses and turns his little head over to me. He makes a noise and I laugh as he scurries up the tree. I’m about to stand back up when I see him poke his head out of the little burrow he went into. He looks at me, and I smile wider. A second later, he runs down the tree, pausing at the bottom.

“Hard at work I see.” I laugh and pick up a nearby fallen acorn. I hold it out and wait, not actually expecting him to run over to me. I’m grinning like a fool as he stops before me. “Go on, take it.”

He makes a little squeak before snatching it from my hand and running back up the tree.

“Did you see that?” I squeal, spinning around to grin widely at Brady. “It came right up to me.”

He gives me a gentle smile. “He did.”

“That was exciting,” I sigh contentedly as we continue our walk. “Back at the palace, there's a family of squirrels that lives in one of the trees in the middle of our maze. They’re the only ones who would come near me. Until now. There are some birds I used to feed, too. Very sweet ones. I miss it.”

“We get some animals around our cottage, but I haven’t seen many birds. I’ll make sure to pick up some birdseed while we’re in town. Maybe they will come for you.”

“You don’t have to.”

“It’s okay. I want to.” The look he gives me has my insides melting. It’s the same kind of feeling I get when I’m with Regina.

Regina.

My smile falls, a melancholy feeling sweeping over me.

“Are you okay?” Brady asks, voice laced with concern.

“Just thinking about Regina,” I sigh heavily.

“I’m sure she’s okay.”

“I hope so.”

“YOU'RE MAKING IT SEEMlike we’re breaking and entering,” I laugh as I pull the back door to the pub open. Brady is scanning the area like someone out of a Mission Impossible movie.

“Is that what we’re doing?” he asks, bringing his attention back to me.

I roll my eyes, but there’s a smile on my lips. “Mrs. Bark is like an auntie to me. I’m not going to get into any trouble.”

“Are you sure?” His big fluffy eyebrows furrow. He’s stunning. His fur is so white and soft that sometimes, I just want to run my fingers through it. It’s hard not to look at him when he’s so pretty.

“You're really pretty,” I blurt out, my eyes widening before I slap my hand over my mouth.

He blinks at me a few times as his face flushes. “Thanks.” He looks away.

“I’m sorry,” I mumble against my hand. Oh my. Could I be any more embarrassed? “I don’t mean to be weird. It’s just... your fur. It’s so white... and your eyes, sometimes they change from a pretty golden to a deep blue.

“Yeah.” Brady nods. “I got it from my mom.”

“She must have been beautiful.” I say must have because I know none of them have parents. That's all I really know about them. The day after they found me in their home, I asked Dallas how they formed their pack, and all he responded with was they’re all orphans and they made their own family. My heart hurts for them, but I can see how much they love each other. They really are their own little family.

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