Page 12 of No Man Left Behind

“Thank you. That’s what I’m going for.” It thrilled her that he knew her well enough to guess at the origin of the name. And that he’d checked out her work right away.

Elina didn’t know if she was reading too much into innocent gestures and words, but it was her fantasy, so she was going with it.

For the next hour, the group shared stories and laughter while they ate food that kept appearing. She even found herself in selfie shots with Nina and Piper.

Branna never seemed to sit in one place for long. When Elina tried to get up to help, she’d waved her back down with a smile. “This is what I do, and I love it. I promise I’ll ask if I need help.”

Nina scooped up some guacamole and studied Elina. “You said you saw the name Phail on the map when you were traveling from Albany. Is that where you live?”

This girl wasn’t holding back on the tough questions, but she hadn’t a clue that her words zinged straight to Elina’s insecurities. “I was passing through Albany. I used to live in Seattle for a while but it was time to leave, and I decided to go on an adventure across the country.”

Nina grinned, but she felt Marcus tense beside her. The man was proving to be fluent in reading between the lines.

“Seattle sounds like a fun place to visit, but I like living in Phail. Did you see the Space Needle or go to any Kraken games? I love their logo.”

Elina laughed. “I did see the Space Needle, but no hockey games.”

“Baseball?”

“Nope. Lots of art galleries, though.”

Nina grinned. “That sounds fun. I think Piper needs to make one here. Maybe she can attach it to the Phail tourist center she wants to create. We’ve got a ton of local artists and artisans. And if you stay, we’ll have one more.”

If you stay.Those words, said so casually by the teen, zipped their way right into Elina’s heart. Could she stay? Would she finally find a place to fit in?

This was the most comfortable she’d ever felt with a group, but would that last? It might be the fun of seeing old friends. But that could fade. She wouldn’t want to outstay her welcome, but the thought of making this a permanent move was tempting, especially with Arrow living here.

As the conversation turned to Piper’s tourist center and the possible locations and stock she should carry, Elina let the idea turn around in her head.

There was no need to make an immediate decision. She’d been in Phail for hours, not days, but she liked everything she’d seen. She’d booked the B&B for a few more nights, and that would give her time to make a decision. If she still felt this positive about the place, she could look for a short-term rental property. That would give her more time to decide.

She hadn’t been able to stay in Seattle. The itch to move might have come from never having a permanent home as a child. It could also have come from theyou’re being watchedvibes she got while there. The same vibes she’d had in Albany. And in every new community she’d moved to while working with her parents and on her own.

Those, she understood. She’d been new. She hadn’t spoken the languages well at the beginning. And she’d looked different from most of the residents.

The feeling of being watched had disappeared in the villages after a while, but not in Seattle. She hadn’t stayed long enough in Albany to find out.

That itchy feeling hadn’t appeared in Phail yet.

Marcus touched her arm. “You okay? It’s been a long day for you. If you want to head out at any time, that’s not a problem.”

She smiled at him and studied his face. Strong. Serious, with kind eyes that saw more than most people expected him to see. What did he see as he studied her?

Probably the attraction that always flared when he was around. Or when she thought of him. Or dreamed of him.

Elina smiled at her thoughts. “It’s been an overwhelming day, but I’m good for a bit longer.”

How much longer was the question.

Chapter5

See A Man About A Dog

Marcus enjoyed everything about the evening. The food, the company, and the connection he felt with Elina. She was easy with his friends and had handled Nina’s questions with grace.

The teen had felt bad about revealing Elina’s comic strip identity but Elina didn’t seem to mind. She’d revealed a lot about herself as they’d talked.

He now knew she didn’t feel close enough to anyone to tell them about Paxi. He assumed that eliminated any boyfriends. Everything she’d said about Seattle and the places she’d visited spoke of curiosity and delight in the little things. Quirky art, kind people, and beautiful scenery.

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