Page 23 of Sweet Harmony

“Why are you inmy sister’s kitchen this morning, Dr. MacMillan?” Gideon’s voicehad an edge to it.

“Gideon, knockit off,” Kira said.

“We’re dating,”Connor replied.

She wassurprised by how relaxed Connor looked and sounded. Connor wastall, she guessed he was around six feet and muscular, but at 6’4”,her brother was one of the biggest men in Harmony Falls. It wasn’tjust his height either. He had a physically intimidating build, hisbroad shoulders, wide chest and thick thighs made even the mostbelligerent of drunks think twice about crossing him. That Connordidn’t seem even a little intimidated by her brother was anunexpected surprise.

The muscleticking at Gideon’s temple was the only sign that he heardConnor.

“Kira,” hesaid, “can I speak to you in private, please?”

“I have to goto work,” she said. “I’ll text you later. Why are you hereanyway?”

Gideon liftedthe travel coffee mug he held in one large hand. “I’m dropping Tankat Guardians for the day and I’m out of coffee. The house is on theway.”

“You know wherethe coffee pods are,” she said.

Gideon’snostrils flared and she gave him a don’t-push-me-look that hecompletely ignored. “I would prefer to speak with you now,” hesaid.

“Well, I’m busywith Connor and -”

“It’s fine,”Connor said. “I need to get to work as well.”

He pulled herclose and pressed a kiss against her mouth. It was a brief kiss,but she still felt like her lips had been seared by flames.

He stepped awayfrom her and gave Tank a final pat. “Nice to meet you, Sheriff.Kira, I’ll call you later.”

“Right, okay.Bye.” Kira gave him a stupid little wave before her eyes widened.Shit, she’d forgotten about Daniel.

She sidesteppedaround her brother and Tank. “Daniel, I’m sorry, I…”

The kitchen wasempty. Daniel was gone. Feeling a little sick to her stomach, shebarely noticed when Connor walked out of the kitchen. Was Danielmad at her? Had he left because she’d basically ignored him fromthe moment he walked in, or had he left because of her brother?

She didn’t knowand worry gnawed at her stomach. She should text him. She wasreaching for her phone when her brother cleared his throat. He wasputting a coffee pod into the machine and giving her a pointedlook.

“What?” shesaid.

“Since when didyou start dating a dentist from Willington?”

“He’s been inHarmony Falls for two years, Gideon.”

“When did youstart dating?” he repeated.

“A few weeksago. Why?” The smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. Tank,who had stretched out on his side, thumped his tail against thefloor when she stepped over him.

“He doesn’tseem like your type,” Gideon said. “How did you meet him?”

“He’s mydentist,” Kira replied. “Isn’t he yours?”

“I seeGrant.”

“Oh. Well, youshould try seeing Connor instead. He’s a great dentist. Listen, Ihave to go, or I’ll be late for -”

“What aboutDaniel?”

She opened thefridge and grabbed her lunch. “What about him?”

“Don’t playdumb, Kira. You’ve been,” Gideon gestured vaguely in the air,“smitten with him since you were a kid.”

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