Page 65 of What We Keep
Janet grinned. “I’m fine. And your big guy here”—she gestured to me with a brow waggle—“rescued us both.”
“Is that why you smell like smoke?” Elsa asked.
“That would be it,” I said dryly.
Janet moved along, chatting with various people clustered outside of the café.
“Wow. I wonder what happened,” Elsa mused.
“I’m sure they’ll do an investigation. Janet seems okay, and no one got hurt. That’s all that matters,” I said.
Elsa shook her head slightly as we looked over at Janet. “Janet is the living, breathing definition of resilient. Did you really carry her out?”
“I was getting coffee when we smelled smoke, and the smoke alarms went off. I told Casey and Luna to get everybody out. I went upstairs, and that’s where Janet was. She was out of breath from the smoke, so I carried her down. Then I went back up to get her cat.” I took a breath, letting it out. “I’m just glad they’re both okay.”
“I’m glad you’re okay too,” Elsa added.
“Of course I’m okay.”
“It’s never ‘of course,’” Elsa pointed out.
I knew what she meant. Dipping my head, I brushed my cheek against hers as I breathed in her scent. “Should we go home?” I asked when I lifted my head.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Elsa
Should we go home?
Of course, I nodded when Haven asked that. Alaska was home. Willow Brook was home. And now, Heartfire Falls Resort in this small apartment above a barn was home.
Haven felt like home. I was falling. So hard and fast. For a person and a place. I was in way too deep.
I’d always felt a little bit out of step with everyone. For most of my life, I’d wanted nothing more than to feel like I belonged somewhere. Haven and Heartfire Falls gave me that feeling.
I fell asleep in Haven’s arms that night after he took me roughly in our bed. Being with him felt so good it almost frightened me. The goodness felt as fragile as spun sugar.
The next evening, Chloe walked into the kitchen where we were eating and announced, “Some guy is here looking for Elsa.”
I should have known it would all blow apart. The goodness cracked on the edges. I’d always known it had to be too good to be true.
“Huh? Who?” I asked.
“He says his name is Brad,” Chloe replied.
A ball of ice and dread formed in my stomach instantly. I was relieved Haven was running late and blessedly not present for this.
“I don’t like the name Brad,” Tommy announced. He took his last bite of cereal, and the sound of his spoon dropping against the edge of the bowl clattered on my unsettled nerves.
“What should I tell him?” Chloe asked, oblivious to my state.
I swallowed. “I’ll deal with it.”
Jude happened to be standing by the doorway, and his eyes met mine. “You okay?” he asked as I walked by.
“Fine,” I said, knowing my tone was sharp. I took a shaky breath as I walked through the resort to the main entrance, all the while wondering how the hell Brad had found me.
I wasn’t sure as I approached if Chloe had left him waiting on the porch. I kind of hoped she had. When I discovered the door was closed and no one was waiting in the entryway, I let out a tiny sigh of relief.
