Page 11 of Kiss for My Kraken
“I didn’t even know this was here,” Nina said wonderingly when Flora pushed back the curtain of bushes which had been obscuring the old shack.
“We’ll have to do something about these,” Flora said. “We wouldn’t want to block your view of the river.” This time she winked at him. “I’ll send a friend over to give you a hand clearing it out. This is just the kind of project they love doing,” she added before Nina could argue with her.
Flora led the way up the rickety front steps to the porch, and pushed open the door. Ben never locked the cabin, but he didn’t like the thought of Nina without a lock on the door, even if he were keeping watch over her. He’d been in the cabin before, so he knew that it was simply one open room, with a small galley kitchen and a tiny bathroom along the back wall, and a loft bed overhead. He also knew it was full of miscellaneous junk that Ben had stored there over the years. Ben had inherited the shack from his father, but he’d never spent any time there.
He half expected Nina to march straight back out again. But he could hear her moving around inside, humming thoughtfully to herself before she and Flora walked back out on the porch.
“Well, dear?” Flora asked.
Nina looked out over the river, her eyes lingering on his island. And then she smiled, a soft, pretty smile that made his heart skip a beat. “You were right. This is perfect. Don’t you think so, Ozzie?”
The dog, too, was looking out over the water and Sam could have sworn he was looking right at him as he gave a short bark of agreement.
“I’m usually right,” Flora said modestly. “Oh, and there’s a driveway back behind the shack, with enough room for that ridiculously large car of yours. Although there were definite advantages to those big backseats.”
Nina nodded absently, then frowned. “Wait a minute. How did you know about my car?”
But Flora had disappeared.
“Where did she go, Ozzie?” The dog tilted his head inquisitively, and she laughed. “I guess you don’t know either. Curiouser and curiouser, as Alice would say. But nice,” she added softly. “Everyone has been so kind. I’m beginning to think that island really is magic. Now then, let’s see how much we can get done before it’s time to go back to work.”
CHAPTER 7
Nina sat back on her heels and gave the shack a satisfied look. Not just a shack, but hopefully a home, at least temporarily. She’d spent most of the afternoon sorting through the miscellaneous objects that had cluttered the space. She’d wiped everything down, and it was now stacked as neatly as possible against one wall, leaving the rest of the room clear. She’d discovered a battered couch beneath a paint-splattered tarp and a small wooden table, which she’d placed in front of the galley kitchen, along with two mismatched and somewhat rickety kitchen chairs. She’d also wiped down the kitchen counter and the small bathroom.
Time to check out the sleeping arrangements. Fortunately, there was nothing in the loft area except a bed with a chipped wooden frame and a dresser that also served as a nightstand. She stripped the dusty linens off the bed, then wiped down the furniture and swept the floor. To her delight, there was a window set in the eaves directly across from the bed, which meant she’d be able to lie in bed and look out at her island.
She looked at her watch and decided she didn’t have enough time to maneuver her car back up the rutted track that led tothe landing, but she could get a few things for tonight. She hurried down the path to retrieve her sleeping bag, a change of clothes, and her toiletries, along with Ozzie’s food and bowls. It still ended up taking a little longer than she had anticipated. Panicked that she was going to be late, she raced back to the tavern.
She rushed into the kitchen, already apologizing, but Ben only shook his head.
“You’re two minutes early, but you’ve got dust on your nose. Go get cleaned up while I get the mutt settled.”
He stomped off down the hallway, with Ozzie trotting along happily at his side, and she hurried off to clean up.
When she returned, Ben set her to work chopping vegetables.
“Put anything you don’t want from the shack out on the porch,” he told her. “I’ll come by this weekend to get rid of it.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“It’s just been collecting dust.” A smile flashed across his face so quickly she almost thought she’d imagined it. “As you found out.”
“I really appreciate you renting it to me.”
“Then hurry up with those carrots,” he grumbled.
“You mean you actually like carrots?” she asked, then gave him a nervous look, worried that she’d overstepped her bounds. But the quick smile flashed again.
“Against my better judgment.”
She laughed and went back to chopping.
The dinner rush was even busier than lunch. A second server, Molly, joined Annabelle. A voluptuous female with dark hair and very red lips who looked human until she smiled and revealed long, pointed canines.A vampire.But Molly was as friendly as the other two, although she didn’t join in the pre-dinner staff meal. This time it was chicken with pasta in a delicious mushroom cream sauce, and she couldn’t help giving Molly a sympathetic look.
“Don’t worry,” the other woman grinned at her. “I’m guessing you’re feeling sorry for me because I’m not eating Ben’s food.”
“Well, yes.”
