Page 12 of Kiss for My Kraken
“I usually do. But he knows I don’t like mushrooms.”
Ben shrugged. “There’s minestrone in a pot on the stove.”
“No thanks. I had a nice little snack before I came to work.” The other three groaned, and Nina decided she’d rather not know. Elder Matthias had been especially vocal about the evilness of “blood-sucking demons,” as he called vampires, but Nina felt more comfortable with the woman reclining gracefully against the wall than she ever had with him.
She only made it to eight o’clock before Ben ordered her to go home.
“I can stay,” she protested.
“Not tonight. You’re exhausted.”
She bit her lip. She knew he was right, but she also hated to miss any opportunity to earn money, and she felt bad about leaving him in the kitchen on his own.
“Dinner is over and the dishes are washed,” he said firmly.
“But you’re still serving food.”
“Just bar snacks. And I can handle those just like I did before you came along. Go.” Despite his gruffness, he seemed genuinely concerned about her so she nodded wearily and went to get Ozzie.
She found him in Ben’s office, curled up in a brand-new dog bed with a stuffed pineapple toy at his side.
“His bark really is worse than his bite,” she told Ozzie when he bounced over to meet her. “Come on boy, let’s go home.”
Home.What a wonderful word. She smiled happily as the two of them slipped out of the back door, then immediately collided with a tall male figure. Ozzie growled as the man whirled around, his eyes glinting green in the darkness, and she flinched back before she recognized Dr. Jackson.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you.”
“It was my fault.” His tone was as cool and professional as it had been the day before, but she was suddenly convinced he was not a normal human doctor after all. “Have you recovered from your unexpected swim?”
“Yes, thank you.”
He studied her for a moment. “I told you to take it easy, but I suspect you have not been following my instructions.”
She shrugged uncomfortably. “It’s been a busy day, but I’m going home now, and I promise I’ll get an early night.”
“Do you want me to accompany you?”
“No,” she said a little too quickly, and saw a shadow cross his face. “It’s not far,” she added, “and I have Ozzie to protect me.”
The dog seemed to have forgotten his previous agitation and wagged his tail happily.
“Fine protection, I’m sure,” the doctor said gravely. “Good night, Nina.”
“Good night.”
Perhaps he remembered how she’d waited for him to leave the previous night because he turned and disappeared around the front of the building. She waited a moment longer, then ducked back through the bushes and onto the river trail, wincing when a sharp branch scratched her hand. She was sure Ben wouldn’t mind if she cut them back a bit, but then again, she liked the fact that they hid the presence of the river path. Maybe when she felt more comfortable.
The fifteen minute walk to the shack seemed longer tonight as weariness crept over her. She came to an abrupt halt when she reached it, sure that her eyes were playing tricks on her. The bushes that had obscured the porch had been trimmed back. Enough remained to provide privacy, but she would now have a clear view out over the river from the porch. On the other side of the path, more of the brush had been cleared away to reveal a narrow set of wooden stairs leading down to a small dock she hadn’t noticed before. Had Flora already sent her friend over?
Unable to resist, she went down the stairs to the dock. Perhaps because it was below the level of the riverbank and was still surrounded by bushes, it felt hidden, like a secret hideaway. She stood there for a long moment, looking out across the water at her island.
“Thank you, magic island,” she said quietly. The water in front of the dock suddenly swirled, and she caught a fleeting glimpseof what looked like silver skin and long, dark hair. Her breath caught in her throat as she stared down into the dark water, but whatever she had seen was gone.
The memory of her prince flashed through her mind before she shook her head.It was just my imagination.She had probably seen a fish or some river weed floating by in the current, but as she climbed back up to the cabin, she couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching her. Yet it wasn’t an uncomfortable feeling; it was more as if someone was watching over her, protecting her. The fanciful thought made her smile, and when she reached the porch she turned around and lifted her fingers to her lips, blowing a kiss out towards the river.
“Goodnight, my river prince.”
Then she went inside and closed the door.
