Page 28 of Arctic Panda's Secret Mate
HAISLEY
Haisley had become basically nocturnal, napping during the day and rising at dinner when they gathered in the dining room and she couldn’t sleep through their boisterous conversation. She enjoyed her brief freedom at night, stayed up through breakfast, and then went to sleep when they dispersed for the day. Lunch seemed to be a less formal affair, with occasional pairs in the dining room, but nothing so structured or loud.
She heard Tristan’s shy tap at her door that afternoon, but ignored it studiously, shutting her eyes and willing herself back to sleep. He went away, and didn’t persist. She knew it couldn’t be anyone else.
That night, dinner was louder than ever, an achingly long meal of half a dozen celebratory courses. The half of the party that had gone into town had stories to share, and Haisley was amused to hear their opinions of Fairbanks (small but charming, was the consensus). Their shopping adventures had been complicated, apparently, byGizelle, who had notshifted.
“I did not shift,” the woman protested. “I promised!”
“She did not shift.” Magnolia (stillYas Queenin Haisely’s head) chuckled warmly. “But she didrun, and the display rack she hit is rather the worse for it.”
“It wasn’t her fault,”Mom(Lydia) said kindly. “There was a lot happening, and it was very loud, even before the Santa Claus tried to hug her.”
“I did not shift,” Gizelle muttered.
It would have made no sense at all, if Tristan had not told her he was a shapeshifter. And she had seen the antelope in the kitchen. Even theleopardsmade a certain amount of sense with that information.
They were an entire clan of magical people who could turn into animals, andthatwas why they hadn’t wanted Haisley around.
It explained so much… and begged so many questions!
Were there many shifters? Were they endemic to Costa Rica, or that particular island? Tristan had said that the resort was exclusive. Were there many places like that? How much other magic was there in the world, ifthatwas possible?
It was agonizing how long they talked after the meal was done, and Haisley spent most of it in her bathroom with the door shut, reading in the dry bathtub because she didn’t want to run the water (which had turned out to be noisier than she’d ever guessed).
Finally, everyone dispersed from the dining room, washed up in the kitchen, and wandered out into the great room and eventually to all their individual rooms.
She didn’t notice the note under her door until it crinkled as she cautiously opened it.
She read it three times. He had neat, engineer’s handwriting, tiny but clear, and she could hear it in his voice.
“I’m so sorry I frightened you.”
That reallywashis voice. Tristan had been waiting inthe kitchen on the stool where she’d eaten her sandwich. He was a big, lurking shadow in the dark room, but Haisley wasn’t actually afraid, even when he stood up.
She wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of knowing that, though. “Youshouldbe sorry,” she said tartly. “But I have a lot of questions now, and you’d better have some answers.”
“Yes, of course,” Tristan said immediately. “Anything.”
“What kind of cookies do you want to make? Because some of them take a long while to cool, especially if you want to frost them.”
Tristan’s face split into a smile. “Any of them. All of them? I don’t knowanythingabout cookies.”
Haisley went to get her apron. “I see we are opening with innuendo, but I’m happy you’re being honest.”
Tristan laughed, uncertainly at first, and then with relief. “I reallyamsorry. I sprang everything on you all the wrong way. I’m glad you’re not scared of me.”
“Panda bears aren’t scary,” Haisley assured him. “Leopards, on the other hand…”
Tristan’s laughter died a swift, inelegant death. “You knew…?”
“I wasn’t trying to snoop,” Haisley said. “But honestly, your explanation makes more sense than the other things I came up with. I thought maybe you were trafficking exotic animals. And nudists. Nudists trafficking exotic animals.”
Tristan considered. “I mean… I can sort of see how you’d come up with that.”
“Back to cookies. Your party seems all paired up, so you’ll want half a dozen boxes, I imagine. No allergies to work around. I suggest some classics, like chocolate chip and peanut butter. Chocolate crinkle is a Christmas classic, and butterballs. I have a no-bake peppermint candy recipe that is a real treat. Nothing but butter, three kinds of sugar,peppermint extract, and food coloring, really. Maybe we should mix things up with a bar cookie. I’ve got a caramel toffee bar that is to die for. Do any of themnotlike chocolate? I’ve got a cherry oatmeal cookie that pretends to be healthy. We can also do dipped pretzels, or homemade candy canes, which are easier than you might think!”
Haisley looked up from her binder to find Tristan gazing at her with a little half smile on his face.
