• fifteen •

“Not sure what went wrong in his DNA.”

Rumor

I was going to take more books this time. The four I had taken Sunday only lasted for three days. I had woken up early and walked the one mile from the cottage to Maeme’s. She was thrilled to see me and even insisted I have a cup of coffee with her and try one of her blueberry muffins. It was nice to feel normal. I had felt guilty about turning down her invitation to come to dinner Tuesday night. She had called me and said she’d come get me, but I had lied and said I had a headache.

Now back in the library, I wanted to inhale the smell of books, run my fingers over the bindings, and stay lost in here forever. No fear of the future or what was to come. My ribs were feeling much better, and Maeme had said the doctor was coming tomorrow to take a look at them. My lip were healing, and the bruising on my face was almost gone. All that being said, I knew my time was running out here. Soaking in every moment I had left was important. I might never have this again. A safe place to be. I didn’t want to miss a moment of it.

I reached for a book on the third shelf near the left side of the door that I had noticed Sunday just as the door opened. Expecting to see Maeme, I froze when an unfamiliar face entered the room. I wasn’t sure if I should scream or remain calm. Just because I had never seen him didn’t mean he didn’t belong here. There were a lot of people in this family of Maeme’s, and I didn’t quite understand all their connections, but the man was attractive. Somewhat familiar, but I wasn’t sure why. I’d definitely recognize that face if I had seen it before.

The small grin that touched his lips seemed amused yet friendly. I wasn’t the best at judging one’s character though.

“You must be Rumor,” he said, causing me to exhale in relief. He knew my name. He wasn’t some stranger off the street or law enforcement, looking for Carmella Millroe. “I’m Sebastian Shephard. You’ve met my brother, Thatcher.”

I tensed up again. Thatcher wasn’t someone I wanted to be alone with, and that went for anyone closely related to him. When I took a step back, Sebastian appeared confused, and then he chuckled.

“I should have clarified that I am the sane younger brother. I’m nothing like Thatch. Not sure what went wrong in his DNA.”

The way his grin crinkled the corners of his brown eyes, which were free of the troubled darkness in Thatcher’s, led me to believe he was telling the truth.

“It’s, uh, nice to meet you,” I replied.

He glanced around the room and sighed contentedly. “This is my favorite place.”

I didn’t say anything, but I studied him. He seemed to be inhaling the smell of books much the way I had. Interesting.

When his eyes locked back on me, he gave me a sheepish look. “Mind if I stay? I’m here for a few more days, and I like to have something to read when I need to get away from it all.”

I shook my head. “No. Not at all. Please, I will just get my books and leave you in peace.”

He walked over to me, his eyes on the books in my hand. “Do you like horses, Rumor?” he asked, lifting his gaze back up to meet mine.

I shrugged. “I like to look at them. I’ve never been close to one or ridden one.”

He narrowed his eyes, yet his smile stayed in place. “Hold on,” he said, then walked across the room and scanned a row of books before pulling one out. When he turned back to me, he held it up. “Read this. I think you’ll enjoy it.” He told me, then placed the book on top of my others.

I looked down at the book he’d given me. “The Ride of Her Life by Elizabeth Letts,” I read aloud, then saw that it was a true story. A memoir. I smiled before asking, “And you’ve read this?” It seemed very unlikely.

He blushed and lifted his shoulders in a small shrug. “Yeah. But if you tell anyone, I’ll deny it.”

I laughed then, surprising myself. This man was not at all what I had expected. He was at least six feet tall, muscular but leaner than King was. His lips weren’t as full, but his face was handsome. He was clean-shaven, and his square jaw made the rest of his features more masculine.

I realized he was grinning at me, and I covered my mouth, feeling bad about laughing. “I’m sorry.”

“No. You can laugh. I’m secure enough in my masculinity to handle it. Just make sure you keep this our little secret. The guys would use it as a weapon for their entertainment.”

I nodded and held the books to my chest. “I swear to never tell a soul.”

He let out an exaggerated sigh of relief. “Now, you read that, and the next time I’m back in town, I’ll take you to the stables. When your ribs are better, I’ll teach you to ride. You can ride Malta. She’s a sweetheart and perfect for learners.”

The thought of getting to ride a horse was exciting and terrifying, all at once. Although I shouldn’t think about it too much. There was a good chance I would be gone by the time he visited again. I nodded and said nothing more. I didn’t want to get into my having to leave soon. He’d have questions that I had no answers to. Not yet.

“Sebastian,” a familiar voice said in a deep timbre that made my heart speed up.

Swinging my gaze to the door, I saw King leaning against the frame, looking at Sebastian.

“Hello, King. What brings you to the library?” he asked cheerfully.

King shifted his gaze to me. “I came to see if Rumor would like a ride back to the cottage.”

Getting to be around King was too appealing to turn down. It was also concerning that I had become so happy about seeing him. It had been three days since I’d seen him last, and I would be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about him every one of those days. Wondering what he was doing, where he was, if he thought of me at all. None of those being healthy things for me to be focusing on, but I couldn’t seem to stop it.

“I, uh, yes, that would be nice. Thank you,” I replied.

He cut his eyes back to Sebastian and gave him a smirk before straightening his stance, then walking over to me. “I’ll carry the books. I was glad to see you back in here, but Maeme said you walked. You could have called me or texted. I’d have come to get you.”

Don’t look him in the eyes. Don’t do it. I blinked and caved as I met his gaze. Those eyes of his made my stomach feel funny.

“I didn’t mind the walk. It was a nice morning.”

The softness in his expression made me want to curl up against him like a cat. What was wrong with me? I had to get a grip.

“It was nice to meet you, Rumor,” Sebastian said, reminding me he was here. I had forgotten so easily.

How was it that King could walk into a room and immediately become the center of attention? Everyone else seemed to fade away when he was there.

Turning my gaze back to his, I smiled. “It was nice to meet you too. And thanks for the book recommendation.”

He nodded his head, and King’s hand touched my lower back. It was a miracle I didn’t shiver under his touch.

“Later, Sebastian,” King called out to him as he led me to the door.

“You sure you were ready to go? I could wait for you if you wanted to look some more.”

I shook my head. “No. That’s okay. I was about to leave and give Sebastian alone time, deciding on what he wanted to read.”

“That was nice of you, but Sebastian can go do actual work. Like he’s supposed to be doing. He doesn’t have time to be reading.”

I tilted my head back and looked up at King. He leaned forward then and opened the front door, not taking his hand off my back in the process. I did the best I could not to try and smell him because that would be weird.

“Can’t say you’re wrong about it being a pretty day,” he said once we were outside. “Feels like spring.”

We had another week before it was officially spring, but he was right. It did feel as if it was already here. I loved spring. The green trees, the flowers, the new life. It had always made me happy, growing up.

“As a kid spring, seemed like a hopeful time.” I said the words without thinking.

“What kind of hopes did you have as a kid?” King asked me.

I hesitated, not sure how much I should share, but decided saying it to someone would feel like a release of sorts. And I trusted King. It had been a very long time since I had trusted anyone. Even Hill had worked to gain my trust, and I’d been cautious. Never telling him too much. Afraid if he knew, he’d never accept me. Want me.

“Oh, you know, to have a family. Somewhere to belong.” I tried to say the words lightly but heard the heaviness in my tone.

King’s hand on my back flinched, but he said nothing. I wished I could take it back. That wasn’t the kind of thing he’d expected to hear. I’d overshared. Made it awkward.

“You’ll have that one day. I swear it.”

There was a fierceness in his tone. It almost made me believe him. Forget the facts. The truth I was pretending wasn’t waiting for me. If only his words held the power to make my wish come true.