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Those arms tightened a fraction. “So. Damned. Happy,” Kane grunted at the shell of my ear.
Both of us seemed to be drawn to the bracelet that I wore around my wrist. The one that his mother had worn. The one that had been lost when Kane’s heart had been lost. The same one that had served to guide us here.
Connecting us.
Binding us.
“She would be so proud of you, Kane,” I murmured.
His nod was wistful. “Think she would have given anything to see this. You, me, and Maci.”
Kane traced his fingertip over one of the roses, and I whispered, “Maybe she’s been right here, all along.”
The bell dinged overhead, and my attention jerked up as we were popped from our bubble.
A really beautiful woman came through the door, wearing a puffy white coat with faux fur around the neck, jeans, and heeled boots that came up just past her knees.
She smiled, both confident and wary as she stepped into the boutique. “Hi, I hope it’s okay that I just came in, but I saw that you are hiring?”
With a smile, I untangled myself from Kane and stepped closer to the counter. “We are. I’m just getting ready to open the shop tomorrow, and with ski season and the holidays, we’re definitely going to be shorthanded. I’m Emery.”
Eagerness shined in her eyes. “It’s so nice to meet you. I’m Piper.” She paused then lifted an uncertain shoulder to her ear. “I was hoping I could put in an application?”
“Of course. Are you new to town? I’ve never seen you before.” And Raven had made it her life’s mission to introduce me to everyone she knew.
Piper gave a slight nod. “Yes. I just got into town and am looking for a permanent place to stay. I…I hope that’s not a problem?”
“No, not at all.”
Relief seemed to ripple across her face, and she gave me a timid smile. “That’s great. I could really use this job.”
“And I could really use the help.” I didn’t know what it was about her, but I immediately liked her.
“Where are you staying?” Kane asked.
She averted her gaze for a moment then seemed to force out, “The Sanctuary. Though it might be more aptly called The Prison.”
She let go of a roll of self-deprecating laughter.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
She shrugged in uncertainty. “The owner is a little…overprotective. He demanded to know where I was going when I left today. He somehow thinks just because he did me a favor when he was fully booked, I’ve become his responsibility.” Then she dropped her attention to the ground and scratched her forehead, her voice lowering when she said, “I probably shouldn’t be unloading that on you, should I?”
A small giggle rolled from me. “You can definitely unload it since I’m pretty sure you and I are going to be great friends. Just to be clear, you are talking about Theo?”
Her blue eyes went wide with surprise. “Yes. Theo Mallin. You know him?”
“Oh, I definitely know him.”
Kane chuckled a low, disbelieving sound, and his words slipped into amusement. “So, you’re Piper Whittman. Welcome to Moonlit Ridge.”