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He body-wagged, licked her cheek, and didn’t look the least bit penitent.

Heading back, she carried him until she felt reasonably sure they were close enough to the edge of the woods to risk setting him down again.

“Pull that one again, and it’s the leash for you, puppy.”

Maybe she should buy a compass, she considered, then realized she’d probably find one somewhere in the house.

Of course, she didn’t actually know how to use a compass, but she could learn.

Maybe she felt a wave of relief when she saw the manor, heard the sea, stepped out into the stronger light. But it wouldn’t stop her from walking in the woods—sometime.

“They’re ours, right, Yoda? I can learn to use a compass. I can buy hiking boots. Because they’re ours.”

She pulled out her phone, checked the time.

“Let’s go find Cleo.”

Chapter Six

Inside, Sonya left Yoda lapping at his water bowl and headed up to Cleo’s studio.

She gave a light rap on the doorjamb before walking in.

“I’m about to go make myself presentable for… Oh, Cleo!”

Sonya stepped closer to the painting on the easel. “She’s stunning. She’s gorgeous. She’s amazing.”

“I think she’s finished.” Cleo stood at her worktable, cleaning her brushes. “I’m going to leave her there, take another good look tomorrow. And if I still think she’s finished, put her in the drying rack.”

“She’s magic,” Sonya murmured.

The mermaid sat on the rocks, her tail a glory of jewel colors as it swept the water. And while day broke in a symphony of golds, pinks, blues, and a whale sounded out to sea, she sat, holding a glass sphere.

In the sphere she held sat another, and in that sphere yet another.

“The detail, Cleo, inside the globes.” Sonya pressed a hand to her heart. “I’m awestruck. Sincerely.”

“I’m going to credit the mermaid lamp we found in storage, the happenstance of the job illustrating a book on mermaids, and this view for inspiration.”

She walked over, laid a hand on Sonya’s shoulder as she studied her own work.

“Screw bullshit modesty.” Cleo tossed back her hair, rocked her hips. “She’s special.”

“Owen should build you a frigging yacht for her.”

“A pretty two-person Sunfish is what I want. But he’d better appreciate her.”

“You didn’t sign her.”

“Tomorrow, after I’m a hundred percent sure. I guess you’re wrapped for the day. And now so am I. Let’s go get pretty.”

“Not only wrapped,” Sonya said as they started down. “I wrapped, then took a walk in the woods.”

“By yourself?”

“I had Yoda. Not far in, but maybe a little more than I planned. I liked it—though there was a moment after I found this little stream, or creek. What’s the difference?”

“A creek’s a small stream.”