Page 42 of Deadly Storms (Sunrise Lake #3)

Shabina appreciated everything Zahra brought up.

Each argument was a well-thought-out concern.

Zahra didn’t have all the facts about Shabina’s upbringing or Rainier’s.

It was impossible for her to know what Shabina needed in a relationship.

Still, Zahra struggled to understand and be supportive of her friend’s choice even while she pointed out the possible pitfalls.

“He was born in the United States but raised in the Middle East. I honestly have taken all those things into consideration, Zahra,” Shabina assured.

“The thing you don’t know about Rainier is that he puts me first.” She rubbed her thigh.

“I worry that I’m not going to be a good partner for him in the bedroom after all the trauma I’ve been through.

He doesn’t seem worried in the least. He just tells me it will happen when it’s right.

Not to rush things or feel we need to. He makes me feel safe and loved.

I don’t feel those things unless he’s with me. ”

“Then he sounds like he’s right for you,” Zahra said.

“I’m going to have to get to work. It’s getting super busy in here, and my staff has been amazing to let me sit and visit.”

“They’re most likely terrified of Rainier’s wrath if you’re upset in any way,” Raine said.

Shabina couldn’t argue with that assessment. “Did he contact you already about viewing the security footage? Is that why he confronted Chelsey?”

Raine nodded. “I received a call from him early this morning. Does he sleep?”

Shabina had fallen asleep with Rainier’s arms around her.

He’d held her against him, his arms that fortress she remembered from all the many years when he showed up, sliding into her bedroom when she needed him the most. She had no idea if he slept because she always fell asleep first, and he was out of bed early, caring for the dogs and doing a thorough security check.

They’d gone running together, taking all the dogs with them before returning his three, Mick, Sonar and Bomber, back to the house to guard while they went to the café so she could do the early morning baking.

Rainier had disappeared for a short time.

When he returned, he took his laptop to Raine’s favorite table and stayed out of the kitchen.

It hadn’t occurred to her that Rainier would contact Raine so soon and ask to view the security footage for the café and her home.

She’d brought him Arabic coffee and date cookies once she had them fresh from the oven but left him to his work while she did hers.

“That’s a good question,” she answered Raine as she stood up.

“Did you hear the gossip about Lawyer?” Zahra asked her quickly.

“He gave an interview to a local reporter and told them a story about how when he was a teen, he had been involved with other boys and they’d robbed and beat up their football coach.

He confessed to the coach and paid him back the money.

He made the coach out to be a hero. I know his is one of our local families you take food to in the winter, Shabina. ”

“Wow, Lawyer is such a good guy,” Shabina said.

She smiled at the two women over her shoulder and then hurried to help the waiters and waitresses take orders and get food and drink out to her customers.

She knew exactly why Lawyer had made his confession.

He was circumventing Bale from using what he thought was damning evidence against him.

She was a little surprised to see that the three women from Washington were still in town.

Janine, Val and Theresa waved to her and indicated when she had time they would love to chat.

They were friendly and clearly enjoyed bird-watching and hiking, but climbing wasn’t one of their passions.

Most visitors prolonged their stay in Knightly to boulder.

Lucca’s sister, Avita, and one of his brothers, Pablo, came in for breakfast. Both had clearly been up all night.

She took their order. “I’m so sorry to hear about Lucca,” she whispered.

“I know they’re keeping it under wraps, and I won’t say anything, but we get all the latest news because we send supplies to the volunteers. ”

She didn’t know what to say, so she felt she said too much. Avita teared up, and Pablo put his arm around her.

“We’re heading up to the base camp. If you need us to take anything up there, we can do that,” Pablo said.

“We want to be closer just in case,” Avita added.

“I’ll see if we can have the supplies ready in time before you leave,” Shabina said.

“Oh, Shabina,” Avita suddenly said, tears spilling over. She stood up and flung herself into Shabina’s arms.

Shabina held her tight for a few minutes.

To her consternation, Pablo stood as well and wrapped his arms around his sister and her.

She was uncomfortable with men touching her, even men she knew.

It wasn’t as if Pablo was a stranger, and she had empathy for him, but every cell in her body rebelled.

It was all she could do not to stiffen, especially when he put his head on her shoulder.

There was a sudden hush in the café. Rainier appeared beside them in that silent way he had.

Pablo stepped back, as did Avita. Rainier gave them an easy smile, holding out his hand to Pablo.

“Rainier Ashcroft, Shabina’s fiancé and partner here in the café.

” His voice was pitched low, impossible to hear other than by the two members of the Delgotto family.

“I wanted to let you know we’re putting together supplies to take up to the base camp.

If there’s anything we can do for your family, please let us know.

” His arm swept around Shabina, and he pulled her protectively beneath his shoulder.

Pablo shook his hand. “Thanks, man. We appreciate everything you’re doing for us. Shabina has always been a good friend to our family, particularly to our parents.”

Rainier waved the two back to their seats and indicated for Patsy to bring them their drinks.

“Mom was very sick last winter,” Avita revealed.

“When Shabina found out we were having trouble getting her to eat, she brought her different kinds of soups and smoothies and shakes. She also brought meals for our entire family. Dad was working and also trying to caretake our mother. He didn’t like leaving her, so he was stretched pretty thin.

I was away at school, and they didn’t want me taking a leave of absence.

” She flashed Shabina a smile. “Shabina went over nearly every day.”

She felt color creeping under her skin. She didn’t like the spotlight on her. “I wasn’t the only one. Zahra, Harlow, Vienna and Raine took turns as well. I just brought food. Your parents are wonderful. We feel incredibly honored to have them as friends.”

“Again, please let us know if there’s anything we can do for you,” Rainier reiterated. “In the meantime, your breakfast will be out shortly. We’re a little short on staff today, so we’re running late, but we’re catching up.” He turned, taking Shabina with him as he made his way back to the kitchen.

“Are you all right?” His hand swept down the back of her neatly braided hair. “Raine texted me about the family, and when I looked out of the kitchen and saw them putting you in a bear hug, I knew you would be uncomfortable.”

“I really despise that I’m like this, Rainier. It shouldn’t be such a big deal. Pablo is hurting every bit as much as Avita. They’re both scared for Lucca. I should be able to get over my aversion to being touched by men.”

“Stop, Qadri . It’s perfectly reasonable for you to have the reaction you do. You’re too hard on yourself. You allowed him to hug you, and there was no way anyone in that room, including him, could tell you were uncomfortable.”

“You could.”

He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “We have a strange connection, one I’m grateful for. Are you going to be okay to go back on the floor? If I tried to carry orders out, it would be a disaster. As it is, Patsy is secretly laughing at me about the way I do dishes.”

“You’re lucky it’s secretly. They openly laugh at me if I screw up,” Shabina confessed. “I’m fine now. You keep up with the dishes, and I’ll keep up with the orders and customers.”

“You need me, just give me our birdsong.”

She loved him just for that alone. He knew birds and their individual calls to one another.

He had perfect pitch. Sometimes at night when she was falling apart alone in her room in Houston, he slipped in, singing different birdsongs, and she would have to identify them.

It became a game, a distracting one. He knew so many.

Later, when she found out he was the one who realized she used the birds in the video to send the coordinates of the camps, she wasn’t in the least surprised. Rainier noticed the smallest details.

For the next hour, she worked fast to get orders out, keeping an eye on the outside patio.

Nellie was amazing, covering for Chelsey’s absence with the occasional help of Tyrone or Patsy.

She was extremely proud of her staff and Nellie in particular, making a note to herself that she would have to give them a bonus for the extra work.

Albert and Sally Chavez, who owned the local cleaning service, came in when the café was packed.

The only table available was the smaller table just behind the four university students, leaving Shabina no other option.

She led them to the table and took their drink orders, stopping for a minute to chat with them.

The cleaning service took care of offices, businesses, rentals, Airbnbs, and the occasional house when asked. They had a full cleaning service and did a brisk business. As she went to turn away to take the order to the kitchen, Albert stopped her.