Page 7 of Kiss for My Kraken (Fairhaven Falls #8)

N ina sat back on her heels and gave the shack a satisfied look.

Not just a shack, but hopefully a home, at least temporarily.

She’d spent most of the afternoon sorting through the miscellaneous objects that had cluttered the space.

She’d wiped everything down, and it was now stacked as neatly as possible against one wall, leaving the rest of the room clear.

She’d discovered a battered couch beneath a paint-splattered tarp and a small wooden table, which she’d placed in front of the galley kitchen, along with two mismatched and somewhat rickety kitchen chairs.

She’d also wiped down the kitchen counter and the small bathroom.

Time to check out the sleeping arrangements.

Fortunately, there was nothing in the loft area except a bed with a chipped wooden frame and a dresser that also served as a nightstand.

She stripped the dusty linens off the bed, then wiped down the furniture and swept the floor.

To her delight, there was a window set in the eaves directly across from the bed, which meant she’d be able to lie in bed and look out at her island.

She looked at her watch and decided she didn’t have enough time to maneuver her car back up the rutted track that led to the landing, but she could get a few things for tonight.

She hurried down the path to retrieve her sleeping bag, a change of clothes, and her toiletries, along with Ozzie’s food and bowls.

It still ended up taking a little longer than she had anticipated.

Panicked that she was going to be late, she raced back to the tavern.

She rushed into the kitchen, already apologizing, but Ben only shook his head.

“You’re two minutes early, but you’ve got dust on your nose. Go get cleaned up while I get the mutt settled.”

He stomped off down the hallway, with Ozzie trotting along happily at his side, and she hurried off to clean up.

When she returned, Ben set her to work chopping vegetables.

“Put anything you don’t want from the shack out on the porch,” he told her. “I’ll come by this weekend to get rid of it.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“It’s just been collecting dust.” A smile flashed across his face so quickly she almost thought she’d imagined it. “As you found out.”

“I really appreciate you renting it to me.”

“Then hurry up with those carrots,” he grumbled.

“You mean you actually like carrots?” she asked, then gave him a nervous look, worried that she’d overstepped her bounds. But the quick smile flashed again.

“Against my better judgment.”

She laughed and went back to chopping.

The dinner rush was even busier than lunch.

A second server, Molly, joined Annabelle.

A voluptuous female with dark hair and very red lips who looked human until she smiled and revealed long, pointed canines.

A vampire. But Molly was as friendly as the other two, although she didn’t join in the pre-dinner staff meal.

This time it was chicken with pasta in a delicious mushroom cream sauce, and she couldn’t help giving Molly a sympathetic look.

“Don’t worry,” the other woman grinned at her. “I’m guessing you’re feeling sorry for me because I’m not eating Ben’s food.”

“Well, yes.”

“I usually do. But he knows I don’t like mushrooms.”

Ben shrugged. “There’s minestrone in a pot on the stove.”

“No thanks. I had a nice little snack before I came to work.” The other three groaned, and Nina decided she’d rather not know.

Elder Matthias had been especially vocal about the evilness of “blood-sucking demons,” as he called vampires, but Nina felt more comfortable with the woman reclining gracefully against the wall than she ever had with him.

She only made it to eight o’clock before Ben ordered her to go home.

“I can stay,” she protested.

“Not tonight. You’re exhausted.”

She bit her lip. She knew he was right, but she also hated to miss any opportunity to earn money, and she felt bad about leaving him in the kitchen on his own.

“Dinner is over and the dishes are washed,” he said firmly.

“But you’re still serving food.”

“Just bar snacks. And I can handle those just like I did before you came along. Go.” Despite his gruffness, he seemed genuinely concerned about her so she nodded wearily and went to get Ozzie.

She found him in Ben’s office, curled up in a brand-new dog bed with a stuffed pineapple toy at his side.

“His bark really is worse than his bite,” she told Ozzie when he bounced over to meet her. “Come on boy, let’s go home.”

Home. What a wonderful word. She smiled happily as the two of them slipped out of the back door, then immediately collided with a tall male figure. Ozzie growled as the man whirled around, his eyes glinting green in the darkness, and she flinched back before she recognized Dr. Jackson.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you.”

“It was my fault.” His tone was as cool and professional as it had been the day before, but she was suddenly convinced he was not a normal human doctor after all. “Have you recovered from your unexpected swim?”

“Yes, thank you.”

He studied her for a moment. “I told you to take it easy, but I suspect you have not been following my instructions.”

She shrugged uncomfortably. “It’s been a busy day, but I’m going home now, and I promise I’ll get an early night.”

“Do you want me to accompany you?”

“No,” she said a little too quickly, and saw a shadow cross his face. “It’s not far,” she added, “and I have Ozzie to protect me.”

The dog seemed to have forgotten his previous agitation and wagged his tail happily.

“Fine protection, I’m sure,” the doctor said gravely. “Good night, Nina.”

“Good night.”

Perhaps he remembered how she’d waited for him to leave the previous night because he turned and disappeared around the front of the building.

She waited a moment longer, then ducked back through the bushes and onto the river trail, wincing when a sharp branch scratched her hand.

She was sure Ben wouldn’t mind if she cut them back a bit, but then again, she liked the fact that they hid the presence of the river path. Maybe when she felt more comfortable.

The fifteen minute walk to the shack seemed longer tonight as weariness crept over her.

She came to an abrupt halt when she reached it, sure that her eyes were playing tricks on her.

The bushes that had obscured the porch had been trimmed back.

Enough remained to provide privacy, but she would now have a clear view out over the river from the porch.

On the other side of the path, more of the brush had been cleared away to reveal a narrow set of wooden stairs leading down to a small dock she hadn’t noticed before. Had Flora already sent her friend over?

Unable to resist, she went down the stairs to the dock. Perhaps because it was below the level of the riverbank and was still surrounded by bushes, it felt hidden, like a secret hideaway. She stood there for a long moment, looking out across the water at her island.

“Thank you, magic island,” she said quietly. The water in front of the dock suddenly swirled, and she caught a fleeting glimpse of what looked like silver skin and long, dark hair. Her breath caught in her throat as she stared down into the dark water, but whatever she had seen was gone.

The memory of her prince flashed through her mind before she shook her head.

It was just my imagination. She had probably seen a fish or some river weed floating by in the current, but as she climbed back up to the cabin, she couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching her.

Yet it wasn’t an uncomfortable feeling; it was more as if someone was watching over her, protecting her.

The fanciful thought made her smile, and when she reached the porch she turned around and lifted her fingers to her lips, blowing a kiss out towards the river.

“Goodnight, my river prince.”

Then she went inside and closed the door.