Chapter 29
“I’ll make a note about the pies, Seymour, but blackberries won’t be in season for a while.” Sabrina tipped her head, trying to think what else she could come up with. “How do you feel about pumpkin? Or canned cherry filling? That’s always available.”
Seymour answered in a series of trills, squeaks and little barks. Korrie interpreted. “He said he’s not sure about either, but he’d be willing to try.”
She nodded. “Tell him I’ll see what I can do about getting him a sample of each.” She laughed. “Never mind. Sorry about that, Seymour. I keep thinking you can’t understand me. This is genuinely one of the most interesting things that’s ever happened to me. In or out of Shadowvale.”
Seymour snorted and nodded, which she took to mean he was agreeing.
She looked at Gideon. “Don’t you just love this place? Where else in the world could you meet a magnificent creature like Seymour? Except maybe Loch Ness in Scotland.”
“I, uh, suppose.”
She poked him with her elbow, not willing to let him disappear into his usual grumpy state again. “Come on, you know you love it.”
He gave her a look but said nothing.
She turned her attention back to Seymour. “Would you like another brownie?”
“Hey,” Korrie said. “What about me?”
“Would you like another brownie?”
Korrie and Seymour nodded simultaneously. She gave them each another brownie from the bag. “All right, I think that’s enough for tonight. Gideon’s had a big night, and we both have work tomorrow. But Seymour, I promise we’ll be back to visit. With pie of some variety.”
Still chewing, the creature bent his head and stuck his chin out. She scratched underneath, and he purred. It made her smile. She wondered what he’d think of Trip. And what Trip would think of him. Did she dare bring him? She’d have to put his harness on and keep him close.
She patted Seymour’s cheek. He was surprisingly warm, and his leathery skin had a softness that made her wonder if he was young or if that was just what lake monster skin felt like. “You’re awfully sweet. I’m so glad we got to meet you.”
“And he’s lonely,” Korrie said around a mouthful of brownie crumbs.
She’d sensed as much. “I said we’d come back to visit. I meant it.”
“When?” Korrie asked.
She couldn’t answer that. In a few more days, the music box would be done. And it would have to be returned. How could she make plans for the future when she still didn’t know what would happen to Korrie? How she was going to protect him? What if she couldn’t? She shook her head. “I’m not sure.”
Gideon cleared his throat. “We really should go. It was nice to meet you, Seymour. Thank you for not eating me. Or the sprite.”
Seymour tipped his head back and snorted.
Sabrina laughed. “He’s right, thanks for that.” She leaned in and kissed his snout as he came face-to-face with her again. “I will be back. I promise.”
She just couldn’t promise Korrie would be with her, and that made her a little sad.
Seymour let out a honk that she assumed meant goodbye. With a wave, she, Korrie, and Gideon headed back to the car.
“Well, that was an interesting night,” Gideon said as Korrie flitted ahead of them.
She looked over at him. His night had been more interesting by far. “How are you doing? Still chilly?”
“No, I’m all right. Dry. Thanks for the clothes.” His eyes narrowed. “How did you happen to have a bag of men’s clothes just my size in your car?”
She grinned. “Because Stella gave them to me. Said I’d need them later. She was right.”
“This town is weird.”
“So are you. And me,” she quickly added, laughing. “I mean, we all are. It’s why we live here, right?”
He grunted as they reached the car. He opened the rear passenger door, and Korrie zipped in. Gideon made sure he was in, then closed the door and faced her. “What are you going to do with him?”
She sighed and kept her voice down. “I don’t know yet. Julia’s working on that spell—”
“You said she’s a witch whose magic doesn’t work.”
“I know, but she’s trying. And like I said, she’s asking someone from her coven for help.”
He frowned. “You can’t count on that to work.”
She frowned back at him. He was such a pessimist. Always focused on what could go wrong. How did he live that way? Not well, as it seemed. “I know, but it might. Especially if she gets help.”
“And if it doesn’t?”
She stared at him, unable to answer, but there was no answer. “I … I don’t know. Do you have a solution?”
“No, but he’s not really my problem.” He held up a hand. “I know you like him. I know you want to protect him. He’s growing on me, so I get it, but you might need to face the inevitable. You’re going to have to get him back in that box and turn him over to Amelia. It’s the only way.”
She stepped closer, the tiniest bit of anger worming its way through her. “No. It isn’t. Because I will figure something out. With or without your help.”
Fuming, she turned and walked around the SUV to the driver’s side, got in, and started the engine.
The man was so frustrating. He was sweet one moment and grumpy the next.
It was impossible to know what was going on in his head.
Honestly, he made her want to scream. And she was not that kind of person.
He got in. “I—I’ll help you. If it’s within my power. Just let me know what you want me to do.”
It was like he’d just heard her thoughts.
Dear heaven. That couldn’t be his curse, could it?
Gideon, if you can hear what I’m thinking, you had better tell me right now.
In fact, if you can read minds, you should know I really want to kiss you again.
And again. That ought to get a reaction.
She looked at him, trying to find any sign that he’d just read her mind.
His eyes narrowed, but there was no indication of anything else. “What? Why are you looking at me that way?”
She shook her head and started the car, smiling to herself. “No reason.” So he couldn’t read minds. That was one possibility eliminated. “Thank you. We’ll talk some more tomorrow. If that’s all right with you.”
“That’s fine.”
Going slowly, she headed back out to the main road, keeping a close eye on the dirt one so she could avoid the worst of the bumps. She glanced into the rearview mirror to check on Korrie but couldn’t see him. She slowed to a crawl and looked over her shoulder. He was asleep on the back seat.
She smiled and kept going. “He’s sleeping,” she whispered. Not that Gideon probably cared.
A few moments of silence passed. Then Gideon said softly, “Thanks again for the clothes. That was a real lifesaver. Even if you didn’t intend to have them.”
“Right place, right time.”
He nodded. “Yep.”
This time the silence stretched out, and they were only a few minutes from his place when he spoke again. “I am broken.”
She kept quiet, letting him say what he wanted to.
“And I like you too. But I can’t be more than friends.”
The words cut through her with a sharpness that took her breath away. She hid her reaction by looking out the window as if something had caught her eye. Why should she feel this way? She barely knew the man.
Because that wasn’t exactly true. She knew enough to know that behind the gruff facade he put up to keep people away, he was a kind, generous, decent human being. A man who was very much in need of companionship but wouldn’t allow it into his life.
It angered her on his behalf. Frustrated her with the senselessness of it all. His house was right in front of them. She pulled into the driveway, turned off the car, and twisted to face him. “Why not? I mean, really. Like the truth.”
“You’re asking me about my curse?” A hint of surprise danced in his eyes.
“Yeah, I am.” She didn’t care that it was taboo to ask. They were friends enough, weren’t they? She’d certainly tell him hers if he wanted to know.
The surprise turned into something darker, something unreadable. A muscle in his jaw twitched. He took a breath, then another one. Opened his mouth. Closed it again.
He grabbed the door handle and his bag of wet clothes, got out of the car, and stomped up his steps to the front door.
He went inside, slamming the door behind him.
She stared after him, remorse churning in her belly.
From the back seat, Korrie piped up. “I guess he’s not going to tell you.”
She frowned into the rearview mirror as she started the car and threw it into reverse. “Thanks, Captain Obvious.”