Chapter 10
Arabella drove home from the grocery store with a small smile on her face.
She loved it here. Loved that she was free from everything. She’d spoken to Pop-Pop last night and he was having the time of his life. Even with Mrs. Owens sniffing every time she saw him.
Turning into her driveway, she noticed the police car sitting in her driveway. She tensed as she saw someone peering into a window.
Shit.
Had something happened? Parking, she jumped out of her car and that’s when she heard it.
Or him. Horse.
Oh no. Was he the reason that there was a sheriff’s deputy on her porch?
“Um, hi,” she said nervously.
“Hey,” he said back. “Do you live here?”
“Yes, I’m Arabella. Can I help you?” She winced as Horse started up his cry again. “Actually, let me just let Horse out.”
“Horse?” he asked.
“Yeah, Horse is my dog. He’s the one making the noise.”
“That’s a dog making that noise?” he asked in surprise. “The neighbors called the station claiming that someone was being killed.”
“I’m so sorry. Really, really sorry.” She attempted to run up the stairs and tripped on them, nearly falling. But the deputy reached out to grab hold of her arm, helping her. For some reason, his touch made her feel a bit weird and she snatched her arm back as soon as she could. “Sorry. Sorry.”
“Always happy to help out a pretty lady,” he said with what he probably thought was a cute smile.
Instead it just seemed . . . slimy.
“I, um, right. I get clumsy when I’m nervous and rushing.” When she took her time and guarded her emotions she found she was far less klutzy.
“Clumsy can be cute.”
Right. She wasn’t sure anyone had ever called her cute before.
Horse let out another mournful howl.
“Sorry. Let me get him.” She walked more carefully this time, aware that the deputy was right behind her. Was it necessary for him to follow her that closely?
“Um, you might want to give him some space,” she warned as she opened the door.
Horse barrelled out and took one look at the deputy before growling.
“Jesus! Is that thing part wolf?” the deputy said, taking a step back and his hand going toward his belt.
Fear leapt into her throat and she quickly crouched, putting her arms around Horse who was vibrating.
“No! He’s a dog. My dog. I’m sorry he was making so much noise. I will make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
The deputy flicked his gaze from her to the dog.
“It was nice to meet you, Deputy . . .” she let her voice trail off.
“Deputy Dunn,” he said. “Zane Dunn.”
“Thanks for coming out. Sorry to waste your time.”
He nodded. “Keep your dog quiet from now on. And under control.”
Well, he was under control. Couldn’t he see that?
But she didn’t protest, just nodded. “Sorry.”
God, she hated that her first urge was always to apologize even when she wasn’t in the wrong.
That’s how her father had trained her.
She watched the deputy leave with a sense of trepidation. She didn’t know why but something about him just seemed . . . off.
“So, you guys and Arabella, huh?” Shaw asked with a sly grin as they entered Duncan and Laken’s house after breakfast at the diner.
“What’s all this?” Laken padded into the kitchen from the living room.
She looked tired and Kellan immediately pulled out a kitchen chair. He glanced from it to her pointedly.
With a huff, she sat. “How can you be so bossy without saying a word?”
“It’s a talent us Jones brothers have,” Eli told her as he got her a bottle of water.
Laken sat with a groan. “So, what’s going on? What’s between you and Arabella?”
“You know about Arabella?” Eli asked as he grabbed the rest of them a soda.
She brushed her hair off her face. “Of course I do. My husband is a deputy sheriff, remember? Not that I’ve really told anyone. I figure she deserves her privacy and she’ll soon have lots of guys vying for her attention.”
“They better fucking not,” Eli growled.
Kellan wanted to agree with his brother, but held back. He didn’t want to read too much into his interest in Arabella. He didn’t have the capacity to care about her the way that Eli did.
Of course if she was open to being shared . . .
But who was to say she wanted that? Wanted him? Perhaps she’d only want Eli.
Which would break all of them. Because Eli was too loyal. Would he resent Kellan if he was the reason he couldn’t have her?
“Well, that reaction is interesting.” Laken studied Eli, then glanced over at Kellan who just stared back at her without giving anything away.
He hoped.
“Isn’t it?” Shaw said, sounding more lively than he’d been in ages.
That alone was worth a bit of ribbing about Arabella. He’d take much, much more if it meant that Shaw would smile. Would find something about life to live for.
Yeah, he’d happily be the butt of every joke.
“You should have seen them with her. They couldn’t take their eyes off her.”
“They, huh?” A calculating look filled Laken’s face.
Kellan narrowed his gaze at her. “Don’t even think about it.”
“Don’t think about what?” she asked innocently.
“Whatever it is that you’re thinking about,” Eli told her. “I know that look.”
“No idea what you’re talking about,” Laken said airily. “I really should make her a welcome to Haven basket, though, right?”
Yep.
She was trouble.
“Going to talk to Duncan about you,” Kellan told her.
“I don’t know what you would have to talk to my husband about me for,” she said haughtily.
“Maybe because you sound like you’re matchmaking,” Eli pointed out.
“Do I?” Laken said. “I’m sure I have no idea what you mean.”
Shaw actually let out a chuckle and Laken looked like she might cry at the sound. Kellan got it.
He couldn’t remember the last time Shaw smiled.
“Duncan also said that Arabella is Cole’s ex-fiancé,” she added. “I remember hearing something about that a while ago. How Cole’s ex-fiancé and her father turned up in Haven to confront Cole. The dad was certain that he’d still want to marry her.”
Yeah. That was curious.
Had she loved Cole? Had she been upset when things had fallen apart?
Kellan had a feeling there was more to the story.
“Cole’s in Hawaii at the moment with Keira and Julian,” Laken added. “Could be a good thing.”
“If you need help making that gift basket, I’m happy to help,” Shaw said to Laken.
“Really?” Laken asked.
“Oh yeah.” Shaw nodded. “I’ve met Arabella before. We had this crazy night together. It was dirty and delightful.”
Kellan let out a growl before he could stop himself.
Shit.
Way to play your hand.
Now everyone was staring at him like he’d lost his mind.
“I’m going for a run.” Getting to his feet, he strode out toward the car to grab his spare workout bag.
“Kellan, hey,” Eli said, rushing after him.
“I’m fine. Just need to run.”
“Kellan.”
“I said I’m fine.” His temper stirred. Eli was one of the few people he let his control slip around.
“I get that and I know you want to go for a run. But we only have one car and I need to get back to the hotel to work. Are you going to run to the hotel?”
“Yes. I’ll meet you there later.”
“Fine, and Kellan?”
“Yep?” he asked.
“It’s okay to let yourself feel something for her. She’s gorgeous and amazing. She could be the one.”
Kellan shook his head. Eli was a smart guy. An excellent agent. Fair and firm.
But he was also an idiot sometimes.
There was no such thing as ‘the one’. No such thing as fate.
All he could hope for was that Eli would find someone who could tolerate being in a relationship with Kellan. Who didn’t need him to meet their emotional needs since he had no idea how to do that.
Because a proper relationship required trust and communication and touching outside of sex or play. And that was something that he couldn’t see himself doing.
Kellan wasn’t a touchy-feely guy. He couldn’t casually hold someone’s hand or hug them when they were feeling upset or tired or just wanted affection.
Those sorts of things weren’t something he’d been given as a child. Yeah, his brothers had grown up in the same household. But their father had enjoyed targeting him.
Singling him out. And Kellan had been happy to take a punishment to spare his brothers.
Where was Arabella staying? Was it safe? Secure?
She’s not your problem.
He kept telling himself that and yet . . . he couldn’t seem to stop thinking about her. It seemed that maybe he did care more than he’d thought he did.
Which was . . . worrisome.