14. Chapter 14

Chapter fourteen

Silas

F enella has been working for almost two hours and it's gone… well.

Better than expected.

If anyone had told me Fenella Carrington would be the newest employee of Coffee for the Sole, I would have laughed and laughed and laughed. But she's still here.

Still smiling, even though I can tell her feet hurt.

Leodie hasn't let her out of her sight, going so far as to forgo her break to make sure Fenella gets the training she needs. It might be because I trained Nathalia and she doesn't trust my methods.

They do seem to be enjoying each other's company, with Jem bustling over like a lost puppy whenever a burst of laughter erupts.

I admit, I feel a little left out when that happens, but so far, Fenella hasn't been too much of a distraction.

I watch Fenella work the cash register as Leodie makes three tea lattes with vanilla and honey for Mrs. Graves and her book club. The group of ladies come in on Thursdays, supposedly to talk about their latest reads, but I think they gossip more than anything.

The way their gray heads are bent together convinces me that the sight of Fenella behind the counter will be the highlight of today's meeting.

There are a lot of good people in Battle Harbour but all of them like to know what's going on, especially Mrs. Graves' book club.

"Well, hello there." Jonathan McKibbon is next in line. From the look on his face, I think he might want to know more about Fenella than the ladies do. "And who might you be?" He looks Fenella up and down and then glances at me off to the side.

I've never been very friendly with Jonathan—he's been a close friend of Prince Kalle since they were boys and they're a few years older than me—but I've always felt a pang of empathy for him. Being friends with a prince would be trying at times. Always a bit behind, never getting the same attention, never quite measuring up.

I wonder if that's the same for Fenella's friends.

"I'm Fenella," she says with a polite smile.

"And I am Sergent Jonathan McKibbon." Do all police officers puff up when they introduce themselves or is it just Jonathan? "I thought today's news was going to be all about Coy Schmidt's car finally moving off his front yard, but I can see it's all about what you're hiding in here, Silas." He grins at Fenella, all toothpaste-white toothy .

I step up to the counter. "I'm not hiding anything. Fenella's agreed to help out while she's in town, or until I find a replacement for Nathalia," I tell him. My tone is pleasant, but I grind my molars at how Jonathan looks at Fenella.

Not that I'm jealous, but… he shouldn't look at her like that. Like she's a fresh treat from the bakery he can't wait to sink his teeth into.

"Wait a sec—Fenella?" Jonathan thumps a hand on the counter. "As in Gunnar's Fenella?"

"As in my own Fenella," she says tightly. "Gunnar and I were a long time ago. And the car is mine." Her shoulders relax when she turns to me. "At least it will be when I get over there to pay him for it?"

"You haven't paid Coy for the car?"

"He said I was good for it. He wanted cash. I need to stop at the bank, but—" She gives me an impish smile. "Working girl now."

"She's working here? Here ?" Jonathan cuts in.

I meet Fenella's gaze and any reservations I may have had about her working here fly right out the window. "She is."

"To pay for the car? That's a mighty big machine for a little thing like you," he scoffs.

Leodie makes a whistling sound as she sucks in her breath.

The little moment between Fenella and me ends as she turns her head ever so slowly back to stare at Jonathan. I wonder if he feels the cold dread in his belly that I would if Fenella looked at me like that .

"Maybe it's too much for a little thing like you , but I can handle it just fine," she says and smiles, as insincere as I've ever seen her. "Now, can I help you with something today?"

"Ah, Fenella, I don't think I should say aloud what you could help me with." Despite everything, Jonathan continues with his leering smile. "But maybe I can do something for you." He slides a card across the counter to her. "In case you need help with what's under your hood."

I start to suggest Jonathan watch his mouth but Fenella—

"I wasn't aware the Laandian Police Department makes a habit of inappropriate remarks and innuendos toward their citizens and guests when their officers are on duty." The smile is gone and her eyes spark like amethysts under the light. "I'll be sure to bring that up to King Magnus when I next see him."

"I never—what?" Jonathan blusters, his bravado vanishing at the sight of a strong woman who can clearly take care of herself.

"What can I get you this afternoon, Officer?" Fenella repeats in a sugary sweet voice that's as fake as a package of Splenda.

"Americano, two sugars," I tell her, gently shouldering her away from the cash register. "Why don't you get that for him? I don't think you've made one of those yet today."

Jonathan pays for his coffee without another word to Fenella and mumbles a thank-you when I hand him the cup.

"Have a great day," Fenella calls after him.

"That was Jonathan," I say unnecessarily as he heads out of the door .

"Officer Jonathan." Fenella wipes up the droplets of coffee he spilled. "One of Battle Harbour's finest?"

"Yeah, well… I apologize for him. He's a friend of Kalle's and has always thought he was a bit too big for his britches."

" You shouldn't have to apologize for anything. Besides, I can handle little men like that." There is no one in line, and Fenella leans her hip against the counter close enough for me to notice how thick her eyelashes are. It's a strange thing to notice, but it's better than staring at her mouth and the fresh coat of glossy plum she's applied. "Not a friend of yours?"

"I never ran with the royal crowd."

She holds up the business card Jonathan passed her. "It might be handy if I get pulled over for speeding, but that's about it. Not my type," she says matter-of-factly as she tosses the card into the garbage.

"Not upstanding citizens? You go for more of the rock star type?"

"Tiger." Fenella blows a raspberry. "That was not a good type for me."

"So if the rock star isn't your type…" I trail off, wondering what the heck I'm doing. Am I really asking Fenella what her type is? Am I really doing that?

"What type of guy do you like?" Thank god for Leodie. "Because Jonathan is considered a catch in Battle Harbour. Not for me," Leodie quickly adds. "But for a lot of girls in town."

"I think I would throw him back," Fenella says in a prim voice. "If he's a catch? Fish? This is a fishing village," she demands when neither of us reacts. "C'mon."

I groan and Fenella laughs. "I've never really had a type," she admits. "Considering it never works out with the guys I've been hanging around with, you'd think I should try someone different. Don't you?" She looks at me.

"Don't I what?"

"Think I should try someone different, not the selfish, egotistical type like Tiger. And that's not a rock star thing—it's just a him thing. I think I should have considerate at the top of my list now. Kind." She drops her voice. "I think kind can be very sexy."

"Nice guys are the best," Leodie agrees. "A good cinnamon roll hero."

"I don't know what that is but it sounds delicious."

"You know," Leodie says. "In books or rom-com movies where the guy is good, and sweet and caring. A decent guy. Often goes along with friends falling in love because the girl finally sees what a great person he is." She elbows me. "Like Silas here. Prime example."

I swallow at the way Fenella studies me. "I can see that. Sweet on the outside, but even softer in the middle. I like the description."

If that's so, does that mean she considers me delicious?