16. 16

16

Kalle

A nd so ends the story of Kalle and Fenella.

I knew it wasn't going to work out with Fenella. She was a fun girl, a gorgeous girl, but ultimately, Fenella was Gunnar's girl. And it would have eventually been awkward.

It sounds like I'm making excuses because she decided I wasn't right for her, but it's more than that. Fenella would have only been a distraction, another in a line of women I wouldn't let myself be serious about.

She's a nice woman and I wish her the best, but it won't be with me.

"What now?" Dillon asks as we linger under the awning of the restaurant, watching Fenella drive off with Minka, Gunnar's security detail. "Damn, you should have let me drive. We're going to get soaked."

Rain pounds the pavement in front of us, and fast-moving rivers flow toward the town square. There's a real concern about flooding in town but the mayor has sent people to check the drainage system, and thankfully, the waves haven't crested over the pier yet.

Over twenty-four hours and it's still raining .

"I got an umbrella." I show him the compact black one that Leah thrust in my hand before I left to meet Fenella. It hadn't been raining this hard then.

"That's not going to do a damn thing in this storm," Dillon grouses. "You just want to go back to the pub and shake like a dog, and make it look sexy."

"Dogs shaking are not sexy."

"Yeah, but you with the hair—" Dillon demonstrates, shaking his head as if he still had hair and it was long and luxurious.

"You're jealous because you have no hair?"

"I'm not jealous and if you give it another year or so, you won't have much hair left either."

"I cut it like this." I thrust the umbrella into his hand. "Quit your complaining." I flip the hood of my jacket over my head. "It's not far. Race you." And then I take off toward the pub, with Dillon's curses lost in the rain.

I like storms. I like rain. And the quick run through the empty Battle Harbour streets back to the bar lets loose some of the tension that's been building today. There are only a few places open and it seems later, as if the town has already shut down for the night. Even Coffee for the Sole has closed early and the bartender for Sailor's Salon stands at the open door and watches us run past with a forlorn wave.

The people are bracing for the worst of the storm, and here I am, running through the rain.

But when we yank open the door to the pub, bringing in a rush of cold air and wet, I find no one here is bracing for bad weather. There's a fair crowd lined up along the bar, the pool table has its usual game going, but the tables have been pushed back and there's a scrum in the middle of the floor.

Unlike last night, no one is fighting.

They're dancing.

And I find my sister, arms up and red hair thrown back, in the middle of it.

Of course.

The music drowns out the rain and the thunder, and I give my head a shake—but not like a sexy Dillon dog shake—as I peel off my wet coat.

"Seems like things have picked up since you left," Dillon comments with a snort.

I nod wryly to Lennie Tak as I make my way to the bar. It's not the first time Lyra went looking for fun in here and it won't be the last.

At least I hope it's not. We all complain about Lyra, but I know my brothers share my worries about her. She was hit the hardest over our mother's death and even seven years later, I notice shadows cross her face when she's home.

She's not home a lot.

The storm has kept her in town for longer than she wanted to and I'm glad she's found something to amuse herself with.

I just hope my place doesn't pay the price.

Along with Lyra is her usual accomplice, Kate, and hey—

Bethie and Suze look like they decided to take a break from their serving duties to join the dance party. Bethie catches me watching her and gives a guilty wave, but Suze ignores me as she backs out of the group and heads to the bar to pick up a pitcher, delivering it to Jem and Leodie from Coffee for the Sole, sitting with Silas and singing along to the music.

Guess they closed early to trade coffee for beer.

And there, right beside my sister, is Mabel Crow. Why is she—?

And then I forget about Mabel and my staff and everyone else because there's Edie, her ponytail waving as she bumps hips with Kate.

Edie's wearing her oldest jeans that she can't bring herself to throw out. They look exactly like the denim you can buy with rips and tears but every rip in Edie's jeans has a story to tell. She's had them since high school, and they look really good on her.

Plus they're low rise and when she bends over, sometimes you can see the edge of her underwear.

Less than a week ago, I watched her glide down the aisle, gorgeous in a fancy blue-green dress and heels, hair and makeup done, and even with one of my mother's necklaces. She looked amazing.

Tonight she wears the jeans with a plain black T-shirt and her apron. I just left Fenella Carrington, who wore an outfit worth more than Edie makes in a year, and she can't hold a candle to Edie.

Seeing Edie in those jeans and T-shirt, arms up and smiling as she moves to the music, looking as happy as I've ever seen her, is like a kick in the gut.

I actually hunch my shoulders, clapping a hand to my stomach.

She's…Edie… and I'm—

"I wondered if you would make an appearance."

Wide-eyed at the rush of… whatever that was, I look over and see Mathias leaning against the bar.

And then my feeling- like-it-just-got-kicked stomach takes a nosedive because Mathias is here for Edie.

The King's Hat is not the sort of place my cousin normally frequents. In fact, before this visit, I don't remember him ever stepping foot inside.

I don't blame him. He clearly doesn't fit in, looking like a fairytale prince in his tailored pants and white polo shirt without a drop of rain marring it.

"What makes you think you have what it takes to become king? You're nothing but a jock—a dumb one at that—and you'll only bring this country to its knees if you become king."

The memory hits me like a slap. Memories , because it wasn't the first time someone—family—questioned my ability to take over after my father.

First when I was seven, then not again until I was seventeen. But after that, every time Mathias and his family were at the castle, for family events or political obligations, I would overhear things. Dante questioning my studies, the role I take in my father's counsel. Mathias's younger brother Jonas, outright criticizing my choices of relationships, activities, and even my clothes.

And Mathias—he would comment on a few things but mainly stepped back with his smug smile, looking the epitome of a prince.

I told myself it didn't matter, they didn't matter because I would be king someday but over the years, I hated to admit the little bug they put in my ear only grew and spread until that was all I thought about when I considered the steps I need to take.

Before the wedding, I hadn't seen my cousin in well over a year.

But now, thanks to Edie, he's going to be here all the time .

"Cousin." I nod to him as I duck behind the bar, hoping he didn't notice me staring at Edie.

"Your Highness," he says smoothly and with a hint of bitterness.

"Quite the crowd you've got here tonight."

"Yeah."

"Is that all you have to say? Half your staff is out there dancing with those they are supposed to be serving, and all you can say is yeah?"

I look Mathias up and down. "Yeah. Want a beer? Is that the problem?"

"There's no problem."

"Then why aren't you out there dancing with Edie?"

Mathias has the gall to sniff at the thought, like something here is beneath him. I don't know if it's my place or those enjoying themselves… or Edie…

I don't like it.

Granted, the sight of Edie dancing does that thing to my stomach, but honestly… she's not the best dancer. Top marks for enthusiasm but she's always lacked some rhythm. She loves to dance, but when the place becomes an impromptu dance club, Edie might take one turn around the floor and come back to her customary spot behind the bar.

She's about a half beat behind Kate but still going strong. It's a while since I've seen her let loose like this.

It wipes all the bad thoughts away.

Except that Mathias is right here and if I wait long enough, he's going to say something to get me annoyed again.

I watch him watching Edie, and there's no smile of appreciation on his face. There's no admiration. He looks bland , handsome but bland like he's wearing a Mathias Halloween mask.

There's no way he should be watching Edie without even any expression on his face.

I won't allow it.

I wait for a response, but all he gives me is the sniff.

"Seems to me that when a man is interested in a woman, he shows her he's interested," I say, moving behind the taps.

And I pour him a pint of honey mead to keep him at the bar. It's obvious if he even thinks about wading into that mass of dancers, he'd lose his beer sooner than he could smile hello at Edie.

"It's not my style of music," he says, accepting the glass and staying right where he is.

Style of music? I might not enjoy females wailing about getting him back and not hooking up, but when I see a woman alone on the dance floor clearly in want of a partner…

"Good thing it's mine," I tell him with a wolfish grin. "Yell if you need me," I say to Tyler, happily mixing drinks for a couple of just-nineteen-year-olds, their hair damp from the rain.

Then I slide into the group on the makeshift dancefloor.

It's Edie's playlist, heavy on the female artists and 1990s pop-rock. Kelly Clarkson switches to a cover of Total Eclipse of the Heart and I move beside my sister.

Kate sees me first. "Kalle?"

"Big brother is in the house," Lyra cheers, arms over her head and shimmying like my sister should not be shimmying. But still, I step up and show her my moves .

I have moves, but mainly they're used for picking up females, which is to say I should not use them on my sister. But it makes her laugh, and a happy Lyra is good for all.

And it gets me closer to Edie.

Her face breaks into a smile that loosens the knot in my stomach. "You're back," she says loudly, glancing toward the bar like she's looking for someone, her gaze passing right across Mathias standing there looking as out of place as a three-piece suit on a baseball field. "I didn't think you'd be back," she admits, raising her voice so I can hear her over the music.

I put my hand on her lower back. "Shouldn't have left."

Edie tries to frown but her eyes are dancing. "That good?"

I lean down so I don't have to shout above the music. "Does that make you happy?" Edie only shrugs, so I try again. "Are you still mad at me?"

Instead of answering, Edie moves even closer. I don't realize she's smelling me until she scrunches up her nose. "Are you drunk?"

"I don't get drunk." My hand is still splayed on her back and she's still very close… and that's okay with me.

"You do get drunk if you drink with your brothers, which you did this afternoon," she points out. "Plus, if you have a bottle of wine—" She sniffs again. "—possibly several bottles of wine…"

"What wine?" I grin down at her, and the way she smiles back at me tells me peace has been restored.

That makes me very happy.

"You're going to ruin my floor again, you know," I tell her .

"Just so you know, it was the pitcher of beer that spilled and someone forgot to mop up that ruined your floor, not the dancing," she says in a pert voice that makes my grin widen.

"Is this your idea or my sister's?"

"You left, so you'll never know," she shoots back.

"I'm back now," I tell her, holding those big brown eyes, until someone smacks my butt.

Mabel Crow. Mabel Crow just smacked my butt with her hand. There's no way Mabel should be around Lyra and Kate, given their history, because that would lead to—

Lyra laughs out loud, and Kate covers her mouth with her hand. They're dancing together. Lyra and Kate are right there with Mabel Crow, and Edie is here too…

I shake my head. What did I miss?

But I'm not missing this chance.

The song changes abruptly to Home for a Rest and I look at Edie.

One night, before The King's Hat opened, a group of us hung out in the gutted downstairs of Bruce's attempt at a gentleman's club and sampled Dad's latest mead offering. Bo had been here, and Jonathan McKibbon, Kate's brother, and a couple of guys I played high school ball with, and one of my curling buddies, and Edie.

Edie was always there.

Someone had put on Spirit of the West, and I got up because Home for a Rest is the best song to dance to. I grabbed Edie, and we danced , whipping around the room doing a quickstep in fast forward .

I convinced her to come work for me that night. If she had said no, I would have made a move on her.

And now, I look at Edie, and she looks at me and I know she's remembering the same night. The connection that's always been there. The pull between us and the disappointment I felt when I picked friendship over more.

Maybe Edie had been disappointed too.

I slide a hand around her waist. "There's no room," she warns, taking the hand I offer.

"There's always room." And with Edie's laughter trailing after us, we're off.

People are jumping and stomping and clapping as I lead Edie through the dancers and into the maze of tables. I resist the urge to flip Mathias the finger as we flash by the bar, my hand wrapped around her waist, holding Edie as tightly as I can so that her laughter rumbles through me.

We're flying, Edie and I, and this time, I wonder if it's really time to take off.