“Mm,” he hummed, and my heart bumped up a few beats. “Thank you.”
He squeezed me once, then released me. The tightness in his shoulders and jaw were mostly gone. He wasn’t smiling like the flirty carefree version I’d seen the most of him. And I sort of like seeing another version of him.
I wanted to see all the sides of him, not just the carefree ones. This proved he was human.
Footsteps on the dirt path grabbed my focus.
“Sir, the fire has been put out, and the police are arriving in the front.” Ms. Pauline somehow managed to find a set of shoes for him and set them on the ground. “Hello, Temperance. Is there anything I can get for you? A cup of coffee perhaps?”
“Er, I’m okay. Thank you.” I pulled my noodle’s bag back to my front and peeked inside. Edith blinked, her little tongue shot out to taste the vibes in the air, and her colors remained light blue. She was calm and okay.
A manicured hand with a business card shot in front of my view and I grabbed it without thinking.
“Here is my personal number should you need anything.” Ms. Pauline smiled and walked away, Rylan watching her leave with a shake of his head.
“That was—”
“Yeah, she’s like that.”
It was odd, but I didn’t feel like questioning more right now.
We stood there, silently watching the others when Rylan sighed.
“I’ve gotta go handle this situation. Remy is coming with me. I’ll have someone escort you to the courtyard, and to your room once the castle is cleared for re-entry.” He pushed a chunk of hair away from my face.
“You don’t need to.” I was an adult and could easily handle walking around the castle by myself.
“You are very capable.” The hint of a smile on his face already had me conceding, but then he kept speaking. “But since these fires were likely done by someone still on the property, I’d feel better knowing that if I can’t personally protect you and Edith, then I have guards who can make sure no one harms you both.”
“Thank you,” Edith said from my bag before I could.
“I’ll check in when I can.” He pressed a kiss to my cheek and left with the group, leaving two men ready to assist me to the courtyard.
“Hi guys.”
Dressed in black sweats and tight shirts, they grunted in unison.
“Okay, lead the way.”
We made it to the crowded courtyard, where the staff tried to answer questions as best as they could. Students and the pets that weren’t in the stables stood in their sleeping clothes, murmuring about the fires.
“I think the castle is cursed.” A shoulder bumped into mine and I glanced down to see Imogene wearing a red, silknightgown that flowed down to her fluffy bedroom slippers. The robe, with thick feathers, made her look like a 1950s Hollywood starlet.
“It’s definitely something.”
“Maybe the ghosts make room calls if you know what I mean.” She lifted her head, and I didn’t get what she meant. “Service me in the bedroom, darling,” she clarified with a smirk. “A man I don’t have to look at but gets the job done. It’s better than a one wearing a bag on his head.”
I didn’t know if she was serious or not.
But when I bust out laughing, she smiled like she accomplished a goal, and something about that made my heart warm in my chest.
“Oh, and I heard that McKenzie boy talking about a shopping trip this weekend. I will be joining your group. I need to get away, spread my wings, and wallet.”
Well, alrighty then. Shopping is going to be an adventure.
And I was excited about it.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
