“I’m Guinevere,” she said with a smile.“I was just coming over to say hello to Ginger as well, before I have to head back to Eldenwilde.”
Ah, that explained it.If she lived on Lord Dunham’s estate, he wouldn’t have had much opportunity to meet her, but he had probably seen her around town.And if she was familiar with Ginger, then she was probably a regular at the café, which meant he was indebted to her for keeping Thea from leaving town.
He had no doubts that if the café ever failed here, Thea would leave the Northlands just as quickly as she’d come.
It was his personal mission to ensure that that never happened, because if Thea left, he wasn’t sure what he would do—except leave everything and follow her like he should’ve done the first time he left.
It wasn’t that he regretted staying to take care of his mother.He couldn’t.But he did regret never going back when his mother no longer needed him.He should’ve gone back for her, and he was reminded of that every time he saw her.Saw how she had to be strong all the time.How alone she was.
She was alone, but she didn’t want him to change that.
Yet.
He had every intention of changing her mind.
He would be willing to return to their happy camaraderie, at the very least, if it meant Thea wouldn’t be so alone.And if that led to more as it had before…well, he wouldn’t complain.
His mind returned to happier days baking in her father’s bakery, flour messes and stolen kisses, working together and sharing life.
That’s what he wanted again.
Ginger bumped his hand, begging for attention, and he brought himself back from his memories.
“I’ll see you around, Ginge,” he told the cat, scratching under her chin one more time before he got to his feet and turned to wave to Thea, who nodded her head briskly and turned away, pretending she hadn’t been watching him the whole time he’d been talking to Ginger.
Oh, Thea.He hid his grin as he made his way toward the door, waving to a few of the patrons as he exited.The door closed behind him, and he stepped into the sunshine, letting his smile loose.
She was paying more attention to him, whether she wanted to or not.It was only a matter of time before things would change between them.He could feel it.Change was brewing.
The back of his neck prickled, and he turned around to see a man making his way toward the café, muttering to himself, walking in a wavy line.
It didn’t seem like the effects of having spent too much time in his brother’s tavern…but there was something off about him.
And he was going toward Thea.
Adrenaline surging, Nat strode toward the man, intercepting him before he made it to the café’s entrance.“Hello, sir.Can I ask your business?”
“What’s it to you?”the man growled, surly.
“I own the building,” he said, “and I’m making sure everything is well here.”
“I’m in need of a drink,” the man snarled.“It’s none of your business what I do.”
“On the contrary,” Nathaniel said, stepping to the side to block as the man tried to go around him.“I do believe it is my business.I think you ought to move along, sir.”
“I don’t have to listen to you,” the man said shortly, reaching into the pocket of his cloak.“You are in my way.I suggest you move.”
Did he think Nat was going to let Thea deal with this situation instead of him?
Not a chance.
“I don’t think so,” Nat said.
He froze as the man pulled something out of his pocket.
Was it a knife?
No, a stick.
