“Oh, yes, we’re great friends. She’s on a boat tour of China right now.”
“Jake is trying to get hold of her,” Eli said.
“Hmm, I’ll try to get in touch. But I know she said that her phone was acting up. Is Abe all right? Not too shaken?”
“I’m going to go check on him,” she promised.
“Arabella!” the cry came from behind the counter and then Iona was barreling toward her.
Shit.
She was about to collide with her when Kellan swept Arabella behind his back, causing Iona to come to a surprised stop.
“Oomph, hey big guy, I wasn’t going to hurt her. You can step aside.”
Iona shooed Kellan. Either she was very brave or a bit foolish.
Arabella wasn’t sure which. Maybe she lacked self-preservation. Because Kellan was not taking kindly to being shooed.
And he didn’t move or take his arm away from Arabella so she could move.
Shoot.
Finally, Iona moved to the side so she could see Arabella. “Arabella! Are you all right? I’ve been so worried. I need your phone number because I didn’t know how to get in touch with you! I went by your house but there were cops there and one ofthem said you’d been broken into! What the hell is going on in your life? And now you’ve got a bodyguard?”
As far as Arabella could tell she didn’t take a single breath while she blurted all of that out.
“I’m not her bodyguard,” was all Kellan said.
“Huh?” Iona looked up at him. “Who are you then?”
“Her man.”
“Why don’t we go sit down,” Eli said, reaching around to grab Arabella’s hand. He led them to a quiet table and Iona sat across from her while Kellan and Eli moved their chairs next to her. This meant that their backs were to the wall and they could see everyone coming and going.
Iona raised an eyebrow. “Not bodyguards, huh?”
“Um, not exactly. They’re just overprotective after my place got broken into.”
“It wasn’t random?” Iona asked.
Shoot. How much was she allowed to say?
“We don’t know yet,” Eli said.
“Someone could be out to hurt you?” Iona asked. “Do you need help? A place to stay? I’ve got a spare bedroom at my place.”
“She stays with us,” Eli said firmly but not unkindly.
“But, thank you, that’s really kind,” Arabella told her.
“Do you always invite people you barely know to stay with you?” Kellan asked in a disapproving voice.
“Only the cute ones,” Iona said sassily. “But seriously if you need help, I’m here. I’m so sorry about what happened.”
“It wasn’t your fault. I got too caught up in other things and failed to check the ingredients list. It absolutely wasn’t your fault.”
“I still feel at fault so I’ve made some changes and now there’s a list at the front desk at all times. Plus I’ve got a color-coded system to show when an item has nuts, dairy, or gluten. I just never want that to happen again.”
