“Leo,” Estelle said, her voice carefully neutral. “You’re back.”
“Forgot to mention something,” he said easily, moving to stand beside her. Not touching, but close enough that his presence made a statement. “I didn’t realize you were expecting company.”
“I wasn’t,” Estelle said pointedly.
Fiona’s sharp eyes missed nothing, flicking between them with cool assessment. “Leo Thornberg. I’d know that family resemblance anywhere.” Her mouth curved into something that was not quite a smile. “I didn’t know you two were acquainted.”
The way she said it made the hair on the back of Leo’s neck rise. There was nothing overtly threatening in her tone, yet he sensed layers beneath the simple words.
“And what brings you here, Fiona?” he asked evenly.
Fiona’s eyebrow lifted. “Just being neighborly. Brought you a honey cake.” She held up the package. “Family recipe. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. Bears and honey and all that.”
Leo blinked, caught off guard. “It is one of my favorites,” he admitted.
“Of course it is. I think I tried some at the restaurant once. Your mother made it. Or maybe it was your grandmother.” She gave a little shrug as if she might be a touch absent-minded, but the shrewdness in her eyes said otherwise.
And she’s made sure we know that she knows exactly who we are,his bear added.
This was definitely starting to feel like a game of cat and mouse, where he was the mouse. An unfamiliar sensation for Leo, and not one he liked.
“It’s very neighborly of you,” Estelle said, the words polite though her voice was tight. Her knuckles had gone white where she gripped the door.
“Isn’t it?” Fiona replied with a dismissive wave. “That’s me. Your friendly neighbor.”
Estelle arched an eyebrow. “You live close by?”
“Just over the valley.” Fiona waved a hand in no particular direction.
“And how did you know we were moving in?” Estelle asked bluntly.
“Oh, I saw the real estate agent leaving... and I know this place has been empty for a while,” Fiona said.
“And you just happened to have some honey cake...” Estelle began.
“I did,” Fiona cut in with a smile that reached her eyes.
She’s enjoying this,Leo’s bear said.Whatever this is.
It reminds me of sparring with our brothers,Leo answered.
Oh yeah,his bear agreed.And I’m not sure who is going to win.
Me neither, but I am rooting for our mate,his bear said.
Always,Leo replied.
“Fizz likes honey cake,” Adara announced, clutching her stuffed dragon.
Her words seemed to ease the moment, at least on the surface. Fiona’s expression softened as she crouched to look Adara in the eye.
“Does she now?” Fiona’s gaze lingered on the toy, something knowing in her expression. “Dragons often do.”
Leo felt Estelle go completely still beside him, her breath catching. The comment sounded harmless enough, but something in Fiona’s tone gave it weight, a deliberate emphasis that turned the simple observation into something loaded.
Leo glanced sideways at Estelle. She had gone pale beneath the freckles dusting her cheeks, her mouth pressed into a thin line. If he had not been standing so close, he might have missed the tremor that ran through her. Fiona had said almost nothing. Yet somehow it felt as though the woman had reached right past Estelle’s careful silences and touched whatever secret lay curled at the center of them.
Fiona turned back to Estelle. “She’s a beautiful child,” she said quietly. “She must have inherited her father’s features.”
