Was what he was offering her all that different than that disintegrating sparrow, trapped under its glass dome? Love was not salvation if it suffocated what it was intended to protect.
???????
Cal dressed carefully, feeling the need to impress. After stepping out of the bath and brushing his teeth, he put on his favorite worn pair of jeans, a light jacket, and a flannel shirt that brought out the red in his eyes. Studying himself in the mirror, he ran his fingers over his day-old beard, before dismissing the idea of a shave. In this state, he’d likely only cut himself, and he didn’t want her associating him with blood.
She was waiting for him outside her room, wearing the dress that she had been wearing that night in the library. The subtle shifts of her body beneath the clingy fabric suggested that she had nothing on beneath: a suspicion belied by the reticence of her expression.
He looped his arm through hers and walked her out of the house, relieved that no one from his family appeared to intercept them. It was bright and sunny, hotter than it had been in days. People in town had already started decorating their storefronts, with vaguely pagan banners of raw cord and flowers twined around the old lamp posts. Over the main road into town was a sign, made of wood, onto which someone had mounted a massive pair of antlers.
“They’re really looking forward to this.” Nadine sounded disbelieving as she looked at one of the RUNNING OF THE DEER banners. “You hunt them, and theylikeit.”
“You did,” he reminded her, for which he was sorry when she turned her face away.
Odessa had taken it upon herself to festoon the statue of the first Caledon Cullraven with flowers and pinecones taken from the woods, making him look like some fae god of the wood. Recalling her argument with his father, he wondered if it wasdefiance, or art. She generally considered it beneath her to ask permission, unless she was trying to prove a point.
Everything was still damp from the storm, which made the smell of pine that much stronger. Intoxicating, really. Every breath was spiced and sharp. Various members of the town were taking advantage of the weather to go for a stroll, a few turning their way, their expressions wary.
He tightened his grip on Nadine’s arm possessively, keeping his eyes straight ahead. They had stared before, it was no difference to him. Let them make of this what they would.
It wasn’t as if they’d be likely to go running to his father.
Deena came out of her office just as they were going in. Her face, which had lit up on seeing Nadine, dimmed when their eyes met. He slung his arm around Nadine’s waist and lifted his head in silent challenge.
Her eyes narrowed. “I, uh, hadn’t heard from you in a while,” she said to Nadine, while maintaining admirable eye contact. “I was wondering if you were all right.”
“Yeah. I’m fine.” Nadine crossed her arms over the front of her sweatshirt. “I just wanted to say hi.”
Deena gave him an unforgiving look. “Do you need more cold medicine?”
“N-no. I’m fine. Cal and I—we’re going on a picnic.”
Without looking any less accusatory, Deena somehow managed to look both shocked and appalled.
“Rael sends his regards,” Cal said deliberately.
The city manager’s cheeks flushed but she didn’t stand down, hiking her chin up even higher as if she could aspire to meet him at his own level by sheer force of will. “I don’t need you, of all people, handling my so-called regards,” she informedhim, leaning over to straighten one of the recipes pinned to the wall.
“Are you going to the festival, Deena?”
“I might, if I can find the time to get away from my desk. Your father isn’t exactly a walk in the park to deal with,” she told Cal. “In fact, he tends to piss off the people whorunthe parks.”
Cal smiled sharply. “That’s why we have you to run things.”
Her eyes went flinty. “Well. As unexpectedly fun as it is dealing with the Cullraven family consiglieri, I should get back to work.” She scratched the back of her neck. “You need anything, anything at all, Nadine, you just let me know. Okay? You have my number.”
And I have her phone.
“I will,” Nadine said. “Thank you.”
“Enjoy your picnic.”
Oh, he intended to.
They walked out of the civic center, his arm still around her waist. It tightened when he noticed Sheriff Crocker watching them. He should have known his father would have him running interference.
“Satisfied?”
“Are you?” she shot back.
