The gentle eyes kept looking at her, a bit sheepish, a bit sad, and a bit… Paloma could not decipher that look. But she could feel it on her skin, like a touch. And it burned. When did she become a fan of the sensation of being consumed alive by flames? And yet, as she looked into the depths of those sad eyes, cinders danced in them, taking over the green.
Paloma didn’t realize that she had lifted a hand. Her fingers caressed the sharp cheekbone, her thumb running across a splattering of freckles. She touched them again. There weren’t many, but they stood in sharp relief to the pale skin, red hair, and the brightness of eyes that seemed to hold the secrets of time everlasting.
Who was all drama now?
Paloma dropped her hand and returned to the task of cleaning the scratches.
“You will only need a doctor if these get infected. The kittens lived for weeks in your sister’s household. If anyone was sick, you’d know. As for rabies, please rest assured that you’ll be fine.”
Deryn pushed her lower lip out again, and Paloma wanted to lift her eyes to the heavens and demand an explanation of whyon god’s green earth this one—the ridiculous one—was affecting her so much. Because she was. Her own skin, once upon a time always cold, was now warm, palms tingling with recognition, with remembrance of the touch and the feel and the taste of this woman…
“I bet you say that to all the girls, Ms. Allende. That their wounds will be fine, that is.”
Well, just like Deryn to make a joke and ruin the moment. Paloma slapped the Band-Aid with more force than was necessary and turned away, gathering the first aid kit back together.
When she returned, she could swear there was a faint scent of burnt plastic in the room, but the fireplace was off, and she looked around for the potential source.
Nothing was out of place. The kitten was once again asleep on the couch. Deryn, hands in the pockets of her leather jacket, stood in the middle of the room, face unreadable.
“So, ahem, when is our next outing?”
Something crossed those sharp features, something uneasy, something dark, that Paloma couldn’t decipher. Even the thought that this woman could hold something dark in her was seemingly outlandish. She was just so… Paloma couldn’t find the words, butdarkwasn’t one that fit. Neither waselemental, and yet for a second, she could swear those eyes held power, power to send up the world into flames.
She shook her head. She was tired. Between the resort and the campaign and all the demands of her business on the mainland, she was stretched too thin.
Deryn was still watching her, clearly expecting an answer, and Paloma tried very hard to gather her thoughts.
“There are two events next week, and then one more the week after.” She opened her phone and accessed her calendar.“You don’t have to come to all three, you can choose two and let Lachlan know the times and places you will pick me up.”
“Ah, so I should be the one picking you up?” Deryn’s smile was teasing.
“Ms. Crowhart, it’s the expeditious thing to do. I have no clue where you even live these days.”
“I still live at Ceridwen’s.”
“Ah.”
Deryn bristled. “What is that ‘ah’ supposed to mean?”
Paloma waved her away.
“Nothing, it’s just an ah. An exclamation to keep the conversation going. The polite thing to do. But your oversensitivity on the topic is telling.”
Deryn threw her hands up in the air.
“Telling what?”
“Nothing, nothing…” Paloma settled on the couch and picked up the kitten, who purred and nestled.
Paloma lifted her gaze to Deryn whose eyes were sparkling, and not in the romantic literature way of describing the phenomenon. No, they looked like they held fire itself, and Paloma felt her cheeks flame for some reason. It was suddenly too hot in the room.
“I am staying with Ceridwen because it suits me, Ms. Allende. How’s that?”
Paloma pursed her lips and kept petting the kitten.
“It’s none of my business, Ms. Crowhart. You can stay wherever. Given that your sister Seren lives in the family house, and given how close you all are, I was just surprised?—”
“You could’ve asked if you were curious, you know? Not like twenty other people haven’t already done so. I just…” Deryn trailed off before turning to face Paloma fully, the fire in her eyes scorching now. “I hate that place! Since mom… Since everything! So, I never stay there when I’m back on the island.Not everything has a neat and tidy explanation or resolution. Sometimes things are messy. And they don’t fit those nice and tidy labels you want them to fall into.”
