The voice is low, gravelly, and bears a strong resemble to Stone Maddox’s.
No way.
Stone Maddox cannot be here.
On my doorstep.
At night.
Wanting to come in.
My stomach twists, and just to accentuate it, blue sparks pop on my fingers.
“Ouch,” I hiss, shoving my fingers in my mouth.
“It’s Stone,” he confirms.
What does he want?
The power surge fades, so I get up and flip the lock, but keep the chain latched. Then I open the door two inches.
“Hey.” It sounds like a nice greeting, but his jade eyes are cold as liquid stone.
At his feet, the lambicorn also greets me. “Baaaaaaa.”
I refuse to melt just because a small, adorable creature has attached itself to the devil. “Yes?”
“I was wondering if we could talk.”
“About what?”
“The resort.”
“There’s nothing to talk about.” I throw my hands up. “I’ve filed my report and the recommendation has been accepted.”
“I know,” he explodes. Then stops. Taps his fingers on his hips and tries again, this time in a calmer voice. “I know. It’s just, I realizewe—you and I—got off on the wrong foot, and I was wondering if we could maybe change that.”
“How will we change it?”
“Let me in and I’ll tell you.” His jaw works overtime before he whispers, “Please.”
I want to say no, I really do, but there’s an earnestness in his voice that suggests he’s telling the truth. “You smell like mojitos.”
“I may have had one at Sparkle Bar. It was poker night.”
“And they serve mojitos?”
“Clarice Sinclair’s running the bar tonight. Do you know her?”
I burst into laughter. “Of course. Everyone in town knows Clarice. She has a habit of wiggling into my private life.”
“Just yours?” he says, his voice teasing. “I think she likes to be in everyone’s.”
We stare at each other for a moment and I soften. It couldn’t hurt to hear him out, right? I shut the door and unlatch the chain.
I open it and gesture for Stone to enter. The lambicorn steps inside, looks up at me, and bleats as if it longs for connection. I pick up the baby sheep and hug it, reveling in its warmth and melting at how soft its fleece coat feels against my neck. I rub my chin over the back of its head.
I just love this little guy.
