Winona handed him one of the earrings and gave him a detailed description of how Naomi had done this, making it sound far more interesting that it was.
He listened, studying the silver leaf in his palm, then looked up at Naomi, the intensity in those dark eyes making her breath catch. “Good trade.”
Chaska loggedout of his work VPN, satisfied with the progress he’d made this afternoon. He had a report to write before Monday morning’s meeting with NASA, but he could handle that tomorrow.
He found the women on the back porch.
“Shhh!” Win whispered when he stuck his head out the back door.
Naomi lay on the reclining patio chair next to Winona, sound asleep, face turned toward them, her lips parted.
Winona stood, walked back inside, the earrings Naomi had made her dangling from her earlobes. “We were talking, and the next thing I knew she was just out. It must be the concussion—or maybe the pain pills.”
“It’s probably both.”
Winona walked into the kitchen to get herself a glass of water, but Chaska stayed near the door where he could keep an eye on Naomi. He didn’t want to leave her out there, asleep and alone, not during tourist season when the crime rate shot up. More than once he’d had to chase drunken idiots out of their yard and away from Shota’s enclosure.
“Sorry I interrupted the two of you. If you don’t want to talk about it, I understand.” The excited gleam in Winona’s eyes told Chaska she very much hoped he wanted to talk about it.
“There’s not much to say. I kissed her. I plan to kiss her again if she’s willing—not that it’s any of your business.”
Winona did a silent happy dance, water glass high in the air, a wide smile on her face. “Every time I mentioned you this afternoon, she blushed.”
He glared at his sister. “Don’t meddle, Win.”
“I won’t.” She blinked up at him through innocent brown eyes.
Chaska wasn’t buying it. “I’m serious. Don’t interfere.”
“Okay, fine.” She shrugged. “I should try to find reasons to be out of the house more often to give you two time alone together.”
He was about to point out that this would be interfering but stopped himself. The idea of more time alone with Naomi sounded good to him.
“You told her about John Charles Ready.”
Chaska cringed inwardly to hear the bastard’s name spoken aloud. “I didn’t mention him by name, but, yes, I told her what happened. I didn’t want you to have to tell her, but I thought it might help her to know that you understand at least some of what she’s going through. I hope that’s okay.”
“Of course, it’s okay—and thanks.” She took a drink, then gave a little laugh. “When did my big brother start being wise?”
“When did my little sister turn into a smart mouth? Oh, wait. She was born that way.” He grabbed the newspaper off the kitchen table and bopped her on the head with it, then stepped quietly outside and sat in the chair across from Naomi.
Naomi satin the backseat of Winona’s SUV while Chaska drove them through Scarlet to some pub called Knockers. “This isn’t some kind of belly-shirts-and-boobs place, is it?”
Chaska and Winona laughed.
“It’s named after the tommyknockers,” Winona said.
“Tommy … who?”
Chaska met her gaze in the rearview mirror. “Tommyknockers are spirits that live in the mines. This area was settled by Cornish miners, and tommyknockers are one of their legends.”
“They might not be legends,” Winona said. “Lexi believes a tommyknocker saved her life when she was trapped in that collapsed mineshaft. She goes up there every once in a while to toss in bread or pastries for him. There are other stories from people around here who say they’ve seen one.”
“That’s kind of … creepy.” Naomi would avoid going near any mine shafts.
Chaska made a left turn, passing the little strip mall with the grocery store before turning right into a crowded parking lot. “I’ll let you two off at the door and then park.”
He shut off the engine and helped Naomi to the ground, his hand holding hers longer than was necessary. “You’re going to like it here. I promise.”
