“And?”
“Keira’s recently jilted fiancé came looking for her, begging her to come back to New York with him.”
“No,” I whisper. “What happened?”
“She’s leaving this afternoon.”
“Are you serious?” I gasp, clinging to this small piece of good news.
If we break the bond, and Rowan decides to choose his old life, I’m sure he could find her easily. It doesn’t really make all that much difference where she goes. But at least I won’t run into her in town anymore. For that, I’m grateful.
“I saw you talking to Theodosia,” Ryder says. “How did that go?”
“Have you ever heard of other gnomes in town?”
“I don’t think so. Why?”
“She said something kind of strange. She told me her father doesn’t always play fair, and when I asked what she meant, she cryptically added that this isn’t the first time the town has had trouble with gnomes.”
Ryder’s eyebrows shoot up. “Do you think Mr. Eastwilden had something to do with your gnome infestation?”
“They’re not pests,” I say absently. “It feels wrong to call it an infestation.”
The elf shrugs like he doesn’t care about politically correct phrasing. “Even if Mr. Eastwilden is involved, what can you do about it?”
“I don’t know.” I frown. “Why would Theodosia tell me, though?”
“She and Mr. Eastwilden are engaged in a long-term feud. They don’t get along.”
“Really?”
“That’s why she doesn’t work at the hotel. Her father refused to pay the salary she requested, so she quit and opened the divination store. No one knows for sure, but rumor has it she bought the building next to the post office out of spite, because Mr. Eastwilden was hoping to move the stationery store there. She paid the owner full price just to snatch it out from under him during negotiations.”
“Are you serious?”
“That’s the gossip.” He shrugs. “I don’t know if it’s true.”
“I think I should mention the gnome thing to Ash.” Before I go, I look back at Ryder, giving him my full attention. “Has Rowan forgiven you yet?”
A mischievous grin stretches over his handsome face. “Not yet, but he will.”
“I can’t believe your plan worked. There’s no way he believed you were going to make a move on me, especially when he was right there.”
“The thought of it was enough, especially with the bond affecting him.” He winks like a wannabe rogue. “And besides, I’m a wildcard. You never know what I’m going to do.”
He’s not, though. Ryder comes across as flippant, but he’s as loyal as they come.
I laugh, shaking my head. “As long as we don’t have to resort to it every time he accidentally turns himself into a bird. Because now that he can shift at will, I have no doubt it will happen again.”
“Rowan is a fast learner. He’ll figure out the shifting process in no time.”
“I hope so.” I start walking. “I’ll see you later. I’m going to track down Ash.”
Ryder goes back to the bakery stand, and I walk toward the event tent, finding Gideon and Anna near the trio of counters they’ve set up for distributing ice cream.
They’ve brought in tables and chairs as well, giving people a place to eat their melting treats in the shade.
“I tried your matcha ice cream,” Anna says when I join them. Her blonde hair is up in a ponytail today, and she looks amazing in a dark red sundress. “It’s so good.”
