Brice arched an eyebrow. “Oh, yes you are.”
She shrugged. “I’m just standing in a bookstore checking in on everyone.”
“But yet somehow I’m here trying to think if I’ve committed any crimes,” Brice admitted.
That earned her a real reaction. A tiny shake of Keena’s head as if Brice had amused her in some way. She hoped she had. If this was a way to get to know the enforcer, then she’d be as silly as she needed to be to earn another laugh.
“I’m Keena,” Keena said. She turned slightly toward the door and glanced over at it. Oh, yeah, the enforcer was ready to go. Brice wondered if it was the bookstore that made her uncomfortable or if it was her.
“I heard. Alanis ruined the mysterious stranger reveal when she called out your name when you first entered,” Brice smiled.
Something flickered in Keena’s eyes again. Whatever it was, was gone too quickly for Brice to diagnose.
“Well, you seem fine,” Keena said briskly. All business. “If you need anything feel free to call down to the pack main office or Rue if you have her number.”
Brice opened her mouth to say something, anything really to get the enforcer to stay, but Keena had already turned. She moved fast too, like someone fleeing a burning building instead of a cozy bookstore with fresh sugar cookies up for the offering.
“Wait!” Brice called out. Keena stopped but didn’t turn around. Brice grabbed the tray of cookies and held them up. “Do you want one for the road?”
Brice held her breath as she waited for Keena to answer. The wolf shifter glanced over her shoulder. Her eyes dropped to the cookies before they snapped up to Brice’s face.
“No,” Keena said.
And then she was gone.
The bell over the door jingled once again and cold air rushed in before the door swung shut. Brice stared at the door for a moment.
“Well, that was weird,” she murmured.
“Yup, that sounds about right,” Alanis said. Brice had forgotten with Alanis’ shifter hearing she could probably hear her whisper across the room. Alanismade her way back to Brice’s side with a book in her hand. She sat it down on the counter.
“What was that about?” Brice asked. She was completely flabbergasted about the way Keena had bolted from the store. Had she done something to offend her? Did she smell? She lowered her head and took a sniff. Nope, she didn’t stink. So what was it?
“Keena?” Alanis chuckled.
“Yeah. Did I insult her? Was it the handshake? Is there an etiquette rule I missed where I’m not supposed to be nice to the law enforcement?”
Alanis shrugged. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“She practically ran away from me,” Brice said. She sat the tray of cookies back down. She reached up and brushed a wayward strand of hair from her eyes.
“That’s just how she is.”
“You say that as if it explains something.” Brice turned fully toward her. Alanis shrugged again and chuckled.
“Keena’s… Keena. She keeps to herself. Especially around this time of year.”
Brice caught the shift in the tone of her voice. Her curiosity was officially piqued. There was an encrypted message layeredinto her words.
“Because of Christmas?” Brice asked.
“Let’s just say…” Alanis hesitated before continuing. “Holidays aren’t easy for her.”
Brice softened and she thought of the hint of sadness she’d glimpsed in Keena’s face as she had looked around the shop, and the way she’d reacted to her simple touch or the tension that seemed to radiate from her the second she'd walked in.
“Oh,” Brice said quietly.
“Don’t take it personally. Honestly, I’m surprised she even came in here at all. The alpha must have asked her personally.” Alanis’ smile was sympathetic. “Rue always wants to make sure everyone here is good.”
