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Understanding passes behind her dark eyes. “That’s where you were heading?”

“Maybe.”

“Sorry, no. If that changes, I’ll let you know though.”

I sigh, but it cuts off when I shove another bite into my mouth. “No problem.”

“They’ll have your car fixed soon enough.”

“Doubtful. I don’t think Wilde is trying very hard. He’d rather torture me instead.”

“Torture? Wilde?”

“He’s making me work with Lynx.” The manual labor is bad enough, but looking up and seeing him watching, that bottomless stare locked and unblinking on me, is exactly the kind of fucked-up thing I’m no longer falling for.

At one point, having a dangerous man’s attention made me feel alive.

And look at where that got me.

“Aww …” She rests both hands over her heart. “My precious baby. He might come across standoffish, but he has the biggest heart of anyone I know.”

I blink at her. “Who are we talking about?”

“Lynx, of course.”

“Big … hearted?”

Queenie’s laugh feels mocking. “He all but wears it on his sleeve.”

“Again … we’re talking about Lynx?”

Her dark eyes soften as she looks me over. “He’s carrying scars, but he’d lay down his life for the people in this town, and maybe the others don’t appreciate it, but I do. Plus, his perspective on the world is so interesting, don’t you think?”

“All I know about Lynx is that he wanted to kill me, probably still wants to kill me, and thinks I’m a massive inconvenience to his life, and Wilde’s using me to piss him off.”

“Hmm … that doesn’t sound right,” she says, pouring out more tea.

“Why?”

“Because if he wanted you dead, you would be.”

I’m not sure I want to go into detail about how Bob saved me and open up even more conversation about Lynx. After an entire day with my mind stuck on the man, I’m drained of enthusiasm, and there’s so much more about this town that I want to know.

“Why do you live here?” I ask instead. “I don’t mean on Hobby Straight, but you said you don’t like to settle, and this place feels pretty settled.”

“It’s nice to have a safe space to land. Wilde’s End gives me that. The people here don’t ask questions, they don’t try to get me to stay, I’m provided with everything I need and then more, and I genuinely like the people here.”

Considering Queenie is the most personable human I’ve met since coming here, I find that hard to believe. Wilde mostly talks in single syllables and long looks, Lynx’s face is a permanent sneer of disapproval around me, and the flashes I remember from the town meeting weren’t any more friendly. Except for Viv. She’s gotten me fed and warm. “I suppose Viv is nice,” I concede, instead of arguing that Queenie needs better taste.

“Viv is a nosy old ninny,” Queenie throws back. “But she does keep me supplied with delicious pastries.”

“Did she make all this?”

“Sure did.”

Maybe I need to make friends with Viv too. I’d never go hungry. “I can’t cook,” I admit. “They’ve given me all of these supplies, and I have no idea what to do with any of it.”

“Just play around, and you’ll figure it out. Or tell Lynx. Ziggy can’t cook either, so Lynx feeds him.”