I follow the sound, finding my sister and Kane seated at the island counter, mugs of something steaming in front of them. Her face lights up when she sees me, and she slides off her stool to wrap me in a tight hug.
“I missed you,” she mumbles against my shoulder.
“Missed you too,” I reply, surprised by how true it is. “How was Toronto?”
Kane rises to his feet, offering me a tired smile. “Eventful,” he says, running a hand through his dark hair. “Coffee? Or something stronger?”
“Coffee’s good,” I say, shrugging off my coat. “So, everything went okay with Nora?”
They exchange a look that speaks volumes. “We got her back,” Kane says carefully. “But it was... intense.”
I slide onto a stool as he places a mug in front of me. “What happened?”
“Petrova had her locked up or was trying to, in a safe room,” Kane explains, leaning against the counter. “Jake and Mikhail got to it just in time.”
I scan their faces, looking for a hint of grief. “Is everyone okay?”
Kane’s jaw tightens. “We all made it back in one piece.”
“Petrova?”
“He won’t be a problem anymore,” he says, and knowing already, I don’t press for details.
“How about you?” Kori asks, studying my face. “Everything quiet here?”
I take a long sip of coffee, buying time. I’m not ready to share everything about Caleb, the treasure, or Danny’s attack. Not yet. “Pretty quiet,” I finally say. “Snowstorm knocked out power for a while.”
“That’s all?” Kane asks, his sharp eyes missing nothing. “You look... different.”
I force a casual shrug. “Just tired. It’s been a long few days. I’m not used to taking care of livestock,” I say with a laugh.
Kane drains his mug and sets it in the sink. “I should check on the security system, make sure the storm didn’t mess with anything.” He squeezes Kori’s shoulder as he passes. “Don’t feel obliged to tell her anything,” he adds with a wink in my direction.
She clutches her chest in a feigned insult, “Me? I wouldn’t dare intrude,” but as soon as he’s out of earshot, Kori leans forward, eyes gleaming with curiosity. “Spill it. What happened with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Dangerous?”
“Nothing happened,” I say, too quickly. “We looked after the animals, stayed warm during the storm. End of story.”
“Uh-huh.” She’s not buying it for a second. “And I’m supposed to believe you spent all that time alone with him and there were no sparks? No moments? Not even a little tension?”
I laugh, but it sounds hollow even to my ears. “We’re practically strangers, Kori. And he’s Jake’s brother. It would be... weird.”
“Since when do you shy away from weird?” She studies me over the rim of her mug. “You’re blushing, by the way.”
“I am not.” I stand abruptly, needing to escape her too-perceptive gaze. “I think I’m going to freshen up. Maybe change my hair color. I’m tired of this blonde.”
“Running away from the conversation, very mature,” she calls after me, but I pretend not to hear.
In my bathroom, I rummage through the cabinet until I find the box of hair dye I bought weeks ago—at the pharmacy in Pinecrest, rich auburn that I thought might bring out the green in my eyes. The familiar routine of mixing chemicals andapplying color is soothing, giving my hands something to do while my mind continues to race.
But then I have to wait 45 minutes. I look at my phone sitting on the vanity and wonder what Caleb is doing. I pick it up and, without much thought, I shoot him a text saying I’m sorry for leaving so quickly.
One thing leads to another, and I’m agreeing to dinner with him tomorrow night.
I think about the way he looked at me this morning, like he was seeing something in me that I’d forgotten was there.
The timer goes off, and I jump in the shower. Twenty minutes later, I’m wrapping a towel around my head, drying myself off, and getting dressed in PJs. Wiping the fogged-up mirror as I unwrap the towel from my head, I stare at my reflection in horror.
“What the—” My hair isn’t auburn. It’s not even red. It’s a bright, unmistakable pink—the color of bubble gum or cotton candy.
