Page 24 of Live Love Lasso

“You believe me, right? That I didn’t hurt that moose or the horses?”

He cocks his head to the side, sucking at his teeth. “I think I do, Lemon, yeah. I’ve always trusted my gut, and it says you were in the wrong place at the wrong time. I’d like to know why that is though, wouldn’t you?”

“Yeah,” I manage. “Is that why you’re here now? Some kind of surreptitious investigatory technique? Get the off-kilter city girl out of her comfort zone until she reveals something shocking?”

He chuckles. “You feeling like a fish outta water, Lemon?” He looks around with a smile. “I think you look beautiful here, but you’d be stunning anywhere.”

Satisfaction curls through me at his words. I feel seen in a way that no amount of attention in New York has ever made me feel. I might be the brightest, shiniest light in my family, but Hunter and Father have always dulled that shine when they could. Furyon’s words make me feel like Elle Woods from Legally Blonde, pinkening up the courtroom and shocking the hells out of all those who underestimated her.

I smile as I let him lead me toward the first row of tents. The first place we stop is the bakery I noticed earlier.

Furyon waves at the pixie attendant. “Lemon, this is Alyetta. She’s the best baker you’ll find in any haven anywhere, even the city.”

The pixie female smiles, rustling her translucent purple wings at her back as she blushes.

“Furyon’s compliments are so appreciated. I’d love for you to try some of our cakes or breads.” She opens her arms, gesturing to giant pumpkin-shaped bread bowls to her right. “These are sourdough, but then I’ve got some molasses chocolate chip cookies too, if you’re interested?”

I try a little of everything, I swear. Furyon buys a sourdough pumpkin bread bowl that’s bigger than his head, and I purchase a dozen assorted cookies.

An hour goes by, and I check off a half dozen suggestions from the welcome book’s checklist. Furyon introduces me to other monsters, and it’s a lot like Oz said that first day—everyone’s kind and welcoming. I feel like I tripped down the Alice hole into Wonderland, except it exists behind the Gulch’s rustic main drag.

By the time we get to the end of the first row, I’m holding a half dozen bags, and Furyon’s got a few of his own. He grins at me. “You want to go the next row over, city girl? Or shall we stash these somewhere and grab a drink?”

His smile is genuine and huge, highlighting the dimple in his chin.

“Drink sounds great.” It might be mid-morning, but, shit, I don’t have anything going on for the rest of the day.

Furyon grabs my things. “I’ll go throw these in my truck if you want to grab us a table up on the auction house porch.”

I hand him my stuff, and he turns to go. It takes me a full five minutes to make my way through the crowd around the outer edge of the garden. It takes another five minutes to make it through the line of folks waiting to get a table. Furyon meets me on the steps, frowning at the crowd.

I push my long waves over my shoulder, noting how his eyes fall to my throat. When he looks back up, we both smile.

“This is nice,” I say. “Despite the wait.”

“It is.” He slides a hand up my back to rest between my shoulder blades as a big minotaur pushes down the stairs and gets in our space. “I heard Echo paid you a nosy little visit this morning at BrewHaHa.”

I scoff. “Did Merit or Bryony tell you that?”

He laughs. “Echo herself, as a matter of fact. She’s been my friend a long time, and she’s protective.”

I purse my lips. “She said I had you all confused. What does she mean?”

His laughter this time is much louder, head reared back. “Confused, huh?” He grins at me. “Guess she means she can tell I’m consortin’ with a mastermind criminal. She’s well and truly convinced you’re to blame for our current ills.”

My nostrils flare at the insinuation, and his eyes drop to my lips.

“Easy, city girl,” Furyon croons.

Before I can respond, a gargoyle hostess waves us forward. She leads us to a table right on the edge of the porch. It’s covered, but we’ve got a great view of the garden.

As we take a seat, Furyon points out over the big space. “The pumpkin and gourd garden was originally a project by the Gulch’s very first Keeper, Sipan Varien. He’s been gone for a few centuries now, but he was very beloved, and the Gulch herself adores the garden. It’s weathered quite a few storms, and somehow, despite the soil being mostly terrible here, the garden is a near oasis.”

I smile as I look out over intricate swirling rows of golden orange and pale green pumpkins. “And this is the guy whose house sits across from Glimmer, right?”

Furyon grins. “That’s the one. And since he passed, the Gulch hasn’t agreed to a single Keeper we’ve had. Downtown’ll usually kick ‘em out by tossing ‘em in the street and rolling all their belongings out, too. Some of the bars keep count by hanging cowbells in the bar for every Keeper the town gets rid of. It’s…a whole thing.”

I laugh as a waiter drops two menus on our table, then scurries off to the next one over. “How long did the last one make it?”