"I can come back later," Kylie said, not really wanting to hang out at the office. It would make her feel like a kid sent to the principal's office. "Oh, does Burnett still need the pictures of my dad? If not, I'd like to have them back."
"He's having them tested to see if they are originals or copies. It shouldn't be more than a few days."
"Hi," came an unfamiliar female voice from behind Kylie. "I'm sorry. I didn't know you had someone in here. I can wait in the-"
"It's fine," Holiday said.
Kylie's heart did a little tumble when she recognized the brunette as the one who'd been plastered to Derek in the picture on Della's phone.
"Kylie," Holiday said, "this is Ellie Mason. She's signing up for Shadow Falls."
Showtime, Kylie thought. Time to pretend it didn't hurt. She forced a smile. "Hi."
"Are you Kylie Galen?"
Kylie nodded, unsure what to expect.
"Derek told me about you." She smiled, then tightened her brows to check out Kylie's brain pattern. "Wow. You do have an odd pattern." She made a funny face as if embarrassed.
"Yeah," Kylie said. "Everyone tells me that." Her forced smile melted.
"I'm sorry," Ellie said. "I didn't mean to be rude. Derek has nothing but great things to say about you."
"Don't believe everything he says." Kylie attempted to soften her tone because she felt like a bitch for not liking her. But how could she like Ellie when all Kylie could think about was how Ellie was most likely one of the four girls Derek had slept with? Then she wondered if a kiss was all they'd shared in Pennsylvania.
"I always believe Derek. Especially about people." Ellie took another step inside.
Kylie hated to admit it, but Ellie was pretty. Blue eyes, thick brown hair, and dimples.
Ellie's sincere smile widened. "Derek doesn't tend to exaggerate. And being half-fae, he's a good judge of character. If he likes someone, they deserve it."
Kylie wished she could have disagreed. Not so much because she didn't want to be considered deserving. But because Derek obviously cared for Ellie enough to bring her back here, which meant Ellie was a deserving person.
The being-a-bitch feeling hit again, and Kylie tried to push it back. "Maybe I caught him on an off day." She attempted to put some teasing in her voice and stood up. "I should go."
"Kylie, why don't I drop by your cabin in about half an hour?" Holiday asked, concern deepening her tone.
Kylie nodded.
"And be careful," Holiday said.
"I will." Kylie stopped when she neared Ellie. "Welcome to Shadow Falls." And she tried to mean it.
"Thank you," Ellie said.
* * *
"Is my vampire hearing off? Did you actually say, 'Welcome to Shadow Falls'?" Della asked sarcastically when Kylie got outside. "I would have bitch-slapped her."
"No, you wouldn't have." Kylie noticed the stormy weather had passed.
"Maybe not, but I would have wanted to." Concern shaded Della's eyes.
"And you think I didn't?" Insecurities rained down on Kylie. "She's pretty, isn't she?"
"No," Della said, but Kylie knew it was a lie. Ellie was pretty and nice and she'd probably had sex with Derek.
Kylie's chest swelled with unwanted jealousy, and her mind created an image of Ellie and Derek together. Of them kissing ... of them ...