Shadows of the Redwood - By Gillian Summers Page 0,11

moving her mouth closer to his.

“Keelie Heartwood, is that you?” The man’s voice was familiar.

They jumped apart. Keelie looked around Sean, irritated at the interruption. She couldn’t believe it. Her father’s former apprentice, Scott, had entered the shop.

He looked so different. His shoulders were still broad, but now he looked more muscular. Black hair fell rakishly over one eye, and he wore a decent band T-shirt and jeans that fit. Keelie couldn’t believe someone could change from a geek to a hunk in less than a year.

“You know him?” Sean asked. He glowered at Scott, who was smiling at Keelie.

“Yes,” she replied. “Don’t you? This is Scott. He was at the High Mountain Faire, too. He was Dad’s apprentice.”

Sean frowned, then nodded. “Of course. You’ve changed.”

Scott smiled broadly. “Been working out.”

“It shows,” Keelie said.

Sean turned his frown toward her.

“What? I’m paying the man a compliment.” Keelie gave Sean the “you’re not the boss of me” glare.

Scott looked quickly from Keelie to Sean. “Is something wrong? You need help, Keelie?”

“I’m all the help she needs,” Sean growled.

This was a possessive side of Sean that Keelie had never seen. She wasn’t sure that she liked it.

The two men squared off, with Keelie trapped behind the counter. She was torn between horror that they might actually fight over her and a hidden “squee!” of delight.

She turned back to Scott, hoping to defuse the situation. “So, where’s your woodshop?”

Scott turned to her, deliberately excluding Sean from his sight. “I work at Tudor Turnings.” He pointed casually toward the two-story building that leaned crookedly across the road. Its black-and-white, half-timbered second story overshot the first floor, and hung over part of the path like a saggy, out-of-breath old man. Scott grinned at her expression. “It was built that way on purpose.”

“You have got to be kidding. It looks dangerous.”

Sean seemed to relax as the conversation turned more general.

“I’ve got the building inspections to prove it’s not. Want a tour of the inside?”

Sean’s mouth turned down even more. Keelie really wanted to go into the strange building, but she also wanted to kiss Sean, and if she went off with Scott the chances of that happening again might fade. Although she was having second thoughts about kissing Sean after that macho-elf display.

As if summoned by the almost-kiss, Risa appeared on the road outside, wearing a gypsy outfit with a tight corset that showed off her assets as if they were muffin tops on a plate. She was carrying a frosty pewter goblet.

“Lord Sean, I heard you were working hard and thought you might be thirsty.” She put her pouty red lips to the goblet’s rim and sipped. “Ummm … honeyed mead. I brought it for you, but couldn’t resist a taste.” She offered the goblet to Sean.

Oh, brother. Could the girl be more obvious?

Sean reached for the goblet, but Scott beat him to it. “I’m thirsty, too, and I appreciate the offer of a drink, milady.” His eyes looked her up and down appreciatively, then rested on her chest.

Risa looked startled as Scott grabbed the goblet, but just before he put it to his mouth she shrieked, “No!” and slapped it away. The goblet fell to the path and its contents spilled.

Scott stared, dumbstruck, at Risa. “Geez, I was just going to take a sip. I wasn’t going to hog it. Sean could have had some.”

Sean was staring at the puddle. Knot ambled over and gave the puddle an inquisitive sniff, then lapped it up. He loved mead.

Keelie’s eyes met Sean’s, and she knew they were thinking the same thing. Why would Risa bring a drink, taste it, and offer it to Sean, then pitch a fit when Scott jokingly took it? They looked down at Knot, who had consumed most of the spilled mead.

Risa backed away. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. I knew it was hot work, and I wanted to bring Sean a nice drink, and then—” Her eyes fell on the spilled goblet and widened. Then she saw Knot, and her expression softened.

Keelie almost heard a chime as Knot looked up at the elf girl.

“Oh, such soft fur, such big green eyes. You are the loveliest kitty in the world. I love you.” Risa reached down toward Knot. The cat arched, and his fur stuck out as he backed away.

“She’s bespelled herself,” Sean said.

“That was meant for you, you know.” Keelie watched Risa stalk Knot farther into the Heartwood shop. “Must have been a love potion.” It occurred to