had questions. “What’s going on in this town?”
“I would have said tons of development. The place is busy since I last popped in.”
“Because of the mill. But that’s not the only thing. There’s something else going on. I know it.”
“Whatever do you mean?”
I glared. “Don’t pull that bullshit with me.” Look at me, getting all tough. “I don’t know if it’s the lake, the town, or some ancient burial ground, but there is weird shit happening. And you’re right in the middle of it. You and that mill.” I still remembered my first visit to it and seeing the mechanical monster that mined the bottom of the lake. The odd mining machine made a plausible explanation for monster sightings. That night, I had my first Maddy dream. More like a nightmare.
At first, I feared Maddy because she would always devour me. But as the dreams evolved, the swallowing me whole stopped, and I got to see a monster in great pain. A creature suffering. A prisoner slowly dying.
“Funny you should ask about the mill. Operations there are wrapping up.”
“So quickly?” It didn’t make sense. The launch was for the new year. Now, I didn’t know much about business, but shouldn’t the production be ongoing?
“Doesn’t feel quick to me. Once upon a time it took forever to reach this point. Now? We are almost at the end.”
“The end of what?”
I expected another bullshit answer, but he offered a bleak reply. “The end of a long effort. An era. A life.”
He spoke of life, and on an impulse, I asked, “Did Maddy die? Is that why you can’t keep the mill open?”
His brows rose. “What makes you think she died?”
“I saw it in a dream.” I admitted it to the only person I could.
His chin dropped. “Have you seen other things?” He didn’t mock me.
I shook my head. “Nothing I really remember or understand other than Maddy, and in my last one, she wasn’t there. Just the lake and beach.”
“She’s gone.” He confirmed it and wavered on his feet. He didn’t look well.
“You should sit down. Or better yet, go home. To bed.” My questions could wait until he recovered.
“Will you join me?”
I ignored the tingles. This insane attraction was just more proof I needed to get laid. Maybe then everything with a penis wouldn’t make me horny. “Why do you keep pretending we have a thing? I’m not interested.”
“So you keep saying.”
“If you hear me, then why are you ignoring me?”
“Because it amuses me to make you angry.” He smirked.
“And does it amuse you to piss off your mom, too? Why make her believe that we are involved?”
“Because we are, if not perhaps in the way I’d like or that you expect.”
“That is a load of baloney.”
“Are you claiming you feel nothing?” He stepped closer to the counter, and my heart raced so fast I worried he’d notice.
“I’m seeing someone.”
“You may want to rethink your interest in Darryl. He’s using you.”
“That’s ridiculous. I have nothing he wants.”
“Don’t you? He needs you.”
“And how is that a bad thing?” I could think of worse things than having a man want and need me. I ignored the little voice that had naughty suggestions as to what Darryl really wanted.
“Because he—”
Ding a ling. The door to my shop rang, and Darryl walked in.
Hot guilt and giddy relief filled me as I exclaimed, “Darryl! I was just about to close shop and go find you.” I held up a sign.
“Were you really?” There was suspicion in his tone as he glanced at Kane standing close to me.
“Kane was just leaving,” I announced.
“Is he?” Darryl drawled. “I’m surprised to see you here, Kane.” He put an odd inflection on the name. “I heard you suffered a mishap.”
How come Darryl knew of Kane’s injuries but I didn’t?
Kane shrugged. “Grossly exaggerated. Feeling fine and thought I’d get out.”
“Glad to hear it,” Darryl said as he stepped close enough to slap Kane on the back.
The wince came and went quick enough that I wondered if I’d imagined it.
“Go back to bed,” I said. “I don’t think you’re well enough to be out and about.”
Kane didn’t argue. “You know how to reach me if you need me.”
“She won’t need you. She has me,” was Darryl’s caveman assertion. Sexy, with a hint of violence. I’d never seen Darryl other than affable. Could he be jealous?
Of moi? A girly thrill ran through me. It turned into pure pleasure as Darryl got close enough to slide his arm loosely around my waist.
I’d just been