Finding Home in Dolphin's Cove by Hailes Kellie

Author:Hailes, Kellie [Hailes, Kellie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781398707245
Publisher: Orion
Published: 2022-08-23T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

As the tip of her pinky finger’s nail investigated the corner of her eye, Kenna pondered the irony of the gunk that settled in it being called sleep, when it seemed to gather in greater multitudes the less sleep you had, as she’d experienced last night after she’d left Kyran by the brazier.

What had she been thinking, believing he could open up? That the moment things looked to be deepening between them he’d not push her away? She’d been a fool.

No more, she decided as she dug the last of the crust out and flicked it into the small rubbish bin she kept behind the counter. From now on she would treat Kyran as he was: her business partner. No more. No less.

With an inward sigh of acceptance, Kenna turned her attention to the customer browsing the small stand of sun hats and T-shirts she’d set up the previous week, after coming to an agreement with a local screen printer to sell on their behalf for a small cut of the profits. It wasn’t the greatest business win ever, but as far as Kenna was concerned it was a start. It grew the offerings in the shop while making the place look more successful simply by having something to offer. Experience working behind the counter in a failing corner shop had taught her the less you had on the shelves, the less likely people were to buy from you. Best of all, by coming to the arrangement she was supporting a local, showing locals that Fishful Thinking wanted to be part of the community, and once the festival proved to be a raging success, so would the business.

She hoped. She crossed her fingers quickly, then uncrossed them as she put on her sunniest smile.

‘Morning!’ She clenched her teeth as she realised how overly exuberant she’d sounded. Pulling herself back from sounding like she was insane – which perhaps she was, given she was neck-deep in festival organisation and heart-deep in ‘what’s going on with my flatmate/business partner’ sludge – she moderated her tone to something resembling normal. ‘Can I help you with anything?’

The customer turned to her with a polite smile, and Kenna took a small step back. The smile, even in its well-mannered ‘leave me alone’-ness was stunning. Even, white, perfectly spaced teeth. Lips that were perfectly symmetrical. Surrounding them was a face that was attractive, to say the least. Clear blue eyes, a good mop of blond hair, skin that looked almost airbrushed … Kenna cursed herself for not dotting the hormonal breakout that had appeared on her chin with concealer before leaving the house.

Once upon a time she would have said the man standing in front of her was ‘her type’. The kind that she knew would be a classic case of here for a good time, not for a long time. The no-strings safe type. Now? Despite the beautiful smile and the pretty face? She searched her body for signs of attraction. No heart hammering. No fizzy veins.

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