Into the Fading Twilight (Starlight Grove, #2) (64)

Skylar ran over to me, holding a hand behind her back. “I made you something.”

I crouched low so we were at eye level with each other. “You’re really spoiling me, Sky.”

She just grinned, then started to look a little nervous. She took a deep breath and shoved a pile of beaded bracelets in my direction. “I know you don’t like your wrist marks.”

I sucked in a sharp inhale and struggled not to tug my sleeves down.

“Dad says that what makes us different makes us beautiful,” Skylar went on, and I struggled not to look at Kol. “And I think you’re super beautiful. But until you’re ready to show them, I made you these.”

My eyes burned. I hadn’t cried once since leaving the hospital, but this sweet girl was threatening to be the thing that cracked my iron fortress walls. I studied the bracelets made of sparkly beads in every color under the sun. “Sky,” I whispered.

She looked so damn uncertain. I wanted to hug her, but I didn’t trust myself quite yet.

“This is the best gift anyone has ever given me,” I croaked.

Skylar’s hazel eyes lit with sheer joy. “Really?”

“Really.” I pulled up one sleeve and slid about six bracelets on. They didn’t cover the scars completely, but they disguised them. People would be looking at the colorful creations and not my mottled skin.

“They look so pretty on you,” Sky encouraged.

I slid the other half on my left wrist. “And they will look good with everything.”

“That’s why I picked every color,” Sky said sagely.

“You are the smartest.”

“I got a one hundred percent on my spelling test yesterday.”

I chuckled as I straightened. “Why am I not surprised?”

As I turned, my gaze collided with Kol’s. He studied my face, clearly checking for signs of distress, as if not sure how the gift would go over.

I moved in a little closer, playing with fire as that scent of pine, cedar, and fresh air swirled around me. “You have an incredible daughter.”

A little of his tension eased. “I’m pretty partial to her.” He glanced at his daughter. “Think I could get some of those bracelets, too, Little Princess?”

She beamed. “I’ll make you some with all the colors, too.”

His lips twitched. “My favorite.”

Now that I was closer to Kol, I could see the circles beneath his eyes. “Is everything okay?”

He sighed. “Late night. Case.”

A shiver ran through me. It shamed me to admit that I’d tried to shove the missing woman from my mind. I hated myself for it. She was a human being. Someone who might be facing what I already had. “Anything?”

Kol shook his head. “Roger wants to talk to you again.”

Alarm shot through me, but the moment it did, Kol’s fingers wove through mine and squeezed. “I’ll be with you.”

I swallowed the panic. If I could help in some way, I needed to. “Okay. When?”

“How about after your shift?” Kol suggested. “Roger is running down a few things this morning.”

I nodded as relief washed through me. I didn’t want to do it before work. If it messed with my head, I’d be a wreck while trying to serve. But this way, it would be hanging over my head all day. Still, it was better than the alternative.

“Okay,” Kol began. “Why don’t we do it here? No prying eyes or ears. Brae can take Sky for a few hours if I ask.”

Here felt safe. Because Kol had made it that way. “Okay.”

“You’re stronger than you know.” He gave my hand one last squeeze and then released me.

I missed the contact instantly. But I’d also memorized the feel of it. The rough calluses on Kol’s palm and fingers. The story of him. The pressure and heat. His safety and assurance. And I’d carry it all with me, even when I didn’t have him.





“Date number two, and I’m halfway gone,” Piper said dreamily as she flounced behind the bar to tuck her purse away. She was early for the evening shift, but maybe she just needed some time to talk about the new love of her life.

I focused on the drink in front of me. Wylder had moved me up from beers and sodas to simple mixed drinks. But given that I’d broken two glasses and spilled an entire beer today, that might’ve been a bad idea.

“He took me on a picnic to this beautiful waterfall. A picnic!” she squealed. “Who does that these days? Usually, it’s all Netflix and chill.”

Cora cast a worried look in Piper’s direction, then quashed it. “Two Cokes and an Aspen Pale Ale.”

The moment I finished with the vodka soda, I moved on to Cora’s drinks. “Why don’t you invite him in here one of these days so we can all get a look at him?” I suggested.

Piper grinned at me. “He’s out of town for a rodeo the next couple of days, but then I will.”

I sent Cora a quick look and knew we were both thinking the same thing: We’d suss him out. And if he wasn’t on the up and up, I had the adorable angry-cat knuckles to scare the piss out of him.

Piper looked between us. “Oh no you don’t. There will be no threatening of any kind.”

Aidan chuckled as he walked up, putting her in a headlock and executing a noogie. “What good are honorary big brothers and sisters if we can’t threaten your boyfriends?”