Page 97 of Fragile Sanctuary

“She tell you anything?”

I shook my head. “Only hinted at it.” My gaze followed Thea until she disappeared into one of the greenhouses. “I think we just have to give her a safe place. Maybe she’ll open up eventually.”

Duncan sighed. “You’re right. But I feel like an ass for freaking her out.”

I reached out and patted his shoulder. “You didn’t know that taking a picture would spook her.”

“Hey,” a new voice called.

I looked up to see Felix striding toward us, a bright smile on his face. I tried to answer it with one of my own but worry for Thea hung in the back of my mind. “Back again so soon?”

He chuckled. “My mom is on a tear this year. She said she needs more dahlias.”

The look of confusion on his face had a flicker of a smile finally reaching my lips. “Lucky for you, we’ve got plenty.”

“Thank God. Because if she keeps talking my dad’s ear off about it, I think they might be headed for divorce.”

“Come on, I’ll show you.” I glanced at Duncan. “I’ll finish these in a few. That okay?”

He nodded absently, waving me on. “Sure. I’ll be in the office if you need me. Want me to feed the kittens?”

“That’d be great. You’re the best, Dunc.”

His expression softened. “No problem.”

I turned back to Felix. “Let’s go save your parents from divorce.”

He chuckled. “You’re doing the plant gods’ work.”

“I need that on a T-shirt.”

Felix was quiet for a moment as we walked, but I could feel his eyes on me. “You hanging in there? I heard about the fire.”

I twisted my work gloves, my fingers needing a task. “I’m fine. Didn’t touch the guesthouse.”

“Silas and Carlos said the cops think it was arson.”

I would have to ream those two for being gossips. “They’re still trying to put the pieces together.”

Felix drummed his fingers against the side of his thigh as we walked. “You need to be careful, just in case. Keep your circle small. Your most trusted people only.”

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from snapping at him. I didn’t need another protective male in my life. “I’m good. Swear. Now, let’s go get those dahlias.”

As I reached my SUV,I arched back and then bent over to touch my toes. The muscles around my spine protested. I’d overdone it just a tad today.

Tonight called for a bath with a heavy dose of Epsom salts. As I straightened, I pulled out my phone. It looked like that bath would be decidedly lonely.

I tried not to let the lack of response from Anson sting. But it did. Too damn much.

Beeping the locks on my SUV, I opened the back passenger door for Biscuit. “There you go.”

He jumped up but looked a little mopey.

I scratched behind his ears. “I know you miss your kittens, but Thea wanted them tonight.”

It was more than that. I thought sheneededthem. I could tell she was on edge for the rest of the day, the photo incident sticking with her. Maybe cuddling a few kittens for the evening would help.

Closing Biscuit in, I moved to the driver’s door and opened it. I hopped in and dumped my phone into the cupholder. I couldn’t help but scowl at the device. Maybe Thea had it right with the no-technology thing. There’d be fewer disappointments.

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