Page 77 of Will Bark for Pizza
I didn’t know how to answer that question.
“Good,” said Aspen. “Treat her with respect, and I won’t have any reason to bury your body at the bottom of a really deep lake. One where the water is too cold for you to ever float to the surface.”
“Anyone ever tell you that you’re a little scary?” I teased on a shaky laugh.
She directed a beaming smile at me. “Owen. All the time.”
I followed Aspen through the clearing toward the cabin.
There was something special about the Ghost Lake property filled with laughter, music, and people that brought it to life in a way I hadn’t been able to visualize when Luke showed me the property. Though I preferred my solitude, I could envision hosting the occasional gathering myself.
Too bad Karl wasn’t selling.
Maybe I’d live in the Kniffen Streethouse for a while. It wasn’t as private as the Westons’ farm or a quiet cabin on Ghost Lake, but it had a decent-sized garage where I could store materials and tools, and the neighbors were friendly. It could work until I found something more permanent.
“You can set the cake right over there,” Aspen directed, indicating a table covered in a sparkly pink tablecloth.
I set the sheet cake beside a wicker basket filled with cards, catching sight of Red over the top of the rounded handle.
There had to be three or four dozen people gathered in the backyard, but my gaze landed on Kira as though I knew she’d be standing by the water. She pointed something out to Opal on the lake. Husker sat by their side, intently staring at a chipmunk perched on a nearby boulder, twitching its tail.
“She only bites when you ask,” Aspen said, nodding toward Kira.
“That the vampire in her?” I teased.
Aspen looked shocked. “She told you?”
I shook my head. “I figured it out.”
“Does she know?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m sure she loved that,” Aspen said, laughing. “Well, no promises about the biting thing, then.” She patted me on the shoulder as she walked away.
Good thing, too. Or I might have said the quiet part out loud. How I might not entirely hate getting bitten by Kira.
What the hell am I doing?
I didn’t know the answer to that, but it didn’t stop my feet from moving in her direction.
On my way to Kira, I spotted Luke, Connor, Thoren, and Owen huddled around a stainless-steel gas grill I recognized from the farm. Their expressions were animated and uplifting. Some were laughing. It reminded me of the better nights overseas, when we were off-duty and telling stories.
None of them saw me.
I considered detouring toward the grill, but Connor would have everything under control. I’d just be in the way.
At least that’s the excuse I clung to as I weaved my way through the crowd, nodding hellos to a few familiar faces, and made my way to Kira.
Husker saw me first.
He popped to all fours, tail wagging earnestly as the chipmunk scurried away. He looked from me, to the boulder the chipmunk dove beneath, and back to me, as though imploring my help in capturing the furry little beast who was taunting him.
“Uncle Beckett.” Opal lit up at the sight of me.
It made me miss my own niece and nephew that much more. If only there were a way to get Madeline and her family out to Bluebell Springs without our parents following, I’d do it in a heartbeat. I liked being an uncle.
My gaze flickered to Kira’s, catching the deep blue of her irises.
