by C. M. Albert
A release that very nearly felt like it pushed that door to her heart open even farther.
WHEN ZADE DROPPED her off at home, he insisted on walking Rosalie to the door, despite her fear that Brecken would see them and come make a scene. She really needed to have a talk with her brother if she could ever catch him at home alone.
Zade wrapped his arms around her, and Rosalie inhaled deeply. Today was the first day in a long, long time that she’d truly let her defenses down long enough to connect with the heart. She was terrified. And despite his heroic claims, her impending move loomed over her.
She felt something soft wrap itself around her ankles and make its way between her and Zade’s legs. She pulled back and looked down. A raggedy little kitten looked up at her before butting its head back against her leg. “Oh my goodness,” Rosalie said, bending over to pick the furry ball up. “Where did you come from?” she cooed.
The silly little kitten had the most adorable face. Half of it was orange and tan, and the other half had different shades of brownish-black fur. It was as if the kitten had been split in half and dipped in different paint colors. She pet a fluffy white poof of fur that sat on its chest like a bib, the kitten immediately purring like a motorcycle when she did.
Zade scratched behind the kitten’s ear and Rosalie laughed when it nudged its head against his palm. I understand, little thing. “Is this yours?” Zade asked. “She sure is different.”
Rosalie knew a little something about being different. It made her like the kitten even more, though she had no idea whose it was or where it came from. “She’s not,” Rosalie said. “She’s a little thing, though. I may bring her in tonight until I can find out who she belongs to. We have coyote and fox out here at night. We don’t want this little peanut getting eaten, now do we?” Rosalie said, scratching the kitty under the chin. “I’ll have to call Kinsley at the shelter to see if anyone’s missing this little girl.”
“How do you know it’s a girl?” Zade asked.
Rosalie shot Zade a look that said, really? “Oh, he’ll figure it out one of these days, won’t he?” She took a deep breath, holding the little kitten to her chest as she turned back to Zade. The kitten closed its eyes and nestled in deeper. Rosalie’s heart completely melted, throwing her even further off track after the day she shared with Zade.
“Well, I better go in and figure out what I’m going to do with this little sweetie. Guess I’ll need to head to the grocery store to get some food and a litter pan until I can find her owner.”
“Why don’t you go take care of the kitten, and I’ll grab the supplies and drop them back off. Deal?”
Rosalie cocked her head, a puzzled crease hooding her eyes. “I just don’t get what’s in this for you, Zade. But I’ll take the help since it’s being offered.” She turned to head into the house when he caught her arm.
His green eyes pierced her brown ones, lingering too long and yet not long enough. “You’re what’s in it for me,” Zade said. He leaned over and scratched behind the kitten’s ear. “She’ll figure it out one of these days, won’t she?”
Rosalie laughed. “Touché, doctor.”
Zade kissed her on the forehead and said goodbye before bounding down the steps and jumping into his convertible, not even bothering with his door.
The man has moves, that’s for sure. Rosalie opened the door, whispering to the kitten, “I think we’re in trouble.” She meant about Zade, but a deeper shock registered through her as she took in the sight of their living room. Drawers were open, cushions were flipped up on the sofa, and knickknacks had been moved or were missing.
“Brecken?” she called out, clutching the kitten against her chest. Rosalie couldn’t tell if they’d been robbed or if her brother had—for some strange reason—gone on a bender and tossed the place. “Are you home?”
She didn’t hear anything, but saw the back door swinging open. Shit. Rosalie didn’t know if whoever did this to their tiny home was still around, maybe hiding in a closet just waiting for someone to get home. Rosalie slowly backed out of the house, not bothering to close the front door on her way out. She clutched the kitten to her chest as she dialed 911 and described the scene she’d stumbled into. She didn’t recognize the operator’s voice, but as soon as she told the woman her name, the operator seemed to recognize her.
“Oh, you’re that girl who has the radio show, right? The one who talks to dead people?”
Rosalie nearly choked. Now was not the time to be talking about her show. There could be a mass murderer in her house! She took a deep breath and felt into the energy. She didn’t sense that anyone was inside, but she couldn’t be sure with how panicked she was. She took a deep breath and gritted her teeth.
“That’s me,” Rosalie said, trying to sound chipper even though her house had been ransacked. “How long will it take for someone to get here?” she asked, chewing the inside of her lip. “I’m a little freaked out and don’t know if it’s safe for me to stand out in front of the house or not.”
“Oh, Officer Keller Stoltz is already on his way over there now. No need to worry,” she said, her matronly voice dripping with southern charm. “Say, you read objects, too, right? I found an old photo album and some letters tied up in a pretty bow at my husband’s grandmother’s house when she passed away. I tucked them away, not thinking much about them, until I heard your radio show about the Vegas and the Bisettes. I think you might be interested in seeing these sometime,” she said. “Might answer some of the questions you still have, though I haven’t read everything myself yet, so I can’t say that for sure.”
Rosalie’s ears perked up. If this woman had any information that could help her solve some of the questions she still had about the town she grew up in, then it was worth the time and effort. After all, this is exactly what she’d be doing for her new television show. Sure would be nice if she could do an episode about Arden’s Glen—maybe help get it on the map and draw some tourists in.
“I’d love to see it,” Rosalie gushed. “What was your name again?”
“Agnes,” the woman said. “Agnes Stone.”
“Well, Agnes, you have my cell phone number now. I’m working at LettuceWrap tomorrow. Just message me if you want to swing by, okay? I’m free after the morning rush, and I’m doing another reading tomorrow on air if you want to come listen. Oh, I think this is Officer Stoltz pulling up now. Thank you!”
A squad car pulled into her driveway just as Brecken roared up on his motorcycle, skidding to a halt by the front door. Removing his helmet, he reached out and shook Officer Stoltz’s hand. “Keller,” he said, “what brings you by? My little sister up to no good again?”
Rosalie shot him a death stare. “Very funny, Brecken. I’m not the one on a first-name basis with law enforcement,” she said, lifting a brow in his direction.
“Officer Stoltz,” she said, sending the handsome, middle-aged policeman a grateful smile, “thank you for coming so quickly.”
“Heard you had a little break-in?” he asked, removing his aviators while they chatted. His eyes were the color of ice but held the warmth of the sun.
Rosalie nodded. “Yeah, I walked in, and the first thing I noticed was the house had been tossed,” she said.
Brecken was laughing hard, wiping his eye for effect. “Oh man, Rosalie, please tell me you didn’t call the police for that little mess?” he said.
“Little?!” Rosalie huffed dramatically. “That’s not little. And there are things missing, Breck. Valuable things.”
“Calm down, Rosalie. I was in a hurry looking for something important, and I may’ve gone a little overboard. But it definitely wasn’t a break-in.”
Rosalie narrowed her eyes at her brother. “Then where is the iPad I know I set on the coffee table and the painting Grandmother left us? Mom’s copper statue? It’s worth a small fortune, Brecken.”
The timing couldn’t have been worse. Zade pulled up and parked next to Officer Stoltz, directly behind Brecken’s motorcycle.<
br />
Brecken’s eyes darkened, and Rosalie was suddenly glad the officer was there, even if it had been for nothing.
“What’s he doing here?” Brecken snarled under his breath.
Officer Stoltz chuckled. “Not a fan of Zade’s, are we?”
“Not a fan of anyone who’s trying to get in my sister’s pants,” Brecken hissed.
Keller laughed harder now. “I think she can handle herself,” he said, noticing that Rosalie looked as if she were about to pummel her brother. “Well, if there’s nothing here to worry about, I’ll be heading out,” he said, nodding to Zade as he opened the door to his squad car.
“Zade,” he said, sliding his aviators back on. “If you need me, give me a holler. I’d keep an eye on this one.” He nodded toward Brecken in amusement.
“Already on my radar, Officer,” Zade said, smirking. “But thanks for the concern. Everything okay, Rosalie? I wasn’t even gone twenty minutes.”
“Gone? That means you were here before? With my sister?” Brecken swung a leg over the side of his motorcycle, standing with his back against it and his arms crossed over his chest.
“You boys behave,” Stoltz said, sliding into his car. “I get off in an hour and really don’t want to have to come back out for a disturbing the peace call.”
Brecken shot a dark glance Zade’s way but said nothing until after the squad car disappeared. “Seriously, Zampogna? What gives?”
Zade stood straighter, his stance matching Brecken’s with his arms folded over his chest. “This is getting old, Brecken. I’m not here just to get in Rosalie’s pants.”
“Not just—but you are trying, aren’t you, Zade?”
Rosalie blushed but huffed her way over to Brecken and poked him in the chest. “Cut it out, Brecken. I mean it.” She snuggled the kitten to her cheek, taking a deep breath to calm down so she wouldn’t sock her brother a good one. “Zade and I went on a harmless picnic at the quarry. Then came home to find this sweet little peanut on our front porch. But that doesn’t get you off the hook with the house. What the hell happened? The place is a freaking mess.”
“I told you. I was looking for something I needed before a meeting, and I might’ve gone a little overboard because I was running late.”
Rosalie squinted her eyes at her brother. He was lying. She just didn’t know why, yet. “What happened to the iPad?”
“It’s at the café,” he answered quickly.
“And mom’s painting?”
“I’m getting it appraised for insurance. We have to do that every few years, Rosalie.” He glanced over at the little fuzz ball in her arms. “And for the record, we are not keeping that cat, so don’t get any ideas.”
“Last I checked it was my house, too,” she said, focusing on Zade instead. “Thanks for getting supplies, by the way. I owe you one.”
“It was my pleasure. Looks like you had your hands full as it was.” He reached into the passenger side of the car and pulled out a reusable shopping bag, handing it to Rosalie. “Everything you need for the meantime is in there. Call me later, will you?”
She prayed Zade had the good sense not to kiss her goodbye in front of Brecken. He didn’t. Zade leaned over and whispered, “Stand your ground, Rosalie. Whether it’s for me or the cat. Just speak to Brecken about what your heart needs, okay?”
Brecken stormed into the house after Rosalie. “Seriously, Rosalie, what the fuck is that?” he said, waving his arm toward the door.
Rosalie took a deep breath, tired of Brecken’s shit. “That, dear brother, is someone who cares about me. Who—for some reason—desires being with me. Enjoys my company. Thinks I’m funny. Laughs at my jokes. Respects when I need silence. As you know, I haven’t exactly gotten that my whole life. Friendship. Companionship. Love. Acceptance,” she said, spitting the word out between clenched teeth. “I would think you would be—oh, I don’t know—happy for me, instead of trying to beat my boyfriend up.”
“So he’s your boyfriend now? That’s kind of fast, Rosalie.”
“Says the man who has had two different women in his bed this month. Neither of whom you’d dare introduce me to. So don’t even talk to me about fast. Clean up your mess, Brecken.”
Rosalie stormed out of the room with her tote bag and kitten clutched firmly to her chest. She turned before heading into her bedroom. “By the way, you’re forgetting I can read energy. Let me know when you’re ready to come clean and tell me what really happened.”
She didn’t wait for a reply. She shut the door and fell onto her bed, letting the tears come. Somehow, Zade had snuck his way into her heart in their short time together. Him and his cheesy pick-up lines. His damn romantic gestures. The way he consistently made her feel adored and wanted. Even if she was moving, she knew she deserved someone like that in her life—that she was worthy of that kind of love.
The little kitten mewled, pushing her face against Rosalie’s forehead. Like she needed one more thing to tether her damn heart to Arden’s Glen. Just when she was breaking free and cutting the last ties to her small town, the universe goes and complicates things.
“Kismet,” she whispered. “I’m going to call you Kismet.” She ran her hand down the kitten’s tiny frame, her purring engine cranking at the first stroke. “Just for now, though. You know, till we can find you your real owner.”
With that, Kismet plopped onto the bed and spooned against Rosalie’s chest. She could feel the vibration of the kitten’s happiness through her shirt and all the way into her heart. It was the second time that day she’d felt that way, and both times felt a little like the stirrings of love.
ZADE LEANED AGAINST the smooth concrete counter at Mums N’ Roses, talking to Connor between customers. He was surprised with how much floral traffic there was in their small town, and how many people had come and gone in the span of their fifteen-minute conversation.
“Wow, are you always this busy?” Zade asked, checking out the unusual arrangements and admiring the creative ways they were displayed. Large, fall-inspired mums burst forth from old drum sets, and vibrant green wandering jews spilled over from the insides of guitars hanging behind the register.
Not surprisingly, a familiar Guns N’ Roses tune was piped in over the speakers and filled the vibrant shop with an electric energy. She’s got eyes of the bluest skies / as if they thought of rain / I hate to look into those eyes / and see an ounce of pain.
The automatic grimace that contorted Connor’s face when he heard that line didn’t escape Zade. But his friend quickly schooled his expression as he greeted a beautiful woman Zade hadn’t seen in Arden’s Glen before.
“Hey, there. Are you Kenya Knight?” Connor said, walking around the counter to shake the woman’s hand. “Dez said you’d be stopping by today.”
“Yep. I drew the short straw and get to pick up her order for tonight,” she said, laughing. Zade couldn’t help but stare at the woman’s full, wine-colored lips and straight, white teeth.
As if she could feel his gaze, she turned and glanced in Zade’s direction. He reached his hand out, too. “Zade,” he said, appreciating the woman’s confident grip when she shook it.
“Ah! So you’re the handsome doctor I keep hearing so much about.”
“Not sure about the handsome part,” he said. He lifted the fabric of his scrubs. “But you definitely got the doctor part right.”
“I think Rosalie would disagree on the handsome part,” she teased.
Yes! That meant Rosalie’s thoughts were on him even when they weren’t together. A huge grin spread across Zade’s face. “Rosalie talks about me?”
Kenya rolled her gorgeous hazel eyes. “She may be conflicted, but it doesn’t take a psychic to see how much she’s already invested in you.”
Zade nodded. “All right then.”
Connor turned his attention to Kenya. “Sorry you wasted a trip out here, but there’s no way I’d let you schlep these arrangements back to Dez and Mitch’s place in that thing,” he said, looking at E
gan’s pickup truck parked out front with the hazards on. “When people see my flowers, my brand’s on the line. And I want them to get there in one piece.”
“Fair enough,” Kenya said, clearly relieved. “The party starts at seven, so if you could get them to the house by no later than five, I think we’d be good to go.”
“You’re the party planner, right?” Zade asked. “Rosalie did a reading for you the other night?”
Kenya nodded. “My brother came through.”
“Have you talked to Rosalie since then?” Zade asked.
“No, why?”
“When we were driving up to the quarry, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” came on. She said it reminded her of Marcus.”
Kenya gasped, her hand going to her heart. “I shouldn’t be surprised. Rosalie tells me he’s always with me. But it’s cool that I know how to look for him now. I never really paid too much attention to this kind of stuff before. Guess I will now—she’s proven herself more than once to me.”
Zade nodded. Rosalie hadn’t done a reading for him yet, but he knew she was the real deal. He’d known her to touch other people’s lives too many times to think anything less.
“She’s something pretty special, isn’t she?” Kenya said quietly.
“More than you can even imagine,” he replied. “It was good to meet you, Ms. Knight. Guess I’ll be seeing you later at the party.”
After Kenya left, he picked up the spray of white daisies and yellow freesia he had Connor wrap for him and nodded his head toward his friend. “Thanks, man.”
Before he reached the door, Connor called out to him. “Hey, you going to the Celebration of Life service tomorrow?”
Zade’s heart took a nosedive and darkness crept in as he thought about the service and how hard it would be for the whole town. He’d heard that Annalise’s boyfriend had been cremated and the remains sent back to his family at their request. But Jerry’s family was holding a service at the Methodist church for her and her grandson, Andrew.