by Kelly Risser
“What kind of animal roast is that?” David asked, earning a strange look from the entire family.
“It’s meatloaf,” Sharon said as though it was completely obvious and he was an idiot. Maybe he was.
“You’ve never had meatloaf, David?” Mary sat and started passing dishes, not taking any herself at first. “Where did you say you were from?”
“I didn’t,” he said. “Scotland is my home.”
“That explains it.” Jamie pointed at him with his fork. “He’s used to haggis, not meatloaf.”
David knew about haggis, but he couldn’t recall a time when he’d eaten it. His diet was made almost entirely of seafood. “I eat more fish,” he said cautiously.
Apparently, that was a good response, because Jamie beamed. “A boy after my own heart. Next time you come over, we’ll have lobster. Fresh from my traps!”
“That would be nice.” Although Jamie’s idea of fresh was probably not the same as David’s. To him, fresh was right from the shell, no steaming required.
Taking a helping of each dish that was passed to him, David tentatively tasted the unusual roast. The texture was different, but the flavor was a combination of savory from the loaf and sweet from the sauce on top. “It’s good,” he said and winced inwardly at the surprise in his voice. He really didn’t know what to expect.
Mary beamed at him, seemingly not offended. “Thank you.”
The rest of the meal passed pleasantly. Sharon was rather quiet, and David hoped she wasn’t still embarrassed. He wasn’t even sure why her mother’s words bothered her. So what if he was the first male friend she had brought home. She was very young and had plenty of time for suitors, even if the thought of that made his jaw clench and his stomach tighten. He didn’t like the thought of another male pursuing her, even if he had no claim himself.
“Are you alright, David?” Mary’s curious eyes roamed his face. “Would you like more to eat?”
“No, thank you.” He placed his napkin next to his plate. “That was delicious.”
“I hope you saved room for pie.”
“What kind?” Jamie asked, which surprised David. Sharon’s dad ate enough for three grown men. How could he have room for more?
Mary’s eyes twinkled when she responded, “Apple”
“My favorite!” he exclaimed.
She stood and kissed the top of his head. “I know,” she said and took the dishes to the counter.
Sharon gathered several empty plates and carried them to the counter. “Mom, can David and I take a quick walk before dessert?”
“Of course. That sounds like a lovely idea.” Mary looked at David as she came back to the table for more dishes. “Take a flashlight, though, and be careful if you go on the rocks.”
“We will.”
David didn’t know what rocks Mary was referring to, but if it was the rocky shore, she needn’t worry. He was very surefooted on any surface, especially ones near the ocean.
As they put on their coats to go outside, he felt a sense of relief at having his skin back on his person. He really, really did not like leaving it. Sometimes he wished when he had transformed for the first time, he had chosen a different form for his seal skin. His sister Brigid’s was a leather choker necklace. If she didn’t want to wear it or show it off, it fit nicely in a pocket or she could wrap it around her wrist or ankle. Of course, it wasn’t common for Selkie men to wear jewelry, but some did.
“I love your leather jacket.” Sharon reached out and ran her hand down his sleeve. It sent a myriad of sensations through him. She would have no idea, but touching a Selkie’s skin was a very intimate gesture.
It took David a moment to recover his feelings before he could respond with a simple, “Thank you.” Before she could touch him again, he stepped in front of her and opened the door. “After you.”
The air was cooling, but warmth lingered from the day. The sky was burnt oranges and amber, the crowning glory before the sun exited. Sharon skipped ahead of him, seeming more carefree now that they were outside. “There’s a path that leads to the water,” she called over her shoulder.
He smelled the salt in the air and felt a deep longing in his core. It was hard to be away from the water, living on land. Although his home was on land, it was an island surrounded by salt water, as all Selkie settlements were. They lived on land, but they spent almost as much time in the ocean. He hadn’t gone for a swim in days. It was starting to get to him.
“Are you okay?” Sharon slowed and waited for him.
He smiled down at her. “I’m fine. Just full.”
“Sorry if my parents were too much.” She made a face. “Especially my mom. She can be so embarrassing.”
“I enjoyed meeting them,” he said. “You have a nice home.”
“Thanks.”
They reached an area edged with flat boulders. The waves lapped against them in a soothing rhythm. Without waiting for him, Sharon climbed onto one of the rocks and sat cross-legged. “I come down here a lot to think,” she said, facing the water and not him. He lowered himself behind her and sat in a similar fashion. They were close, but not touching. “In the summer, I put my feet into the water, but it’s still too frigid now.”
For her, it probably was, but his skin was immune to the ocean’s cold. Even in his human form, he could tolerate low temperatures. He couldn’t think of anything to say in response, and they settled into silence. Her long, auburn curls moved with the breeze. Without thinking, he reached out and wrapped one around his finger. Her hair was fine and silky. Soft.
She glanced over her shoulder at him, cheeks red, and eyes darting to the ground. It took everything in him to resist kissing her in that moment. She was sweeter than any creature he had ever met and had no idea what he was or how bad he could be for her.
“What are you thinking?” she asked softly, her gaze still downcast.
“That I want to kiss you,” he answered honestly, which had her jerking her head up, her mouth falling open. Placing a finger under her chin, he gently closed her mouth. “Like this.”
He kept his eyes open and leaned toward her. Her eyes fluttered closed. Absentmindedly, he wondered if this would be her first kiss, but then decided it was probably not. She was almost an adult by human standards after all. That was the last thought he had, because as soon as his lips touched hers, the ability to think coherently disappeared.
He’d kissed her. Of all the idiotic things he could do. He knew he should stay away from her. Worse, he hadn’t expected her to taste like honey and sunshine and… and home.
He tried to play it off that night, giving her a slight smile when he pulled back, chatting like a silly pup as they walked back to the house, and continuing the carefree banter while he said goodbye to her parents. She was quiet on the drive back to the inn, but how could she get a word in when he wouldn’t shut up? What the hell was the matter with him?
“I’ll see you in the morning?” He’d already opened the door and had one foot out when he thought to ask the question.
“I have off,” she said. Her face was unreadable, one-half bathed in the car’s overhead light, the other half in shadows.
“Oh,” he said, both relieved, disappointed, and unsure of what else to say. He’d never kissed a human before. This was new territory.
“We could do something.” Her voice was casual, but he heard the hesitation, the uncertainty, when she added, “If you want.”
“Sure.” He moved back into the car, his tone easygoing like hers. Why was his heart beating so fast? What was this girl doing to him? “Like what?”
She tapped her fingers on the steering wheel while she thought, turning to him suddenly. “I know. How about a picnic?”
“A picnic?” he repeated the unfamiliar word.
She mistook his question for hesitation. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of the food. I know shopping and cooking are not your thing.” Her laugh was nervous, and her cheeks turned red. “Should I pick you up at 11:30?”<
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“11:30?” He was having trouble forming an intelligent thought. At least he deduced that a picnic must be a meal. That was fine with him, and she didn’t seem to mind or notice his foolish behavior.
“Great! I’ll see you then.” Before he could respond, she leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Bye, David.”
He nodded and rose from the car, shutting the door behind him. As she drove away, he realized his hand was on his cheek, covering the spot where she’d kissed him.
Climbing the stairs in a daze, he reached his room and went right to bed. Sleep was a fickle thing that evaded him while his mind raced. He made two mental lists. One was all the reasons why he shouldn’t go out with Sharon. It was much larger than the one that listed why he should. That list only had one reason—because he wanted to. His heart weighed in, tore the longer list into pieces, threw it in the virtual garbage can, and demanded that he go. “One date,” it reasoned. “What harm can it cause?”
****
Once again, she was punctual. The clock displayed 11:29 AM when her car pulled up front. He didn’t wait for her to get out, stepping outside and to the curb.
It was one of the fluke spring days in the north that was both warm and sunny. Although the cold didn’t bother him as a Selkie, her delicate human body couldn’t handle it without layers of protection, which was why he found it ironic when she commented, “You don’t really need your coat.”
He shrugged. “I’m more comfortable with it.”
There was no way to tell her he would never leave it behind and risk its discovery. Once again, he wished he had chosen a less conspicuous form for his skin.
“Suit yourself.” She shrugged. “Hop in. The place I have in mind is a little ways away.”
Settling into the car, he studied her while she concentrated on pulling onto the road. Her curly, brown hair was pulled up, and she wore paint on her eyes and lips. He preferred her natural beauty, but she obviously went to some effort. Even her clothes seemed well planned, whereas he wore jeans and a dark blue T-shirt.
“You look very nice,” he said.
“Thanks.” She gave him a shy smile. “So do you.”
They lapsed into silence. He turned and watched out the window. She was heading out of Peggy’s Cove. “Where are we going?”
“There’s a strip of shore not too far from here. Lydia showed it to me. It’s really pretty and not a tourist area.” She paused and glanced at him. “You don’t mind, do you? I know I originally said the park.”
“I don’t mind.” He wasn’t quite sure what a park was, and he would rather be by the ocean anyway. Plus, if the tourists were like those at the inn, he was fine with avoiding them. Those people liked to talk too much and asked too many questions, personal ones at that. He avoided them if he could—the tourists and the questions.
“Are you hungry?” she asked, but continued before he could speak. “I hope so. I packed a lot of food.” Her laugh was nervous, and her hands flexed on the steering wheel. “I wasn’t sure what you’d like.”
“I like most foods.” It was the truth in his world. He wasn’t one-hundred percent sure about here. So far, human food tasted fine. At least, he enjoyed the breakfasts at the inn.
Weathered cottages and homes no longer dotted the side of the road. A thick wall of pine trees had replaced them. Sharon pulled over to the side of the road in a spot that didn’t look much different from the previous area they passed.
“This is it.” She shut off the engine and got out.
As soon as he opened his door, he smelled the ocean. It had to be right on the other side of the trees. A feeling of homesickness washed over him. He needed to go for a long swim and soon. Living on land was starting to get to him.
“Everything okay?” she asked with a frown.
“Yes.” He forced a smile. “This is great. Can I help you carry something?”
“If you take the food, I’ll get the blanket.” She used two hands to lift a wicker basket from the trunk. He took it from her and waited while she grabbed the blanket, closed the trunk, and locked the car.
“It’s just on the other side of these trees.” She started walking toward the pines, but David didn’t see a path. “There’s no path,” she said, echoing his thoughts. “So stay close.”
When he moved closer to her, he caught the slight scent of honeysuckle and something clean, like soap. The combination was very appealing. He took a deep breath and hoped she didn’t notice.
“I know, right? The air is so clean here.” Of course, she would notice. Luckily, she thought he was enjoying the scent of pine and ocean, not her.
The trees were so thick that little sunlight filtered through. When he saw the light ahead, he knew they had almost reached their destination. Moving to pass her, he saw the clearing, but she stopped him with an outstretched arm. “It drops off rather suddenly. Let me go first.”
She cautiously moved forward to the edge of the trees, motioning behind her with one hand for him to stay. If Brigid, his sister, could see him now. She would tease him mercilessly. David, future leader of the Ronac clan, ordered around by a petite human girl. He didn’t mind, though, and thankfully, Brigid was back in Scotland.
Turning, Sharon came back and moved to the right. “The path down is further this way.”
They walked for a few more feet, and then she repeated her cautious scouting. This time, she motioned him forward. “The rocks are fairly stable, but be careful.”
He nodded, biting his cheek to keep from smiling like a fool. Selkies had impeccable balance. She need not worry about him, but he couldn’t tell her that.
The view was amazing. The thick tree line bordered a cliff, which had partially crumbled over the years, leaving the makeshift path they were now taking to the water’s edge. The shoreline consisted of large, flat boulders. They were piled high near the cliff’s base and tapered as they met the ocean. At different times of the day, much of the shore would be under water, but for now, the rocks were warm and dry. Setting down the picnic basket, David helped Sharon spread the blanket. She knelt and pulled the basket close, removing various containers. He didn’t know how to help, so he sat and watched her work, enjoying her focus on the task at hand.
“What?” she asked with a smile when she caught him looking at her.
“Nothing.” He shrugged. “Can I help you?”
“I’m almost done.” She pulled out a thermos and two cups. “Why don’t you pour the lemonade? My mom makes it from scratch. It’s really good.”
He poured some into the glasses and took a sip from one. “It is good.”
“Told you.” She took the cup he offered and set it next to her before opening the food containers. The delicious smells made his stomach growl in anticipation. He didn’t recognize much of what she opened, just grapes and cheese. The rest was a mystery. She handed him a plate. “Help yourself.”
Not wanting to be rude, he sampled a little of everything. The meat was very good, as was a salad made with apples, walnuts, and celery. His brother, Paddy, would love this. He was the cook in the family, although David and his siblings enjoyed eating his creations.
When they finished eating, he helped clean up, put the leftovers back in the basket, and handed her the empty thermos. “That was really good. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She moved the basket to the side and sat close to him, close enough that their arms touched. He debated with himself before giving in and holding her hand. The touch sent an electrical charge through his arm. She must’ve felt something similar if her soft intake of breath was any indication. They sat in silence and watched the waves and seagulls.
“This is an amazing spot,” he said, finally breaking the silence. “Did you say Lydia showed it to you?”
“Yeah. She and Darrin used to come here a lot when they were dating. Sometimes they still do, I think. You know, when he’s not traveling on business.” She frowned. “He’s gone a lot.”
“I’m sure that’s not ea
sy for Lydia,” he said. “Will he travel as much when the baby arrives?”
“I’m not sure.” Looking down at their joined hands, she ran her thumb over his. Intentional or not, he definitely noticed. A moment later, she gasped and said, “Your hand.”
“What?”
“I just noticed…” Her voice trailed off, and her cheeks grew red.
“Yes?” Confused, he glanced down at their joined hands and then back at her.
“Your fingers are webbed.”
“Oh, that.” That was what had flustered her? It didn’t bother him. “It’s a family trait.”
She lifted his hand and studied it more closely before looking up at him. “So, one of your parents has it?”
“Had,” he corrected. “They both did, but they’re dead.”
“I’m sorry,” she gasped.
He squeezed her hand, unable to speak for a moment. Not a day went by that he didn’t miss them, especially his mother. “That’s why I’m here,” he said. “They were murdered, and I’m trying to find the killer.”
“Are you a detective?”
“No.” He wasn’t sure what a detective was, but he felt confident he wasn’t one.
“Did you call the police?”
“No.”
She dropped his hand and turned toward him. “Why not? The police should always be called into an investigation.”
There was no way human law enforcement would be allowed onto his grandparents’ island. Selkies handled their own crimes and problems. Again, he couldn’t tell her this, so he tried to come up with a plausible explanation. “I’m sure they were called. What I meant was that I didn’t call them. I wasn’t here when my parents were killed. I came over from Scotland about a week after.”
“Oh-kay.” She gave him an appraising look. “Were they murdered in Peggy’s Cove?”
“I don’t know.” He thought so at first, but with all the clues disappearing… “I don’t think so.”
“You don’t know?” She raised her eyebrows. “Then why are you here?”
“I’m still trying to figure it out. I’m not finding many clues.” Her stare was making him uncomfortable. She was very intense when she was focused. “Can we talk about something else?”