Toni fidgeted, uncomfortable with having so many people on her side. Which was about as stupid as stupid got, but she was so used to being alone, she didn’t know what to do with so much support. It was time for some lighter fare.
Placing her chin on top of her fist, she asked, “So you run a reindeer stable? How unusual. Very cool, but unusual.”
Now Jon looked away and toward the fire, his gleaming hair falling from the tie he used to hold it in a ponytail. Hair she fought the impulse to tuck back behind his ear.
“’Tis not so unusual here in Shamalot. We have more snow days in the calendar year than not, our reindeer are useful.”
God, he was sexy. “You like working with animals?”
“I love my work and the animals. It brings me great peace.”
Jon reached down and ruffled Carl’s back with a genuine smile. He’d spent hours with Carl on their trek, talking to him and telling him stories about his adventures as a youth in the forest.
Carl looked at him with admiration in his soft brown eyes, and it made Toni’s heart hitch every time.
“Does your family live here in Shamalot with you? Got any brothers or sisters you’re looking forward to having Christmas dinner with?”
His wide back stiffened without warning, the vibe between them totally changing from discovery to intrusion. “My family is in another land, one I do not wish to live in.”
That sounded a lot like “end subject”. But then he asked, “And you, Toni? What is this Jersey like? Is your family there?”
“Jersey is Jersey. Land of some of the best diners in the world and where we all use exits off the turnpike to define where we live. And no family. It’s just me.” Liar that voice inside her head whispered.
“What about your mother and father?”
“What about yours?” What was with all the questions about her family today? Couldn’t she just be an orphan in peace?
Jon sat back, planting his broad hands on his thighs. “You’re displeased.”
“I’m not.” She was just edgy and nervous. Who else from her past could show up and reveal her secrets? If the queen had in fact sent Bree—or faux Bree—how had the queen found out about her existence? Her crystal ball?
How did the queen know Bree was a surefire foil in a plan of attack? Who else was lurking out there that looked like someone from home, just waiting to fool her? Whoever this Queen Angria was, she didn’t want anything to do with her.
Now he looked offended. “Your tone suggests otherwise.”
“Well, maybe you don’t read tones very well.”
“I know discontent when I hear it, milady. What about your life back in Jersey are you hiding?”
Now she bristled. That was none of his business. “What about being a guide means you get to ask personal questions, Julie The Cruise Director? Did we hire you to pry or did we hire you to get us to this crazy castle everyone’s so up in arms over?”
Now his eyes narrowed in her direction. Gone was the cheerful Jon Doe of this afternoon, replaced with a scowling—albeit, damn him, still super-hot—annoyed Jon.
“What is this nonsense you speak? I’m no cruise director, whatever that is. I’m a stable owner.”
Toni rolled her eyes as she rose, tugging Carl’s reins. “Never mind, Lancelot. We clearly have an issue with our land-to-land connections. It’s just a figure of speech, sort of. Forget it. I’m suddenly tired. Good night, Jon.”
He rose like the gentleman he was as she swept off, the rustle of her skirt crisp in her ears. She crunched her way awkwardly to the tent, pulling Carl in with her then dropping down on the nest of blankets.
As Carl settled against her, Toni stretched her feet, her mind racing at warp speed with questions and worries.
But one thing was for sure, no one needed to know about her family, alive or dead, or why she was hiding away in an outlet mall in Jersey.
Because it wasn’t just dangerous for her to tell someone her pathetic plight—it was just as dangerous for anyone else to have the information.
“Aye, ye’ve done it now, lad,” Dannan said on an amused chuckle, his small voice taunting as Jon leaned against a large tree and whittled a stick.
“Done what?”
“Ye’ve angered the saucy maiden. My guess is ye didn’t wish to do such.”
No. He had not wished to do such. He found Toni intoxicating, beautiful with her hair the color of the sunset, brave, intriguing with her coffee and her talk of this land called Jersey.
He wanted to absorb everything about her, learn from her, discover her depths. She was nothing like the maidens here in Shamalot. But she was as prickly as the sugared pears his mother grew in her garden. Yet he knew not why.
He tightened his jaw, clenching his teeth. “I asked a simple question. A simple answer was all that was needed.”
Dannan sighed, the breath whistling from his lungs as he crossed his arms over his massive chest. “If only lasses were simple creatures. But alas, they are not. They are complex, and opinionated, and infuriating as only lasses can be.”