Free The Falcon Prince by Karen Kelley Page B

sweetie. Daddy is waiting for us.”
    Kristor straightened as Ms. Miller left the shop. “She is a very strange person.”
    “I think we’ve finally found something we agree on.”
    He walked closer. “We would agree on a lot more if you would concentrate on shifting into an animal.”
    But then that would make Ria as crazy as him.
    The bell above the door jingled again and Jeanie walked in.
    “I thought you weren’t coming back today.”
    Jeanie dumped her purse behind the desk. “Amy had a family emergency and had to leave. The house wasn’t what we were looking for after all. We’re going back out on Sunday. Amy promised to have more houses lined up for us to look at.” She turned her attention to Kristor, then looked pointedly at Ria.
    “This is Kristor. He’s renting my old room from my parents.”
    “Hi,” she said, but her gaze said a lot more.
    Good grief, Jeanie was engaged. “Kristor was just leaving.”
    “It was nice to meet you,” he told Jeanie, before turning back to Ria. “Think about what I said.” He left, but Ria couldn’t drag her gaze away from him as she watched him cross the street.
    “Wow, you’ve been holding out.” Jeanie picked up a manila folder and began to fan herself.
    “Not at all. I’m not the least bit interested in him.”
    Jeanie stopped fanning. “You’re kidding, right? I mean, the guy is seriously sexy.”
    “There’s more to a man than his muscles.”
    “The way he looks, he doesn’t even need a brain. He’s great eye candy.”
    “And you’re engaged so you might want to leave the sweets alone.”
    “You’re right. He would definitely send any female into a diabetic coma from sugar overload.” She studied Ria. “You, on the other hand, have been on a sugar-free diet way too long.”
    The bell jingled above the door, saving Ria from further conversation. The rest of the afternoon was busy with clipping hair and bathing animals. Thankfully, very well-behaved animals.
    But she couldn’t help thinking that Jeanie might be right, that Ria hadn’t dated in a while. A very long while. Not since Donald. A sour taste formed in her mouth. That had been a huge mistake.
    It also meant she hadn’t had sex in a while. Not that the pickings in Miller Bend had been that great. The only guys left in town were the ones she had already dated, at least most of them. She wasn’t that great at recycling.
    Except now there was Kristor.

Chapter 8
    J eanie left right before Ria finished Bruno the beagle. Bruno sounded like a killer, but he was a sweetheart. As soon as the dog and owner left, Ria turned the sign around to CLOSED and went to the back to put things away. She was beat.
    You should’ve listened to Kristor. He’s right, you know. You’re part alien. I’ve suspected for a long time, but you’re too hardheaded to listen, Shintara said.
    “I’m not crazy.” Ria mumbled. “I’m not.”
    It was a conspiracy. Kristor was sent here to drive her crazy. Who disliked her enough to do that? Ms. Henderson had never forgiven her for the whoopee cushion incident. The teacher could really hold a grudge. What had ever happened to forgive and forget?
    Then there was Matt Jenson and his purple dog, although she’d given his dog the free groomings so that should have exonerated her. The dog had even placed in a number of shows, thanks to her. Still, when he brought the dog in, Ria knew he did so grudgingly.
    Donald? He had been a bit ticked off when she told him she only wanted to be friends. But then again, he had taken her out to lunch a few days ago, and it had gone fairly well. And he seemed okay with everything. The breakup had been a few months ago, too. Not that she’d seen him with anyone else. That didn’t necessarily mean he wasn’t dating.
    Ria leaned against the wooden table. She needed to go running. That always cleared her head and helped her think straight. She kept something to wear at the shop, just in case the urge hit her.
    She quickly changed,