Free On Pins and Needles: Sierra Fox, Book 3 by Yolanda Sfetsos Page B

and hoped I could one day learn how to cast something so strong.
    Papan wrapped his arms around my stomach, pressing the front of his body against my spine just as we reached the front door. He kissed my cheek and whispered something naughty in my ear, so I giggled and swung around in the circle of his embrace to face him. He might tower over me, but he was leaning so I could wrap my arms around his neck and force him into a kiss.
    I savored the moment and felt at total ease after telling him the whole ordeal that was my biological grandparents’ insane story of love, passion, and cheating. Papan had seemed surprised by the admission but didn’t take long to accept it. He even claimed it made sense of a few things he’d wondered “about the old man”.
    I’m just glad the secret’s out.
    The persistent sound of fake coughing brought me back to reality and out of our very alluring kiss. I pulled back but kept my arms around Papan.
    “Good morning, Oren,” I said. “It’s nice to see you’re right on time, like usual.”
    “Were you on your way out?” He stood on the bottom step, looking at us with a smirk on his face. He was a very intuitive man and had known my true feelings about Papan before I’d been ready to admit them to myself.
    “No, we’re on our way in,” I replied with a smile.
    Papan let go of me and turned to greet him. “Hi, Oren, it’s great to see you again.” He extended his right hand.
    Oren shook it and dipped his head. “It’s always a pleasure to see you, Jason.” He kept hold of his hand as he stepped up to the same level. “But if you hurt her in any way, it will all sour very quickly.”
    “See, a threat like that makes total sense now,” Papan said when Oren dropped his hand.
    “I don’t know what you mean.” For once, the old man looked clueless.
    Papan smiled at him. “I know who you are.”
    Oren took the next step up. “I didn’t think my being a witch was a secret.”
    “That’s not what I’m talking about.”
    I rolled my eyes. “He knows who you are in relation to me. I told him everything.”
    “Really?” That wasn’t the reaction I’d expected. For some reason I thought maybe he would be angry.
    “You don’t have to worry about me. I have only good intentions for Fox.”
    I swiveled around to face the front door. Yeah, right. I knew for a fact that a lot of Papan’s intentions were full of naughty notions. I unlocked the door and pushed it open, then stepped inside a little cautiously. I hadn’t been back since yesterday afternoon and hoped there weren’t any unexpected surprises.
    I pulled my mobile phone out of my pocket and dumped it on the hall table, along with my keys and wallet. As soon as I did, the phone started to ring. I peered at the number but didn’t recognize it, so I ignored it. I didn’t remove the dagger from my boot, though. Knowing it was there just in case I needed it was becoming the norm.  
    “Aren’t you going to answer that?” Oren asked, stepping in behind Papan and closing the front door.
    Papan continued into the house, peering into the living room before heading for the adjoining kitchen.
    “No,” I said. “It’s not a number I recognize. Whoever it is can call back later or leave me a message.”
    Oren quirked a white eyebrow but didn’t follow it up with another question or comment. Instead, he grabbed my hand and forced me to face him. “I’m not surprised you confided in Jason. Actually, I’m surprised it took you this long to tell him the truth.”
    “I’d been debating whether to tell him or not for days, but was worried it might upset you.” I shrugged. “It was the right time to tell him.”
    “Yet you didn’t say anything to me about it.”
    I sighed and stared into his eyes. “Look, as helpful as you are and as much as I’m really starting to like having you around, I hate dumping so much on you. I don’t want to become a problem in your life.”
    “You’re not a problem.” He squeezed