Hot Revenge Box Set 2

Chapter 34

Meg drops her stick, curls back her lips to display teeth, bristling and growling.

Klempner frowns…

“Shhh… It’s alright.” I scratch her ears, calm her down. “As I said, she's a shelter dog,” I explain. “A rescue. And they know, more than almost anyone else, that there are monsters in the world...”

His eyes dart between me and Meg…

Dare I say it?

“… And some of those monsters walk around looking just like real people.”

I stoop, pick up Meg’s stick and throw it overarm as far as I can. She races after it, scattering snow behind her, the rest of the dogs in her wake.

Klempner relaxes, drooping his eyelids, head shaking so slightly.

Apology?

“Self-knowledge can be unsettling, can it not?” he comments. But his voice is mild. “So… given that you claim to have the answer to the perfect relationship, returning to the start of our conversation, why are you out here? Agonising over the right thing to do with your Ryan?”

I don’t have an answer. I settle for prevarication. “Why are you out here?”

“If you insist, I’m trying to decide how to go forward with Mitch.”

That was settled…

… Wasn’t it?

“You don't know? I thought you and she were…”

“No, I don’t know. You’re right. Mitch was a hooker. But what I wanted from her was never for sale. Not until the day Jenny was in danger. Then she offered herself to me.”

“And...?”

“And... I didn't accept. I didn't want her on that basis.”

Enthralled by the revelations coming from this dangerous, fascinating man, “What did you want?”

“I wanted her to want me. That's all I ever wanted.”

Meg returns, carrying her stick, to drop it at Klempner’s feet. He ignores her and she yaps, lashing her tail.

“So, what’s your problem now?” I ask. “The pair of you looked pretty chummy to me when we were inside.”

He grimaces. “I… never expected to get this far. I’m not sure what comes next.” He grins, quite disarmingly, then, “Why are you talking to me like this, Kirstie?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

prepared to trust me with… personal stuff… And to think

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Meg, her toothy grin as she pushes her stick at him again. “Because they do.” He casts startled eyes down at my barrel-bodied little girl, then around at the other dogs, cavorting in the snow. “Anyway, I could ask you the same question. Why are you talking to me

getting to know. And considering what Haswell is trying hard

*****

the dogs collapse in a heap and peace

front of the fire, lies eyes closed, upside down, all four legs in the air; doing his best

“Is that a natural position for a

I say. “When he’s chilled out.” Mac’s tail twitches and his lips pull

he stay in that

someone offers him food or another…”

but his voice is slow. “Is everything alright, Kirstie? You were outside a long time talking with…” He jerks his head

We

a stepladder, places a final branch of holly on the

up from her paper-folding.

was sure

would enjoy another

then sucks in a smile. “Thanks, Kirstie. I’ve still not defrosted after the last trip

stirs. “Mind if

sure. If you’d like to. You can reach higher

the scarf around my neck, Archie starts

fire. “No,

tornado barges past me to the door, blocking my way to the hall. “Let

*****

there?” I point up at a bough, glossy

and passing it back down. I lay

scratch, getting under my feet and making a nuisance of themselves. Until, with a sharp yap, Archie announces, Squirrel! And the troop of five bolt off, howling

thirty feet or so, the squirrel chitters down, spitting insults, then leaps to the next tree and away. The dogs give chase, their howls fading into the distance as they high tail

the performance. “Is it always like

would be a good one. It’s

stretches out with

“Something wrong?”

his eyes are

His expression is

Baxter…

out, he grabs me by the

his words, from behind me, there's a Crack! Then a

shedding their load of snow. Reaching into his jacket, he takes out a gun,

brought that here?” I

gun levelled, he stalks to within a few feet of the bush. “Out!

another

It’s too low…

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