“So it’s just us.” Kenna was scowling again and this time Jacqueline was convinced it was to stop herself from bursting into tears. “And we got put in a home, which was fine, except Tally started shifting early and they were going to find out.”
“You have to keep yourself safe from humans.” Jacqueline’s heart dropped.
Kenna nodded angrily. “Eric told us about Hideaway Cove, he said we’d be safe there—”
“And you will be,” Arlo rumbled. Jacqueline was struck by the certainty in his voice. “Hideaway Cove is a sanctuary for all shifters. You’ll be safe there, and welcome, and cared for. Your whole pack.” He paused and frowned. “Eric, too.”
Dylan and Kenna exchanged a look. “Really? That’s actually true?”
“One hundred percent.” Arlo hesitated again, his eyes flicking to Jacqueline. She couldn’t read the expression in them. “They took me in when I was just a bit older than you. I lost my family, too. Hideaway Cove gave me a new one.”
Jacqueline let out a short breath. So many broken pasts, she thought, her heart aching.
“Anyway,” Arlo muttered. “We’ve got an early start if we want to make it to Hideaway and call your work, Ms. March. There’s no phone on board, I’m sorry. I’ll just get this cleaned up—”
“I’ll help!” Kenna said quickly.
“—and then we’d better pack in for the night. You kids can take the bed. Ms. March…” His voice went gravely, and Jacqueline felt another blush start to prickle across her skin. “The seat in the kitchen booth isn’t much, but I can pull some extra blankets out.”
“That’ll suit me fine. But what about you?”
Jacqueline regretted asking the moment the words were out, because as soon as she’d spoken them, she was imagining Arlo in bed. His long body stretched out across the blankets. His head resting on one arm, his chest the perfect pillow just begging for her to…
Jacqueline squeezed her eyes tight. What is wrong with me? He’s made it clear he’s not interested, anyway.
…Which maybe makes this all right? There’s nothing wrong with imagining, right? And if it’s not going to go anywhere…
“I’ll sleep up here,” Arlo said, and Jacqueline’s mind immediately filled in the dots.
“Er, won’t you be cold?” she asked, mentally dodging the images her brain was throwing at her.
Arlo half-smiled. “I’ve got my own fur coat. I’ll be fine.”
“Oh. Yes. Of course.” Jacqueline felt like she’d just stuffed her entire foot in her mouth. Her cheeks might as well have been on fire.
Tally was still asleep, so she stayed up on deck with Dylan while Arlo and Kenna dealt with the dishes. Dylan was full of questions about Hideaway Cove, most of which Jacqueline couldn’t answer. Everything she knew about the town could have fit on the front of an envelope.
Everything true, at least. The rumors could have filled a phone book, but she wasn’t about to tell Dylan that people back home thought Hideaway Cove was full of telephone-cursing witches.
Suddenly, Dylan sat up straight. “They’re all done!” he chirped, and hopped over to the hatch.
“Be careful with that—and how do you know?” Jacqueline balanced Tally over her shoulder and got to the hatch just before Dylan hauled it open and, she suspected, threw himself headfirst down the steps.
“Arlo said.” Dylan tapped the side of his head. “In here.”
“Right. Well, go down backwards, okay? I don’t want you to slip.”
“Shifters don’t slip,” he said, and Jacqueline raised her eyebrows at him.
“Someone needs to tell Tally that, then,” she said. “Before she slips off any more rocks.”
“She’s a baby! She doesn’t count.”
Jacqueline’s eyebrows shot up. “Don’t listen to him, honey,” she said facetiously to the slumbering Tally, and Dylan cackled.
She held the hatch open as he clambered down, then climbed after him and found herself back-to-chest with Arlo.
“Oh,” she said, stupidly, and turned around, also stupidly, because now she was still pressed against him, but in a way more awkward position.