CHAPTER 37
“Dance for yourself. If someone understands,
good. If not, no matter.”
—Louis Horst
“I can’t believe Kimber is on a beach right now, while we’re dressed in sweaters and freezing,” Traci said as she frowned at the ice forming on the windshield. Flicking on the defrost, she grumbled, “I’m so over this winter.”
Though Shannon privately agreed with Traci’s comment, she felt honor-bound to defend their lucky sister. “Kimber’s having to wear skimpy bikinis while having to pose in the hot sun for eight hours a day. It’s not like she’s laying out and working on her tan.”
“Well, I’m working, too,” Traci said as she parked her vehicle right behind Backdoor Books. “I’m also a whole lot colder.”
Watching Traci type something into her phone and check her gun before securing it in her shoulder holster, Shannon felt a rush of sympathy for her. She was only coming to the bookstore as a favor to Jennifer and Dylan.
Of the three of them, Kimber was the reader. Shannon liked to read a book on vacation or one of the bestsellers, but usually preferred to watch movies. Traci, however, didn’t like to read at all. In fact, every time Kimber mentioned a new book she’d just read or recommended something from her bedside table, Traci looked like Kimber was recommending one of those low-fat, high-protein shakes she often consumed instead of real food.
Thinking of all that, Shannon murmured, “I guess this event here really is going to feel like a job to you.”
“A little bit,” Traci said as they got out. “But it’s not the fact that we’re going to be spending the next three or four hours at a bookstore.” She stopped and scanned the area. “Shannon, I’m actually feeling a little off-kilter.”
“Because?”
“Because I’m not used to worrying about family while I’m working. I hate that I’m going to have to be watching Jennifer, looking out for this Lance guy, and worrying about you, too.”
Shannon frowned. “You don’t need to worry about me. I can take care of myself.”
“That may be true, but I’m still gonna worry. I can’t help it. It’s all the training, I guess.”
Shannon smiled to herself. Traci wasn’t the type of girl to gush about how much she loved her sisters, but what she had just shared was pretty close to it. “I love you, too,” she said.
Traci grinned at her as they started walking.
Feeling pleased, Shannon followed. Traci once told her that she’d heard the words “I love you” more since she met Shannon and Kimber than she had in her entire life. That comment said a lot about her sister’s early life. But instead of dwelling on how sad that was, Shannon liked to concentrate on how much Traci seemed to like hearing it. Her goal was for Traci to one day be just as comfortable saying the words as she was.
When they stepped into the foyer, Shannon noticed Dylan was already inside. He was talking with Camille and Jack but turned to greet them right away.
“Hey, you,” he murmured as he bent down to kiss Shannon lightly on the lips.
“Hey back,” she replied, looking up at him with a smile. He had on a light-blue oxford, dark jeans, and a dark-gray blazer that she’d never seen before. Shannon thought he looked so handsome. “How are things going around here?”
“Pretty good. Jen is in the back, frantically arranging already-perfect trays of food. Camille is a nervous wreck, and now that I’ve informed Jack about Lance, he looks like he’s ready to be Jennifer’s shadow for the night.”
Shannon smiled. “That’s kind of sweet.”
After a slight hesitation, Dylan nodded. “I guess.”
Pressing a reassuring hand on his chest, she said, “It is, I promise.”
Traci shifted. “Where do you want me, Dylan?”
“Can you hang by the front door? I’m going to stay around the back.”
“No problem. I can do that.”
When Shannon noticed her sister and boyfriend give each other a look, she said, “Dylan, are you as stressed as Traci is about tonight?”
“Yep.”
“I can help,” she offered. “Do you want me to be on patrol somewhere?”
“Absolutely not,” he replied. “Don’t mind Traci and me. We get paranoid from time to time.”
Shannon tried to look at ease, but she knew Dylan well enough by now to realize that he was worried.
“It’s the drawback of being a cop, Shannon,” Traci said. “We always look for the worst to happen. Don’t worry.”
“I’ll try not to.” As the door opened and a dozen or so people entered, she added, “I’ll go see if I can help Jennifer.”
“Good idea, hon,” Dylan said.
* * *
As they watched Shannon move gracefully through the increasingly crowded rooms of the old house, Traci snorted. “Kisses and ‘honey,’ huh? Looks like y’all got everything patched up.”
Dylan rolled his eyes, but he didn’t deny it. “We made up the other night. I told her I loved her.”
Traci’s grin vanished. “That’s awesome, boss. I’m happy for you. Happy for both of you.”
“Me, too. She’s really special. I know she’s who I’ve been looking for all my life,” he added as the door opened and another crowd of people entered. Forcing himself to focus, he said, “We better get to work. I’ll head to the back.”
She nodded, looking all business again. “If Lance shows up, we’ll get him.”
“We better,” Dylan murmured as he headed into the crowd.
An hour later, the bookstore was filled with at least a hundred people. Camille looked triumphant, and every time he spied Jennifer, she looked like she was having the time of her life.
It was amazing, really. Two months ago, he would have never imagined that she would be comfortable around so many people. But something had happened to her out in the woods that day. She’d finally come into herself. Or maybe she’d simply come back to the girl she used to be. Dylan had to remind himself more than once that his sister didn’t used to be nervous or scared when she was younger. All through high school and college, she’d been the more social of the two of them.
Watching how Jack was staying by her side, Dylan knew that he was part of Jennifer’s transformation, too. She really liked him. And based on the way he was protectively hovering over her, it seemed Jack liked her just as much.