Dragon Guardian (Drakins of Wyrmarach) by Eden Glenn Read Free Book Online

her when the officer arrived. Their presence did seem to
steady her nerves. The officer looked around the shop with a smile.
    “Ethan?”   She put her
hand on his arm. “What really happened to my stairs?”
    “Several of the treads were unbolted and removed.”
    Caleb nodded his verification of what Ethan said.
    “Removed?” Wren gasped. That led to the most grueling,
frustrating hour talking to the detective about the ‘vandalism’ to her stairs
and the unlikely idea that someone might want to harm her or one of her
neighbors.
    The officer smiled. “In all likelihood it’s a simple case of
prank vandalism. Your stair treads are probably being repurposed into a DYI
book shelf over at the college dorm by now. Well now Ms. Aldridge, if you think
of anything else, call this number.”
    She walked him to the door. The officer handed his card to
her with a printed phone number for the station and a penciled in case number
and started toward his car. “Good thing you at least reported the incident. I
don’t expect you’ll have any more trouble. Call the station and we’ll send
someone out if there are any more problems.” The officer left, getting into the
car and with a wave, pulled away from the curb.
    “Vandalism” Ethan scoffed. His hostile energy had slowed to a
simmer.
    She wanted to believe it was all a horrible misunderstanding,
that the officer was right, simple mischief. Ethan’s words somehow made the
events of the morning too sinister. It also occurred to her how quickly she’d
come to trust the two.
    “Like I told the officer, I don’t know anyone who would want
to hurt me.” She was already stiffening up from the bangs and bruises of the
fall.
    She had a good relationship with the other business owners in
town. They’d all respected her Grandmother who owned the shop. She didn’t have
much conflict in her life.
    Oh, last night the break up with Ron Packard, the man she’d
recently dated, had embarrassed her more than anything. He wasn’t even a blip
on the radar. Before that she’d teetered on the verge of becoming involved with
Kiernan Walker. She’d thought at the time, dating him, they might have had
something special, but he’d dropped her about six months ago without a backward
glance. His rejection still stung. But, no he wouldn’t want to hurt her.
    A tidal wave of emotions tumbled through her mind, robbing
her of breath. These men interested her beyond reason. Admittedly she was
attracted to the rugged bad boy vibe they exuded on overdrive. Part of her knew
they were way out of her league.
    The other part of her wanted to be the double stuffing
between these two demi-god cookies. Nothing good could come of it. The whole
thing smacked of inviting a wrecking ball into her well-ordered life. “I don’t
seem to be able to get rid of you two today. I’ve got to get my store opened
and find someone that will fix those stairs.”
    “You will open the store soon enough.” Caleb’s words soothed
her. “Ethan will go buy the boards to repair the stairs.” Ethan gripped Caleb’s
arm and pulled. They crashed together like two boulders in what passed for a
man hug. “I won’t be long. You know what to do.”
    Caleb released his brother with a look Wren didn’t grasp and
continued his conversation with her. “We have them blocked off to prevent
anyone else falling. I will stay inside, for now, to keep you safe.”
    Outrage surfaced, Wren didn’t need anyone to keep her safe. A
chill rippled down her neck. Well, maybe it was okay to let them think she
needed a body guard, for now. “Don’t you two have a job to go to or something?”
    Caleb gave her a patient look that communicated more than
words she wasn’t going to shake them that easy. “We work for a special unit of
forestry fire fighters. We’re on call a lot.” Caleb turned the welcome sign to
open, behaving like an experienced shopkeeper.
    Her mortification kicked into overdrive. She dropped her head
in her hands.