Empowerment. Engagement. Authenticity.
Rangers Lodge Saga - The Devil on Her Shoulder
Chris called within seconds of
Kristen’s text. “Someone’s in trouble,” he clucked. “Now, I know you get
hot and wet at the sound of my voice but I’ll take the dent in my ego.
Tell me about what’s his name.”
Kristen brought Adam’s face into
her mind. “He’s a morning person,. Likes to cook and listen to country
music. Prefers tea to coffee. Likes to take pictures.”
“Uh oh, he’s not into Celine
Dion, is he?”
Kristen laughed. “Not the way I
am.”
“So besides waking up with the
roosters, lousy taste in beverages and music and his sissy domestic
skills, what else makes him different?”
“Different? How do you mean?”
“You don’t willingly let anyone entertain you. You’re too
worried you’re keeping them back from something or someone more
important. Yet you spend a lot of time with this guy.”
Guest Services is his job,” Kristen pointed out.
“At dawn?”
“He offered,” she insisted.
“And you probably released a
flood of refusals.” Chris drew in an exaggerated gasp. “Did he stand his
ground?” At Kristen’s silence, he chuckled. “So now you’re feeling
guilty for liking his company. That’s why you’re neck deep in
babysitting and a bloody fixture in his kitchen. Prove your worth and
avoid thinking about the real issue. You know better.”
“I like babysitting and
cooking,” Kristen said, knowing she sounded like a pouty child.
“And that’s fine. It’s the why
not the what that’s the problem. You’re too wrapped up in caring for
everyone else but yourself. I dumped you on your twentieth birthday and
look at us now. Platonic soul mates.” His voice deepened. “And, when you
give up on wanting a houseful of kids, I’ll marry you and make an honest
sex slave out of you.”
God help her, Kristen knew it
was true. “Adam thinks he and I are a good idea.”
“And?”
“It doesn’t matter, does it?”
“There you go again. Putting
someone else first. What do you want?”
“Honestly?” Kristen closed her
eyes. “To be with you in a hotel room somewhere far away.”
“Running away doesn’t solve
anything. Starting something new is scary as hell but it sounds like
this will be good for you. Go for it.”
“Love you, demon.”
She could feel Chris’ grin all
the way from Ontario. “Love you, demoness.”
