And she did. All the way back to the house.

They stood on the porch, watching Grom race around since he’d been let out. She leaned against one of the railings, sad but happy at the same time. Even if she never got free from her father, a real possibility considering his history, she would always have this day as an example of what life could be like. It might be enough to get her through. A sliver of happiness to cling to when all else was bleak.

She smiled at Van from under the brim of her hat. How easy would it be to fall crazy in love with a guy like him? Too easy. Her heart ached a little at the thought, and her smile wavered. She forced herself to snap out of the melancholy she was quickly sinking into.

“That was so much fun today. Thank you for lunch and the hat and the walk around town. I know that had to be a long day for you. Especially after you were on the bike this morning. How’s your leg?”

“You are welcome. I enjoyed it too.” He glanced toward the brace. “My leg, not so much.”

“You should get some rest. Take a nap. Sleep is great for healing, you know.”

He smiled. “I know. I think I will.”

“Good. I might take one too. After I write up a few reports.” She pulled her jacket tighter. The sun was going down, the temperature was dropping, and the clouds definitely looked like snow.

His eyes narrowed. “Telling the League how I am doing?”

“Something like that.” She pointed. “I think Grom got you a present.”

Grom trotted toward the porch carrying what looked like a small tree in his mouth.

Van snorted and shook his head. “Drop it.”

Grom growled playfully but held on to his treasure.

“Van, I have the b-o-n-e you bought at the pet shop. You think he’d make a trade?”

“Good idea. Show it to him.”

She pulled the big rawhide treat out of the bag and wiggled it at Grom. “Hey, puppy, you want this instead?”

Grom dropped the dead tree instantly, effectively blocking the stairs with it. He climbed over it to sit in front of Monalisa.

“Okay to give it to him?” she asked Van.

He nodded. She held it out to Grom, who took it gently but eagerly. Then he whined to go inside. She opened the door. “What are you going to do about that tree?”

“Toss it into the yard.” Van froze. “Unless that is not respectful.”

She squinted. “Respectful?”

“To your…kind. I have never known a dryad before. But I know that trees are sacred to your people. Is that not true?”

Bollocks. She’d told him she was a dryad and completely forgotten about it. Of all the… “Not sacred, exactly.” Like she had an actual clue. Think fast. “And this one was clearly dead already, so there’s no disrespect. In fact, the best thing you could do would be to put it to good use now.”

“Good use?”

“You know, use it for kindling or something like that. Maybe build us a fire with it tonight.” Please let him buy that.

“That does sound like a purposeful end.”

Thank the heavens.

Van used his crutch for support and bent, picking up the enormous length of wood in one hand. He straightened and leaned back on the railing so he could put both hands on the tree. Then he snapped it in half like it was a twig. He kept going until it was in small, manageable pieces stacked beside the door. “There. Now we have kindling.”

Seeing his strength demonstrated like that was impressive. “Excellent. A fire will be nice this evening.”

“And I will build you one.”

“After a nap. Or maybe we should just go to bed early.” She went halfway inside, then looked back to see Van’s eyes twinkling. “You know what I mean.”

“Da.” He chuckled to himself.

“Oh, behave. You’re like a teenage boy.” She walked into the house, smirking.

He followed her. “Perhaps that is the effect you have on me.”

She took her hat off, suddenly feeling shy. She finger-combed her hair. “So, maybe we could watch a movie or something tonight?”

“Sounds good. Norma left meatloaf and mashed potatoes in the refrigerator. And some green thing for you.”

She laughed. “Okay, I’ll take care of heating dinner up after we rest.” She backed toward the stairs. “See you in an hour?”

“An hour is plenty.”

“Perfect.” She jogged up the steps. She hung the hat on one of the bedposts, then sat and pulled out her phone. She’d heard it going off all day but had ignored it. She knew who’d been calling. Her father.

The screen showed five missed calls and three text messages, all the same. Call me. Call me. Call me.

She didn’t want to. He would only threaten her again, and she’d heard all his threats a thousand times. Why should she subject herself to that?

Instead, she sent him a text back. No need. I’m doing what you want. Leave me alone.

His response was almost instant. All I needed to know.

She rolled her eyes. If he didn’t give her the coin after all this, she might end up in jail on assault charges. Or attempted murder. And real jail, not the familial one she was in now. How much worse could it be? With a sigh, she set her alarm for forty-five minutes, then lay down and closed her eyes.

She woke up to the soft chirp of the timer she’d set. She hadn’t expected to sleep, but the day out had definitely tired her a bit. She got up, stretched, and went down to see about heating up dinner.