Page 76 of Tragic (Lark Cove 3)

“Whoa,” Thea whispered, stealing Charlie’s word from earlier.

Logan came to her side, throwing an arm over her shoulder. “You should see some of the pieces in Kaine’s shop. When we were loading up the truck, I made a mental list of things I’m going to have him build for the house.”

Thea smiled. “Charge him double, Kaine. He can afford it.”

Kaine’s eyes just dropped back to the table.

As expected with new acquaintances—one of whom was the misanthrope Kaine Reynolds—things had been slightly awkward today. Though I’d talked about Logan and Thea constantly to Kaine, and vice versa, everyone was still feeling each other out.

Kaine was his quiet self, as I’d anticipated. His charm wasn’t as forthcoming as Logan’s, who’d spent years working ballrooms to raise funds from the rich. Kaine captured your heart more slowly, like a moss that took months to claim the bark of a forest tree. In time, he’d win over the Kendricks, and they’d learn he was the strong, silent type.

Awkwardness aside, I was calling today a win. Despite the forced conversation, everyone was in a cheerful mood and Kaine hadn’t run away to hide in the cabin until the company was gone.

Was it strange that in all the time we’d spent together, he was just meeting my friends? Considering how rarely he left the mountain, I guess it wasn’t that odd. Neither of us cared to go into town much for dinner, not when I enjoyed cooking.

Did he have any friends still in Bozeman where he’d grown up? Because he didn’t have a single one here in Lark Cove besides me. Was it just his nature to keep to himself? Or had his past driven him to isolation?

Another wave of nausea hit, and I gripped the edge of the table, willing the chips I’d eaten to stay in my stomach.

“You okay?” Kaine asked, coming to my side.

“Fine,” I lied. “Just so happy to have this table. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Are you going to let me pay for it?” Every time I’d asked over the last month, he’d pretend like I hadn’t asked him the question. Kaine’s method of saying no was apparently to not answer at all.

And per usual, he ignored my question, left my side and went over to shake Logan’s hand. “Thanks for your help with this.”

Logan grinned. “Anytime.”

“Nice to meet you, Thea.”

“You too.” She nodded, bouncing Camila on her hip. The baby tried to shove her fingers in Thea’s mouth. “Stop that.” Thea laughed, jerking her chin away. It just made Camila giggle, a sound so precious it melted your heart.

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I looked around the table, seeing Logan smiling at his daughter. Charlie and Collin were laughing too.

When I got to Kaine, I expected to see that soft smile I got after making him a special pie, but instead, he was glaring at his boots. His hands were fisted at his sides like he had bamboo shards shoved under his fingernails.

“Kaine?”

He looked up, his face suddenly cold and impassive. “I need to do a couple things in the shop today.”

“Oh, okay.” I thought he’d planned to spend the day helping me get furniture in place and boxes unpacked. “We’re all going down to the bar for pizza later. Want to come?”

He shook his head, already heading for the door. He held up one arm in a wave, then crossed the living room like his boots were on fire. It didn’t take long for his truck to rumble to a start and pull away from the house to go down the mountain road on my side, only to come back up again on his.

Luckily, his strange behavior went unnoticed by the Kendrick family, who were all still enraptured by the youngest member.

What was Kaine’s problem? Were things more uncomfortable for him than I’d guessed? Did he not like children? As I thought back to the introductions earlier, he’d seemed fine around Charlie and Collin. But I didn’t remember him even looking in Camila’s direction.

Did he not like babies? It wasn’t unreasonable for some men to be wary of babies. My brother wasn’t particularly fond of them, something both my mom and I figured would change once Owen had his own.

Maybe Kaine had the same apprehension when it came to little ones.

My stomach did another round of acrobatics, so I retreated to the kitchen for a glass of the ginger ale I’d bought earlier, hoping it would settle things down.