Read Online The Selkie Enchantress by Sophie Moss - Free Book Online Page B

the similarities again, the black hair and blue eyes. If you looked, really looked, there was a bizarre similarity in some of their facial features, too. Shaking off the unsettling feeling, she watched him pop out of his chair and head back to the shelf, sliding several titles out until he found what he was looking for.
    Caitlin lifted a brow. “ Beauty and the Beast ?”
    Owen carried it back to the table, sliding it under The Little Mermaid . “I just wanted to look at the pictures again.”
    The copper kettle started to rattle and whistle. Caitlin poured two steaming mugs of Tara’s rose petal tea, adding a scoop of sugar to each and setting them on the table. When Owen ignored his and continued to stare at the storybook, a troubled expression swept over his face, eerily similar to Liam’s last night when she caught him reading the same story. “What is it?”
    Owen glanced up, snapping the book shut. “Nothing.” He reached for the mug, yelping when he burned his fingers on the chipped pottery. Hot water splashed out of the mug.
    Caitlin dashed back into the kitchen, wetting a dishcloth with cold water.
    “I’m sorry,” he whispered, staring at the spot where the liquid was seeping into the tablecloth.
    “It’s okay,” Caitlin soothed, hurrying back over and wrapping the cloth around his fingers. “You don’t need to be sorry. Here,” she said, turning the mug around so the handle faced him. “Hold it here.”
    She showed him how to curl his fingers gingerly around the handle and then settled slowly back into her chair. Didn’t he know how to hold a mug? She watched him blow on the steam and the color rise to his pale cheeks, his gaze drifting back to the books. “So,” Caitlin began, careful to keep her voice neutral. “How long does this songwriting usually take?”
    Owen lifted the mug, slurping a small sip of sugary tea into his mouth. “A while.”
    “An hour? A couple of hours?”
    “I don’t know,” Owen said, taking another sip. “This is really good.”
    Caitlin stared at him. “So… what? You’re just expected to get lost?”
    He slurped loudly, nodding.
    Unbelievable . Caitlin pushed at the sleeves of her sweater. She didn’t care how much artistic space a person needed. You didn’t toss a child out to fend for himself in the rain. “You seemed to be getting along with Kelsey last night. Have you thought of checking in with her? She’s probably playing a game with the other children in the pub.”
    Owen set down his mug and picked at a tear in the peach-colored fabric. “That’s okay.”
    Caitlin’s brow knitted in concern. He’d rather hang out with her than with the other kids? Rain battered the windows and Caitlin’s gaze dropped to her mug, watching the tea leaves settle into a pattern on the bottom of the cup. She stared at the outline of an infant curled up in a ball. What the…? She swirled the warm liquid around again and her eyes widened as the same shaped re-formed.
    She set the mug down with a clatter. Owen glanced up, those too-familiar eyes meeting hers intensely. She needed to get out of this house. And she needed to get away from this kid. Now she was starting to lose it! “I’m going out,” she said, pushing back from the table. “Feel free to stay as long as you want. There’s tons of food in the fridge. Make yourself at home.”
    Owen stood. “Where are you going?”
    “Out.”
    “But it’s raining.”
    “I have work to do.”
    “Can I help?”
    Caitlin’s jaw dropped. “Wouldn’t you rather hang out with the kids in the pub? And do… kid things?”
    “I’d rather come with you.”
    “Why?”
    “Because.” He swallowed, looking at his feet. “You’re nice.”
    Of course. She was nice. And look how far that had gotten her. She was babysitting the kid of the woman who was stealing the love of her life away from her! She felt like stomping her foot, but when she looked at that sweet, vulnerable face, what could she do? “Okay,” she