Whispers of a Broken Halo by Abbi Glines

Today was just too soon. Besides, Cullen didn’t need an ice cream.

I stood up and dusted the sand from my body, then reached into my bag to get the cover-up I had worn over my swimsuit. When I stood up, someone was behind me, and a large hand slid around me to splay flat over my bare stomach, then pushed me back against him.

“You didn’t come see me,” Rio said close to my ear.

“Rio!” Cullen said, jumping up from the sand castle he had been building. “Why didn’t you come swim today?”

Rio dropped his hand from me and moved to stand beside me. “I wish I could have, bud. But I’ve been working,” he said to Cullen. “But I was hoping you and Bryn might come over to the market and get an ice cream.”

Cullen clapped his hands together, then looked up at me. “Please, oh please,” he begged me.

It looked like we were going to the farmers market after all.

“Okay,” I said reluctantly.

“Did you drive?” he asked me.

I shook my head. “No, we walked.”

He grinned then, flashing me his dimple. “Good. I’ll tell them I’m done for the day. We will get the ice cream, and then I’ll drive you home.”

“Thanks,” I said.

Cullen ran to him and grabbed his hand, then began asking about his Jeep and if the top was off. I collected the rest of our things, but when I picked up the bag, Rio took it from me. He walked ahead of me, holding Cullen’s hand on his right and carrying my bag on his left. It was the kind of thing that seemed more fantasy than reality.

Cullen was chatting away, and Rio didn’t seem to mind. How long would it take before the package deal was too much for him? Would I continue to crave him and be so easy? How long before that got boring for him?

I was ruining a perfect moment with my dark thoughts, and I tried hard to push them away. We reached the side entrance of the farmers market, and Rio turned to me.

“I need to go let them know I’m leaving. You take him to the ice cream stand, and I’ll meet you there.”

Rio headed to the back, still carrying my bag.

Cullen came over to take my hand, and then he pulled me. “Come on!”

We walked over to the ice cream stand, and Cullen began studying the different colors and asking me about flavors while we waited in line. He finally decided on blue raspberry with red sprinkles when it was our turn.

I looked from Cullen to the girl taking orders. “Hello,” I said in greeting. “We need—”

“I know who you are, and you aren’t welcome here,” she said with a nasty grin.

She looked somewhat familiar, and I realized she must have been working here when I had been fired. Cullen’s hand was in mine, but he moved closer until he was pressed against my leg. This was something he had heard before, but I had hoped he’d never hear it again.

“I, uh …” I paused, unsure of what to say. Did I explain this to her or just go to the back and wait for Rio?

“Is there a problem?” Rio asked, and I turned to see him walking toward us. He frowned, looking down at Cullen almost wrapped around my leg. Then, he lifted his gaze to meet mine.

“Yes, sir. I told her we wouldn’t serve her here,” the girl told him.

Rio’s scowl, however, took the smirk off her face, and she glanced back at me, as if to make sure she hadn’t made a mistake.

“Whatever she wants, make it for her. If she is ever in this market again, you give her what she wants,” he said, coming to stand on the other side of Cullen and putting a hand on his head, then ruffling his hair.

The girl nodded. “Yes, sir. I didn’t know. I thought—”

“I know what you thought. I will make sure everyone here understands that Bryn and Cullen are welcome here.”

The girl nodded, then looked at me nervously now. “What can I get for you?” she asked.

“Blue raspberry with red sprinkles,” I said.

Cullen’s arms released me, and he smiled up at Rio.

“Bryn!” Hazel’s familiar voice called out, and I turned to see her making her way to us.

“Hello,” I replied.

It was nice to see her smile at me again. She had never been mean, but it had been awkward before.

“It’s sure good to see you here,” she said. “And who’s this?” she asked, turning her friendly smile toward Cullen.

“This is Cullen, my nephew,” I told her.

“Well, Cullen, is that blue and red ice cream yours?” she asked.

He nodded, and she took it from the girl, then handed it to him.

“We have a new litter of puppies out back. Would you like to go see them?” she asked him. Then glanced up at me. “If that’s okay with your aunt Bryn.”

He nodded his head vigorously and looked up at me with hopeful eyes.

“Sure, that sounds exciting,” I replied.

Cullen walked to Hazel without even a backward glance my way. He was getting braver with new people.

“Come with me,” Rio said close to my ear.

I fell into step beside him as he led me back to the private offices. I had been back here only once when I worked here. It was off-limits to employees unless they had an appointment.

Rio led us to the door on the left and took a key from his pocket to unlock it. He went in, and I followed him. The light came on, and I looked around the office lined with filing cabinets and a massive oak desk full of mail and notebooks. I turned to Rio to ask whose office we were in.