The Disappearance of Emily: Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic Series Book 2 by Elizabeth Pantley (best books under 200 pages .txt) 📗

up to a stunning, contemporary house with a rock and wood exterior. A wraparound porch hugged the front of the house. Four rock pillars guarded the front entry, softened by long, white, accent lights. The deck transitioned into a gazebo at the far end. A row of neat white stones edged a freshly mown lawn, accented with ferns and ornamental trees. Bushes burst with small, white roses. It was lovely.

Instead of sitting in the car while I waited for Axel and Eleanor to arrive from their business meeting, I parked and walked up onto the porch.

I inched closer and peeked into the window. The interior of the home had a clean, minimalist appearance. Decorated in muted grays and forest green, the furnishings had smooth, symmetrical shapes. A slate fireplace highlighted the room with plants accenting both sides. The fireplace mantle featured several artistically cultivated bonsai trees. Gorgeous landscapes and wildlife photos dotted the walls, and I wondered if Han had taken any of them.

I was focused on my—cough, cough—investigation. Okay, fine. My spying. So, when Han’s smiling face suddenly appeared on the other side of the window, I jumped back two feet.

Han opened the door and laughed. “Hi, Hayden. Or should I say boooo!” He raised his one un-casted arm and wiggled his fingers. He seemed to think this was our thing now—him unintentionally scaring me.

I sputtered, “Oh, hi! Was waiting for Axel and Eleanor and, umm, I just, umm . . .”

He laughed and gave me a quick hug. “It’s okay, hon. Your high level of curiosity is one of the reasons I like you.”

Did he just call me hon? As in honey? I liked that. One of the reasons he liked me? I liked that too.

“Come on in. You can scope out the rest of the house from an inside viewpoint.”

“Ha ha. Thanks. You look really good.” Then I blushed and stammered some more, “I mean, umm, you look like you’re recovering well.”

Han seemed to enjoy my embarrassing blunders, by the look of his smile and the dimples that emerged on his cheeks. He appeared to be holding back an outright laugh. He opened the door and motioned me inside with his one good arm.

He really did look good, though! His relaxed black sweatpants were matched with a rather tight, black T-shirt that showed off his muscular physique. His jet-black hair appeared wet from a shower. His feet were bare. I normally hate looking at people’s bare feet, but his were nice. The overall look was so darn sexy.

I pulled my eyes away from his feet and, of course, saw that he was watching me give him the once-over. Could I embarrass myself anymore? I’d give him credit. He said nothing, just looked in my eyes and grinned.

“Wow, your home is so beautiful,” I said, changing my focus from his appearance to his home.

The floor plan was bright and open. The main room flowed seamlessly into the kitchen. A white island and light gray, quartz countertops were perfectly balanced with pale wood cabinets and square, lantern-shaped, pendant lights. The same pale wood surfaces disguised the refrigerator and freezer, I assumed so as not to disrupt the balance and beauty of the space.

Soft piano music was coming through hidden speakers throughout the home, adding a classy touch to the ambiance, and making me wonder about the piano I saw in an alcove off the living room. I let the music wrap itself around me and realized Han was still watching me. Our eyes met and there was a moment of intimate connection. I remembered that gentle kiss in the park.

The spell was broken when two women came around the corner into the kitchen. They resembled Han, and the two of them almost looked like twins, so they had to be his sisters. They saw him standing there and rushed over.

“Hannie! What are you doing up?” They led him over to the sofa, urging him to sit. They grabbed his ankles and put his (sexy, bare) feet up on the footstool.

“Hey, girls! Calm down. I’m capable of answering a door and greeting my guest.” He said it with a laugh. It gave me a glimpse of the close relationship they shared.

He turned toward me. “Hayden, if you haven’t already guessed, these two mother hens are my sisters, Eva and Yanay. Girls, this is Hayden.”

I said hello to them, my smile lit from the feeling of warmth I felt from being with Han and his family.

“It’s so nice to meet you, Hayden. I’m Yanay,” said the slightly taller sister. In true Destiny Falls tradition, she gave me a brief welcoming hug.

“Welcome to Han’s recovery central! I’m Eva.” A warm hug followed. “Han’s forever taking care of us. Now it’s our turn to take care of him—even when he objects!”

The doorbell rang and the sisters both said, “I’ll get it!” They wandered over to the front door. I could tell by how they said hello, and the familiar hugs all around, that they already knew one another. (If you weren’t close to Eleanor, I doubt she’d be instantly huggable.) Also, Axel and Grandmother seemed casually comfortable in the house, so it appeared they’d been at Han’s home before.

I got up and greeted Axel and Grandmother with my own hugs. They said hello to Han and asked how he was feeling. I could tell he didn’t like the attention on his recovery. He said he was fine and changed the subject.

The sisters offered everyone something to drink. Then they brought out several trays of appetizers and laid out the food, drinks, plates, and napkins on the counter.

The five of us had a wonderful visit. Axel and my grandmother had another appointment, so they left together. The girls and I walked them to the door and said our goodbyes. When we turned back around, Han was asleep on the sofa.

Yanay whispered, “He needs the rest more than he knows. Hayden, can you stay a while? We can sit outside in the gazebo and let