The Kelpie's Curse (book #1 in the Kelpie's Entrapment trilogy)

Day 20 pt. 1

Coldwater, Michigan, USA

Sebastian Mathews was busy working on his latest stack of paperwork in the Coldwater Police Department when one of the new recruits, Billy Young, sat down across from him. Sebastian had not worked with Billy much since he joined the force barely three months ago, however he had noticed the looks the kid gave his favorite cousin whenever she stopped in to see him.

"So, Mathews, exactly what would it take for you to set me up with her?" Billy asked, gesturing to a photo on his desk.

Sebastian placed his pen back into the holder on his desk and pinched the bridge of his nose. He didn't need to look up to know who he was talking about and the gesture that he'd caught with his peripheral vision had been wholly unnecessary. Among the various files, police reports, and notes that littered his desk one single photo was the only evidence that he had a life outside of the force.

The picture had been taken the day he had graduated from the local police academy and the short brunette girl in the picture with him had cheered the loudest when his name had been announced that day. Originally his mother had only meant to take a picture of him but as soon as he saw the camera he had insisted that Renestrae be in the picture with him. He had never told anyone this but after High School he had been the living embodiment of a train wreck and had it not been for Ren knocking some sense into him he doubted he would be sitting were he was today.

"Keep dreaming buddy, it's the only place that's ever going to happen."

Billy scoffed. "I've been asking around and she's not your girl or your sister, so why are you so overprotective?"

Sebastian's hazel eyes snapped up to meet Billy's blue ones as he placed his hands down gently on the desk. He already knew of the kid's inquiry and the things his fellow officers had told him set his teeth on edge. Billy Young did not see Renestrae as a person with her own dreams and ambitions, instead all he saw was his next conquest and a nice rack. Sebastian hoped he was wrong but he knew it was doubtful. Still, his typical list of questions was usually enough to make most men back off before Ren ever became aware that they were making eyes at her.

He knew it sounded underhanded but hitting the city boy was likely to get him fired and if by some miracle the Chief didn't ask for his badge then Renestrae would personally see to it that he couldn't work for the next month. His cousin had never appreciated people sticking their noses into her personal life and he remembered all too well what happened the last time he had knocked someone's lights out before she asked him to.

"Let me ask you something, Billy. What was the name of the last book you read that you weren't required to?"

Billy scowled, "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Not much of a reader? Well that's too bad, in that case I don't see you and Renestrae having much to talk about. How do you feel about Dungeons and Dragons?"

Billy's brow furrowed in confusion for about half a second before his eyes widened in understanding. "Oh, you mean that pathetic board game for dorks with no social life."

Sebastian nearly smiled as the boy fell into his trap, though part of him had to admit that Billy Young was never going to become a detective if he couldn't pick up on the trap. Personally he figured he was being a little too obvious that his questions were about the things that Renestrae enjoyed. It took a great amount of effort but Sebastian managed to keep his self-satisfied smile to himself, at least for the time being.

"Actually it's a role-playing game and I somehow doubt my cousin would appreciate you calling her a dork with no social life. If you really want to impress her I suggest taking her swing dancing."  Sebastian had to swallow his own laughter as he said it. He highly doubted that the kid knew what swing dancing was let alone how to do it. While knocking the kid's lights out would have made him feel better Sebastian had learned a long time ago that dashing a man's hopes was much more effective. If he was completely honest with himself then it was a lot more entertaining as well.