Elodie’s mouth went dry, her tongue a hard lump of sand behind her teeth.Rhett wasn’t wrong.She was a woman.But the way he’d said it was a slap, not a statement.
Rhett cleared his throat and continued.“Everything is being taken care of.My team and I were the first called out to Tilikum Crossing.It’s fine now.”His voice was curt.His words clipped, like he was presenting a briefing, not talking to the woman he would marry in a few months.
Elodie stared at PatientNinety-Two’s steadily blinking heartrate monitor.“That adds to my relief, but I am still really worried about all of those—”
“Grant Holbrook, the Director of the MediCenter, which means he’s pretty much Director of the Key itself, called me up to request that I gather my team and head to the site post haste.”
Post haste?Was Elodie really going to spend the rest of her life with a guy who saidpost haste?She opened her mouth to comment but Rhett continued as if she wasn’t on the other end of thecall.
“At least, that’s what he would have said if I had spoken to him directly.It was one of his assistants or someone, but I’m sure I’m the only person you know who gets calls likethat.”
Elodie squirmed in her chair.Her back itched in a place she couldn’t quite reach.
Rhett grunted.“No oneevergets a call like that.”He reiterated with a bit more gusto.“I mean, you haven’t heard of anyone who has, haveyou?”
“Yeah.Yep.”Elodie rubbed the heels of her hands against her eyes, glad he couldn’t see her.“Wait.No, sorry.I haven’t heard of that before.”She picked at thedog-earedcorner of her textbook.“Rhett, I’m actually really busy, so—”
“I’ll get those Eos lunatics, El.I promise you Iwill.”
“Oh,” she bit her bottom lip.“You don’t have to do it for me.”
“Of course I do,” he said, his voice softening a bit.“I want you to be safe.I want our family to be safe.In order for that to happen, Eos must be dealt with.There are things I know about Eos, Elodie.”
She dropped her forehead into her hand.What was wrong with her?Rhett was great.He’d do anything to protect her.The Key had matched them, had chosen her for him, for a reason.And she had fallen in love with him.Or at least something very close to love.They might not currently be inromancia-landia, but Elodie would help them find their way there.“Hey, Rhett, want to move our date night up?Or maybe even add another night to the schedule?”
Or blow the schedule up completely and be utterly spontaneous?
On second thought, it was probably best to ease him in slowly.
Rhett paused for so long that Elodie would have thought he’d ended the call if not for theConnectedsignal blinking at the bottom of her vision.
Finally, he sucked in a sharp breath.“Is something wrong?”
She shook her head automatically.“No.I just want to seeyou.”
There was a rustling on his end of the call before he spoke again.“Activate your camera and we can see each other rightnow.”
Elodie took a deep breath, plastered on a smile, and activated the videolink.The transparent gray box appeared, and Rhett came intoview.
“See, that’s nice, isn’t it?”The shadows cast by Rhett’s black helmet made his prominent brow even more menacing.
Elodie sat up a little straighter and made sure to keep her smile in place.“I meant I want to see you in a fun date setting.Not while we’re both working.”
His amber eyes deepened with a squint.“You said you didn’t like it when I called you with my squad around, so I found a booth.I’m alone.My attention is on you.How is this different than date night?”
Elodie’s smile slipped.
Rhett’s brow creased.“I’m trying to do everything you want, El.”
“Yeah, no, you’re right.”She remade her smile.“I did say that I wanted you to call me when you could focus on our conversation and not be pulled in all different directions.So, thank you forthat.”
The corner of his smooth lips tipped with a crooked grin and he nodded.“Anything foryou.”
Elodie’s eyes dropped to the control panel.Why couldn’t she feel the way she was supposed to?
“Is your shirtwet?”
Elodie snapped her attention back to him as she ran her hand across her chest.“I don’t think—”
