Stall owners from the market, her employees, Hunt’s deputies, the girls, and even the street children were running and dancing through the group. Probably picking pockets.
“Relda!” Alia spotted them and hurried their way. She threw her arms around Relda’s neck. “We’re so glad you’re okay. We were so afraid.”
When the girl drew back, Relda stared at the crowd. Even her neighbors were here.
She glanced at Hunt. “You arranged this.”
He just stared at her, a small smile on his lips.
“Relda.” Lars, a food stall owner, came forward, a smile visible in his eyes that looked like cracked ice. “This is for you.”He held out a small basket filled with pastries and sweet rolls made from recipes from his homeworld of Perma. “I thought you wouldn’t be up to cooking right now.”
She took the basket, staring at it blankly. “Thank you, Lars.”
“Relda, Relda!” One of the street urchins ducked past Lars. The boy held up a small bouquet of wilted wildflowers. “To make you feel better.” He smiled shyly and dipped his head.
Hunt’s big body brushed hers from behind, his lips tickled her ear. “Looks like I have some competition.”
An older woman, one of Relda’s neighbors, bustled forward. “We’ve all left you some things, dear. To help you rest and recover after your ordeal.” She took the basket from Relda and passed it to Alia. “Your girls have put them all inside.”
Relda felt an overwhelming rush of emotion fill her. She tried to talk, but her throat was so thick she couldn’t get any words out. She looked at them all, and saw no fear, no terror. They were looking at her the same way they always had.
Hunt wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her to his side. “Relda’s tired. She’ll catch up with you all soon.”
There was a chorus of well wishes and admonishments to rest as Hunt tugged her into the cool interior of her house.
The girls fussed around, telling her they’d cleaned her rooms and put a tray of food upstairs for her.
Pria came forward and pressed a bottle into Relda’s hand. “To help you…relax.”
It was a massage oil. The girl had listed the scents on the side in a flourish of handwriting. As Relda read off the names, her eyes narrowed. They were all aphrodisiacs.
Then the girls were gone in a flurry of activity.
“Come on, beautiful.” Hunt nudged her up the stairs.
She walked into her rooms. There was no evidence a life-and-death fight had gone on here, no sign of the nano-droid remains. Everything was just how she liked it.
No, everything was how she loved it.
She’d thought she’d been holding herself back from the people here…instead she’d made herself a home without even realizing it.
“I…I…” For once, she couldn’t find any words.
He dropped onto one of the couches and with a tug, tumbled her onto his lap. He stroked a hand down her arm. “I told you to give them a bit of time to process. Despite all that incredible power locked in your decidedly delicious body, they know you. Relda the businesswoman, the rescuer of young girls, the sensual woman. You’re one of them, and they don’t want you to go anywhere.”
Oh, how she wanted to believe that. Wanted to belong. Wanted to stay.
“It’s dangerous?—”
“Timothy Li will not be telling anyone about what happened here.”
Hunt’s cold tone gave Relda goosebumps. “What did you do?”
“I had a little…chat with him. While you were sleeping.”
“He’s still alive?”
Hunt shot her a look. “Unfortunately, yes. I’m still a sworn marshal.”
