He cut himself off, pressing his lips together.Like he was about to say something he was afraid to admit out loud.
“You…?”
“I’m glad you’re back,” he said.“That’s all.”
But I had the sneaking suspicion he wasn’t telling me everything.So, I changed the subject in a hurry.
“I’m not saying no,” I said.“Just… not tonight.If I leave Red and Tani alone together too long, I’m afraid I’ll come home to the house covered in pink fairy dust and the possibility that Red has learned how to shop on the Internet.”
He laughed at that.“That is a real possibility.”
He pulled into his driveway and put the truck in park, still holding my hand.Quiet.Patient.The epitome of the perfect man sitting beside me and I had commitment issues.
But he was still looking at me like I was the best thing that ever happened to him and that did something funny to my insides.
“We’ll try again tomorrow,” he said.“After you come to dinner at my parents.”
“Oh,” I said on a breath.“Yes.Tomorrow.”
“You’re still coming, right?”He sounded worried.
I met his gaze.“Of course.”
Relief creased his features.“Good.I’ll pick you up at noon.”
I reached for the door and exited the truck.He was out, too, rounding the hood and stopped in front of me.He reached for my hand.
“Sure you won’t change your mind about dinner?”
I grinned.“You’ll see me tomorrow, McAllister.”
He made a low, appreciative sound in his throat, then pulled me closer.“You keep calling me that and you won’t be able to leave.”
Before I could reply, he kissed me.Long, slow, thoughtful.Deep.Determined to keep me in his orbit for as long as possible.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said.
He released me.
And as I got into the car to drive away, back to the house on Snapdragon, my heart ached with regret.
It was late afternoon by the time I returned home.
A strange car was in my driveway and Agent Voss was standing on my front porch looking furious with his hands on his hips.Like he was angry I wasn’t home.I frowned.He was not a welcome visitor.And I didn’t have the energy to deal with him.
I steeled my nerves as I got out the car holding the grimoire cradled in one arm.
“Where’s your guard dog?”he asked.
Not the best way to start a conversation with me.“If you mean Owen,” I snapped, “he’s home.”
His gaze flicked over me, pausing on the book.
“What do you want, Voss?”I climbed the porch steps, my steps weary, clutching my keys in my fist.I didn’t want to open the door and invite him in.He wasn’t welcome.
“The Crossroads is still open.”
“It’s currently contained and will be closed soon enough,” I said, thinking of the Sun Disk.
