The bottom of Erica’s stomach fell out at the strength of the man’s gaze. His hair was thick and nearly black, and he wore it short, almost military. He seemed to be in complete command, and yet he stood quietly, as though waiting for . . .
Erica gathered her wits and put away every lascivious thought that had just flown through her brain.Shewasn’t the one with overblown hormones. It was the guys who came to drool over her when she danced. “Drew will be ready in a sec. Drew?” she called. “Come on! It’s seven-thirty!”
The apartment was so tiny that when she went into the kitchen alcove, she was standing only a few feet from Mr Dugan, who seemed to take up a great deal of space. “We’ll be ready in a moment,” she said. “Make yourself comfortable while I make this PB and J.”
But he didn’t look comfortable at all. He glanced around theapartment as though he’d never been inside an 800-feet flat before. He was almost too big for it. Too big for her apartment-sized furniture anyway, and Erica had a sudden image of him lying naked in her double bed, and taking up almost all the space.Almost.
She cleared her throat and refocused. “I know it’s not much, but Drew and I manage.” She took bread out of a drawer and slapped together a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, then wrapped it in wax paper.
“Don’t say anything to Drew about why you’re here,” she said quietly as she grabbed her coat and purse, and Drew’s sweatshirt. “I don’t want to scare him.”
He frowned at that, and at the sandwich she’d just made. She was going to ask him if he wanted one, but Drew came out of the bedroom with his backpack just then, and they wasted no time heading out of the apartment. She couldn’t feedeveryone.“Where did you park?”
“Park?” he asked.
“You didn’t drive?”
“No. I—”
“We’ll take my car, then. It’s probably better if I drive and you keep an eye out for the bald guy, anyway.” Her stalker. A man named Bernie Sandino. She’d learned his name from the cops, and knew that he used to be a prize fighter, but there wasn’t anything the police could do about him. He hadn’t made any threats, and rarely came within ten yards of her.
But he gave her the creeps, and he always seemed to be around. It was pretty obvious that he was following her. Mitch had told the bouncers at the Purple Moon to keep him out of the club, but he always seemed to be lurking nearby, after hours. “It’s a relief to have you along, Mr Dugan,” she said quietly, hoping not to alert Drew to any danger.
It was true. Sean Dugan had an imposing presence, even though he looked at her as if he’d never seen a woman before. Maybe he’s never seen a redhead?
In any case, Sandino wouldn’t dare come near her with a man like Dugan standing with her. “Did Mitch show you any pictures of the creep?”
“Creep?”
“You know, Sandino – the guy who’s been following me.”
“Uh, no.”
They walked towards Sheffield Street and when they reached the corner Erica tossed the sandwich to the homeless amputee who hung out in the same place every day. He shouted his thanks and they moved on.
“You feed the . . .”
“He’s harmless and, well, look at him. He needs help.”
She led them to her eight-year-old Corolla and unlocked the car. “Andrew, into the back.”
“I know, Mommy.”
“And you, Mr Dugan,” she said, “can ride shotgun.”
Three
D499 wasn’t quite sure what had just happened. The colours here were more vivid than any he’d seen in his time, the sounds louder and the smells far more intense. He could not get over the height of the trees. They were tall and . . .majesticwas the only word he could think of, even though it was an archaic usage. Federation trees were mere shrubs compared to these. And they only grew in neat clusters, or straight rows that lined the laz-tracks.
The pure sensuality of the woman – Erica – was something he couldn’t possibly have anticipated. She wore a light blue sweater, which hugged feminine curves that had obviously been bred out of the women ofAD2743, and black pants, which fitted her like a second skin. He felt the punch of something hot and sultry, and so intense he could barely swallow.
She had red hair.Red.It was something D499 – or rather, Sean – had never seen before. It looked smooth and glassy like sheets of styron, and had streaks of gold running through it. Amazing. Her eyes were green and her lips were full and pink. Sean’s gaze was drawn to them so often, she was sure to notice if he didn’t get his bewilderment – and his Deviant urges – under control.
With the assumptions she’d made about him, he hadn’t had to use the ruse he’d come up with to get close to Andrew. But he wasn’t quite sure what she expected of him.
In consternation, he dragged one hand across his mouth and got into the vehicle, folding his long legs uncomfortably into the small space. She had the engine started before he could bring himself toturn back and look at the child whom she’d called Andrew.Could this be the Andrew Gibson-Booth he’d come for?
“Buckle up, Mr Dugan,” said the boy.
