Then I head back toward Neo.
“Your guy doesn’t seem that popular,” he says.
“Diablo polled better when voters thought there wasn’t an alternative.” I glance across the crowd to where Luna is fielding reporters. “Now there is.”
When they peel off to descend on Diablo, she fans herself with the iPad. It’s hot as hell today. I’ve only been here for an hour, and I’m already melting. She’s probably been on-site since sunrise.
My response is automatic. I grab a bottle of water from a vendor and cross the sand to her. Neo follows behind me.
“Here,” I say, twisting off the cap before handing it to her.
She looks up from beneath her brim. At me. Then Neo. Then back to me.
“Poisoning the competition?” She slides the walkie-talkie into her waist pouch to take the bottle.
“Too obvious,” I say, our eyes meeting. “Hydration’s a long game.”
“It’s hot enough to risk it.” Her teasing holds a double meaning, intended just for me. “Thank you.”
“Anytime.”
Her lips close around the tip of the bottle, her throat working on a swallow. The skin that I’ve tasted glows with a thin sheen of sweat.
Neo nudges my arm.
I blink, pulling myself back. “This is my brother, Neo. Neo, Rayne Webber.”
“I’ve never met a mayoral candidate before,” he says, thinking he’s smooth. “Beauty and brains. That would get my vote.”
“What about loyalty to your brother?”
“All’s fair in love.”
She grins and looks at me.
I feel it. That current between us.
A young woman in a yellow romper approaches, cheeks flushed from the heat, curly twists piled high.
“Hey, Soph,” Rayne greets her like they’re old friends.
“Hey.” Her gaze shifts to us, lingering on Neo. “I’m Sophia.”
“Dakarai,” I say. “And this is my brother Neo.”
Neo smiles. And because he’s never met a woman he didn’t turn on the charm for, he puts it on blast.
Sophia blushes while I catch Luna subtly checking out my legs.
“Gotta circle,” she says. “Soph, I’ll catch up with you later. Dakarai. Neo. Enjoy the festival.”
“Pleasure meeting you,” Neo says, then turns his attention back to Sophia.
While they chat, I step aside with Luna, keeping a professional distance, but lowering my voice. “Take a break.”
“I don’t have time.”
“A quick stop at a cooling station. You won’t be useful to anyone if you pass out.”
