Page 172 of Dancing for the Minotaur

Taurex’s eyes went wide for a moment, and she wondered if he was catching her thoughts, the same way he had the first time they’d met.

“Okay,” she said quickly, pulling her hand out of his. “I’ll plan everything. Don’t worry about it—all you have to do is show up.”

“All right.” He nodded. “I should go.”

The ache of longing returned, and Terra wished she could ask him to stay. But instead, she took a step back and nodded.

“Right. Of course you should.”

He called goodbye to Lucy and the children, which resulted in another round of hugs from Lisa, a fist bump from Cody, and an insistence from Lucy that he come back for dinner soon. Then Terra walked him outside.

Her little silver Honda sat in the driveway and Taurex stared at it with a frown.

Terra followed his gaze and put a hand to her mouth.

“Oh! I forgot I drove you here. Do you want me to drive you back home?” she asked.

He shook his head.

“I barely escaped from your vehicle with both horns intact. I believe I shall walk.”

She laughed.

“You can’t walk all the way back downtown.”

“I can call a transport. I will request an extra-large car to come and get me.”

She nodded.

“Well, that’s probably safer for your horns.”

“Agreed.”

They stood awkwardly beside the driveway for another moment as though neither one of them wanted to say goodbye.

“I’ll call you about the cake tasting,” Terra said at last.

“I look forward to it,” Taurex rumbled, and he looked like he really meant it.

She smiled.

“So do I.”

Taurex hesitated, then he inclined his head.

“Goodnight, Terra.”

“Goodnight.”

He walked toward the street, typing on his phone and Terra watched him go.

She should have felt relieved. The police case was solved—Taurex wasn’t going to prison because they had a plan. And now she had an excuse to spend time with him without having to admit how badly she wanted to do exactly that.

But as the big Monstrum disappeared down the sidewalk and Terra stood alone beneath the streetlights, she looked down at the hand he had held and felt her chest tighten.

A fake engagement…a fake wedding. Fake cake and fake flowers and a fake dress for a ceremony that would never happen.

She had gotten exactly what she needed…but not what she wanted. Somewhere between losing Taurex and finding him again, Terra had begun desperately wishing it could all be real.