Taking a deep breath, she realized her shirt was open and her bra unhooked. Her face burned as she fumbled to cover herself. What if someone found her with her hair a mess and the cups of her bra tucked in her armpits?
Tears streamed from her eyes as she realized she had gotten the man she had dreamed of and had been too much of a coward to accept him into her life.
Hiding in the bushes in front of Reno’s home, she attempted to straighten her clothes with trembling hands. The street was so quiet, she almost screamed when he appeared, turned her around and helped her fasten her bra. Since there was no way to repair her ruined blouse, he tugged a t-shirt over her head and helped her slip her arms through the sleeves.
“I tore your shirt.” He gave her a crooked smile. He appeared human again. The streetlight giving his white teeth an otherworldly glow. “Replacing it with this was the least I could do. Let me give you a ride back to the B and B.” He turned away and walked toward his car. “I brought you here. I should take you back to your room.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and stepped back. “Don’t worry. I won’t touch you again.”
Birgit barely stopped herself from reaching out and taking his arm. Curving her fingers into a fist, she lowered her arm to her side and followed him. Refusing a ride would be stupid. She had no idea how to get back to her room and she had strange, reptilian aliens looking for her. She might be a lot of things, but she was not one of those too-stupid-to-live heroines from some of the novels she’d read.
“Can we…” She took a deep breath. “Can we… explore this relationship we’re supposed to have before I decide whether or not I can live with the terms you’ve set forth?”
“Thank you for being willing to try.” Stopping, he turned to face her. “Though, first off, you need to know that those aren’t my terms. It is a fact amongst our people.” He shoved his fingers through his hair and paced away from her, before turning to face her again. “Hell, I’d even resigned myself to never having a mate. I had decided I would live the rest of my life without the touch of any woman. One of my brothers would have eventually stepped up and taken my place as the patriarch of our family unit. However…” He all but snarled the last word. “My dear, idiotic brother made a serum using your blood.”
“That pen!” She gasped, her hand to her throat. “That’s why he insisted I use it, even after it almost cut me deep enough to need stitches.”
“Yes. The pen.” He sighed. “Ceno was certain you were my match. I cannot fault him on his logic. He was correct. Though, he didn’t take your culture into consideration.”
“My brother used the pen to collect your blood. Afterward, he made a serum we call zidalpham and slipped it into my drink at lunch. It is an easier way for one to find their mate. Sometimes, we use it when we are nearing middle age and have become particularly desperate to make our match.”
“You aren’t anywhere near middle age.” She crossed her arms and raised a brow. “Don’t try to feed me a load of bull.”
“You’re right. I’m not, but Ceno was desperate to have me marry. As patriarch of our family unit, I should mate first. It then leaves my brothers to find women at their leisure. I’ve been wondering if Ceno hasn’t already found a woman to his, and his beast’s liking, and my refusal to seek out a female has finally reached a zenith with his patience.”
“Oh.” She followed him to his car and waited for him to open the door. “I suppose that makes sense.”
He opened the passenger door, waited for her to slide into the seat, closed the door with a soft click and then walked around to the other side and folded his tall frame into the driver’s seat.
She couldn’t stop herself from admiring the way his body moved with the smooth grace of a jungle cat. It made sense that his shifter side would be a tiger, she supposed. The set of his jaw, the way he moved, his very scent screamed he was a predator.
Her inner alarms should have been shrieking the way they had been when she’d seen the men in black at the restaurant, yet they didn’t. If anything, her body hummed with desire whenever he drew near.
What attracted her to him? His strength, his sense of honor, or was it the fact that he was easily the most handsome man she had ever met?
“How do we proceed with this…” She waved her hand. “Whatever you want to call this?”
“Courtship?”
“That’s an antiquated term.” She laughed and shook her head. “I don’t think anyone on Earth talks that way anymore.”
“You’d be surprised.”
“Hmm… I won’t ask what you meant by that.” She stared out through the darkness for a moment. “Why did those strange aliens approach us in the diner? What did they want?”
“You,” he said simply. “They had come looking for you. They said something about someone named Raul being one of them and that he had gone missing.”
“That figures,” she said with a snort. “I always thought that guy was a snake. I guess I wasn’t too far off. The creep. He was always making passes at all of the girls. Though, he never seemed like a cold-blooded killer.”
“Do you have any idea why they would want you?”
“Nope.” She shook her head. “I have no idea. I worked for the guy, but I never had anything to do with him outside of work. Why would I?” She shrugged. “Like I said, the guy was a creep.” Just the idea of a reptile’s tongue brushing against hers was almost enough to make her ill.
Hell, she shuddered just thinking about it. No wonder she’d never trusted him. Maybe she had some sort of sixth sense about him, or something. After all, if the men or whatever they were had come looking for her were with Raul, he couldn’t be good. Those guys at the diner were just plain scary.
“What happened after I… after I…”
“After you fainted?” He smiled and rested his hand on her knee. “Not much. A couple of friends of mine, and I, convinced them they didn’t need you, after all.”
“And they left, just like that?” She snapped her fingers. “Why don’t I believe it wasn’t quite that easy?”
“It wasn’t really all that difficult.” He grinned. “Apparently, not many men want to take on my beast when he’s fully enraged.”
“Hmm… What will I do if they come for me at my room?” What could she do to protect herself? It wasn’t as though Reno could sleep outside under her window and she wouldn’t ask him if he would.
“Like most of the homes and businesses in Magic, the B & B is protected by at least one spell. I would like to think they have more than one protection spell on it, for the visitors as well as those of us who live in town.”
“Oh. That’s good.” That made her feel a little better. “I guess this is it, then.” She glanced out the window after he stopped in front of the B & B. “Thanks for the ride.” Leaning over, she kissed his cheek and smiled. “Stay right there. I’ll let myself out.”
She slid out of the car and shut the door. Bending, she leaned into the window and smiled. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning, handsome.”
Turning, she walked up the walkway and let herself in through the front door. Stopping just inside the vestibule, she pulled her key card out and waved it at the lock. The latch clicked and the door swung open on well-oiled hinges. Closing the door behind her, she climbed the stairs to her room. She had a lot to think about and only a day or two to make up her mind.
“Shape shifters and aliens,” she said with a grin as she flopped backwards on her bed. “Who would have thought I would have found even one of those? Someone will tell me that vampires exist next,” she mused with a giggle.
If what Reno said was true, she had not only found them, she had also found an entire town full of magical beings of more than one type. If she had been a reporter, she might have written about it.
However, she was nothing more than a glorified receptionist. Maybe she could have a little fling with Reno. He said it was her choice. What if she told him her choice was a holiday fling and nothing more? Would he still want her? B
irgit hugged herself with a sigh. She’d sleep on it and decide in the morning. With nothing to do but watch TV, the night would be long, and she had all night to think about it. Besides, she intended to enjoy every damned minute of her stay in Magic. If she was lucky, and brave, her adventure just might last a lifetime.
Chapter Sixteen
Reno could do nothing but watch as Birgit climbed the outer steps of the bed and breakfast. What else could he do? Insisting she accompany him back to his home for her own protection would have sounded like a lame excuse to get her into his bed, even to him—and he believed she needed his protection. He couldn’t say the same for her.
“Damn it!” he slapped the steering wheel with a growl. Shifting the car into drive, he drove down the block, put the car in park and waited. When she finally turned off her light, he slid from his vehicle and made his way to the bushes below her window.
Spells or no spells, he intended to stay the night and keep watch for his mate. He knew the odds of finding another woman who stirred his blood the way Birgit Anderson does would be astronomical. For that reason alone, he had not intention of allowing anyone to do her harm. The fact that the thought of losing her to those reptilian bounty hunters felt like a punch to the gut, had nothing to do with it.
He sat down in the dirt under the bushes and prepared for a long night. The B & B might be spelled against danger, but he wasn’t taking any chances where his mate was concerned. He only hoped he could convince Birgit they were meant for each other or he was going to have a horrible next few weeks thanks to the effects of his zidalpham enhanced chemistry, and to that idiot brother of his.
As the sun rose seven hours later, he made his way back to the car. He stretched his stiff back before climbing behind the wheel. Since a kidnapping in broad daylight was only something that brave aliens did—not the cowardly Argarians—he made his way home to take a shower and make a pot of strong coffee.
If what his gut told him was correct, and it usually was, Birgit would arrive at the garage, bright and early and he intended to take her out on a picnic.
He grimaced at the thought of a stupid, romantic, earthling picnic. When had he become such a sap? He rubbed the center of his chest with a smile when he remembered the exact moment he’d seen his future as she stood in the garage, staring up at him with angry flashing green eyes and tapping her foot with irritation.
He’d just showered and changed into a pair of khaki slacks and a light blue shirt when Ceno passed his door.
“Where are you going all gussied up this morning?” He leaned against the doorjamb, his arms crossed. As usual, he wore a t-shirt that was at least a size too small. He did it because it made his chest and arms look bigger. The idiot had admitted that much a while back.
“None of your damned business. You’ve done enough already.” He checked his hair and then inspected his teeth. The last thing he wanted was to have left over breakfast stuck between them. He’d never thought it particularly attractive and he was certain Birgit would think it repulsive, as well.
“Oh, I see,” Ceno said with a grin. “You’re seeing the little UFO buff that rolled into town yesterday. Okay, if you won’t say it, I will.” He straightned and reached around behind himself. “Here’s a hearty pat on the back, Ceno. Good job!”
“Fuck off and die!” Reno snarled at him. “You might have brought us together, and she might be my mate, but she is an earther and there’s no guarantee she’ll agree to the claiming.” He met his brother’s gaze in the mirror. “Save your fucking pats on the back until she agrees to the joining, and is my mate in every way.”
He grabbed his keys from the top of the bureau. “And, while your keeping your congratulations to yourself, you can also keep an eye out for the four fucking aliens tracking my mate. I’ll tear them apart if they touch her and god only knows what kind of shit that will start.”
He pushed past Ceno, knocking into his brother with enough force that it would have knocked a smaller man to the floor. Perhaps it was a good thing his brother had always been just as big as he was stupid.
“You look nice.”
Reno spun around to see Birgit walking through the front door of the office and smiled.
“You look good enough to eat.” He winked.
“I hope you mean that in a good way.” Her cheeks flushed with color and his cock hardened just looking at her and smelling her unique scent.
“Only in a good way.” He leaned down and stole a kiss before she could stop him. “I’m taking the day off.” He lifted the basket he’d gotten from the diner. “How about a picnic?”
“Do you have somewhere romantic in mind?” She tilted her head with a smile. “I think you must.” She rested her hand on the arm he held out for her. “After all, you’ve already thought of a quiet little getaway with a basket lunch, too. Most, if not all, women would agree that you’re already being quite the romantic.”
“I know a place up in the mountains. It’s quite a hike, but I have a vehicle that can get us there rather quickly, if you don’t think it would scare you.”
“I’ve ridden motorcycles before,” she said with a delicate shrug.
“It’s not a motorcycle. It’s a vehicle we made with parts from our ship.” He led her into the garage and through a door in the wall. “What do you think?”
“What do I think?” She laughed. “I think it looks like a huge bowl with a spoon in it.” She glanced up at him and winked. “Are you sure you don’t plan to make a soup out of me?”
“You do smell nice.” He leaned forward and inhaled. “However, at this moment, I would love for you to climb into my bowl and allow me to take you to the magical place I found in the mountains.” Moving closer, he whispered, “It’s also private.”
He hopped over the edge of his vehicle and held out his hand. “Are we going, or are you going to kick yourself later for not accompanying me in this otherworldly conveyance?” He raised a brow. “Well?”
“You’re daring me, aren’t you?”
“Is it working?”
“You could say that.” Birgit took his hand and climbed in beside him. “What do you call this thing, anyway? She sat next to him and he belted her in.
“It’s a shooter.”
“A shooter?” She laughed. “Really? Why do I feel like an idiot sitting here in this thing. Tell me you didn’t just pull a joke on me and this isn’t someone’s old hot tub with…” she peered down. “Is that a gearshift?”
“I didn’t pull a joke on you. And yes, that’s a gearshift.”
“Why does it look like a giant spoon handle?” She leaned forward and peered over the side. “What other kind of weird things do you have here?”
“Sit down and hold on.” Reno pressed the appropriate buttons, shifted the shooter into gear and they shot through the garage doors and out into the street.
“Whoooo! Now I see why you call this thing a shooter.” Throwing her head back, she laughed out loud as they flew through town, the wind in her hair and her face filled with a mixture of elation and excitement.
The only problem he could see coming from this day would be when she found out that she really was sitting in a giant bowl. He’d bought it with the rest of his kitchenware and asked Dev to enlarge it, and the spoon, using his genie magic. All three of his brothers had a shooter just like it. It was the only thing they had left of their home.
Reno smiled as he drove the vehicle, enjoying every moment of Birgit’s unbridled delight. One day, when this incredible, exciting, and amazing adventure was over with, he’d either hug Ceno, or punch him in the mouth. The jury was still out on that one.
Chapter Seventeen
Birgit held on to the edge of the shooter with a firm grip, her knuckles white and her muscles tight as they sped through town and then headed toward the mountains in the distance.
Warm wind blew through her hair, and for once, she didn’t give a damn what she would look like when it was all over.
Maybe just knowing Reno int
ended to make her his, made the difference, but she didn’t think so. She was her own woman now and if a man didn’t like the fact that she could enjoy herself and look a mess from time to time, she didn’t need him in her life.
Glancing up at Reno, she returned his smile. He winked, and she felt the heat of a blush creep up her neck and into her face.
Something told her he would like the way her hair looked when they stopped. In fact, she almost hoped he planned to mess it up some more. He had told her this was a private place, after all.
They sped up the side of the mountain through the trees and brush until they came upon a clearing with a small pool of clear water.
“This is beautiful!” She climbed up onto the seat of the shooter and looked around them. Reno hopped over the edge and then turned and lifted her out of the large bowl and set her on the ground.
Spinning around, she patted the side. “It might look like nothing but a huge reject from a small town diner, but it can move faster than lightning.”
“That’s what it was designed to do.” He reached back inside the vehicle and grabbed a large wool blanket and shook it out onto the thick green grass.
“I’ve never been certain why this area has so much green. It’s almost as though it, too, has some sort of spell on it.” He met her gaze and held it.
Did he have her under some sort of spell? She stood rooted to the spot almost as though he held her there with some kind of magic as he drew closer. She certainly felt bewitched.
Every step he took made her breathing grow more erratic. Every move he made that brought him closer, had her heart pounding in her chest. His light blue eyes seemed to glow as bright as they did the night before.
He drew even closer and she licked her lips. Her eyelids lowered almost of their own accord as he bent his head toward hers.
Magic, New Mexico: Bewitching Birgit (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 7