by Karen Kelley
Ria wondered if she could get by with telling her mother Kristor had slept on the sofa. Probably not. “You’re not upset, are you?”
Her mother’s laughter tinkled across the phone. “Rianna Lancaster, you might be my daughter, but you’re also a woman, and your father and I both like the young man a lot.”
Great, she had her parents’ approval to have sex with Kristor. She didn’t want to have this conversation with her mom.
“I’m here at my shop so I’d better go.”
“Have a good day. Oh, and something else.”
“What’s that?”
“Someone said they saw you running across the park with just a T-shirt on. Do you know anything about it?”
“Me?” Her laugh cracked. “The things some people think they see.”
“You’re right, of course. I told them it couldn’t have been you.”
They said their good-byes and hung up. Ria breathed a sigh of relief. This town would be the death of her.
Kristor looked up, then down the street. It was peaceful, quiet. He’d been over many roads in his search for Rianna. This one should be no different, but it was.
The town was smaller. More interesting. He hadn’t taken the time to get to know the people while he’d been searching, but he liked the ones who lived in Miller Bend. Especially the men he’d played the game of flag football with.
He liked everyone except for the man called Donald. He smiled with his lips, but it went no farther. Kristor suspected there was evil inside him.
The door on a barber shop opened. “Hey, Kristor, come in and sit a spell.”
Sit a spell? He didn’t know anyone did spells on Earth. At least, not spells that would work. Maybe it was only a false saying. He was discovering that people said one thing, but meant something entirely different. Especially in this state called Texas.
Kristor went inside and saw some of the men who had been on the football field. Heath was getting his hair cut. Now he understood this place of business.
He sniffed. A lingering aroma of oil and leather filled the small store. Kristor had his own groomer, and the man often smelled of the oils he brought with him, but not worn leather. He liked the combination.
It had been a while since he’d had a haircut. He felt the top of his head.
“Wanting a trim?” an older man asked. He was short, and didn’t have a hair on his head.
“Yes, a trim,” Kristor said.
“Well, have a seat.” He finished with Heath.
Kristor took a seat in front of the mirror. But when the man came over, he was still too short to reach the top of Kristor’s head, even after he lowered the chair. The men seemed to think this was funny, so he laughed, too.
“Just remember I’m the one with the clippers,” the old man said. He walked over, grabbed a short stool, and brought it back. “What’d your momma feed you?”
He thought for a moment. “Everything.”
“Yeah, that’s what I’d already figured out.” The old man began to trim Kristor’s hair.
He listened while everyone else talked. It wasn’t the same as when he spent time with other warriors. There was much loyalty in the ranks, but they always spoke about battles. This was different. More laughing. And they drew him into their circle, as if he was one of them.
He wasn’t sure he liked the warm feeling that wrapped around him. Kristor’s family told him that he needed to loosen up, relax more, but how could he when he needed to keep his planet safe from invading forces? Not that he had to worry much about that happening. He’d created a good defense system against anyone foolish enough to attack them.
“Finished,” the old man said, interrupting Kristor’s thoughts. “What do you think?”
Kristor turned his head one way, then the other. “It’s good.”
“Of course it is. I’m the best barber in town.”
Heath snorted. “You’re the only one.”
“Well, if there was another one, I’d be a sight better’n him.” He stepped off the stool and carried it back to the other side of the room.
Kristor stared at his reflection, really looking at it for the first time. Did Rianna like his looks? Or did she prefer those of someone like Donald? Anger flared inside him. He would squash Donald if he put his hands on Rianna.
“The girls will be beating down your door,” Neil said.
Heath came up beside them. “No, I think there’s only one girl that he cares about. Heard you spent the night at Ria’s.”
He met Heath’s eyes in the mirror. “Yes.” How did he know? Apparently, they had a good communication system in this town, even as small as it was.
Suddenly, there was a shift in the room temperature. Kristor felt a chill settle over him as he watched Heath.
“I’ve known Ria a long time. I’d hate to see her get hurt,” Heath said.
Heath was protective. That was good. “I will make sure she doesn’t get hurt. I will protect her from harm.”
Heath was thoughtful for a moment as he studied Kristor. Then he smiled, visibly relaxing. “Yeah, I think you will take good care of her.”
The bell over the door jingled and Donald walked in. The jovial mood dropped. Donald looked around. He hesitated when he saw Kristor, then squared his shoulders and strode over to one of the barber chairs. He glanced around again, then grabbed a white towel that hung on one of the carts, and dusted off the seat before tossing the towel to the side and sitting.
“Not as much off the sides as you did last time.” Donald adjusted himself to a more comfortable position.
“I cut hair the way I see that it needs to be cut. Never have any complaints from no one else. Besides, if you don’t like my work, you can go somewhere else.”
Donald sniffed. “You know there’s no one else in town who cuts men’s hair.”
“Then I guess you better shut up and let me do my job.”
“Later, Albert,” Heath and Neil said as they started for the door.
Kristor decided it was time for him to go, too. He dropped a twenty on the counter and walked out. He’d figured out the monetary system before he came to Earth. If he ran out, his database would produce more.
Once outside, he said good-bye to the other two men, and walked in the opposite direction. He knew he was going toward Rianna’s shop, and that he was too early for lunch, but something pulled him in that direction.
A small feminine body suddenly crashed into him, stopping his forward movement. He grabbed her arms so she didn’t fall. A sultry scent tickled his senses.
“Oops!” she said.
He looked down. It was Mary Ann from the party. “Careful.”
She smiled up at him. “You just seem to be in the right place at the right time, now don’t you?”
“You’re okay?”
“I am now, honey. And just about shopped out. I sure could use something to drink.”
“There’s a place near here where you can get food and drink?” he asked.
Her hands fluttered in front of her face. “As a matter of fact, I know the perfect place. A little restaurant right around the corner. I don’t suppose it’s too early to get something to eat. I mean, a guy like you would certainly want to keep up his strength.”
“It’s good that it’s near. I’m taking Ria to lunch today.”
“Oh, but I thought…” She sighed deeply. “I guess it doesn’t really matter. Maybe I can talk that overworked husband of mine into going to lunch with me. Tell Ria not to forget about the meeting.”
A strange woman. Kristor watched as she walked away. There was an exaggerated sway in her hips. He was surprised she didn’t throw something out of joint. He shook his head and continued down the street. This time, he didn’t stop until he was standing in front of Ria’s shop. She wasn’t alone. There were two other women with her. He watched as she laughed at something one of them said. Her eyes sparkled and her face glowed. His heart ached to hold her close.
You’ve fallen in love, Labri
non said. I’m always surprised how quickly Symtarian men can do that.
She’s beautiful, and Rianna will make the perfect lifemate.
You only need to convince her.
She’s very stubborn, Kristor agreed.
Stubborn? I’d say it’s a little more than that.
Rianna looked up and caught him staring at her. A softness entered her eyes. Yes, he would carry her back to his planet, if need be. He wouldn’t take no for an answer.
It’s about time!
But only if I can’t convince her to travel back to New Symtaria with me.
That might take forever.
Have you so little faith in me?
With this woman? Yes.
Ria opened the door to her shop and stepped out. “I thought you were going to be here at lunch time?”
“I couldn’t wait to see you.”
She looked through the glass wall at the other two women. They waved her away. Ria grinned.
“Okay, I guess I can show you some of the town. If you haven’t already seen all of it, that is.”
“No, and yes, I’d like that.”
She studied him for a moment. “Did you get your hair cut?”
“Yes, so we don’t need to see the barber shop.” The last thing he wanted was to cross paths with Donald again. He sensed the man wanted Rianna all to himself. Kristor wasn’t about to let that happen.
Chapter 12
When Kristor took her hand, Ria didn’t pull away. The slight roughness of his palm sent a spiral of heat to pool low in her belly, even though it was something as innocent as just holding hands. Oh, man, she was in really bad shape.
“This is pretty much Miller Bend,” she told him. “The abstract office, the lawyer’s office, water department, post office, flower shop, antique store, and the pharmacy. The library is around the corner.” She chuckled when she saw the confusion on his face. “I guess you don’t have all this on New Symtaria.”
His expression showed his confusion. “What is a library?”
“A building that stores books. People go there to borrow them. You know, to read.”
“I don’t read much. I’m a warrior.”
She hadn’t really pictured him kicked back in a recliner and reading a book. “Do you have stores on New Symtaria?”
“We have tradespeople, yes, or we can get items we need with our database.”
“Your database sounds a lot like Internet shopping. I think I’d rather go into a store.”
“But if you could have everything with a click of a button, wouldn’t that be better?”
“No, I think it’s the thrill of finding a bargain that I enjoy. Clicking a button wouldn’t really do it for me.”
“That is the way it is during a battle. The victory makes the blood race through my veins.” He stood taller, looking around as if he would love to battle now.
“That’s exactly the way I feel when I go to a going-out-of-business sale,” she said, drawing his attention back to her. Heaven forbid he start a ruckus with one of the townspeople. She didn’t need any more gossip started about her. But she didn’t need to worry as she watched his shoulders relax.
“When you connect with your hawk guide, you will feel that same rush,” he said.
They were back to that again. Drat! And the morning had been going so well. “I think shifting once was more than enough for me. I’d just as soon not be terrorized again. Those scouts almost threw me in a soup pot. And getting ice and Coke dumped on me, then dirt kicked in my face was an experience I would rather not go through again.”
“Your guide needs you.”
Guilt swarmed around her like angry insects. “I’m not ready. Maybe in time I…I will be able to shift, but not right now. This is all too new to me.”
“You can only gain strength through connecting. You might have need of this strength if the rogue Symtarians discover where you live.”
“But you said you were here to protect me.”
He stopped, forcing her to stop as well. “I can’t stay forever.”
This was Kristor’s first indication that he would return to his own home. A cold feeling of dread landed with a thud in the pit of her stomach. She hadn’t thought that one day he would leave, but it made sense. Of course, he couldn’t hang around for the rest of her life. He had his own to get back to. The man was a prince.
But could she shift into a hawk when she was terrified of flying? And look at what had happened to her the last time. Not only had she felt an incredible burning sensation, but she had thought she would die.
“I can’t,” she finally said. “Not right now.”
He hesitated, watching her closely. “I’ll give you more time.”
Carly looked up when Donald came inside the travel agency. She pasted a smile on her face, even though there was something about the guy she just didn’t like. He was a tattle-tale for one thing. He’d told on Ria when she had put the whoopee cushion under Ms. Henderson’s chair. It had really been pretty funny, until he’d told.
And Donald was just too darn pretty. Men shouldn’t be pretty. Even now, every blond hair was in place. It made her wonder how much he spent on hairspray.
But the motto of this agency was to make the customer happy and she would like to keep her job.
“Hello, Donald. Were you thinking about going somewhere?” Far, far away, she hoped.
He wandered over to a rack of brochures. She came to her feet and joined him.
“Wanderlust, I guess. I feel the need to take a vacation somewhere exotic.” He flashed a smile.
Carly relaxed. Donald wasn’t her favorite person in town, but he wasn’t so bad. And the whoopee cushion incident had happened when she and Ria were still in high school.
“The Caribbean? Barbados?” she asked.
“Yes, Barbados, maybe. Ocean breezes and piña coladas.”
“It sounds great,” she told him.
“I’ve always wondered why you work here but you’ve never gone anywhere exciting.”
“I guess I enjoy living vicariously through my customers. I’m a nervous traveler.” And she wished he hadn’t mentioned that she never went anywhere. She certainly didn’t need anyone reminding her. “Ria and I are planning to take a trip. She hired Katie as her new assistant. I’m sure she’ll have her trained by the time fall gets here.” Then Carly would have someone to go with and she’d finally get to travel. They could take a cruise somewhere. She closed her eyes and for a moment, pictured them landing in an exotic port filled with sexy, half-naked, male bodies.
Donald cast a look of pity in her direction.
“What?” She suddenly had a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach that she wasn’t going to like what he was about to tell her.
He pointed out the window as Ria and Kristor passed. Ria looked up, and Carly waved. Ria waved back and smiled, but they didn’t stop. Kristor frowned at Donald, who took a step back.
“It would seem Ria might be planning a trip with someone else.”
Carly stiffened. “I doubt it. She just met the guy.” But he had spent last night with her, and that never happened. Not that she could blame Ria. Kristor was damned good looking. But anything permanent? No, Carly didn’t think so.
“Wasn’t it just a day or so ago that Ria claimed the guy was crazy?” Donald laughed. “An alien?”
Ria had done a quick about-face. Carly’s stomach rumbled. She watched until they turned the corner. They seemed awfully chummy. Holding hands and all.
“More friendships have broken up over a man,” Donald said.
She straightened. Why was she even listening to him? “Well, it won’t happen between us. We’ve been friends since almost forever. Even if Ria does fall in love with someone, we’ll still be friends.”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. Ria seems to be getting pretty close with the guy. But don’t worry, even if they went back to his country, or wherever he came from, there are always e-mails. If his country has the Internet, that is.”
He glanced at the brochures he held. “I think I’ll just take these with me. I’m not exactly sure where I want to go.”
“Yeah, that’s fine.” Please leave quickly. Her stomach had gone from rumbling to churning.
As Donald walked out the door, Carly went back to her desk. She’d never really thought about Ria getting married and leaving town. Carly had always thought they would fall in love with the perfect men, marry, and settle down in Miller Bend to raise two children each.
Had she really been that naive? Apparently.
Was Kristor the one who would steal Ria away? Whisk her off to another country? Ria was her only friend. They always shared everything.
But she hadn’t told her anything about Kristor except that she was trying to blackball him. She’d been afraid of the man. Apparently, that was no longer the case.
And then there was this morning. She’d sensed Ria wasn’t telling her everything. Just as quickly Carly dismissed the idea that Ria wouldn’t confide something to her very best friend.
But what if Ria was already pulling away? A cold chill of dread wrapped around her. What would she do without her very best friend in her life?
She slumped down in her chair, and stared out the plate-glass window until the bell over the door jangled, alerting her to a customer.
Carly painted a false smile on her face and pretended nothing at all was wrong. But it took every ounce of her sagging energy to pull it off.
Ria flattened the Dairy Queen sack the burgers had come in, and dumped all the fries on top of it. “Community fries,” she said.
He raised an eyebrow.
She grinned. “That means we share.”
“I was going to take you somewhere nice,” he told her. “I have money.” His brother had told him people from Earth held the paper in high regard, although Kristor still hadn’t figured out why.
“Isn’t this nice?” She waved her arm, encompassing everything around her. “We have the whole park to ourselves. Besides, Donald owns the only nice restaurant in town. I don’t think you two get along.”