His response surprised her to silence. She didn’t know if it was sarcasm, criticism, or just teasing.
He didn’t know why she stopped talking. Unlike most of his brethren, Ian rarely listened in on another’s thoughts unless invited to do so. As far as he knew, the only thoughts any Dogon-Hunter could hear were the ones to them or about them, but unspoken language constituted another level of mental assault, and he could live without it.
“This might be it—turn right here,” he said when he noticed an overflowing parking lot.
She made the turn. After thinking about what he’d said, she concluded she could have misinterpreted his reaction. She decided to test it. “You’re the first guy I ever explained my ring to.”
“Really? Well, thank you,” he said.
Well, thank you? Up yours, pretty boy. That’s the last time you’ll get me out there on that limb.
As soon as they completed the turn, the sign Northtown was visible.
“Did you want me to park, sir?”
His head jerked to face her. I’m sir again? What happened? he asked himself. He replayed the conversation since returning to the car; nothing jumped out at him. Maybe it was a slip. He decided to test it. “Do you like to dance?” he asked.
“I sometimes go dancing with my friends. I wouldn’t think of doing it while I’m working.”
It bothered him that she was still thinking of herself as being on the job. But why else would she be here with me, a stranger? He recalled why he rarely dated human American women—they were just too confusing. With the sangria adding another layer of resistance, he decided to spend a few moments reading her. “Why not?” he asked to give her a reason to think about him.
She was hoping he wouldn’t ask her that because there was no good answer. She only said it because he’d hurt her feelings. “I don’t know. I guess I wouldn’t want to tire myself out.”
“Oh.”
How did I hurt your feelings? he wondered. He tried to think of a way to ask without revealing how he knew. He couldn’t. “Nesta, I’m glad that’s not a real ring,” he finally said.
“Why is that?” What a confusing guy, she said to herself.
How is that confusing? “Because I could see that it wasn’t real, and you’re such a beautiful woman I would like to see you with the best.”
Well, damn. Now he’s turned adorable on me again.
Okay, this is why I hate to listen. Ian decided it was time to exit her thoughts. He could tell that hearing them was going to give him a headache before much longer, and there wasn’t anything he could do with the information.
“Are you coming in with me?”
“Would you like me to come in?”
He smiled in spite of himself. “Yes, Nesta, I would like you to accompany me. In fact, I would like you to forget about the fact that you’re working and dance with me. Will you do
that?”
“Sure, Ian. I’ll give you one dance,” she teased.
At least I’m back to Ian, he told himself.
The clerk had been right about the full parking lot. The bar was about a third as full as he’d expected. The first thing he noticed inside was the Dogon-Tracker tending the bar. He noticed her height from across the room, but even if he hadn’t, he would have sensed her presence.
She was as tall as Nesta. Ian thought she looked like the Wonder Woman character from the seventies television show. As they got closer to her, he could feel more of the Dogon pull. There was no way to describe it to an outsider, but they always knew their own.
Trackers are strictly nocturnal, and they usually only hunt hybrids, but they’ll pick off a Sangsue if one crosses their path. He thought she could use some sun, but with the Hunters and Trackers being racial chameleons, her coloring could have been related as much to the area in which she lived. She wasn’t likely to ever get much darker, Over time, many of them had become very sensitive to the sun and burned easily. At least we all can go out in the sun, he thought as he flashed on some of the Hunters from other pantheons.
Sometimes when the Dogon-Hunters got together they would engage in a “who would win” discussion about fighting other Hunters. It would never happen in real life, but thinking about it was interesting. There were Hunters with more magic and maybe a few with more strength, but most of them had disadvantages he wouldn’t sign on for, and being physically nocturnal was one of them. Burning up in sunlight was a real bummer and certainly a deal- breaker.
She smiled at him as he crossed the floor. “Welcome to town,” the Tracker said, but then her head jerked to examine Nesta. It was an awkward gesture that Ian hoped he wouldn’t have to explain later.
“How did you know at a glance we’re not from here?” Nesta asked as she took a bar stool.
Nesta was a quick thinker; he liked that.
“I say that to everybody who’s not one of my regulars. People call me Kitty.”
Nice save, Ian thought. He sat down on the stool next to Nesta.
“So are you from the area?” Kitty asked.
“I live in the Chicago area; he’s from out of town.” She bobbed her head to indicate Ian while her gaze scanned her environment.
“Where in the area do you live?”
Nesta hesitated—she didn’t like saying where she lived. She didn’t like the implication of wealth. “Winnetka,” she finally said.
The bar tender laughed. “O-o-o-kay, you’re slumming. What about you—where are you from?”
“Sacramento, California, most recently.”
“Wow, you really are a long way from home. What can I get for you folks?”
Nesta said, “I’ll have a ginger ale.”
“Make that two.”
“Go ahead and order a drink. I don’t mind being designated driver.”
“No, ginger ale is fine. So tell us, Kitty, what’s happening in Valparaiso?”
Is it okay to talk around her? she asked mentally. She wiped the bar in front of them and put down paper coasters.
No, she’s my driver.
She knows something. I can feel it.
She drives for GAN, and she knows I’m in a group that’s a member of GAN, but that’s about it.
Okay, Stretch, if you say so. “There’s not much happening tonight. The law school students were here last night, and there should be a nice crowd tomorrow.” I haven’t seen one Sucker or hybrid all night.
I’m here because the Pale Fox said you all needed a hand.
Fox is right—they’re thick in town right now. But God only knows where they are tonight.
“Why are you two grinning like you know something I don’t know?” Nesta asked.
Ian laughed. “That’s why I didn’t order a drink. I tend to grin like an idiot when I drink.”
“And I’m shooting for a good tip.” Kitty added.
“Kitty, where’s the ladies’ room?”
“Right back there and to the left.”
“Would you like me to walk with you?” Ian asked.
“No, I’m fine.”
“Yes, you are. Stop bragging.”
She was still laughing when she walked away.
“Okay, Kitty, tell me what’s what?”
“So far there’s been no deaths, but at least seven students have reported waking up in odd locations with evidence that they’ve been bled and washed. It’s just a matter of time.”
Ian nodded. He knew she was saying that eventually one of the Suckers would feed too long and kill, or one of them would get carried away and exchange blood, thus possibly creating another hybrid.
They talked a little bit about the city and her years on the job.
“Should I be worried that it’s taking my driver so long to get back?” Ian asked after a quarter hour had passed.
“Darling, that child can take care of herself and possibly the two of us, but to answer your question, yes, it’s a pit back there.”
Ian stood.
“Sit down, sweetie—here she comes. Now, before
she gets here, I need to know what I can do to get some brothers who look like you assigned to this area.”
Ian laughed. He loved the aggressive Dogon-Hunter and Dogon-Tracker women. Most of them were just a lot of talk, but it was talk he enjoyed.
“How many Hunters are in the area?”
“Two that I know of, but we can usually get help from Chicago. There’s two big festivals going on in the City this weekend. I guess that’s why Fox sent you out.”
“I’ve been wondering about that. There’s a lot of Hunters between here and Sacramento.”
“If you ever figure out the mind of the Pale Fox, give me a call.”
They both laughed.
“Did everything come out okay?” Kitty asked Nesta.
“That’s funny. I have a friend who always asks that too. You should post a warning about that bathroom.”
“Why?” Ian asked, already standing. “What happened?”
“First of all, I had to walk through a dart game to get there. . .”
“Did the dart players flirt?” Kitty asked.
“A little, but it was okay.”
“They’re townies. They probably figure you for a student.”
“Why?”
“Because they know the black girls that live here, both of them.”
Nesta laughed. She picked up her glass. “My mother told me never to drink from a glass after walking away from it, but I’m assuming you two have kept an eye on it?” She waited a second for one of them to answer before taking a sip.
“I guess we can go.”
“Have you seen whatever it was you wanted to see?” Nesta asked.
“I guess so.”
“Okay, but we can’t leave yet.”
“Why not?”
“You promised me a dance.”
He smiled. “This isn’t exactly my kind of music.”
“That’s odd; I don’t remember you saying the music had to be your kind of music. Now, if you don’t want to dance with me, just say so.”
If you have any influence over the music, will you ask the DJ to play something slow? he asked Kitty mentally. She was waiting on customers at the other end of the bar, but she nodded.
“The next record is ours, regardless of the music,” he promised.
The next record was a slow ballad. “I actually know and like this song,” he said.
“Why do you sound so surprised?”
“I’m not up on music as much as I would like.”
She laughed. “You sure aren’t—this song is at least ten years old.”
“Nonetheless,” he said as he held out his hand to her.
He was glad Kitty was able to pull off the ballad. He was confident in his ability to slow dance—the style hadn’t changed much in fifty years.
Finally, a man tall enough, she thought as she wrapped her left arm around his waist. She thought about Andre’s unwillingness to dance with her. He claimed it was because he couldn’t, but she suspected it was because he was an inch shorter than her.
Damn, your hair smells good. He wanted to run his fingers through it. He’d first had that thought on the ride from the airport. The urge was so strong he began to keep the beat by lightly tapping her back. It was a way to touch her without giving in to the compulsion.
It’s hard enough to be in his arms without his beat boxing on my back.
She moved like a dream. It’s not often that I get a chance to dance, and even less often that I enjoy it.
The floor was nearly empty, and they covered every corner of it. At one point Nesta looked up and noticed Kitty watching them. She recognized the look. Instinctively she moved closer to him.
He didn’t know why, halfway through the song, she squeezed him tightly, but he wasn’t complaining. The only other times women had danced with him like that was when they were a little drunk and the movement was making them dizzy or when they wanted to convey to him their interest. She’d only had a half of a glass of wine. He stilled his mind and listened to her thoughts. At that moment, the only thing he heard was her singing the words to the song.
She caught me looking at you and she got jealous, Kitty said mentally. I like the way you move, Hunter.
Get out of here!
Out of your head?
No, I meant are you kidding?
Don’t be coy, Hunter—you know how you look.
And you don’t have any trouble with the opposite sex either.
Yes, I know my meat market value. Stop wasting your dance talking to me.
He deliberately held the back of her neck as he moved in and sniffed her hair. “Your hair smells great.”
“It does? My hair is thick, and it holds odors. I was wondering if it smelled like the spices from the restaurant?”
“No, it smells like flowers. I’m not sure which ones, but I know I’ve smelled flowers with that scent.”
“Thank you. It’s nice dancing with someone tall enough for me to stand up straight.”
He felt as if her words were bouncing off his ears and slinking down his body to his groin.
He felt himself beginning to harden, and he stepped back. I know I’m not drunk, he told himself.
But he didn’t step back before she felt it.
He listened to see if he offended her. He was prepared to apologize for the unexpected reaction to her closeness, even though he knew most young guys wouldn’t. It was a young man’s reaction, and it embarrassed the ancient Hunter.
Um, that’s interesting, she thought. I guess what they say about long fingers is true.
Long fingers? I thought it was big feet. He almost laughed in satisfaction when he flashed on the fact that he had both.
The music ended, and they reluctantly pulled apart. He rested his hand on her shoulder as they returned to the bar.
“Okay, I guess I can drive you back now.”
“That’s very kind of you.”
She laughed.
“What?” he asked.
“You’re so polite that it sometimes sounds like sarcasm.” The confusion on his face made her laugh again. “I meant no offense.”
“And I felt no offense.”
“Relax, Ian, you’re among friends.”
He looked around, not at all tracking what she was saying. “Okay, I’m among friends.”
“I shouldn’t say friends because it’s just me, but I won’t bite you,” she said.
They had reached the bar. He took out his wallet and counted out the bill. He left a twenty-dollar tip.
“Thanks, California,” Kitty said. “I hope you get to stop by again before you go back.”
“We’ll be back.”
“She didn’t ask for us—she said she hopes you’ll get to stop by again,” Nesta said as they walked to the car.
“Yes, that’s a problem with the English ‘you.’ You never know if it’s the plural or not.”
“That’s your response?” She stopped walking and looked at him.
“Well, yes, that was my response.”
She pulled the keys from her jacket pocket. “I’m not confused. She hit on you in front of me without knowing the nature of our relationship.”
“She knew you were my driver. I told her while you were in the restroom.”
“And how did that, never mind. Did you want to stop anywhere else?”
“No. Unless you want to pick up some food. If you think you’re going to be hungry.”
“No, I’m okay.”
He decided to listen in again. She was angry about the Tracker’s comment. She was repeatedly telling herself it wasn’t that she wanted him, it was all about the disrespect. There was something there about white women’s entitlement that he couldn’t quite grasp. He wondered if she had Dogon roots, because that was how she was acting—like an irrational, jealous Dogon.
“Remember back at the bar you said you wouldn’t bite me?” he asked.
“Ah, yeah, it was less than five minutes ago.”
“Biting works for me, so feel fr
ee.”
She didn’t respond, and he hadn’t expected one, but he did get a smile.
The main road was almost empty. Nesta noticed that the few cars they passed contained young people who appeared college age.
Scented Dreams ((A Dogon-Hunters Series Novel)) Page 4