Dirty Dealers

“You mean like what bats use?”

“And dolphins!” The offense in her tone almost makes me laugh.

“I’m sorry. I just… I didn’t know humans did that.”

“I didn’t either.” She holds out her mug, and I step to the pot to give her a refill. “Thanks. So I heard about this guy. A blind guy who can ride a bike.”

“No way.”

“I know, right?” Her blue eyes are wide and animated as if she can actually see me. I almost feel like she can. “I didn’t believe it at first, but I took a few of his classes, and I practiced it myself. You’d never think about it because you can see, but when the world is hazy or dark, the different ways it echoes creates an image. It’s amazing.”

“I still wouldn’t ride a bike if I were you.” The thought of what happened to her aunt who was not blind makes my stomach churn.

“I won’t.” She holds the mug up to her lips. “It’s not fool proof, though. I couldn’t find my dress.”

“Are you kidding? That robe has never looked better.”

That gets me a grin, and I suddenly feel inspired. “Let’s take the bike into the mountains today. We can pack a lunch and picnic on the grounds of one of those old estates.”

“Okay…” Her smile grows, and I want to scoop her up in my arms and kiss her. “Then what?”

“Then what,” I repeat as my eyes travel over her pretty face, her hair, her shining eyes and full pink lips. All I want is to have her body pressed against my back, her slim arms around my waist. “Then we can just drive, sight see.”

Immediately I regret the last thing I said. “I don’t mean sight see.”

Kass doesn’t skip a beat. She leans forward on her elbows. “Do I get to hold you close and rest my cheek on your shoulder while we do it?”

The sleeves of my enormous robe drop down exposing her slim forearms. I reach out and cover one with my hand.

“I hope—” My black phone beeping and vibrating on the counter across from us cuts me off. It’s my secure line, which means the only texts or calls I get on it are from the royal family.

“You have two phones.” Her tone is quiet.

“Don’t move,” I say, stepping over to pick it up.

It’s Rowan, and my stomach sinks when I see his words.

En route from the islands. At the palace by noon. Want to meet and discuss our steps going forward ASAP today.

The device is quiet in my hand, and my arm drops by my side. All I can think of are my plans for today, Kass alone in the city, my god-awful hours working at the palace. I’m trying to formulate a reply when it goes off again.

Hope you had a relaxing, lucky break.

I shake my head, knowing the implied meaning there. It’s unlike the king to be so informal, but I suppose after the year we’ve had, I’m more like family now.

Safe travels. See you this afternoon. I text back. Then I look up at Kass, who’s sitting at the bar tracing her finger around the lip of her near-empty coffee cup.

I walk over to where she sits, and as if she has extra-sensory vision, she asks. “Is something wrong?”

Moving around behind her, I put both hands on her shoulders and lean down to kiss her head. “The royal family will be back at the palace by noon. That was the king. He wants us to meet and discuss our plans going forward.”

Her body tenses briefly, and she moves her hands from the cup to her lap. Her chin drops, and when she speaks, her voice is quiet, tentative. “Is he sending you away again?”

“No,” I say, turning her to the side so I can wrap my arm around her shoulder. “I’m working directly with the Queen Regent now. It’s a new assignment. He probably just wants to go over the scope of my duties.”

Kass’s eyes close, and a brief wave of something like resignation passes across her face. “You’re working directly with the queen.”

It’s not a question, and I’m concerned by this change in her. She seems to be pulling away somehow. I don’t understand.