Belle’s laughter ran through my thoughts. You’re all adults, so what does it matter?
It’s a matter of decency, I said, somewhat primly, and not wanting the whole bloody reservation knowing when I do and don’t have sex. It’s bad enough that they’re placing bets on when we go out.
Small-town minds do have to amuse themselves somehow, she replied. Be careful driving. If any of those cracks start growing, stop and call the auto club. We’ve windshield replacement in the policy.
I know, but it’ll take too long to get someone out, and I’m not missing my dinner.
She snorted, the sound lingering as her thoughts left mine. I started the car and pulled back onto the road, carefully increasing the speed until I reached sixty kilometers. The window remained stable. I probably could have gone faster, but decided one scare a day was more than enough.
I made it back to Castle Rock without incident, and found a parking spot not far from the ranger station. Aiden opened the door as I walked up the steps, his smile wide and welcoming. He didn’t say anything—he simply grabbed my hand and tugged me inside. Once the door was closed, he pressed me back against it and kissed me, with all the passion, heat, and urgency I could possibly want. It left me breathless, and hungry, and wanting so, so much more.
“You have no idea just how much I’ve been looking forward to doing that.” He lightly rested his forehead on mine, his warm breath teasing my lips. “What took you so long to get here?”
I laughed softly. “A stone hit my windshield and sent the car into a spin. You’re lucky I even arrived.”
He pulled back and scanned me somewhat critically. “You’re okay?”
“As Double-O-Seven would say, shaken not stirred.”
“Good.” He twined his fingers through mine and then tugged me into the main office area. “What sent you into the spin? Was it the shock of the stone smashing the windshield?”
“Weirdly, I went into the spin before the stone hit. It felt like I’d blown a tire, but they were all intact when I checked.”
“Maybe you hit something.”
“If I had, there would have been some damage on the car or a dead animal on the road. But there was nothing.”
We went through the door into the area that held the interview room, cells, storeroom, and who knew what else. He led me into the former, which hadn’t changed since the last time I’d been in here. At least this time I was neither tied up nor about to be questioned as a suspect. The basic table that sat in the middle of the room held several take-out containers, a couple of bottles of drink, and some glasses.
“I decided on Chinese.” He pulled out a chair and grandly seated me. “So we have crispy duck served with pancakes, several types of dumplings, beef with black bean sauce—which is all meat, no veg, because I can’t stand too many vegetables—chicken with cashew, honey king prawns, and of course, fried rice.”
I laughed as he sat down next to me. “There’s enough food here to feed a damn army.”
He shrugged. “I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so I got a bit of everything. What we don’t eat I’ll put in the fridge for lunch tomorrow.” He motioned to the soft drinks. “Alcohol would have been nicer, but I’m on duty. So, Coke, lemon squash, or bubbly water?”
“Water would be good, thanks.”
He picked up the bottle and started pouring. I tugged the containers closer and pulled off the lids.
“How come you’re the only one here? I thought you said the shifts were staggered so that there were always a couple of people on duty?”
“They’re out on patrol.” He handed me the glass of water, then clinked his Coke against it. “To the voyage of discovery ahead of us.”
“If fate ever actually gives us time.”
“To fate being less of a bitch, then.” He lightly touched my glass again, amusement crinkling the corners of his bright eyes. “Unfortunately, that time is not later tonight.”
I reached for the steak, scooped some onto my plate, and then handed the container to him. “After the last few late nights, I’m not surprised you’ve run out of steam.”
“Oh, trust me, there’s plenty of steam left in the tank.” He accepted the container and tipped the rest of it onto his plate. “But the council have asked me to meet with them again when I finish work.”
“Why?” I frowned as I helped myself to the rice. “I thought you met with them this morning?”
“I did. They agreed it was time to call in the RWA.”
Relief slithered through me. At least the pressure would be off Belle and me once he or she arrived here. Last night had proved that I didn’t have the power to fight the soul eater. If it had knocked away the charm as easily as it had knocked away the spelled knife, I would have died out there.
“When are they due to arrive?”