“Right there. See them?”
Adriana looked, squinting a bit and then seeming to focus in on where he had pointed.
“Are those alligators?”
“Yes. This is as close as we get. Past this point, we aren’t alone, and we don’t belong here.”
“I don’t understand. Why did you want me to see alligators?”
“Something you said on our first date, if that is what you want to call our short meeting. You were upset about the wildlife displaced by our construction project over by the river.”
“Just because there are more alligators here doesn’t mean you didn’t displace them or many others from their homes at the river,” she said.
“No, but we did give them a new home. A better, safer place to be without having to worry about people bothering them.”
“Wait. You’re saying you moved them here?”
“Yes. Well, with the help of some local animal rights activists and conservationists.”
“Why was it never mentioned in the papers?”
“It was part of the deal. We helped them relocate the snakes, alligators, anything put into danger by our project, but we asked that they not make it public. Before we took control of that area, people were hunting them, especially the alligators and snakes.”
“For their hides,” she stated.
“Yes, exactly. We’ve moved them to a place where there is little chance of that, and anyone trespassing here wouldn’t exactly be returning once the clan was done with them.”
“I had no idea,” she said, still looking at the half dozen or so alligators resting along the banks, dimly lit by the setting sun behind them.
“I’m not such a horrible person,” he told her, not sure why he had felt the need to show her this.
Ordinarily, he’d have let the obvious disapproval slide. He’d never been one to care what people thought of his decisions or choices. In the brief time he’d known her, though, he’d felt different. That little spark that had always seemed to be missing with Omegas was there with her. His phone dinged, and he looked down at it. It was a reminder from his calendar.
“Thank you. I really appreciate you letting me know. I’ll keep your secret.”
“Good to know. Otherwise, I’d have to feed you to the alligators before we go.”
She laughed, not a hint of nervousness now that she knew why he’d brought her out here and despite his joke. They stood there for a moment, watching the landscape for any movement, but the sun was going down, and soon, they wouldn’t be able to see.
“Listen, I have some events coming up for my work—you know, social networking sorts of things. Do you think you might be interested in being my plus one to some or all of them?”
“Oh, I . . . uh, maybe? I guess it depends on when and where they are?”
“Of course. I’ll let you know. I guess I didn’t really expect an immediate answer. I was just sort of testing the waters.”
“Well, the waters are warm. Just let me know,” she said.
The way her face tilted up toward him, half-obscured by the dropping sun and the rising moon, was stunning. She was a classic beauty with her wild red hair and smattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose. Her lips were full and pouty, inviting, and before he could stop himself, he had stepped toward her, kissing her. He felt the impact of it all the way down to his toes.
She didn’t pull away, instead leaning into it and kissing him back with equal fervor. They lingered there for what felt like seconds or maybe a millennium. It was hard to tell. It was both like a small forever and not nearly long enough, a paradox of some sort. When they finally pulled apart, they stood looking at one another for a moment before breaking their silence.
“I guess we better go. It gets any darker out here and we might not have a choice about being dinner for the alligators.”
“I’m sure your dragon could handle a few alligators,” she observed.
“Perhaps, but I’d not want to have to make that choice. Besides, couldn’t you just shift into one of them and have a chat with them?”
She laughed.
“That’s not how it works. I can’t shift into non-mammals other than a dragon.”
“Then, we definitely need to go,” he said, pausing for a moment to look at her again. “I don’t want to take you back to your car right now. Would you be interested in coming to my place for a drink?”
“Are you going to roofie me?”
“Yes.”
“Great. Let’s go.”
He smiled and walked her back to the car, this time taking her hand as they strolled. He felt something that he couldn’t remember feeling for a long time now. He was content, perhaps even happy.CHAPTER ELEVENAdriana
“I love the smell of charred wood in the evening,” she commented as they pulled into his drive.
“Yeah. Sorry about that. The air is still clearing and they haven’t pulled out the dumpster I put all the soggy mess in just yet. It’s better in the house.”