Hourglass (Hourglass 1)

“I feel … connected with you. I know all the mysterious turns life can take. I wish I could protect you from them.”

“That’s impossible.” I rubbed my hands over my arms briskly, trying to warm up, wondering how much of the chill had to do with Jack rather than the Freon-cooled air.

“You’d think so, wouldn’t you? You are so unique. So innocent.” The way he was looking at me didn’t make me feel innocent at all. It made me wish Thomas and Dru were home. “Life is … ripe with choices. Some less clear-cut than others.”

I centered the pillow more directly over my chest. “You’re not making sense. What you’re saying doesn’t—”

“One day it all will.” His eyes grew darker for a split second. “And on that day, you’ll know that I’ve done all of this … to protect you. All for you.”

I heard the front door of the loft open, but I didn’t look away from Jack.

He smiled a sad smile and took a step back.

Gone.

I wondered this time if it was for good.

Chapter 36

I don’t know what Dru said to Thomas to keep me out of trouble for going to find Michael. I only know that I was grateful. Thomas didn’t make a sound the next morning when I asked to borrow Dru’s car again, and she handed the keys over willingly.

I got while the getting was good, driving toward campus with the windows down. The air already dripped with humidity, and I was glad I’d put on shorts and a tank instead of jeans and a T-shirt. Blasting the radio, I let the music numb my mind. I didn’t want to think about how to handle the Michael/Kaleb situation. By the time I reached the Renegade House I had to give myself a pep talk even to get out of the car.

I walked in without knocking. The screen door banged to a close behind me, announcing my presence. I followed my nose to the kitchen and found Kaleb standing by the stove. He stirred something that smelled absolutely delicious, a wooden spoon in one hand and a huge chef’s knife in the other.

“Are you sober?” I asked from the doorway.

He turned and leveled a smile that made me a little wobbly. “I am.”

“Good. Because if not, I was going to take the deadly kitchen utensil away from you.” I crossed the room and pulled myself up to sit on the counter beside the stove. A cutting board full of green peppers and two uncut stalks of celery waited for attention from the knife. Melted butter and diced onions bubbled in a sauté pan on the stove. “You cook?”

Kaleb was so pretty I was jealous. Pretty, with ripped muscles and a tattoo of a red dragon covering most of his upper body. “Yes,” he said. “I cook.”

“Do you usually wear a wifebeater and”—I pushed him back a little by his shoulder—“an apron that says ‘Kiss the Cook’ while you’re doing it?”

He leaned so close to me my heart skipped a couple of beats. “I’ll wear it all the time if you’ll consider it.”

“Ha-ha. So,” I said, hastily changing the subject and pointing to the cutting board, “what are you chopping up?”

“The trinity: onions, green peppers, and celery. Étouffée’s going in the pot. Dune and Nate are on the way back from their consult, and they’re bringing crawfish. So,” he said, scraping stray bits of cut vegetables from his knife onto the side of the stainless steel pan, “final judgment’s on the way.”

My stomach twisted at the thought, knowing all of Michael’s plans depended on Cat’s answer. We couldn’t go without her. “Any idea what she’s decided?”

“No clue,” he said, raising his eyebrows. “You sure you still want to go?”

“I’m sure.”

“I don’t believe you.” Kaleb put the knife on the cutting board and leaned on the counter beside me. “You were fine yesterday. Today you’re nervous. What changed?”

“Are you reading my emotions? We just met yesterday. How?”

He lifted one shoulder and smiled.

“It’s really annoying when you do it without permission.”

“I can’t help it.” He picked up the sauté pan and tossed the vegetables a couple of times. I’d never be able to do that without dropping everything all over the kitchen floor or burning myself. “Are you nervous because of something Michael said when he followed you to your car yesterday?”

“Not really.” I guessed Michael hadn’t shared his hook-up opinions with Kaleb.