by Karen Kelley
Then, “What kind of problem?” he asked, a hard edge creeping into his voice.
“There is no New Symtaria. That’s where Kristor said he was from. I was up all night long searching on the Internet. I even contacted others in the travel business. They’ve never heard of it, either. It doesn’t exist.”
“It still has nothing to do with me, and maybe it’ll teach her a valuable lesson. Good-bye.”
“No, don’t hang up!”
“Damn, did you have to yell in my ear?”
“Kristor said he was from New Symtaria. Don’t you see? He’s lying. He’s only after her money or a green card or something. She doesn’t deserve this and you know it, dammit!”
The silence was different this time. Carly waited.
“You’re sure he said he was from this New Symtaria place?” he finally asked.
“Positive. And there’s more.” She bit her bottom lip, wondering how much she should tell Donald.
“How much more?” His words came across hard, steely.
She said a quick silent prayer for forgiveness. “They’re sleeping together. I think he’s scamming Ria.” She could almost feel Donald’s grip getting tighter and tighter on the phone.
“They’re sleeping together?”
Carly knew Donald had dated Ria for a few months and had to settle for kisses. Now here was Kristor, and they had only known each other for a short time, yet they were already sleeping together.
Not good.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have drawn you into this.”
“No, you did the right thing. I’m as worried about her as you.”
“What should I do? I don’t think she’ll listen to me.” And that really hurt, but she was pretty sure Ria was falling head over heels in love with a scam artist.
“Call immigration. Tell them what you told me.”
She walked to the sofa and plopped down. “Isn’t that a little drastic?” Kristor had seemed nice. What if she was wrong? Ria would never forgive her.
“Do you want to take the chance that he could destroy her emotionally? If he is here legally, then no harm. But what if he is out to scam her? What if he takes everything away that she’s worked so hard to get? Then how will you feel?”
He was right, of course. “Okay, I’ll do it.”
“Try to be around Ria as much as possible, too.”
“Are you sure? What if I accidentally say something that alerts Kristor to the fact I’m on to him?”
“You’re not stupid, Carly. Just be careful what you do and say. But if you really want to protect Ria, then be there for her. Find out as much information as you can. For Ria.”
“For Ria.” Yes, she would do anything for her friend.
They hung up, with Carly agreeing to give Donald updates on the situation. If she was wrong, Ria would hate her for the rest of Carly’s life.
She called information, then waited for the number of immigration.
“Please let me be doing the right thing,” she prayed.
Chapter 18
Ria opened the door to the travel agency and walked inside. Empty. Carly must be in the back.
She was walking down the short hallway when Carly stepped from the supply closet holding a handful of pens. Her friend looked up, screamed, and threw the pens in the air.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I figured you heard the bell jingle.” Ria stooped and started picking up the pens. When Carly continued to stand frozen to the spot, Ria looked up. “Are you okay?”
Carly jumped into action, scrambling to scoop up the pens. “Yes, fine. Why wouldn’t I be? It’s like you said, you startled me.”
No, something wasn’t right. Carly dropped about half the pens she’d picked up because her hands were shaking so badly. She grabbed a couple more, then stood, hurrying to her desk. Ria followed, wondering what exactly was going on with her friend.
After Carly shoved the pens into a cup, she smoothed her hands over the front of her slacks. “So, why are you here? I mean, nothing is wrong is it?”
Oh, yeah, she was acting really weird. “No, nothing is wrong with me.” Ria had serious doubts about Carly, though.
“Good.” She sat down, leaning her hands on the desk, then quickly moving them to her lap.
“I thought maybe you’d want to come over tonight. We never did get to finish our girls’ night out.”
“Has Kristor left town?”
“No. Why?”
“Oh, no reason. I only wondered when he would be leaving town. You two seemed pretty hot and heavy.” She pursed her lips.
Could Carly be jealous? Ria knew Carly didn’t have a lot of friends. Her family was so boisterous that she often became invisible. So much so that she rarely went anywhere by herself. Carly had always been there for Ria, though, and she wouldn’t do anything to hurt her best friend’s feelings.
Ria chose her words carefully. “I like him.”
Carly took a pencil out of the cup and pressed her thumb against the eraser. “I’m sure he’s nice enough. I don’t want you to get hurt when he does leave.”
“But you’re still my best friend, and always will be.” Did Carly blush?
“We don’t have to do the girls’ night out or anything.” Her shoulders sagged. “Besides, I planned to work late tonight. I need to catch up on some things.”
“I want to do something. My assistant is running the shop by herself tomorrow with Jeanie. Instead of staying in and watching a movie, let’s go into the city and shop. We haven’t been in a long time.”
“Really?”
Ria grinned. “Yes, really.”
“I’d like that.”
“I’ll pick you up around ten in the morning?”
“That sounds good.”
Ria left the travel agency and walked back to her shop. She had a puppy pedicure in about thirty minutes. But as she walked back, she couldn’t help but wonder what in the world was going on with Carly.
Maybe she was still upset their girls’ night out had been interrupted. Carly had always been a little clingy, and then along comes Kristor. Then Ria had neglected their friendship. Another guilt trip. They were getting tiresome.
But all that was about to change. She had a plan: Neil, the sheriff’s deputy. He liked Carly. Ria was about to turn up the burner beneath their feet.
She was doing it for Carly’s own good. Not that she had a choice. What if the rogues came after her? Ria twined her fingers together. It could get dangerous for Carly to even be around her. No way would Ria ever intentionally put Carly in harm’s way.
When had life gotten so complicated?
She opened the door to her shop. Kristor was talking to Jeanie, half sitting on the corner of her desk. Jeanie laughed at something Kristor said. They both looked up when she opened the door and walked into the shop.
That’s when Ria realized she knew exactly when her life had gotten so complicated. But she supposed, in a way, it was a good complication. At least, now she knew who she was. Or better, what she was. She wasn’t crazy. Only part alien. One who was apparently in danger from rogue aliens.
“I missed you,” Kristor said as he slowly came to his feet.
Jeanie looked between the two of them, then cleared her throat. “Uh, I’m taking off now to look at more houses, but if it gets busy, I’ll have my cell. You sure it’s okay?”
“I told you this morning it would be fine.”
“I’ll be back in about an hour.”
As soon as she was gone, Ria downed her head and hurried to the back. “I have a puppy pedicure in about ten minutes. I need to get ready for it.” Yeah, like get out the clippers. That should take her a good thirty seconds.
She heard his heavier footsteps behind her and realized they would be all alone in the back. Bad move! But it didn’t stop her body from tingling to awareness. They would probably have time for a quickie.
Christ, she was pathetic. Ten minutes would not be nearly long enough to satisfy her. Besides, she cert
ainly didn’t want to give people something more to talk about. They had enough gossip to fuel them the rest of the year.
At least her mom’s friend hadn’t told everyone Kristor was an alien. But it was all over town he was some kind of famous magician traveling incognito.
She turned around and faced Kristor, ready to tell him that she had a business to run, but she forgot what she was going to say when he took her into his arms and kissed her. The heat of his lips scorched downward, making her toes curl. It was the kind of heat that burned in all the right places, and the only scars it would leave would be the ones on her heart.
She knew he wanted her to leave with him, but she shuddered with fear every time she even thought about shifting into something that could fly. Visions of when she was a child and the airplane exploding at the air show sent shivers down her spine. She’d had nightmares for months, and could still smell the strong odor of the fuel, and the burning plane.
And even Kristor’s kisses couldn’t block out the memory.
He ended the kiss but wouldn’t let her pull out of his arms. “Leave with me. Let me show you my world.”
“I can’t.”
“I won’t let any harm come to you.”
“This is my home.”
He looked her in the eyes. “I’ll give you a week, then I will have to leave.”
Tears filled her eyes. “I don’t want you to go.” She caressed his face.
“I have to. It’s not a choice. My time here is almost up.”
“I’ll miss you.”
His eyebrows drew together. “I won’t leave without you. I cannot protect you if I’m not here. I was only letting you know when we would leave.”
She pushed away from him. “I beg your pardon. I’ve told you I’m not leaving. You can’t make me.” She crossed her arms and raised her chin.
He pulled her back into his arms, nuzzling her neck with his lips. “You think not?”
Her body turned to mush as he started an aching need inside her, but just as quickly, she caught on to his game. “Oh, no, seducing me won’t work. When you get on that spacecraft, or whatever brought you here, you’ll be the only one on it.” She put distance between them.
He planted his hands on his hips and glared at her. “You will leave with me, even if I have to throw you over my shoulder and force you.”
“You don’t scare me!”
“I have your parents’ approval.”
She opened her mouth, then snapped it closed. They had said it would be safer if she left with Kristor. It didn’t matter. “They’re confused.”
“No, they’re not. They were reasonable. Unlike some people I know.”
“I’m not leaving.”
“You better start learning to face your fears. In a week, you won’t have a choice.”
The bell over the door tinkled. “I won’t change my mind,” she said as she hurried past him.
“I don’t care if you do or not. Just be prepared to leave. One week.”
When she parted the curtains and stepped out, her next customer was waiting. When she took Sir Otis to the back, Kristor was gone. Good. She was furious that he thought he could force her to leave. What was he—a freakin’ caveman? He’d better think again if he thought she wouldn’t raise hell at being forced to do anything. If he wanted a fight, she’d give it to him!
Her gaze fell on the back door. It was slightly ajar. She marched over and locked it. Not that it would keep him out if he really wanted to come in. It made her feel better, though. She began working on the black lab, and tried not to think about zooming through space. The mere thought made her queasy.
No, Kristor could think all he wanted about her leaving, but it was not going to happen. She had a business to run and she wasn’t about to give it up. Her parents were here. Her friends. What would the Women’s League do without her? Okay, maybe they would continue on, and probably not even notice she wasn’t there. Hell, they’d probably volunteer her for a bunch of stuff, and then wonder why the hell she didn’t show up.
It didn’t matter. She didn’t want to go anywhere. Kristor would just have to leave without her.
Ria paused when it hit her that Kristor was leaving. What the hell would she do when he left?
Tears filled her eyes. How could she have started to like him so much in such a short time? It was the sex. Good Lord, she’d never had orgasms like the ones she’d had with him. It was like riding a roller coaster at breakneck speed to that last big downhill dip that took her breath away.
“I can’t leave with him just because the sex is good, Sir Otis.”
Sir Otis licked her face as she clipped a nail. Bleh! It was a big, sloppy, wet-tongue lick.
“Thanks, but I can do without your kisses.” She grabbed a towel and wiped his slobber off her face.
Really, what did she know about Kristor? He liked anything with an orange taste, and couldn’t stand coffee. He was good with Sukie, and he’d helped get Fluffy out of the tree. He played a hell of a game of flag football. Her parents liked him. He could move objects with his mind….
And he made her feel like she was the only woman in the room, even when bombshell Mary Ann came on to him. And he had a nice laugh.
“What the hell am I doing? I can’t leave with him.”
And why not? Shintara asked. Everything you’ve mentioned is a good enough reason to go. What is really keeping you here?
“Have you forgotten I have a business, a home, friends, parents who love me? Or did you only hear the things you wanted to hear?”
You’ll never be satisfied with anyone else. Kristor is your soul mate.
“Pffft, you don’t know what you’re talking about. We barely know each other. How the hell can we be soul mates?”
You only have to listen to your heart.
She finished clipping the last nail. Was it that simple? Just listen to her heart. It sounded easy, but…Wait a minute. “I read that in Cosmo last month. They did an article on soul mates. You’re plagiarizing them.”
Does it matter? You thought everything in the article made sense. Now you’ve found your soul mate and you’ll let him slip away. Never see him again.
“That’s not what you’re worried about. You only want me to shift into a hawk.”
It’s true, but do you blame me? Shintara coughed. I grow weaker every day. Soon, I won’t be around. It will be as if…as if I never existed.
Was she getting weaker? What would it be like to never hear her animal guide’s voice? To have a dead hawk soul living inside her?
Eww.
She mentally shook her head. Could she live with the guilt? Could she…Suspicion filled her. “You’re lying. You are not getting weaker.”
How would you know? You never seem to miss me when I don’t voice my thoughts. You don’t care about me.
“That’s not true. I do care about you,” she admitted.
Then shift.
“I can’t.”
It won’t be as bad as you think. Sort of like riding a bicycle.
“I always fell off my bike.”
But at least you never gave up. You always got back on. And remember what it felt like to have the wind on your face? It’s like when you run now.
She brushed Sir Otis, running the bristles through the dog’s thick coat. He would need a trim soon.
You’re not concentrating.
“I’m trying not to,” she mumbled. Ria felt bad that she didn’t have the courage to shift. “I’ll try,” she finally said, then wondered why she’d said she would.
When?
“I don’t know.”
The bell jingled.
A reprieve, although Ria had a feeling it would only be temporary. Shintara had once kept her up all night because she’d wanted to talk about something that bothered her. She only hoped she didn’t decide to do that again.
Ria laid the brush down and escorted Sir Otis out. She didn’t bother with a kerchief. Sir Otis ate everything. He was only a couple of years
old and still playful, mischievous, and into everything. She did give him a dog cookie, which he practically swallowed whole. The dog and his owner left a few minutes later.
She was alone again, and with enough time until her next appointment to wonder what in the world she was going to do. It was one thing to be part alien, and another thing to go live on an alien planet.
Chapter 19
Ria was glad she had made Carly go shopping. They both needed today. Carly needed it so she would know that they were still best friends, and Ria so that she could get her head screwed on straight.
Sure, Ria could probably start her own business on New Symtaria. What better place to have an animal grooming shop than on a planet where everyone shifted into animals? She could make a fortune.
Her only problem would be getting a loan. Their small town bank was progressive, but she was pretty sure her loan officer would consider it high risk. What would happen if she defaulted? They certainly couldn’t foreclose.
And even though Kristor had told Ria she was a princess, she was almost certain it would turn out to be an empty title. It wasn’t likely that she had a castle and a trunkful of gold. No, she was much better off right where she was.
“You’re miles away,” Carly said.
Startled, Ria looked around. She remembered she was waiting for Carly to try on an outfit that Ria had to practically force on her.
Ria smiled. “More like a zillion miles.” When Carly looked confused, Ria laughed. Then she got a good look at her friend.
“Wow!” The snug black jeans rode low on Carly’s hips and the white top hugged her curves, veeing low in front to show the swell of her breasts and short enough that her belly button winked.
Carly blushed. “Wow? Really?”
“Oh, yeah. Really wow.”
Carly turned and faced the mirror, then blinked. “Good Lord,” she breathed. “Ria, I look…so different. This isn’t me. I feel as though I’m looking at someone I’ve never met.”
Ria walked up behind her. “You look sexy as hell. This is the woman you should’ve met a long time ago. I’ve been trying to get you to dress like this for years, but all you ever wear are dull brown clothes. You remind me of a little mouse.”
