Chapter 23
Chapter
Twenty-Three
“Oh my gosh,” Jessica said as they got into Phin’s car. “He is gorgeous. That red hair. I never was into redheaded men, but I could go for him. It’s just the right shade. Not too bright, not too dark. If it got too dark, it’d be awkward. Let’s face it, that’s a whole different category.”
Phin rolled her eyes and climbed in. She started the car and left the parking lot. “Yes, he’s good-looking. You should have heard what Mom was saying about him. My goodness, she made Dad blush.”
Jessica laughed. “That’s hilarious. I wish I’d been there.”
“It was kind of embarrassing, actually.” Phin turned onto the street and headed for Jessica’s place.
“So, about tomorrow. As soon as I find out from Rhaz what his plans are, I’ll let you know.
Do you want me to pick up some fried chicken, potato salad, that sort of thing from the grocery store? Make a picnic of it?”
“We’ll just get food in Coos Bay. I know just the place. They have great deli sandwiches, and we can take those to a park near the beach and eat there.”
Phin nodded and left it at that. She was just excited to spend more time with Rhaz. She didn’t care where they were. Though she was a little miffed she wouldn’t be alone with him, maybe with Jessica and Richard there she wouldn’t be so awkward.
She dropped her sister off, went home, and wondered if she should text Anon. The poor man was the messenger between her and Rhaz, and she felt a little guilty about it. But could she help it if Rhaz hadn’t gotten himself a cell phone yet?
She watched a little television, went to bed, then texted Anon. He said Rhaz was excited to spend part of the day with her but had to be home before nightfall. That they had plans.
As soon as she finished reading Anon’s text, she sent one to Jessica to let her know they were going. She smiled as she crawled into bed, knowing she’d be spending the next day with Rhaz.
The next day she awoke refreshed, and when the time came, Jessica picked her up. Then they went to pick up Rhaz.
Jessica pulled into Anon’s driveway and looked up at the house. “I’ve always loved this place. Is the inside as wonderful as you say?”
“Come and find out.” Phin got out of the car and headed for the porch steps. Jessica followed. They rang the bell, and Anon answered the door.
“Ladies, good morning.” He checked his watch. “It is still morning. All right now, about today. Don’t wear the poor boy out. I need him fit as a fiddle for this evening. We’ve got a rousing badminton match planned.”
“Badminton?” Phin said with a laugh. “Is that what you’re doing this evening?”
“It’ll be splendid. He’s ready. Let me go fetch him. Wait in the living room, Phin. You know where it is.” He disappeared down the wide front hall as Phin led Jessica into the living room.
Jessica openly gawked at her surroundings. “This is great. Richard would love this place. He’s into old houses but likes his modern amenities.” She took a seat. “Dr.Blackstone did a great job decorating. Do you know if he’s still working on the house?” Jessica asked.
“I could find out,” Phin sat on the couch next to her. They waited a few minutes, then Rhaz appeared wearing a polo shirt, khaki shorts, and a pair of tennis shoes.
Anon handed him a pair of sunglasses, patted him on the back, waved at the girls, then left.
Rhaz smiled. “He makes me feel as though he’s my father.”
Phin could totally see that and nodded. “I like him. He’s a great person. A little eccentric, but there’s nothing wrong with that.”
“He’s not eccentric,” Jessica said. “He’s British.”
“Are they supposed to be the same thing?” Rhaz asked.
Jessica stood and pulled Phin up with her. “Maybe so. What about you, big guy? You’ve got an accent I’ve never heard.”
Rhaz shrugged. “That’s because you’re not from where I’m from.”
Jessica pointed at him. “Good comeback.”
A spark of jealousy ignited in Phin’s chest. Was her sister starting to flirt with Rhaz? She didn’t think so, but she was acting a little strange.
She brushed the thought aside and headed for the hall and the front door. “Should we go?”
“Of course.” Rhaz preceded them and led them out to the car.
“Rhaz, sit up front,” Jessica said.
That same spark of jealousy hit. Only this time it ignited into a flame. Phin tried to bat it down but wasn’t doing a very good job. “Aren’t we picking up Richard?” she heard herself ask.
“We are. But he can ride in the front seat until we do. Then he’ll sit back with you. Besides, I want to get to know our possible new fire chief better.”
“Possible?” Rhaz repeated. He glanced back at Phin. “I make no guarantees. Have you said anything to your chief about it?”
“But it’s all over town. And Louise hasn’t even written anything about it yet. That’s a shocker.” Jessica laughed.
Phin got in and watched as Rhaz did the same. He searched for the seat belt, found it, and buckled it. Then he studied it a moment but said nothing. He looked like he wanted to ask a question.
“Did you need something?” she asked.
“I’m fine.” He faced front again and sighed.
Jessica got in, gave him a bright-eyed look, and started the car. “Here we go. Off on a day’s adventure.”
Either she was excited about the four of them doing something together, or she was a little too excited about sitting next to a drop-dead gorgeous man. What was Richard going to do if she acted funny after they picked him up?
Hopefully she’d be normal again.
Phin crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back in the seat. She shouldn’t be jealous. It was ridiculous. She and Rhaz were simply acquaintances. They couldn’t even be called friends yet, really. Though she wanted to be.
She wouldn’t mind if it was a little more, but he wasn’t sticking around. As far as anyone knew. But quite a few people were starting to hope he’d remain.
Of course, Chief Morrison was one of them. And half the single women in town. It was only half because the other half were probably high school aged and younger.
The drive to Coos Bay was occupied by talk of football games, living on the coast, and, of course, Richard.
Thank goodness for Richard, because she could tell Jessica was getting excited talking about travel plans they were making for the rest of the summer.
Once school started back up again, Jessica would be tied down. At least she’d have Christmas vacation and spring break.
Phin wondered if she’d ever have a job with that kind of flexibility. She was going to have to get serious eventually and decide what she was going to do.
Unfortunately, much of what she was now able to do she wasn’t going to find in Moon Creek Falls. And that was starting to bother her more now that Rhaz had shown up in her life.
When they got to Coos Bay, Rhaz breathed a sigh of relief. Jessica talked nonstop. Thankfully, it was mostly about her mate—or future husband. Or what was the other word? Boyfriend. That was it.
Phin put a few words in now and then, but for the most part kept quiet. This made him a little nervous. He was also disappointed not to be sitting next to her so they could converse better. He liked facing someone when he talked to them.
Still, he had the rest of the day to spend with them before he had to return to the manse.
Richard, as he was called, lived in a modest yellow house that was cheery, bright, and practical. Coos Bay was significantly larger than Moon Creek Falls, and Rhaz wondered what the population was. But he was more interested in getting to sit next to Phin.
When Richard came out of the house, Rhaz got out of the car to greet him, as he supposed was proper here, and was surprised by the man’s bright smile and good looks.
Apparently, Phin had never met Richard, so it was a first for both.
Phin got out, looked him over, and smiled. “So you are the guy that snagged my sister’s heart?”
Jessica looked scandalized. “Well, I’m just saying. He’s all you ever talk about.”
“Really?” Richard said. He gave Jessica a good-natured smile.
He was tall, though not as tall as Rhaz or as broad, with curly brown hair, brown eyes, and dark-rimmed spectacles. He was also dressed similarly to Rhaz himself, and he was beginning to wonder if it was a universal look among human men.
They all climbed back into the car and started off. “We’ll go to the deli first,” Jessica said. “Get some food and then we’ll be on our way to the beach.”
“The new deli? That’s a great idea,” Richard said. “I love their ham and cheese.”
“I like the pastrami.” Jessica looked in the rearview mirror at Rhaz and Phin. “What are you guys going to get?”
“I have to see the menu,” Phin said. She looked at Rhaz and smiled. “What do you like at delis? What kind of sandwiches?”
“I’m not sure,” he said. “I don’t eat at delis.”
“What? Who doesn’t eat at delis?” Jessica asked from the front.
Rhaz shrugged. “I don’t.”
Richard twisted in his seat to look at him. Thankfully, he wasn’t sitting right behind the man. “So you’re from Dubai? That must be a neat place to live.”
“He doesn’t live in Dubai,” Phin corrected. “He lives outside of it.” She looked at him. “You never did tell me where.”
He shrugged again and said nothing.
Thankfully, Jessica filled in the silence. “We should plan a trip, Richard, and head to Dubai one day. Right now, I’d just be happy to head to Portland.”
Richard chuckled and reached over to put a hand over Jessica’s. “Don’t worry, darling. We will.”
Phin glanced at Rhaz and pretended to gag.
He gave her a quizzical look. What was she doing? Was she making fun of her sister and her boyfriend? He found that amusing and tried not to laugh, but failed.
“What’s so funny back there?” Jessica asked.
Rhaz shook his head. “Nothing.”
Phin put a fist to her mouth to keep from laughing. Maybe he should have done the same.
They reached the deli, got out of the car, and went inside. It wasn’t an eatery, of course, and apparently served nothing but different kinds of sandwiches.
The menu was expansive, and he stared at it with wide eyes. He was familiar with none of it, and half the words he didn’t understand.
“What is a Newport?” he asked.
“Just read the description,” Phin said. “It’s Black Forest ham and turkey on rye.”
His cheeks heated. He didn’t know what rye was.
“You can ask for a different kind of bread. I’m sure they’ll make the substitution.”
Rhaz smiled and nodded. “I guess I’ll have the Newport then.”
Of course, he had no idea if he’d like it. But he’d eat it anyway just to spend time with Phin.
Every time he looked at her, he thought of that Sarian creature swooping into Moon Creek Falls and going on a killing spree, eating the humans.
He was letting his imagination get away from him, but he couldn’t help it. Phin was human. A helpless, vulnerable female and no match for a Sarian or any other creature that might come through a door.
The thought rankled, and it was all he could do to shake it off.
“Hey,” she said gently. She put a hand over his. “Are you okay?”
Unable to help himself, he moved his hand, entwining his fingers with hers, and gave her hand a little squeeze before letting go. “I am fine. Just things on my mind, that’s all.”
“Oh. Well, okay.”
They placed their orders, then stood off to one side to wait while others did the same.
When the sandwiches were ready, they gathered them up, along with some drinks they’d purchased, and headed out.
Anon had given him currency to use and told him he had plenty to get him through the day. Rhaz wished Anon had told him how much he’d given him. It was a wad of green bills, as Anon called them, each with the numbers on them. Some had 20, some the number 50, and quite a few with 100 on them.
He would have to take Anon’s word for it.
They drove a while and eventually came to a park. Once they got out, they found a table under a shade tree and set everything out to eat.
“This is pleasant,” Rhaz said as he looked around.
“Yes, it is,” Richard agreed. “Rhaz, may I call you Rhaz?”
“Yes…” he hedged. “You’ve been calling me Rhaz since we met.”
“I know, but some people from other countries prefer to be more formal. I didn’t know if you wanted me to call you Mr. Stormfyr. We Americans tend to assume.”
“I’ve noticed. But that’s all right. What were you going to say?”
“I just wanted to know about your accent. It’s very different.”
“I am from another country,” Rhaz said, trying to be vague.
“Yes, but I can’t quite place it. Is it Arabic?”
Rhaz shrugged. “It’s a mix, really.”
Richard snapped his fingers. “That explains it.”
“I think it’s sexy,” Jessica said, then took a bite of her sandwich.
Richard was about to take his own bite and stopped. “And mine’s not sexy?”
She shoved him with her shoulder. “You are American. A dime a dozen.”
“Right,” Phin said with a teasing tone.
“Exactly.” Jessica smiled and bit into her sandwich again.
Richard looked at them each in turn. “I’m not sure I know how to take that. I feel a little obsolete.”
Rhaz smiled. “You are not obsolete, and you are the one with the girl.”
He looked at Jessica and back. “You can make that lady happy.”
“Thank you very much, Rhaz,” Jessica said and took another bite of her sandwich.
He glanced at Phin, who was eyeing her sister and looking a little flushed. Was she jealous?
His heart stuttered at the thought. Ezriel practically leaped. Yeah, you’d like that, wouldn’t you, boy?
Ours, Ezriel said.
Rhaz wasn’t going to tell the dragon no. Not here. He didn’t want to argue with him. Poor Ezriel didn’t realize that Phin wasn’t someone they could keep and take home with them.
This was her home, and she had no business in the dragon realm. It was a dangerous place, far too dangerous for a human. Never mind the fact she was female and that someone would try to take her from them.
Not that he’d ever let that happen. Of course he wouldn’t. But the possibility would be there. Thankfully, being the prince of his kingdom, few would dare attempt it.
He clung to that thought as they continued eating their lunch.