Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Rol tucked his wings in and peered around the end of the hedge between Kyzel’s match’s nest and her neighbor’s.
His friend seemed elated as he had closed the distance between the sidewalk and the front door, the yellow flowers in hand.
Who had ever heard of giving dying flora to win a female’s attention?
It would not work, of course. Even the Earthling in question would find the gesture silly.
At least, that was what part of him hoped—that Kyzel would see the folly of his actions and they could return home, where they belonged.
Observe the traditions their people had adhered to for thousands of sun migrations.
In other words, be normal and not anger the elders of the Firewing clan. Or any of the other clans.
Yet, Kyzel would take failure hard. His friend’s heartache would also be his. It was a predicament, to be sure.
A furtive movement at the corner of the house drew his attention. What was this? Another human female, sneaking around from the back of the nest? He narrowed his eyes at the interloper. Could she be a threat to his monarch?
The female pressed her slim, long-limbed body against the side of the nest and tilted her head to one side, clearly eavesdropping on the verbal interchange between Kyzel and the female on the porch.
The morning sun brought out the rich, velvety brown of her skin, and her curly hair glowed gold.
A low growl rumbled in his throat, and his fingers twitched as if eager to touch her.
Rol gave himself a mental shake. This response was wholly unacceptable.
Even though the new Earth female did not appear to be armed, it was best to keep his thoughts clear and focused, just in case she was a security risk.
Fyad was somewhere nearby, watching out for their monarch, but the royal guard might not be close enough to stop the female if she charged up onto the porch and attempted to inflict harm.
On the other wing, if she was not intent upon causing havoc, she would most likely circumvent the hedge to pass into the neighboring yard without being seen.
He quirked one corner of his mouth up. Either way, he would be there to intercept her.
Meryl clutched the paper towel-wrapped cinnamon rolls to her chest and peeked around the corner of Robyn’s house. Drat, the hot off-worlder hadn’t gone inside yet…no, wait, he was trying to fit through the doorway without leaving his wings on the porch.
She swallowed down the rising snicker of amusement. Silverstar had given Robyn one helluva gift to get through her front door.
Wonder if he has a brother?
Didn’t she wish? She huffed a tiny laugh.
The coast was clear now, and it was time to head home.
She pulled out her phone as she squeezed between Robyn’s rhododendron bush and the neighbor’s eight-foot hedge.
A text from her goddaughter and one from an email advertiser. Nothing from Silverstar. Bummer.
Maybe they were working on something better for her in the date-a-hot-off-worlder department. She shoved the phone into the back pocket of her white denim shorts, and her nose twitched at the intrusion of a new scent. Had Robyn added a dash of allspice to her Aunt Ava’s rolls this time— “Oomph.”
She stumbled backward a step. What the hell had she run into? A tree? She raised her gaze up, and up some more.
Not a tree…a man…off-worlder…. Tall, but not quite as tall as Robyn’s new guy.
Maybe six and a half feet, give or take.
And, wonder of wonders, he also had wings.
Mottled brown streaked with gray. Must be another Bezchian, with the most striking eye colors.
One gray and one blue. Goddamn, that was sexier than sin.
Well, sexier than sin if he weren’t glowering down at her like he might eat her up. And didn’t that sound like fun?
“What are you doing?” The deep, gravelly timbre of his voice sent a shiver from the top of her head all the way down to the ends of her toes—and everywhere in between.
All she could do was stare up at him and pray he’d speak again, because she would flat out orgasm if he did.
Wait…he wanted to know what she was doing? She had more reason to be here than he did. This was her best friend’s house.
“Going home.” Her voice sounded pithy even to her. “What are you doing?”
He screwed up his face in an affronted manner. “I am Kyzel’s adv…friend.”
“You mean the big guy with wings that just went into my best friend’s house?”
“Yes.”
Well, not a brother per se, but close enough. Things were looking up.
She extended her free hand. “I’m Meryl Faulkner.”
He stared at her hand like it was a worm. Or more like how she’d stare at a worm. Could be hawks thought quite highly of worms. She’d never really paid attention before.
He jutted his chin in the direction of her appendage. “What is this you are doing with your hand?”
“Offering to shake hands with you.” Duh.
“But, why?” He shook his head, his confusion evident.
Aw, Meryl, cut the guy a little slack. “It’s a way of greeting another person around here.”
His frown deepened. “Show me.”
“Please.”
“What?”
Someone hadn’t been paying attention when the Earth etiquette manual was handed out. “It’s polite to say please when you ask someone to do something for you.”
“I see.” He stuck out his left hand. “Show me, please.”
“Not that hand.” This was like teaching a child. “The other hand.”
He switched hands. The expectation that she’d follow through showed in his stance.
She slid her palm against his and wrapped her fingers around his hand.
Sort of. His hand was nearly twice as large as hers, though, as a tall woman, her hands weren’t puny.
And, sweet Jesus, what was happening to her?
It was like a hot coal was trapped between their palms, sending an invisible flame up her arm.
She released his hand almost as fast as he released hers. That was the weirdest sensation, but at least it was fading as fast as it had started.
She moved her hand behind her back and flexed her fingers. “Well, yeah. That’s a handshake.”
“It was….” He cleared his throat. “Interesting.”
You could say that again.
“Meeting you is fortuitous, Meryl Faulkner.” His tone was suddenly brusque, as though about to make a business deal.
“Oh? How so?”
“I am concerned for my friend, as I am sure you are concerned for yours.”
“Well, of course. Robyn is like a sister to me.”
He smiled. Not a big one, but the corners of his mouth were definitely going up. “Then you will agree that this relationship is likely not in their best interests.”
Wait, what? Was this guy for real? “No, actually, I don’t agree.”
“Why not?”
Meryl propped her empty hand on her hip. “Did Kevin send you?”
“What is a Kevin?”
“Robyn’s asshole ex. He’s always trying to sabotage her dates. And you—” She gave him a poke in the chest. “—keep your nose out of her business or I’ll give you reason to regret it.”
“You will?” He said it like he was about to outright laugh in her face.
She narrowed her eyes in the most threatening manner possible. “Don’t mess with an attorney. I will take you down feather by feather, and laugh the entire time.”
Technically, she was retired, but only for two years. She’d kept up with the changes in the laws—on Earth at least. Intergalactic law would require some research, but she could figure it out if necessary. He didn’t need to know that, though.
She turned away and stomped across the neighbor’s freshly mowed yard. The dew that glistened so beautifully in the lawn seemed to leap onto her canvas sneakers and soak through.
Aw, yuck. Nothing like squishing all the way home. Good thing she lived only a block away.