Alexandre (20 page)
“How long to ground again? Don’t like.”
“I’m not buying you another pie,” Alex snapped.
“Why not? Janaya—”
Lily couldn’t contain her amusement. If she pretended hard enough, they sounded like a family. Mom. Dad. Bickering kids. Her grin died a rapid death. Something she wouldn’t have because Alex intended to leave. Killer cuffed Lily’s leg with her paw. “Lily, how long?”
Lily glanced at Alex’s watch. “Another two hours.”
“Two hours! Need ’nother pie. Need strength to earn collar.”
“All right. All right! I’m going.” Alex sent the dog a dark glare. She talked a load of gobbledygook sometimes. “You know I read they eat d—”
“Alex!” Lily protested. “Killer doesn’t need to know that.”
After Killer ate her second pie, they wandered the deck—some of the time hand-in-hand and not at her instigation. It was Alex who picked up her hand and retained possession. He didn’t notice the adulation and silent whispers from the team of netball players. When the coast of South Island came into sight and they were almost in the port of Picton, they made their way to the lower decks where they’d left their vehicle.
“Door open,” Killer yapped.
“Hell, the dog’s right.” Alex quickened his pace. He jerked the door fully open and cursed softly. “Some of our bags are missing.”
Lily peered into the rear of the SUV then searched the vicinity. Other people were returning to their cars, ready for disembarking. “How about if we split up and do a quick search in case the thieves have tossed our bags in the rubbish?”
“Shit. Hell. Damn. Fuck.” Alex used some of his Earth vocab as he stalked down a line of parked sedans, his gaze probing any likely drop-off spots for their missing bags. The rest of his anti-bonding pills were in one along with his top-up spell from the crone. He probably wouldn’t miss the pills since they hadn’t worked too well. But the spell—that posed a problem. The old crone who had sold it to him had said he needed to administer the spell in exactly three weeks. More than two had passed. As Alex stormed up another row, he searched for solutions. There weren’t any. He’d have to finish with Lily before the spell wore off or she’d see him in his normal guise. It wasn’t the worst-case scenario since his research would end soon, but he wasn’t ready to leave Lily. Dammit, he liked her because she treated him like an equal. Sighing, he made his way back to Lily.
“Any luck?”
“No,” Alex said.
The ferry slowed and the sound of the engines changed as the captain backed the boat into the berth.
Lily tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “We’d better get ready. We can report the theft once we’re ashore.”
Two hours later, they finished with the paperwork.
“I didn’t think it would take so long,” Lily said. “But at least we found one of the bags.”
Alex shrugged. Minus his pills and the small metal pillbox that contained his spell. Nothing was going to get his spell back. He was doomed.
“When we go?” Killer demanded. “Smelly here.” She sneezed, punctuating her remark.
“Might as well head to our next stop.” Alex opened the door for Lily and Killer, and they filed out of the Inter Island Ferry office.
“Strange man,” Killer barked, stopping dead in front of Alex.
Alex took a huge step in his efforts to avoid falling but stood on one of Killer’s paws. She let out a yip loud enough to attract the attention of everyone in the vicinity then ran to hide behind Lily.
“Oh, look at that poor dog,” an elderly woman said to her husband.
The man cupped his hand over his ear and shouted, “Fog, you say? Do you think they’ll cancel the sailing?”
“Dog! I said dog!”
“But this is a town. Why would they have bog?”
“We go,” Killer said.
Alex rolled his eyes. “For once we agree.” He turned to Lily. “You want me to navigate again?”
“Please, just until we’re on the main road to Nelson.”
They managed to find their way out of the port town without difficulty, and Alex sat back to watch the scenery—the glimpses of blue water and beautiful sandy inlets. So different from Dalcon’s wide, sparse plains.
Killer stirred in the backseat. “Car behind.” She poked her head in the gap between the front seats. Her breath wafted across Alex’s cheek. “Men behind. Same men at port. Look a bit like men who smell bad.”
“Are you sure?” Lily’s gaze shot to the rear-vision mirror.
“You watch too much TV. Too many cop shows,” Alex said. “Look, they’re overtaking.”
Killer sniffed and pressed her nose against the window as a green BMW sped past. “They following,” she stated. “Shifty faces. Not trust. Clever to pass.”
She seemed certain, and if there was one thing Alex knew, it was that the devil creature had enough intelligence for several males. Perhaps he shouldn’t shove her concerns aside. Hell, with the way his luck was running, it was likely the strangers were Imperial guards. The thought made him bolt upright. He squinted, trying to get a good look at the driver and passenger.
“Watch out!” Lily shrieked. “Oh, my God. They’re going to hit that cow.” She stomped on the brakes. The SUV shuddered. The brakes squeaked. The tires burned rubber as they fought for purchase on the sealed road. They halted on the shoulder of the road.
Up ahead the cow let out a startled moo. The BMW swerved. Loose gravel from the side of the road sprayed, tires screamed, but the vehicle didn’t slow.
“The driver’s an idiot,” Lily snapped. “He must have found his license in a cereal box.”
“He missed the cow,” Alex pointed out.
“Stupid animals.” Killer shook her head. “Cows can’t talk. Just say moo.”
Would an Imperial Guard know how to operate an Earth vehicle? Alex didn’t know. But one thing he was sure of was the need to follow his dream and become a self-made, useful male. He was so close now, he couldn’t let the thought of Dalcon Imperial Guards faze him.
“I’ll tell you what, Killer. How about keeping an eye out for the men? Let us know if you see them again.” Alex caught a glimpse of the speeding green car before it disappeared around a bend.
“Spy?” Killer shook her head abruptly. “I not think so. Bad manners.”
Okay, poor choice of words. “No, I was thinking more along the lines of a bodyguard.” Ah, better. Killer reacted with distinct interest, her ears cocking.
“Like Janaya?” Killer asked.
No, definitely not like Janaya. Hell, one weapon-enthused bodyguard was enough. Alex struggled to find the correct phrasing. He’d heard Janaya muttering about shooting when they’d visited Lily. He sure as hell didn’t want to encourage the dog.
Killer peered out the back window as though contemplating his suggestion. “You’d have to pay. Can’t do for nothing. Have expenses.”
“Pay you?” Alex spluttered. “What expenses?”
Beside him, Lily chuckled. “What’s the going rate for a bodyguard? We’re poor. We can’t afford to pay much.”
“You poor. He not.”
“Great,” Alex muttered.
“I want shiny tag for collar. Gold. Engraved with name.” Killer moved closer to Alex to emphasize her demand.
Alex stared, unwilling to glance away first. Eye contact was a big thing in the canine world. He wasn’t about to let the devil creature think she was above him in pecking order. “You don’t have a collar.”
“I—” Killer snapped her mouth shut so quickly her teeth clacked.
Alex could see thoughts running through her head. He just wished he could read the sneaky creature.
“Janaya promise to buy in Alaska. She bring one.” Killer turned away to look at the passing scenery.
“I have a surprise for you,” Lily said. “Killer?”
“What?”
“You know your friend, Maxwell?”
Killer sighed long and hard. “Yeah. Dog with nice bottom.”
“His owners are going to visit Nelson. They’re staying at the campground. You’ll be able to visit since it’s not far away. Maybe Max can help you watch out… I mean be a bodyguard.”
“Maybe. Not sure. Maxwell high maintenance. Lots of bitches look. Be busy. Have to teach them respect.”
“Must be where I’m going wrong,” Lily mumbled. “Oops. I did not say that. Oh, look at the beach down there. What do you say to stopping?”
Since Lily was pulling over anyway, Alex decided to let her change the very interesting subject. He could call her on it later. Alex shot Killer a look. Much later, when the devil creature was preoccupied with her high-maintenance boyfriend. They needed a serious talk anyway. He’d have to tell her he was leaving sooner than he’d planned, especially since Janaya and Luke would arrive soon to collect Killer. Without his top-up spell, he didn’t have an alternative. He didn’t want recognition before he was ready.
“Come on, lazybones,” Alex teased. “It’s a beautiful morning for kayaking.”
Lily nibbled her bottom lip in the way she often did when she was unsure. Alex found it endearing. He was going to miss her. Just the thought made his gut tighten. Three more days then he’d leave. He’d concluded in the small hours this morning. With Janaya and Luke due back, it was best he left to sort out the other stops on Earth for Bellangere Grand Tours. Janaya would inform on him. It was her duty.
“What if I can’t paddle properly and the kayak capsizes? What if I’m a jinx, and we keep tipping over?” Lily asked, a distinct thread of worry apparent in her wrinkled forehead.
“Then we fall in and get wet.” Alex laughed. “That’s why we have our swim gear, and it’s compulsory to wear life jackets or else the company won’t let you hire their kayaks.”
Lily glanced at her legs and her luscious mouth pulled tight. “I’m not sure about this bikini. I shouldn’t have let you talk me into buying it.”
Alex’s gaze already lingered on her beautiful body. If there was one thing he wished, it was for her to regain her poise and feel good about herself. The black-and-silver cloth cupped her curves, showcasing her beautiful body for any male with a little sense. Unable to stop himself, he traced a finger over the slope of one breast then made a foray into her cleavage across the little brown dot. A sharp nip on his calf brought his explorations to an abrupt halt.
“What you doing?” Killer asked, sounding suspicious.
“Lily had a spider on her. Some of them bite.”
Lily’s eyes rounded but Alex stayed her with a wink. He didn’t want her to squeak because of an imaginary insect.
“Where spider?”
Alex wriggled his finger in Lily’s cleavage, making her laugh. “I’m not sure. They’re fast.”
The distrustful expression didn’t leave Killer. Alex frowned, sick of interrogation by the devil creature. Lily thought it was funny, but he was beginning to think there was more at stake here than nosiness. Maybe something sinister that related to Imperial Guards and Dalcon.
“Killer, you haven’t told us where you lived before you found Janaya and Luke.” He scrutinized the dog.
“Not talk about.” Killer glanced away, but Alex couldn’t tell if it was guilt or the attraction of the screech from the bird wheeling overhead. He made a mental note to question Killer when Lily wasn’t present.
“You coming with us?” he asked.
“No. Visit Maxwell.”
“You’ll be careful, won’t you,” Lily said. “Keep a low profile otherwise someone might think you’re a stray.”
“No one lock up again,” Killer yapped with the peculiar sniff she used to portray disdain.
Again? Interesting. Alex was about to query her when a joyous bark rang out.
“Maxwell! He here. Bye.”
“So that leaves the two of us.” Alex didn’t try to hide his satisfaction. His last few days with Lily were precious, and he intended to show her how beautiful he found her.
Alex and Lily drove to the southern gateway of the Abel Tasman National Park, and parked the SUV near the information center.
Half an hour later, Alex helped Lily into a double kayak and pushed out to deeper water before climbing in himself. The morning sun shone strongly, making Alex glad he’d followed Lily’s advice and donned a hat. Small waves traveled at a leisurely pace, curling to grow white tips then racing to shore. Alex dragged in a deep breath, the briny tang giving him an odd sense of satisfaction.
Behind him, Lily stroked smoothly with the paddle, just as the instructor had showed them. Alex set an easy pace, directing them along the coast. A fish jumped from the water, a quick flash of silver before it dived back into the sea.
“Alex, look,” Lily said in an awed voice.
Alex stopped paddling and turned to study where she pointed. Several seals lay on rocks sunning themselves. Without the splash of the paddles, their grunts were clearly audible as two seals jostled for position on a wide, flat rock. They watched for around ten minutes before continuing.
“It feels good to do some exercise,” Lily said.
“I thought that’s what we did last night. And the night before.”
“You know what I mean.”
Alex imagined her blush and had to turn to check. Beneath the peak of her black cap, it was easy to see the rosy glow in her cheeks.