Slade

not to mention anything personal. Two months had passed that way.

The guy was likable but she wished he weren’t. Slade had a quick smile, a keen sense of humor, and every time she’d had to deal with him, he’d gotten her to smile.

He’d made certain they were never alone since the night she’d told him just who she was. She was mostly grateful for that fact.

Sometimes when she walked home at night she would catch a glimpse of him on the dark street. She could sense his stare and knew he shadowed her to make sure she arrived safely. It is his job, she reminded herself. She regretted what she’d blurted to him but she’d lost her temper.

There was something wrong with her. She mentally kicked herself over being angry with a guy for the reasons that she was, knowing it just wasn’t right. She’d felt insulted that he’d forgotten her. Just over a year before he’d wanted to keep her for days, he’d called her beauty, and now… She sighed. He just thought she was pretty and offered her some cheesy one-night stand. Not even a night. He only wants me for a few hours.

“Stupid,” she muttered.

“What is?” A deep voice spoke softly from behind her.

Trisha started and spun in her seat to gawk at Slade. She grabbed her heart. “Don’t sneak up on me that way again. Would it kill you to make some noise when you move?”

His eyebrows arched as a smile curved his full lips. “Then I wouldn’t get to watch you react that way.”

She sighed. “I’m glad you at least find it amusing. I sure don’t.”

She glanced around the room, realized no one else was there, and instantly tensed.

Uh-oh. This was the first time she could remember them being totally alone since that night he’d walked her home. They’d had some interaction when there’d been some problems between the human, Ellie Brower, and her New Species husband. Fury had been shot during a press conference that had been infiltrated by a few members of a hate group and during his recovery a nurse had drugged him, trying to drive him insane. They’d seen each other during that time but had kept it professional.

“What do you need?”

26

Slade

“Good thing you didn’t ask what I want.” He smirked at her, crossing his arms over his broad chest. “Justice has to go on a road trip and wants you to go with him.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “He said to tell you to pack for two days. I had no idea you and Justice were sleeping together.”

Trisha glared at him. “You know Mr. North and I…that nothing is going on between us. He’s my boss and he’s your leader. My only dealings with Justice are purely professional.”

His tongue ran along his bottom lip. Trisha watched it. She looked up slightly into his blue eyes, which were staring back into hers. “I know but I love to see you turn all pink when you grow angry.” He suddenly smiled. “Justice wants you ready to roll in an hour.”

“But—”

“An hour. Don’t argue with me. I’m just the messenger.”

“But where are we going? I’m on duty right now and tomorrow. What does Justice want with me?”

He shrugged, still smiling. “I just deliver the messages. See you in an hour, Doc. I’ll pick you up in front of your house.”

She watched him leave the clinic. A curse passed her lips before she could refrain.

He loved to annoy her and he had a real talent for it. She picked up the phone to call Dr.

Ted Treadmont, the second doctor they’d hired part-time, to cover some of her shifts.

They really needed more medical staff. Two doctors and nurses weren’t enough.

She made a mental note to bring that up again with Justice when she spoke to him. He headed the New Species, was their appointed leader, and made most of the decisions at Homeland.

She glanced at the phone, half tempted to call him to say she wasn’t going wherever he wanted her to go but then changed her mind. She respected Justice and for whatever reason, he needed her to go somewhere that required packing. She might not want to go but she would.

Trisha had no idea what to pack. She cursed and decided to just take a bit of everything. She grabbed a few pairs of jeans, a few pairs of slacks, and some nice shirts along with a universal black dress, just in case. Underwear followed. She took one pair of high heels, a pair of slip-ons, and decided to wear the comfortable running shoes she had on. She also packed up a few sets of sweats to sleep in.

She walked into her bathroom to pack her overnight bag. Makeup and personal items went inside it. She remembered her shampoo and conditioner in case they were heading for a hotel. She hated samples. Her hair was too long for them to be of any use.

A black SUV pulled up and honked in front of her house. Trisha glanced at her watch to see he’d arrived fifteen minutes early. She clenched her teeth. Slade did enjoy aggravating her. She grabbed her purse, her suitcase, and slung her overnight bag across her shoulder. The weight of all her luggage made her struggle to get out the front door.

27

Laurann Dohner

No one came to help her. She stared pointedly at the security guard driving the SUV but he just watched her as she closed her front door and fought with the keys to lock the deadbolt. Some of her irritation eased since the driver wasn’t Slade. She relaxed, took a deep breath, and turned. She tried not to groan as she moved down the sidewalk.