“Well, it’s good we’re slow. You go do that. I’ll fix Beth’s thermostat in a jiffy. I’m almost positive it just needs a battery.”
He chuckled. “That’s what I thought.” Sticking his hand behind him, he pulled a nine-volt out of his back pocket. “It’s not hard-wired into the electrical and needs batteries. I noticed when we replaced her condenser and I had to turn it off.”
“Good eye.” He didn’t want to do this sort of stuff all his life, but he was good at it. Hey, if we were fated mates, at least it meant I’d have a helper if I ever needed one. “Rico.” I began a conversation that had been bugging me. “Tell me about the bonding process.”
He looked up in surprise. “Sure. Um, it happens during sex. I will bite you, usually on the neck. It doesn’t hurt.”
That had been my next question. “Will it heal?”
“Yes, quickly. It will create a bond between us. You’ll have an extended life, and we’ll both know when the other is in distress. And other emotions, so I’m told.”
I nodded and considered his words. It sounded exactly like in the romance books. Some of these authors had to have known what it was like or have gone through it themselves.
“Start looking for a replacement for me.” He pulled me into his arms again. “I’ll still go on jobs with you as long as I’m not working on my new thing. Or school, or whatever comes of this. But you need a real apprentice, someone who can benefit from this job as much as you will.” He squeezed me tight. “And hopefully a woman.”
I laughed and nodded. “You got it.” I was so happy to see the light in his eyes. I knew the gears were turning as he already tried to figure out how it would work.
After I hurried him out the door, I took one last look at my newly cleaned office. I still had a lot to do.
And I still didn’t understand why Tye did this. Was it because I had rejected him at the bar? Had Rico roughing him up done that much damage to his psyche? Maybe his pride was hurt? So why not go after Rico instead of me?
“Hey!” Rico stuck his head back inside. “Keep your guard up. You’ve got your stun gun?”
I nodded and patted my cross-body bag. “I switched purses and I promise not to take this one off.”
“Good. There’s no telling where that bastard’s head is at.” He blew me a kiss and left for real this time.
When I got in my truck, a couple of $100 bills were in the console with a note on a ripped piece of paper. “For keeping me fed.” He’d drawn a complicated picture of a dragon winking. How had he done that so fast?
His little note kept a smile on my face all through Beth’s house. She wasn’t home, which was lucky for me or it would’ve taken three times as long to finish the job. We would’ve been talking the whole time.
But when I pulled into the grocery store parking lot, I remembered the feeling I’d had in the parking lot the last time I was here. Now I knew it had to have been Tye making me feel so on edge that day.
I got out of the truck and hurried inside. I didn’t have that feeling of being watched again, but my nerves were shot. And I had a lot to buy. It didn’t look like Rico planned to spend any less time at my place.
And I didn’t want him to.
That meant I had to start shopping for two. Big difference.
He’d texted me several things he wanted to have on hand as I switched the battery at Beth’s and drove back to town. I sought them out first, then went on to my list.
Picking out a tomato was a serious business to me. I loved tomatoes, but only if they were perfectly ripe—and not too ripe. As I stood in front of the display, poking and smelling the red balls, I kept shooting furtive glances around, trying to stay alert as I focused on my food.
When someone said my name behind me, I jumped and dropped my tomato, narrowly catching it again before it hit the floor.
Oh, yeah, I was on fire. A real kick-ass lady. I whirled around to find Cynthia behind me. Great.
She rolled her eyes and scoffed. “You were always so dramatic. What’s got you so skittish?”
I sighed and went back to my tomatoes. “It’s just been a long day. What do you want?” I glanced back at her to find her smiling as if being friendly.
It didn’t fool me. Don’t think I missed the mean girl look in her eyes. It was there, loud and proud. “Oh, I was just curious about Rico,” she said. She tapped one manicured nail on her lip. “Is it something real? Or is he another one of your flings to pretend you aren’t a total lezbo?”
In my head, I counted to five before replying. If I hadn’t, I would’ve smashed the tomato in her face, and even though Rico’s uncle was the police chief, I didn’t want him having to get me out of trouble.
“Oh, I bet it’s him,” she said in a wondering voice. “He’s using you to pass the time and you’re letting him. Let’s face it. You haven’t had dick that hot since Tye doodled you one time in high school.”
My blood boiled and my face went as red as the tomato, but I was not stooping to Cynthia’s level. “Get over it, Cynthia. You’re just jealous that he won’t look at you twice. He’s taken now, and he’s happy about it.”
She sniffed and stuck her nose up. “He’ll figure out that he could do much better. Of all the women who
