“I cut hair the way I see that it needs to be cut. Never have any complaints from no one else. Besides, if you don’t like my work, you can go somewhere else.”
Donald sniffed. “You know there’s no one else in town who cuts men’s hair.”
“Then I guess you better shut up and let me do my job.”
“Later, Albert,” Heath and Neil said as they started for the door.
Kristor decided it was time for him to go, too. He dropped a twenty on the counter and walked out. He’d figured out the monetary system before he came to Earth. If he ran out, his database would produce more.
Once outside, he said good-bye to the other two men, and walked in the opposite direction. He knew he was going toward Rianna’s shop, and that he was too early for lunch, but something pulled him in that direction.
A small feminine body suddenly crashed into him, stopping his forward movement. He grabbed her arms so she didn’t fall. A sultry scent tickled his senses.
“Oops!” she said.
He looked down. It was Mary Ann from the party. “Careful.”
She smiled up at him. “You just seem to be in the right place at the right time, now don’t you?”
“You’re okay?”
“I am now, honey. And just about shopped out. I sure could use something to drink.”
“There’s a place near here where you can get food and drink?” he asked.
Her hands fluttered in front of her face. “As a matter of fact, I know the perfect place. A little restaurant right around the corner. I don’t suppose it’s too early to get something to eat. I mean, a guy like you would certainly want to keep up his strength.”
“It’s good that it’s near. I’m taking Ria to lunch today.”
“Oh, but I thought…” She sighed deeply. “I guess it doesn’t really matter. Maybe I can talk that overworked husband of mine into going to lunch with me. Tell Ria not to forget about the meeting.”
A strange woman. Kristor watched as she walked away. There was an exaggerated sway in her hips. He was surprised she didn’t throw something out of joint. He shook his head and continued down the street. This time, he didn’t stop until he was standing in front of Ria’s shop. She wasn’t alone. There were two other women with her. He watched as she laughed at something one of them said. Her eyes sparkled and her face glowed. His heart ached to hold her close.
Rianna looked up and caught him staring at her. A softness entered her eyes. Yes, he would carry her back to his planet, if need be. He wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Ria opened the door to her shop and stepped out. “I thought you were going to be here at lunch time?”
“I couldn’t wait to see you.”
She looked through the glass wall at the other two women. They waved her away. Ria grinned.
“Okay, I guess I can show you some of the town. If you haven’t already seen all of it, that is.”
“No, and yes, I’d like that.”
She studied him for a moment. “Did you get your hair cut?”
“Yes, so we don’t need to see the barber shop.” The last thing he wanted was to cross paths with Donald again. He sensed the man wanted Rianna all to himself. Kristor wasn’t about to let that happen.
Chapter 12
When Kristor took her hand, Ria didn’t pull away. The slight roughness of his palm sent a spiral of heat to pool low in her belly, even though it was something as innocent as just holding hands. Oh, man, she was in really bad shape.
“This is pretty much Miller Bend,” she told him. “The abstract office, the lawyer’s office, water department, post office, flower shop, antique store, and the pharmacy. The library is around the corner.” She chuckled when she saw the confusion on his face. “I guess you don’t have all this on New Symtaria.”
His expression showed his confusion. “What is a library?”
“A building that stores books. People go there to borrow them. You know, to read.”
“I don’t read much. I’m a warrior.”
She hadn’t really pictured him kicked back in a recliner and reading a book. “Do you have stores on New Symtaria?”
“We have tradespeople, yes, or we can get items we need with our database.”
“Your database sounds a lot like Internet shopping. I think I’d rather go into a store.”
“But if you could have everything with a click of a button, wouldn’t that be better?”
“No, I think it’s the thrill of finding a bargain that I enjoy. Clicking a button wouldn’t really do it for me.”
“That is the way it is during a battle. The victory makes the blood race through my veins.” He stood taller, looking around as if he would love to battle now.
“That’s exactly the way I feel when I go to a going-out-of-business sale,” she said, drawing his attention back to her. Heaven forbid he start a ruckus with one of the townspeople. She didn’t need any more gossip started about her. But she didn’t need to worry as she watched his shoulders relax.
“When you connect with your hawk guide, you will feel that same rush,” he said.
They were back to that again. Drat! And the morning had been going so well. “I think shifting once was more than enough for me. I’d just as soon not be terrorized again. Those scouts almost threw me in a soup pot. And getting ice and Coke dumped on me, then dirt kicked in my face was an experience I would rather not go through again.”
“Your guide needs you.”
Guilt swarmed around her like angry insects. “I’m not ready. Maybe in time I…I will be able to shift, but not right now. This is all too new to me.”
“You can only gain strength through connecting. You might have need of this strength if the rogue Symtarians discover where you live.”
“But you said you were here to protect me.”
He stopped, forcing her to stop as well. “I can’t stay forever.”
This was Kristor’s first indication that he would return to his own home. A cold feeling of dread landed with a thud in the pit of her stomach. She hadn’t thought that one day he would leave, but it made sense. Of course, he couldn’t hang around for the rest of her life. He had his own to get back to. The man was a prince.
But could she shift into a hawk when she was terrified of flying? And look at what had happened to her the last time. Not only had she felt an incredible burning sensation, but she had thought she would die.
“I can’t,” she finally said. “Not right now.”
He hesitated, watching her closely. “I’ll give you more time.”
Carly looked up when Donald came inside the travel agency. She pasted a smile on her face, even though there was something about the guy she just didn’t like. He was a tattle-tale for one thing. He’d told on Ria when she had put the whoopee cushion under Ms. Henderson’s chair. It had really been pretty funny, until he’d told.
And Donald was just too darn pretty. Men shouldn’t be pretty. Even now, every blond hair was in place. It made her wonder how much he spent on hairspray.
But the motto of this agency was to make the customer happy and she would like to keep her job.
