This conversation was not going in the direction she’d expected. Didn’t DeeDee care enough about their friendship to want her to stay?
“I know what you’re thinking.”
Callie studied her face, but she only saw the friendship that had always been there. Still, she had to ask. “You’d want me to leave?”
“What I want isn’t important. Besides, I have a feeling we would still see each other on occasion. What’s important is that you’re happy. It should never be a choice between me and the man you fall in love with. Do you think you might be more afraid of the unknown?”
“I think another planet is a little more than the unknown.”
She chuckled. “Yeah, I guess it is. But look at the adventure you’ll have.”
“What if I don’t want an adventure?”
She patted Callie’s hand. “If you think about it, you’ll see that I’m right. You’ve never left this town except when I dragged you to my parents’ cabin.”
“It was a little more than a cabin. More like luxury enclosed in a log structure.”
“Don’t tell Mom and Dad that. They like to think they’re roughing it.”
Her parents were really nice, but they didn’t have a clue about how it felt to scrimp and save. Their idea of roughing it was slower Internet service.
Callie shrugged. “But he doesn’t love me. He only wants to make love.”
“I don’t know, he looks like he might care about you more than you think.”
And if that were the case, could she go on an adventure like Rogar was asking her to take? Give up any chance for the job she’d worked toward getting most of her life? Leave Sheba. The jaguar had become a part of her life as much as any beloved pet.
But if she stayed, could she learn how to protect herself from people like Zerod? So many questions, and she didn’t have a clue what the answers were.
“I’m beat, I think I’ll go to bed.” She stood, knowing she would stay in the room with Rogar. Apparently, so did DeeDee because she didn’t ask if she wanted one of the other bedrooms. If Rogar needed her during the night, Callie would have to be close enough to hear him.
“See you in the morning.”
There was a light blue chaise in the master bedroom. That would probably be safer than the bed. She took one of the pillows off the bed, and the blanket at the foot, then made herself as comfortable as she could. The chaise was meant for reading. It had a high back on one end and it was open on the other. It wasn’t long enough for someone to stretch out on so she would have to curl on her side. It was only one night, and Rogar had saved her life.
As she punched her pillow, she was pretty sure she wouldn’t be getting a lot of sleep tonight. Some birthday this had been—an alien called Zerod had tried to kill her. Now that would be a story to tell the grandchildren. Not that they would believe it, except they would be part alien, too.
Oh, Lord, how would she explain that if she married someone from Earth? No, honey, of course we didn’t get a cat. That’s your daughter.
Or, worse, what if her animal guide was really a rabbit? Would that mean there was a possibility she would have twelve or more children at one time?
She shouldn’t have drunk the Margarita. Alcohol always went straight to her head.
Maybe she would be destined to stay single for the rest of her life. She certainly didn’t want to freak out her husband in the delivery room when she dropped a dozen or more kids.
Did they even have maternity clothes that big?
Oh, cripes, what if she delivered a baby rhinoceros? Ouch! That was so not going to happen. She would definitely insist on a c-section.
Her lids fluttered downward and she yawned. She didn’t want to think about anything else tonight. She only wanted to sleep, and stay safe.
But her dreams were filled with Zerod chasing her, except he was a tiger. Right before his teeth clamped down on her head, the dream changed. Now she was in the delivery room with some guy who she knew was her husband, but he looked like a complete doofus, and was white as a sheet because this doctor kept catching all these babies that were flying out of her body.
She sat up with a start, drenched in sweat. The soft glow of morning light had started to creep inside the room. She sat on the side of the chaise, stifling her groan. She felt as though she’d run a marathon—or delivered a dozen or so kids.
She stretched to get the kinks out, then stood and stretched some more. After a quick check on Rogar, who looked as though he was having great dreams, she dug a pair of sweats out of her bag and headed toward the shower. A shower, then coffee.
Less than half an hour later, she was in the kitchen with a pot of coffee started.
“I thought I heard someone up and moving about,” DeeDee said as she joined her. “Good, you have the coffee going.”
DeeDee wore a flowing caftan and looked positively radiant. “How do you do it?”
“What?”
Callie waved her hand toward DeeDee. “Look this good first thing in the morning?”
“Bad night?”
“Miserable. I do not recommend sleeping on your chaise.”
“There are spare guest rooms upstairs.”
“I needed to be close.”
She raised her eyebrows.
“It’s not what you’re thinking. Rogar saved my life so it was the least I could do.” She glanced toward the glass pot. “Coffee’s ready.” And it was a good thing. It was way too early to get into a conversation about her love life.
“What time are you planning to leave?” DeeDee asked as she sat at the table with her coffee.
“I want to get out of town as soon as possible. And you?”
“I’ll call Mom this morning to let her know I’ll be joining them after all. I’ll leave the same time as you.”
“Good, I don’t want you here if Zerod comes looking for us, and I’d guarantee he will.”
“Are you scared?”
She nodded. “But I feel safe with Rogar.”
“And I’ll keep you safe,” Rogar spoke from the doorway.
She jumped up and hurried to him. “What are you doing up? You don’t want to start your wound bleeding again.” She rested his arm across her shoulders. He moved his hand a few inches, and as they made their way across the room, she realized how close it was to her breast. In fact, it was brushing the side. By the time she had him in a chair, her nipples were tight and aching for more than a gentle caress.
“Are you feeling better,” DeeDee asked, apparently she didn’t notice the sexual undercurrent.
“Much better, but groggy.” His gaze fell on Callie. “Did you give me something? I had a crazy dream that I needed to save you again, and couldn’t find a weapon. Then your lips were touching mine and your hands…”
“Most of it was a dream,” she quickly inserted.
“Callie…” DeeDee began.
“We didn’t. I swear.”
“Didn’t what?” Rogar looked between them.
“Nothing. Would you like some coffee?” She could feel the heat rising up her face.
“Coffee?”
“It’s a morning drink,” DeeDee explained.
“Yes, I’d like to try coffee.”
Callie poured Rogar a cup, then carried it to him. He took a drink, then coughed and sputtered before turning accusing eyes on her.
“Are you trying to kill me?”
“I guess it’s an acquired taste.”
She poured him a glass of orange juice instead. He seemed to like that much better.
