the sex was great, but it wasn’t as though he would want her all the time once he returned home.
“I won’t be gone long,” she said. She walked through the house, and out the back door.
As she left, she wondered what it would be like to have someone want her all the time. She used to imagine having loving parents, and maybe a couple of sisters or brothers. They could’ve played together, and even had a few fights, but there would’ve been a bond that held true.
But then, not all families were fairy tales. She’d come to the conclusion that most were dysfunctional. DeeDee had once told her that her aunt and mother had stopped talking years ago. So maybe families weren’t that great.
She stepped out of the clearing and past the trees. She and DeeDee had actually explored these woods. The golf course was on the other side.
Callie walked about halfway between the golf course and the house, saw a tree that had fallen, and made herself comfortable on it. Meditating didn’t really work for her so she decided to just talk, as Rogar had suggested. But what should she say?
It had been a long time since she’d actually heard the voice. Her imaginary friend, as the doctor had called her guide. If he’d only known. But the voice had seemed like a friend. Her only real one, besides Alma. Alma had been adopted so that hadn’t lasted long.
Callie thought back, trying to remember what it had felt like. Rogar was right when he said she would know when her animal guide connected. The voice inside her had been different.
“I remember you,” she finally said, closing her eyes so she could concentrate better. “You came to me when I was all alone, and had no one else. We were friends.”
Nothing. But then, Rogar had said the guide was afraid to come out.
“You talked to me mostly at night.” She would lie on her bed, one in a row of eight, and there were eight more across from her. Anyone would think with that many girls she wouldn’t have been lonely, but it was hard to make friends, especially when they would get adopted, and she knew she’d never see them again.
But she’d had her guide.
“Please don’t be afraid. I promise I won’t hurt you.”
“Hello, Callie.”
She let out a sigh of relief. “I’ve missed you.” And she knew she had. It was as though an old friend had returned.
“It has been a long time.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be, because I really haven’t thought about you at all. I mean, you certainly aren’t the type to run with my crowd.”
Huh? Her eyes flew open. Oh, damn, Constance Gentry. “I was…meditating. Getting in touch with my inner self.”
Constance let her gaze drift over Callie. “I didn’t know people still wore those…things.”
“They’re called sweats.”
“Whatever.” She flipped her hair behind her with one hand.
Constance still looked the same as she had the last time Callie had the misfortune to run into her. Tall, tanned, and blond. Callie wanted to vomit.
“What are you doing in the woods, anyway?” Callie asked.
She bent and picked up a golf ball. “I shanked it.”
“I bet that’s not all you’ve shanked in your lifetime,” she muttered.
“I’d heard you were mooching off DeeDee again and staying in her parents’ cabin.” She laughed. “Mrs. Crane must’ve been hitting the bottle again. She said you were engaged to a prince.” Her laughter was high- pitched enough that it could’ve broken a champagne glass. “You’ve got to remember those frogs you’ve probably been kissing are not going to turn into princes.”
They both turned their heads when there was a rustling of underbrush. Rogar stepped out, and Constance sucked air. And for once in her life, Callie felt as though she had the upper hand.
“There you are, darling,” Rogar said. “I know you said you wanted to take a walk by yourself, but I got lonely. Oh, I see I’ve interrupted.”
“Not at all, sweetheart.” She pasted a smile on her face that was so sweet it probably dripped sugar. “Constance, I’d like to introduce you to Prince Rogar Valkyir.”
They might not be engaged, but he was a prince. So what if she was flaunting his royal status—she’d feel guilty tomorrow.
Or not.
Chapter 22
Another blueblood. Rogar briefly studied the young woman. She wore a white band of sorts across her forehead. The other blueblood, Ms. Crane, had worn a white band also.
Rogar found her lacking in other areas as well. Other than her white top and white shorts, she also wore her haughty demeanor out in the open. He didn’t think he liked her anymore than he had the other two.
And he’d heard everything she’d said, and how she’d acted toward Callie, and Rogar didn’t like it. It made him wonder why Callie would want to stay on this planet. She longed for a job she’d apparently trained many years to get, but still didn’t have. The Earthlings he’d met wore masks. They smiled and said one thing, while meaning something entirely different.
“Are you really a prince?” Constance asked.
“Yes.”
Rogar walked over to Callie and held out his hand toward her. She took it. Her hand felt small in his. He helped her to her feet, but didn’t let go. Instead, he pulled her close to him, protective, but he also enjoyed the warmth of her body.
Constance’s eyes narrowed. “I guess you forgot to wear your engagement ring.” She looked pointedly at Callie’s hand.
“It is being designed especially for her,” he smoothly replied. He would need to look up their customs on his database. He didn’t know about the ring. The woman looked skeptical.
“Hey, Constance, did you get lost?”
“Over here, Freddie,” Constance called without looking in the direction the voice had come from.
It sounded as though many large animals were clomping toward them, but then a man appeared. He looked rather odd. Short, with red hair, and funny dots all over his face. Rogar had never seen anyone with dots.
“Callie Jordon, I heard you were staying at DeeDee’s parents’ cabin,” the man called Freddie said. “How the hell have you been?”
Callie relaxed so Rogar knew this person was not a typical blueblood. That, and he didn’t wear the white band across his forehead.
“Hi, Freddie,” Callie said, and Rogar heard the smile in her voice.
“Really, Freddie, do you have to make so much noise when you walk? You sounded like a herd of elephants.”
He only grinned. Then he met Rogar’s gaze, and Rogar saw something besides the odd way the man looked. There was intelligence. This man was no fool.
“I’m Freddie Danbury.”
Rogar bowed slightly at the waist. “Prince Rogar Valkyir, Callie’s fiancé.”
