Freddie looked at Callie as though she had done something very good, then nodded.
“Come on, Freddie, let’s get back to our game.” Constance turned on her heel.
“There’s a get together tonight. A benefit auction for some cause that Matilda Crane dug up. Fancy dress and bidding wars,” Freddie said, ignoring Constance. “Why don’t you two join us at the club?”
Callie stiffened. “I don’t think…”
Constance turned. Rogar could see the fury flare in her eyes, but just as quickly it changed to a calculating gleam. “Oh, do, come. And bring your…prince.”
“We are honored by your invitation,” Rogar quickly told her, and could almost feel the dread coming from Callie. She’d changed since they’d arrived at the cabin. Since the Cranes had dropped by. She’d been more on edge, just like when this Constance woman had begun to talk down to her.
“Great, we’ll see you then,” Freddie said. “And congratulations. You deserve all the happiness you find, Callie.”
“Freddie!”
He grinned again, then left.
As soon as they were out of sight, Callie jerked away from Rogar. Planting her hands on her hips, she faced him, and she didn’t look a bit happy.
“Why do you keep telling people we’re engaged?” she demanded.
“Because they act superior toward you. I don’t like it.”
“But we’re not engaged.”
“You will never see these people again so it doesn’t matter.”
She loudly exhaled. “And I’m not going to their damn auction!”
“Are you afraid?”
“No, I don’t like these people. Why would I want to be around them?”
“To show them you are better. They only gauge a person by their wealth. Tonight, you will be like Cinderella.”
She frowned. “How the hell do you know about Cinderella?”
“When DeeDee told me women liked fairy tales, I looked it up on my database. Cinderella was listed, so I read the story. I enjoyed it very much.”
“Well, you’re wrong about all women liking fairy tales. I don’t want the fairy tale. I don’t even believe in them.”
“For one night, wouldn’t you like to give them a taste of how they treat others they consider below their level?” She didn’t look convinced. “Face your enemies, Callie, then conquer them.”
She didn’t say anything, so he knew she was thinking it over.
“Okay, maybe I would, but what you’re suggesting would only be make-believe.”
“Everyone needs a little fantasy in their life from time to time. It makes things more exciting.”
She shrugged. “But I don’t have anything to wear, so it doesn’t matter.”
“We will duplicate.”
“Duplicate?”
“Like the money.”
She sighed deeply. “I have a feeling this is not going to be good.”
“It will be very good.” He reached out and stroked his hand down the side of her face, and felt the shiver that ran through her. “You always make me want you.”
“I didn’t do anything.” She visibly swallowed.
By the Goddess Aricepta, Callie didn’t have to do a thing but be near him. Had she cast a spell upon him? Some women he knew practiced the art of spell casting, his mother and sisters did. Rogar’s father had once laughingly said that was how she had captured his heart. But his brothers and sisters knew better. Their mother was a dark-haired beauty. Many men had wanted her, but Rogar’s father was the one she chose.
“Fore!”
He looked up as a white ball landed nearby. “Why do they yell fore, then toss their ball into the woods?”
“It’s just a game.”
“Your games are silly.”
She smiled. He liked the way she smiled.
“Let’s go back to the cabin,” he said. He didn’t like the constant interruptions.
She nodded.
As they walked, he thought of something he’d wanted to ask. “Why did Freddie have dots? Is he an alien?” He was thoughtful for a moment. “Although I haven’t seen anyone until this day that had dots.”
She chuckled. He liked that, too. When DeeDee had stopped by to leave Callie her birthday present, she had told him Callie didn’t laugh much, and if Rogar hurt her, she would personally see him castrated. He’d promised he wouldn’t. After she left, he typed in castrated. He’d decided he would make certain that he wouldn’t hurt Callie.
“Those are called freckles. Most redheads have them,” she said. She looked up at him and smiled.
Her lips were too tempting. No one could blame him for what he was about to do. He lowered his head until his lips were touching hers. His tongue caressed hers, the heat of the kiss shooting downward, leaving him shaking. He wanted this woman more than breathing.
He pulled away, each breath strained. “What spell have you cast upon me?” he murmured as he buried his face in her hair, breathing in her scent.
“I could ask you the same thing.”
He pulled back, looking into her eyes. “Leave with me right now. Zerod cannot harm you on New Symtaria.” He waved his arm. “These people are fools. They think wealth is the most important thing in life, and if you aren’t one of them, you’re not accepted into their ranks.”
She shook her head, tears filling her eyes. “I can’t. It’s more than that. These people mean nothing to me. What I have might not seem like much to you, but it’s a part of who I am. I’ve lived—breathed—every thought has been that I would someday work with the big cats at the zoo. I’m next in line for the animal keeper job. You’re asking me to give it all up. To leave Sheba, to leave DeeDee, I can’t.” She ducked out of his arms and ran the rest of the way to the cabin.
Rogar had seen the single tear run down her cheek before she turned away and fled. A sharp pain stabbed him in the heart at the mere thought that he would hurt her. His gaze dropped to the ground, and he noticed the flowers growing in patches. He would make her feel better by bringing flowers to her.
Then he would ask her not to tell DeeDee that he’d hurt her. He wasn’t sure how DeeDee would manage to castrate him, since he was obviously the stronger one, but he didn’t know what an Earthling was capable of doing, and he chose not to find out.
Callie felt like a fool. Why had she run away? Crying, no less. She rarely cried. A long time ago, she realized tears never solved anything. The only time she cried was when she watched
She frowned.
Maybe when a new baby was born at the zoo, or when an animal died, then she would cry, too. But those were the only times.
She shook her head. It didn’t matter why she cried. She just didn’t like it when someone saw her. Damn it, she couldn’t leave the only thing that had given her stability in her life. She belonged right where she was, except maybe living in a new house where she could have pets. She bet she couldn’t have a pet on New Symtaria. And if she did, it would probably shift into a person and scare the crap out of her.
No, her life was what she knew, what was familiar, for better or worse. Yes, she liked Rogar a lot, but she wouldn’t leave with him.
The door opened behind her. She stiffened.
“I brought you flowers to make you feel better,” he said as he came around in front of her and thrust them under her nose.
She took one look at the red petals and sniffed.
“I’ve made you cry again. I’m sorry.”
