tying the belt, she hurried from the room.
He wasn’t in the kitchen, or the living area. She walked to the front porch. The Hummer was still parked in the driveway. She started to go back inside when she heard a golf cart coming down the trail. Constance was driving, but Rogar was on the seat beside her.
Fury burned through her. She clamped her lips together, and narrowed her eyes.
It wasn’t enough that Rogar was with a woman Callie loathed, no, Candice looked bright-eyed and beautiful, while Callie was only wearing the robe. She was also barefoot, and her hair still tousled. She ran her fingers through it as they pulled close to the porch.
What the hell was Rogar doing with Constance anyway? Damn it, Callie really didn’t want to have to deal with the other woman this early in the morning.
Constance smiled up at Callie, but there wasn’t an ounce of warmth in it.
“I see you’re finally up.” Her gaze scanned Callie. When she met Callie’s eyes once more, Constance gloated. “Not a morning person, are you?”
Rogar climbed out of the cart, impervious to the underlying sarcasm passing between the two women.
“You’ve been up for a while,” Callie said. “You should have woken me.”
Constance’s eyes narrowed. “Remember what I said, Rogar.” She smirked. “The offer is on the table.” She turned the cart, and left without saying another word.
Callie met his gaze. “What offer?” There was no way they could have discussed business since, as far as she knew, Constance’s family wasn’t involved in interplanetary import and export.
Rogar turned and watched the cart disappear around the corner. “She wanted us to become lovers.”
“She wanted…lovers! That bitch!” She started down the steps, but before she could even step off the first one, Rogar scooped her into his arms and carried her inside.
“I told her no, I was very satisfied with the lover I already have.”
She felt somewhat better. Then she eyed him with more than a little suspicion. “Are you telling me the truth?”
“I would never lie to you.”
“Why were you even with her?”
“I took a check to Ms. Crane. It was a nice, early morning walk.”
Now he was writing hot checks? Oh, God, she was definitely going to prison. “But you don’t have a bank account.”
“I created one with my database. The money has been transferred to the account. Everything is taken care of. It was relatively simple.”
“That still doesn’t explain why you were with Constance.” Was that really her questioning him like a jealous girlfriend? Yes, it was, and yes, she was jealous of Constance. Jealous might not be the right word.
Territorial?
Not that Rogar was her exclusive property. He would leave soon, and probably find someone new. Ouch, that hurt.
“I was with Constance because she drove by and offered me a ride. I was anxious to get back to you, so I accepted.”
She smiled as a warm, tingly feeling tickled her tummy. “You were?”
He dropped a kiss on her lips before he set her on her feet. “Yes, I was. I don’t know how to cook and I’m starved.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “That is so not funny.”
There was a knock on the door. They both turned. If Constance was on the other side, she’d belt her one. Rogar might not be hers forever, but he was hers for right now.
“I’ll get it,” she said, then marched to the door, ready for battle.
Chapter 26
Callie opened the door, surprised to see Freddie. “Good morning.”
“God, you’re even beautiful when you first wake up. You have that look about you.”
She frowned. “What look?”
“The look that says you’ve been well-loved.” He sighed. “Too bad I wasn’t the guy you were with.”
“Did you want something?” Rogar asked as he came up behind Callie. “Besides Callie that is.”
She glanced over her shoulder. Was that a note of jealousy she heard in his voice? His stern expression said it just might very well be. She kind of liked the idea that someone would be jealous over her.
Freddie seemed to weigh his options, then sighed deeply. “Since I apparently can’t have her, how about a cup of coffee?” He pushed the door open wider, and strolled inside. “Computers are a marvelous invention, you know. You can find out about anyone with the touch of a finger. Like the fact there is no prince of New Symtaria, nor is there even a country.” He went around the kitchen bar to the cabinets, opening them until he found the coffee.
She realized her mouth was hanging open, and snapped it closed. Crap, what were they going to do now? She cast a worried glance at Rogar, before shutting the front door. “Uh…what are you getting at?” she asked as she walked over to the bar.
He took the glass carafe to the sink and filled it, looking up only after pouring water into the machine. “Nothing much, except there isn’t a prince called Rogar Valkyir anywhere in the world.”
She gave a short, unconvincing laugh. “It’s a very small country. I doubt it’s even listed.”
Freddie looked at Rogar. “The guy is leading you down the wrong path Callie. He’s a con man. Believe me, I’ve met my share of them. I can’t believe you’ve fallen for his lines.”
“I haven’t lied to anyone,” Rogar said.
Freddie’s eyes narrowed, and for the first time in her life, Callie realized looks can be deceiving. There was a lot more to Freddie than anyone suspected.
“Then what is the name of your country?” he asked, voice as cold as ice.
“New Symtaria.”
Freddie shook his head. “Symtaria would have popped up on the search engine. Symtaria, new or old, doesn’t exist.”
Callie felt as though the room was quickly closing in on her. Please, please, please just drop it Freddie, she silently prayed.
“I’ll give you one hour to clear out. Alone. Then I’m calling the police, whether you’ve left or not.” He shook his head. “Why would you lie to Callie like that? She’s never done anything to anyone. She’s the only real and decent person I’ve ever met.”
“I didn’t intend to hurt Callie,” Rogar told him.
“But you have. She’ll be lucky if she doesn’t get in trouble. Did you just assume she would clean up the mess you’re leaving behind? The million dollar bid last night?” His lip curled into a sneer. “I doubt someone like you has ever seen that much money.”
“It’s not like that,” Callie broke in.
“Callie, don’t buy into his game. The jewels you wore last night were probably fake, or worse, stolen. I have lawyers who can help you if you need them. Don’t worry.”
She looked at Rogar, silently begging for help.
“I am not from your planet,” Rogar said.
Callie groaned. That was not the kind of help she had been praying for.
Freddie began to slowly inch around the bar, moving closer to her. “Another planet. That’s a little hard to buy, buddy.”
This was not going at all well.
Rogar looked calm, not at all disturbed that Freddie now knew he was an alien. Not that Callie thought for one minute Freddie believed Rogar. No, from the expression on Freddie’s face, she was pretty sure he thought Rogar was a nutcase. She wasn’t too sure this had been the right way to go.
