The silence between them grew, so she filled it.
“I heard a little something about your previous life. I’m glad you live at Reservation now.”
“I am too.” He juggled the bag. “Do you mind if I put this in your kitchen?”
“Please, make yourself at home.”
He didn’t have far to go. He set the bag on her counter, and Mel was grateful that some of her mama’s habits had stuck. Her apartment was clean. She couldn’t abide messes. When she’d first moved into the cramped space, she’d spent the first week not picking up things. That had been part of her rebellious stage, too, but it wasn’t one she enjoyed. Dirty dishes meant eventually having to wash something anyway if she wanted to eat; soiled laundry laying around became a tripping hazard, plus no clean clothes to wear.
“Are you hungry?” He motioned to the bag.
“I could always eat.” That was the truth. Nobody would ever accuse her of not having a healthy appetite. “It was kind of you to bring me something. Thank you.”
“It’s difficult to cook with one injured arm.”
“This?” She lifted the sling a few inches. “It’s not bad. I’ve had worse. I’m only still wearing it because Mary threatened to dose my food with those pain pills your doctor sent if I didn’t and write ‘dumbass’ on my forehead in marker after I conked out. She’s still upset about me getting shot.”
His gaze locked on her. “So am I. Why would she write that on you? It doesn’t sound like something a friend would do.”
“I don’t think she really would have done it but it’s kind of hard to tell when Mary’s serious. I wasn’t willing to risk it.”
“Would you ever write on her?”
“Maybe if she did it first. It would wash off.”
He laughed. “I’ll remember to avoid you if you have a marker.”
“I’d never do that to you.”
“I’m glad.” It was nice of him to come, but she just wasn’t sure what to say next. “Um…”
He stopped messing with the bag and looked up at her. “What is it?”
She hated being uncomfortable. It was something she should be used to after everything she’d endured growing up. Her mama and some of the town really had put her through the wringer every time she’d done something they hadn’t agreed with. She figured her cheeks might be bright red but she held her ground. “I’m sorry for some of the things I said after I got shot.”
“There’s nothing to apologize for unless you didn’t mean it.”
That stunned her.
He went back to pulling items out of the bag and setting them on her counter. They looked like to-go meals from the diner but she knew he hadn’t gotten them from there. It was still closed.
Snow folded the empty bag and lifted his chin. His gaze locked onto her. “I liked what you said. I even wore a tank top and jeans since you prefer them.”
She was torn between feeling happy and possibly making a beeline toward her bedroom to hide. She usually knew how to talk to men—but not him. He was a New Species. Her strong attraction to him only made matters worse.
“I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. Did I?” His tone softened and his expression grew somber. “I apologize. I was too blunt.”
“No.” She bit her lip. “I just don’t know what to make of you. That’s all.”
“Do I frighten you?”
“I wouldn’t have let you through the door if I thought you’d do something bad to me.”
“Pretend I’m completely human.”
She grinned. “But you’re not.”
“I could act as if I were.”
“Then you wouldn’t be you.” She shook her head. “That isn’t right. Nobody should expect you to change. You’d be miserable. Trust me on that.”
His eyebrows rose.
“I grew up in a small town. Real small. It makes this place seem like Los Angeles. Though, I went to Southern California with my best friend right before Christmas to see some of her family. It was a scary; there were way too many people. I don’t know how they get anywhere in cars. It just seems like folks sit in traffic for most of their day.” Mel shook her head, getting back to her point. “Anyway, there are rules to follow in a small town or you get treated badly. I hated doing all the boring things they found fun. I wanted more for my future than what my folks kept forcing on me. Nothing I did or said was ever good enough. It’s why I finally broke free and left. I just wanted to be who I am. I’m much happier now.”
“Do you enjoy living here?”
“For the most part. I’m kind of a sore thumb. I try to fit in but I see people looking at me weird when I talk. I dropped most of the accent but the way I word things still screams ‘farm girl.’ I can’t really deny it, since it’s where I came from. Some snobby people think I’m dumb as a post or slow. I’m really not. I’m just…me.”
“I think you’re perfect the way you are.”
Warmth spread through her at his compliment. “Thank you. Would you like to sit? The food can wait.”
“Sure.” He left her kitchen and stepped into her living room.
She turned and took a seat on the couch. He sat next to her, only a few feet separating them. Mel studied his face. He really was incredibly handsome, and his eyes were over-the-top sexy. “Do you want honesty?”
“I’d like that a lot.”
She took a deep breath and blew it out. “I’ve been attracted to you in a big way since I first saw you. You make me nervous, though, and I feel like a virgin on prom night. I’m not implying we’re going to have sex,” she rushed on. “It’s just an example.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
She laughed. “It depends on the virgin. Some can’t wait to get rid of it and others are purely terrified.”
“Which type are you?” He smiled.
“I’m kind of borderline. I thought about asking you out but you all don’t seem to date. I’d know it if a New Species had a girlfriend who lived here. Everyone would gossip about it. It hasn’t happened yet. And I don’t want to get involved if you’re only looking for sex. Some men like the chase and once they get what they want, they move on. I’m not that sort.”
“You’re not looking for a one-night stand?”
“No. I’m also not ready to jump into bed with you right off the bat, if you’re attracted to me, too, but that whole you-don’t-date thing stumps me. It’s tough to get to know you better to figure out what kind of man you are. I don’t know much about New Species, but I refuse to read that crap they print in the tabloids or listen to the trash talk on television. I mean, I’ve never been tempted to nail my cousins, and I sure wouldn’t marry any of them, but that’s how a lot of small-town folk are represented to the rest of the world. Though I know not all city folks are snobs or weirdoes. I’ve met some real nice people who are down to earth.”
“New Species don’t go out on dates. That’s true. It’s not because we’re opposed to it, but we tend to draw a lot of attention and crowds if we venture into the outside world. It’s not bad here in this town. We aren’t followed around, photographed, or attacked…usually. Homeland is another story. It is surrounded by large human cities.”
He placed his arm over the back of the couch and twisted his body more to face her. “Species don’t want to put anyone in danger, and some humans have been targeted after their association with us became known. That’s a deep concern to us. It can be life threatening when a human dates a Species. Not from our kind, but from yours. It’s also tough to date at Homeland or Reservation. Not too many places to take a date. We have a bar that serves food but most of us don’t drink alcohol. Our bars aren’t like the ones humans visit.”
“You don’t drink?”
He shook his head. “Alcohol tastes vile, and it doesn’t sound fun to get drunk. No one wants to be out of control and foolish in front of witnesses. We have bars as social places to gather, dance, and eat. We mostly drink coffee, teas and juices there.”