Her stomach growled, reminding her that no matter how crazy life got there were still some things that didn’t change—she was hungry and she had to pee. And if there was a chance she might die today she might as well eat everything she wanted.
“I’m going to stop and get something to eat. Do you want anything?”
She sensed his interest pick up. “Can we stop here?” He pointed at a popular fast-food chain just up ahead on the right.
“Sure.” She turned on her signal light, pulled into the parking lot and found an empty spot near the door. “Okay, here are the rules. No swords allowed and you need to put on a shirt, something that covers more of you than that vest does. No bare chests allowed in the restaurant.”
He frowned, but a second later the vest disappeared and his magnificent chest was covered by a sleeveless leather tunic with ties in the front. She swallowed hard at the casual display of power. The guy was magic, in more ways than one.
Don’t think about it, she admonished herself. Yes, he was sex on a stick, but he was also immortal and his time with her was temporary. Plus, he had a mission that was more important to him than anything. If she let herself have feelings for him she’d only be hurt when he left. That’s assuming they both survived the next few hours.
“Will this do?” He frowned at her and she realized she’d been sitting there like an idiot staring at him.
She grabbed her purse and shoved open her door. “That’s fine.”
He was beside her before she reached the door to the restaurant, opening it and holding it for her. Head held high and shoulders back, she started to march up to the counter but suddenly changed directions. “I’m going to the ladies room.”
She was about to push open the door to the bathroom when she realized he was right behind her. She whirled around and slapped her hand on Leander’s chest, stopping him in his tracks. “You can’t come in here.”
“Why not?” His frown got darker and his gaze narrowed.
She pointed to the little sign of the stick-figure woman on the door. “Ladies only. If you need to use the bathroom, you go there.” She pointed at the other door.
“I do not want to leave you alone.” He started to muscle past her, but she planted her feet and refused to budge.
“You can’t go in there. You’re going to get us in trouble if you keep this up.” Already she could see several patrons watching, a couple of them with frowns on their faces. Not good. They were attracting attention, something they didn’t need, not with demons chasing them. “I’ll only be a minute. If it makes you feel any better, stand guard by the door.”
“I will do that.” He crossed his massive arms over his chest and stood with legs braced apart next to the entrance to the ladies’ room. Araminta only hoped that no other woman needed to pee in a hurry. She didn’t think Leander would let them in.
She hurried to the first stall and took care of business. When she was done, she washed her hands and tucked some stray ends of hair behind her ears. She really needed to brush and braid it again but didn’t want to take the time. There was no telling how long Leander’s patience would hold.
She stared at her reflection in the mirror, studying it and searching for changes in herself. Surely everything she’d gone through should have left its mark. Her eyes were tired and slightly bloodshot, but she didn’t look bad for a woman who’d been dragged into a war between a god and goddess, slept with an immortal warrior and been attacked by demons. She looked like herself, only exhausted and slightly shell-shocked.
She gripped the edge of the sink and took a deep breath. She could do this. After all, she really didn’t have a choice in the matter.
“Araminta?” The bathroom door was shoved open and Leander loomed large in the doorway.
“I’m coming. Hold onto your horses.”
He frowned at her, his expression becoming even more concerned. “But I have no horses. We drove in your car. Are you sure you are okay? Did you hit your head?”
In spite of her fatigue and fear, she smiled. “It’s just an expression. It means have some patience.”
He grunted and held the door for her but didn’t step back. Her arm grazed his chest as she walked by. It wasn’t fair. The guy had fought yucky demons. He should reek of sweat and demon, whatever the hell they’d smelled like, but instead a hot scent, much like the desert air, seemed to permeate his skin. It was delicious and made her want to rub herself against him.
Shaking off her growing arousal, she stalked to the counter. “Do you know what you want?” There were two young men in the lineup ahead of them so she motioned to the menu suspended from the ceiling behind the counter. “Everything they have is listed.”
Leander tilted back his head and studied the various meal deals and single offerings. It occurred to her that he might not know how to read. She wasn’t even sure what, if any, written language had existed when he’d last walked this world. Hieroglyphics maybe.
She sidled up to him and tugged on his hand. He leaned down so she could discreetly whisper in his ear. “Can you read?”
He nodded solemnly. “Yes. Even though we were held in stasis for all those years, we absorbed all the learning and creations of mankind. I can read and speak all languages.” The corners of his lips tilted upward and she found herself holding her breath, hoping he would smile. “But it is much different experiencing it in the flesh.”
Araminta couldn’t begin to imagine how disconcerting it must be for him to be free and in a world that was so different from the one he’d left behind. The fact that he was functioning at all was to be admired. And he could read and speak all languages. That was intimidating as all get out. The guy was not only built like a god and a first-class warrior, but he was smart too. Compared to him, she was ordinary at best.
No, it was just as well that he was leaving once the curse was finally broken. Better to focus on practical matters and put aside all thoughts of him as a sexy, intelligent guy who she really liked in spite of his domineering tendencies.
“Do you even have to eat?” It occurred to her that he might not have to. After all, the guy was immortal. She had no idea what the rules were when it came to Leander.
“Not often. But I am hungry after going without for such a long time.” He pointed to one of the pictures. “What exactly is that?”
“It’s a breakfast sandwich with bacon, cheese and eggs.”
He nodded. “I will have some of those.”
The teenage boy behind the counter stared up at him when Leander stepped forward to place his order. “Can I take your order?”
Leander nodded and began to order. “I will have three of those.” He pointed at the breakfast sandwiches. “A number one, a number two and a number three breakfast.”
Araminta stood beside him, gaping at him as Leander continued to order. The boy behind the counter could barely keep up. She only hoped she had enough cash on her to pay for everything. He finally finished with two orange juices.
Leander turned to her. “What will you have?”
“Ah.” She wanted to say she wasn’t sure she could afford anything now that he’d ordered, but one glance at the excited expectation on his face and she resigned herself to whatever the meal would cost. She could use her bank card if she didn’t have enough cash on her. The guy hadn’t had food in several thousand years. No wonder he wanted to try everything. “I’ll have the number two breakfast with whole-wheat toast. And a coffee.”
He frowned. “That is all?”
“Believe me, that’s more than enough.” She gained weight easily and normally wouldn’t have eggs, bacon and toast for breakfast, but after the night she’d put in she figured she deserved it. “We’ll take it to go,” she told the young man, who was openly staring at Leander.