Callie snuggled closer to Rogar, and tried not to think about someday. Not having him lying close like this was too painful. She’d always taken things one day at a time, and if something good happened, then that was great, but if it didn’t, then she wouldn’t feel the deep disappointment that was sure to come.
It had taken her a long time to stop looking forward to things that never happened. Like when the children were paraded in front of perspective parents. She always hoped that someone would adopt her, but they never did.
Unresolved legal issues and red tape had been the case in the beginning. By the time that was settled, she’d known she was different. She supposed the prospective parents had sensed it as well.
Once, when she was eight, she thought she might have a good chance of being adopted. A nice older couple took her home for a trial period. Callie fell in love with them. So much that she told them about the voice who spoke to her.
They brought her back quick enough. Shortly after that, she was taken to see the doctor. By the time she learned to stop listening, to make the voice go away, no one wanted an older child who had been seen by a psychiatrist.
It was hard to be positive when she was surrounded by negativity.
She suddenly smiled. But getting a little back felt pretty good. Tonight had been…kind of fun. For once, she had come out on top.
She nibbled her bottom lip. Pooping on Constance hadn’t been very nice. Not that she hadn’t deserved it. She should’ve been pooped on years ago. Callie wondered how hard it would be to change into a bird again. The bird wasn’t her animal guide, so it might prove difficult. Besides, it would be just her luck there’d be a hunter close by and pop a shot off. Kersplat. That would be the end of her.
She snuggled closer to Rogar, heard his even breathing, and knew he slept. She inhaled, then smiled when she caught the floral smell of the bath soap DeeDee’s mom always used. It was a nice scent. Not very manly, but nice all the same. Not that Rogar had to prove he was a man. No, he certainly didn’t need to prove anything in that area.
She yawned, just before drifting off to sleep. Her dreams were filled with her and Rogar living on New Symtaria. The two of them roaming the valleys and walking on the beaches. Peace and tranquility.
Callie came awake slowly, her eyes fluttering open. She glanced at the clock. After nine. She never slept this late. She yawned and stretched, her arm reaching across the bed, but the other side was empty.
She listened, but didn’t hear sounds from any other part of the cabin. Where was Rogar? She sniffed. He wasn’t burning anything. There was plenty of junk food in the kitchen, though, so maybe he’d gotten hungry. She’d probably find him eating the rest of the cream-filled cookies.
Tossing the cover off, she got out of bed, and strolled to the bathroom naked. She caught her reflection in the mirror, and realized she was becoming more comfortable in her own skin. She shook her head. There had been a lot of changes in her life since Rogar had come into it.
Hmm, she wasn’t sure they had all been for the better. He had turned her world upside down. Plus, Zerod had found her, and now wanted to kill her. If Rogar hadn’t shown up, Callie might have lived her life in complete obscurity.
And boredom.
Her thought?
Callie’s hand stilled as she was about to turn on the faucet. She didn’t think so.
“You’re here, aren’t you?” she asked.
Silence.
“I remember you. We were friends once.”
But you wanted me to go away.
Callie inhaled a sharp breath. “I was young and afraid. I didn’t know what was happening to me. I want to get to know you.”
Only to send me away again. You are not ready to accept that part of yourself.
Callie opened her mouth, but no words came out. What could she say? That they could live in harmony for the rest of their lives?
“I’m so confused.”
Silence. Callie knew her guide had buried herself again.
She washed her face, then turned off the water, and reached for a towel. When she looked into the mirror, she thought for a brief moment she saw different eyes staring back at her. Dark eyes flecked with gold. She blinked, and the image was gone, and she once more stared back at her own face.
Had it been a trick of the light? Suddenly, she felt drained. She needed to talk to Rogar about what was happening. She grabbed the white terry cloth robe off the hook on the door, and slipped her arms inside. After 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.”