father.
“Woof!” Killer swiped a pink tongue across Janaya’s face. “Will ya give me food?”
She laughed. “It’s a deal.”
Luke’s father shook his head. “I don’t know why you’re talking to Killer as though she can understand. Well, if you’re sure that you’re fine, then I’m off to the wheat fields.”
He drove off, leaving an uneasy silence behind.
“How come I can understand the dog and Dad can’t? The sex thing?”
Janaya glanced at Hinekiri and then back at Luke. “It’s because I imprinted on you when I saw you. Somehow you’ve acquired some of my powers.”
“But not all of them.”
“No.”
“Great.” Luke jerked his head at the dead Torgon ashes. “At least Dad didn’t notice the debris. Get in. Tony, my second-in-command, will be tearing his hair out by now if he’s dealing with Mrs. Bates.”
She nodded and climbed back into the vehicle. They drove along in silence, Janaya staring straight ahead. Part of her longed for the old days when the worst she needed to cope with was kicking bad guys in the butt. This situation with Luke was messy because they’d talked. They’d had fun together. Emotions had raised their ugly antennas. A frown puckered her brow. She couldn’t remember anything like this happening before, especially not with Santana. They didn’t see each other much and that seemed to work best.
“Hinekiri and I will find alternative accommodations,” Janaya said. “We can return to the ship.”
“No!” Hinekiri screeched from the rear.
“Over my dead body,” Luke snarled. “I’m keeping you in my sight so no one gets hurt.”
Janaya sucked in a calming breath and forced away the sudden vision of her being in his sight. The idea of being crushed in his embrace… And this licking business he’d introduced her to—she craved more. Her body heated and she found herself fidgeting and squirming on the leather seat. Janaya glanced at him. The solid, clenched jaw jerked her back to reality. She’d stayed in his vicinity last night and now look at the mess.
“But we can get the ship mended and leave quickly if you’d let us,” she argued.
“I’m not going to squabble about it. I’ll lock you up if necessary.”
“Sounds kinky. Do you think your father has handcuffs?” Hinekiri asked.
“No!” Janaya said, jerking around to glare at her aunt in the backseat. “You stay away from Luke’s father. Luke has enough problems as it is.” Janaya cursed under her breath. Her instincts had been right. Hinekiri was interested in Luke’s father. No telling how stubborn she’d be about leaving. She was still muttering about seeing the phrullin wildebeest creatures in some place called Africa. Why she’d want to see a weird gnu run from point A to point B, Janaya had no idea.
“We’re here,” Luke said with clear relief in his husky voice. He turned the vehicle right into a wide street flanked by shady trees and colorful gardens. He waved at the drivers of each car they passed before turning left into a narrow road and coasting to a stop in a graveled parking area outside a brick building.
“Stay with me and don’t talk to anyone.” Without another word, he climbed out of the vehicle and waited impatiently for them to follow.
Luke strode up the steps in front of the square building. A lopsided sign fronted the façade. The faded words proclaimed the building a police station. Two men and a woman stood on the footpath outside the hardware store next door. Spirited chat complete with hand gestures ensued. When they spotted Luke, they fell silent.
“Fascinating, isn’t it?” Hinekiri whispered in her ear, immediately making Janaya frown. She hoped her aunt didn’t do anything stupid and attract attention.
“Are you coming inside?” Luke demanded, holding the door open for them.
Janaya decided to pick her fights. She’d go along with the grumpy, arrogant male for now. “Hurry,” she said, grabbing hold of Hinekiri’s forearm and
“Woof!” Killer swiped a pink tongue across Janaya’s face. “Will ya give me food?”
She laughed. “It’s a deal.”
Luke’s father shook his head. “I don’t know why you’re talking to Killer as though she can understand. Well, if you’re sure that you’re fine, then I’m off to the wheat fields.”
He drove off, leaving an uneasy silence behind.
“How come I can understand the dog and Dad can’t? The sex thing?”
Janaya glanced at Hinekiri and then back at Luke. “It’s because I imprinted on you when I saw you. Somehow you’ve acquired some of my powers.”
“But not all of them.”
“No.”
“Great.” Luke jerked his head at the dead Torgon ashes. “At least Dad didn’t notice the debris. Get in. Tony, my second-in-command, will be tearing his hair out by now if he’s dealing with Mrs. Bates.”
She nodded and climbed back into the vehicle. They drove along in silence, Janaya staring straight ahead. Part of her longed for the old days when the worst she needed to cope with was kicking bad guys in the butt. This situation with Luke was messy because they’d talked. They’d had fun together. Emotions had raised their ugly antennas. A frown puckered her brow. She couldn’t remember anything like this happening before, especially not with Santana. They didn’t see each other much and that seemed to work best.
“Hinekiri and I will find alternative accommodations,” Janaya said. “We can return to the ship.”
“No!” Hinekiri screeched from the rear.
“Over my dead body,” Luke snarled. “I’m keeping you in my sight so no one gets hurt.”
Janaya sucked in a calming breath and forced away the sudden vision of her being in his sight. The idea of being crushed in his embrace… And this licking business he’d introduced her to—she craved more. Her body heated and she found herself fidgeting and squirming on the leather seat. Janaya glanced at him. The solid, clenched jaw jerked her back to reality. She’d stayed in his vicinity last night and now look at the mess.
“But we can get the ship mended and leave quickly if you’d let us,” she argued.
“I’m not going to squabble about it. I’ll lock you up if necessary.”
“Sounds kinky. Do you think your father has handcuffs?” Hinekiri asked.
“No!” Janaya said, jerking around to glare at her aunt in the backseat. “You stay away from Luke’s father. Luke has enough problems as it is.” Janaya cursed under her breath. Her instincts had been right. Hinekiri was interested in Luke’s father. No telling how stubborn she’d be about leaving. She was still muttering about seeing the phrullin wildebeest creatures in some place called Africa. Why she’d want to see a weird gnu run from point A to point B, Janaya had no idea.
“We’re here,” Luke said with clear relief in his husky voice. He turned the vehicle right into a wide street flanked by shady trees and colorful gardens. He waved at the drivers of each car they passed before turning left into a narrow road and coasting to a stop in a graveled parking area outside a brick building.
“Stay with me and don’t talk to anyone.” Without another word, he climbed out of the vehicle and waited impatiently for them to follow.
Luke strode up the steps in front of the square building. A lopsided sign fronted the façade. The faded words proclaimed the building a police station. Two men and a woman stood on the footpath outside the hardware store next door. Spirited chat complete with hand gestures ensued. When they spotted Luke, they fell silent.
“Fascinating, isn’t it?” Hinekiri whispered in her ear, immediately making Janaya frown. She hoped her aunt didn’t do anything stupid and attract attention.
“Are you coming inside?” Luke demanded, holding the door open for them.
Janaya decided to pick her fights. She’d go along with the grumpy, arrogant male for now. “Hurry,” she said, grabbing hold of Hinekiri’s forearm and
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