Read Online Wind-Scarred (The Will of the Elements, Book 1) by Sky Corbelli - Free Book Online Page B

deceptions.
    “ I'm afraid you still have me at a disadvantage,” he said,
making small-talk while he furiously thought up and dismissed idea
after idea. “A first name maybe? Something a little... less
formal?”
    “ Most people typically call me Doe, but to friends I'm Gal. I
think we can be friends, even though I'm still immensely
disappointed in you.”
    “ Gal?” he said sceptically.
    She paused as she took out a tube of cherry
red lipstick and gave him a level look. “Short for Galois. My
parents wanted a boy. And a mathematician. I figured since I'd
already failed at the first, I shouldn't even bother trying for the
second. Hence the Guild.”
    Ezra made every effort not to laugh. Her
name wasn't her fault. Also, she probably still had that taser
somewhere. “Gal, then. It's a pretty name.”
    She rolled her eyes and began applying the
lipstick. He grimaced as he dismissed another plan involving a
prolonged stay with local grunts to rekindle his passion for
research. Gal really wasn't being very helpful with this whole
cover story thing. Ezra was about to say something when they came
to a stop. He looked out the window in a panic as the Hawkins
estate loomed above them. He wasn't ready, he hadn't thought of
anything yet, he needed more time!
    Ezra turned despairing eyes back to Gal just
as she reached over, grabbed his head firmly with both hands, and
gave him a big, wet kiss on the left cheek. She then reached past,
opened the door, and pushed him out. He stumbled but didn't fall.
She grinned at him through the open door. “Good luck, Ezzy.” Gal
winked at him. “I know you'll do me proud.”
    She began to close the door but he caught it
halfway. She looked up at him quizzically. “I just have one more
question,” he said. “Why the phone booth?”
    Her grin returned, even wider and more
dazzling than before. “I thought that would be obvious. Where else
would you go to become a hero?”

Chapter
11
First Dates and Other Elusive
Creatures
    Ezra stared after the departing skiff. Do
her proud? What was she talking about? He was... ah! His cover
story! He didn't have anything! Stupid pretty girl. Stupid kissing.
He had to think of something, and he had to think of it fast.
    He was standing there stupidly when he heard
someone clear their throat behind him. Ezra turned around slowly,
heart sinking. His secretary was not three feet away, arms crossed
stiffly in front of her, toe tapping the ground, radiating
fury.
    “ Oh, uh, Kirsten. I-I mean Miss O'Donnell. You'll never believe
what happened-”
    She closed the space between them, hand
darting out to grasp his chin. She turned his head sharply to the
right, her eyes narrowing. Ezra imagined he could feel her anger
scorching the side of his face.
    “ Ah,” she said quietly, “I see.” She sniffed with disdain.
“I'll have to call the Crawfords and reschedule for later in the
day. I suggest you get some rest.” With that she released him, hand
absently brushing her skirt. “Will that be all, Mr. Hawkins?”
Without waiting for a response, Kirsten spun and walked briskly
back through the open door of the house.
    Shaken, he followed, and caught a glimpse of
his reflection in a window. Turning his face to the right, he saw
the impression of Gal's lips on his cheek in dark red lipstick. He
thought he should probably be mortified or embarrassed by this, but
maybe with everything else that had happened tonight, he could
afford to put that off until the morning. Shaking his head in
wonder, he went inside, up to his room, closed the door and
promptly fell asleep. He did not bother to find the bed first.
    ==
    Ezra woke up with the sun
in his eyes and a hard lump digging into his stomach. He rolled
over on the floor. The floor? Yes, he was on the floor. And the
lump... that was his camera. Why had he fallen asleep on his camera
in the middle of the floor? Abruptly the events of the previous
night rushed back to him and he leaped up. Or tried too. His