Found(88)

“I’m not crying because of you,” Nadiah said with as much dignity as she could muster. “I’m thinking of Tabitha. Of what I saw in my dream last night.”

Rast frowned. “Back to that again, are we?”

“And you’re back to denigrating my gift.” Nadiah was suddenly furious. “I warn you, Detective Rast, I won’t put up with it. Either treat me with respect or turn this vehicle around right now and take me back to the HKR building.”

“Okay, sorry.” He gave her a look of grudging respect. “You sure know how to stand up for yourself.”

“I’ve had to,” Nadiah said grimly. “If I didn’t know how to stand up for myself I’d be back home right now mated to Yo-dah and having ugly babies just like my parents want me to.”

He frowned. “Is that some kind of an arranged marriage thing? They still do that where you’re from?”

“It’s more than that—stronger than that. A blood bond.” Nadiah sighed. “Never mind, you wouldn’t understand.”

“Maybe not completely,” he said, steering the car around a bend. “But I do understand being told to do something by someone in authority that I knew in my gut was wrong.”

“What did you do?” Nadiah asked, interested despite herself.

“I left,” he said shortly. “Struck out on my own.” He gave her a glance. “I’m guessing you did to.”

“I did.” She nodded. “But I’ll have to go back eventually. My problem isn’t one I can run away from completely. Soon I’ll have to face it.”

“Face what, exactly?” He sounded genuinely curious.

“The blood bond. It’s…never mind.” Nadiah shook her head. “It’s complicated.”

“Okay, you don’t want to talk about it. I get it.” He shrugged. “But did you actually say that the guy you were supposed marry is called Yoda?”

“Yo-dah,” Nadiah said, and frowned when he laughed. “What is it? Why does everyone find his name so funny? It’s a very old and well respected family name where I live.”

“Where you live,” he said dryly. “In a galaxy far, far away, right?”

“Well, yes.” Nadiah crossed her arms over her chest. “But so what?”

“Nothing.” But there was a small smile playing around the corner of his mouth. “It’s from a movie. Maybe if you’re here long enough I’ll show it to you.”

Nadiah raised an eyebrow at him. “Why Detective, are you asking me to a social event?’

“You mean like a date? I never said that.” He frowned again. “Forget I said anything. It was a stupid idea.”

“Not necessarily. And anyway I—oh! Oh!” Nadiah popped open the restraining harness that was holding her in place, stood up in the car and pointed. “Look! Look there they are!”

“Hey, stop that! Get back down here!” Rast tugged at her tharp which twitched slightly at the feeling of a strange hand on it. “That’s against the law,” he yelled. “Not to mention damn dangerous. Sit down!”

But Nadiah was far too excited to hear anything he said. “The giants!” she said, still pointing excitedly. “There they are! They’re just exactly like I saw them in my vision.”

Rast pulled the car into a parking space and stopped with a jolt. With a scream, Nadiah toppled over backwards and sideways. Her head hit the steering mechanism and she somehow landed in Rast’s lap.

“Ouch!” she gasped, looking up at the stern look of disapproval on his face. “Why did you do that?”

“To prove a point—you can’t stand up in a car while it’s driving.” He looked anxious. “I didn’t mean to hurt you, though. Is your head all right?”

“I think so.” Nadiah touched her forehead lightly with her fingertips. “Ow.”

Rast swore. “Damn it, you’re bleeding. What am I going to tell your cousin?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll tell him it was an accident.” Feeling suddenly uncomfortable at the intense way he was staring at her, Nadiah struggled to sit up and put some distance between them.

“Come back here.” Rast grabbed her by the arm. “You’re not getting out of the car until I do something about that.” He reached across her and fumbled around in a small compartment located right above where her knees had been. “Here, I always keep this handy.”

“What is it?” Nadiah asked as he opened a small white box with a red symbol on it.

“First aid kit. Hold still.” Working with surprising gentleness, Rast captured her chin in one hand and proceeded to dab some soothing ointment on the cut above her forehead. For some reason Nadiah’s heart started pounding faster and she found she couldn’t meet his eyes. Goddess, she wished he didn’t smell so good! Warm and spicy and somehow completely male.