Since he drove us to Darroch’s in the first place, he knew I did, but I didn’t give him any grief. I just nodded. I was too tired to do much else. This had been a very weird day. Heck, it’d been a very weird few weeks.
“I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” I promised Kabita. She nodded as we exited her office followed by Inigo. Then she shut the door behind us with a firm click. I hoped she wasn’t staying in there to brood. I could tell Trevor Daly had upset her. Our government liaison might be hot, but he was also a major ass. I planned on spending many happy hours dreaming up suitable tortures for him.
“Don’t worry, she’ll be fine.” Inigo leaned against the reception desk in the outer office, well-worn jeans sculpting well-toned legs, but he reached out and took my hand. I felt guilty as a shot of pure lust hit me. How could I be drooling over Inigo and still be crazy about Jack? Not to mention that Jack was standing right next to me. Was my libido that out of whack? Maybe there was some truth in Cordelia’s catnip theory.
I gave Inigo’s hand a quick squeeze then dropped it. I didn’t know what else to do with Jack standing right there watching our every move. It wasn’t like either of them was my boyfriend or anything, but still.
“I’ll make sure Kabita gets home OK,” Inigo promised, his sky blue eyes twinkling at me as though he could tell what I was thinking. “Pour a few mojitos down her. She’ll be right as rain tomorrow.”
I nodded. “Jack, could you give me a minute?”
Jack hesitated. He narrowed his eyes a little at Inigo before heading out the door.
“Listen, Inigo … “
In one swift move he was beside me. Gone was the laughter, the twinkle. Instead his expression was dead serious as he cupped my face in his hands.
“Listen, Morgan. I know you’re freaked out about what happened between us. I know you’re confused about me and about Jack.”
I was surprised he was so perceptive, but I guess I shouldn’t have been. He was clairvoyant, after all.
I opened my mouth so speak, but he shushed me. “You may not understand why I’m doing this, but I’m letting you go right now.” There was sorrow in his eyes as he caressed my cheek with his thumb. “And the reason I’m letting you go now is because I know when the time is right you’re going to come back to me.”
I didn’t know what to say to that. Confused didn’t even begin to cover it.
Inigo swallowed hard. “I hate this. I hate that I have to let you go, but it’s the only way you’re going to know for sure that we were meant to be. Just remember, I’m still here when you’re ready.”
And then he kissed me. Hard and deep and thoroughly. The heat that was never far from the surface where Inigo was concerned came roaring back.
He was right. I didn’t understand it. Letting me go? What the hell did that mean? I wasn’t his to begin with. I didn’t know whether to be amused or angry or what. Instead I took a step back, turned and followed Jack outside. Before I shut the door, I gave Inigo one last look. For just a minute, his eyes glowed gold then turned back to blue. I shook my head a little. Must have been a trick of the light.
“Night Inigo.”
“Goodnight Morgan.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Instead of taking me back to my house, Jack drove to his. He pulled the car into the drive, but left the motor running. “You, ah, you want to come in?”
“Yeah.” Was that my voice all soft and husky? Good grief. “I’d like that.”
“I think we have things to talk about.”
He wasn’t kidding. I had a few questions for my own personal Sunwalker.
I followed him into the house and waited while he switched on a couple of table lamps. “You want something to drink?” Was he stalling?
“Sure.”
He disappeared into the kitchen, so I wandered over to the bookshelves. I pulled one off the shelf. It was a first edition Mark Twain. Signed. Holy crap.
“Interesting man, Samuel Clemens.” I hadn’t heard him re-enter the room. He set two mugs down on the coffee table and the scent of cardamom wafted under my nose. I was really starting to like his special blend of tea. “He was kind enough to sign that for me.”
I bet he was. “I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to the fact that you personally knew people who are, for me, ancient history.” I curled up beside him on the couch. He handed me one of the mugs then slid his free arm around me. It felt really good leaning back into all that muscled warmth. I took a sip of the spicy tea and let out a sigh of contentment. I could get used to this.
“But you work with vampires nearly every day. I would think you’d be used to it by now.”