“Uh, I think the expression is ‘home, sweet home,’ she said, smiling politely. “But it’s pretty much the same thing.”
“Oh, right.” The pilot nodded. “So are you here to visit family? Should I wait to bring you back up to your intended?”
“My fiancé is here—he’s from Earth,” Elise said stiffly. “I…I won’t be going back up to the Mother Ship. Ever again.” The words seemed to stick in her throat but she forced them out anyway.
“Really?” The Kindred pilot frowned, looking confused. “Forgive me my mistake. It’s just…you smell very strongly of another male—a Kindred male.”
“I do?” Horrified, Elise sniffed at her arm—but she could smell nothing. The flirty red dress Olivia had found for her to wear back to Earth complimented her complexion and hair color but left her arms and legs mostly bare. Was she exuding a scent—Merrick’s scent—in all directions without knowing it?
The Kindred pilot laughed. “Don’t worry—only another Kindred could tell it,” he assured her. “You must have been in contact with an unmated male who cared for you.”
“Well, I was in the med station for most of my stay. And there was a…a male who, uh, helped in my recovery.” Elise shifted uncomfortably, remembering the way Merrick had held her close to his broad chest, the way she’d allowed herself to melt against him. Oh yes, he’d helped all right. He’d helped himself to her heart and then left as soon as he could—not that she blamed him.
“That must be it, then.” The pilot said, interrupting her bitter-sweet thoughts. “Well, if you won’t be needing me again, I’ll head back to the Mother Ship.”
“That’s fine.” Elise nodded stiffly. “Thank you very much for the ride.”
“Not a problem.” He smiled easily. “Enjoy being home.”
“I will,” Elise assured him but the words sounded like a lie in her mouth. She thanked him again hastily and then got out of the small Kindred shuttle as fast as she could.
Once outside and on level ground, she was certain she would start to feel better. Unfortunately, the opposite was true. The hot Florida sun beat down on her head like a vicious golden hammer, making it ache even worse. Her stomach lurched with each step she took across the heated tarmac and her heart was still pounding furiously in her chest.
What’s wrong with me? she wondered, forcing herself to keep walking. I must have a guilty conscious because of what happened with Merrick—well, because of what almost happened.
Of course, Merrick had never even kissed her—had never done more than hold her and hold her hand, so she supposed that technically, she didn’t have much to feel guilty for. But she couldn’t deny that her feelings had been involved with the big Kindred, even if her body hadn’t. An emotional affair—that’s what I had. But it’s over now. All over.
Elise just wished she could convince her heart of that fact.
She finally reached the door to the HKR building and summoned the strength to pull it open. It was made of thick glass in a metal frame and Elise was so weak she could barely mange it. Still, she finally got it open wide enough to slip inside and was relieved to feel a blast of cool air as she came in the building.
Thank God for AC, she thought, scanning the long room which was broken up by a long counter at one end and gray couches scattered around the perimeter. At the far end of the room, she spied James with his back to her. He was wearing the same impeccable suit he’d had on during their viewsceen conversation so she knew he must have come right from his office in downtown Tampa. James was always exactly on time no matter where he went and there was almost nothing he hated more than tardiness. After they’d started dating, Elise had made a concerted effort to always be five minutes early to all their dates—that way she was never late.
She wondered uneasily if James considered her late right now. Their conversation had been over an hour ago—how long had he been waiting here for her? As she watched, he lifted his arm, shook back his sleeve and glanced at his watch. Uh-oh!
“James?” she called, wishing her voice didn’t sound so weak. “James, dear—over here.”
He turned and the irritated look in his deep blue eyes turned to a warm smile of recognition. “Elise! Darling!” He came striding toward her which was good, since Elise didn’t feel up to running to him. When he reached her, he pulled her into a warm embrace, wrapping his arms around her and holding her close.
Elise hugged back, trying with all her heart to feel as happy and relieved to be in his arms as she knew she should. But somehow she couldn’t quite manage it. His smell seemed wrong to her—a hint of expensive Burberry cologne instead of smoke and fur and musk. And while he was certainly taller than her, he wasn’t nearly tall enough. When he murmured her name, his voice was too high—too human. It didn’t sound like rocks rubbing together in a riverbed. Didn’t sound like Merrick.