Sweet Peril (The Sweet Trilogy #2)(43)

We headed to the compact rental car across the street. He cracked me up with those cars that didn’t match his gruff personality whatsoever.

“You need a Harley,” I told him.

“It’s not so easy to rent those when you’re in a hurry,” he replied, opening my door. “Get in.”

I did as I was told, but when he got in he didn’t start the car. He just turned his big body to me in the cramped space, and ran a hand down his goatee, frowning.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Remember last year before New Year’s when we had that regional meeting at Pharzuph’s?” My pulse quickened.

“Well, it’s time for another one. Tomorrow night in Atlanta. Just the U.S. Dukes.”

My insides rolled. “Do I have to go?”

“Hell, no. I can’t have you anywhere near Pharzuph. I need to get you out of town. Right now.” He tapped the steering wheel with thick fingers. “I’m telling them I’ve sent you on college trips.”

“Where am I really going?”

“All over the damn place.” He pulled a folded paper from his back pocket. I scanned the itinerary and realized he wasn’t kidding. I would be traveling the world, one airport to the next, for three straight days.

“It’ll be safer for you in the skies. The Legionnaires don’t venture up there—they stay low to earth.”

“Will you get in trouble if I’m not there?” I asked.

“Nah. Don’t worry ’bout that. Your flight leaves in five hours. Go pack a bag and get Patti to take you.”

“Will Kaidan and Blake be there?”

“I’m sure they will,” he said. Then he tapped my temple. “Head in the game, gal.”

I hugged him across the small console and he kissed my forehead.

I called Marna during my France layover. I’d be landing in London shortly and would have more than two hours before my next flight. As I dialed her, my eyes surveyed the airport lobby, just as I’d done at every stop, looking for spirits. I hadn’t seen any.

“Hallo?” she answered.

“Hey,” I said.

“It’s clear here,” she told me. “He’s away at some gala.”

“Are you working tonight?” I asked.

“We’re on our way out. What’s up with you?”

Without giving her any details or reasoning, I explained that I’d be stopping in London on a layover during my travels. She got all excited and said she’d try to make it out for a quick visit if she was done working by then.

When I arrived in London, Marna met me at a coffee shop just inside the airport. It was nearly midnight, but plenty of people were still around. We sat at a tall table on high stools with our creamy cappuccinos.

“Ginger’s not coming?” I asked.

She gave me a tight smile and took a sip. “She’s still working. She can kill me later.”

We both sipped our hot drinks and she eyed me.

“No offense, luv, but you look cream crackered.”

“Huh?”

She giggled. “Knackered.”

Oh, yeah, “tired.” I’d tried to learn some of that Brit slang online, but it was all confusing to me.

“I’m so out of it.” I lay my head down and she laughed.

“Tell me what’s been up since I last saw you. Any new friends?”

I knew she meant allies, and I smiled as I sat back up. “Yep. Just one, but he’s a good one.”

“Fab.” She grinned. “And how is our lad Kope?”

I swallowed. “He’s fine. I haven’t talked to him since I saw him at Christmas.”

“Hm.” She watched me carefully and her probing eyes threw me off-kilter. My mouth went dry.

He couldn’t have told her. There’s no way.

“What?” I asked. It came out all nervous and guilty sounding. Great.

“Nothing.” She propped her elbows on the little round table. “It’s just that you can talk to me if you’d like.”

She seriously must have had some kind of radar for gossip. I had zero intention of telling any living soul about the kiss or Kope’s secret. No way was I spilling those beans.

“He’s great to work with,” I told her. “It’s been nice getting to know him.”

Her eyebrows went up. “Something’s happened,” she stated with gleeful assuredness.

Gah! Dry mouth. I grabbed my mug and sipped, trying to make a face at Marna like she was crazy, but I couldn’t manage to get my eyebrows together in a convincing-enough furrow. She gasped and let her palms fall smack against the table, gaping at me.

“Get out!” she said. “He snogged your face off, din’ he?”

I coughed. “Really? This is Kope we’re talking about, Marna.”

“He totally did! Your acting is horrendous, Anna.”

This could not be happening.

I dug the heels of my palms into my eyes. “You have to promise you won’t tell a soul. Especially not Ginger.” I sat up and looked at her ogling face. “I’m serious, Marna, because what happened was a total fluke. We’d just been scared to death, and we were still caught up in the emotions from that. He would die if he knew I told you. It was just one kiss.” One really steamy kiss.