The Immortal Hunter(25)

"A lot of women suspect that very thing," Dani assured him as they weaved their way through the queuing people in the open area in front of the tills.

Decker actually chuckled, drawing her curious gaze his way, and she couldn't help but notice that much of his earlier pallor had gone. His cheeks were almost rosy. Apparently getting out of the van and splashing water on his face had helped. That or he had a fever, she thought as he ushered her out of the restaurant. When he drew her to a halt on the sidewalk and glanced around to see where the van was, Dani quickly reached out to place the back of her hand against his cheek.

Decker gave a start and caught her hand as he glanced at her in surprise, and she quickly explained, "I was checking to see if you have a fever."

He relaxed, but raised his eyebrows. "And do I?"

"No. You feel fine," she admitted.

"You sound disappointed," Decker said with amusement.

"No, of course not," Dani said and then admitted, "I'm just a little surprised. You weren't looking nearly as healthy earlier, and I was positive infection was setting in, but you look fine now and don't seem to be in pain."

Decker shrugged. "I'm not. I'm a fast healer and have a hearty constitution."

Before Dani could respond, the van slid to a halt in front of them and Justin leaned out the window. "Finally! I thought you two had set up house inside or something. Get in. We have to get back on the road."

Dani didn't resist when Decker caught her hand and led her around the van. He opened the front passenger door, but rather than get in, turned to catch her arm as she made to move past him to the back door. "I'll ride in the back. You take the front this time."

Glad not to be in the back with the bodies, she murmured thank you and allowed him to help her step up into the van. Decker closed the door as Dani did up her seat belt and then opened the back door and climbed in. Justin pulled away as soon as he'd slid the door closed, heading for the on ramp to the highway.

"What the hell is this?"

Dani glanced around at that irritated question from Decker and found him peering down at two large bags, two small bags, and a carton with three large drinks in it that all sat on the floor between the two front seats.

"What does it look like? It's food," Justin said dryly.

"Yeah, that's what I thought. I just can't believe you hit the drive-through," Decker muttered.

"I didn't. I had the drive-through girl bring it to me while I filled up at the gas station next door."

"How did you manage that?" Dani asked with surprise.

"I... used my charm," he muttered, and then added dryly, "Though I wouldn't have bothered had I realized you guys were going to take so long. I could have gone through the drive-through twice in the time it took you to use the washroom."

Dani looked to Decker to find him rolling his eyes at this claim, and then Justin said, "Can someone unwrap a burger for me and hand it over?"

"You got enough food for an army here, Justin," Decker said with disgust as he pulled out a cheeseburger and began to unwrap it.

Dani didn't comment, but it really was an incredible amount of food for one man, and she had to wonder how he managed to keep in such good shape if he regularly ate like this.

"It isn't all for me," Justin reassured them. "I figured as soon as you saw my food, you'd find your appetites, so I got you each a burger, fries, and a drink. The rest are burgers for me. They're easier to eat while driving than anything else." He paused and glanced down at the food before saying, "Where is that burger?"

"Here." Decker held up the now half-wrapped burger.

Removing one hand from the steering wheel, Justin took it with a murmured thanks and then proceeded to eat the thing in two bites. Dani watched the process with amazement. She'd never seen anything like it. He was a human trash compactor.

Her gaze turned to Decker to see him shaking his head at the display. It was obviously something he'd seen before.

"Can I have another please?" Justin asked. "And maybe one of those drinks?"

Dani leaned over to retrieve the drink while Decker set to work unwrapping a second burger for Justin. She didn't hand it to him, but set it in the drink holder on his side.

"Thanks," he said, and picked up the drink, then paused and glanced worriedly to the second cup holder on her side. "You'll have to get the stuff out of your cup holder before you can use it."

Dani didn't ask what stuff. She knew he meant the bug and tracker, but she didn't have to remove them either. Decker did it for her, reaching in to scoop them out with one hand, as he held up another freshly unwrapped cheeseburger with the other for Justin to take.

"Watch the food," Justin cried, almost sounding panicked at the possibility that Decker might kneel on one of the bags.

"I'm watching," Decker said with exasperation as he dropped the two gizmos in his pocket and settled back on his haunches. He glanced down at the bags of food and asked, "One of these is for me?"

"Yeah," Justin said around a full mouth. "Try it, you might like it."

Dani glanced curiously from one man to the other. He made it sound as if Decker might never have eaten a burger before, which just seemed ridiculous. It was hard to imagine anyone never having at least tried a burger. Well, perhaps if he'd been raised a vegetarian, she supposed, but if he was a vegetarian he wouldn't be unwrapping the burger he'd just pulled out of the bag and be taking a healthy bite out of it.