Twice as Hot (Tales of an Extraordinary Girl #2)(47)

Right now, I had a trip to prepare for.

"I'm going with you, and that's that," Sherridan said as we strode up the porch to our house. I half expected a present to be waiting for me, but no. Not today. Was M-Squared really my admirer? And like Rome, had he decided I wasn't worth the effort? I desperately wanted to talk to him, beg him to return Rome's memories.

I was no longer quite so mad at him now that I knew he wasn't helping Desert Gal, that he'd taken those memories simply because he liked me. Yeah, I'd softened. Again. Definitely a yo-yo.

But why did he like me? The question still plagued me. I'd already decided it wasn't because of my cuteness. So what did that leave? I wasn't the brightest bulb in the lamp, had been called flaky more times than I could count, apparently needed my friends to dress me (see? not the brightest bulb), and for the last few years hadn't been able to hold down a job for more than a few months (PSI excluded - maybe).

I was an ordinary girl dealing with extraordinary things. That's all.

"Belle. I'm talking to you."

"It's a nice day," I said, hoping Sherridan wouldn't notice the change of subjects and the fact that I hadn't responded to her I'm going statement.

She mopped at her cheeks and neck with her free hand as she unlocked the door. "Nice day, my ass.

It's hot as hell. Thank God for air-conditioning."

We sailed inside, and a cool breeze instantly caressed me. In the living room, Sherridan stopped, faced me and crossed her arms over her chest, clearly prepared for battle. "Don't think I failed to realize you avoided responding to my vow to go with you. It's Colorado, for God's sake. Nothing bad happens there."

"Hello. Do you recall being in the room when you were relaying Cody's message to us? Bad stuff happens there all the time. Case in point - we'll be hunting and fighting Desert Gal." Who was most likely the alter ego of Candace Bright. Or vice versa. Did they know about each other? Was Candace Bright like Clark Kent to Desert Gal's Superman, one persona used to interact with normal people, the other to fight crime? Only Desert Gall didn't fight crime, she created it. Okay, so maybe that made her more like Jekyll and Hyde. Why had she shown the prisoners her human side, though? So they'd feel less threatened by her? Trust her more? "She's the prune with teeth, remember?"

"Of course I remember. Do I look like Rome Masters to you? But got it. Check. We're going to hunt ourselves a prune. Sounds fun."

Well, crap. "Why do you - " I pressed my lips together. Maybe she should go with me, I mused.

Unstable though my powers were, I would be a better guard than anyone else because I loved her and would place her safety above my own. I'd take a bullet for her if necessary. And hopefully, somehow, someway, I could protect her from whatever doom Lexis thought was headed her way in the form of her greatest wish coming true.

I pushed my hair out of my face, surprised to see my hand was shaking. What the hell? "You can come.

I want you to come."

"Oh." Bit by bit, she relaxed. "Well, good. 'Cause I am."

I tossed my purse on the side table. "I just want you to reconsider the superpowers thing. Okay? I caught myself on fire yesterday." My knees were shaking, too, I realized as I walked forward. I had to stop and lean against the wall to keep myself upright. Something was wrong with me; I was losing energy fast. "We're going after a woman who can suck the water straight out of our bodies and we have a friend on an IV because he touched a girl I was interrogating. Simply touched her." Hey, wait. Was I having a delayed reaction to Elaine? Was that why I was weakening so quickly? I hadn't touched her skin, but I had hugged her.

Sherridan stared down at her sandaled feet. "Yeah, but people admire you, look to you for help." Was that what this was about? "Sherridan, people admire you, too. You're beautiful, successful and highly intelligent. Proof - who helped me get this beautiful home? And in two days, two men have asked me for your number. Cody, of course, and Reese, a very sexy vampire I've been meaning to tell you about."

"Who cares about dating when we're on the verge of a mission?" She kicked at the carpet. "And yeah, I helped you get this house, but I can't blow-dry your hair from fifty paces." Again with the blow-drying? "You're wonderful the way you are. In fact, I want to be you. " Her expression hardened, her narrowed gaze lifting. "No, you don't, you liar. You can't. You're special."

"So are you - "

"Rome really liked the suit," she interjected, clearly done with that line of conversation. She tossed her purse on top of mine and collapsed in the recliner. "I think he was imagining peeling it off you." I sighed, unsure of just how to convince her of her fabulousness. "No, he didn't and no, he wasn't. I casually mentioned changing into it before heading home, which I didn't do, I might add, and he couldn't get away from me fast enough."

She kicked up her legs. "Because he had a hard-on he didn't want you to see." A girl could hope. We'd left Rome at headquarters, and he hadn't cared enough to say goodbye.

Hadn't tried to follow me, protect me. Monitor me. He was probably with Lexis again. Okay, no probably about it. He was. In a few hours, they were meeting us at a private airstrip, and then we were all flying to Colorado, where Big Rocky headquarters was located.