“Fine.”
Query glanced at Jeanie, then back at True. “You might want to keep her in your home until then. There is still a lot of hostility in some of our people for any human associated with the testing facilities. Those three males are prime examples. Not all of us had any positive experiences so they don’t understand why we’d fight to keep her safe.”
“I’m taking her to supply.”
“Understood. Avoid large areas with many of our kind,” Query warned. “I’d go with you but I need to get ready for work. Fury gets testy when I show up out of uniform or if I’m late.”
True nodded. “I will.”
Query reached inside his front pocket and dangled a set of keys. “Cart nineteen is mine. Use it and leave the keys under the seat when you’re done. I’ll jog to my station. She is without shoes and shouldn’t walk that far.”
“I planned to carry her.”
Query glanced at Jeanie and laughed. “She sure wouldn’t strain you.”
“No. She would not.” He accepted the keys.
“See you at seven.” Query smiled at Jeanie again. “It is good to see you and I’d love that recipe.”
“It’s yours. I’ll write it down the first chance I get.”
Query spun around and headed toward the elevator.
Jeanie stared up at True. “I can wait on the clothes. You almost got in another fight.”
“It doesn’t matter. We’re going.” He leaned down a little, staring into her eyes. “How close were you to him?”
She glanced at Query as he stepped inside the elevator before holding True’s gaze. It reminded her of the look he’d had when he’d quizzed her about Flirt. It dawned on her why he asked. “I took care of him when he was injured. If you’re asking if he ever showed a sexual interest in me, the answer is no.”
He blinked. “Okay. Let’s go.”
True led her outside into the bright sunshine and released her hand. She gasped when he grabbed her around her waist with one arm, bent, hooked her behind her knees with his hand and lifted her into his arms.
“The ground will be hot and your feet are too tender not to burn.”
She wrapped her arm around his broad shoulders. “Thanks. I could walk though.”
“There’s no need.” He turned, striding to a line of golf carts parked around the corner of the building. Each one had numbers printed on the side near the front wheel well. “I won’t risk you getting injured.”
He gently placed her on the seat and circled the cart. The seat was small so they ended up pressed together. She didn’t mind. True started the engine, backed up and threw it in drive. Traffic consisted of a few other golf carts and one SUV. A few Jeeps were parked in front of buildings and New Species walked along the sidewalks. There weren’t many but the ones she saw turned to stare at her as they passed.
“It’s like a small town. There’s so much grass and hardly any vehicles.”
“We have a bar here where we dance.”
That stunned her for some reason. She peered at him instead of their surroundings. “You dance?”
He glanced at her. “Yes.”
“To what?” She was really curious.
“Music.”
“I meant what kind?”
“Something with a good beat. It’s one of the better things we’ve discovered since being freed.”
She grew quiet, mentally trying to picture True on a dance floor. He was big, muscular, and women would probably love to use the excuse to rub up against him. Jealousy reared its head when she wondered who had taught him, if it had been fast or slow dancing, and if it had led to sex.
The cart slowed to a halt and Jeanie forced her attention outward. They’d parked in front of a large building. The windows were darkened and the two front doors were closed. No signs stated what it was.
“Supply building,” he informed her, turning off the engine. “Stay put. I’m coming around to get you. Don’t forget that the ground is hot.” He lifted her into his arms. “We also have a bowling alley here at Homeland. Our kind enjoy that sport and we even have a movie theater. Everyone loves to watch movies on a big screen.”
Jeanie wrapped her arms around his neck. She liked True holding her pressed against his chest and noticed again how good he smelled. His words sank in and she laughed.
“What is funny?” He paused, staring at her.
“Bowling. I’ve never played but it just struck me as funny to call it a sport. I thought it was a game.”
“So is football and baseball but that is considered a sport.”
She smiled. “You’re absolutely right.”
“I’ll take you bowling soon so you can experience it.” True started forward again.
The doors were automated and opened when they approached. She blinked rapidly to adjust from the bright sunshine to the darker interior. It appeared to be a warehouse with tons of tall shelves. A New Species sat behind a desk, using a computer. He lifted his head and stood as True carried her right up to it. He gently placed her on her feet.
“The female needs clothing, personal items, and shoes if you have them.”
The feline male frowned. “She’s the one from Mercile?”
“She’s from Drackwood and don’t take that tone,” True warned. “Do you have Gift items in stock or not?”
Jeanie had heard that term before and wanted to ask what a gift was but refrained. The grim-looking New Species behind the desk didn’t seem happy to have her inside his warehouse. She tensed, hoping that True wasn’t about to get into yet another argument with someone over her. Guilt seemed inevitable because she kept putting True in the position of having to defend her. The two males glared at each other. The tension was tangible.
Query glanced at Jeanie, then back at True. “You might want to keep her in your home until then. There is still a lot of hostility in some of our people for any human associated with the testing facilities. Those three males are prime examples. Not all of us had any positive experiences so they don’t understand why we’d fight to keep her safe.”
“I’m taking her to supply.”
“Understood. Avoid large areas with many of our kind,” Query warned. “I’d go with you but I need to get ready for work. Fury gets testy when I show up out of uniform or if I’m late.”
True nodded. “I will.”
Query reached inside his front pocket and dangled a set of keys. “Cart nineteen is mine. Use it and leave the keys under the seat when you’re done. I’ll jog to my station. She is without shoes and shouldn’t walk that far.”
“I planned to carry her.”
Query glanced at Jeanie and laughed. “She sure wouldn’t strain you.”
“No. She would not.” He accepted the keys.
“See you at seven.” Query smiled at Jeanie again. “It is good to see you and I’d love that recipe.”
“It’s yours. I’ll write it down the first chance I get.”
Query spun around and headed toward the elevator.
Jeanie stared up at True. “I can wait on the clothes. You almost got in another fight.”
“It doesn’t matter. We’re going.” He leaned down a little, staring into her eyes. “How close were you to him?”
She glanced at Query as he stepped inside the elevator before holding True’s gaze. It reminded her of the look he’d had when he’d quizzed her about Flirt. It dawned on her why he asked. “I took care of him when he was injured. If you’re asking if he ever showed a sexual interest in me, the answer is no.”
He blinked. “Okay. Let’s go.”
True led her outside into the bright sunshine and released her hand. She gasped when he grabbed her around her waist with one arm, bent, hooked her behind her knees with his hand and lifted her into his arms.
“The ground will be hot and your feet are too tender not to burn.”
She wrapped her arm around his broad shoulders. “Thanks. I could walk though.”
“There’s no need.” He turned, striding to a line of golf carts parked around the corner of the building. Each one had numbers printed on the side near the front wheel well. “I won’t risk you getting injured.”
He gently placed her on the seat and circled the cart. The seat was small so they ended up pressed together. She didn’t mind. True started the engine, backed up and threw it in drive. Traffic consisted of a few other golf carts and one SUV. A few Jeeps were parked in front of buildings and New Species walked along the sidewalks. There weren’t many but the ones she saw turned to stare at her as they passed.
“It’s like a small town. There’s so much grass and hardly any vehicles.”
“We have a bar here where we dance.”
That stunned her for some reason. She peered at him instead of their surroundings. “You dance?”
He glanced at her. “Yes.”
“To what?” She was really curious.
“Music.”
“I meant what kind?”
“Something with a good beat. It’s one of the better things we’ve discovered since being freed.”
She grew quiet, mentally trying to picture True on a dance floor. He was big, muscular, and women would probably love to use the excuse to rub up against him. Jealousy reared its head when she wondered who had taught him, if it had been fast or slow dancing, and if it had led to sex.
The cart slowed to a halt and Jeanie forced her attention outward. They’d parked in front of a large building. The windows were darkened and the two front doors were closed. No signs stated what it was.
“Supply building,” he informed her, turning off the engine. “Stay put. I’m coming around to get you. Don’t forget that the ground is hot.” He lifted her into his arms. “We also have a bowling alley here at Homeland. Our kind enjoy that sport and we even have a movie theater. Everyone loves to watch movies on a big screen.”
Jeanie wrapped her arms around his neck. She liked True holding her pressed against his chest and noticed again how good he smelled. His words sank in and she laughed.
“What is funny?” He paused, staring at her.
“Bowling. I’ve never played but it just struck me as funny to call it a sport. I thought it was a game.”
“So is football and baseball but that is considered a sport.”
She smiled. “You’re absolutely right.”
“I’ll take you bowling soon so you can experience it.” True started forward again.
The doors were automated and opened when they approached. She blinked rapidly to adjust from the bright sunshine to the darker interior. It appeared to be a warehouse with tons of tall shelves. A New Species sat behind a desk, using a computer. He lifted his head and stood as True carried her right up to it. He gently placed her on her feet.
“The female needs clothing, personal items, and shoes if you have them.”
The feline male frowned. “She’s the one from Mercile?”
“She’s from Drackwood and don’t take that tone,” True warned. “Do you have Gift items in stock or not?”
Jeanie had heard that term before and wanted to ask what a gift was but refrained. The grim-looking New Species behind the desk didn’t seem happy to have her inside his warehouse. She tensed, hoping that True wasn’t about to get into yet another argument with someone over her. Guilt seemed inevitable because she kept putting True in the position of having to defend her. The two males glared at each other. The tension was tangible.
