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“You look like you’re trying to turn into a pretzel. I’ll sleep on the floor. I’ve had much worse. I’m technically just earth and magic. Human needs are optional for me.”

Reggie goes into the bedroom to get a pillow off the bed. When he turns around, I’m back in the doorway. “Don’t talk like that about one of my grandfather’s most respected friends—and if you think I’d let the guy saving my life sleep on the floor when there’s a gorgeous, comfy bed ten feet away, you’re wrong.” I put my hands on my hips and channel my grandmother’s no-nonsense stare.

With a sigh, Reggie puts the pillow back on the bed and stares at it with a critical eye. “It’s a queen. It will easily sleep two people.”

The aching throb spreads out from between my thighs and up my middle, making my breasts tingle. “Yep. Easily.”

“I can get the throw pillows off the loveseats and make us our own Berlin Wall. I’ll stay on my side.”

I don’twanthim to stay on his side, but I don’t want to make things worse by showing my obvious (and completely inappropriate) horniness, either. Leaving someone like Reggie will be hard enough without adding physical complications. “I can stick to my own side without a border. I promise. I don’t roll around in my sleep or anything.”

He nods after a moment, eyes finding mine. “You go ahead and get settled. I’m going to take a quick stroll around the yard. Just a good habit, Teri. Nothing is wrong,” he soothes before I can ask.

Watching him walk down the hall and out into the dark leaves me suddenly somber. Grim.

I’ve never been on my own before this year. I went from living at home during high school, to a campus dorm in college, to back home again. Then—married.

Being alone never scared me before I was suddenly on the run from my own husband. Being alone and not being able to reach out and talk to anyone after next week? That terrifies me, especially since tonight feels so oddly perfect. Homey.

Like I know Reggie would listen to anything I have to say and really care about it. In a week or so, that link will be severed.

My family would be ashamed—but even shame pales to the sudden knot of fear in my stomach. Am I going to spend the rest of my nights sitting alone in empty apartments, afraid to make connections? Or mourning the ones I’ve lost?

With a groan, I sink back and roll onto my side, facing the wall.

Better get used to it.

THE GOONS HAVE GONE. There are no signs of disturbance in the flowers or grass. In the distance, I can hear people out on their patios and the humming whine of those mowing after dark. (It’s more common than you’d think, especially in Pine Ridge.) Of course, our nearest neighbors are silent.

I look out over the sea of gray and white stones that separate this little road from the streets of town. Not just quiet. Dead quiet. Well, just dead.

I shudder. I picture a failed mission and Teri lying cold and empty. A lifeless slab buried out here.

I’m the one they call a lifeless slab, but since I met her, something has changed. There’s warmth and wakefulness in place of the silence and emptiness I used to live with.

Another walk around the property line, senses stretching out—and coming back somewhat scrambled. Dammit. Maybe wemade a mistake hiding her in Pine Ridge. Yes, we can use our magic more effectively, but if there are dark things lurking, waiting to mess with our wards and charms, they could be camouflaged by the constant hum of mystical energy our little town produces.

I guess it’s good that I’m here. The last line of defense. I stopped a bomb once. I could stop a bullet. But I’d have to be near her almost constantly.

Which makes sense, you fool. You’re standing about on a hot, sultry night. A hot, sultry wedding night. You should be inside, next to Teri, at least for the sake of appearances.

What does Teri expect me to do? Consummate our sham of a marriage in the name of comfort and convenience? It might be the best I get.

She leaves soon. It might be the only chance you get.

As I return inside and lock the door behind me, a thought punches me in my ever-sensitive gut, pummeling into me so hard that I stand frozen with my back to the door.

A little voice in my head whispers, You could go with her. You wanted to be finished. Done with this life. Well... Why not have a new life? They have pipes pretty much anywhere in the world! You’ve always hidden what you were. Now you could hide together! It could be real. It could be like this. Mr. and Mrs. Normal. She can work in I.T. somewhere. You can be a plumber. Hell, you could be a mall cop or pump gas. You wouldn’t care what you did if you had her to come home to each night.

I just want to be where she is.

But why? I trust my instincts, as long and painful trial and error taught me the folly of ignoring them. Still, without immediate danger, I try to be logical and rational. There’s no reason (well, not enough of one) for me to have an instant attraction to Therese that goes far beyond the physical. It’s notthe looks, the smile, the body, or her openness. It’s not her brains or her bravery.

Okay, maybe it is. It’s all of those things, but there has to be more.

The family connection?

No.