Page 45

“Not a problem.” His voice was alluring, but he didn’t break out the bedroom eyes. He focused on the cream cheese.
“Is that your girlfriend over there?”
Uh-oh, I thought. I could feel them looking toward me, and I paid close attention to the honeydew melon on my fork.
“Ah, just a friend, actually.”
Hmph.
“Are you staying here at the hotel tonight?” she asked.
How very bold of her.
“No, we’re leaving straightaway.”
“My cousin thinks you’re hot—”
“Oh, my gawd, shut up! So do you—”
Okay, back to normal hearing for me, thanks.
After a few minutes, Kaidan sat down across from me. He stared at my chest and raised his eyebrows in disapproval. Drats! I forgot about my colors. Keeping emotion hidden was hard, constant work.
“Never a dull moment,” I said, after getting control. The twist in my stomach made my words sound petty. His mouth lifted as he tore off a big bite of the bagel, which was burned.
“You’re cute when you’re jealous.” He popped the bite in his mouth.
My eyes widened and then narrowed.
“Besides,” he said, “just a pair of ninnies.”
I looked over at the girls now sitting with a large gathering of their family members, young and old, in complete contentment. They’d been so brazen with a complete stranger, seizing the day.
“Anna...” Kaidan hesitated, and I looked up at him. “Er, I’m not very good at the whole apology thing.” He flicked bits of burned bread around his plate.
“Oh,” I said. “Well. It’s okay. Just an accident.”
“No.” He shook his head, dragging out the end of the word. “People don’t accidentally lose their tempers and break things. It was a conscious decision.”
“Well, I’m over it. Let’s just forget about it.”
He blinked at me, seeming surprised by my easy forgiveness. I gave him a small smile and took a sip of my juice. He leaned back in his chair and observed me.
“How’s your orange juice, Ann? Does it have a touch of lime?”
The glass paused at my lips as I processed his innuendo, and I took a second to make sure my embarrassment stayed hidden inside. I let the drink swish over my tongue a moment before swallowing and answering.
“Actually it’s a little sour,” I said, and he laughed.
“That’s a shame.” He picked up a green pear from his plate and bit into it, licking juice that dripped down his thumb. My cheeks warmed as I set down my glass.
“Okay, now you’re just being crude,” I said.
He grinned with lazy satisfaction.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m just enjoying my breakfast.” He took another bite and I shook my head. The boy had a major effect on me, but some of the shock factor was beginning to wear off, and I found myself being less offended by his incorrigible nature.
We finished eating and Kaidan pulled up a map on his phone.
“We’ll be on the road about ten hours today. The Federal Correctional Institution is just outside of L.A. Patti said visiting hours are from ten to one tomorrow.”
A wave of nausea made me lean forward and rest my forehead on the table.
“No worries, luv.”
His words brought me comfort, and I lifted my head.
“Do you think maybe I can drive some today?” I asked. “It might take my mind off it.”
He dug the keys from his pocket and held them in front of me.
“You can have first shift.”
We passed a lot of Native American reservations in New Mexico. Many of them were lit up with neon lights of casinos. As we dipped into one shallow valley, a tight-knit circular reservation came into sight. The most touristy thing about it was a brightly colored tepee in front of a little store.
“Do you mind if we stop?” I asked.
Kaidan looked up from the game he was playing on his phone. “Not at all.”
I pulled into the dusty parking lot. The sun glared bright and hot as I climbed out of the car. I cupped my hand above my eyes to shield them. Dry heat made my skin feel shriveled and thirsty, like the parched, cracked earth we walked on. The outside of the store was a genuine piece of adobe architecture, pinkish brown, with rounded corners and edges. A woman with a soft yellow aura sat by the entrance, weaving on a traditional loom.
Inside, we stood in a large room that smelled of sweet earth and cedar. The walls were draped in handmade blankets woven with intricate designs and patterns. Tables around the room displayed colorful jewelry. In the corner stood an antique drink cooler that must have been fifty years old.
A couple sat at a small table to the side. An old man and woman with matching skin the rich color of the soil, both with long black-and-gray hair pulled back from their faces. They greeted us with friendly nods and smiles.
I went to their table and watched them work for a moment. She was stringing tiny beads into a bracelet by hand, creating an elaborate motif. He was carving a chunk of wood. I could make out the hind legs of a horse. Amazing. They made the art look easy in their experienced hands.
I walked around the store. Hundreds of wooden animals of all sizes stared back at us from the walls. Wolves and coyotes seemed to be the most popular. Kaidan examined an eagle with its wings spread.
“Incredible detail,” he said. His appreciation made me glad, since he didn’t show much admiration for humans, in general.