She grimaced. Her mom and dad would have coronaries. How did one break the news to her parents that their daughter was part alien? Hmmm, something to think about.
She started back to the kitchen just as Kristor stepped out of the bedroom. Damn, the guy looked totally awesome, even dressed. Her body tingled to awareness.
“You have the look of a woman who wants to mate,” he said, stepping closer.
She drew in a deep breath, trying to clear those thoughts. What did she know about Kristor? He was an alien. A warrior. She needed to put the brakes on their relationship. “And I have the checking account of a woman who needs to go to work.”
“I’ll go with you.”
It was a tempting idea. “Not this time. I’m going to be really busy.” And she was. She had to supervise Katie. She bit her bottom lip, knowing she lied to herself. “We can meet for lunch.”
He smiled, as if he had known he would have victory. Men: Everything was a competition to them. She shook her head and scooted into the bedroom to get her purse.
“Stay here as long as you want.” She didn’t look at him again as she hurried to her car. She was afraid if she did, she might call in sick this morning. Kristor had some seriously good moves when it came to making love.
She started her car and backed out of the driveway. When she saw her neighbor on the front porch, Ria’s hand froze on the steering wheel. Maybe because the neighbor’s attention had moved from Ria to Kristor, who was standing on the porch. He smiled and waved at the neighbor. She waved back, then practically tripped over her own feet as she hurried back inside. Not good. It would be all over town that Kristor had spent the night with Ria.
Her life was quickly going to hell in a handbag. She put the car in drive and hurried to the shop. As soon as Ria parked at the side, she grabbed her phone and speed dialed her mom.
“Hi, Mom,” she said as soon as Maggie answered.
“Good morning, dear.” Then: “Is everything all right?”
“Fine, fine.” She hunkered down in the seat. “I just wanted to tell you that Kristor spent the night with me last night.” She squenched her eyes closed waiting for her mother to say something.
“Yes, I know, dear.”
She shot back up in the seat. “You know? Already?” She frowned. “Did Mrs. Wilton call you?”
“No, dear, your father and I were out driving last night and saw Kristor’s motorcycle parked in your driveway. Then when he didn’t come home, we assumed he’d stayed at your place.”
Ria wondered if she could get by with telling her mother Kristor had slept on the sofa. Probably not. “You’re not upset, are you?”
Her mother’s laughter tinkled across the phone. “Rianna Lancaster, you might be my daughter, but you’re also a woman, and your father and I both like the young man a lot.”
Great, she had her parents’ approval to have sex with Kristor. She didn’t want to have this conversation with her mom.
“I’m here at my shop so I’d better go.”
“Have a good day. Oh, and something else.”
“What’s that?”
“Someone said they saw you running across the park with just a T-shirt on. Do you know anything about it?”
“Me?” Her laugh cracked. “The things some people think they see.”
“You’re right, of course. I told them it couldn’t have been you.”
They said their good-byes and hung up. Ria breathed a sigh of relief. This town would be the death of her.
Kristor looked up, then down the street. It was peaceful, quiet. He’d been over many roads in his search for Rianna. This one should be no different, but it was.
The town was smaller. More interesting. He hadn’t taken the time to get to know the people while he’d been searching, but he liked the ones who lived in Miller Bend. Especially the men he’d played the game of flag football with.
He liked everyone except for the man called Donald. He smiled with his lips, but it went no farther. Kristor suspected there was evil inside him.
The door on a barber shop opened. “Hey, Kristor, come in and sit a spell.”
Sit a spell? He didn’t know anyone did spells on Earth. At least, not spells that would work. Maybe it was only a false saying. He was discovering that people said one thing, but meant something entirely different. Especially in this state called Texas.
Kristor went inside and saw some of the men who had been on the football field. Heath was getting his hair cut. Now he understood this place of business.
He sniffed. A lingering aroma of oil and leather filled the small store. Kristor had his own groomer, and the man often smelled of the oils he brought with him, but not worn leather. He liked the combination.
It had been a while since he’d had a haircut. He felt the top of his head.
“Wanting a trim?” an older man asked. He was short, and didn’t have a hair on his head.
“Yes, a trim,” Kristor said.
“Well, have a seat.” He finished with Heath.
Kristor took a seat in front of the mirror. But when the man came over, he was still too short to reach the top of Kristor’s head, even after he lowered the chair. The men seemed to think this was funny, so he laughed, too.
“Just remember I’m the one with the clippers,” the old man said. He walked over, grabbed a short stool, and brought it back. “What’d your momma feed you?”
He thought for a moment. “Everything.”
“Yeah, that’s what I’d already figured out.” The old man began to trim Kristor’s hair.
He listened while everyone else talked. It wasn’t the same as when he spent time with other warriors. There was much loyalty in the ranks, but they always spoke about battles. This was different. More laughing. And they drew him into their circle, as if he was one of them.
He wasn’t sure he liked the warm feeling that wrapped around him. Kristor’s family told him that he needed to loosen up, relax more, but how could he when he needed to keep his planet safe from invading forces? Not that he had to worry much about that happening. He’d created a good defense system against anyone foolish enough to attack them.
“Finished,” the old man said, interrupting Kristor’s thoughts. “What do you think?”
Kristor turned his head one way, then the other. “It’s good.”
“Of course it is. I’m the best barber in town.”
Heath snorted. “You’re the only one.”
“Well, if there was another one, I’d be a sight better’n him.” He stepped off the stool and carried it back to the other side of the room.
Kristor stared at his reflection, really looking at it for the first time. Did Rianna like his looks? Or did she prefer those of someone like Donald? Anger flared inside him. He would squash Donald if he put his hands on Rianna.
“The girls will be beating down your door,” Neil said.
Heath came up beside them. “No, I think there’s only one girl that he cares about. Heard you spent the night at Ria’s.”
He met Heath’s eyes in the mirror. “Yes.” How did he know? Apparently, they had a good communication system in this town, even as small as it was.
Suddenly, there was a shift in the room temperature. Kristor felt a chill settle over him as he watched Heath.
“I’ve known Ria a long time. I’d hate to see her get hurt,” Heath said.
Heath was protective. That was good. “I will make sure she doesn’t get hurt. I will protect her from harm.”
Heath was thoughtful for a moment as he studied Kristor. Then he smiled, visibly relaxing. “Yeah, I think you will take good care of her.”
The bell over the door jingled and Donald walked in. The jovial mood dropped. Donald looked around. He hesitated when he saw Kristor, then squared his shoulders and strode over to one of the barber chairs. He glanced around again, then grabbed a white towel that hung on one of the carts, and dusted off the seat before tossing the towel to the side and sitting.