Shane took a huge bite of his turkey sandwich, not bothering to chew or swallow before answering. “I doubt it’s in the middle of town or anything—obviously not, since we’ve seen the whole town—but it’s supposed to be close. It’s not like I’ve taken the tour.” He glanced around, his eyes following the tourists milling about. A couple of them saw him watching and waved, including me in their gesture.
“You know them?”
He shook his head, then finally swallowed. “No. Looks like two cute college girls here for a trip. Why do you think they’re waving at a table with two huge, hot guys?”
“Oh.” My gaze flicked back toward them, then away quickly when I realized they were still staring. “Quit looking at them. They’re gonna come over.”
He turned back to me, grinning. “Are you afraid of cute girls?”
“No. I just don’t want to have to do the whole ‘I’m not interested’ dance.”
He chuckled. “Actually, I think I’d like to see that.”
Avoiding the topic, I pointed to the second hoagie waiting for him to finish his first one. “It’s rare that I meet someone who eats as much as I do.”
“Werewolf, remember. Probably have similar metabolisms as demons.” He took another bite as if to emphasize.
Surprisingly, and to my great relief, there hadn’t been any sexual tension between us. I had no doubt that, given the chance, both of us would readily fuck again, but it seemed like one of the rare occasions where there truly didn’t seem to be any expectations. Or emotions. If we made it through this, Shane seemed the type of guy who would be a lifelong friend, which would be great—if I weren’t half fish and returning to the ocean. When he’d first suggested tagging along, I was afraid he had some ulterior romantic notions, despite what he’d said. There hadn’t even been a hint that he was inclined in that direction. Which made it all that much better. Especially if we got the chance to fool around some more. I couldn’t imagine that happening, now that I was so close to what I had been after the whole time. Then again, I had been thinking about returning to land to relieve the gay itch. It would be good to know where Shane was going to be.
I realized he was giving me a strange look, like he might be able to read my mind. Time to redirect that train of thought. Weather. Nothing is safer or more boring than weather. “I can’t seem to get used to the heat. It’s like all I can do is sweat. Even before the ocean, San Diego is so mild I’ve never had to deal with it.”
Shane cocked an eyebrow. “Before the ocean?”
Shit. “Never mind.”
Leaves rustling above Shane’s head drew my attention upward. A large blue-and-black bird was perched on the branch directly over our table. It jerked its head this way and that, eyeing our food. The bird was about double the size of a blue jay but similar in features, save for two long black plumes that sprouted from the top of its head.
I motioned for Shane to look up. “If you needed proof that God approves of drag queens, check out that guy.”
Shane’s dark gaze flitted upward, and he exhaled a small sound of annoyance. Rising, he flicked his long arm up in the air. The bird let out a cry, hopped off the branch, and landed on the guardrail next to the table two spots down.
“I don’t think it was too concerned.”
Shane crashed back into his chair, causing the table to shake as his elbows pounded against the surface. “Damn birds. Always flying around, shitting on stuff. Trying to swipe your food.”
I grinned at him. His Wrell-like face screwed up in irritation was both adorable and an expression I’d never seen Wrell make. “You’re a werewolf. Aren’t you supposed to like all nature and animals?”
“Who told you that?”
I shrugged. “Nobody. It makes sense. You’re part wolf. You know, part animal.”
He took the final bite of the turkey sandwich and then reached for the second one. “We’re all animals. But I don’t know if birds count as anything other than food. And only food if you’re really desperate.”
I didn’t draw attention to the fact that the turkey he’d devoured had been a bird.
He motioned over my head. “Since we’re pointing out the wildlife, did you check out that gal?”
I tilted my gaze upward and flinched back, nearly causing the plastic chair to tip over. “Holy fuck! What is that thing?”
“Dunno. An orb something-or-other. They’re all over the place in Costa Rica.”
I narrowed my eyes, trying to make the spider come into better focus against the brightness of the late afternoon sun. The damn thing was huge. Black with yellow markings. Kinda pretty, actually.
“Didn’t think demons would be afraid of spiders.”
I moved my chair back, checking to make sure the monster bug was staying put. “I’m not. Just didn’t expect the cast ofArachnophobiato be joining us for dinner.”
He gave a low laugh. “Boy, that’s an old one. Pretty fun.”
