“When you said you made toys, I pictured something a little less…modern?” She walked from station to station, asking questions and making us even prouder of our operation. When she’d made the full circuit, she paused, studying the screen in front of her. “You’re making an android?”
“A what?” Comet looked from her to the screen and back again. “It’s a robot.”
“And it’s top secret, for a very special client,” Dash said. “Which, technically, we shouldn’t have shown anyone.”
“I won’t tell.” She tilted her head to the side. “If I’m not mistaken, all androids are robots, but all robots are not androids. I remember that from a movie, I think.”
Dash moved to darken the screen, but Comet covered the button. “Wait. Android. That’s a robot that looks human, isn’t it? I wonder if using that term would solve the problems I’ve been having.”
The AI was gone, the update cleared, but we’d still been struggling with some of the features.
“Do you think it could be that easy?” I moved in to watch.
“Let’s find out.” Comet typed just a few letters then stepped back. “Oh. My. Goddess. Aideen, you did it! You’re a genius.” To my shock, he gave her a big hug, lifting her off her feet. “Thank you.” He set her down and flushed bright red. “Thanks.”
We traipsed into the house and gave her that tour as though it never happened because Comet was the one of us who had been hesitating, and neither Dash nor I wanted to do anything to spoil his step forward.
Dinner was nice, more than nice, sitting around the table and sharing food with the female, my deer and I were sure she was our fated mate. Conversation flowed easily, and we wound up sitting at the table for hours, just talking. Like the lunch we had together, we were at ease, with a layer of attraction always present.
“Oh my gosh it’s dark.” Aideen was carrying some of the dishes into the kitchen, after insisting on helping clean up, when she passed a window and stopped. “I was having such a nice time, I didn’t realize.”
The idea of our female driving an hour on the highway in the dark did not sit well with me. “It sure is getting late. Aideen, could we talk you into spending the night? We have a very nice guest room you could use.”
Chapter Eleven
Aideen
I had to ask again. Spending the night at their place was not on my agenda but, strangely, I felt no weirdness about it. Their home was comfortable and lived in. Not messy but not sterile, either. I felt more at home here than at my apartment, which didn’t scare me.
It should have. Someone else’s home shouldn’t feel more inviting than my own.
“Are you really sure about this?” I asked as they led me up the stairs and to a closed door.
“Absolutely, Aideen. We would never forgive ourselves if something happened to you on the drive home. Never.” Comet was a bit standoffish, physically, one big hug excepted, but his words rang sincere.
“I didn’t bring any clothes.” That was my last protest point. I wasn’t trying very hard. Driving in the dark wasn’t my favorite thing.
But the weirdest part? Thinking about leaving them made me sad. I barely knew them, but going home alone had me on the verge of crying.
“Give me a second. I’ll grab you some of my sweats.” Dash sprinted to a door at the end of the hall and came back with a navy-blue sweatshirt and pants and a pair of socks. Before thinking twice, I pressed the pile of clothing to my nose. I had to find out what kind of detergent they used. Each one of them smelled so damned good.
I let out a giggle, thinking about Dash and how he ran to his bedroom.
When I looked up, all their eyes were on me. I wanted to squirm under their intense stares but didn’t.
“What’s on your mind, beautiful?” That wasn’t the first time Blitz called me that word, but every time felt like the first.
“I was laughing about Dash…dashing to his room.”
Everyone laughed. I’d met many a man who couldn’t take a woman laughing at him. Dash clearly wasn’t one of them. “I do that, actually.”
Comet shook his head. “You should see him in the warehouse stores. It’s like someone is timing him.”
Dash shrugged one shoulder. “I’m efficient.”
A pause hung between us. “I’m going to go to sleep now. Thank you.”
They left me there. Everyone went to their rooms and shut the doors. I’d never felt so lonely. Not even before I met them. They called this a guest room, but I’d never seen a guest room like this. Most were stark white or maybe beige with minimal decorations. Like the forgotten room or the storage area. This? This room was fit for a queen. Emerald paint on the walls. A dark-wood four-poster bed. Gold and emerald velvet bedding. A small area with a chair and some shelves. The bathroom was more of the same. A huge jacuzzi tub. A shower with five showerheads. If this was their guest room, what did their own rooms look like?
