He said he trusted me, and that he’d help me. But why? Why the hell is he doing this?!
Zina glanced up, feeling her heart…wobblea little inside her as she found Trent’s tall form over by the cash register, where he was paying for the meal they both badly needed. Zina wasn’t sure whether it was the adrenaline or the nervous exhaustion, but she wasstarving.
But aside from being hungry as hell, Zina felt as if her stomach was trying to bully its way out of her skin with a vengeance. She’d never had a case of nerves like this before – if she suffered from them, she wouldn’t have made it very far as an undercover agent. Her job required her to remain cool, calm, and able to assess any situation rationally, no matter the amount of pressure she was under.
Why is it that just when I need it most, I can’t seem to stay calm?!
Trying to figure it out, she lifted her hand, resting her chin on her palm. She studied Trent’s profile as he laughed with the lady behind the counter, who was obviouslycharmedby him, laughing along lightly with whatever he said, fluttering her lashes, flipping her hair over her shoulder, all butbiting her lip…
Honestly, who flirts that blatantly while they’re on the clock?!
If Zina hadn’t known better, she would have said it wasjealousythat was currently coursing through her veins, making her narrow her eyes and screw up her lips – but that would have been ridiculous, considering she didn’t evenknowTrent.
Not really, anyway.
She’d only planned on seeing him for as long as it took to give him the eggs, then she’d been planning on disappearing again.
This wasnotin the plan. So how can I be jealous about a man I was never even planning on seeing again? Clearly I just need food and sleep.
She forced herself to tear her eyes away from where Trent was thanking the pouting and preening waitress with a smile. Shedefinitelydidn’t want to have been caught staring.
Still, she couldn’t help but watch Trent as he returned to their table, moving with a kind of rangy, languid ease that spoke of an underlying power and strength running through his body, his biceps obvious beneath the material of his shirt and the muscles of his thighs encased in the tight denim of his jeans, andokay, Zina admitted, maybe she couldn’t exactly blame the waitress for trying.
Trent sat down opposite her, lowering his long,longbody into the booth and folding his hands on the table in front of him. His legs were long enough that she felt his knees brushing hers, and she shifted a little uncomfortably in her seat.
“Okay. Dinner’s on its way,” Trent said easily, as if they had all the time in the world. She didn’t miss the serious expression in his eye, though. “Now that we’ve got some space, how about you tell me exactly what all of this is about?”
Out of habit, Zina covertly scanned the room. There weren’t many people around, though – a couple of middle-aged men at the bar, and some older ladies enjoying a quiet chat on the other side of the room. What looked like a teenage couple staring at each other over their milkshakes, clearly in the first stages of puppy love.
I guess the coast is clear. And I can’t put this off forever.
Hauling in a breath, she forced herself to meet Trent’s eyes – and he returned her gaze unflinchingly.
“You guessed right,” she said, keeping her voice low and even. “You knew they were eggs as soon as you saw them, right?”
Trent nodded, but he said nothing, waiting for her to continue.
“I… well, I realize what I’m about to tell you is going to sound pretty crazy. But I promise you, it’s true. I had trouble believing it at first myself, but I read the files, I looked into what Hargreaves were trying to do as part of my mission. And if there’s one thing I know, it’s that Hargreaves aren’t in the business of wasting money, and they poureda lotof it into this project.” She swallowed. “Because pretty obviously, those eggs didn’t come from a chicken, right? But I’m not sure you’ll believe me if I tell you what theyarefrom.”
“Try me,” Trent said mildly.
Zina smiled softly. Shewantedto believe he’d believe her, but until she’d said it, she couldn’t quite bring herself to think he would. “Well – that’s just it, I guess no one’sexactlysure what they are. Hargreaves have been looking into it, but they only have guesses based on incomplete records.” She cocked her head, watching his face for any sign of disbelief. “Records of things like dragons. Unicorns. Basilisks. Pegasi. Manticores.”
To her surprise, Trent didn’t seem especially fazed. She frowned. Everyone thought these creatures were extinct – if they’d ever existed in the first place. But Trent was just nodding along, as if this was all perfectly normal to him.
Zina had to admit she was a little… surprised?
C’mon, even the guys inJurassic Parkwere a little surprised when they heard about the dinosaurs – and we do definitely knowdinosaursexisted!
“Let me guess,” Trent said after a moment. “And alicorns as well?”
Zina blinked.
Oh. So he’s making fun of me. It’s that deadpan Australian sense of humor.
“Believe me or don’t,” she said, aware she sounded a little testy, “but can you not joke around for half a minute, please?”
“I’m not joking.” Trent’s voice was, for once, perfectly serious. “I’m really not – I believe you. Honestly.”
