“It really is.” She nodded. Her hands were waving about, long fingers fanning as she talked. It was a different look from the usual one she wore, where she hid herself away from people. This one was open and natural, and damn if it didn’t make her look sexy.
Shut it down, Newman.
“They mate for life, Newman. Did you know that?”
“Really, that’s pretty cool.”
“It is, and if one dies, they find another mate and stay with that one.”
“A bit like humans then.”
“Exactly.”
“And this Jay was on the Wildlife team looking into this bird on stilts?”
And just like that Hope shut down. Her face closed, hands settled into her lap.
“I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”
Newman searched his memory about Herald.
“It says he’s pretty good at his job, so good they promoted him to your job.”
She didn’t say anything, but it was there. Something flashed across her face before she could stop it. Anguish.
“What happened?”
“I’m not getting into this with you.”
“And yet I want to hear all about it.”
Hope ignored him and picked up her fork. She wasn’t sure when she’d eat again, seeing as that rat Jay had taken her savings. She’d leave Denver tonight, and get back on the road. Looking at her breakfast companion, she wondered when she’d see him again.
His eye was angry, and every time she looked at it she felt guilty. He looked so steady sitting there consuming a large amount of food. Steady, handsome, and confident. Hope couldn’t remember a time she’d felt steady and confident. She knew she’d said those things last night, because she’d thought them many times. He was handsome, and yes, she’d often wanted to mess him up. The humiliation was that he now knew.
“So, how long have you been on the run?”
“I’m not running, just having a break as I told you.” She would just be polite now, and not let him get to her. After all, he’d rescued her from that bar, dressed and fed her.
He swallowed another mouthful, and she watched his throat move. Newman had always represented everything she hadn’t had. He’d been raised by two loving, normal parents. Spoiled, and yet he seemed to inspire loyalty in his friends. Hope had a few friends, but none that really counted, or were for life.
“Sounds like running to me.”
“Whatever.” She was running, because as yet she had found no place to stop. She’d thought she loved Jay. Believed he was different and cared about conservation. Cared about her and the others on the project. Everything had been a lie.
Newman carefully lowered his knife and fork, took a swallow of that mud he was drinking, then looked at her.
“That must really hurt,” she felt compelled to say.
“Like a bitch.”
“I really am sorry, Newman, I never meant to get you hurt.”
“I know, and I accept, so let’s leave that alone now, and discuss the mess that is your life.”
“My life is not a mess,” Hope said softly. “I’m just transitioning.”
“Nice. So where is it you think you’re heading on this transition?”
