Juliana paused for a moment to relive that amazing kiss. She’d never kissed a veritable stranger before, but she’d been compelled to discover if Diesel tasted like she expected he would, which was totally crazy.
The kiss had been marvelous and exactly what she’d thought it would be. It had been perfect in every way, down to a resounding feeling of familiarity. And yet they’d never met before. Had they? No. She would have remembered him. No question in her mind on that score.
She pulled her purse off one shoulder and plopped it on the table by the front door. Keys still in her hand, she dropped them in the dish next to her purse. She was about to empty her pockets, but heard a strange noise outside her door. It sounded like someone had dropped something heavy on her porch, which then slid hard, bouncing against the bottom of the door.
Juliana peered through the peep hole, but saw nothing. She walked over to the left side of the door and peeked out the window. Nothing. She inhaled deeply and exhaled before opening the door a crack with the flimsy chain in place. She didn’t see it at first, but then figured it out. She stared down and frowned. An apple with a single bite taken out of it rested against the threshold of her doorframe on her welcome mat. How rude and wasteful.
She picked it up, careful not to touch the eaten part, closed and re-locked her front door and threw the gnawed fruit in her kitchen trash next to the counter.
The sound of change in her pocket reminded her to return to the bowl where she kept her car keys and loose change and empty her pockets. There was nothing other than coins in one pocket, but in the other she was surprised to find a business card-sized piece of gray paper. Where had this come from?
One side featured the Big Bang Truck Stop logo and a coupon for five percent off a gas purchase.
She flipped the card over and read, “Maxwell the Martian says, Our Fearless Leader thinks you’re very pretty, too.”
What in the world was this?
Chapter Six
Diesel spent the next four days with nothing on his mind except Juliana and seeing her on Friday for lunch. He didn’t make sense to most people. He often didn’t answer questions with the correct answer. But he was also in a great mood, so everyone seemed to overlook his mistakes because his attitude was so improved.
He didn’t mention his date with Juliana until the Thursday staff meeting late in the afternoon. It was a small group, which was good for dropping a bomb right before leaving.
Cam gave a report on security—reminding everyone to change their passwords again—as usual. Nova was taking notes, as usual. The first shot across the bow for discussions he didn’t want to have was the announcement of the new gulag run he’d approved.
Axel finished the briefing on the UGG contract as a part of his general communications report. As expected, the elder council representative sat up after dozing through most of the meeting.
“Well, this is unexpected news! Why wasn’t this subject brought up in the regular council meeting for approval last week?” Mr. Gris, the longest serving council rep, said and glared at Axel.
Axel’s eyebrows went upward, and he sent Diesel a pitiful expression, looking for an official response. If he’d had the mental capabilities he would have shouted the word “coward” in Axel’s direction. But he didn’t and Axel probably already knew how he felt.
Before Mr. Gris could go on a long tirade, Diesel cleared his throat and quietly stood up. The elder moved his glare from Axel to Diesel. He told the elder in a quiet tone, “Because I didn’t need approval. It was fully my decision to make. I planned to mention it at the regular council meeting next month as a courtesy.”
Mr. Gris opened his mouth, closed it, fixed his stare on the center of the conference table and pressed his thin lips together, flattening them. He made a mild huffing noise and crossed his arms like an angry two-year-old about to launch into a full-blown tantrum.
“Anyone have anything else to discuss?” Diesel asked.
Everyone except the elder shook their heads and began gathering their things, getting ready to exit.
Nova stopped writing and started to stand, but Diesel said, “Wait a sec. I have one last thing to mention.”
His subordinates looked at him. “I’m taking tomorrow off. If anyone needs anything, contact either Cam or Axel if you can’t wait for my return.” No one moved. No one said a thing.
Diesel said, “Okay. Good meeting. Until next Thursday, then.”
“Hold up,” Cam said. “Where are you going?”
“I just said I was taking the day off. What makes you think I’m going anywhere?”
Cam’s eyes narrowed. “You just answered a question with a question and that is suspect.”
Axel said, “Enjoy your time off.”
Nova said, “You’re meeting with that earthling again, aren’t you?”
That roused Mr. Gris from his pout. “What earthling? Why doesn’t anyone mention important stuff like a mysterious earthling? The council needs to be notified—”
Diesel blew a sharp whistle through his fingers, making even his own ears ring, and everyone stopped talking and moving at once.
