“Did you get all that?” she asked, wondering what he’d been so focused on.
“I think so. Thanks. Interesting picture. It almost looks like you.”
“Be that as it may, you can see Iwasa student. I do have a diploma, but I don’t have it with me. Finally, I also have a Finder’s editorial number if you want to call and check up on me.”
“That won’t be necessary and I did see that you were a student.”
“Yes. My major was in communications.”
“I saw that listed as well. Did you study alien communications, by chance?” His brow quirked up, as did one corner of his mouth. Was there nothing about him she didn’t find attractive? Juliana was off her game.
“Not yet. Maybe next time I go to college.” In fact, she was done with higher education for now. She planned to finish this article, deposit a big fat check in her account, and set out on a long-awaited trip back to the Northwest. And eventually she wanted a family and a life that wasn’t so solitary.
“What do you want, specifically? Are you expecting me to outline my alien plan to take over Earth? I’m not sure I can, because that’s very highly classified.”
“You’re so funny.” She forced herself to relax, put a smile on her face and try not to take offense at his continued teasing.
“Thanks. It helps to have a sense of humor in this job. What is it you think I can help you with, Juliana?”
I love the way you say my name.
His smile widened and the force of his stare increased. He was seriously hot.
“Mostly, I wondered if there were any big incidents in the area’s past that could have caused rumors like those swirling around Roswell. From what I hear, you’re really plugged into everything that goes on around here. That’s why I thought you could help me. Was there something odd or unexplained that gave Alienn, Arkansas its reputation for being a haven for extraterrestrials? Any UFO crashes? Or mass abductions reported locally? Anything like that? I’ve looked at some historical records, of course, but nothing jumps out. Perhaps I’m not looking in the right place, or nothing was written down and all the good stories are oral ones. If I could have some little-known fact to include in my article, it would really help me out.”
Diesel Grey—what a name—shrugged. “Well, I personally believe it’s the name our small town was given that gets people talking. Technically, we were named after the woman who founded the place over a hundred years ago. Her name was Alienne Greenly.” He spelled it out, but pronounced itI-lean,with a slight Arkansas-flavored Southern twang. She likedthatquite a lot, too. “When the official papers were drawn up, somebody wrote down Alienn instead, dropping that last E.” He shrugged again, lifting one muscular shoulder and letting it drop.
“Quite a mistakesomebodymade all those years ago.”
“True. No one ever said why the E was left off the end, although I suspect laziness on some bygone bureaucrat’s part. Maybe by the time they realized the small mistake, the papers had been officially filed and it was too late to change it. Or there was a cost associated and they didn’t want to spend the money.” He flashed another killer grin and she swore her knees weakened. “But I will say that for whatever reason, it has been awesome for our marketing department for many years now.”
“I’ll bet it is.” Juliana returned his grin with a sincere one of her own. “Maxwell the Martian is obviously quite well known all along Route 88 in southern Arkansas.”
He nodded and cocked his head to one side. “Want to meet him?”
“Maxwell the Martian?”
“Yes.”
She tilted her head to one side as well. “Is it you and you’re about to shapeshift into a scrawny three-foot-tall alien with big blue eyes? Because Iwouldreally love to see that. Also, will you allow me to record it on my phone?” She started to dig around in her purse one-handed.
He shook his head ruefully. “Sorry, I’d never show you any shapeshifting skills on a first date.”
Juliana stared into his expressive, beautiful face. “Is that what this is? A first date?”
“I find it interesting that the part you latched onto was the possible first date and not any shapeshifting skills I may have.”
“You’ve already tried to destroy my memories with your alien mind control. If you could shapeshift, you probably would have done so already to scare me off.”
“Well, I guess you’ve got me there.” Another toe-curling smile shaped his lips. “Maxwell is down there.” He pointed over her shoulder at the end of the hallway to an end cap display she hadn’t noticed on her way in.
Shedidnotice he hadn’t confirmed or denied whether this interlude was a first date. Perhaps this was dating alien-style.I should be so lucky.
They walked down the hallway side by side. Her arm bumped into his a couple of times as they moved, sending a thrill down her spine each time they connected.Whew. She needed to calm down.
A small, telephone booth-shaped box with a square glass top stood flush against the end cap. She realized it was similar to an old-fashioned fortune-teller booth. Put a dime in the slot and the fortune teller would shoot out a card from below so you could get a glimpse into your future.
In this case, instead of a turbaned soothsayer behind the glass, a three-foot-high Maxwell the Martian doll occupied the space, complete with a goofy big-eyed stare, infectious grin and one finger pointing at a button on the face of the box.
