But he couldn’t do that to Ria. He didn’twantto do it to her. And if anyone found out what he’d already let her get away with, it might cost him his job. Ria was worth it. And if she had to be here on Earth for the next ten days, who better to watch over her than the chief of security for the Big Bang Truck Stop?
His argument was as convenient as it was accurate. He was the person best qualified to keep an eye on her, if he also ignored the protocol for an escaped Alpha on the loose in Alienn without prior permission to explore.
The next ten days were going to test every one of the boundaries he’d put in place for himself. He always held himself to a higher standard. He always did the right thing. He never bent the rules to allow anyone or anything to endanger the secret about aliens living in plain sight on Earth, let alone sever them cleanly like he was now by not announcing to anyone what she’d done and shielding her unauthorized actions.
He glanced her way and his eyes caught on the sight of her rebellious blue-streaked hair as she sipped her coffee, sighing in simple pleasure. She was a sight to behold even though he knew her wicked ways.
Ria could tempt a saint to misbehave, but Cam was no saint.
Chapter Seven
Ria wondered what Cam was thinking. He was attractive and appealing, and she would love nothing more than spending the next ten days testing the strength of his bedsprings. However, she wondered if they’d ever sleep together again. It wasn’t a lack of desire on either of their parts, but he was trying to do the right thing.
She appreciated his honorable approach with regard to the foolish arranged marriage she was saddled with, and promised herself she’d do her best not to tempt him if he didn’t want to be with her again.
It would be difficult, but she’d make the effort. And she did want to explore Earth and all the variety it had to offer. If she could spend the time with Cam while she did it, getting to know him, then that was even better. Besides, perhaps she could persuade him into an innocent kiss or two or a dozen along the way.
“I’m glad you don’t want to forget me,” he said. “No matter what happens, I swear I’ll never forget you.”
After a lengthy silence, she asked, “So, let’s say I want to explore the area. Where will you take me? Or are you putting me in the brig, shackled and waiting for the ship to return?”
“While putting you behind bars or in a shackle is tempting and likely what Ishoulddo, I’ll let you roam free with the understanding that when the ship returns, you must go back and follow the rules.”
She nodded, but wondered if she could ever go back to followinganyrules. She hated rules. Rules were dumb. Ancient rules and practices from her planet were the reason she was even in an arranged marriage in the first place. But sometimes even the mighty oak had to bend to the wind, right? She’d read that somewhere in her studies of Earth, silently adding to her Earth to-do list, find a mighty oak and see if it bends in the wind.
“I’ll follow the rules as best as I can,” she promised.
“Another thing, you’ll have to stay away from the Big Bang Truck Stop as much as possible and especially avoid my brother Axel and probably my other brother, Diesel. Or you’ll have to convincingly pretend you’re an earthling.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Why?”
“Axel is acting in my stead as security chief while I’m gone the next few days. He’s seen the picture your mother gave us. However, he thinks you returned to the ship with your lady’s maid and left Earth. He might recognize you even with the bold blue streaks in your hair and wonder why you’re here and who is on the ship if you aren’t. I’m hoping to avoid anyone ever knowing.
“And if Diesel finds out that I’m seeing an earthling—” let alone harboring an Alpha from an unsanctioned way station ship visit “—he might find a way to shoot you with a Defender.”
“Why would he? Besides, it won’t work on me, will it?”
“No. But if he thinks you’re an earthling, you’d have to collapse and pretend to forget stuff. But if it’s known that I’m hanging out with an earthling—because what else could you be—he’d shoot you with reprisal in mind. If youdidn’tfall down and forget like a human, he might put you in the brig himself.”Or shackle you and learn the real truth. Bad idea.
“Reprisal? Like revenge? I can’t wait to hear the explanation for this.”
Cam sighed. “I may have shot his part-human girlfriend with a Defender one time. Maybe two times.”
“One or two, huh?”
“Okay. Possibly more than twice. It’s hard to remember. But my brothers think they are funny and I just want you to be prepared to avoid them to make things easier on us both until the ship returns.”
She frowned, not wanting to think about the ship’s return, but nodded. “I’ll do my best.”
“Great. Now that that’s settled, where would you like to go first?”
She straightened as the biggest grin she’d ever sported shaped her lips. “Oh, I don’t know, but I do have a list of possibilities.”
“A list?” He grinned back at her. “Of course you do. Tell me a few items on your list.”
“Okay. I want to hike through a forest and see the tallest trees, and also a mighty oak tree, bending in the wind if possible.
