“I want to see a really big lake. I want to paddle in a boat across that lake. I want to go to a zoo and see all the earthly animals…and ride a motorcycle… Oh, and visit a biker bar to play pool… And I must make time to go to a big shopping mall to walk around, get my nails done. And if I do nothing else, I must eat in a food court before I go back home.”
“A food court? A Biker bar? I’m not sure which of those is more disturbing.”
She ignored his comment to ask for clarification. “So is the food court like eating with royalty or like watching lawyers at a trial work while you eat?”
“Um, neither. Not even close. You might be disappointed to discover it is basically crowded, cheap fast-food eaten in uncomfortable chairs that are just as cheap between shopping forays into stores. There aren’t many healthy choices at a food court.”
She laughed riotously. “You think I came all the way to Earth to findhealthychoices?” And then giggled some more.
That sexy half-smile shaped his lips. “Touché.”
“What does that mean?”
“It’s French. It means, I take your point.”
“Ahhhh. Okay. Where can we go and what can we do first?”
He hooked a thumb over his shoulder, pointing to his garage. “Well, I do own a motorcycle.”
“You do? Really?” He nodded with the kind of look of pride that only the males of their species could pull off without looking foolish.
“Are you in a motorcycle gang?”
“Of course. We call ourselves Hell’s Aliens,” he said without missing a beat.
“Oh, you do not.”
“Maybe I exaggerate.”
“Regardless of your fake affiliation to a made-up motorcycle gang, that’s what I want to do first. Ride a motorcycle.”
“Okay. That, I can do.”
“Will you teach me to drive it?”
A mock-horrified look crossed his features before he relented. “If we have time, maybe.”
Ria was so excited she put her cup down and moved closer to hug him. Before she could close the distance between them, he straightened and put his hands out. “Wait.”
She carefully wrapped her arms around his neck. “I know what you’re going to say and I understand how you feel. Maybe I even applaud it, but I want one last kiss before we cut off all gestures of affection. And please make it good. It has to last me for ten whole days.”Or possibly forever.
“Touché,” he said again and kissed her exactly like it would be their last time.
Cam revved the motorcycle’s engine a couple of times, enjoying the way it made Ria tighten her already firm grip around his waist, and headed north on the outskirts of Alienn to avoid any nosy townspeople who might spread rumors or speculate about who he was hanging out with. Especially Aunt Dixie.
Anytime he cruised through Alienn, he encountered no less than three people he knew who wanted to stop and chat. He wanted to be alone with Ria, so he avoided downtown.
The county road around the western side of Alienn heading north to the mining operation was typically not used much for day-to-day traffic. So it was with some surprise that he rounded a long curve in the road to see two sheriff’s vehicles stopped about a mile or so ahead, facing opposite directions as the officers had a chat.
He had plenty of time to stop. Luckily, he hadn’t been going as fast as he usually would have, so Ria could look at the scenery, but his heart sank when he realized he knew both of the men chatting it up.
Now he’d be compelled to speak to them and introduce Ria. Then he’d have to hope they wouldn’t talk about her to anyone in his family, which was highly unlikely. She’d be the first topic they’d bring up anytime they saw him for the next several years.’Member that mystery girl riding behind you five years ago? Whatever happened to her?
The driver’s-side windows were both down. The two cruisers were parked about four feet apart, giving Cam plenty enough space to ride between, which he did. He wanted to get the dreaded conversation over with a soon as possible.
On the right side headed in the same direction was Sheriff Hunter Valero, the sheriff of Old Coot, home of the Smokin’ Hog Saloon. He was human, but well-regarded in Alienn by everyone who knew him.
