“When do you have to leave for work?”
“Not for hours.”
“Excellent.” He let his eyes roam over her and guessed he looked rather possessive. “Want to go around town and let everyone know we are together?”
She shrugged. “Or we could stay here and kiss until the next townsperson shows up and knocks on the front door. Shouldn’t be too long. And then more will show up. Perhaps they can just form a line down my street.”
“Maybe that’s a good thing.”
“How do you figure that?”
“Perhaps the universe is telling us something.”
“What?”
“Don’t let things go too far too fast.”
Francine made a face. “Like I’m worried about that.”
“Aren’t you?”
“Nope. I didn’t have an untarnished reputation to live up to even before the arranged marriage. But I was banished from my family for doing the right thing. These days, I do exactly what I want, when I want, how I want. And I don’t let anyone else decide what’s good for me—or not.”
“I don’t blame you. I do the same.”
“So, kissing or walking around town?” She crossed her arms as if daring him to not choose kissing.
He shrugged. “Both. Why don’t we walk around town and kiss as we go? It would show our intentions far more…visually than just telling people we’re a couple, don’t you think?”
“Yes. You’re right. Both it is.” She took his hand and ushered him toward her garage and vehicle.
“Where shall we start?”
“The Big Bang Truck Stop belowstairs and then we’ll head to a few choice places in Alienn to show off our kissing superpower.”
Raphael couldn’t wait to squire Francine all around Alienn, Arkansas, showing her off as his fiancée, kissing her at will. Even if this ended up being temporary, he would relish their time together.
There was something very satisfying about taking Francine out and about, kissing her as she wore a family engagement ring not many people on Earth would know the history of.
The violet diamond center stone was unique. If anyone in his family ever discovered he’d given it to Francine, they would lose their minds, as the Earther phrase went.
Raphael didn’t care. Francine was the only person he’d ever considered giving the ring to, and he hoped she might want to keep it, and him. He’d never felt this way before and took it as a sign that she was the one for him. Perhaps he’d convince her to make things permanent as they traveled the galaxies together on this coming trip.
Francine drove them to the Big Bang Truck Stop and parked her SUV. Together, she and Raphael slipped into the Alphas-only door and went down to the underground facility. They held hands, lingered in various stores, browsing as if they didn’t have a care in the world. Truthfully, she didn’t.
They stopped to get a sweet iced tea at the Celestial Barbeque Shack, which touted the best BBQ on the planet, and do some canoodling in a centrally located booth. Best of all, they kissed, a lot, everywhere they went. Lots of folks took notice, just as they wanted.
As they exited the Celestial Barbeque Shack, they spotted Cam Grey and his wife, Ria.
“Boudreaux,” Cam said, giving Francine a quizzical look, but not making a big deal about it.
“Cam,” he responded.
Ria, meanwhile, grinned at Francine. Then her expression turned to shocked delight. “Oh my gosh! Are you two engaged?” She pointed to the ginormous violet diamond ring and Francine held her hand up.
“Yes. We are.” Francine wiggled her fingers and the gemstone sparkled obligingly.
