Inferno by Cara Bristol
Chapter Six
Trenton’s neutral expression slipped a few times, revealing he wouldn’t be averse to rekindling their relationship. Well, Geneva was averse. She’d stamped their relationship account closed. She’d rushed through her meal, and, as soon as she’d swallowed the last bite, she jumped up and announced she had to get to work.
Several times, he’d accidentally on purpose brushed her hand, then he’d insisted on trying to pay for her meal, as if they were on a date. Oh hell, no. She tossed her share on the table. Trenton refused to take his money back, so lucky Millie. She was getting a heck of a tip.
With a hand against her lower spine, Trenton guided her out of the restaurant. Once, she’d gotten hot and sweaty with this man; now, she squirmed out of reach, unwilling to have his hands on her even for an instant. As she twisted away, she spotted Inferno glowering through the window.
Oh, great.Double trouble, she thought,but felt an instant fluttering in her tummy and a throb of arousal between her legs.
Trenton followed her gaze. “What the hell is wrong with his face?”
She frowned. “What do you mean?”
“It’s bright red.”
“Yeah, well, you stained your neck blue. There’s nothing wrong with his face!” If she had to choose between the two men, she’d take Inferno over her ex any day—even if he did call himself an alien. She stomped outside.
“Geneva?” Inferno said.
His deep, rumbling voice sent another surge of heat rolling through her. She flushed. “Hello, Inferno.”
Trenton puffed up like a rooster. “You two know each other?”
“We’re genmates.” Inferno puffed up, too.
Trenton snorted. “This is the guy you’re seeing?”
Where did he get off questioning and judging her? She was tempted to say yes to knock the smirk off his face, but that would signal a wrong message to Inferno, so she settled on, “My social life is none of your business.”
“Whatever. It’s your life.” Shaking his head, he stalked off.
“Yes, it is! And thanks for bringing the paperwork. I’ll wait for the check!”
He got into a dinged-up two-door rental car and sped away.
“Who was that man?” Inferno asked.
“My asshole of an ex.”
“So, you are not with him anymore.”
“Oh God, no. Banish the idea. This is the first time I’ve seen him in two years.” Why was she telling him this? She didn’t owe him any explanation.
He smiled, his whole face lit up, and she stared, almost mesmerized. Damn, he’s hot! She could stare at him all day. He had soulful eyes. An angelic smile. And the horns of a devil, she reminded herself—although they were hidden under his ball cap. Still, in the light of day, he didn’t look as fiendish as she remembered.
Two cars pulled up to the curb, and four people emerged from each vehicle and piled into Millie’s. After the door closed behind them, she asked, “Did you leave me a note?”
“Yes. You wouldn’t talk to me, and I needed to express my feelings, so I wrote you a note.”
“Your behavior could be considered stalking,” she said.
“I don’t understand.”
“Did you follow me here?” She studied his face.
“No.” He shook his head and pointed down the street. “I went to the Inner Journey, and Mandy mentioned chicken-fried steak, so I decided to try it.”
He sounded sincere, but she’d call Mandy and check out his story. Trust but verify. “The chicken-fried steak was very good.” The only thing wrong with the meal had been the company. She peered into the restaurant. While they’d been talking, all the tables had filled up. The lone available counter seat was wedged between two portly gentlemen. “Looks like it’s full.”
“I can wait.” He lifted a shoulder. “Or I’ll grab something at the Whitetail Saloon—or go home and eat. I have options.”
Geneva bit her lip, poised on the brink of a decision. Leave. Just leave. That would be the sensible thing. When a man claiming to be from another planet leaves you a love note, you should run to the nearest courthouse and get a restraining order.
But her entire body tingled with awareness and odd expectancy. He smelled wonderful, like warm spice, exotic yet familiar. He called to mind cuddles by a roaring fire on a rainy night, romantic picnics in a field of wildflowers, and stolen kisses. Especially the latter.
Aware she was about to make a huge mistake, she said, “You could walk with me while you wait for a table to open up.”
His eyes widened with surprise, and then he smiled. “I would like that.”
Side by side, they fell into place. “One of the niceties of living in a small town is that you can walk everywhere,” she commented, making conversation. “Which is good because my car is old and not very reliable.” With the windfall, she could fix all of Wanda’s mechanical issues. “If not for the bad weather in winter, I could do without a car.”
“It’s nice today,” he said.
“Yes, it’s unseasonably warm.” People in the diner had been wearing short sleeves. Spring in North Idaho was chilly, even outright cold. Snow still was possible. “Have you lived in Argent long?”
“About one of your Earth years.”
Still going with the alien thing.
“Have you always lived in this village?” he asked.
“A little over two Earth years,” she quipped.
“Where did you live before?”
“Boise.
“I’ve never heard of that.”
“It’s the state capital!”
The church came into view as they turned left on Second Avenue. It was on the tip of her tongue to ask him where he’d lived before Argent, but she had a hunch the answer would annoy her. Continuing with the theme, he’d probably say ’Topia, that alien planet he’d mentioned before. Why do the cute ones have to be crazy? Or lying con men? I shouldn’t have asked him to walk with me.
“How did you get the nickname Inferno?” she asked.
“It’s the name my parents gave me.”
“Your parents named you Inferno? It’s your real name?”
“Yes. Didn’t your parents name you?”
“Why would they give you a name like that?”
“Because I’m a Luciferan.”
Why did he smell so good? Why did her body hum with desire? Why did she like him despite his lies? Or despite his craziness. “You shouldn’t have written that note to me.”
“Why not?”
A love note from somebody you loved was sweet and romantic. The same note from a stalker was…scary. “It was inappropriate. We’re strangers.”
He halted on the sidewalk. Expression somber, he pressed a hand to his chest. “I’ve been waiting for you all my adult life. I know you in my hearts.”
“Hearts?”
He nodded. “I have two of them. The main one and a spare.”
She planted her hands on her hips and dropped her jaw. “You won’t quit, will you?”
He scratched his head, pushing back his hat, and she caught sight of a horn. “What do you mean?”
“You do not have two hearts!” She stomped her foot, annoyed with him, madder at herself for liking him when he gave her every reason in the world not to.
He grabbed her hand and held it to the left side of his torso. His heart drummed a strong, hard beat in a chest radiating heat like a furnace. She was one of those women who was cold most of the time. How heavenly would it be to curl up next to him, absorb his delicious body heat, inhale his enticing scent... She jerked at the fantasy taking shape.
He moved her hand to the right, and she felt another thumping against her palm.
“Two hearts,” he said and released her.
There had to be a plausible explanation. Perhaps his heart beat so strongly, the contraction of the muscle could be felt on both sides, she reasoned, and then realized she still had her palm pressed to his chest. She yanked her hand away.
Her gaze collided with his, and the spinning world threw her off kilter.
“Somebody is waving at you,” he said.
“What?”
He gestured, and she turned to see her uncle coming down the steps.
“Hello, I’m Pastor Mike,” he introduced himself when he reached them.
The two men shook hands. “I’m Inferno. It’s very nice to meet you.”
“Interesting name.”
“So I’m told.”
“Are you visiting, or do you live here?”
“Oh, I live here.”
“Wonderful! Argent is a great place to live.”
“Yes, it is.”
Uncle Mike pushed up his glasses and peered at Geneva. “Any idea when Trenton is coming?”
“He’s come and gone. He showed up early and met me at Millie’s.”
“Everything go okay?”
“Fine. I’ll fill you in later.”
“Good. We’ll talk this afternoon. I’m off to an interfaith council meeting.” He kissed her cheek and then regarded Inferno. “Nice meeting you. I hope you’ll drop in for Sunday services sometime.”
“Thank you for the invitation.” After her uncle left, Inferno asked her, “Do you attend?”
If she said yes, he’d probably show up front and center every Sunday. “Occasionally.” Only often enough to support her uncle and satisfy propriety. She found the singing peaceful and calming but couldn’t buy the theology.
Inferno’s disturbing alluring scent beckoned her to lean closer. Fighting the seductive pull, she inched toward the church. “There’s probably a table free at Millie’s by now. You’d better grab it before someone else does. It was nice of you to walk me back.”
“Can I see you again?”
She lifted her hands and let them fall. Dammit. Inviting him to walk with her had given him the wrong idea. Logic and common sense warned he was bad news, yet the instant she saw him, her body hummed, and something in her soul—for lack of a better word—began to sing. Further encouragement would be wrong, disingenuous. And what if he started attending church? She couldn’t banish him after her pastor uncle had extended an invitation.
“Inferno, I don’t—” She made the mistake of looking at him.
There was a yearning in his dark eyes, as if all the hope in the world rested on her answer.
“I’ll think about it, okay?” She fled for the safety of the building. Coward! All you did was put it off.
* * * *
After Geneva disappeared inside, Inferno whooped and punched the air. Progress! He hadn’t gotten a yes, but it wasn’t a no. And, she’d let him walk with her. They’d had a real conversation. Once again, Mandy’s advice had been sound and true: he needed to give Geneva time. Well, he had all the time in the world. The genetic bond could not be denied. If he didn’t hear from her by Sunday, he’d attend the service. He might come in any case. He was curious about human culture.
With a spring in his step, he headed for Millie’s. He would celebrate his good fortune with chicken-fried steak and huckleberry pie a la mode.