Part 20 (1/2)

Dammit, Rowan, there could be something in there. There was no heat to the words, since she wouldn't have picked it up without scanning it.

She shrugged. Curiosity, my besetting sin. Come on, let's go. It's a shame. I really liked this place.

Del privately agreed. He, too, was getting a little tired of running. Oh, well, at least we won't hear the neighbors anymore. I'd rather have you safe, angel.

That night, hours away in a motel room with a chill wind moaning at the window, the briefcase sat between them on a cheap rickety table. Rowan tucked her legs underneath her, unwinding the scarf from her neck with a sigh. ”We could call in,” she said, the line between her eyebrows deepening. ”Or string some code. They would be glad to hear from us.”

Del nodded. He finished the last of the scans, putting the small handheld instrument away in his kitbag. It was the second scan, standard procedure, but not likely to come up with anything. ”Well, it's not going to explode and kill us, and there's no tracker in it,” he said. ”You want to do the honors?”

She looked down at the table, her hair falling softly over her face. It was a sweet piercing feeling, knowing he could look at her as much as he wanted, seeing the curve of her cheek and the shape of her flawless mouth. ”If we open that, it's as good as admitting we want to go back.”

I wondered when you were going to realize that, sweetheart. You've been itching to do something useful for a while now. Don't think I haven't noticed. It felt strange not to automatically share the thought with her.

She gave him a wry smile. ”I can feel you thinking, even if I can't hear the content.” She stretched, yawning, and gave the bed a longing glance. ”What do you want, Justin? Do you want to go back?”

He considered the question for a long time. The pink-and-brown curtains over the window stirred a little.

The weather-stripping in here wasn't up to code, but they both needed the rest. Besides, this place was in a perfect part of a small town, easy for them to escape without notice, and that was worth a little chill.

And if it was cold he might wake up to her cuddling into his warmth, and that was always pleasant.

”s.e.x fiend.” She s.h.i.+fted uneasily in the chair, and he sighed.

”Well, that's the goose calling the gander, isn't it?” He gave her a smile that felt natural and treasured the quick grin she flashed. ”You really want to know what I want?” He folded his arms, feeling the familiar safety of dampers crackling in the air.

She rolled her eyes, and then sobered. She glanced around the motel room, then at the African violet sitting safely on the small bed stand under a pink ceramic lamp shaped like an elephant. The plant didn't seem any worse for wear. ”Of course.”

”I want you happy. You want to go back, we're still not required to do anything other than hang around Headquarters and train a few psions. Or just do the paperwork. I'm sure the old man has a mountain of it.”

Her eyes were dark, almost troubled. ”You miss him, don't you?”The idea of missing anyone was strange. Unfortunately, she was right. ”Yeah, I guess I do. Don't tell him, though.”

”Silent as the grave.” She put her legs down, leaned forward in the chair, and stared at the briefcase as if she had X-ray vision. He watched the thoughts moving behind her eyes, the faint blush on her cheeks from the cold, and the mussed silk of her hair.

”All right,” she said finally, wrapping up whatever internal conversation she'd been having. ”I suppose...”

But she didn't finish the sentence.

”It's up to you, Ro. We can toss it off the next bridge without even opening it.” Fat chance, sweetheart.