City of Love: A Fantasy Romance Novel (Hidden Cities Book 1) by L.M. Strauss

Author:L.M. Strauss [Strauss, L.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ashe House Press
Published: 2024-08-07T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

Off-balance from the unexpected transition and the sudden loss of Gideon’s arms around her waist, Lexi stumbled and fell onto the asphalt beneath her feet. Standing back up and brushing the dirt from her hands and knees, she tried to get her bearings.

The first thing she saw was a flamingo. In fact, a freaking flock of flamingos.

What the…?

She stepped back and spun around, scanning left and right. Toddlers with sticky faces munching on cotton candy. Adults chasing after toddlers who were feeding cotton candy to the flamingos. Throngs of happy people moving along paved walkways or stopping to point at a jungle scene through a high fence.

The zoo.

A vendor cart sat thirty feet away, selling red, white, and blue t-shirts with the park’s logo.

Fourth of July at the Philadelphia Zoo.

When she thought about where they had traveled to get to Julian’s ranch, it made sense. They’d ridden northwest out of Old City and crossed the Schuylkill River. She’d been located near what in her world would be Fairmount Park.

Okay, so she was in one piece and in a fairly safe spot. Could be worse. No one was staring at her and screaming, so apparently she’d materialized unwitnessed. But what happened? She glanced at her timer. With more than three hours left, she shouldn’t have faded back. But that didn’t solve the fact that she had no money, identification, or cell phone, and was dressed more for a polo match than a summer holiday.

“Nice outfit,” said a forty-something man wearing khakis and a Phillies fan jersey with the first baseman’s name on it. On the surface, he looked like every other father in the zoo, but the military crew cut, hard expression, and all-business attitude told her he was something else altogether. “Did you just... er… pop over from a Fourth of July party? Maybe a rather unusual party?” A snide grin pulling at his mouth.

“I thought we were expecting a big, dark-blond dude, not a chick,” said a second man wearing almost the identical outfit, except that his fan jersey sported the name of the current Phillies pitcher.

Something was wrong. Way wrong. And not just because the Phillies were currently tied for last place in their division.

“Gideon? Are you there?” She reached out with her mind, but there was no response.

“She’s wearing the timer, she’s got to be the target. Maybe they just sent someone else over instead of that Gideon guy,” said the first baseman. “If he pops over too, one of the other teams will grab him.”

The pitcher took her elbow, like he was ready to escort her onto a dance floor. “What’s your name, beautiful?”

She flinched her arm away, slowly backing up until she butted against the flamingo fence. Every fiber of her being readied to run. “Who are you guys? How did you know I’d be here?”

She swiveled her head, eyes frantically searching for some plan of escape. The reptile house? The primate reserve? Bear country? Should she yell for a zookeeper to come help

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