Deep Trouble by Gail Z. Martin & Larry N. Martin

Author:Gail Z. Martin & Larry N. Martin [Martin, Gail Z.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Falstaff Books

Chapter 5

My favorite Star Trek quote is, “Social occasions are only warfare concealed.”

I found myself thinking about that quote as Sara adjusted my tie before we walked into the dinner for her hotelier conference at the historic Hotel Conneaut. “Relax,” Sara said, smoothing down my collar, and giving my cheek a pat. “It’s just a bunch of people who run B&Bs. You face down scarier things for breakfast.”

Sara knows I’m a hunter more often than I’m a mechanic. We met when I was up in the Big Woods hunting a were-squonk, and I ended up staying at the B&B she runs up in Kane. She’s smart, practical, and not into drama; plus it’s a relief being with someone who knows the truth about what I spend my nights and weekends doing. She’s widowed, I’m divorced, and we’ve both been hurt, so we’ve been taking it slowly. This was the first time I’d been her plus-one for any kind of gathering. To say I was out of practice being someone’s arm candy would be a powerful understatement.

“They’re your colleagues,” I grumbled. “I don’t want to embarrass you.”

She smiled. “Don’t exorcise the hotel’s famous ghosts, don’t throw holy water on the speaker, and it’ll be fine.” I think she was joking, but maybe not.

“Okay,” I said, feeling far more nervous about the reception and dinner than I did hunting things that could kill me and suck out my soul. “Just don’t expect much small talk.”

She stretched up to kiss me, and I felt some of the knots in my gut loosen. “I’m glad you’re here.” Sara laced her fingers through mine. “Don’t give the others another thought.”

I made it up to Kane every few weeks, mostly on monster business, but sometimes just to see Sara. My job gave me more flexibility than hers did, since running a B&B is a 24-7 kind of thing. That was another reason for moving slowly. We knew we liked each other, a lot. But neither of us were the casual relationship sort, and if we got serious, we still didn’t know where that might end up. Would I relocate my mechanic business to the Big Woods when my friends and support crew were here in Atlantic? But unless Sara sold her B&B and bought something near me, then what would she do?

We weren’t ready to answer those questions yet, so we took things one day at a time, trying not to go too far too fast, and maybe both scared about getting our hearts broken if we mucked this up.

Which is why the conference gave Sara both a reason to see me closer to my home and an excuse not to spend the night. She’d invited me to the reception and dinner, but with the caveat that she had a late-night business session afterward and an early breakfast. I can take a hint. That didn’t mean I wouldn’t be taking a cold shower when I got home, but I was on board with the going slow

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