The Royal Hunter by Donna Kauffman

Author:Donna Kauffman [Kauffman, Donna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-49032-2
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2012-09-12T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Archer smiled when Talia came back outside a few minutes later, a bulging backpack over her shoulder … and Beatrice’s godawful fishing bonnet on her head. He said nothing because he understood why she’d taken it. They might have eradicated tooth decay in his time, but people still clung to their teddy bears. The hat was her teddy … of sorts.

She came down the steps, her expression all but daring him to comment. Instead he pulled something out of his back pocket and extended it toward her. “Here.”

“What is it?”

“The picture of your mother. I thought you might like to carry it with you. I should have thought to give it to you earlier.”

She unfolded the silky paper and looked at the image on it. Her eyes were glassy when she looked back at him. “With everything that’s been going on … all the memories … I’d forgotten, too. Thank you.”

He could only nod, feeling moisture gathering in his eyes, as well.

“Shall we?” Baleweg said gently. With a hand to Talia’s shoulder he guided them to her truck.

Talia stopped. “Wait. We’re … driving there?”

Baleweg smiled. “No. But it would look rather odd if we all departed and took no visible means of transport. And we cannot wait for a taxi to take us away from here.”

“Right. Of course.” Talia took a deep breath and Devin found himself taking her hand in his.

He liked how it felt, how she so willingly wove her fingers through his. She was terrified and yet she held her head up. Oddly, though he’d intended to support her, she was the one teaching him about strength. “We’re going to drive into the city and park in a hotel lot,” he explained. “It won’t be questioned that way.”

“Just really expensive. Do you have any idea what they charge for parking?” Talia laughed suddenly. “Listen to me. I have the fate of a future kingdom resting on my shoulders and I’m worried about valet parking.”

Archer leaned down and kissed her temple. “My shoulders are pretty broad, too, you know.” He was surprised at how eager he was to share her burden. Devin Archer, the guy who worked alone, lived alone, and liked it that way. Then she glanced up at him when he opened the door for her and—wham. It was just there. No explaining it.

Her lips twitched in that smile of hers he liked best, the slightly crooked, self-mocking one. “You might be carrying me on those shoulders soon, so be careful what you offer, big guy.”

Archer leaned in and kissed her. Hard. He couldn’t help it. Only Baleweg’s noisy throat-clearing stopped it.

“Maybe I shouldn’t drive,” she said.

Archer smiled. “If you want us to get there in one piece, you will. Neither of us knows how to operate this kind of vehicle.”

“Oh. Right. Of course. Okay.” She turned away and clutched the steering wheel. “I’ll drive. I’ll be just fine.”

Archer closed the door and crossed around to the other side. She’d be okay, he told himself for the thousandth time.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.