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handed her a coffee cup. "When you're done here, just come and get us."
She smiled up at him. "Thanks. I won't be long."
He nodded and passed me a cup.
"Tea," he said, then glanced at Savannah. "Right?"
"Chai," she said.
I took the cup with thanks, then laid it down and helped Savannah get ready.
A Fortuitous Collision of Circumstances
Savannah was, as she'd said, already packed. But I wasn't letting her go without an armful of
instructions, most of which were some variation on "be good" or "be careful."
Handing Savannah over to anyone, even to people I knew would protect her with their lives, wasn't
easy for me. Elena made it easier, though, by arranging a twice-daily check-in time of eleven in the morning
and eleven at night. If either of us would be busy at the designated time, we'd forewarn the other, so no one
would be left worrying about a call not made or not answered. Yes, it bordered on obsessive-compulsive,
but neither Elena nor Clay made me feel I was overreacting, and I truly appreciated that.
I planned to walk down with Elena and see them off, so Savannah and I didn't bother with
good-byes. As the door swung shut behind them, I turned to Elena.
"Clay's really good with Savannah," I said.
"Uh-huh."
"You don't think so?"
She plunked down onto the sofa. "No, I'm just waiting for part two of that comment."
"You mean the part that goes 'You know, he'd probably make a pretty good '"
She held up a hand to stop me. "Yep, that part."
I laughed and plunked into my chair. "Any progress on that front?"
"He's moved from hints disguised as jokes to outright hints. That took a year, so I figure I have
another year before he insists on progressing to actual discussion. He's being pretty good about it, though.
Taking his time, getting me used to the idea before he pops the question."
"He knows you're not ready."
"Problem is, I'm not sure I'll ever be. I want kids. I really do. I always assumed I'd grow up, marry
a nice guy, live in the suburbs, and raise a houseful of kids. But with Clay, well, I always thought a life with
him meant giving up all of that. Even the 'growing up' part."
"Highly overrated."
"I think so." She grinned and stretched her legs along the sofa. "Kids, though, well, it's a big step,
and not just for the normal reasons. Clay knows I'm not going anywhere, so it isn't a question of
commitment. It's the werewolf issue. Two werewolves having a baby? Never been done. Who knows
what " She rubbed her hands over her arms. "Well, I'm just not ready, and right now, I don't have time to
worry about it, not with all these recruitment problems."
I put down my Chai. "That's right. You met that new recruit this week. How did "
Two raps at the door cut me off.
"Guess Clay's getting antsy," I said. "At least he tried."
Elena shook her head. "That's far too polite a knock for Clay."
"And it's the wrong door," I said, following the sound. "That'd be our bodyguard."
Elena laughed. I opened the door that joined the two suites and she saw Troy.
"Shit," she murmured. "You weren't kidding."
"I just saw Mr. Cortez's car pull into the lot," Troy said. "Figured you might like some advance
warning. I thought I heard" he leaned into the room and saw Elena "voices. Hello."
He leaned farther into the room for a better look, and it was obvious he wasn't going anywhere
without an introduction.
"Troy, this is Elena; Elena, this is Troy Morgan, Benicio's bodyguard, temporarily on loan."
Elena stood and extended her hand. Troy nearly tripped over his feet to take it. As usual, I don't
think Elena noticed the attention, and certainly didn't reciprocate.
"You're a, uh, friend of Paige's?" he said.
"A fellow council member," I said. "She just stopped in for a visit. . . with her husband."
"Hus " He looked down at Elena's hand and saw her engagement ring. "Oh." He stepped back,
reluctantly. "The interracial council, huh? So you're a supernatural. Let me guess "
"Sorry," I said. "But if Benicio's coming up, we'd better get Elena gone."
Another rap at the door, this time the hall one.
"Come on," Troy said to Elena. "We'll duck out through my room."
"Say good-bye to Savannah for me," I said. "I'll call you tonight."
Elena let Troy usher her into his room. I paused, then opened the hall door and invited Benicio in.
His new bodyguard stayed in the corridor. Before I'd even closed that door, the adjoining door reopened
and Elena popped her head through. She motioned toward the hall, mouthing "guard." I discreetly waved her
inside. Better for her to go out the main door, and arouse Benicio's suspicions a bit, than have the guard see
her sneak from Troy's room and raise Benicio's suspicions a lot. I doubted Troy usually had women spend
the night while he was on duty.
"Is Savannah here?" Benicio asked, looking around. He saw Elena.
"She was just leaving," I said.
Elena brushed past Benicio with a small smile and a nod. I held the door open, then closed it behind
her and turned to Benicio.
"Now, where were we?" I said. "Oh, you brought the case files. Thanks."
I took the files. Benicio glanced at the half-open bedroom door, trying to see through it.
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