Inspired, Lucy tiptoed forward and stood beside the agent. She'd never been shy before—not even close—but she had no experience with men. Boys with crushes, sure, but Agent Riley was not a boy with a crush. He was all man.
She was nervous as hell, but refused to cater to that weakness. "Hi. I'm Lucy."
He offered his hand, warm and soft and strong, and they shook. He towered over her, a bit taller than Luke. "Hunter Riley."
Lucy giggled, then covered her mouth with her hand. Why? Why did I giggle at his name? That's so stupid. She had to admit that his name made her weak in the knees. He could hunt her anytime. Oh my God. What's wrong with me? She had to stop thinking like a cheesy romance novel and focus on work.
"So," asked Hunter, "how do you know Agent Simmons?"
"Agents Simmons and Morrison helped me and my friends out after we escaped from... the place we'd been living. You should know, I'm not like other people."
She'd never had to explain herself to someone before. On assignment she had to keep her powers secret, and at Rent-A-Kid everyone already knew. Living this new life, in the real world, would be a challenge. She would have to be careful about who she trusted with the truth of who she was.
Hunter chuckled. "What, do you have powers or something?"
She assumed she could trust him. After all, Simmons knew about her. That's why she and Luke were here. "Well, yeah, actually. That's exactly what I have."
He raised an eyebrow. "Powers? Really? Are you going to start shooting lasers out of your eyes? Should I back away?"
He scooted away from her in mock horror and she giggled. God, why does he keep making me giggle like a moron? "No. No lasers, though that'd be kinda nice sometimes. No, I can tell when people are lying."
"Seriously?" His face fell. "I think you and I can't be friends then."
What? Is he serious? Lucy tensed, but her head buzzed. He was lying. "I—"
"Relax. I'm joking. But seriously, I can't be around you."
Another lie. "Why? Do you lie a lot?"
"Sometimes. Sometimes I like to."
And another. She could play along—see where this was going. "Really?"
He shrugged. "Well, it's a free country. I like to exercise my rights."
Lucy's head buzzed and she crossed her arms over her chest. "You're lying."
"What, it's not a free country?"
She almost stuck her tongue out at him, but caught herself. This wasn't Luke. "No, you said you lie a lot. You don't."
"You sure? I mean, I just lied, just now. How—"
"I'm sure."
"Okay. See this whole you-being-a-lie-detector thing, this isn't going to work."
"Well fine, then I'll just leave." Lucy turned away, done with the games.
Hunter grabbed her arm and stopped her. "No, don't. I'm joking. I know about your powers. I know who you are. You're fine. We're good."
Lucy focused on his hand, and a tingle of heat passed through it and into her arm. She wanted to explore that feeling and see where it led, but she pulled away and searched for something else to say that didn't sound totally lame and awkward. "You have cool hair." Oh sheesh. Good one, Luce. Very original.
"Well, thank you. My mother was actually the first to die my hair like this."
Another buzz in Lucy's head. "She was not."
"Yeah. She didn't love me."
Another lie—based on how the power felt in her, she could tell if someone was lying maliciously or in a teasing way. He was teasing her. Lucy laughed. "You talk a lot but say very little."
"I... yes. Sometimes I do." Hunter's lips curved down a fraction and he looked at his watch. "It's late. We should probably get some rest."
"We... yeah, probably." Lucy was exhausted after hiking from sun-up to sun-down, but she didn't want to leave.
Hunter smiled and walked away, back toward the fire and his sleeping bag.
Oh to share that with him tonight.
Lucy scolded herself again and focused on the moon, now waning from the full moon a couple nights before. Soon, they'd be back at the base. Soon they could continue with their mission. And soon... she'd get to spend more time with Hunter.
Another buzz filled her body, and this time it had nothing to do with a lie. At least she hoped it didn't.
Chapter 79 – Sam
Ana fussed as I held her on the changing table with one hand and pulled her dirty diaper off with the other. "Oh, baby, I love you tons, but you stink!"
How could something so small and cute create such a noxious mess?
My cell phone rang, but I'd left it on my bed, which I couldn't reach from the changing table. A few wipeys later, and Ana gurgled and smiled, content to suck on her bottle in her crib.
I dashed to the bed and grabbed my phone, just as the call went to voicemail. I punched redial. "Mrs. Beaumont!"
"Hi, Sam, I just wanted to let you know we landed safely and are on our way to your house. Tommy wanted to speak with you."