Page 20 of Free for Adventure

She shrugged and kept eating. When her meal disappeared, she sat back and finished her coffee. “Thanks. I was too tired to work the machine.”

“Would you like another cup?”

Amby knew her face was pathetic when she looked at him. “Please?”

He laughed, got up, and kissed the top of her head. She blinked in surprise. She hadn’t imagined the kiss last night.

She listened to the hiss and burble of the coffee maker, and a cup was brought over to her a moment later. “Thank you.”

It was nice and hot, but she gulped it down as soon as she blew on it enough to cool it.

He set a bag on the table. “There are water bottles, juice, snacks, and some meat sticks.”

“Okay.” She yawned and went to get her equipment pack.

She made sure everything had a charge, including her phone, and came out to see Dorian drinking a cup of coffee.

“Oh, morning.”

Dorian grinned. “You are up. That’s a first. Most of the time, women are trying to get me into bed.”

“I am sorry. I want you up against a rock wall.”

He raised his brows, and Ohno laughed.

She held up her arm. “Also, this thing is rigged, so it isn’t coming off.”

Ohno said, “Is that what you were asking Violet about?”

“Yup. It’s a fun prototype. It won’t come off until I have either smashed it off or gotten what my body is looking for. Don’t make that sleazy.”

Dorian walked up and looked at it. “Well, it has a band on it already.”

“Yeah, it can take up to four, according to Violet. I think she wants to test it for a more open market.”

Dorian nodded thoughtfully, reached into the pocket of his windbreaker, and pulled out his black cuff.

He slipped it on and got it near her cuff. A silvery black band appeared next to Ohno’s, and she winced. “Yeah, my assignments are a bit of a setup.”

He grinned. “This is going to make today a lot more fun.”

He touched the top of his cuff and jolted when he looked at her.

She flapped her free hand. “Yeah. Trust me. I know. So, can we go? Or will the water run out?”

He chuckled. “Right. Of course.”

She eased her hand away from him and clutched her media bag.

“I will grab your little snack bag, and we will walk to the ferry area. We are taking a hovercraft, and they aren’t allowed in either village. Too many people and the occasional goat.” He put a hand on her mid-back and steered her toward the door.

She smiled. “See you later, Ohno.”

“Don’t forget about your dance class this afternoon.”

“I won’t. It’s on my list.”

Dorian walked with her down the pathway, around the manor, and toward the ferry dock.