Chapter 5
Okay. Okay. Just take it easy and keep your wits about you.
He couldn’t believe he hadn’t thought about the possible consequences of exposing Kira to his curse. And going out into the middle of a forest, where literally anything could have happened, seemed especially irresponsible on his part.
At least he had a completely legitimate excuse not to drive, since his car was still being fixed. But Caleb wasn’t sure if that meant Kira’s car would suffer a mysterious breakdown now, since he was pretty certain he didn’t actually have to be driving the car for the curse to affect it.
He eyed the hood suspiciously as Kira guided the car along the mountain road back into town, but so far it didn’t look like it was about to burst into flames or anything like that.
“I’m sorry we ended up cutting things short,” he said after a moment. He didn’t want Kira to think he’d been put off from spending time with her, but he couldn’t really tell her about the curse and why he’d decided they needed to get out of the forest either. At least she’d readily agreed to get some lunch with him.
We were right to ask her. Ingesting sustenance together is an important human mating ritual,his dragon piped up. Caleb pursed his lips, trying not to roll his eyes. His dragon had to be the least helpful dating coach ever.
“Oh, it’s okay, I completely understand,” Kira said. “I’m just sorry I won’t be able to show you around tomorrow, since I have to work. Well, I mean, if you’re back in the park I can probably find a reason to show you a few things, if you don’t mind watching me work. I’ll have to deal with that broken branch, for one thing.”
There was nothing Caleb wanted to do more than tell her he’d be honored – there was pretty much nothing he’d rather do than help Kira with pretty much anything. But his anxiety about what the curse might do to put Kira in danger made him pause.
Will she think I don’t want to spend my time with her anymore?Caleb wondered – though he hoped Kira wouldn’t see it that way, rejecting her offer would be hard to make come across as anything else.
“I’d like that,” Caleb said cautiously. “Or if I decide to go off hiking on a different trail, I’d love to just come back and get lunch with you. I hope we can still spend some time together.”
From the pleased flush on Kira’s face and the smile she flashed at him, Caleb hoped he’d managed to find the right balance. He wasn’t rejecting her, he just didn’t want to put her in danger!
We should simply explain the situation to her,his dragon grumbled. All this subterfuge, all this pretense – it is not the dragon way.
Caleb had to agree with the dragon there, but still, he thought he probably needed just a bit more time to get to know Kira before springing the truth of who – and what – he really was on her. Not to mention the whole ‘curse’ thing. Ideally, he’d solve that issue before it ever had to come up in a conversation, though after what Kira had said today about the size of the park, Caleb had to admit his hopes weren’t high.
Still, I can’t give up. And I can take more time if I need to. It’s my only chance – I’m not about to let it go just because it might be difficult.
And now that he’d met his mate, his incentive to find the aurum whatever-it-was was higher than ever. It wasn’t just breaking the curse that was at stake now – it was his future happiness with his mate.
“Well, here we are!” Kira said as she pulled the car into a parking space outside a line of shops on Girdwood Springs’ small main street. “Eula’s has the best chili dogs you’ll ever experience. I hope you like that kind of food?”
Caleb nodded as he got out of the car. “I’ve got to be honest with you – I’ll kind of eat anything. I’m not really a gourmet or anything like that. There was a time I lived on ramen for about three weeks.”
Mainly because the curse set everything I tried to cook on fire – boiling water was my only option.
“Oh, believe me, I did that in college too,” Kira laughed. “Eula’s isn’t fancy, but it’s good, hearty food.”
“Sounds absolutely perfect,” Caleb said as he pushed open the diner’s door to let Kira go first.
He’d believed Kira of course when she’d said the food here was good, but Caleb hadn’t quite been prepared for just how delicious the smells that hit him as he stepped into the diner would be. With his dragon’s sense of smell, the scent of fresh French fries, cooking meat, baking bread, and rich herbs and spices was almost overwhelming.
“Wow,” he said, looking around. “My mouth’s watering already.”
Kira laughed. “You wait till you actually try the food!”
As she spoke, a large, tall woman in an apron appeared from the kitchen out the back, giving them both a broad grin, eyes darting back and forth between them. “Well, Ranger Dearborn! Just what’ve you found in the forest today?”
Kira laughed, but Caleb couldn’t help but notice her slight blush. “Just showing an out-of-towner around the park, Eula,” she said. “Eula, this is Caleb. Caleb, Eula.”
“Nice to meet you,” Caleb said, extending his hand.
“Oh, I won’t shake, young man.” Eula lifted a finger, waving it at him. “No offense – I’ve just been cutting up some slaw, so my hands are all carrot juicey. But I can tell just by looking you’ve got a nice firm one.”
She laughed riotously, while Kira got even pinker, and Caleb watched them both, bemused. Eula was clearly a character.
“But anyway, I didn’t come out here to steal the show with my jokes,” Eula said, going to a sink to wash her hands. “I came out to find out what you fine young folks want to eat. Unless you’re happy to go with the chef’s specials.”