Page 8 of Horn in My Side
For Gaku’s sake, stop ogling her.
“Jasmine?”
Her head snapped up, her face red.
Clearing his throat, he said, “How did you know I was here?”
That probably came out gruffer than he expected, and she visibly winced, her doe eyes turning wounded, as if she were a puppy he’d kicked.His gut recoiled, much like it had yesterday when she’d done the same thing when he had told her how dangerous it was for her to try to fix that sign without any help or proper equipment.He had repaired it himself with a simple mending spell before he left, just so she wouldn’t make another feeble attempt and end up with a broken leg or arm.Because nowhewas responsible for everything and everyone in the shop until he sold it all off.
To her credit, she recovered quickly, a sincere smile once again on her face.“This is the only motel in town, and I know you’re not staying at Vrig’s house, so I therefore concluded you had to be here,” she said matter-of-factly.“I’m just glad you’re in 1F and I didn’t have to knock on a lot of doors.”
She was going to knock on every single door in this motel until she found him?“What do you w—” He cleared his throat.“I mean, what can I do for you?”He could be polite if he wanted to, but it wasn’t his initial instinct to do so, not when he worked by himself or with other builders and workers, whose manners were even rougher than his.
Brown eyes blinked up at him.
“I was wondering, Mal ...do you want to have dinner?”
Both his hearts slammed into his chest.“Like ...a date?”
Her cheeks and nose reddened under her tanned skin.“No!”She slapped a hand over her forehead.“I mean, I’d l-like to talk to you.For us to talk.And maybe, since I’m guessing you haven’t had dinner yet, we can do it over a meal?Or-or not.”She clucked her tongue.“S-sorry.Never mind.I shouldn’t have come.”Slapping her hands over her mouth, she quickly turned on her heel and began to walk away.
Mal stood there, frozen as he watched her.She obviously had something important to tell him, and he’d scared her off,acting like some juvenile who had yet to experience his first coupling.
Run after her, fool.
“Wait!Jasmine!”
She stopped immediately and he reached her in five steps.Slowly, she pivoted to face him.
“What is it that you wanted to speak about?”he asked.
She glanced around.“It’s kind of ...It’s complicated.”
“How so?”
“I ...can we please sit down and talk?”
“I’m sure you can tell me what it is you want.”
“Yes, but ...”
“But?”
“We’re all alone in an empty parking lot.”She gestured around them.“And I’m not exactly comfortable speaking to a stranger by myself.And, like I said, you must be hungry.I think better on a full stomach.My treat, okay?”
He blew out an impatient breath, but had to concur with her, especially on the part about being alone and speaking with a stranger.Besides, he was about to leave her jobless soon, so he supposed he could at least hear her out.“Fine.”
“Great!Let’s go to the diner next door.”
“All right.”
“Uhm, Mal?”She bit at her lower lip.
“Yeah?”
“Do you want to ...maybe put on some clothes?”
He slapped himself on the forehead mentally.“I’ll be right back.”
