Page 27 of A Hunter Found
“I prefer mustard to ketchup,” she said with a teasing grin, “I’m not too picky about my toothpaste as long as it’s mint,” and then nervously she confessed, “And I’m older than I look.”
Kane nodded, seeming not at all surprised by the admission. “I thought as much. When Morgan first met your brother, she had Jamie look into him and while his identity was crafted by a master, she knew it was fake. Since he was a cop, we kind of assumed he wasn’t running from the law but had assumed a new identity due to age.”
“Travis has been a soldier in the military, a cop, now a Hunter, he’s always been the hero, protecting the innocent while I’ve pretty much been a career student.” She let out a self-deprecating laugh and shook her head. “While my brother never had a doubt, I’ve rather flitted around from one thing to another trying to find something that would stick. I’ve majored in early education, only to discover that when a dragon’s patience is tested, it’s best not to be around a large group of children,” she finished wryly. “Next was nursing,” she shuddered, “the smell of sickness is way worse when you have a heightened sense of smell. Then I tried my hand at business and then zoology…” she trailed off with a frown as she realized how she must sound to Kane. Sophia St. John, forever drifting through life without purpose, achieving nothing.
Clearing her throat, she tried for cheerful nonchalance as she told him, “I just haven’t yet found my true calling.”
“What’s your ideal job? I mean, what do you really enjoy doing?”
Burying her head in his shoulder, she groaned, “You’ll laugh.”
She felt his hand cup the back of her head and his lips on the top of her hair. “I would never.”
Her voice muffled, she confessed, “I like shopping, and planning parties, I like to dress up.” She released another groan. “God, that sounds so shallow.”
“Not at all. People hire party planners and wedding planners all the time.”
His fingers combed through her hair and Sophia nearly purred it felt so good.
“In Born society, the wives thrive on planning fetes that are talked about for years to come. It’s almost a competition to see who can plan the best masquerade ball or the most extravagant luncheon.”
Sophia held her breath. Was he insinuating that she’d make the ideal bride for one of the Born – specifically him? Or was she letting her silly hopes twist what she heard? She wanted to ask him, just blurt it out, but she was afraid of the answer, afraid he’d look at her with shock, appalled that she’d jumped to such a conclusion when he was probably just trying to bolster her spirits with words of encouragement.
The moment was lost as Kane sighed and murmured, “I wish we could stay like this for the rest of the night but I have a feeling your brother would come and torch the place if I don’t get you back to him soon.”
He was probably right, so they both grudgingly dragged themselves out of bed to get dressed, a process that took longer than it should have since Kane kept grabbing her and cuddling her, dropping little kisses on her cheeks, behind her ears, and on either side of her throat.
His fingers skated down the mark he’d left on her. “Did I hurt you?”
“No,” she told him firmly. “I loved it.”
Kane’s answer was a broad grin that lit up his face, a face that despite his having fed from her still looked a bit battered thanks to her headbutt to the nose. The inner corners of his eyes were slightly purple, while the bridge of his nose was a deeper shade of that same color dotted with red.
Wincing at the sight, she cupped his face in her hands and told him sincerely, “I’m sorry I headbutted you.”
He waved off her concern, “You didn’t do it on purpose. I should have known better than to sneak up on a dragon,” he added with a chuckle. “Besides, this is nothing compared to what your brother will do to me when he sees those marks I’ve left on you.”
“I’ll wear a scarf.”
Kane looked dubious. “I would think that would just draw his eyes even more.”
Sophia shrugged. “A turtleneck then. Itistechnically winter after all.”
As it turned out, Travis wouldn’t even notice, too distracted by other matters to question why his sister, who had recently been wearing what most people would deem warm weather clothing, had suddenly decided to don a high-neck sweater.
Sophia was supposed to be meeting her brother, Morgan, and Jamie at the temporary shooting range this morning, but when she emerged from the house, it became apparent that something was going on. A group had gathered, and judging by the dark looks on their faces, whatever they were discussing was not good.
Heading in that direction to see if she could be of some assistance, she saw Jamie break off from the crowd and head in Sophia’s direction to intercept her. As soon as they were close enough, Sophia asked, “What’s going on?”
Jamie frowned and glanced back at the group that consisted of the vampire’s mate, Archer, the alpha’s second in command, Jeremiah, Travis, Morgan, and a few other people Sophia had seen around but hadn’t actually met. “One of the pack is missing.”
“Who?”
“Nicky,” Jamie answered with a shake of her head. “She’s young, and has a history of taking off for days at a time, but she always texts or calls her parents to let them know she’s okay.”
“I take it she hasn’t?”
“No.” The blonde vampire sighed. “Archer’s first thought was to question Kane since he and Nicky had had a thing going not too long ago.”
