Janaya (18 page)

“Quit that,” he warned. “We’ll eat now.”

He could understand Killer. Janaya cast a speculative glance at Hinekiri. Her aunt was busy beaming at Richard.

“Ah…” Janaya cleared her throat. “Have you two—”

“We don’t need to know,” Luke said, sliding an arm around her waist and tightening his hold in warning. “Too much information.”

Hinekiri blushed. “I’ll answer anyway. Yes. We have. Richard is coming along on my next expedition. We’ve come to an understanding.”

Happiness blazed from her aunt’s face and Janaya was fiercely glad that something good had come from their crash landing in Sloan. Luke’s solid presence at her side reminded her of the second thing.

“Looks like we’re going to become related,” he murmured next to her ear.

“Do you mind?”

“Hell no. Dad needed someone like Hinekiri to jolt him from his rut.”

Warmth curled inside Janaya without warning. She hugged Luke and reached up to plant a kiss on his lips. Unconditional love. She’d had it all along from her aunt but was too stupid to realize. And Luke. She stared up into his eyes and every one of her senses leapt in excitement. Oh, yeah. There was love here too if she dared take the risk. She thought about the commitment required for all of two seconds. The decision wasn’t difficult. Gut instinct told her life with Luke wouldn’t be a gamble.

Luke enfolded her in his arms, clutching her against his broad chest. He smoothed his hand over her hair. “I love you, Janaya.”

Janaya blinked away the sudden moisture in her eyes. She felt the solid pound of his heart beneath her cheek and smiled as she cuddled closer.

Dreams did come true. She had a family. She had it all.

Epilogue

Janaya snuggled up to Luke’s naked body. Sweat dripped off both of them but she didn’t care. Relaxed and replete from a thorough loving—there was nothing better. Her thoughts drifted to Dalcon then darted away, too raw to think on the matter with any degree of rationality. Time, her aunt had said, nodding wisely.

“Don’t think about your father or Dalcon,” Luke murmured. “You don’t need either of them.”

She pulled away to study his face. “How did you know what I was thinking?”

“Not difficult,” he said. “Especially since now and then I get a flash of your thoughts inside my head. It’s a bit scary for this poor Earth male.”

Janaya frowned. She’d thought it was only her who received random thoughts.

“Random. Yeah, that’s a good description.”

“Scary.”

“Yep.” Luke picked up a long strand of hair and twirled it around his finger. “It doesn’t matter. I still love you.”

A pulse beat at the base of her throat and swelled as though her heart had risen from its normal resting place. “I love you too.” It was true. Even when they disagreed on some small matter, she felt connected. Cherished. Loved.

“Janaya?” Luke sat up in the bed and fumbled for the bedside drawer. It screeched slightly as it opened. Muttering under his breath, Luke finally turned on the light. “Ah! There it is.” He seized a blue velvet box from inside the drawer and turned to her, an enigmatic expression in place. Then he opened the small box.

Inside a gold ring gleamed. Blue and white jewels sparkled and picked up the light of the lamp. “I love you, Janaya. This is for you—a symbol of my love. Will you bond with me in the traditional Earth way?”

She nodded dumbly, too overcome for words.

Luke grinned and pulled the ring from the depths of the white lining. He picked up her left hand and slid the ring on her finger.

A thousand different emotions twirled like ribbons inside her. She wanted to laugh. She wanted to cry. Tears sparkled on her lashes as she gazed at the ring, the sign of Luke’s love. “Will you make love to me? That’s the way we finalize joining on Dalcon.”

“You bet,” he said. “It will be my pleasure.” He stroked his finger across her lips, promise simmering in his brown eyes. “What does my future wife think about traveling with Dad and Hinekiri?”

“This place called Alaska sounds like fun. You can teach me how to fish.”

Luke pressed a butterfly kiss on each of Janaya’s eyelid. “I will. When we have time.”

Desire unfurled in her. Pleasure points started to hum.

Without warning, the door shot open and Killer trotted inside. She bounded up onto the bed and pushed between them.

“Hinekiri and Richard told me to visit. They busy,” Killer said.

“We were about to become busy too,” Luke said but he scratched behind Killer’s ears.

Janaya grinned as the dog rubbed against Luke with a sigh. “I suppose you’re going to Alaska with us,” she said.

Killer barked. “Might. I hungry.”

“You’re always hungry,” Janaya said.

“Not. Sometimes sleepy.” Killer leapt from the bed and trotted to the door then turned back to eye them hopefully.

Luke’s groan drowned Janaya’s giggle.

“Why laugh?” Killer demanded.

“No reason,” Luke said, rolling his eyes. “Hell, I’m having a conversation with a dog.”

“Good conversation,” Killer snapped.

“See you in the morning, Killer,” Janaya said.

“Snack?”

“No!” Janaya and Luke shouted simultaneously.

Killer trotted out the door. Then seconds later, she poked her head back through.

“Killer!” Richard Morgan roared. “I told you not to interrupt Luke and Janaya.”

Janaya grinned again. Tonight there were no shadows in her heart. Instead, she felt a bottomless peace and satisfaction.

A family.

That was what she had with Luke.

“I leave them,” Killer said with a loud yap.

“Good. Go to sleep and give us all some peace,” Hinekiri chirped.

Killer was quiet for a moment then Janaya heard her say, “Do ya have any food?”

The end

Read about Hinekiri’s adventures in Africa in book 2,
Alien Encounter: Hinekiri
. Turn the page to read an excerpt or check out the excerpt for
Captured & Seduced
, book 1 in the House of the Cat series. To learn more about the rest of the series or my other books visit my
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Happy reading

Shelley

Excerpt – Hinekiri

Copyright 2015 Shelley Munro

Book 2 in the Alien Encounter series.

Chuckling, Richard fired up his vehicle and backed away from the gnarled pohutukawa tree he’d parked beneath. “Crop circles,” he muttered. “What ever next?”

“Woof. Woof. Woof.”

“So, we’re in agreement. Smart dog.” He accelerated down the gravel road, sending a cloud of dust sailing in their wake. Richard wound down the window to enjoy the fresh country air as he followed the road that snaked through green countryside and stands of native trees. He slowed for a herd of steers being driven down the road toward a set of cattle yards and waited until they turned into the paddock, dogs barking at their heels.

“Woof.” The dog craned its neck as though it wanted to get a good look at the other dogs.

Richard grinned and waved to Scott, the owner of the animals as he drove past and picked up speed again. They rounded a corner, drove under a huge pine tree and around another corner. Without warning, Richard slowed. “That’s Luke’s vehicle. I wonder what the problem is?” He spotted Hinekiri and his mind stalled. That was one fine-looking woman. His gaze dipped fractionally, speculation rife as his eyes assessed her. Not much body fat, but she looked healthy and more than good to him. Soft, blonde hair. Those beautiful eyes and a sexy grin. Confidence. It practically oozed from her. Not exactly what he was used to, but the concept of a self-assured woman was interesting—a woman who appeared to like to take control. In that moment, he decided he’d ask her out. If she and her niece weren’t staying for long, there was not a moment to waste. He’d take her out to dinner at the Red Fox Inn. They did a fine meal there, but the atmosphere was casual and friendly. No uppity waiters with their noses stuck so far up in the air they were in danger of getting frostbite. No snobby clientele—just a good mix of local residents and business people. Yep, the perfect place for a first date. Richard’s palms moistened and he removed them from the steering wheel one at a time to wipe them on his brown chinos. He sucked in a deep breath, his mind made up on the subject. Today, he’d step outside his comfort zone and ask the woman out. The worst thing that could happen was she could say no.

Richard wound the driver’s window down. “Is there a problem?”

“No problem,” Luke said.

Hmmm. Richard scowled. If everything were all right, why was his son looking like a man who’d just faced the enemy. His face was pale and if Richard wasn’t mistaken, he was sweating.

The dog jumped from the passenger seat onto Richard’s lap and stuck its head out the window.

“Woof. Woof. Woof.”

Richard ran his hand over its soft white fur. “I hope you don’t mind me taking your dog out. He jumped in while I wasn’t looking and I didn’t have the heart to leave him at home.”

“Killer is a her.” Janaya stepped closer to scratch the dog behind the ears. She growled and yipped at the dog. The dog seemed to like the attention because it swiped its pink tongue across Janaya’s face and barked.

“It’s a deal,” Janaya said.

Richard shook his head. Weird the way she barked at the dog, but if Luke liked her, that was okay with him. “I don’t know why you’re talking to Killer as if she can understand.”

“She’s very intelligent,” Janaya said with a smile that made Richard appreciate why his son was attracted to her.

“Woof,” Killer said.

“Well, if you’re sure you’re fine, I’ll carry on to the wheat fields.”

“Good idea,” Luke said. “Let me know how you get on.”

Frowning, Richard drove on toward Ted Morrison’s farm. Something was up. He knew his son. Guilt and worry were written all over his face.

It was bedlam at Ted Morrison’s. Vehicles choked the road, a lot of them he didn’t recognize. People wandered down the middle of the road in a casual manner without due care for oncoming traffic.

Giving up the idea of pulling up outside the paddock gate, Richard parked as close as he could, pulling onto the shoulder of the gravel farm track behind a dusty sedan. The little dog jumped from the SUV when he opened the passenger door and trotted ahead of him, her head going from side to side as though she was trying to take everything in.

The sun shined brightly, kicking quite a punch despite the early hour. A soft breeze blew as he walked toward the gate that led into the wheat field. The wind rattled the seed heads, knocking them together in a soothing melody. Better than the rap crap the Sloan youngsters played on their car stereos at full volume when they raced down the main street.

Ted Morrison manned the gate, letting visitors inside his wheat field. He lifted his right hand in a casual wave. “Richard. Thought you were on holiday?”

“Had to come back early. Luke has his hands full down at the station so I said I’d come to check out the circles and give a report.” Richard scanned the small sign by the gate.
Entrance to Crop Circles—$5.

He turned back to Ted, but the man was busy extracting money from a couple of townies. The female component of the couple wore pink high heels. How she thought she’d manage to walk through the wheat fields with those stilts on her feet was beyond Richard. He noticed Ted’s brows rise, almost disappearing beneath his woolen beanie. Richard grinned inwardly. Ted had worn a home-knitted beanie, no matter what the season, for as long as Richard could remember.

The dog wandered up and pressed its nose against the woman’s tanned calf. She let out a piercing shriek and parted company from the land before her spike heels poked into the earth again to ground her.

Richard clicked his fingers, attracting the dog’s attention. “Killer. Over here.” Thankfully, the dog obeyed and stayed close.

“Do you have gumboots?” Ted asked, his frown narrowed at the woman’s delicate shoes.

“Oh no,” the woman said, a shudder of distaste racking her narrow silk-clad shoulders. She jerked her heels from the dirt, before she and her husband wandered through the gate and headed in the direction Ted had indicated.

“Bet you five dollars she falls flat on her face,” Ted said with a cackle.

“Don’t be silly. I’d lose my money.” Richard stood aside for yet another group to pay their admission fee and file through the wooden gate. Business was booming.

“Is there anywhere to buy a tea or coffee?” an elderly woman asked.

“The Sloan Women’s Division have set up a stall near the crop circles,” Ted answered. “Best scones and raspberry jam in Sloan.”

“Thank you,” the woman said, eyeing up Ted in clear speculation.

Richard winced. At least the woman hadn’t chosen him. He’d far rather have Hinekiri check him out. The thought made him pause as a quite different vision danced through his head—naked bodies writhing together on a soft double bed.
His double bed
. No escaping the identity of the woman. Her soft blonde hair and beautiful violet eyes gave her away. Unfortunately, that was all he could see, his imagination unable to fill in the dots.

“Richard? You okay? You have a weird look on your face.” Gruff concern shaded Ted’s voice.

To Richard’s consternation, heat gathered in his cheeks. “The Women’s Division has set up camp here too?” The dog let out a soft woof that sounded like a question.

His change of subject didn’t work, but then he hadn’t really expected it to. Richard had gone to school with Ted Morrison and they’d been friends ever since. “You’re either sickening for something or you’ve met a woman.” Ted studied him intently and a slow grin bloomed on his weathered face. “It’s a woman.”

Alien Encounter: Hinekiri

Excerpt – Captured & Seduced

Copyright 2014 Shelley Munro

Book one, House of the Cat series

Camryn woke to the sensation of the floor shuddering. Her head vibrated in time. Damn whiskey kicked like a mule. A moan escaped, the sound tiny and insignificant. Her eyes flickered, the glare of light intense. A jagged slice of pain cut across her temples. Everything ached, even her eyes. She stopped trying to open them and her world ceased spinning. Cautiously, she catalogued her body for aches and pains.