Page 65 of The Seeker
Roch shrugged. “A couple of hours.”
“Why don’t we try to find a hotel nearby? Meera and I will gather provisions while you secure a boat. We won’t want to start until morning.”
“Sounds like a plan, except we both need the same truck for that. I’ll stay here until we get all the food, then I’ll take off. We need any more camping gear?”
“No, but we probably need more bug spray.” Rhys glanced over his shoulder. Meera was still dancing. “Do we have any kind of bucket shower for her?”
“Hell yeah, I got a camping shower. Nobody spends a week in the swamp without wanting to get clean, my friend.”
“Good.”
They drove together to Walmart where they bought the few miscellaneous things they hadn’t brought from Havre Hélène, along with enough dried food to last a week and fishing gear for Rhys and Meera.
Roch dropped them off at the hotel before he took off to find a boat.
Meera turned to Rhys. “Do you like biscuits and gravy?”
“I don’t like them, I love them.”
She held out her hand. “Come with me.”
Rhys licked his fingers.“I don’t understand why this is so good.”
“It’s the flakiness of the biscuits, don’t you think?”
“It can’t be. I’ve had flaky pastry before. It’s the gravy.”
Meera shook her head. “We shall have to agree to disagree.”
“How did you know about this place?” Rhys looked around at the tiny diner in the strip mall where Meera had led him. It was on the highway a few blocks from their hotel, and Rhys had been more than doubtful until he walked inside and smelled whatever was cooking in the kitchen.
“I was in Lafayette for research last year,” she said. “Someone recommended this place—I can’t remember who—but I came. I ate. The rest is history. You have to try the boudin after this.”
“Good?”
“So good. The best I’ve had anywhere.”
Rhys sat back and watched Meera devour her food. It was as delicious to watch her as it was to eat. She relished every bite. She smiled and hummed as she ate, chattering about the spices between long drinks of cold beer.
“What?” She paused. “Why are you staring at me?”
“Because you’re… darling.”Did you actually say darling?
She blinked. “What?” Meera frowned and set down her beer. “Is this a princess thing again, because I really don’t appreciate—”
“Meera.”
“What?”
Don’t do it. Don’t lay yourself bare. Remember the baggage, Rhys. Remember your mission. Remember all the reasons you left England.
Or… fuck it.
Rhys leaned forward. “You are darling. You’re funny and beautiful and you shine so brightly I think I could watch you cut your toenails and still be fascinated. I want you. Very much. I want to learn more about you. I want to show you my favorite places. I want to know yours. I want to pick your mind about everything. And I want to absolutely ravish you.”
Meera set down her beer. She opened her mouth, but she didn’t say anything.
“And I think you’re reluctant because you don’t want to give in to your parents and their ideas about your future mate, but I know you’re attracted to me. I know you are. You kissed me, not the other way round.”
