Page 36 of Eclipse Bound
"Less danger than you'd be in," Rowan countered. "They're looking for aliens, not retreat staff. Dani and I can move around freely without raising suspicion."
Solar looked between them. "The logic is sound, though the risk remains substantial."
"I've handled risk before," Rowan said firmly. "And we need information more than we need to hide right now."
Eclipse moved closer to her, his energy field rippling with concern. "What do you propose?"
"Dani and I will do a casual walk around the grounds. Check out the parking areas, note any suspicious vehicles or people. Standard surveillance, nothing that would draw attention." Rowan met his gaze steadily. "Meanwhile, you two stay here, out of sight, and work on a plan for extraction. If Galaxy Brides is coming in forty-eight hours, we need to be ready."
The mention of extraction sent another pang through her chest. Forty-eight hours. It wasn't enough time. Not nearly enough to figure out what this thing between her and Eclipse was, or could be. Part of her wanted to stay behind and embrace every second she could with him.
"I'll go with Rowan," Dani agreed. "Two women walking around a retreat won't raise any red flags."
Solar looked displeased but nodded. "You will report any signs of surveillance or potential threat immediately."
"Of course," Dani agreed. "And if we don't come back in an hour, assume we've been captured and mount a daring rescue." She grinned, though the tension in her shoulders betrayed her attempt at levity.
Rowan flinched. These guys tended to take things literally. Very literally.
"That will not be necessary," Eclipse stated with unexpected firmness. "We will maintain contact. If communication is lost, we will locate you immediately."
Rowan believed he would without question. The intensity of his gaze reinforced that he wasn't making an idle promise.
"Alright," Rowan said, checking her phone. "We'll head out, do a quick circuit of the grounds, and be back within the hour. If we see anything suspicious, we'll text Dani’s phone immediately."
Dani handed her phone to Solar.
As they prepared to leave, Eclipse drew Rowan slightly aside. "Your willingness to accept risk on our behalf is significant."
Rowan looked up at him, searching those star-filled eyes. "I'm not just doing this for you. Milano tried to destroy my career and my life once. I'm not letting them get away with it again."
"Even so," Eclipse said softly, "be cautious. The connection between us... It would be regrettable if it were severed prematurely."
Coming from anyone else, it might have sounded cold. From Eclipse, it was practically a declaration of love. Rowan felt her heart lurch.
"I'll be careful," she promised. "Just don't make any decisions about that extraction until we've had a chance to talk. Okay?"
Eclipse tilted his head slightly. "I will defer such decisions until we have discussed all variables."
It wasn't exactly the passionate response she might have hoped for, but from a twilight diplomat, it was something. Rowan nodded and turned to join Dani at the door.
"Ready?" Dani asked.
"As I'll ever be," Rowan replied. She cast one last look at Eclipse before they slipped out into the morning sunlight, leaving the aliens in the suite.
Chapter
Ten
The sun beat down on Rowan's neck as she and Dani stepped out of the Desert Suite. What had seemed like a peaceful retreat just days ago now felt like a minefield, every shadow potentially concealing Milano operatives.
"Act normal," Rowan murmured, plastering on her best customer service smile as they passed a group of tourists taking selfies by the meditation garden.
They rounded the corner toward the main building when Rowan spotted a man in an unmarked black polo, his hand pressed to an earpiece, eyes scanning methodically across the grounds. His gaze locked with Rowan's for a fraction of a second before she deliberately looked away, pointing at a nearby cactus as if showing Dani an interesting feature.
"Don't look now, but security guy at two o'clock," she said through her fixed smile. Her journalistic instincts tingled and her heart beat faster. This reminded her of the time she was overseas covering a desert op. "Earpiece, tactical stance, trying too hard to blend in."
"Got it," Dani replied, pretending to laugh at something Rowan said. "So what's our actual plan here? Just stroll around and hope they don't grab us?"
