“Marky,” Alena supplied.
“Marky, to slit my throat.”
She crossed her arms. “He's lost his mind.”
“He knew the mine magic would wear off eventually and he hadn't a prayer of taking me on when I was human. It was a lot easier to eliminate me while I was a pig. Lucky for me, neither Marky nor his pal had the balls to do it. Apparently Chad resolved to kill me himself, but I decided not to go meekly to the slaughter. And you know the rest. Once the mine's effect wore off, I ported back home and came back with cavalry. The thing about military mines – when they go off, they leave a magic trail that even an idiot could follow. We have Thurmans by the throat. That dumb stunt will cost them their financial security and if they play very nicely we might condescend not to bring charges. Look, I know we haven't met under the best of circumstances. And nobody more than me wants to forget ever being a pig.”
“So why are you here?” And why is my heart beating a mile a minute?
Duncan smiled. He had a dazzling smile – it lit up his whole face, compelling her to smile back at him. “The truth is, I can't get you out of my head. I tried. I told myself, ‘What will I say to her, oink-oink? She'll laugh at me.' But I just had to try. So here I am.” He spread his arms. “Come on a date with me, Alena. Please?”
What did she have to lose?
Alena took a deep breath. “Okay.”
He smiled again and she almost swooned. He reached for her hand, brought her fingers to his mouth, and kissed them gently. A tiny thrill ran through her.
“Are we going to the movies?” she asked him.
“Hell no.”
“Where then?”
“Fishing,” he told her.
“Fishing?”
He nodded. “The thing about going to the movies – you can't talk to the other person. We'll sit in my boat, drink soda from a cooler, watch the river and chat. Get to know each other. If you're worried about baiting your hook, I can-”
She snorted. “I've fished in that river since I was seven. You just try to keep up.”
He grinned. “Deal. Thank you for saving my life, by the way.”
“You're welcome.” She stepped close and kissed him on the cheek. She had no idea where she got the gall to do it, she just did.
“What was that for?” he asked softly, his eyes dark and warm, as if lined with velvet.
“For being a very brave little pig,” she told him.
END