Free Green Fire by Unknown Page B

shop at the kind of stores that sell emeralds that size."
    "Neither do I." She waved her hand airily. "It's junk. Pretty yes, but junk nevertheless. The only value is in the legend, and that's why Flint is interested in it."
    "How valuable is the legend to him?" Mike asked flatly.
    "He says the ring can only be worn by a woman. He's not likely to steal it."
    Mike ran a hand through his hair and shook his head. "I don't know, Rani. It's a strange setup."
    "I know. But I honestly don't think it's a dangerous one."
    Mike hesitated. "As long as you're sure."
    "I'm sure."
    Mike glanced away. "Am I, uh, stepping into his territory?"
    "His territory?"
    "Yeah. I don't want to get involved in a touchy situation. If you and he are, uh…"
    "We most definitely are not ." Rani's eyes narrowed. "And you are not stepping on his turf. I don't conduct my social life on that primitive a level. I date whom I wish and I am not involved with anyone.
    Clear?"
    Mike nodded quickly. "Very clear. Sorry about that. I just wanted to know where you stood."
    Rani forgave him immediately. He appeared thoroughly abashed. "Don't worry about it. I know how it must have looked, the way Flint was hanging around my kitchen with the coffeepot. The problem is that the cottage he's got is in very poor condition. It hasn't been used in years, and he probably hasn't even got a coffeepot." That wasn't strictly true. He had a kettle in which he could boil hot water for instant coffee, but Rani thought she wouldn't go into too much detail.
    "Well, in that case, do I dare risk asking for another date?"
    She laughed up at him. "You bet. I had a wonderful time tonight, Mike. Thanks very much." She started to stand on tiptoe so that he could give her a polite good-night kiss, but at that moment the door opened behind her. She closed her eyes in disgust and sighed.
    "Isn't it getting a little chilly out here?" Flint asked cheerily.
    Mike nodded. "A little. I'll be on my way." He trotted down the steps and got into the Ford.
    Rani stood watching until the small Ford had disappeared from the drive. Then she turned to confront Flint who was standing in the doorway with Zipp at his feet. Slowly she gathered herself, struggling to keep her temper under control. She would not lose it, she vowed. She would be cold and disdainful and not give into the temptation to yell at him like a fishwife. The vow lasted all of five seconds,
    "Of all the rude, insufferable, socially inept people I have ever met in my life, you take the honors, Flint Cottrell. You should be ashamed of yourself. You had no business being here when I got home with Mike. And no business forcing yourself on us while we had our coffee. Who do you think you are?
    Didn't you learn manners anywhere along the line, or have you spent so much time hopping around the globe that you neglected to learn the basics? No wonder you don't stay long in any one place. You're probably asked to leave when you start becoming impossible." She was starting to yell. She knew she was. Savagely she bit off the last words and stormed past Flint into the living room.
    Flint slowly closed the door and turned to face her. He didn't say anything. He seemed to be waiting.
    That infuriated Rani even more. She flung herself down on the old, padded sofa and scowled. "I suppose you've got an explanation for your behaviour?"
    "I was waiting for you."
    She gritted her teeth. "Why?"
    "You know why, Rani." He spoke softly, moving silently across the room to collect the used coffee cups.
    "No, I don't know why. I'm thirty years old. I've been handling my social life all by myself for a long time.
    I don't appreciate some heavy-handed big brother type waiting around for me when I come in the door."
    "I'm not the big brother type so you can stop worrying."
    "That's the way you were acting tonight."
    He shook his head, walking into the kitchen. "No."
    She jumped to her feet and went after him. Halting in the kitchen doorway, she eyed him with suppressed