Free Dark Warrior by Rebecca York Page B

Linda.”
    “Who was she?”
    “She’s like Julia and Chandra. You don’t remember any Ionians with those names, do you?”
    Sophia shook her head.
    “We need to talk about them.”
    “Why?”
    “They could be important.”
    Sophia opened her mouth to say something else, but before she could, Tex Somerville came in.
    “I’m looking for a piece of jewelry,” he said. “I want it to be special.”
    Tessa nodded. “I’m sure I can help you.”
    “We can talk more later,” Sophia said to her sister, wondering if it was some kind of omen that Tessa had wanted to discuss some of the same topics that had occupied Sophia’s mind for the past few days. Or did this happen to all Ionians when they got into their late twenties?
    For years, she’d never questioned her way of life. It was just the path of her existence. Then the encounter on the road had shaken the foundation of her world.
    As she left the gift shop, she saw Bobby Ames, the handyman, come in through an outside door, carrying his toolbox. He paused and looked toward the gift shop entrance and stopped for a moment. It seemed like he was looking at Tessa.
    When he saw Sophia, he nodded. “I got a call on a stopped-up sink.”
    Before she could reply, he continued down the hall. She hadn’t seen him since the night she’d come back from the desert. Was it a bad omen that she had met him again now? Or was she looking for signs and portents in everything that happened?
    Maybe it would be more constructive to go down to the stable and confront Jason Tyron.
    And say what?
    Perhaps it was better to see what he had to say.
    She left the main building and walked down the hill to the stable. Jason had his medical bag with him, and he was examining the hoof of one of the horses as she approached.
    With his back to her, she had a chance to study him, taking in his broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs. He was a perfect physical specimen. The kind of man she’d choose to father a daughter.
    The idea took her by surprise. She wasn’t thinking about a daughter. Not yet, and maybe not at all. If she couldn’t be sure of the Ionian values, how could she teach them to her child with any kind of integrity? She was glad she wasn’t involved with teaching any of the young girls in the order. What would she say to them if they asked her any questions?
    As those thoughts flashed through her head, she saw Jason’s shoulders stiffen, telling her he knew someone was behind him. Probably he was hoping it was her. Or maybe not.
    She snorted softly, annoyed that she was making up thoughts for him.
    Folding her arms, she let him finish what he was doing before he set down his tools and turned, regarding her with a mixture of caution and anticipation.
    Determined to let him make the first move, she remained silent.
    “It’s good to see you,” he finally said.
    She nodded, wondering if she should ask if he was the man who had rescued her in the desert.
    And why would he tell the truth, if he was?
    “You’ve been avoiding me.”
    Somehow, unexpected words came tumbling out. “I didn’t know what to say to you.”
    A look she couldn’t read crossed his features. “Why?”
    She turned one hand palm up. “Things . . . happened too fast between us . . .”
    “You could be right. I was thinking the same thing when you left so abruptly. We should have talked, but you made that impossible.”
    Of course she had. Deliberately. Today she was confronting him in a less threatening situation. “What do you want from me?”
    He hesitated.
    “Whatever it is, you won’t get it unless you’re honest.”
    He kept his gaze even. “Okay. You know there’s something between us.”
    “Sex.”
    “More than that.”
    “And your point is?”
    “I want a relationship. Not just a roll in the hayloft.”
    Other men had hinted at the same thing, although none had been so blatant about it. It had been easy to brush them off. Not this time. Still, she wasn’t going to explain the Ionian