Free Aconite (The Elektita Series Book 1) by Christine Alvarez Page B

it wasn't working so well.
    "He was at
the Inn this morning?" she stammered, shock taking over her features. She
stepped back causing a statue to sway from side to side.
    "I'm sorry,
Alexis, but I have to go." She all but threw at me as she turned and
bolted out of the store. I glared at the mystery man, tapping my foot in
frustration with this whole week. Everyone knew something except me and I would
stand here until he gave that information up.
    He glared back
with equal stubbornness. We both seemed to be waiting, but I knew with complete
surety that whatever he wanted he was definitely not getting it.
    "I'm
Richland, but you can call me Rich; everyone else does." A name, well at
least that was something to start with.
    "Well....Richland.
Why were you at the Inn this morning?" I couldn't call him Rich. Something
about it didn't feel right. His cocky demeanor wavered just a fraction.
    "Sebastian
asked me to keep an eye on you," he said quickly, regaining his stubborn
glare. The idea that Sebastian was now having me watched instead of following
me home or showing up at my work caused a low growl to escape from between my
lips. Chills ran along my spine. Never in my life had I been so angry.
Richland's eyes narrowed with shared anger.
    "Why?"
The bass in my voice caused him to flinch. His anger paled in comparison to
mine.

CHAPTER TEN
     
     
     
    "It's
true," he breathed, ignoring the vehemence in my question.
    "What's
true?" I ground out. My patience was growing thin. I balled my hands into
fists at my sides. I wanted him to ignore me one more time. The urge to hit him
was far too overwhelming to ignore. Never in my life had I struck someone else
but never in my life have I been so completely consumed with rage. He blatantly
ignored my visual warning and ran his hand through my already loose pony tail;
releasing it from the band so it could flow around my face. His touch felt
familiar. It felt like something I had been missing for far too long. The
feeling wasn't lust or want–it was something much deeper.
    "So different
but still the same." His declaration sounded startled.
    I held onto the
ghost of his touch long after his hand had dropped back to his side. The
feeling of home rang through my mind atop everything else. My anger momentarily
put on ice.
    "Who am
I?" My echoed question came out as a whisper. This time though it felt
more out of longing than desperation. I stared into his eyes for what seemed
like forever, watching them dart back and forth. Richland knew something. I
could see it in his eyes that were so much like mine. That must be why he
seemed so familiar. We shared the same color eyes.
     My backpack
vibrated, startling me.
    I fished the phone
out of my bag. "Yes?" I clipped out after practically smacking myself
with the phone.
    "I see you
figured out how to answer your cell phone." The smooth voice on the other
end slid along my skin like butter. I watched Richland's hazel eyes grow round
with realization before he slid back into the nonchalance that he wore like a
coat. Jonathon sounded much more like himself. He had flipped like a coin to
the side that was more normal. But I didn't play those types of games. I needed
answers and right now Richland was my top priority.
    "Is the cafe
still standing?" My irritation was overriding my common sense. None of my
emotions seemed to work properly when it came to him. "Does this call have
anything to do with work?" I continued without giving him time to
interject.
    "We need to
talk." The sadness behind that statement caught me off guard for a moment
before quickly correcting myself.
    "Did Jo run
and tattle on me?" I heard myself snap. I felt disconnected to him and
whatever he needed to tell me. Maybe he called to fire me for breaking some
golden rule I knew absolutely nothing about. Richland studied me, astonishment
clear on his face. I stared into Richland's eyes that were so much like mine.
The more I searched them the more I felt as though I was staring into