Page 60 of (Mostly) Human Resources

“Uh huh, you’re just jealous I bring more to the table.”Nic’s smile didn’t waver.

“Oh, yeah,” Alexys quipped. “Put that on your dating profile: shut-in know-it-all with a caffeine addiction and survival skills.”

“I’m flattered you care so much about my dating life, Keane.”

She balked. “What? No I don’t.” She felt the warmth in her cheeks. The ultimate betrayal.

He leaned back on his hands, the light of the campfire dancing along the long lines of his body. “Sure you don’t.”

Her earlier, scandalous thoughts about his tight shirt reared their head, and her mind scrambled to think of anything else.

Literallyanything.

“You’re already married to your work, Dyre. There’s no hope for you.”

“Maybe I haven’t met the right person yet.” He cocked his brow at her.

Lord.

Deciding she wasn’t going to touchthattopic with a ten-foot pole, Alexys stood and busied herself with laying out her sleeping bag. She sat on top of the slick fabric, hoping the small fire would dry her clothes enough while they waited out the rain. Nic was, blessedly, silent.

CHAPTER 33

“There’s magic in the world we can’t even begin to understand, and maybe it’s better that way. Maybe we aren’t supposed to know the secrets or mysteries of the earth. Some things aren’t meant to be tagged, studied, and contained.”

Journals of Warden Angela Hargrove

The fragile peace between them didn’t last long.

Alexys made the mistake of complaining about her wet clothes, and that gave Nic the opening for another lecture, one she didn’t have the patience for.

He was oh-so-clever enough to pack a set of dry clothes which he changed into while she chose to glare at the falling rain outside. The fire he’d built was doing a wonderful job of warming her skin, but the little comfort it gave her was driven away by the prevailing dampness of her jeans. Nic had actually had the gall to suggest she take her clothesoff.Alexys couldn’t find the words to reply, so he just shrugged instead.

“I can’t believe you didn’t think to pack a change of clothes.”

Alexys massaged her temples. “I didn’t plan on being in the woods for two days, Dyre. Not all of us are expert boy scouts, remember?”

“Duke of Edinburgh,” Nic corrected again. “But if you ask nicely, I might offer you something of mine.”

“I would rather die.” She tried to sound harsh but her words fell flat. She was too busy trying to avoid watching him while he changed clothes.

Stop it!She was truly going insane.

“You just might if the temperature drops any further.” He paused in his dressing and mused, “Hypothermia. What a terrible way to go.”

Alexys picked up a rock sitting next to her soggy shoe and chucked it into the storm. “If one more person predicts my death …”

“That’s at least, what? The third time you’ve said that.” Nic, finally dressed, sat back down on his sleeping bag on the other side of the fire. Turns out the man brought not one,but twowhite t-shirts. How fortunate. No one had the right to make a simple t-shirt lookthatgood.

“What?” Alexys shook her head.

“About your death being predicted. Did you get a nasty fortune cookie at the diner?”

Her laugh was sharp and humorless. “If only. Nanny Opal herself predicted my horrible death during her reading.”

“Her reading?”

“Oh, yes.” Alexys glanced back at her backpack. The finger bone hidden within seemed to be staring at her despite being tucked away in the pocket. She shivered. “Magic bones marked with magic runes, apparently.”