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Perhaps he’d be the exception. He grinned.
    Orion’s gaze slid from the bed to Brigit’s tempting backside. She swung around in time to catch him looking, but only arched a brow. It mattered not, he wasn’t trying to hide his interest.
    “You said you’ve heard from Jac and Rachel. How? I didn’t think there were phones where they’re at.”
    He hit a button on his wrist translator to double-check her meaning. “No phones,” he answered, clearing his throat.
    “Then how?” her voice pitched higher.
    Orion stepped closer. He couldn’t stop himself. He needed to feel her warmth again, the gentle touch of her fingertips. “They are safe,” he said, not answering her question.
    Brigit’s green eyes narrowed. “What do you mean safe? And how do you know?”
    “Because they sent me here to tell you.”
    “Sent you here to tell me what? That doesn’t make sense. They could’ve just come themselves.” She shook her head, reaching for colorful material that glowed against her skin.
    “The Queen and Jac are in no condition to travel.”
    “Queen who? I don’t have time for puzzles, Orion. This is the second to the last day of the conference and the next contest is in fifteen minutes give or take. I have to get my costume together. So what’s really going on here?”
    He paused, unsure of where to begin.
    “Listen, if you’re looking for an excuse to hit on me, just say so. I’d be flattered. Really.”
    “Atlantean men never strike women. It would be dishonorable.”
    “Ugh!”
    This wasn’t as easy as he’d first imagined. Being near Brigit left him feeling ale-headed. Yet strangely, Orion found himself wanting to remain in her company. It made no sense. Instead of explaining why he was here, Orion decided to stall. He needed time to discover what was happening and Brigit had inadvertently given him the way to garner it. He smiled. “I shall assist you with the contest.”
    Brigit stopped shaking out the material, her attention riveted to his face. “You’d really help me?” Surprise colored her voice.
    “‘Tis the least I can do.” He stepped closer and her pulse jumped in her throat. That small telltale sign of awareness pleased Orion beyond words.
    She recovered quickly, hiding her discomfort by becoming bolder. “You’re right about that.” Brigit nodded. “It is the least you can do.” She stared at him for a few seconds, her gaze taking in every inch of his body.
    Orion tensed, when he realized she’d “turned the chairs” on him. He fought the urge to reach for her and give her a closer look. If she didn’t stop looking at him like that, he would.
    * * * * *
    Brigit stared into Orion’s eyes, the blue and green so strikingly cool, yet heating beyond inferno at the same time. There was no mistaking the need she witnessed. The walls practically expanded with each breath he took. It was like being trapped in a human pheromone factory. She shouldn’t be in a room alone with this man. He did strange things to her. Made her wish for stuff she shouldn’t want. Couldn’t have.
    Okay, maybe shouldn’t have.
    There was nothing really stopping her from reaching out and taking what he so obviously offered, except the fact that the last time she’d done something so impulsive she’d ended up with Rocket Man Rick, who’d fancied himself a lothario and cheated on her the first chance he got. Orion didn’t really seem anything like Rick. There was true honor in him. She sensed a depth in him that her ex would never achieve and even though he banked his emotions behind a carefully crafted façade, she’d glimpsed kindness glowing in Orion’s fierce eyes.
    She was probably reading too much into Orion’s offer anyway. She never could tell when someone was flirting with her. It was like someone scrambled the signals in her brain and left meant right, right meant wrong. In truth, the only thing Orion offered was to help with the costume contest, nothing more. Anything else was wishful