“I hate to hear that.”
“What sounds good that’s not tacos and is on the way to Loup territory?”
“We’ll talk about why we need to visit Garou, but first— How does pho sound?”
“Pho-nominal.”
“You’re a hoot.” He chuckled like he meant it. “Where should I pick you up?”
“I’m at the Gas-N-Go on West Peachtree Street Northeast.”
“Be there in ten.”
The call ended, and Bonnie swiveled an inquisitive ear my way.
“Remember the rules.” I held a finger to my lips. “We don’t talk about HQ to outsiders.”
Accepting that, despite her outsider status, she trotted off, butt wagging, for the gas station five blocks down.
We had enough time for me to purchase a bottle of water to split with Bonnie before Ford pulled in and lowered his window.
All smiles, he leaned across the seat. “Need a hand up?”
Remembering how he tossed me in the last time, I was quick to reassure him. “I got it.”
After he popped the locks, I opened the door then scooped up Bonnie. I set her on the seat, intending for her to ride between us, but she had other ideas. She waited until I climbed in before claiming the window seat.
“I showered.” Ford lifted his arm, sniffed. “I even applied fresh deodorant.”
As much as I wanted to joke about it not being strong enough to cover his geek, I suspected his geekiness was an act for my benefit. If Bishop was right and Ford had been placed to monitor me, he would have learned my hobbies by now. Including my love for old sci-fi movies. What better way to bond than over a shared interest?
Blergh.
“I figured she would be more comfortable between us, but I wasn’t thinking about the man-factor.”
“Man-factor.” He grinned wider. “I like that. It sounds…manly.”
A snort escaped me. “You’re ridiculous.”
“With your taste in movies? You have no room to talk.”
“I have excellent taste in movies.”
“Prove it.”
Stumped by the dare, I fumbled. “Do you want my top five?”
“Invite me over for a movie night. I’ll watch your all-time favorite, and then I’ll render judgment.”
Ears still ringing, I didn’t play as nice as I probably should have with him. “That sounds like you want an excuse to snoop around my apartment.”
“If I do?”
“I would prefer you ask me outright rather than pretending to be something you’re not—namely interested in me personally when this arrangement is professional.”
“Life isn’t black and white, Lee. There’s a whole spectrum. You can’t go through life colorblind.”
“You sure have a lot of wisdom to dispense tonight.” I cut him a look. “Are you sure you don’t want to go for Chinese? You’ve already got a leg up on the fortune cookies.”
“I like you.” His eyes crinkled until they almost vanished. “I really do.”
And damn if I didn’t believe him.
We ate our pho on the shady patio of a hole-in-the-wall restaurant you had to know existed to find, and no one gave me a second glance when I ordered Bonnie her own portion of pho bo vien. I paid for the three of us, which scandalized Ford and his gentlemanly sensibilities, and made the food taste all the sweeter.
Bonnie slurped her compliments to the chef under the table while Ford and I hashed out strategy.
As much as I wanted to quiz him on Bonnie, which shelter Midas found her in and what they knew of her past, I also didn’t want to offend someone who would be alone in my apartment with me while I was sleeping. I didn’t think she was a slavering murderer, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t run away from one.
For now, my questions on that topic would have to wait. I could always text him later.
Ford must be a frequent customer. The proprietress herself, a delicate woman who moved with the casual grace of a predator, brought us a plate laden with bánh tằm khoai mì, which Ford explained was steamed cassava silkworm cake, on the house. She also kissed him on the mouth, which flustered him, but she didn’t let his discomfort stop her from also testing his biceps with a squeeze before leaving us to our dessert.
Biting into his first piece, he growled, “Don’t say a word.”
“I’m sitting here, enjoying my freebie. Whatever do you mean?”
“She wants me to mate her granddaughter.”
“Mmm-hmm.” I nodded with proper solemnity. “That must be why she test-drove the merchandise.”
Mouth stretched thin, he gave it one last try. “Would you believe me if I told you it was cultural?”
“Nope.”
“I didn’t think so.”
We polished off the treat in amused silence. Oh wait. That was me. He gave off more of a horrified vibe.
He left the tip, which was fine by me, and we headed back to the truck.
“You’ve got to work on your endurance,” Ford tsked as I struggled to lift Bonnie onto the seat without hurling. “What about second dessert?”
Gwyllgi are walking stomachs. Ford was sated, but he could go for another bowl of pho or another piece of silkworm cake without busting the zipper on his pants. I, on the other hand, wished I could pop my top button and make some breathing room.
“I’m not a hobbit, or a gwyllgi. I only have one stomach, and it’s about to burst.”
A pleased sound rumbled in his throat that raised Bonnie’s hackles.
“Chill.” I smoothed her fur with gentle strokes. “He’s doing that guy thing where he feels good about having fed me until I can’t move. It probably originated with men who couldn’t woo the girl of their dreams with riches or wit and had to resort to stuffing them until they couldn’t outrun them.”
The corgi made a snickering noise then pressed her nose against the glass.
Ford blasted out a low whistle as he rolled up to the last-known address for Garou and his Loups.
“Looks like Momma was finally wrong about something.” He peered through the windshield. “Crime does pay.”
“No, the victims pay. None of this was earned. It was stolen.” I pointed at Bonnie. “Stay.”
The corgi bared more teeth than I felt a dog of her size could fit in its mouth, but I wasn’t cowed. Much.
“Midas,” I said patiently, “will swallow me in one gulp if you get hurt on my watch.”
Ears pinned back, Bonnie snarled until foam dripped from her sharpening canines.
“Midas will not swallow you whole,” Ford was quick to counter. “He might be put out, but he wouldn’t harm a hair on your head.”
Accepting him at his word, Bonnie wiped her mouth clean on his seat.
Next to me, Ford shut his eyes and tightened his hands on the wheel.
“I’m sure fae slobber won’t stain.” I patted his shoulder. “I bet it wipes right off leather.”
A pained groan slipped past his lips, and I almost felt bad for teasing him.
“Scoot over.” I nudged Bonnie aside as I opened the door. “I’ll get down, and then I’ll get you down.”
Before the scream trapped in my throat escaped, she had leapt onto the driveway without stumbling.