On the Hunt (Sentinel Wars #3.5)(82)
Author: Gena Showalter

Jamie knelt beside him, still searching all around the alley and the street for any sign of their enemy. But both Thrastikas and his minion were gone. He’d missed the real action he’d come here for, and now Mace was going to need a little recuperation time. Maybe that was a sign he should study the lore for more ideas. After all, he would be seeing Sunny again in just a few more days, and he had a lot of work to do between now and then if he hoped for any chance of a relationship with her.

Chapter Seven

"I don’t understand why you don’t want to come." Kate stood in Sunny’s kitchen, dressed up for the New Year’s Day party at the Angels’ plantation—an event that Sunny had decided she couldn’t possibly attend. Not after seeing Shay’s prophetic drawing, and the danger she possibly represented for Jamie. Even after spending the past days tirelessly studying the ancient volumes on angels, she’d found no plausible way that she could choose to fall, not without being destroyed or turning evil. Shay had promised to retrieve more volumes, but Sunny just couldn’t put her heart into the quest. Kiel’s warnings still sang in her ears. Which meant that, despite Jamie’s desire for friendship, it was impossible. Sunny was too attracted to him, out of her right mind when around him. She was lucky that Kiel hadn’t appeared to her a second time to further warn and chastise her.

"Sunny, I just don’t get it. You had a good time out at the Angel place the other day." Kate glanced at her watch. Dillon was waiting in the car, and they were a little late as it was.

"I sure did. Shay and Mason are fabulous—"

"And you thought Jamie was hot. I saw the way you looked at him," Kate teased. "And, by the way . . . where was it you disappeared to the other night, exactly? I noticed you both vanished for a good long while."

Sunny turned back to the counter, focusing all her attention on the dough she was rolling out for a chocolate-filled pastry. Whenever she felt restless, like she did right now, cooking helped settle her nerves and restore her serenity.

"I can’t go anyway," she argued. "I’m covered in flour and my hair’s a hot mess."

Kate sashayed to her side and began playing with Sunny’s hair. "I could make it beautiful in five minutes flat. You can change clothes, and you don’t even need mice or a pumpkin—just go to the ball."

Sunny waved her off with a forced laugh. "It’s a football party. No glass slippers allowed."

"But there is one definite prince who will be there."

Sunny planted a hand on her hip. "Now he’s a prince? You despised Jamie until three days ago."

Kate shrugged. "It was a shocker, but he was pretty nice to me. And to you . . . and you like him, so he’s off my shit list. At least until he makes a wrong move with you."

Sunny averted her eyes, rolling the dough some more. Kate didn’t miss her avoidance tactic, and took hold of her arm.

"Sweetie, did Jamie do something to hurt or upset you? Is that why you won’t go?" her friend asked in concern. "If he did—"

"No!" Sunny blurted. She didn’t want Kate blaming Jamie for anything, or trying to press him for details, either. "No, no, he’s fine." She sighed, burying her face in both hands. "And beautiful! And he was really sweet to me. Oh, Kate, what am I gonna do?"

"So you do like him?" Kate pried at her hands, trying to get Sunny to look at her. "Then why not go? I mean, I know he’s a hound, but I didn’t just see the way you looked at him. . . . He couldn’t take his eyes off you the whole day. And that kind of attention from the perennially single Jamie Angel? It’s a downright miracle. So you have to come tonight, Sun!"

Sunny pulled out of Kate’s grasp and paced the small kitchen, wringing her hands in agitation. "If I go, he’ll start everything up again, and . . . and . . ." I’ll fall in love with him. And I might just fall from heaven if I do. And there could be dangerous repercussions for Jamie as well.

"And?" Kate prompted, rolling her hand impatiently.

"And he’s got too bad a rep for me. I just can’t trust him," she lied, offering a quick prayer for forgiveness.

Kate sighed, studying her from across the room. "All right, then," she agreed reluctantly. "I guess if you’re sure. Just seems like, I dunno, there could be something between you two. Something worth taking a chance on."

Sunny pasted a smile on her face. "Now that you’re engaged, you’re in love with love. You want everyone to be as happy as you."

"Of course I do! I wish there were a whole pack of Dillon Foxes for all my girlfriends. But he’s one of a kind, so I have to work with what’s available. And Jamie Angel is very available."

Sunny stared past Kate’s shoulder. "He deserves genuine love with a good woman," she said, her chest tightening. "Someone kind and real, someone he loves deeply. Yes. I pray that Jamie finds that." Sunny glanced away, blinking at sudden tears. She’d never wanted anything so much as to be that very woman for Jamie. To be the one to kiss away his pain, to chase away that dogged loneliness she’d sensed inside him.

"Oh, my God," Kate whispered wondrously. "You don’t just like him. . . . You fell for him hard."

Sunny wiped her eyes, forcing a bright smile onto her face. "How in heaven’s name could that have happened?" she sang. "We only spent a few hours together."

Kate gave her a knowing smile. "A lot can happen in a few hours. Look at me and Dillon."

She had to hustle Kate out of the apartment, or her best friend was going to slowly wheedle and cajole far too much out of her. Slipping an arm through Kate’s, Sunny walked her slowly toward the door. "You go to the party with your own prince. Have a great time and text me later, okay?"

Kate stopped by the front door, looking at her uncertainly. "I can’t believe you’re being such a coward about this. It’s not like you at all."

Sunny’s face flamed hot. "I’m not being a coward!"

Kate wrapped both arms about Sunny, holding her tight. "I’m praying that you find the love of your life, too. Just be sure you don’t tuck tail and run when you do."

Kate and Dillon entered the foyer, and Jamie just kept staring past them through the still-open front door. Waiting. Expecting Sunny to come strolling in behind them, her big dark eyes dancing with light. He leaned a little sideways, trying to see down the steps.

"Uh, Jamie," Kate volunteered hesitantly. "Sunny’s not coming."

He blinked back at her. There had to be some mistake. Friends. They’d agreed to be friends.

She wouldn’t have stayed away from him, not if she felt like he did. She couldn’t have managed to keep her distance—it had taken every bit of his self-discipline not to show up at her apartment in the past few days.