Girl Gone Nova by Pauline Baird Jones Read Free Book Online

“These women, the drama queens, are mated to the position of leader. It allows them to retain their status in our society, even if their mate dies. It protects them from a loss of home and support. My bond mate no longer lives. She died some time ago, not long after the birth of our last child.”
    “I’m sorry.” Why didn’t they know this? What was happening in the diplomatic corp that they didn’t know this?
    “As am I. She was a good mate, a good mother to our children.” His heavy lids lifted, pinning her with their intensity. “I am not saying that physical bonding is unknown among a leader and the women who chose to be mated to the position, but it is not my way. My people also have a system of political bonding, to cement alliances, but again, physical bonding is optional—and must be mutual. Unlike the Dusan, we don’t force ourselves on women. Ever.”
    Though he didn’t quibble at kidnapping, she recalled.
    “And you didn’t mention this to General Halliwell because…”
    “He did not ask.”
    The sternness of his expression reminded her that she stood in the presence of a very powerful man. And then he smiled, bringing back the charm. He was as good at hiding who he was as she was. Was that the source of his attraction for her, that combination of lethal and charming? That he was gorgeous didn’t hurt, she conceded.
    “And I will confess to not helping matters.” A flicker of mischief further softened the sternness of his face. “He gets so beautifully angry.”
    And the Gadi did like beautiful. Doc found herself smiling back, again without a conscious decision to do so.
    “Well, we can be a bit self-righteous.” Her smile widened, even as the last sensible piece of her brain was pointing out that she still needed training wheels in the arena of guys and girls and hearts. For a bright girl, she was being pretty dim.
    “May I ask you a question?”
    “Of course.” She didn’t have to answer it.
    “Your voice is differently inflected than others of your people. I wondered why?”
    Not what she’d expected, but a question she could answer. “That’s because my mum was British. I guess I caught a hint of her accent.” It was the only thing British about her, since she’d been raised in the U.S.
    He smiled, taking his time. It slid through her like warm honey.
    “I like it.” He paused. “I haven’t thanked you for saving my life.”
    She blinked. “I didn’t triage you.”
    “But you defused the explosive device.”
    “Oh.” He shouldn’t have seen her do that. “You’re welcome.”
    His smile deepened, bumping up the sexy vibe some more. She should be pondering it, analyzing it, defusing its power, not enjoying it. Her body was mush, while her mind was aware of everything, right down to the microscopic level. It wasn’t that her mind was blank. It was full to the brim with him . She looked at him. He looked at her. And the air around them crackled and popped, like water dancing on a hot plate.
    “You are an extraordinary people.”
    Doc frowned. “How so?” Hadn’t he just called them narrow-minded and judgmental?
    “You have the ability to be a healer, and you defused the explosive device. And you joke while you’re doing it. I assume the reference to the inn was a joke? And when you said you had not defused a bomb before, that was humor, as well, was it not?”
    Doc preferred to dodge the questions she couldn’t answer. A pity her lust-fogged brain wasn’t producing an acceptable dodge. Or even a lame dodge. His face was mobile, expressive and yet very controlled, very focused. On her. She opened her mouth, but before words could emerge, there was a welcome interruption.
    “Ma’am?”
    Lieutenant Simmons stood in the open doorway, her presence spreading a calm balm into the room that soothed Doc’s ruffled senses. Hel’s eyes told her he knew she’d been saved by the nurse, but she’d deal with that later. After she’d had some rest.
    “Yes?”
    “The