House of Cards by W. J. May, Book Cover By Design, Chelsa Jillard Page A

other wanted to wrap her arms around him. She blurted, “What’re you doing here?”
    He had the decency to look totally embarrassed. “I don’t normally take off and hide in bushes.” He glanced at her right hand. “Do you mind putting that down? You’re making me kinda nervous.”
    She looked and realized she had glowing blue and yellow lights sparking out of her fingers forming a ball. “Oops.” She fizzled them out and dropped her hand. It felt warm so she shook it in the breeze.
    Devon walked the short distance between them and Rae’s breath caught in her throat. It felt like she hadn’t seen him in ages and he looked so good.
    “I’m sorry,” he said.
    Her heart wanted to burst. He’d realized the mistake he had made and had come back to ask her to forgive him.
    He bent down and straightened, trying to hand her something. “Sorry. I hope I didn’t ruin your dinner.”
    Oh. Ohhhhh! She could feel her eyes grow big as she realized his apology had been meant for that. “I-It’s fine.” She swallowed. “Why are you back? At the train station…” She trailed off, unsure if talking about it might be taboo. “I thought you were going to be gone for a while.”
    “So did I.” He shrugged, looking as uncomfortable as she felt. “It got cut short. Carter needs Julian to go on some mission with you so I came back with him.”
    Rae nodded, trying not to focus on his bright blue eyes and handsome face. If she could get him to smile, maybe she’d get to see his dimple one last time. Stop it! Just act normal. “Why were you spying on me?” Real normal, Rae. Real normal.
    “Spying?” He pointed his thumb behind him to where he had been standing and looked back at it. “I didn’t… I wasn’t… I-I needed… I went for a walk and heard you guys coming up the sidewalk from the parking lot. I got nervous and didn’t know what to do. I panicked.”
    “So you hid?” Rae stared at him. Devon, of all people, knew she would sense something was off.
    “I thought it would be better if you didn’t see me. I wasn’t sure how you were doing and didn’t want to upset you.”
    “I’m not a wimp.” She didn’t know how she would have reacted if she’d seen him on the sidewalk with the others around, but knowing that he hid from her made her angry. Maybe he hid, not for her but because of her. Maybe he couldn’t handle seeing her.
    “I never thought that. I just…” He shrugged and shoved his hands in his pocket. “I didn’t expect you to ambush me and then come after me with an electric shock ball.” He grinned. “Nice move by the way. Is that from Molly?”
    Rae nodded.
    “Did she teach you that?”
    “No. I don’t even know if she knows she can do it. I didn’t know. Tonight’s the first time. I thought you were somebody else.”
    Devon’s eyebrows pressed together and he tilted his head slightly. “Who? Did Carter say someone’s after you?”
    “No.” Rae’s chest tightened. “Did he say that to you? So help me, if people are keeping secrets from me again.” She clenched her fists, letting her nails dig into her skin. It hurt, but at least it felt real.
    “It’s okay, Rae,” Devon said softly. “I haven’t heard anything. I was just worried… for a sec.”
    The kindness in his voice hurt because she knew they weren’t meant to be special words just for her. Not anymore. Suddenly she didn’t want to be here, alone with him, for a second longer than she had to. “You don’t have to anymore. I’m fine.” She took a wide step in an effort to move around him, not trusting herself to hold it together if she smelled his cologne or touched him. “I’m going in. Crazy busy day tomorrow.”
    “Sure.” He stepped away, as if scared they might touch as well. It only served to add to the ball of anger and hurt feelings rolling around inside her. She knew there was no point in dragging this out and what she really wanted was to be alone, and have a chance to let it all out. She