The Deviant Underground (Time Bandit) by Elisabeth Roseland Page A

done.”
    “I'm starving,” Charge said as he threw his arm around Kathryn and pulled her into him. The affectionate gesture made her knees weak. “Let's get something to eat.”
    Jonathan smiled. “That sounds like an excellent idea.”

Chapter Eleven
    About 45 minutes later, the four of them were crammed into a booth at Archway. The restaurant was almost empty with the exception of a few patrons at the bar and two diners enjoying toasted ravioli in a booth across the room. Drinks were the first thing on everyone's mind, and they immediately ordered four beers. The waitress brought them their bottles, and Jonathan raised his. “A toast.” Kathryn, Susan, and Charge lifted theirs as well.
    “To what?” Kathryn asked.
    “To . . . “ Jonathan paused, “new friends and new adventures.”
    “Amen to that,” Charge said enthusiastically as the four bottle necks clinked together. Kathryn took a large gulp, enjoying the cold carbonation as it slid down her throat. A comfortable silence spread across the table. Kathryn marveled at how at ease she felt, not just with them, but for the first time, with herself. Her leg pressed warmly against Charge's, and she reveled in the casual closeness. Jonathan was the first one to break the silence as he picked up the menu.
    “So.” His eyes scanned the laminated pages. “What's good here?”
    “Cheese fries,” Charge and Kathryn said in unison. Charge nudged her playfully. “Jinx.”
    “Also,” she turned to Jonathan, who sat directly across the table from her, “since you are in St. Louis, you should try the local delicacy, toasted ravioli.”
    “Yuck.” Susan wrinkled her nose as she set down her menu.
    “I didn't say it was good,” Kathryn joked. “I just said it was a local delicacy.”
    “Hmm. While I am one who usually seeks out the local cuisine, I think I may take a pass on this one.”
    “Wise choice,” Susan said. The waitress came back, took their orders and their menus, and left. No one spoke as everyone continued to savor their beers. Kathryn’s mind was still reeling with the activities of the day. They were so unbelievable. It was almost as though they happened to a different person; there was no way that she just spent hours in an abandoned warehouse practicing her . . . gift . . . with others who were just like her. Jonathan looked at her with a bemused expression on his face.
    “How do you feel?” he asked.
    Kathryn shrugged. “I'm kind of speechless right now. I really don't know how to feel.”
    Jonathan smiled. “Perfectly understandable. Give it time to sink in.” He then leaned in across the table, his light brown eyes gazing intensely at her. “However, I want you to remember this.” He paused and lowered his voice to a hushed whisper. “You are truly remarkable.” Kathryn smiled shyly and lowered her gaze. She didn't know how to respond, so she just fidgeted with the damp label on her bottle. Charge slipped his hand under the table and squeezed her leg firmly, reassuringly.
    “So,” she cleared her throat awkwardly, “how long are you staying?”
    Jonathan leaned back and shifted instantly into light conversation. “Just until Sunday. I have to return back to work on Monday.”
    “What do you do?” Kathryn was relieved to take the focus off of her.
    “I'm an analyst for the federal government,” Jonathan answered as the waitress came by and brought their food. Kathryn eagerly bit into her cheeseburger.
    “Sounds interesting,” she said mid-bite.
    “It's not really.” Jonathan picked up his club sandwich. “It's paper pushing, mostly, although the benefits are good. And you’re a professor?”
    “Yep.” Kathryn picked up a gooey cheese fry from the basket she and Charge were sharing.
    “Of . . . English?” Jonathan asked. “Did I remember that correctly?”
    “Yep. With a specialization in Restoration and eighteenth-century drama, if you want to get all technical.”
    “Wow.” Jonathan chuckled. “Now I have