Fire Danger by Claire Davon Page B

that she could read minds.
    They parked in a metered spot and walked down to Pier 39, located between the Embarcadero and Powell Street, Rachel’s favorite tourist attraction. Phoenix walked slightly behind her, keeping an eye on the people around her. In this form he didn’t look like an Elemental, only a very tall, very broad-shouldered man. The blue shirt he wore was clearly tailored for him and was probably more expensive than her monthly salary. She saw him as the powerful Elemental, ready to leap into the air at the slightest menace, and also as humans saw him: a tall man with an aura of power. It was an odd sensation to see and yet not see at the same time.
    Down on the water, playing among the pier, jetty boards and logs, were sea lions of all shapes and sizes, basking in the sun or just rolling around in the surf. There was a sea lion center, relatively new to the area, but she avoided it. She preferred to see the sea lions without knowing tons of facts and details.
    “Elemental.”
    It was not Phoenix’s voice. Three of the seals looked at them curiously. There was an overlay, a human shadow that stretched beyond their sea lion form and onto the other animals.
    Rachel glanced at Phoenix and back to the sea lions.
    “Shapeshifters. This is Ondine’s domain.”
    The sea lions gave them another glance, and then, as one, the three that were more than sea creatures turned and dove into the bay.
    Rachel filed the sighting away for future use.
    Beyond them was the island of Alcatraz, its small hill seeming innocent. Phoenix pointed out the tourist attraction and smiled.
    “Want to go?” he asked, cupping her elbow with his hand and leaning into her.
    “Can’t.” She looked up at the board hanging above the ticket counter. To the right was the bridge leading to the boats that took tourists to the isolated former prison. “Sold out.”
    She’d been on the tour once. The island wasn’t anything special once you landed. She learned it was the currents and the cold water that made it so hard to escape. Many had tried; almost all had failed. The lighthouse, part of the original use of the island, still operated, but otherwise it was inhabited by birds and tourists.
    “Let’s get something to eat,” she said, knowing she sounded relieved that the tour was off the table. “I don’t know about you, but I could eat an elephant.”
    His face pulled down as if in dismay, but humor danced in his eyes. “They’re tough and sinewy. They are not worth the trouble, even for the meat they provide. How about some eggs and ham?”
    She considered, and her stomach rumbled as if in response. “I’m going to be a thousand pounds, knowing you.”
    Phoenix put his arm around her. They fit together like two halves of a whole, or the interlocking pieces of a puzzle. There was something primal, and very male, in him. The idea of belonging to someone touched her somewhere that had been cold for years. She wanted to bathe in his fire and bathe him in return.
    “Don’t worry.” The mirth in his eyes had been replaced by something dark and sexy. “There are ways to work off the extra pounds.”
    * * * * *
    It was an odd assignment, Ron thought, even knowing he wasn’t paid to think. He had no idea why the creature would want this couple followed or reported on. It wasn’t what he had been hired to do. He had gotten a call a few hours ago, the command to track and report on a pair. He had been given a slightly grainy photograph and the news that they were currently at Fisherman’s Wharf. One look at the photo and he had committed it to memory.
    He wasn’t sure why the photograph would be grainy. It appeared to be from a surveillance camera. That struck him as strange. It would have been easy enough to slide a digital camera under a coat and take a picture, so why bother with anything else?
    I’m not paid to think , he reminded himself.
    Turning his attention back to the pair, he frowned. They seemed like a typical couple,