Alex watched her. “You’re sure that’s all it is?”

She let out a shaky breath. “Isn’t that enough?”

He snorted. “Yeah,” he said. “Yeah, that’s enough.” He sighed and leaned against a stack of boxes. “Listen, I’ll be telling everyone later tonight...but we’re going on our first hunt tomorrow.”

Willow went motionless. “We are? You mean, me too?”

“Yeah, all of us,” he said. “It’s time; I’ve got to get them some real-life practice, or they won’t stand a chance when the time comes.” Then he saw the worried tightness of her features. “Hey, you’re okay with this, right? I mean, I’d sort of rather that you stayed here, actually, but I thought...”

“I’m fine with it,” she said after a pause. “Well, nervous. But fine.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to anyone,” said Alex. God, he hoped that was true. He pushed it away; the hunt was the last thing he wanted to think about when he actually had a few minutes alone with Willow for a change.

He bent his head to hers again. He felt her hesitate, start to draw away – and then give in to the kiss in a rush. Alex’s pulse leaped as she pressed against him. Gently slipping his hand under her shirt, he caressed the silky smoothness of her skin, the soft warmth of her. For a few endless minutes there were only the two of them in the entire world.

Willow pulled away with an abruptness that startled him. “I – sorry, I’m still getting this cold, remember?”

“I don’t care,” he murmured as he reached for her again. “Germs are good.”

“No, really. I don’t want you to catch it.” She stepped away, her cheeks flushed as she adjusted her shirt, not meeting his gaze. Alex’s eyebrows drew together. He was just about to ask if something was wrong again when she gave him a quick, apologetic smile. “I’ll see you at dinner, okay? Love you.”

Before he could respond she’d kissed him on the cheek and slipped out of the door, shutting it softly behind her.

Chapter Twelve

THEY TOOK THE METRO TO Chapultepec. In years past, Alex knew they might have been the only foreigners on the train; now, with the city so full of tourists to see the newly converted cathedral, their group hardly even merited a second glance.