Cupping his hand over Lily’s, he stared into her beautiful face and gazed into her brown eyes. With her blonde hair cascading down around her shoulders, she lit up the entire room with her presence. More than one man had commented on his luck at finding such a woman.
His gaze shifted to the hidden spot below her collar. He had marked her yesterday with the hard suction of his mouth. “You sure you want to meet him. After all, he’s the one responsible for sending you to Alaska instead of allowing you to fly off to some tropical island.”
She giggled and leaned closer. “I might forgive him that faux pas since it brought us together. However, I have plenty of other questions for him especially since you told me—”
“Lily, my dear, I see my grandson here has been remiss. He didn’t even get you a drink.”
Sebastian tore his gaze from Lily and cast an evil glare at his grandfather before eyeing the glass in his hand. “Why is it you feel she needs a drink?”
“Because it’s a party. She needs to drink and be merry.” His grandfather stood just far enough away to cause her to have to shift out of Sebastian’s embrace to accept the glass.
Mrs. Platero covered her mouth with her hand, but Sebastian caught sight of the smile she tried to hide.
What were these two up to?
He lifted a brow. “And where’s mine?”
“You’re a strapping young man. You can get it yourself.” His grandfather stepped closer and drew Lily to his side. “I’ll watch over your fiancée while you’re gone.”
“No.” Sebastian set his hand over Lily’s cup and drew it from her hand. After sniffing the contents, he took a sip and handed it back to her. The lemonade tasted a little tart but contained no alcohol. “Lily’s a sweetheart. She doesn’t mind sharing.”
Lily shook her head and smiled at his grandfather. “Thank you for thinking of me, but…” She glanced around and moved back to Sebastian’s side. “I tend to say the wrong thing when faced with strangers.”
Sebastian didn’t believe it. She’d charmed everyone she’d met so far, but he appreciated her trying to appease his grandfather. “Of course, if you’d left this visit down to merely the four of us…”
A shock looked flashed across his grandfather’s face. “Yes, but then we’d have to have another party after you two were married. And you already said you were only planning to be here a week.” He waved a finger. “And I know you. Once you have a ring on this girl’s finger, we’ll be lucky to get you out of your house until you have to go back to work.”
“Which may be sooner than you think.” Rex’s voice came from behind Sebastian.
He glanced over his shoulder at the dark-haired man who stood a few inches shorter and had a lean lanky body. Their dark gazes crashed. “No. Fire me if you want, but we’re not budging from my house for at least a week.”
“Then I have to be back at work.” Lily grabbed his hand and tugged. The action pulled him back a step, giving her an unrestricted view of his boss. Her eyes lit with interest. “But from what Sebastian has told me. You probably already know that.”
Sebastian slid his arm around her waist. “Rex Ledger, let me introduce you to my fiancée, Lily Winslow.”
Rex nodded.
“Rex, let me get you a drink.” Mrs. Platero darted away before he had a chance to decline the offer.
His grandfather snorted. “I’m afraid my grandson is being stubborn, and he won’t let the lady out of his sight.”
Rex patted his grandfather on the shoulder. “I figured as much, but I appreciate you trying.”
After a parental glare that said to behave, his grandfather walked away.
Sebastian drew Lily a little closer and turned to his boss. “So, what’s up?”
Rex shifted slightly to put his back to the wall. The subtle move gave Rex a clear view of the room and its occupants. Rex’s gaze fell on Lily. He shook his head and turned to Sebastian. “She’s smarter than you’ll ever be but completely taken with you.”
The incredulous tone should have annoyed Sebastian, but instead, he laughed. “Now, tell me something I don’t know.”
Lily turned as if to walk away. “Yes, like why you’re acting as if we should be honored to have you talk to us.”
“Lily.” Sebastian tightened his grip and kept her from leaving. “Give him a second to get a reading on what’s going on around us. Then he’ll tell us what he wants us to know.”
She lifted her brow as if questioning his sanity.
Sebastian recalled all the questions she’d asked when he relayed the old myths about the origin of his people and why they were gifted with special abilities. She’d been fascinated by how the ancient prophesies had correlated with current events, but she didn’t believe the world was in danger. Though in truth, if the stories were true, he didn’t exactly understand how they would affect their future either.
Rex smiled and shoved his hands into his pockets. “You’re right. We’re among friends. I simply wanted to confirm with Sebastian you’re on board with the program.”
“Program?” She lifted her cup to her lips casually, though Sebastian could almost feel her spine bristle.
“He’s talking about the Neanderthal project you’re working on.” Sebastian hoped Rex would get on with it and soothe her ruffled feathers. It was time.
“Yes, well, I guess I understand your interest in the research, but I don’t believe people who lived thousands of years ago could know what would happen in the future.” Lily shifted on her feet and widened her stance, as if readying herself for battle.
“Then you aren’t worried that a person might someday be tracked down by his DNA? Because he or she has special talents?” Rex’s intense gaze showed he had strong feelings on the subject.
Sebastian eased his hand over her back. “Watch it, Rex. Not everyone has the same passion about the subject as you do.”
Rex darted a glance around the room. “We have to act now to get ahead of the issue because if we wait, by then, it’ll be too late.”
“What are you talking about?” She shook her head. “The Neanderthal project won’t hurt anyone.”
“Are you sure? You have Neanderthal DNA,” Rex fired back.
“How do you know that?” Lily dropped a hand to her hip.
Surprised, yet thrilled by her origin, Sebastian shifted closer.
Rex stared at her for a moment, then added, “You like millions of other aren’t aware of what lay ahead. You have no teaching from your ancestors to guide you. That’s our job to re-educate you and show you how to honor the earth and live in peace with each other.”
“Right, and that’s why—”
“We need to work together. There are forces working against us. They don’t share our values and won’t hesitate to kill anyone who stands in their way. There is a battle on the horizon, and we need to prepare to win the war.”
Lily rocked back on her heels and bumped against Sebastian’s chest.
The truth of Rex’s prediction tingled though Sebastian’s senses. He wrapped his arms around her middle and wondered if there was more to Cain’s death. Had someone used Karen as an excuse to kill him?
Rex’s gaze remained locked on Lily. After a long moment, she nodded. “I see your point and believe I have a vested interest in the program, too.”
With a nod from Rex, Sebastian released his pent-up breath and drew air into his lungs. He reminded himself that today they needed to celebrate good friends and the beginning of his life with Lily. “Now we have that settled. Why don’t we relax and enjoy the party?”
Rex smiled. “Exactly, we have much to celebrate.”
About the Author
Wild and crazy, meek and shy, at times Anita Philmar has all these characteristics. A normal person with a husband, two kids, and a dog, she loves people and enjoys meeting new friends as well as old ones. She spends most of her time alone, because she’s chosen to be a writer.
The kiss of death for some, she enjoys the adventure of disc
overing new worlds in her head and hopes her readers find pleasure in there as well.
~*~
Visit Anita at
www.anitaphilmar.com
~*~
To chat with Anita Philmar and other Wild Rose Press authors of erotic romance, join us at www.groups.yahoo.com/group/thewilderroses.
Also Available
Hotwired
by Anita Philmar
Hotwired for each other...
When Ross Dixon is kidnapped from his office, along with the sexy lawyer who'd been busting his balls over a deal that should have been a walk in the park, he wakes to find a devotion chip surgically implanted in his brain. If that isn't bad enough, the chip, designed to trigger emotional reactions between him and the woman lying next to him, is working overtime on his libido.
Mistaken for Ross's flavor of the month, Kayla Michaels, a 22nd century lawyer, doesn't have a problem spending time in Ross's bed--or over his desk--but she wants no part in the romantic feelings the chip is provoking. She's been down that road before and ended up burned.
Kayla and Ross struggle to find answers while coming to terms with the constant lust sizzling between them, but along the way each wonders if the emotions are real or just a side effect of being hotwired.
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A future world, devastated by a deadly virus…a dangerous attraction that defies the laws of segregation.
In the forbidden zone of Edinburgh’s old town, Catriona Whithorn, a privileged lawyer escaping her dull life and a depressing divorce, becomes Cat, a blues singer in a sleazy bar. When she encounters Magic, a mysterious and sexy street magician, she is drawn deeper into his world where living for the moment leads to uninhibited pleasure and a deadly struggle for freedom. For nothing is as it seems.
No stranger to illusion, Magic’s carefree exterior hides a man ruthless enough to do whatever it takes to protect the only family he knows—the people of the old town. When Cat enlists his help to find her missing ex-husband, Magic takes her into his care and into his bed. But he isn't fool enough to believe she wants more than a rough tumble and won't soon return to the comfort and security of the safe zone.
Yet as they uncover layers of abuse, corruption, and an undeniable conspiracy of oppression, she and Magic must face impossible choices that threaten to divide them forever.
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The Warrior In Me Page 27
