WindSwept Narrows: #18 Paige Andrews

by Diroll-Nichols, Karen

  Paige dropped the jacket to the chair by the closet and swallowed hard, staring first at the little box and then at Sebastian. Her palms were sweating as she bent to pick it up.

  “Sebastian…what did you do…” She whispered softly, arguing with herself even as her fingers shook. Paige paced over the floor, staring at the unconscious man and the little box and the little box won. She lifted the lid slowly, air caught in her lungs as the hinge caught and stayed open. “Oh, wow…”

  A blue diamond, she thought, the same color as his eyes with a trail of smaller white diamonds coming off each side of the carat round cut stone. She pulled it free and slid it onto her finger. A perfect fit. Would it be any less, she thought, suddenly a little light headed. Paige set the box on the nightstand and sat on the bed before she fell to the floor.

  “Sebastian, it’s beautiful,” she whispered, her head shaking as she leaned closer and kissed him softly. “Don’t know why you needed the bottle of scotch…but we need to get you into the rest of the bed…somehow…” She pushed a long breath between her lips and went above his head, pulling on his arms and hoping she didn’t dislocate anything. She managed to get him a little further onto the bed before he stirred and bolted upright.

  His movement sent Paige tumbling to the top of the bed, lashes blinking rapidly when he turned his head toward her. She felt pinned in place when he pushed himself higher onto the bed and grabbed her shoulders, pulling her face next to his.

  “You smell like her,” he ground with a lot of slur in his words.

  “Who?” Paige knew her voice was a little high and cleared her throat.

  “Paige…I don’t want a fucking ghost…”

  Paige opened her mouth to ask another question but it was swallowed up in his kiss, his hands moving to her back as he let them both fall to the surface of the bed. His hands moved down her back and onto her behind, pressing her against him, making her very aware of his need, his desire for her.

  Paige pushed her hands between them and opened the buttons on his shirt, pushing it wide and letting her palms stroke over the heat he was generating. Fingers splayed and caressed from his throat to the belt buckle, deftly opening it and popping the button on his jeans open.

  It was like he was on fire, she thought, losing herself in the heat of his touch, his kiss. She found the packets he kept on his nightstand, kneeling at his side and watching his chest heaving as her hands stroked and prepared him. He reached for her, pulled her hungrily back to him even as one hand slid between her thighs and stroked the moisture, ignited more flames. She slid over him, let him glide through and between and inside slowly. They moved as one as if the flames had gone to a high simmer, bodies stroking and fueling one another.

  Paige felt herself stop breathing when the burst took her over the edge, her palms flat on his chest when he followed right behind her, his hands strong on her hips and pulling her down even harder along his length. Neither of them seemed to breathe for a long, heady minute.

  “My ghost…” Sebastian murmured against her throat, groaning softly when she slid to the side.

  Paige didn’t think he was up to moving much, since he actually hadn’t through the whole sex thing, she disposed of things and pulled the blankets over him. She was stretched out across the bed at his side.

  “Don’t leave me…Paige…you can’t leave me…”

  She lifted her head, peering down in the dimly lit room, her palm up and stroking over his brow, fingers tangled in the long strands of straw colored hair.

  “Sebastian…I’m not going anywhere…I promise you,” she leaned closer, kissing him softly. “Go to sleep. It’s okay to sleep now.”

  Paige wasn’t sure what was in his dreams, but when he reached for her, held onto her like she would vanish on him, her palm stroked gently over his head. She felt his lips moving next to her breast but couldn’t make out what he was saying and drifted back to sleep.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  She eased from the bed shortly before eight and went to shower. She pushed a pillow in her place and pulled the blankets over him, her head shaking. Something had him stirred up most of the night. She dried the stitches carefully, very aware that the Novocain had worn off a long time ago. Bare foot, she wandered down the stairs, helping Marta lay out plates for the large buffet she was preparing. The coffee began to perk at the same time the knock came on the door. She’d opened the gates and left them wide.

  “Hi…come in…” she kissed her mother and stepped to the side when the noise began on the second level. Paige walked with them into the large main room and held up a palm when another noise caught her attention.

  Sebastian threw one of his boots into the closet and didn’t care that it bounced off the wall. A dream. A lousy damn dream, his mind growled as he shoved his legs into his jeans, leaving the button open. He stumbled against the chair, swearing loudly.

  “Be right back…”

  She took off at a light run, making it to the top step where a very bedraggled looking Sebastian stood and stared.

  “How about if I help you…”

  “Who the hell are you?” His hands moved swiftly, grabbing her shoulders and pulling her to her toes. Anger, fury, frustration and stomach wrenching pain tore through him when the pale red lashes flew wide. “A fucking ghost…” His hands released her and she stepped down a few steps.

  “I’ve got something for the headache you must have,” she said quietly, turning and making it to the bottom step before his arm circled her from behind and pulled her back against him. “Sebastian!”

  “Who the hell are you?” He demanded hotly, his lips next to her ear. He could smell her. The soap and shampoo she used. And it tore through him like a knife through butter.

  “Sebastian…it’s me…Paige…”

  “Dead…they said…” He tightened his arm.

  “Oww...oww…oww…the stitches, Sebastian…damn it…” Her elbow shot back sharply, sending him crashing to sit on the stairs and her stumbling down into the surprised circle of people watching. She smiled, winced and held up one finger. “Be right with you. Why don’t you go start on breakfast and let me…figure this out,” she suggested, sighing when she realized no one was moving.

  “He thinks you died,” Chase said quietly, looking from one to the other. “There was a car crash victim in the cubicle next to yours, Paige. She died.”

  “You’re dead,” Sebastian leaned forward, his head throbbing, arms along his thighs and head dangling in the center.

  “Pretty sure I’m not,” Paige said softly, stepping forward and lifting his head. “Is that why you downed the bottle of scotch last night? You thought…” She closed her eyes and turned to the people around them. “Please…go have breakfast…I’ll be there in a few minutes,” she promised, waiting until they were gone before trying again.

  “Sebastian…look at me…” Gentle palms went to his face, the rough surface rasping over her palms, her thumbs catching the tears easing along his cheeks. “God, you’re stubborn…must be why I love you so much…” She sighed and kissed him. “How about we go back upstairs and see about getting you into the shower. I think that will help a lot…and I’ve got some pills for you to take for the head thing…come on…up…”

  “Paige…”

  “Yep…that’s it…lean on me…” She turned him carefully, one hand on the railing to keep from falling down the stairs. “I really don’t want to be in traction…” She got him as far as the bed. She went and started the shower, leaving the door open.

  “I heard them…they said…” Very foggy blue eyes peered at her, standing when she pulled on his hands and frowning when she shoved the jeans down his legs.

  “Step…that’s good…come on…nice and steamy…you’ll feel loads better,” she promised him, leaving him on the bench seat in the shower. She closed the door and went in search of her herbs and coffee.

  “Paige…”

  “We’ll be back in a few…” She promised her guests with a da
zzling smile. “Eat…it’s all good…no worries…” she babbled as she ran for the steps with half a cup of coffee and pain pills for him. She slid the shower door open and held the coffee just beneath his face. His hand came up to surround the cup. “Take these…good…swallow…”

  “Paige…” He blinked and took another big swallow, ignoring the grumbling of his stomach.

  “You need to shower and get cleaned up. We have people eating breakfast downstairs,” she leaned in and touched his cheek. “Oh…I love the ring. It’s beautiful.”

  He looked from the hand with the sparkling blue stone set in the white gold and then back to the full, pouty lips watching him. He switched hands with the coffee, his palm up and touching her face.

  “Shower, Sebastian. I’ve got to go play hostess…they think we’re insane as it is,” she told him, kissing him lightly and closing the door behind her, making a quick dash back to the dining room and smiling brightly.

  “He’s doing better. I think you might be right, Chase. He called me a ghost last night…weird.” Paige announced with a bright smile.

  “Those men last night,” Alex began carefully. “Chase explained about things you found on the granary property?”

  “Jewelry,” Paige said, going to her desk and lifting the photos Jack has given her. “Museums they were stolen from are sending reps to retrieve them. Sebastian is returning them where they belong. The guys and woman were searching the property before it was demolished. One of them was in prison with the original guy who hid them in one of the offices,” she finished the sliced of French toast she’d smeared with jam and glanced nervously toward the stairs. “I’ll be back…”

  Paige moved quietly into the bedroom. His hair was still damp and his hands working a towel over his shoulders, another tucked around his hips. She kept out of arm range, the stitches at the back of her ribs still aching from their last encounter.

  “Sebastian?” Pale red lashes went wide when his head jerked up, flinging long strands of straw back. Sharp, alert blue eyes ran from her bare feet to the loose ponytail at the back of her head. She backed up when he raised a hand toward her. “Are you okay?”

  “My head feels like it’s about to blast off into space,” he said flatly, taking another step forward and frowning when she backed up. “Paige…I heard them say you were dead.”

  “Pretty sure I’m not,” she repeated softly, moving forward and leading him to the chair. “Sit…I’m not a ghost. I’m not dead. Do you remember coming home last night?”

  “Of course I remember,” he growled, grabbing her hand and pulling her into his lap, his arms around her and his face buried in the hollow of her throat. “It’s not a feeling I’m going to forget for a long damn time,” he assured her, the shudder racing through him when his brain finally wrapped around the idea that she was real. She was still with him. She was his.

  “Oh, Sebastian,” Paige just held him, a kiss on his head. “I’m okay…just…don’t squeeze too hard right there…please…got stitches. I wondered where you’d gone when they set me free. I figured you knew I was okay and came home, which you did, so I got a ride with Chase and Pepper.”

  Sebastian lifted his head slowly, his palm taking hers to his lips. His gaze went from the blue diamond on her finger to the slightly absent look on her face.

  “It kind of fell out of your jacket…and I thought it was amazing that it was the perfect size…and it really goes good with the fingers,” Paige kept her voice light and casual.

  “It goes perfect with the girl,” he corrected, fitting her palm against his cheek. “I feel like an idiot.”

  “Oh, good…better you than me this time…my parents think we have a very odd relationship…what with the elbow to the ribs and all…” Paige kissed him and pushed against his chest. “You need food and I’ll find some regular pain pills for you. Get dressed and come downstairs. I’ll go…explain…”

  Paige met the curious stares with a bright smile, filling a plate and dropping into a chair with a long sigh.

  “Is Sebastian alright?” Pepper held a tall glass between her hands.

  “Headache. He drained a whole bottle of some expensive scotch before I got home,” she shook her head. “He evidently did hear someone where he thought I was,” she explained quietly. “And he thought they were talking about me.”

  “That would shake a guy,” her father said with a nod of understanding, his palm idly stroking over his wife’s shoulder. He turned the conversation as Sebastian came slowly down the stairs. “So I hear this all began because you held a gun on him?”

  “Oh, god…” Paige glared at Chase and Pepper. “You two…friends…”

  “They asked,” Pepper said with a bright laugh.

  Two hours later, Paige stood on the porch, Sebastian’s hands on her waist behind her. “Maybe less excitement next time you visit,” she promised, hugging her parents and brothers.

  “See you Monday,” Chase clapped a palm on Sebastian’s shoulder.

  “Thanks for breakfast. It was fun,” Pepper walked with Chase around the connecting edge of the gate and onto their property.

  “Your headache’s a little better,” Paige said as they went back into the house. She pushed him onto the sofa and brought him some capsules and orange juice. “Take them. They’ll help.”

  For several long minutes they just sat, her head on his shoulder and his palm stroking along her arm. He lifted her palm, their fingers curling together.

  “So…you’re wearing my ring…”

  “Hmm…looked a little on the small side for you,” Paige teased, turning her hand and watching the sparkle. “I like it…it’s the same color as your eyes. I had no idea diamonds came in so many colors.”

  “I was planning this elaborate scene. I figured we’d argue first then have wild make-up sex before you finally admitted I was right and agreed to marry me,” Sebastian watched a myriad of those expressions crossed her features and he laughed. “Did you think it was a friendship ring, Paige?”

  “I…of course not…I knew…know…” she stammered in frustration. How could she not think of what the ring was for?

  “And since you’re wearing it…and wore it all through breakfast,” he watched her eyes widen. “Your family approves.”

  “They didn’t say anything,” she said quickly, looking at her hand and his eyes. “Maybe they didn’t notice.”

  “It’s embarrassing to be engaged to me?” He asked cautiously, his head shaking. The woman got into situations that would make most women crash and burn and here she was panicking because of a ring on her finger. “I’m going to go with the natural progression of things and your silent acceptance of my proposal. It’s bound to be less of a headache for me in the long run.”

  “I…” she scowled at him. “Somehow, I think I should be offended by that.”

  Both of them looked up when the chimes sounded through the house.

  “I forgot to close the gates,” Paige was up and crossing the wide stone foyer to the door. “Oh, god…Marietta.”

  Sebastian swore loudly. “Paige, I am not in the right frame of mind to deal with her today. Call Marta and let her tell her we’re not here.”

  “I know what she wants, Sebastian,” Paige pulled the door open and forced a smile in place. “Hello, Marietta,” Paige stepped carefully in front of her. “We’re having a quiet day at home after last night…you know…getting shot and all…”

  “I brought the stock,” she said quickly, holding up a folder. “If you could just give me a check, I won’t be back again, I promise you.”

  Paige exhaled and dropped her head before stepping back. “I have to ask Sebastian what they’re worth and transfer some money. Come inside,” she said, her groan low as she plastered a smile on her face and ignored Sebastian. She went to her computer and began opening pages to her bank account.

  “Sebastian,” Marietta looked decidedly uncomfortable, holding the folder out to him.

  “What’re they worth, Sebastian
? A good solid number so I can transfer my money and buy them,” Paige pulled a checkbook from the top drawer, listening to the figure he offered. She wrote the check quickly, handing it to Marietta.

  “I’m off to Hawaii! Thank you both so much! Good bye!” She rushed out of the house without looking back.

  “I can’t believe I was married to her,” Sebastian listened to the fast fingers moving over the keyboard. “You have enough to cover that check?”

  “You think I write checks I can’t cover? Please,” Paige completed the transfer and shut the computer down, tossing the folder to the desk after looking inside. “She signed everything over to me. No matter. Now…where were we?”

  Sebastian reached up and tugged quickly, sending her tumbling forward against him on the sofa. “I like it just like this for now. Quiet, peaceful and just you and me.”

  Thank you for reading Paige Andrews. I hope it entertained and made you laugh. Please remember that is part of a long series and will continue in Lacie Barton. Enjoy!