Evil deeds, karma and all that.
As Donna sobbed, Shea cast aside the mystical mumbo-jumbo she spouted and zeroed in on the problem. Time to do some probing and bring commonsense into the picture.
“Donna.” Patting her hand more firmly, she made the girl focus on her. “Have you been to a doctor?”
“No.”
“How far gone are you?”
“About two months.”
Shea placed the dainty tissue box in front of Donna, who whipped out a couple, pressing them to her eyes before blowing her nose. Clutching the tissues in her hands, she stared down at them, eyes swollen and nose red.
Shea’s heart went out to her. Regardless, she had to make sure Donna was informed of all her options, which was beyond Shea’s right to impart. “Have you spoken to your school counsellor or pastor?”
Donna shook her head.
“You need to speak to someone.”
“I am. You.”
Great. Just freakin’ awesome. No getting out of this one except to…
Angling her head slightly to the side, she pretended to listen. Slowly she sat back, letting her fingertips lightly caress the velvet table cover until she resumed her usual pose, fingers linked loosely, hands resting on the table.
Sniffing, Donna flicked out another tissue and blew her nose.
“Spirit is telling me that you need to go to a doctor.”
Donna’s lips twisted.
“To ensure your health, the health of the baby.” Lowering her tone, Shea said with sincerity, “You need guidance beyond what I or Spirit can tell you.”
“What? But you can see into the future.”
“Not everything is always clear.”
“Are you saying you can’t see my future?”
“I’m saying at this moment it’s clouded.”
It was a shock just how devastated Donna appeared. “Is that bad? That’s bad, isn’t it? Does that mean something bad is going to happen to me or my baby? Oh God, am I going to die? Is the baby going to die?” She was starting to panic, her voice rising as she leapt to her feet.
Quickly reaching out and grabbing her hand, Shea demanded forcefully, “Look at me. Donna, look at me.”
Breathing fast, she obeyed.
“Sit down.” When she hesitated, Shea said firmly, “Sit, Donna. Now.”
Eyes wide and fearful, chewing her bottom lip, Donna sat.
Great, I’ve scared the living hell out of the kid.
Deliberately Shea resumed calmness, her tone soothing yet firm, the same tone she’d used during difficult times when Cole was younger and needing to listen. “The cloudiness is nothing alarming. It simply means you have many paths to choose from and none of them are certain at this time. That’s why I can’t see.”
“You’re supposed to tell me what to do.” Yanking her hand from Shea’s, she folded her arms. Her face portrayed anger, but the fear in her eyes was very real.
“That’s the good thing about pathways, you can explore them all before deciding which one to take. But-” She held up one hand when Donna opened her mouth. “But it needs to be informative exploring. The first pathway is one you need to take - that of going to a doctor or a women’s health centre. They can help you.”
Donna stared at the tabletop for several seconds.
Please, kid, go to a professional. Take my advice and seek help from someone who knows what they’re doing.
Tracing an unseen pattern on the velvet table cover, Donna whispered, “I’m scared.”
“I know, and that’s why it’s so important that you get the correct information the first time. This is a huge thing for you, for Brad, for your Mum and his parents. You don’t want to be taking advice from just anyone.”
“You’re not just anyone,” Donna muttered.
Oh kid, you have no idea. “Are you sure you can’t talk to your Mum?”
“She won’t understand.”
“Of all people, she would.” Especially because she’d been in the same position. Still, Shea didn’t know the relationship between mother and daughter so she erred on the side of caution. “Promise me you’ll see a doctor or the women’s health centre. You need to speak to someone who can guide you.” When she just continued tracing the unseen pattern on the table top over and over, Shea prompted firmly, “Donna.”
“Okay.” Taking a deep breath, she sat straight. “Okay, I promise.” Standing abruptly, she picked up her backpack, placed it on the table with a muffled thump and dug around in it.
When she drew out a purse, Shea shook her head. “No.”
“But you did a reading.”
“I couldn’t help you much. I won’t take your money.”
Donna gave her a curious look but returned the purse to the backpack. “Okay.” Slinging one of the straps over her shoulder, she walked to the door.
Following, Shea flicked open the lock and stood back as Donna left. As the door swung slowly shut, the teenager gave Shea a faint, sad smile and walked away.
Shoulders slumping, Shea walked over to the counter, rested her elbows on it beside Ginger and dropped her face into her hands. “Oh cripes, Ginger. What the hell? It isn’t supposed to be like this. Not like this.” Rubbing her forehead with the fingertips of both hands, she took several deep breaths. “I can’t believe that just happened.”
Purring, Ginger nudged her arm with his head.
Taking comfort from the cat, she rubbed behind his ears while still leaning on the counter with one hand supporting her forehead as doubts flooded in.
Had she done the right thing? Should she have told Donna to go to her mother? Had she given the wrong advice? If Cole had of been in Donna’s place, sure as heck Shea would have wanted to know. First she’d yell at him, call him all kinds of an idiot then see about helping him. But maybe Donna didn’t have that kind of relationship with Sally, maybe it was more volatile, maybe… She just didn’t know.
“And that’s the hell of it, Ginger.” Feeling like crap, she straightened. “I just don’t know.”
The door bell jingling announced another customer, something which Shea right then regretted. She should have relocked the door, had a few more minutes to digest Donna’s troubling visit.
Nothing for it but to don the game face and start act two. Hopefully it wouldn’t be as disastrous.
Donning her serene, smiling persona, hoping to God it wasn’t Sally, Donna’s mother - because wouldn’t that just be the icing on the cake? - Shea turned around. Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of the tall, broad-shouldered silhouette framed in the doorway. Two thoughts shot through her head - he’ll know if I did the right thing, and hot on the heels of that thought - oh Lordy, what will he think of me? A girl facing a life-changing experience came to a charlatan for advice.
He stepped further inside, the door slowly shutting behind him.
Shea’s heart regained a normal pace as the brightness of the day disappeared and she saw him clearly. Big build, tall, muscular, broad shoulders stretching his work shirt. His features tough, weathered, but as serene as Shea’s, only his wasn’t pretence, she knew it way down deep in her gut.
Not Aaron, but he just had to be related. There was a resemblance in the older features, similarity in the way he silently looked around the room, his very presence quiet, steady, his gaze direct when it finally came to rest on her.
“Hello.” His voice was deep, almost rumbling.
“Hi. Can I help you?”
Surprisingly, Ginger jumped down off the counter, moving cautiously over to the man to sniff his battered work jeans.
“I was looking for Aaron.” Holding out a calloused hand, the man smiled slightly. “I’m his dad, Harris Wells.”
Oh geez. Aaron’s father. No wonder he looked familiar, acted familiar. Not just a relative but his father.
Realising she was staring at him like an idiot, Shea crossed the room to take his hand. “Pleased to meet you. I’m S-” She stumbled to a halt beneath those eyes.
He looked at her, simply gazed into her eyes and seemed to see everything she was, everything she pretend to be, everything she wasn’t. His hand closed around hers, his palm warm, rough from hard work, an honest man’s hand. Almost…comforting.
Recovering herself, she said, “I’m-” She’d meant to say ‘Stella’, but what came out was, “Shea.”
“Pleased to meet you, Shea.” He shook her hand gently before releasing it.
A little shocked that she’d actually used her real name, she stammered, “I - Aaron isn’t here, Mr Wells.”
“Ah.” He looked down.
Not knowing what to say or think, Shea followed his gaze to see Ginger purring as he rubbed around Mr Wells’s legs.
Unexpectedly squatting down, he stroked the big cat who purred louder. “Nice cat. Is he the one that made himself at home in my boy’s office?”
Aaron was so far from a boy that Shea would have laughed, but looking at this big man stroking her cat gently, it didn’t seem funny. In fact, it seemed perfectly normal. “Yes.”
“Like a cat with attitude.”
“You’ll have to meet Red and Carrot, then.”
“The other two gingers.”
“Aaron’s mentioned them?”
“He has.” There was a smile in Mr Wells’s voice. Straightening, he towered over her. “Said he was fated to have a ginger cat cross his path.”
She almost shrivelled inside. The honest, level regard of the older man looked right into her soul. There was no judgement, no outward condemnation, but she knew. She knew that he knew what she was, and it left a bitter taste in her mouth.
She had to get over this. It was her business, damn it.
Taking a deep, fortifying breath, Shea straightened her shoulders and smiled. “I’m afraid I don’t know where Aaron is if he isn’t at his business.”
Mr Wells nodded. “Okay then.” He inclined his head at her. “Nice to finally meet you, Shea. I’ll be seeing you soon.” With that he left.
Shea stared at the door. See her soon? Why would he see her soon? Oh, that’s right. Mental head slap. She was dating his son so she was bound to run into him again.
One part of her looked forward to it, for she found him a soothing presence, but another part of her didn’t really want to look him in the eye knowing he knew she was a fake.
“For God’s sake!” Swinging away, she started busily fussing among the merchandise on the counter. “Fake this, fake that! You knew what you were doing when you started down this road, Shea. Get over it already.”
Ginger jumped up onto the counter, plopped his furry bum down and contemplated her.
“Don’t you start,” she said a little crossly. “You’re as bad as I am.”
Ginger yawned and settled onto his side, curling the tip of his tail around his nose.
“Fine. Stop looking all mysterious as soon as Mr Wells walks out the door. And what was with the whole smooching all over him? You never do that to people you’ve just met.”
The tip of his tail flicked lazily.
Feeling distinctly out of sorts, she picked up a feather duster and busied herself while waiting for the next customer.
The day passed with a small but steady trickle of customers, some wanting to buy merchandise, some for readings, some for both.
About to close the shop that night, she’d just reached for the doorknob when it swung open and Aaron walked inside.
“Come for a reading?” she asked brightly.
He eyed her up and down.
“I’m taking that as a yes.” She gestured to the corner table. “Come, sit down and see what Spirit has to say to you.”
Aaron started walking, but not in the direction of the table. Instead, he started walking towards her.
An unhurried, unfaltering, steady stride.
Heart fastening deliciously, her eyebrows rose as she started backing up. “Now, now, no need to be hasty.”
He just kept coming, backing her right up to the counter where he braced both hands each side of her flat on the top, leaning forward, causing her to lean backwards and brace her own hands on the counter for balance. That pose had the wanton effect of pushing her breasts out at him.
Trying to maintain her cool, half laughing, half incredibly turned on by his presence looming over her, Shea watched his gaze travel slowly over her face, from the top of her head to the point of her chin and further down to where her breasts pushed against his chest. She was sure she could feel the lick of fire in the wake of his wandering gaze as he slowly, leisurely, drifted back up to lock with her eyes.
“Hasty, Miss Winters?” Aaron’s voice was deep, a touch husky, his normally cool eyes holding a touch of ice fire.
“Um…yes.” She cleared her throat.
The corners of his eyes crinkled slightly in heated amusement. “Having a little trouble speaking?”
“Not at all. I’m just a little…you know. Not a good position for talking. Rib expansion and all that.”
“And all that,” he echoed.
“Yup.”
“I’m never hasty, Miss Winters.”
“I think I’m Stella in the shop, remember?”
“Business hours are over.” He leaned further forward.
Hoo boy. Mentally she fanned herself. Was it hot suddenly or what?
“If you’re having trouble breathing, Shea, it’d be my pleasure to give you mouth-to-mouth.”
Her knees went weak, but not as weak as when that firm mouth touched hers, those warm lips feathered over her own, pressed harder, pressed lighter, tested the give of her lips before grazing over her cheek to rest against her ear, his hot breath sending pulses of pure heat straight down to her femininity.
Now she was gripping the counter to keep herself from slithering onto the floor in a pool of delicious, heady sensations.
“Is that all you’ve got?” she managed to croak. “Spirit is showing me something a whole lot more.”
“There’s no spirit here, Shea.” His breath was hot on her ear, his teeth a sharp nip that jolted her, making her grab onto the lapel of his jacket. “There’s just you and me.”
Oh boy. Her head swam, her secrets dampened.
“How about I show you just how much more I have to give?” Dipping his head, he laved the wildly pounding pulse in her throat.
“Oh, God.” Biting her lip, she angled her head, arched her throat at the same time regretfully placing a palm on his chest. “I would but…ooohhhh.”
He laughed softly, a touch of sin winding through the deep tone. “But?” He grazed up her throat, back over her cheek to nuzzle the corner of her mouth with his lips.
“I - Cole…”
Catching her mouth he kissed her hard, deep, a swift plundering that had her wrapping her arms around his neck and giving herself up totally to his mastery.
Reaching up he caught her wrists, pulled her arms from his neck and hooked them behind her back, arching her up into him so that her breasts pressed against his chest. Lifting his head, breaking the contact of their kiss, he smiled down at her. “Brothers.”
That brought her back to her senses, even if her blood was still hotly flowing through her veins. “Brothers,” she echoed breathlessly.
“Got two younger ones myself.”
“They’re grown up.”
“Apparently. One has, at least. Luke?” Aaron shook his head. “I can’t believe I just brought them up in the middle of a little rendezvous with you.”
“Is that was this is?”
“I came to ask you out next Sunday evening.”
“Sunday?”
“You close at four.”
“Oh.” She nodded. “Sure. I’m free after four.”
“Good.” He kissed her forehead, stepped back, his hands slowly trailing around her waist, squeezing slightly and almost bringing her to her knees with the sensation that little action did to her insides.
The all-knowing smart aleck knew it too, his eyes crinkling at the corners once more, laughter dan
cing in his pale blue eyes.
He took another step back, his hands trailing over her hips before dropping away to tuck into his jeans pockets. “Cole is invited, too.”
“Cole?” That had her eyebrows shooting upwards. “On our date?”
“Sure. It’s a barbie with my family.” With that zinger, Aaron looked down to where Ginger was sitting at his feet looking up balefully at him. “G’day.”
Meowing, Ginger stood up and rubbed against his leg.
“A family barbie?” Not sure how she felt about that, Shea bit her lip. “Um…is that such a good idea?”
Squatting down, Aaron stroked Ginger along his back. Eyes half closed in pleasure, his purr burst forth as he bumped his head along Aaron’s jacket sleeve.
“Why not?” Aaron studied her as he continued stroking Ginger.
“Well, you know… It’s your Dad and others.” A thought struck her. “Who else will there be?”
“The usual suspects - Luke, Jason, Mikki, Izzy, Aunt Lora, Jim, Dad and me. You and Cole.”
Shea folded her arms. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not?”
Damn, his eyes were so intense when he was reading every emotion she unwittingly revealed on her face. Briefly, she gestured around the room.
He continued to study her.
Feeling a little like a bug on a pin, she scowled at him. “I did readings on Mikki and Izzy, remember?”
“And?”
“Well, geez, Aaron, I don’t know. Perhaps I don’t want to continue the act after hours?”
“You won’t be.”
“Come again?”
“You’re coming as you, not Stella.”
“But Mikki and Izzy know me as Stella. Even Luke thinks of me as Stella.”
Picking Ginger up, Aaron held him in one arm while rubbing behind his ears with his free hand. “After hours, Shea, you have another life. Stella doesn’t rule every waking moment.”
“Aaron-”
“No.” Reaching past her, he placed Ginger on the counter.
The movement brought him close to her again, and this time he didn’t step back but stood over her, making her tip her head back to meet his eyes. Didn’t help that the way he hooked his thumbs into his jeans loops was a little hot, but she refused to allow her wayward thoughts to be diverted,
The Wells Brothers: Aaron Page 22
