"You already do that. But this is different?" He stroked my body, his hands everywhere, caressing, arousing.
"Umm-hmm." Explanations could wait. Sex. Need. Hands. Mouths. I licked his lips, taking his breath into my lungs. "We’re alive, the reality and magic binding us together. Right here. Right now."
"Now is good," he whispered, tumbling us onto the bed.
Waves pounded on the shore, the perfect background to the physical promise of the love that we shared. Wild and peaceful. Strong and gentle. Perfect. It was my last thought before drifting into a light sleep.
Mitch tilted his head, rousing me, his gaze holding mine. "Are you ready to leave Hawaii, Annie, and Kahuna Aukele?"
I inhaled a deep breath, held it until my lungs ached for release. "Yes. Annie and Parker are going to be fine. Parker has Jayne. Adam will be here within the hour, so Annie will have both her brother and her fiancé to take care of her. I know your house is your sanctuary, that you need the freedom of the country to heal after your assignments, and I want us to make our home there…"
I jerked away from Mitch. "Oh, no! I totally forgot to call the Hilton and cancel their wedding plans. Sean asked me to, said he couldn’t do it."
Mitch smiled, sweetly shy. "And they have a wedding ready to happen minus the bride and groom. Your only living relative is here. What would you think about us…?"
Married. Tomorrow. It was right. "Annie would love it if we used the moment, make her day special since she can’t. I have my dress. All we need is the paperwork and rings. But what about your parents and your brother?"
"We can Skype them in. I think Adam and Jayne will stand up for us.
"We’re getting married. Tomorrow!"
And then Mitch and I would return to North Carolina and face reality head on. Together. There was a lot to be said for the strength of two people, joined with love. I slipped my hand into Mitch’s.
"Let’s go get Adam and ask him to be our best man."
"Adam. Damn it all, I forgot about Adam. That was him on the phone." I yanked it out of my pocket and hit speed dial.
"There’s no answer."
Mitch cocked his head at me. "He’s in flight. Are you sure it was Adam?"
I shook my head. "It was his number, but I guess it could have been anyone using his phone. Maybe he lost it or something. He wouldn’t have missed that flight, not with Annie so sick."
"Voicemail?" Mitch asked.
"Yes! There’s a message." I flicked the button, then turned on Speaker so we could both listen.
Adam, here. Had to catch a later flight. Annie’s…his voice faltered…Annie’s townhouse, and yours were ransacked. Don’t think anything is missing, but I had to check it out before I could leave. Tynan Pierce is here, staying at Annie’s. Watching. I’m in LA. Layover. Arriving in Honolulu at nine tonight.
"Someone broke into our houses? That must be what Brody Williams meant. There has to be someone working with him." Panic surged through me. "But nothing was taken. Damn it, I hope whoever it was didn’t spread the toxin all over. Pierce is staying there, and Adam would have gone through everything."
"Gloves. They’re both very experienced, and they both know about the toxin." Mitch took the phone out of my hand and dropped it back in my pocket. "They’re good men, well trained. So let them do their job while we take care of things here. At least you weren’t there. Williams, or his proxy, didn’t hurt you."
There was enough wobble to his words that I knew it scared him, too. "We have each other. And I’m not sure the townhouse means that much to me anymore, not with Annie moving here."
He kissed the top of my head. It was an advantage to being taller, and it always made me smile. "Since we have three hours, well, two and a half, could we go check on Annie and Parker. I know they’re not awake, but I’d like a few minutes alone with Annie to ask if we can take over her wedding. And Sean, we should ask him, too."
"We can do that. I’m thinking we should bring the Jeep to Adam at the airport. He’ll want to stay with Annie."
I stepped out of Mitch’s arms. "Yeah, that’s a good plan. We can collect his baggage, give him the key to Pierce’s room, then he’ll be able to move around on his own, do what he needs to do."
Mitch tilted his head, a mischievous gleam in his eyes, and then he swatted my butt. "Couldn’t resist."
I flipped him a look on my way to the closet. "Payback happens."
We headed back to Tripler—a little later than we’d planned because we got carried away changing clothes. Mitch liked my lacey underwear.
The guard manning the Tripler gate recognized us from previous visits, so motioned us through. It gave me pause. "We need to make sure Pierce cleared Adam so he can get in to see Annie. I think. Maybe not, maybe Adam has an in with the military that I don’t know about."
"I think Adam can handle it, and he’s perfectly capable of checking with Pierce." There was a bit of a growl to Mitch's words.
Oops. I’d nudged the one place where Mitch was insecure—Tynan Pierce. Well, I got that. After all this time, I wasn’t sure about Pierce either. Best to let that one go. Sometimes silence is much better than useless words.
Mitch parked, then waited, watching me over the edge of his wire-rims. "Annie probably won’t be able to respond yet, you know."
"I know. But I need to ask her anyway, make sure it’s okay for us to step into her wedding." I worried my bottom lip. "It’s a thing. I have to touch her, see if she understands."
He nodded. "We’ll see Annie first. Then we can ask Jayne to stand up for us, and we can talk to Adam when we meet him at the airport."
I flashed him a smile. "Perfect."
We rode the elevator to the ICU, and I checked my cell for any messages while Mitch stopped in at the nurses’ station, asking them to send Sean out so we could switch places.
He strolled back to me, pointing down the hall with a huge smile on his face. "They’re out of intensive care. Moved over to a regular room about fifteen minutes ago."
We trooped down the hallway, talking over each other, bubbling with excitement at the news. One of the nurses must have recognized us, because he pointed over my shoulder. "Right through there. They’re in a semi-private suite."
I wasn’t sure what to expect, but to have the four of us in the same room with Annie and Parker well on their way to recovery held a special magic. The energy sizzled. Sean and Jayne still had crater-sized circles under their eyes, and their faces were lined with fatigue, but their bodies were relaxed and their smiles were genuine.
Sean grabbed Mitch in a guy-hug, slapping him on the back a few times. "Glad you’re here. She’s good, man. Gonna be okay."
And me? I watched. With my eyes closed, of course. I needed to see the rainbow, to reassure myself that it was still working, and there was no sign of dull green poison anywhere around these two people who meant so much to me.
Mitch nudged me. "Everything okay?"
I met his gaze. "It’s good. Why don’t you take Jayne and Sean to the cafeteria? I need some time alone with Annie and Parker. Maybe you can talk to them about the wedding. I think Jayne will take it better from you, and I want her to be pro-Everly for the ceremony. We’ve come a long way and are friends now, but still, you’re her little brother."
He grinned, one of those gotcha smiles that was filled with pearly white teeth. "On it, Sunshine."
They trooped out, glad, I think, to have a break from the horrible uncertainty that had plagued all of us since Annie had been wounded.
I went to Parker first. Wrapped my hands around his feet, closed my eyes, and breathed into the space around him. The energy moved, symmetrical and fast, like tiny sparkles dancing in a ray of sunlight. I sighed, loudly. He really was okay. Since I’d worked on Annie first, and since I’d been on the verge of exhaustion by the time I'd healed Parker, I had to be sure. Had to know I hadn’t cheated him in the healing process.
I rounded the bed and cradled his hand between mine. "I think you know
I’m here. But it doesn’t matter if you do or not, or even if you ever remember. I want to thank you for letting me share your aura, for trusting me enough to let me clean it, and give you new life. I know it wouldn’t have worked without your consent, so, just thank you. Your trust means a lot to me."
His eyelids fluttered, and for a nanosecond of a moment, he opened his eyes and saw me.
It was enough. I backed away, snatching a tissue from the box on his bedside table to dry my tears. Happy, relieved tears.
And then I poked my head around the curtain. Annie was next.
I sat on the bed next to her, laid my hand, palm up on the blankets, and then placed her hand crosswise on top of mine, but I didn’t let my fingertips touch her. Not yet.
She was in deep sleep, but I had to ask her, because no way could I get married unless I did. "You know I love you, Annie. I think we were sisters from the instant we met, and our bond has only grown stronger. You and Sean were supposed to get married tomorrow, but you need to get your strength back first."
I inhaled, then blew out the breath, searching for words. "Mitch proposed yesterday, and I said yes. Then our townhouses were broken into, and so we have to go back to North Carolina. But everyone we care about is here, so we want to get married before we leave. We’re going to ask Jayne and Adam to stand up for us, and we want to use the wedding chapel at the Hilton, to be married with your energy all around us. You chose the site and selected the flowers and music, so it’ll be like you’re there, giving us your blessing. Is that okay, Annie?"
The room was so still, and Annie’s breathing so steady and quiet that apprehension knotted in my stomach, then sent a tremor through my fingers. Was it really all right to steal Annie’s wedding? I closed my eyes and rested my fingertips against the back of her hand.
Nothing.
"It’s okay if you can’t show me. But I need something, some sign, that it’s all right, and that you’ll be there watching over Mitch and me."
And then an image formed in my mind. Hazy at first, then slowly becoming more distinct. A couple stood at an altar, and the turquoise blue, sun-dappled ocean waves filled the view from the window in front of them. It was definitely the Hilton. The bride and groom weren’t clear, so I couldn’t tell if it was Annie and Sean or Mitch and me.
I needed more, so I closed my eyes and watched Annie’s aura. It sparkled, vibrating with life. I breathed easier. This time the image blossomed within her aura. It wasn’t like on my monitor, not contained on a virtual screen in my head. It was big. Life sized. Mitch and I holding hands, standing outside, and the bells were ringing.
Tears slid down my cheeks.
I opened my eyes and bent to kiss Annie’s forehead. "Thank you."
Her lips twitched. I called it a smile.
And when I moved my hand, she tightened her fingers for just a second, barely long enough for me to register the pressure. But it was there.
We had her blessing.
Twenty-eight
Airport parking was tedious, but Mitch and I found two spots together not too far from baggage claim, then moseyed inside to wait for Adam. He met us on the walkway between the terminal and the parking garage, pulling two suitcases behind him. I gave him a quick hug, peering over his shoulder to check out the size of the bags. "What? Are you moving here?"
He gave me a sheepish grin. "Yeah. Quit my job so I could be close to Annie and Sean. They’re family. And I had a good offer from the Honolulu PD."
Zap. Another person I cared about gone. Just like that.
We went to work wedging one of the suitcases into the trunk or our rental, and one into the back seat, then handed Adam the keys to the Jeep. I’d already programmed the GPS for Tripler.
Free of the baggage, Adam grabbed me in a bear hug. "How’s Annie? I talked to Sean just before I boarded the flight, and I’ve read your text messages, so I know she’s gonna be all right, but I need to hear it from her doctors. Need to see her."
I patted his back. "She’s going to be fine. Mitch and I just came from visiting."
Mitch gave him one of those guy knuckle-bumps. "They’ve been moved to a regular room, and the docs are taking her and Parker off sedation tomorrow."
I picked up the conversation. "They said it might take a few days for them to be totally coherent, but they should be moving around and eating within twenty-four hours."
Adam blew out a sigh. "Thanks for taking care of her. I spoke with Pierce just before I left North Carolina. We, ah, went through your townhouse thoroughly. I’m sorry, El, but it’s a mess."
His words didn’t spark much reaction in me. Odd. I shrugged it off. Probably I was on overload. "Annie’s computers. I know she had some kind of secret set up."
"Not touched. Pierce is taking care of it."
Sunlight splashed against my eyelids. How could it possibly be morning? And then I remembered. It was my wedding day. I rolled over, reaching for Mitch. Cold sheets. No warm body.
I sat up, blinking the sleep from my eyes. He’d left a note on his pillow.
Good morning, Sunshine. Had an errand. Get a move on. We have a license and rings to do before three. Love you, M.
A text to Mitch, a five-minute shower, and one flowery sundress with matching slippahs later, I met him in the lobby. As far as good morning kisses went—it was a winner.
"So you’re sure there won’t be a problem getting the license?" The lines around his eyes were wrinkled, underlying the worry in his voice.
"Positive. Annie and Sean did it. You need ID, and there’s no waiting period." I tugged on his hand. "Let’s go before there’s a long line."
Mitch winked at me. "You’re just in a hurry to shop for the rings."
We whisked through the courthouse in forty minutes. I used the time to send messages to Jayne, Sean, and Adam. There would be no ring shopping until I knew that both Annie and Parker were still on schedule to be taken off sedation.
No one had texted me back by the time we had our marriage license, so Mitch phoned the nurses’ station. He listened, a grin spreading over his face, then he pocketed his phone and swung me around. "They’re awake. Not talking yet, still too groggy, but soon. They’re really gonna be okay, Sunshine."
Tension drained from my body. I knew yesterday when I checked on them, but hearing that they were actually awake, a huge weight disappeared from the pit of my stomach. I broke into a giggle fit with tears running down my cheeks. "I swear, I’ve cried more since I’ve been here than during the whole rest of my life."
Mitch held my hand as we headed down the street. "Yeah. It’s been a tough week."
I could barely keep up with him, he was moving so quickly. "So, where are we headed?"
"Tiffany’s. I want your ring safely tucked in my pocket before we head to Tripler, and I know you want to visit Annie and Parker before our wedding."
"Yeah, of course. You know, I’m thinking we can Skype Sean, Annie, and Parker into the ceremony, just like we’re doing for your family. They might not be able to communicate with us, but they could still be a part of it."
We decided to bring my laptop to Tripler and test it right after we got the rings.
Tiffany’s stood tall, a stone building with glass doors, manned by doormen. Impressive. My curiosity kicked up. "Any special reason you chose this jewelry store?"
"Yeah. I like it. I’ve bought a few things for Jayne from them, and—" he shrugged—"it worked."
My grin started from a soft spot in the middle of my heart. "You’re such a guy, Mitchell Hunt."
He’d picked out a huge diamond for me, three carats, round, set in yellow gold.
Such a guy.
I nudged him with a gentle elbow to the ribs. "That’s not it."
His eyebrows hiked. "No?"
"No." I turned to the customer assistant. "Can we see something in a square cut, one carat, platinum setting, please?"
Mitch touched my cheek. "That’s definite. Why?"
I wasn’t about to explain that my be
lly jewel was round and this needed to be different, so I went with the bigger part of the reason. "What I did with Annie and Parker, the healing thing, part of that was integrated with diamond energy. I don’t know why, really I don’t, but this ring is a symbol of our love and the strength that we have because we’ve chosen to become one. For some reason it has to be square, and platinum is cleaner than gold. I’m not making any sense, am I?"
He shook his head. "Not a lot, but I’m okay with it. Why such a small diamond? If you’re going to use it in your new healing work, wouldn’t bigger be better?"
That one got him an eye roll. "Look at my fingers. Small hands. Even one carat is going to be huge. And I have things to do. I use my hands a lot in my work, you know, the whole ESP fingers thing I have going on. Anything larger would be in the way."
He rested his index finger against his chin, looking like the wisest of sages. "Right. Whatever you want is fine with me. I’m all about a plain platinum band, myself."
We walked out of the store with two signature boxes and smiles on our faces, and then we played finger games while we walked to the car. Normal, romantic behavior between two people about to get married.
It settled me enough that I started to worry about loose ends. Like why someone broke into my house. We were missing something about that, but I didn’t want to talk about it, not so close to the wedding. Mitch and I should be allowed this small window of time to do nothing but be happy together.
The ride to Tripler triggered a memory of my last meeting with my grandfather. "Do we have time to go to the North Shore and bring my grandfather back for the ceremony? I hate that there’s no way to contact him, and I’d really like him to be there."
Mitch pointed at the clock on the dashboard. "It’s almost one, and that’s a forty-five minute drive."
"One! Holy Mamma Mia, how did it get so late? I have to get ready, and we should probably eat something so our stomachs don’t rumble all through the ceremony. Also, we don’t have a clue what Annie had planned. Is this a long deal, or short? Are we walking in together? Or, never mind. We’re walking in together. No way is anyone giving me away. Even if there was someone to do it, this is my decision, our decision to spend our lives together. I want to own that."
a Touch of the Past (An Everly Gray Adventure) Page 21
