Hearts Are Wild

by Patrice Michelle

  Chapter Thirteen

  Shain handed Nhya the pouch as soon as he had a hand free. “This belongs to you, sis.”

  Lily watched in fascination as Nhya reached out a mocha-colored, trembling hand. The pendant seemed to jump into her open palm and she gasped as the ancient leather made contact. “All this time. It was here. Waiting,” she whispered, a single tear rolling down one cheek as her fingers closed.

  They stood in silence for a time and Lily welcomed the odd tingle, knowing that this time, everyone felt it. “Will you open it?” she asked, her curiosity banked only by the significant nature of Nhya and Shain’s inheritance.

  Nhya shook her head. “Not now. Not yet. There will be a time.”

  Lily stepped forward. “We’ll be here for you, Nhya, when that time comes. We’ll help you protect it.”

  Shain joined her, his expression fierce. “Damn straight. And if Darrell, or whoever he is, comes back I’ll break his legs and drive him into Billings before I strangle him.”

  Nhya looked up, her entire body radiating a subtle light that washed warm across Lily’s soul. “He won’t be back. But there might be others—we’ll have to be vigilant.”

  “What was he, Nhya?” Lily asked, taking Shain’s hand.

  She shook her head. “I don’t know for sure. He’s a man who has captured power. I don’t know how, or why, but he’ll continue to use it for ill.”

  “Shit,” Shain murmured disgustedly. “You should have let me break his neck.”

  Nhya sighed and tucked the pouch under her shirt. “There are others who will deal with him.”

  Shain raised one brow. “Do you know something that we don’t?”

  “Yes. No.” Nhya laughed fitfully. “Maybe. This is all new to me…these feelings, these thoughts I have. As I child, they were always about ordinary things. My family. A pet that needed help or attention. A sick horse. An uncle who needed to see a doctor. Knowing when it would rain, or snow, or when to bring the herd in from the range. But now—” She paused and walked to stand at the front door looking out. “Now the feelings, impressions are stronger and wide reaching. But it’s not always easy to interpret their message.”

  She turned. “Red Claw appearing to you and Luke. I have to think it was a warning of the menace in our midst. Unfortunately, I didn’t read the signs well enough to realize Lily was in danger. I’m sorry.”

  Nhya’s words wrenched at Lily’s heart and she took her hands. “That’s silly. There’s no way you could have known that.” She gazed at Shain. “Nor could you, so don’t even think about beating yourself up over it. As a matter of fact, if I hadn’t been here…if I’d left with Shain like I’d wanted, Darrell would have the pendant now.”

  The reality of her words hit everyone like a wall of cold water and their gazes intersected each others’ with shocked realization. “She’s right,” Nhya whispered, her hand pressed against the pouch beneath her blouse. She stared at Lily. “Maybe his presence wasn’t so much a warning, as it was a promise, Lily. A promise that by opening your heart and allowing it to lead you, you would find the strength to protect more than the road to your own future. There is no telling exactly how many lives, or even worlds, your actions shielded tonight.”

  Lily gaped, the thought so overwhelming her mind simply refused to contemplate it. “I—I don’t even know what to say to that.”

  Shain squeezed her shoulder. “You don’t have to say anything. I’m about done trying to understand all this friggin’’ mumbo jumbo. Let’s just leave it at what Nhya said and get the hell out of here and back to the ranch. I’ve got a goddamn foreman to replace and I think you’ve got some phone calls to make, Lily.”

  “Phone calls?” Lily said as she rubbed her forehead.

  Shain leaned down and captured her lips with his. As need wicked through her belly, he pulled back slightly, a wolfish twinkle in his gaze. “Always make good on your bets, darlin’. Especially when you win.”

  Epilogue

  “Do you think she chickened out, Bri? She should be here by now.”

  Sabrina rolled her eyes and grabbed her cousin’s sun-browned hand, pulling her away from the window. “Relax, Lily. She’ll be here. If there’s one thing Nicole would never miss, it’s a party.” She raised gracefully arched brows and smiled. “Especially one in her—our—honor.”

  Lily sighed and hugged Bri before reclining against the sideboard and chewing her lower lip. “I know, I know. It’s just that she sounded so mysterious on her cell phone when we called her yesterday to make the arrangements for the shower. Then there were all those buzzes and dings we heard in the background. It sounded like she was in an arcade!”

  Crossing her arms, Lily started pacing again, her blonde hair, past her shoulders now that she’d been letting it grow, swishing back and forth wildly. “Do you think Nic’s being straight with us? What if things didn’t work out for her like they have for us?”

  The question hung in the air between the two cousins like a rain-swollen cloud, eager to dump dreariness on an otherwise perfect day.

  Each took a moment to contemplate what that would mean for them all. Thirty days ago, almost to the hour, they’d been in the very same room of the bed-and-breakfast, making a silly pact that would end up changing their lives in a drastic way.

  A wonderful way.

  Lily couldn’t help the sugary grin that spread across her face at the thought of Shain, her soon-to-be husband.

  Husband.

  What a concept. One she still hadn’t gotten completely used to but she had a few more weeks to let it sink in completely. Nhya was planning everything, with input from Nicole and Sabrina, who she’d been on the phone with plenty of times since their announcement last week. Surprise, surprise, Bri had made her announcement too, confirming what Lily had suspected all along.

  She’d miss having Sabrina close by but she knew marrying Josh and moving to Texas was what her cousin wanted to do. They’d just have to make a concentrated effort to get together at least a couple times a year.

  Then there was Nicole.

  She was obviously enjoying her man. The only name Lily and Bri knew him by, as Nicole had yet to reveal his identity. After nearly an hour of browbeating, Nic had finally ‘fessed up to the fact that she was indeed in love and committed.

  Which had sparked the idea for them all, including Aunt Viv, to meet at the bed-and-breakfast, then hustle over to the Copper Queen Hotel to celebrate their good fortune. They had so many things to share. Bri was talking marriage in another month or so, once she settled in her new satellite ‘home’ office in Texas. And while Lily’s had informed everyone that her pending ceremony was to be held at the ranch in Montana, Nic was mum on her plans.

  Which had Lily worried.

  She’d said she was committed, but that could mean anything. Maybe they’d be living together, rather than marrying, which would be so like Nicole.

  “Well,” Bri said, running a hand over the smooth, rich red silk of her miniskirt. “Since this is close to our last night of freedom, I think we need to stop worrying about our wayward cousin and go out and enjoy ourselves.”

  “But—” Lily started.

  Sabrina pressed a finger to her cousin’s lips. “No buts. It’s what Nic would want us to do, Lily, and you know it. She can meet us there if she’s coming. No more worrying.”

  Sighing, Lily nodded. “Okay. You’re right.” She straightened the silk blouse that outlined her slender form to perfection. “Let’s go drink ourselves blind, cuz.”

  A throaty laugh filled the room. “Now that’s the spirit.”

  Lily and Sabrina’s attention twisted to the doorway. “Nicole!”

  They were in each other’s arms in less than a second, all three talking and laughing at once.

  “Look at your hair, Bri,” Nicole said, lifting the now shoulder length black tresses with a look of surprise on her face.

  Bri smiled as she ran her fingers through the shorter locks. “Yeah, I knew I was due for a
cut. I just wish it had been my idea as to how much,” she said in a dry tone.

  Nicole hugged her tight saying, “I was scared shitless when Lily told me what happened to you. Thank God for Josh’s quick reflexes!”

  Bri grinned at her cousins. “Yep, now that I’ve got my very own rescue hero, I’m good to go. As for my new haircut… Josh brushes my hair every night. I think he’s hoping to stimulate the roots for faster growth,” she finished with a chuckle.

  Once their laughter died down, Lily stepped back to scan Nic’s shining face. “And you! I was so worried! Is everything…are you…?”

  “Single and miserable again?” Nic said, one eyebrow peaked.

  Lily’s mouth opened then closed. Sabrina took Nic’s hand. “That’s not what she meant, Nicole. Besides, I don’t think you were ever miserable being single.”

  “True. I’ve always had plenty of good times and have always enjoyed my freedom.” Nicole laughed, her eyes sparkling mischievously. “Now as far as you two go, I can tell just by looking at your shit-eating grins that you’ve both been getting the best sex of your lives and then some.”

  Bri laughed and Lily’s face flushed red but neither of them contradicted Nicole. Lily crossed her arms and focused her narrowed gaze on her vivacious cousin. “Well?”

  “Well, what?” Nic asked, all innocence, left hand pressed against her generous cleavage.

  “Are you single and miserable and, er, free again?”

  “Lily!” Bri said, shooting a surprised look at her normally politically correct cousin.

  “Well…” Nicole started, her gaze falling to the floor.

  “Oh, no!” Lily said, her expression crumbling.

  “Nic, what happened?”

  Nicole’s head snapped up and her wide grin stopped Bri and Lily cold. “Ah, hell. I can’t keep this up any longer.”

  With that Nic thrust out her left hand, turning it just so. “Watch the drool, girls.”

  “Oh…my…God…”

  Squeals split the silence as Sabrina and Lily took turns grabbing Nicole’s hand and exclaiming over the modest but beautiful diamond and aquamarine that graced her ring finger.

  “You’re engaged!” Bri said with a look of shock on her face. “It’s beautiful, honey. The aquamarine matches the color of your eyes perfectly.”

  Nicole shook her head, that sly grin on her face. “Well, I’m not exactly engaged…”

  Bri’s jaw dropped. “What—”

  “Tell me you didn’t do this without us, Nic!” cried Lily, not truly upset, just shocked and thrilled all in the same breath. “You eloped!”

  “Did we ever.” Nicole quickly explained how they’d decided not to wait, and jetted to Vegas over a week ago. They’d spent a blissful seven days at the luxury hotel, eating, drinking and sunning themselves poolside between episodes of mind-blowing lovemaking. They’d tied the knot on the seventh day at a small chapel.

  “Better to get it out of the way, was our thinking,” Nicole said as the three cousins plopped onto the sofa. “We’d both waited way too long—and I was just too stubborn to see that he was the man for me.” Nic turned the ring to catch the firelight and sighed. “I’ve found my man, ladies. You’re not angry, are you?” she asked, not sounding the least bit remorseful.

  They both leaned in to hug Nicole. “Not at all, Nic,” Bri said.

  Lily nodded in agreement. “I just wish we’d been there to see you in your dress.”

  Nic laughed and pointed to the tight, white leather mini that hugged her every curve. “You’re looking at it, girls.”

  “You didn’t,” Lily said.

  Bri giggled. “You bet she did. I can only imagine what your man wore.”

  “Speaking of which,” said Lily, “When do we get to meet this mystery man?”

  “How about now?”

  The familiar, deep male voice brought all three heads up. Nicole was off the couch in an instant and into Kev Grand’s arms.

  Lily stood, her mouth hanging open. “Kev Grand?”

  Bri joined her. “I’ll be double damned,” she whispered. “Kev freakin’ Grand.”

  “Am I missing something here?” Lily’s hands went to her hips. “Didn’t you two hate each other a month ago?”

  Kev wrapped a muscled arm around Nicole’s waist and drew her in tight. “Hate’s a mite strong, don’t you think, hon?”

  Nic snorted and poked Kev’s shoulder. “It was more of a ‘we could never see eye-to-eye’ thing.” She kissed the bottom of Kev’s chin then looked at her cousins. “As you can see, a lot has changed.”

  Lily approached the couple, green eyes narrowed. She leveled a finger at Kev’s chest. “I’m thrilled for Nic, and you, Kev, but if you do so much as one dumb- ass thing to hurt my cousin I’ll—”

  “You’ll what, Lily?”

  Lily spun and gasped. “What in the hell?”

  “Now what have I told you about that mouth of yours, woman?”

  “Hubba, hubba,” Nic said under her breath, staring with admiration at the cowboy that filled the room.

  “Shain!” Lily plowed past Kev and Nic and proceeded to wrap herself around the hulking wrangler. “What are you doing here? I thought you were going stay at the ranch!”

  Bri and Nic were forced to wait while the dark cowboy stole a deep kiss from Lily before making introductions.

  Shain tipped his head at each of the women and shook Kev’s hand. “I do believe my fiancée meant what she said, Grand.”

  Kev laughed. “I have no doubt.” He tapped the end of Nic’s nose. “You have nothing to worry about, Lily. I’d cut off my own arm before I’d hurt a hair on this beautiful woman’s—my wife’s—head.”

  “Well this is just perfect,” grouched Sabrina, as she walked to the liquor cabinet. “Here we are getting ready to head out to our wedding shower and one of us already hitched.” She shook the crystal stopper at Nic and then Lily. “And both of you with your trigger trippers by your side.” She sighed and poured herself a full shotglass. “Guess it’s just me, my thoughts of Josh and good ol’ Jack D. tonight.”

  Before she could throw back the shot, Kev stopped her hand. “Not so fast, Bri.”

  Bri lowered the drink. Nic and Lily’s expressions mirrored her puzzled look.

  “You might want to keep a clear head. There’s been a small change of plans.”

  Nic looked at Kev through lowered lashes. “Kev Grand, what are you up to?”

  “You starting without me, darlin’?” The double doors to the salon slammed closed, the lock clicking in place.

  “Josh!” Sabrina’s shout nearly deafened them all. Even the folded table the sexy firefighter had lugged into the room didn’t stop Bri from launching herself at him. He caught her with one arm, holding her against his side and burying his stubbled jaw into the cleft of her neck.

  “It’s only been a few days, darlin’, but damned if it didn’t feel like forever.”

  Nic and Lily sighed as the striking couple kissed, Bri’s sleek, exotic beauty perfectly complementing the firefighter’s wholesome good looks.

  “Okay, this entire scenario is way too coincidental.” Lily laid a hand on Shain’s chest. “Spill.”

  Josh unfolded his burden, revealing a hunter green poker table. “What’s the matter, ladies? Afraid of a friendly game?”

  Kev reached into his front pocket and pulled out a new deck. He ripped the plastic with his teeth, liberating the shiny cards. After inspection, he tossed it on the table and pulled over nearby chairs. “Fresh deck. No bent corners.”

  Shain guided Lily to the table as Kev and Josh did the same, patting a bottom or stealing a kiss in the process.

  Once each of the women was seated, Shain leaned in. “The game is strip poker.” He grinned wolfishly as he fanned the cards out face up. “The doors stay locked and the lights stay low until the deck’s played out.”

  Nic chuckled as she looked down at hers, and then Lily and Bri’s, limited attire. “Seems as though you have
us at a disadvantage, gentlemen.”

  Kev leaned across and nipped at Nic’s ear. “Sorta like you gals had us at a disadvantage, hmmm?”

  Nicole purred under Kev’s teasing lips.

  “It’s only fair that we even up the odds, eh?” Josh said before stripping off his shirt, his pecs rippling. Bri hissed, unable to keep her hands to herself.

  Shain and Kev followed suit, until all three men sat bare-chested in only blue jeans and boots.

  “What I want to know,” Lily said as she trailed a finger down Shain’s bronze biceps. “Is how you three got together to plan this little rendezvous?”

  The men shared a knowing smile.

  “Oh, come on now.” Bri tugged gently on a strand of Josh’s golden hair. “You want us to believe you three just happened to find each other’s phone numbers and decided wrangling us out of our clothes would be the perfect get-even plan?”

  “It’s not about gettin’ even,” Kev drawled as he draped an arm protectively around his wife’s shoulders. “It’s about learnin’ to weigh the risk against the gain…”

  “Before you make a play,” Josh picked up where Kev trailed off, while he gathered up the deck and gave it a shuffle.

  “Then layin’ down your hand without looking back,” Shain finished with a soft growl. “No regrets.”

  Lily huffed. “Oh! You all sound just like—”

  Three pairs of eyes met across the table. “Aunt Viv!”

  “I can’t believe it!” Bri said.

  Nic’s full lips quirked into a grin. “I can.”

  “We should have known something was up when she cancelled on us with that lame excuse about needing to prune her roses!” Lily said, wiping tears of laughter off her flushed cheeks.

  “Just one rule, ladies.” Shain cut the deck then handed it back to Josh, his stormy gaze touching on each of the women in turn. “Hearts are wild.”

  About the author:

  Romantica writer, reading enthusiast, and obsessive webmistress, Nelissa Donovan has always had an insatiable curiosity for all things mystical and supernatural. It’s not unusual for her to whip out a set of tarot cards on a dark, stormy night and poke around in the playground of the paranormal. Fortunately, Nelissa is grounded by a strong passion for her family, friends and work, and floats back to reality long enough to pen her wickedly virile elves, magic-wielding heroines, luscious cowboys and naughty nymphs.