Wind Goddess

by Crystal Inman

  ELEMENTAL GUARDIAN

  BOOK 3:

  WIND GODDESS

  by

  Crystal Inman

  WHISKEY CREEK PRESS

  www.whiskeycreekpress.com

  Published by

  WHISKEY CREEK PRESS

  www.whiskeycreekpress.com

  Copyright © 2008 by Crystal Inman

  Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 (five) years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  ISBN: 978-1-60313-147-6

  Credits

  Cover Artist: Nancy Donahue

  Editor: Chere Gruver

  Printed in the United States of America

  Other Books by Author Available at Whiskey Creek Press:

  www.whiskeycreekpress.com

  Virtually Yours

  Love in the world of Virtual Reality. Where things are never as they appear. What happens when a woman falls in love with a virtual man?

  Perfect Timing

  The heart has a mind of its own. In any time. What happens when a small-town librarian is picked to be the subject study for a man from the future?

  Love: An Anthology:

  “The Arrangement”

  A man and his Muse come together to write a fantastic piece of literature. But the partnership can’t last forever. Or can it?

  “Meant to Be”

  Left at the alter, horribly disfigured in an automobile accident, Lynn doesn’t trust or love anyone. Then why is her heart longing for her ex-fiance’s brother?

  The Portrait:

  What would it be like to enter a cursed portrait and find an appealing man who’s been a hermit for years? Dylan’s waiting for the one person to break the curse he’s been under. Sophie promises to help the gorgeous loner any way she can. But will she end up giving more than she bargained for?

  Hate: An Anthology: “What Goes Around, Comes Around”

  Addiction comes in all forms, and Donald is an addict. He is on top of the world as a wealthy businessman who controls every aspect of his life. He rules his marriage and business ruthlessly. But slowly the drugs begin to control him. And he soon realizes that what goes around…comes around.

  Whiskey Shots Vol. 2

  What is a shadow? A menacing darkness or simply an absence of light? A place where terror is born? Or a sanctuary from pain? These two stories explore the shadows of our lives.

  Fire Goddess

  Kelly Marshall is queen of the soaps. And her producer has a brilliant idea for upcoming sweeps: a fairy tale come true. Sloan Davenport reluctantly agrees to help build sets for the soap opera. But it’s a world he loathes on sight.

  Wilda is Kelly’s guardian. She must succeed in her task for herself and her sisters. But mostly for the two headstrong mortals who don’t realize their importance to each other until it’s almost too late.

  Water Goddess

  Erin Sanders is a school teacher with a past that has scarred her very soul. She is close to no one until a chance encounter turns her world upside down.

  Daniel Rodriguez is a man who knows what he wants. He’s a serene soul who feels drawn to Erin through a brief meeting and vows to find out more about her.

  But Erin has secrets that tear at her world.

  Daniel doesn’t heed Erin’s words or warnings. He vows to gently open her eyes to a world she didn’t know existed. A world where a man will give anything to be in her heart.

  This is for all the women who bend but don’t break. Who stand in the eye of the storm and don’t flinch. And who laugh aloud in the theatre even when no one else does.

  This one’s for you.

  Prologue

  Wilda smiled at her sisters. “Two of us have succeeded, Tempest.” She brushed her titian hair back and nodded to Kendra. “Though one of us almost got herself killed.”

  Eden shook her head. “I swear if you try that, Tempest, I’ll bring you back from the dead and kill you myself.” Her brown eyes moved worriedly from Kendra to Tempest. She shook her finger. “Don’t think I don’t know what you are capable of.”

  “Oh, ye of little faith.” Tempest’s lips twitched. She glanced at Wilda and Kendra. “We knew it wouldn’t be easy.” She took a deep breath. Thoughts flew through her with a rapidness that would have dizzied her sisters. So quick to make a decision. It was always her way. And once she made the decision, she would stick to it until the end.

  Her heart skipped a beat as she thought of her past failures. She had been so close once. So very close. And then her mortal had chosen a path that took her away from her happiness. It had damn near killed Tempest.

  Their ascension was important. No doubt about that. But it had been the investment from the goddesses. It was the process of taking a person’s life and guiding them to an ending that would feed their soul.

  Wilda and Kendra had chosen wisely. Tempest’s mind flew back over their mortals and studied them. Her sisters chose women physically like themselves with personalities to match.

  What would she do with a mortal with a temperament to match her own? Tempest grinned. Probably send the witch flying through the air like that little girl in the mortal movie. A tornado was a definitive form of travel. Tempest bit back a chuckle. She was not an easy female. None of them were. But Tempest cloaked herself in stubbornness as much as Wilda preferred her red garments.

  Her sisters came through with flying colors. She could do no less.

  Tempest stood at the edge of the cloud and waved her hands in front of her. The clouds parted on a sigh and left the sisters with a view of the world below them.

  “Are you nervous?” Kendra whispered.

  Tempest arched an eyebrow and shook her head haughtily. “I am never nervous, sister.” She paused. “I am merely studying.”

  Maybe that was the key after all. Tempest frowned. A mortal like herself? God help her. If they didn’t kill each other in the first couple of days, they would probably be best friends. She bit her lip.

  So many women who needed guidance. Women who had a goddess in them but had no idea how to set her free. Tempest watched for several minutes as the mortals conducted their everyday lives oblivious to her scrutiny. There was a woman in Wyoming who had potential. Another in Maine who needed a helping hand.

  Tempest closed her eyes for a second. She needed a worldly woman. One who could embrace her life fully. One with a zest for life and all its possibilities. Her fingers tangled in her hair. Should she? An ebony-haired woman with a stubborn streak? Would the choice save her, or devastate her?

  Tempest closed her eyes and sent her soul soaring downwards into the midst of mortals. She could feel the indecision and insecurity. And then her thoughts snagged on a voice. A voice that could have cut glass with irritation so deep it seemed to be carved in every word.

  “That one.” Tempest pointed, and her sisters gathered close.

  Wilda looked slightly ill. “Um…Tempest?”

  “Yes, sister?” She turned and studied Wilda.

  “Does this mortal remind you of anyone?” Wilda’s green eyes were wide and unblinking.

  Tempest shrugged. “Not r
eally.” She brushed her ebony hair back and smiled. “But I like her spirit.”

  “You’ll have your work cut out for you, sister.” Eden shook her head. “This one has buried her heart deep. Her head rules her world.” She looked at Tempest. “How do you propose to handle that?”

  Tempest waved her hand, and her blue eyes hardened in determination. “I choose her. She will come around. You’ll see.”

  Her three sisters peered down again, and shook their heads in unison.

  “Tempest.” Kendra sighed. “You may have very well met your match.”

  Chapter 1

  “Drop dead, and burn in hell.” Sylvia Masters slammed the phone down and growled low in her throat. That pissant supplier was going to cut off her white lace? Not in this damn lifetime. Asshat. She ran her hands through her short black hair and scowled at the numbers in front of her. Her dark blue eyes sharpened and focused on each bottom line.

  She finished the preparations on the Bristow wedding yesterday. The Stone wedding was Alicia’s baby. Sylvia rubbed her temple absently. That left three more slated to be completed in the next month.

  Summer was wedding purgatory. Sylvia took a sip of her soda and mentally shuffled the files so she could concentrate on which wedding came next. Not as many fall weddings. And only a few people wanted winter weddings.

  She brushed her short black hair back from her face and scowled. Another month or so, and she would be right back to planning summer weddings. A year in advance. That’s about how long it took to plan everything and have it lined up perfectly for the “big event.”

  Sylvia snorted and pushed back from her mahogany desk with a sigh. She closed her eyes and tilted her head back to lean against the plush gray headrest of her office chair. It was late. Her entire staff had left at five. But she needed to go over a few things before she, herself, called it a night. It was a Friday evening. She had no plans. May as well finish up a bit of business before returning to her empty house.

  She moved her neck to the right and heard a satisfying pop. She did the same to the left and sighed at the sound. Maybe it was time to call in a massage therapist and let a professional take the kinks out of her. Sylvia smiled. In what lifetime?

  “Tense?”

  Sylvia’s dark blue eyes popped open, and she stared. She knew the man in front of her even though they had never met.

  A building magnate, Tristan Calhoun bought and sold property with a single-mindedness she couldn’t help but admire. He made millions and gave it away to several different charities. But none of the press releases or pictures could have prepared her for the man inhabiting her most personal professional space.

  He leaned casually against her doorframe with his hands in his tailored pockets. His expensive brown suit was unbuttoned and hung loosely at his sides. But Sylvia could see the breadth of the man, and she mentally shook her head.

  Tristan Calhoun was a big man. No mistake. He looked like he could go a couple of rounds in a wrestling ring and come out on top. His brown leather shoes shone brightly in the artificial light of her office. A man who took care of appearances.

  But it was the face of the man that fascinated her. A black and white picture in the paper was nothing compared to the beauty of the man in front of her. His russet hair was long enough to resist attempts at taming it. It curled and waved whichever way it chose.

  Sylvia studied Tristan’s face and wondered who had a good day when they created it. His square jaw clenched at her perusal, but he didn’t say a word. She moved up past his perfect cheekbones to brandy-colored eyes that met hers without a word.

  Wolf’s eyes. They stared unblinkingly back at her and studied her in turn.

  She caught her breath and then chided herself. Obviously one of Mr. Calhoun’s many escorts finally snared him. Why else would he be darkening her door?

  Sylvia stood and smoothed her dark blue suit down. “Can I help you, Mr. Calhoun?”

  “I need your services.” His eyes never broke contact as his husky voice washed over her.

  She arched an eyebrow but didn’t smirk. It would have been bad form. Sylvia smiled slowly. “You’d like me to plan your wedding?” She kept a blank face even though she mentally did cartwheels. Tristan Calhoun could throw a lot of business her way. She didn’t need the referrals, but she would never turn down more clients.

  “Mine?” Tristan snorted and shifted to stand tall in the doorway. “Not hardly.” He paused. “My sister’s.”

  Sylvia cocked her head to the side and looked at him. “You want me to plan your sister’s wedding?”

  “Yes.” The word came out abrupt. “That would be why I am here, Ms. Masters. Perhaps you would like to jot this down?” Tristan raised an eyebrow and looked pointedly at her desk.

  Sylvia’s back stiffened. “I assure you, Mr. Calhoun, I’m perfectly capable of taking mental notes.” Asshat.

  He shrugged lightly and stepped inside her office. Tristan raked his hands through his hair and closed his eyes for a minute. “My sister, Keira, wants to be married at Christmas.” He grimaced.

  “That’s only four months away.” Sylvia already mentally went through the next four months and knew she could do it if she had to. But it would cost the man in front of her. The thought brought a genuine smile to her face.

  “You find this entertaining?” Tristan growled.

  Sylvia’s smile widened. “A bit.”

  “It’s good to know that sadism is alive and well in corporate America.” Tristan sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.

  Sylvia could guess at what was bothering him. Tristan’s parents were killed in a well-publicized plane crash over a decade ago. That left him to raise his baby sister by himself. And that baby sister was obviously all grown up now. And wanting to leave the feathered nest.

  “Does she know what type of wedding she would like?”

  Tristan’s eyes flew open. “What? No words of sympathy? No condolences for her older brother?”

  Sylvia snickered. “You have my condolences for the bill. That’s about it.” She waved to the chair opposite her desk. “Please. Have a seat. We can get the generalities out of the way.” Sylvia opened her planner and snagged her favorite pen from the right side of her desk.

  “When will the blessed event take place?”

  Tristan grimaced and lowered himself into the gray chair opposite her. “Christmas Eve. My sister believes that the holiday season is the perfect time to marry.”

  Sylvia’s lips twitched. “Hard to reason with an upcoming bride, isn’t it?”

  “You think?” Tristan’s brandy-colored eyes focused on her again. “You’ll plan the wedding?”

  “Why me?” Sylvia brushed her short cap of black hair back and studied the tycoon in front of her. “There are hundreds of wedding planners out there.”

  “You’re the best.”

  The simple statement shouldn’t have warmed her insides, but it did. Sylvia allowed herself a small smile. “Flattery won’t get you a discount, Mr. Calhoun.”

  He shrugged easily and ran his hand through his unkempt hair. “Keira wants you. Period. And you are the best.” His eyes darkened as they studied her. “As well you know.”

  “Always nice to hear it again.” Sylvia flipped open her planner and studied her appointments. “I can see Keira early next week. We can go over the invitation list, and she can tell me what she wants for her wondrous wedding.”

  “No problem.” Tristan took a business card out of his wallet and scrawled a number on the back. “That’s my cell. Call me when it’s convenient.” He stood quickly and loomed over her desk.

  Sylvia stood also and stuck out her hand. “To a wonderful wedding, Mr. Calhoun.”

  “Tristan.” He took her hand and shook it slowly. “I believe you’re just what we’re looking for, Ms. Masters.” Tristan stepped back. “I look forward to the results.” He left the room as quietly as he entered it.

  Sylvia sank into her chair and studied the empty room.


  They would call it the wedding of the century. Sylvia’s mind was already sifting and sorting through the ideas she thought Keira would like. She embraced the second wind of energy she received and bent back over her desk.

  * * * *

  Sylvia slid her key into the front door of her home and swung the door wide open. She sighed lustily and kicked off her heels. She threw her coat and purse on the wood end table and tossed her jacket on her tan leather couch. The door slammed satisfyingly behind her, and Sylvia smiled.

  Her weekend.

  She padded into her kitchen and took a pint of Ben & Jerry’s out of the freezer. The spoon slid in easily, and Sylvia grinned like a five-year-old in a candy store. The first taste was almost orgasmic. She let the flavor melt on her tongue.

  Work now done for the week. She may be a workaholic, but her weekends were sacred.

  Sylvia set the pint down and slid her dark blue pants from her legs. They ended up in a pile at her feet. She kicked them aside and ate another spoonful of ice cream. My God. She would marry an ice cream maker in a hot second. If she ever had plans on marrying anyone. Which she didn’t.

  Weddings were stupid rituals. Sylvia chuckled and walked back into the living room. She sure as hell wouldn’t be putting that on any of her shop’s brochures. But it was surely the truth. Once upon a time, she dreamed of a perfect wedding with Prince Charming. Then she grew up.

  And it’s not like she had a wonderful example from her parents.

  Sylvia rolled her blue eyes. Marriage had been a noun to them. Some type of status symbol. Never had it been a verb. Something to label themselves with. Never something to do. She dug the spoon in deeper and was rewarded with a plump cherry.

  The moan that escaped almost embarrassed her. Sylvia savored the bite. She had no desire to clutter up her life with a significant other. She and the ice cream were just fine, thank you very much.

  The tick of the clock marred the perfect silence of the room. Sylvia reached for the remote and clicked on some Bon Jovi. The eighties filtered through her high-tech system, and the bass moved over her. She bobbed her head and settled onto her couch. Sylvia kicked her jacket off and grinned.