Even after he had disappeared, she’d held on to those dreams. But as days had turned into weeks and he didn’t return, she’d known she had to let go of her childish dreams and grow up.
And here she was, dreaming about him again. This time it felt so real—the warmth of his chest against her cheek, the frantic beating of his heart.
She could feel his damp hand lifting her chin and his sweet breath on her lips. Her heart sputtered as if waking up for the first time as his lips inched closer until finally they pressed against hers. Her body lit on fire as life’s breath soared into her, calling her soul.
It was so real. It was a dream, but so what? Jeremy was finally with her.
“Leilani!”
And so was Sammy.
What the hell?
“Leilani, don’t die!”
What a weird dream. She wasn’t dying.
A sudden jolt smashed against her chest, and Jeremy disappeared. There was another jolt and she choked.
She couldn’t breathe. Her chest was going to explode.
“Sammy! Jeremy!” Her mind screamed their names, but no sound came out.
Then there was a flash of light. She coughed and water spewed out of her mouth.
“You’re alive. She’s going to be okay, buddy. Give her a minute.”
Slowly, her arms and legs pricked to life. She could feel the sand beneath her.
Aw, crap. She hadn’t made it up to the surface in time, and somehow Jeremy had gotten to her and dragged her sorry ass back to the beach.
“Leilani.” Jeremy’s voice called urgently as he lightly slapped her cheeks.
“Stop it,” she croaked as she slowly opened her eyes to worried pools of blue. His handsome face taunted her heart.
If she had to drown, why did he have to be the one who saved her?
Again.
“Come on, we need to get you to a doctor. I’ll help you up.”
“I don’t need your help.” She slapped his hands, cussing as she struggled to sit up.
“You’re better,” Sammy said. “She only cusses when she feels good.”
“She sure is,” Jeremy chuckled as he touched her cheek. “And you’re getting the color back in your face. I still want to get you checked out, though.”
“I thought you were going back to where you came from?” She slapped his hand again.
“You’re welcome.”
She glared at the amused expression on his face.
“He saved you,” Sammy said.
Great. She was never going to hear the end of it from Sammy. It’ll be ‘Jeremy this’ and ‘Jeremy that.’
“Thank you,” she muttered. She had to get away from him as fast as she could. The last thing she needed was to fall for him again.
The beach spun a little when she stood. Ignoring it, she unzipped her wetsuit and peeled it off her shoulders.
“Why are you even here?” And why did he keep staring at her like that?
He blinked, his face turning redder with each word he spoke.
“I promised Sammy we’d do a little surfing. When I ran into him, he was worried about you. What were you doing out there alone freediving, anyway? What if I hadn’t passed by? Really, Leilani, what if I hadn’t gotten to you in time?”
“Well, your good deed of the day is done now. You can leave.”
Something must’ve been wrong with her head, because Jeremy kept gawking at her. Maybe she should drop by the urgent care clinic just in case.
“I’m not leaving. I’m taking you to—are you insane?”
“What now?” she grumbled. He looked crazy as his eyes darted to a group of surfers passing by.
“You shouldn’t be wearing that. Here.” He snatched a towel from underneath Sammy’s bodyboard. Sand flew everywhere.
“Wear what?”
“That, that . . . I don’t even know what you call it.”
She looked down at her red bikini top.
“It’s a swimsuit. Duh.” What was his problem? He’d seen her in a bikini top a few weeks ago. He hadn’t freaked out then. The one she had on now was a little smaller and lifted her boobs a little more. So what?
“It’s not suitable beachwear.”
“Who are you, the fashion police?”
“Auntie Anela said it’s a man catcher,” Sammy said. “And Leilani needs a man.”
“She’s too young!”
That’s it. She’d had enough of him.
“Listen here, Golden Boy. I’m old enough to do what I want when I want. You have no business telling me what to do.”
She had every intention of telling him off and walking away. So why didn’t she leave? Now would’ve been a great time.
Instead, she stood there, gazing into his eyes—blazing sapphire that kept looking at her body with disbelief.
“Stop it,” he growled.
“Stop. What?”
“Breathing.”
She snorted.
“Breathing? You want me to stop breathing?”
He took a wary step back. It was almost as if he was afraid of her.
“Yes . . . I mean . . . stop doing what you’re doing with your chest and put something on, for crying out loud!”
Was it bad that she was actually enjoying seeing Jeremy like this? He was always so calm and cool.
“They’re boobs, Jeremy. All women have them, just in case you didn’t notice.”
“Hey, Kai’s here. Hey, Kai, we’re over here,” Sammy said.
Leilani swore she heard Jeremy cuss under his breath as Kai headed toward them. This was different. Was he actually jealous?
I think I might actually like this new Jeremy.
“Geez, Leilani, I told you not to wear that.” Kai cut a glare at Jeremy as he snatched the towel and tossed it back to her.
“Thank you, Kai. I was just telling her the same thing,” Jeremy said. “It’s inappropriate for a girl to wear something like that in public.”
“A girl? A girl!”
I changed my mind. I hate him.
“You should’ve seen her, Kai. She did two minutes yesterday and she was trying two and a half today. Jeremy had to get her out, though,” Sammy said. “We’re going to take her to the clinic to get her checked.”
“She . . . you . . .” Kai was so mad the veins popped out from the side of his neck. “I told you not to go out there without me.”
“This was your idea?” Jeremy’s voice was a dangerous, low growl. “You told her to sit in the middle of the ocean holding her breath? She could have died, no thanks to you.”
One would think she would’ve been annoyed by Jackass Number One and Jackass Number Two treating her like a child, but she couldn’t help but be amused watching them trying to one-up each other.
“Mind your own business,” Kai said. “Grab the boards, Sammy. I’m taking Leilani to the clinic.”
“No, I will,” Jeremy said. “You’ve done enough damage.”
“Me? You’re blaming me? You’re a stranger. You don’t know me or Leilani.”
“Jeremy’s a friend,” Sammy said.
“We talked about this before, Sammy. Friends don’t leave when you need them the most.” Kai glared at Jeremy.
“And friends don’t let their friends drown,” Jeremy barked back.
The air around them stilled as Kai took a threatening step toward him.
“You’re a friend, huh? Well, friend, where were you when Leilani needed help getting her legs back into shape after the accident? Where were you when Sammy woke up screaming from his nightmares? I was there. Me, not you.”
Her heart twisted at the torment on Jeremy’s face. It was obvious he was torn up about it. She wanted to defend him, but Kai was right. He’d left them.
“Well, I’m here now, and it’s good that I am. She could’ve died today. She needs to be looked after. I’ll take her.”
“Like hell you will.” Kai shoved him.
Jeremy stood, immovable, clenching his jaw.
Kai lifted
his head, inviting Jeremy to take a punch. His entire body trembled like a volcano ready to explode. Even though he was just as big, Jeremy would have no problem taking him down.
“Knock it off, you two. Leilani’s not a little girl, and she can take care of herself.” Oh my god, these two were making her talk about herself in the third person. “I mean, I can take care of myself,” she said. “Come on, Sammy. We’re leaving.”
When she reached down to grab her things, she saw Jeremy jam his fists into his pockets, murmuring, “Stupid man-child.”
She let out a breath of relief. She didn’t know what she would’ve done if they had started a brawl in the middle of the beach. Sammy liked them both. He had so few friends at school, and with their father gone, he needed the male companionship. As much as Jeremy and Kai were annoying the hell out of her, she wanted them both for Sammy.
She made her way down the beach, ignoring the fuzzy feeling in her head.
“You don’t have a car,” Kai said.
“I’ll take the bus.”
“Leilani?”
She paused at the sound of Jeremy’s soft voice. It was almost lyrical the way he’d said her name.
She didn’t want to turn around. She knew what she would see if she did. And if she did see it, there would be no stopping that horrible feeling from returning. She’d fought that feeling since the day he’d left.
Slowly, she turned to face him.
“What?”
“Please let Kai take you to get checked.”
Kai did a double take. Then he grinned as he jogged to her. As she handed her things to him, she held Jeremy’s gaze. The tenderness in his eyes was all it took for the feeling she’d kept locked deep within to rush into her heart.
She’d lost. It was back again.
It was hope.
11
As Naomi ran through the courtyard, Michael’s voice echoed through her mind.
Jeremy. Banished. No gifts. No contact.
She ran faster, passing through the line of cherry trees, desperate to escape Michael’s condemnation. This was her doing. She was the one who should be punished, not Jeremy.
The feverish beating of her wings stirred the trees, creating a blizzard of pink-and-white petals as the cherry blossoms fell to the ground. They fluttered around her, some sticking to her wet cheeks.
Heaven was supposed to be beautiful. It was supposed to be perfect.
It wasn’t.
Her feet slapped on the wooden bridge as she crossed it. Stopping, she leaned over the railing, gasping as distraught faces of family and friends swirled through her mind—Rebecca, Raphael, Uri, Rachel, and Lash.
They should hate her for driving Jeremy away. He was their son, their best friend, their brother. She deserved nothing less. She hated herself.
“Jeremy, I’m sorry!” she cried, skimming over the glasslike waters, searching for him. “I didn’t mean it!”
She looked at the spot where Lash said he’d last spoken with Jeremy.
Where was he?
“I’m sorry,” she repeated, hoping beyond hope that somehow Jeremy would hear her.
“Naomi, please don’t cry.”
Lash’s arms were suddenly around her waist. When she tried to pull away, he tightened them.
“I’m not letting you go.”
She sobbed. She didn’t deserve his love.
“It’s my fault. I don’t blame you for hating me.”
“I could never hate you. And it’s not your fault.” Turning her to face him, he plucked the petals off her cheeks.
“It is. I was so selfish. I didn’t think about how hurt he was.”
“You were hurting too. We all were.”
“But you didn’t drive him away. I did. There has to be something I can do. I don’t care what Michael said about no contact with him. I have to find him. I know I can convince him to come back. We can make Michael see that banishing Jeremy was a mistake.”
He gazed deeply into her eyes with worry. “If that’s what you want, but—”
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Gabrielle said, cutting him off as she headed toward them.
“Damn it,” Lash muttered.
Gabrielle raised an eyebrow, her green eyes gleaming.
“We’re doing this, Gabrielle,” Naomi said.
“I won’t allow it. You’ve heard what Michael said. It’s too dangerous. Saleos will be watching Jeremy even more closely now.”
“Saleos? Why? What do you know?” Lash asked.
“We’ve been losing angels to him on a daily basis. At least one a day. Somehow, Saleos and his brothers are reaching them from within Heaven, and they’re joining him. He’ll know soon that Jeremy was banished, and he’ll use it to his advantage.”
“Then we should stop it now before it’s too late,” Naomi said.
“Raphael and Rebecca are talking with Michael now. But Michael is firm. He won’t change his mind. Michael’s duty is to all of us, not to a few.”
“Duty, duty,” Lash spat. “I’m getting freakin’ tired of hearing that word.”
“Well, my duty is to my family. And we’re going to get Jeremy. Right now.” Naomi marched off the bridge with Lash following close behind.
“Wait! I’ll watch over him!” Gabrielle shouted.
Naomi tripped over her foot, which was not an easy thing to do when you were supposed to be a graceful angel. Did Gabrielle just say what she thought she’d said? Was Gabrielle actually going to disobey Michael’s command?
She and Lash were so shocked they replied to Gabrielle in unison.
“You will?”
“Yes. I promised Rebecca.”
“You did?” they replied again in unison.
That was probably the biggest shock of their lives. She knew Gabrielle wasn’t Rebecca’s biggest fan.
“Don’t be surprised. I’m not without feelings. I may not have had the experience of bearing children, but I care for Jeremiel as if he were my own. He and I have much in common.” She tugged at the emerald choker nervously. “You must keep this a secret,” she continued. “Michael will not understand why I do this. Where is Jeremiel?”
“He was over there.” Lash pointed to the spot where Naomi had been looking.
They looked over the rail, searching.
“I’m sure we’ll find him quickly. I doubt he’ll leave the islands. He seems to have an affinity for . . . ah, there he is. Hmm.” Gabrielle pursed her lips, shaking her head.
“What is it?” Naomi looked over Gabrielle’s shoulder. Her lips curled into a soft smile at what she saw.
Jeremy was on the beach, his cheeks turning pink while he watched a lovely young woman waving her hands angrily.
“I knew it,” Naomi said.
“Knew what?” Lash went to her side, looking in the same direction.
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
Maybe this was meant to be. She’d met Lash when he was one of the fallen. Maybe Jeremy’s banishment had a purpose.
“Is this what I think it is?” she asked Gabrielle.
“What?” Lash took a closer look. “I don’t get it. I see Jeremy with a couple of kids on the beach. It looks like they were surfing.”
“This will only be more difficult for him if it is,” Gabrielle said.
“It happened with Lash and me.”
“What happened? I’m confused.”
“You’re different,” Gabrielle said, ignoring Lash’s question. “This one is human.”
“So was I.”
And so were Lash and Jeremy, though Jeremy seemed to be fighting it at the moment. Maybe he’d forgotten what it was like to be human, the imperfection and vulnerability, when he had become an archangel.
She looked down again, her heart beating faster, when she saw Jeremy’s lips moving, forming the word ‘Leilani.’ When the girl turned and they gazed at each other, it was indisputable.
“Oh! I get it,” Lash said. His handsome face lit with a huge grin. They were thin
king the same thing.
The woman, the one Jeremy called Leilani, might just be the one to bring him back home.
12
Jeremy couldn’t stop thinking about Leilani.
She’s a girl. She’s a girl. She’s a girl.
He slapped his hand against the car’s steering wheel, repeating the phrase like a mantra. Flying hadn’t helped to clear his mind. It was so bad, even Bob had noticed something was wrong, probably because he’d broken more tiles than he’d actually placed on the floor. In a not-so-subtle way, Bob had told him about a local bar a few blocks away. To save his sanity, and the cottage’s floor, he’d driven off, hoping to clear his mind.
Nope. So far it wasn’t working. The image of Leilani in the world’s smallest red bikini would not go away.
He was disgusted with himself. She’d almost died, and all he could think about was how stunning she had looked. The image played in his mind in a continuous loop. He pictured her dark, wet hair molded along her slender neck like black velvet, and water droplets rolling down high cheekbones and across full red lips, lips that were so soft he wondered what it would feel like for them to kiss him back.
She’s a girl.
Soulful dark eyes gazed at him through wet lashes. Her heavy breathing made her chest rise and fall.
Stop it! He groaned, pressing his palms harder into his eye sockets.
Where was the Leilani with the short, spiky hair and bubble gum? That girl he could handle.
Pulling into the parking lot, the car sputtered as he turned it off. He headed into the bar. He needed a drink.
The dimly lit bar was crammed full of locals and tourists. Music blared through the speakers. It was so loud he could feel the bass pumping in his chest.
Spotting an empty table, he made his way through the rows. A voluptuous woman with auburn hair gave him the once-over and whispered to her friend. The redhead held his gaze as she fingered the tip of her beer bottle suggestively.
Golden Angel: (Broken Angel #5) Page 6
