by Dale Mayer
She smiled. How special. As she glanced around the room she realized how purely incredibly her life growing up had been and still was today. She’d been blessed in so many ways.
Several animals opened their eyes and squealed in protest.
“Oops,” she murmured realized she’d slowed the flow of the energy outward with her lack of focus. She might be sitting in Granny’s seat but it was going to be a long time before she could fill it.
“Easy. You’re doing fine,” Matt said quietly.
“Am I?” she said, in a self-derogatory tone. “It doesn’t feel like it.”
“The energy is abating. As if she’s giving up the fight.”
“She?” Celeste pounced. “It’s a woman doing that?” She studied his face, her gaze narrow. Wondering if it was the same energy she’d sensed earlier. “Do you recognize her energy?”
He frowned. “I don’t think so.”
“Hmmm.” She closed her eyes again, sending a strong, surging energy outward, and realized he was right. The darkness was receding. Retreating. Good. The bitch had damn well better run.
For good measure, she sent another wave of energy outward to keep the darkness retreating. She didn’t want it to be gathering up its strength for another charge.
A few minutes later, the tension in the room eased. The animals shifted, some fading out, others curling up to sleep.
Celeste released a big sigh and looked out the window. The darkness was now completely gone, and the electrical static to the air had disappeared. Whatever or whoever had been attacking the cottage—and how had it known where it was?—was gone.
She glanced over at Matt. “What was that probe all about?”
He shrugged. “Something I was working on when I realized the Portmans and Grandfather were such good liars. I needed a way to see who was lying or cheating. For all our paranormal abilities, we were being taken in by those around us. Others with energy skills. Someone needed to find a way to stop it.”
“Interesting concept. Why not just have someone read their auras?”
“Do you have any idea how hard it is to find someone that can do that beyond a surface level?” Matt shook his head. “We are in serious need of good talent.”
“Not exactly something you can advertise for, is it?” Celeste couldn’t imagine trying to word a job ad for energy workers.
“No,” he admitted. “I’ve had to be cagey. I did just hire three brothers, all of power. I’m looking forward to utilizing their skills.”
“But no aura readers in the group?”
He shook his head. “We use the term rainbow reader, and they tend to be female.”
“Well, don’t look at me. I talk to the animals, that’s about all I can do.”
“Considering how they respond to you and what they can do for you,” he motioned at the circle of animals still surrounding them, “I’d say that’s plenty,” he looked at her curiously. “But you’re also a stargazer. That’s powerful without any other ability.”
“I’m one of three equally bad stargazers,” she said with a small smile. “We’ll need decades of practice to get as good as Granny.”
“And you have that time.”
Yes, she did, but somehow that wasn’t making her feel all that confident that she’d hit the same skill level. “Do you think this energy is responsible for what killed those two men?”
Instantly, he shook his head. “No, I don’t.”
She shifted back to lean against the big chair. “Why not?”
“Because there wasn’t anything scary in it. And neither was there an energy weapon hidden inside, that I saw.”
“Maybe it wasn’t turned on you?” she suggested. “Maybe it wanted to keep you alive?”
She caught a whisper of something odd flash across his face. It was gone before she had the chance to decipher what it meant. “What aren’t you telling me?”
He turned to stare out the window. “I think it called my name.”
She gasped. “What?”
“Yeah.” he shrugged. “Don’t think it knew I was here before either. It’s as if it suddenly saw me, then gasped my name.”
“And is that when it receded—because you were here?” she asked cautiously. “As if the energy didn’t want to hurt you.”
“No, the opposite. She gasped my name, then slammed on the power, as if she were in rage over my presence here.”
“Very strange. And how the hell did she know to come here? That’s what I can’t figure out. There is a huge, pulsing beacon of energy here. It wouldn’t be hard to track.”
“Yes, but what if that energy was searching for energy, not a cottage?”
“So then, by tracking the energy she’d have found me anyway.” She pursed her lips. “That makes sense. And something else we never considered could happen.”
“Right. But if she could find this place, what’s the chance she can get at us inside?”
At that question, several animals raised nervous glances her way. She smiled at them, reassuringly. “It’s okay, everyone. Even if she was here specifically looking to hurt us, she can’t get inside. And as long as we continue to roll warm, loving energy over this person, then she’ll be powerless to hurt us. Remember that,” she added gently.
There were soft murmurs as the animals settled back down again.
*
Matt watched the zoo around them react to their observations. They really did understand. The same way as that darkness had understood that they were in here. That he was here. And had been seriously pissed at the idea.
He didn’t recognize the energy signature, and hoped he’d recognize it if he ever saw or felt it again. Was this someone in his everyday world? He couldn’t forget the flash of anger at seeing him. Seeing? Or sensing? He wasn’t really thinking that this person could see him from inside the darkness, was he?
Turning to Celeste, he asked, “When you are pushing your healing energy out there, can you see what’s happening on the front edge of that? As in, really see what’s going on?” He’d seen her face in the storm, too. “Or when you are part of a storm? I saw your face; your eyes were open. Did you see me?”
“I don’t think so,” she said. “I was in the pool room.” She stood and said, “I think I’m going to go back in there now, too.” She stretched and yawned. “Then bed. I know it’s early, but this wore me out.”
“Dinner?” He hopped to his feet. “Before the pool or after?”
She stood, undecided, but wavering on her feet.
“Or dinner while you’re in the pool?”
She grinned. “That’s perfect. Give me ten minutes.”
And she walked away.
He watched her go, feeling a peace like he hadn’t known for a long time settle deep inside. They weren’t sparring verbally. She wasn’t fighting his presence here. She’d accepted his help, treated him as an equal. That was progress. He walked to the kitchen table and opened up the special heated containers his chef, Henry, had packed. A bottle of red wine sat on the side of the basket. He checked the age and smiled. So Henry had understood what this dinner was all about.
Matt carefully distributed the hot curry, rice, and vegetables onto plates, and opened up the package of fried bread that had been packed separately. This was a decent meal. And there were several other meals still in the baskets. They certainly wouldn’t starve.
He waited another couple of minutes, then walked to the pool room. “Can I come in, Celeste?”
“Yes,” she called.
He pushed open the door to find the pool room lit with candles, giving the atmosphere a soft, romantic look and feel. The gentle rippling sounds of the water added to the magical ambiance.
He glanced outside. Although the angry darkness had dissipated, evening was now descending. He smiled at her. She floated in the pool in a bathing suit, her hair streaming out behind her. A beautiful mermaid. Scratch that—a very sexy mermaid. He shifted the small side table closer to the edge of the pool, then returned
for the food and drinks. It took him a couple of trips, and by the time he was done carrying the wine glasses and bottle in with him, she was sitting on the side of the pool, studying their meal with interest.
“This looks great. I haven’t eaten like this in…”
Her voice broke off at the answer.
He’d done this a lot when they’d been together. Henry had a soft spot for Celeste. Actually, at this point, he was pretty much over the moon about all three of the stargazers being around. He’d been busy in the kitchen, whipping up specialty dishes for weeks. When he’d heard this meal was for Celeste, well, Matt flushed at the memory. Henry’s last words were, “Don’t mess it up this time.”
Right. Well, he had hadn’t planned to last time, either, and look what happened.
“I’m really hungry,” she confessed, and as soon as he sat down and poured the wine, she picked up her plate and took the first bite. And moaned. “Henry still works there doesn’t he?”
Matt laughed. “He does, and he says hi, by the way.”
“He’s a sweetheart.”
“He’s also an energy worker with a talent for cooking. And I’m blessed to have him.”
She nodded in agreement, but didn’t say a word as she worked through her plate. The silence around them was peaceful. Happy. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so content.
“You know, I was thinking…”
He looked up from his plate. “Thinking what?”
“I’m thinking that the energy might have had a personal vendetta here.”
“That would make sense,” he said cautiously, wondering where she was going with this.
“She was angry that you were here.”
“Sure, but she’d been attacking you and this cottage before she knew it was me, too.”
“Hmmm.” Celeste subsided. “That’s true. But I still think it’s important that she knew you. I’ve just returned. No one knows that yet, outside of a handful of people. But the energy almost raged when it realized you were here.”
“So it attacked an empty cottage?” He frowned. “That doesn’t make sense.”
“Not necessarily. It would have sensed the energy and just wanted to destroy that. Or the animals might have had something to do with it.”
“Or someone else heard you were here. Don’t forget, someone sent the men into the woods after you. That’s hardly guessing on their part. No, someone had to suspect that you were here. No way they didn’t.”
Her shoulders slumped. “Damn.” After a moment, she suggested, “They could have tracked the hovercraft from the Paranormal Center.”
“Then why the surprise to find me here?” he asked in a reasonable tone. He finished the last bite of his food and laid his fork down. He reached for a piece of fried bread and wiped up the sauce on his plate. “No, it was after you and was angry to find me here with you. Either not expecting us to be together, or not expecting you to be with anyone.”
“I was thinking it could be an old lover of yours.”
He froze. “What?” He stared. “Why would you think that?”
Chapter 17
“She targeted me, and she’s angry you’re here. Sounds like an ex-lover who is hoping to get you back. Indeed, she may have thought she had a good chance to get you back.”
“That is a bit farfetched, isn’t it?” he said in a calm voice. “I haven’t dated anyone since you, so this person would have to have been harboring a grudge for a long time.”
“But not impossible, considering a woman scorned,” she murmured. Still, she had to marvel, as her insides danced in joy. She’d been through a roller-coaster of emotions after walking away a year ago, knowing that he was free to find someone else. And it seemed like she’d been in a state of waiting ever since. And hoping.
“It’s not likely. More that she’s aware of the huge inheritance you and your sisters are getting.”
“But it wouldn’t have gone to anyone else,” she exclaimed. “It was always ours. And there’s no money.”
“But it makes the most sense. Besides, no one knows the details of what you are inheriting.”
“Hell,” she said in disgust. “Neither do I.”
He laughed. “Nothing has changed. You are keeping what you already had, and if there was no money before, there’s no money now.”
“Now that part is too bad. I could use some money.” She polished off the rest of her dinner and handed the plate back to Matt. “That was delicious. Henry is a genius.”
“I won’t tell him that part. Life is tough enough with his rather large ego in the mix.”
“He deserves it all,” she said warmly.
“He’s looking forward to seeing you again. He always had a soft spot for you.”
She wrinkled up her face. Henry was a rotund male who lived for food. The magical offerings he could prepare in that kitchen of his…well, they were nothing short of perfect. “He’s a wonderful person.”
Matt stood and took the plates from the table and returned them to the kitchen. It gave her a chance to figure out if he’d been meaning something deeper with his comment about Henry seeing her again. Of course she’d see him again. Only, not for quite a while. She wasn’t living at the Center, had few reasons to go there, and Henry never left. As in never left. His groceries were delivered to the Center, and he refused to leave the kitchen under the watchful eyes of his staff. They were all good, too, but Henry just couldn’t let go of the control of his kitchen. Besides, that was his home.
“You could move back in.”
Matt leaned against the door jamb, staring at her, a glass of red wine in his hand. She sat her wine down and let herself drift back into the water. Physically, she’d healed. Mentally she was on her way, as the stress and the trauma of the last few days—hell, the last year—calmed down. Emotionally and spiritually, well, she was still feeling bruised.
The reason for that disconnect stood in front of her. He’d always been the problem. He placed his wine down on the table and proceeded to unbutton his shirt. He pulled it off, then sat and unlaced his shoes.
She stared at him in alarm. “What are you doing?”
“It’s hot in here.” He said, pulling his socks off. “I’m feeling like crap.”
Oh no. She paddled closer. “Did you get hurt?”
“I’ve been hurting for a long time,” he said, standing and opening his belt, then unzipping his pants. Her heart pounding, she watched as he stripped down to his boxers, grabbed up the glass of wine and swung his legs over into the water.
“Ah, that is so nice,” he exclaimed. She watched in fascination, as the water surged up his heavily muscled legs and went to work.
When she glanced up at his face, it was to watch as he slid all the way into the pool. The water surged over his body, hungry to help.
“This is an incredible pool,” he whispered, letting his head drift back so the water worked into his scalp. She knew how this worked, and reached out to take the glass from his fingers. Instantly, the water surged down his forearm and over his fingers. He closed his eyes and let the healing pool do its thing. She moved to the far side and watched in wonder.
He’d always been hard to read. She’d never understood why he’d want her. Granny had said that a lack of self-confidence had been her downfall, and she needed to pull that ego of hers up and around her chin some more. But she hadn’t been able to do it.
However, she’d reveled in her relationship with Matt. Yet, there was always that fear that he’d wake up and realize he wanted someone else.
“We were good together.” She winced as the words slipped out of their own accord.
He stilled, then said in a soft voice, “We were very good together, and we will be again.”
“Will we?” she asked in a small voice. “It seems like everything I do I screw up.”
“Except that in this case, you’re not alone.”
He opened his eyes to study her as he slid upwards, until he was leaning against the wal
l again. And that’s when she realized she’d floated ever closer, until she was almost on top of him.
And unbelievably, he opened his arms. She never questioned her actions. Never let herself think about them. She didn’t dare.
He held her close. She rested her head against his chest and smiled as the healing pool surged around them, over them, between them. And she realized what the water was trying to do. Heal her. Heal him. Heal them.
A huge ugly sigh worked out of her chest, her body shuddering as she let go of the pain and grief she’d been hanging on to for so long. She couldn’t do anything about her granny, and indeed her granny had been ready to go. She’d been in so much pain, she’d held on for so long. But now, she was at peace.
And it was the sisters’ job to find their own level of peace with that.
In Celeste’s case, Matt had just added to the pain and loneliness. And walking away had added to her grief.
Maybe Granny was right. Maybe everything did have to happen in its own time. And she had to go through this last year in order to appreciate what she had. She’d had several big epiphanies about her life here. About Matt. She just didn’t know where it was all going to lead.
She and Matt were healing the past, but that didn’t mean they had a future. He seemed to think so; she wasn’t so sure.
She didn’t know what she wanted.
And she didn’t want him to assume they had more than she was willing to give.
“Turn the thoughts off and let your mind rest,” he whispered against her hair.
“I wish I could,” she said quietly. “But there is so much that has happened, so much still going on, my mind keeps reaching for answers and getting nowhere.”
“Then stop reaching,” he said in a reasonable tone. “Rest.”
“Easy for you to say…”
He turned her suddenly in his arms, and pulled her up across his chest. “Not easy to do, I know. But there aren’t any decisions that have to be made right now. We need this,” he squeezed her gently. “Time to be together.”
She smiled and closed her eyes. In that he was right. She just wanted—needed—to be held by him. To know that he forgave her for her part in this last year of pain.
