“You make me forget. You make me wish for more.”
“And you’re a terrible influence on me.” I ran my finger in a saucy swirl down his chest and over his abs, his wickedly toned abs. He needed to stop working out with a sword, kick back and eat a ton of junk food. Whatever it took, he had to lose this physique that tempted me beyond reason. “Why don’t you back up before we both do something we’ll regret?”
He caught my finger and brought it to his lips.
“That’s not backing up.” Which meant it was up to me. I ducked around him and out into the blinding sunshine.
“Silvie, you can’t just walk off.” He chased after me.
“Yes, I can.” I continued on, firing up my link to Faith. “Hey, I need a pickup. The outback.”
“Where are you going?”
“Home, and without your help.”
“I’m already there, Silvie. I wanted to chat to Hope. We’re in her room. Do you see the homestead?”
On the hill, a sprawling earth-toned homestead of clay bricks and mortar proudly stood. It was magnificent in design, three-stories high with a wide wraparound porch. A castle for a king, even though Donaldo Wincrest didn’t reside here. “I see it.”
I cut a path across the baked earth and under a towering stand of eucalyptus trees. A touch of shade cooled my skin from the delicious heat. I picked up my pace to pass out from underneath it. There. Faith and Hope waved from the top corner balcony.
“You can’t leave.” Guy strode beside me. “We have a problem we need to work on.”
“I’ll work on it with the girls.”
“No, we’ll work on it with the girls.” He pulled me to a stop, and before I could say no, the dark ensued. We arrived on Hope’s balcony.
“You have a terrible habit of taking over.” And I couldn’t let him. I shoved my hair over my shoulder and faced Faith. “From now on I’ve got to do this on my own. I’m firing my mate. He’s off the job. You’re with me on that, right?” I couldn’t say it any plainer.
Faith struck a wide-eyed look at Guy. “What did you do now?”
“I can’t stop kissing her.” He opened the glass slider, looking not one bit contrite. “Ladies first.”
White lace curtains fluttered against my legs as I stormed in. How did I get through to him he had to leave? I gripped the smooth, round end post of Hope’s New Zealand rimu bed, trying not to tangle my fingers in the white netting trickling from the canopy. “He also said he missed me. This really isn’t working out the way it should.”
“Then we’ll sort this problem fast.” Faith plopped onto the bed. “Between the four of us, we’ll come up with an answer.”
Hope squeezed my shoulder. “I’ll do what I can to help.”
Guy settled on the corner settee padded in blue velvet. “I’ve got an idea. Since I’m here to aid Silvie, what better way than with my skill? I have a spell which can loosen subconscious thoughts so they come to the forefront of the mind.” He leaned forward, elbows to his knees as he eyed me. “You want to give it a go?”
“Is it safe?”
“I’d never place your life in danger. Only you will see the thoughts you release.” He held out a hand. “Let’s try it.”
I plodded across the room and joined him on the settee. I was game. We needed a resolution, and fast. “How does this work?”
“Simply look into my eyes.” He took my hands. “And relax.”
“Then don’t look at me too intensely and I might.” I faced him, touching my knees to his.
“I’m sorry I’ve made things more difficult for you. It was never my intention.” The silver rimming the blue of his eyes swirled to life. “Are you ready?”
“Like yesterday.”
“Then let’s begin.” He stroked my palms with his thumbs. “My mate, within your mind and hidden deep, is an answer only you must seek. Dislodge and release, send it spinning free, allow it to ride and think only of thee.”
My stomach rolled and pitched. Or was that my head? I toppled forward.
“I’ve got you.” He caught me. “Close your eyes. It’ll help.”
As I did the dark embraced me. Memories spun, a mirage of pictures rolling one after the other, all flinging backward through time. Finally they slowed then dripped past until only one remained.
The rain had finally cleared. Faith’s mother Kate had bundled us girls up in our winter coats and walked us to the park. At six, our energy was boundless. Faith had raced ahead and clambered up the steps of the rocket slide. She made the top rung then shuffled onto her bottom.
I ran toward her with a giggle, almost sliding over in the soggy grass. “There’s a puddle. You’re gonna get so dirty.”
“No, I won’t. Come up.” She rocked back and forth. “If we go down together, we’ll go so fast, we’ll miss the puddle and zing right off the end.”
“Nah-ah.” Cold muddy water with insects flying over top. Ick. Not for me. “I don’t like getting wet.”