still growing,” Lara remarked, changing the subject. “Are we taking them inside, or risking another week outside?”
“ Let’s give them one more week,” Paige answered. “I’m a little afraid, Lara,” she confessed quietly. “It’s all moving so quickly. And my feelings are so strong. It feels so…so…right. I know it probably makes no sense, but that makes me want to turn and run the other way.”
“ I do understand, Paige. You know how I feel already. You’re afraid of losing someone again. You want to bolt so you don’t have to risk being hurt.”
“ I know I can’t run forever. I’m afraid of ending up alone.”
“ Then you’d better stop running, Paige.”
Lara walked to the small shed and tossed in the gloves and hand shovels. Paige stayed on the porch stairs awhile, the exchange heavy in her thoughts. Crisp air caused her nose to run and brought the pink up in her cheeks. Other, more frightening things were happening to her. These made her want to run farther, faster, until she outran them.
Drink…
Paige closed her eyes. Last night’s dreams had been the most vivid by far. This time, there was no question of her dream lover’s identity. It was Cael Maccinnis. Only in her dreams Cael wasn’t simply a gorgeous man and successful furniture craftsmen. He was a vampire, and she welcomed him. She knew she should be shuddering with horror but couldn’t conjure the least bit, and that concerned her above all else.
Almost.
For in her dreams Paige kept another secret. She did shudder at this recollection.
Thank goodness it was only a dream.
Combined with the other changes she was noticing, Paige wasn’t sure she could dismiss her dreams so easily anymore. Her heart pounded, her thoughts swirling in violent tempest’s storm.
What’s wrong, lass? I feel the tumult inside ye…
The sound of his voice in her mind soothed her, and her heart rate slowed along with her thoughts.
What’s happening to me?
Paige knew instinctively she was hearing him, feeling him. They hadn’t acknowledged this fact, but there it was. Either she was losing her mind, or she was rapidly becoming capable of inhuman behavior, smelling things, hearing things, and just…knowing things.
Everything’s going to be all right, lass. I promise ye.
She didn’t know how, or even why, but she believed him.
I miss you…
This was crazy.
Around the side of the building emerged a sight that brought tears to her eyes.
“ Hi there,” Cael smiled. “I know I’m early. I hope that’s all right with ye.”
“ I was just thinking about…”
She didn’t finish the thought. The last thing she wanted was to have him learn she was on her way to becoming a nutter. Finally finding someone she cared for, maybe more than cared for, Paige wasn’t about to scare him off with her crazy imaginings.
“ About what?” he grinned.
“ Oh, nothing, really. Do you want to say hello to my Aunt Anna and cousins before we go?”
“ I’d like that.”
His voice slid over her like satin, raising the hairs on her arms. Following her up the stairs to Sissy’s back door he wrapped her waist with his arm, sending another delicious wave of pleasure rolling through her. Lara and Sissy sat around the kitchenette table; Brooke stood leaning against the counter-top. Conversation screeched to a halt when they entered through the back door, her cousins gaping at the sexy hunk beside Paige, and Sissy looking as if someone had just walked over her grave.
“ This is Cael,” she introduced. “And these are my cousins. Brooke has the strawberry blond hair and Lara the yellow,” Paige explained. “That’s how everyone tells them apart. And this,” she said, pointing to her aunt, “is Sissy.” Looking around, she added warily, “What’s the matter in here?” not understanding their odd reactions.
“ It’s great to meet you, Cael,” Brooke chimed in. “Paige never dates; that’s why we’re staring like fools, in case you were
“ Let’s give them one more week,” Paige answered. “I’m a little afraid, Lara,” she confessed quietly. “It’s all moving so quickly. And my feelings are so strong. It feels so…so…right. I know it probably makes no sense, but that makes me want to turn and run the other way.”
“ I do understand, Paige. You know how I feel already. You’re afraid of losing someone again. You want to bolt so you don’t have to risk being hurt.”
“ I know I can’t run forever. I’m afraid of ending up alone.”
“ Then you’d better stop running, Paige.”
Lara walked to the small shed and tossed in the gloves and hand shovels. Paige stayed on the porch stairs awhile, the exchange heavy in her thoughts. Crisp air caused her nose to run and brought the pink up in her cheeks. Other, more frightening things were happening to her. These made her want to run farther, faster, until she outran them.
Drink…
Paige closed her eyes. Last night’s dreams had been the most vivid by far. This time, there was no question of her dream lover’s identity. It was Cael Maccinnis. Only in her dreams Cael wasn’t simply a gorgeous man and successful furniture craftsmen. He was a vampire, and she welcomed him. She knew she should be shuddering with horror but couldn’t conjure the least bit, and that concerned her above all else.
Almost.
For in her dreams Paige kept another secret. She did shudder at this recollection.
Thank goodness it was only a dream.
Combined with the other changes she was noticing, Paige wasn’t sure she could dismiss her dreams so easily anymore. Her heart pounded, her thoughts swirling in violent tempest’s storm.
What’s wrong, lass? I feel the tumult inside ye…
The sound of his voice in her mind soothed her, and her heart rate slowed along with her thoughts.
What’s happening to me?
Paige knew instinctively she was hearing him, feeling him. They hadn’t acknowledged this fact, but there it was. Either she was losing her mind, or she was rapidly becoming capable of inhuman behavior, smelling things, hearing things, and just…knowing things.
Everything’s going to be all right, lass. I promise ye.
She didn’t know how, or even why, but she believed him.
I miss you…
This was crazy.
Around the side of the building emerged a sight that brought tears to her eyes.
“ Hi there,” Cael smiled. “I know I’m early. I hope that’s all right with ye.”
“ I was just thinking about…”
She didn’t finish the thought. The last thing she wanted was to have him learn she was on her way to becoming a nutter. Finally finding someone she cared for, maybe more than cared for, Paige wasn’t about to scare him off with her crazy imaginings.
“ About what?” he grinned.
“ Oh, nothing, really. Do you want to say hello to my Aunt Anna and cousins before we go?”
“ I’d like that.”
His voice slid over her like satin, raising the hairs on her arms. Following her up the stairs to Sissy’s back door he wrapped her waist with his arm, sending another delicious wave of pleasure rolling through her. Lara and Sissy sat around the kitchenette table; Brooke stood leaning against the counter-top. Conversation screeched to a halt when they entered through the back door, her cousins gaping at the sexy hunk beside Paige, and Sissy looking as if someone had just walked over her grave.
“ This is Cael,” she introduced. “And these are my cousins. Brooke has the strawberry blond hair and Lara the yellow,” Paige explained. “That’s how everyone tells them apart. And this,” she said, pointing to her aunt, “is Sissy.” Looking around, she added warily, “What’s the matter in here?” not understanding their odd reactions.
“ It’s great to meet you, Cael,” Brooke chimed in. “Paige never dates; that’s why we’re staring like fools, in case you were
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