Winter Mist (Magic Seasons Romance Series Part 5)
Synopsis
Will twelve witches learn to follow orders, or will they take matters into their own hands? Patrick has lived a violent life, undercover in all the wrong places, for far too long. His light charm is carefully designed to keep others from seeing the dangerous man that lies inside. A powerful force for justice, he goes out of his way to keep the innocent safe. Yet, when he finds himself falling for the victim of a sick and vile criminal, he is caught between keeping her out of harm’s way and completing the job he needs to finish. Rhonda was viciously attacked by a killer, and even though she survived, she must now learn to live with her scars. In hiding, she tries to rebuild the strength necessary to get through her trauma. This becomes especially tricky when she is forced to spend her days and nights in the company of a detective who seems to have no other plan in life than to constantly aggravate her and make her want things she might never have again. When Patrick’s cover is blown and he is badly injured, a group of friends pulls together to keep him and the recovering Rhonda safe. And, in doing so, this group of twelve becomes a target for the criminals after Patrick, forcing them to live together in a safe house for Yule.
Winter Mist (Magic Seasons Romance Series Part 5) Free Chapters
Chapter 1 | Winter Mist (Magic Seasons Romance Series Part 5)
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As he drove the last few blocks to Cora’s house, Patrick thought how blessed his life had become in the recent months, since meeting this eclectic bunch of witches. Of the eight, none were similar and yet, together they were a whole. He’d never forget the power of little Kasey and that gorgeous, but scary, woman Rachel, when they’d slammed that vile human back and put him in his place.
Just thinking of Charlie had him glancing at the woman beside him. She sat there silently, which worried him, for she was never silent long, and stared at her hands. Hands that had been pinned to the ground when Charlie ran stakes through them. Gods and Goddesses bless those eight witches for saving Rhonda’s life. Pulling into the driveway, he offered her a playful grin. “Ready for the craziness of three weddings at once?”
Her mouth moved to form a breathtaking smile. “I can’t wait.”
Patrick rang the doorbell and then moved aside, placing Rhonda in front of him. He grinned when it opened.
“Trick or treat,” Rhonda laughed at the vampire holding the door open.
“Oh, hi.” Rachel took the teeth out of her mouth. “I thought you were more munchkins.” She glanced over Rhonda’s head at Patrick.
“Is it okay I brought a male into the woman’s domain tonight?” Rhonda sighed, “they still won’t let me drive with these.” She held up her scarred hands. “I mean really, couldn’t we pad the damn steering wheel or something so I can grip it?”
Rachel looked down at her hands, then up to Patrick. “I suppose one male in the house won’t corrupt the feminine energies.”
Patrick focused on her hands for a moment too, he’d never get over it. Shaking it off, he glanced at Rachel again and raised an eyebrow. “Is that what you’re wearing tomorrow, Rachel?”
Rachel laughed. “Ha! No. Although it is an idea, isn’t it? Could you see the guest’s faces?”
“You’re giving her ideas she doesn’t need.” Leena said quietly coming from the kitchen, in costume, pointy hat and all.
He winked at her. “I would pay to see you walk to your groom like that, Leena.”
Leena looked down at her black ratty dress and purple shoes. “Hmm, no. Better not go there.”
Kasey came out drying her hands on a towel. “I just got kicked out for getting sparkles in Cora’s finger thingies.” As she spoke the sparkling antennae on top of her head bobbed around. “I told her to just say it was fairy dust.” She looked up and spotted Rhonda. “Oh. You’re here!” She bounced over to her.
Patrick stepped back so the fairy wings wouldn’t smack him as she flew past. Fitting, she finally had wings to keep up with her, he thought. “I’m afraid to ask what Cora’s wearing.”
“Silly question really,” Cora said, as she entered the room.
He turned and looked at the slender woman dressed in a black body stocking with a skeleton decoration. “Oh yeah, you all should be wearing these outfits tomorrow. The grooms will pass out.”
Cora walked past him and hugged Rhonda. “We should dress him up,” she said softly.
Rhonda grinned and turned to look at Patrick. “With those black eyes, he should be a pirate I think.”
Kasey frowned. “He needs long scruffy hair…oh,” she turned to Cora. “Dade, now there’s a pirate.”
Cora smiled and bit her lip. “I preferred the white knight earlier.”
Rhonda’s mouth dropped and she reached to lift Cora’s hand. “Oh! He finally…you are…he did?”
Cora nodded.
Patrick leaned over and looked down at the ring on her hand. “There goes another one.”
Rhonda elbowed him, turning to glare up at him. “He didn’t die. He got engaged.”
Patrick shrugged down at her. “Same thing, isn’t it?”
Her mouth dropped open.
“Children,” Leena said quietly. “We have far too much to do tonight to bicker.”
Moving out of the line of fire, Patrick went over to sit down. “So,” he looked around, “the grooms are banished where?”
Kasey grinned. “They’re at Chris’s. We decided the night apart would be a good thing.”
He chuckled. “I’m willin’ to gamble none of them agreed to that.”
Rachel shrugged. “No, but it will give them time to get nervous.”
“That it will,” he agreed quietly.
“It’s my turn!” Steven ran past Owen, his Dracula cape flying out behind him.
Owen huffed out a breath, lifting his eye patch to look over at Chris and Dade. “Has anyone beaten him to the door tonight?”
Dade tipped his cowboy hat up and shook his head. “Nope, only ones we got to greet were those that appeared when he was flying across the lawn after the bullies.”
Chris scratched under his wizard hat and smirked. “I got pictures of that.”
Owen sat on the bottom step. “It’s going to be too late soon. The young ones will be heading home.” He looked at Steven coming back in taking his teeth out. “Then what the hell do we do to pass the time?”
Steven glanced at his watch. “Is that all it is? Shouldn’t it be midnight by now?”
Chris pointed his wand at him. “You do know you have to go through the ceremony, good wishes and reception before the honeymoon part, right?”
Sliding to the floor, Steven sighed. “Yeah, it’s not just that. Why can’t we be there helping or something?”
Owen nodded. “I worry about Lee overdoing it, Doc, she’s so tired.”
“She’ll be fine. Women, even pregnant, have a reserve energy none of us males have in our arsenal.” Steven assured him.
Dade smirked. “I hope so.”
Chris turned and raised an eyebrow at him.
Dade shrugged. “What?” He grinned. “While all of you are off having marital sex, I’ll be at home with Coralee having the nasty pre-marital sex.”
Steven groaned. “No sex talk tonight…we agreed.”
The doorbell rang, Owen reached over and held Steven’s arm while Dade and Chris bolted for the door, laughing.
“Not fair.” Steven grumbled.
Owen released him and leaned to see the trick-or-treaters at the door.
With a big smile on his face Chris opened the door. Seeing the people on the other side his grin faded. “Aunt Silvia? Uncle Chester?” He looked at Owen and then Dade, his eyes huge. “I thought you weren’t arriving until tomorrow.”
Dade stepped back as an older woman with an unpleasant expression pushed past him and walked in.
“We decided to come tonight. It will give us more time before you drag us into the woods tomorrow.” She brushed past Chris.
Dade just stood there looking at Chris, an astonished look on his face. The man behind her walked in and handed Dade a suitcase.
“There’s another bag in the car.” He walked past with his nose up.
Owen held his breath when Dade looked at Chris, then to the suitcase and back to the pompous man that brushed by him.
Chris grabbed the bag before his uncle wore it. “Uncle Chester. This man is my best man, not a servant.”
Uncle Chester turned and looked at them. “Why are you dressed like that Christopher?”
Chris shook his head. “Well now, it’s comfortable…” he sighed, “and it’s Halloween. I guess you didn’t notice the children running around dressed up.”
She turned again and nodded. “Yes, your cousin is outside now telling them to go home.”
“Noooooo.” Steven ran into the foyer past them all and went outside.
“You brought Michael?” Chris’s expression was a snarl.
His aunt walked into the living room. “Of course. We never thought you’d ever marry, although why it can’t be in a church like normal people, I’ll never know.”
“Guess we’re not normal,” Owen said quietly and extended his gloved hand. “I’d be one of the grooms. Dracula is the third.”
She looked down at his hand then back up to his face and offered a very brief smile, then went into the sitting room.
A polished blonde man walked into the house and looked slowly at Owen and Dade before sighing and turning to Chris. “Cousin Christopher.”
“Cousin Michael.” Chris said in a low voice.
“You may want to send your little friends home. Playtime is over.” With that he walked into the sitting room to join his parents.
Dade turned to give Chris an open-mouthed stare.
Steven came in the door and shut it loudly. He looked around at them then to Chris. “What…who?” He hissed.
Chris lifted his hands. “They’re early,” he mumbled quietly.
Owen walked over closer. “They’re staying?”
Chris shrugged.
“Christopher?” His aunt called from the living room.
“I’ll be right there,” he said quickly.
Dade hissed. “I am not staying here with them.”
Owen nodded in agreement.
“Chilin’ with you three when I would rather be with Cora is one thing but… that…” He pointed to the living room. “Is an experience I can do without.”
All their heads turned when his aunt walked back into the foyer. “Where is your bride, my dear? I wanted to meet her, before the ceremony.”
“He’s probably hiding her, she’s most likely some bimbo fortune hunter, mother.”
Chris’s head snapped around so quickly, Owen stepped in front of him. “It’s too bad you didn’t let Chris know you were arriving early, we were just about to leave when you got here.”
Steven looked at him then back to them slowly. “Yes, we have ah…”
“To go pick up the rest of the chairs for tomorrow,” Dade added quickly.
Chris exhaled slowly. “You will be fine here without me, won’t you?” He offered his most pleasant lawyer smile. “We can’t have our guests standing throughout the ceremony tomorrow, can we?”
Uncle Chester sighed. “I am going to go up and go to bed. Your aunt had me drive straight through.”
Chris inclined his head politely. “Of course, you know where the bedrooms are.” He looked quickly at Steven. “Could you give me a hand in the storage room for a moment, Doctor O’Reilly?”
Steven frowned, but nodded as Chris walked towards the temple room. “Absolutely.” He followed quickly hoping he only planned to secure the room and not get something to use on the very unwanted relatives.
Owen prodded Dade toward the door.
Rachel quickly put in her teeth and opened the door. She stepped back to see the men, costumes and all, standing there and grinning at her. Steven dropped to his knees and hugged her waist.
“Please, angel don’t send us back there, Chris’s Aunt Godzilla and Cousin Snotbag are there. They sent all the kids away.”
She ran her hand over his slicked back hair and looked at Chris. “Aunt Godzilla?”
Chris sighed. “They thought Dade was a servant.”
“Oh.” She grimaced. “And they’re still alive?”
Dade snarled, “Unfortunately.” His snarl disappeared as he looked at her costume.
“So, we just need to…” Kasey stopped when she saw the men. “Oh.” She launched herself into Chris’s arms and wrapped her legs around his waist. “You naughty wizard, you’re not supposed to be here.”
Chris grinned and watched the little antennae bounce above her head. “I’ve caught a fairy.” He smirked and then kissed her.
“Kase did you…” Leena stopped on the other side of the room and looked with huge eyes at the men. “A little old for trick or treating, aren’t they?”
Owen flipped his eye patch down and walked over to her. “Hey sexy witch, wanna come see my ship?”
Leena grinned and wrapped her arms around his chest. “Why are you here, Pirate Grey?”
He kissed her quickly. “Chris’s ah, relatives, very unpleasant relatives, invaded our guy space.”
“Remind me to never wear black while cooking again.” Cora walked in brushing the flour off the front of her skeleton tights. She stopped and looked around, grinning at Dade as he pushed his cowboy hat back and whistled at her costume. “Do you have Saddie with you too?”
Dade shook his head and walked toward her. “She wouldn’t fit in the van.” He stopped in front of her and looked her up and down a few times. “Need any help peeling those bones off, honey?” He placed his hands on her hips and pulled her closer to him.
“Dade Jones!”
Dade jumped and turned to see the older round woman coming from the kitchen. She had a smudge of flour on her dark cheek and was scowling. “Momma G,” he whispered. “What are you doing here?” He dropped his hands and stepped back from Cora.
The older woman walked right up to him and looked up. “Do you want to tell me why I had to hear second hand that you finally asked this beautiful woman to be your wife? Am I not a little more important in your life than that? I held you in my lap the first time you were at the temple…”
Dade stooped down and kissed her cheek softly. “Of course, you’re important. Things have just been…we had to get the things ready for the hand fast, and Halloween…”
She shook her head at him. “And why are you here?” Turning, she looked around at the other men’s startled faces.
Steven stood up and took out his teeth. Slowly he extended a hand. “Doctor O’Reily…”
“I know who you are,” she said quietly. “You’re the man that’s going to look after this lovely woman right here.” She motioned to Rachel.
He looked down at Rachel, grinned and then turned back nodding quickly. “For the rest of my life,” he said solemnly.
Rachel cuddled into his arm.
“And you.” Momma G pointed to Owen. “You have been back in town all these months and I haven’t heard from you once.”
Owen dropped his head down. “Sorry Momma G, life got crazy on me.”
She smiled and walked over, pulling his head down and kissed his cheek. “I know, Owen.” Gripping his cheeks, she smiled up at him. “Always were such a good boy.” She sniffled. “Your bride is beautiful person.”
Owen smiled down at her. “Yes, she is. I am a very lucky man.”
Nodding, she released his face.
Chris let Kasey go and took off his hat extending his hand toward the frightening woman. “Christopher Larkin, Ma’am.”
Momma G looked at him for a moment and took his hand. She didn’t shake it, just held it in hers. She looked up at him and spoke softly. “You’ll stay pure as the first snow, Mr. Larkin, or you’ll deal with me.”
Kasey smirked beside him.
Chris nodded. “Yes, ma’am.” He almost looked scared.
“Well now isn’t this a sight.” Patrick chuckled as he came out of the kitchen. “You gents get tired of each other?”
Steven grimaced. “No. Chris had some rude relatives arrive early, so we bailed.”
Patrick laughed. “Well whatever the reason, I’m just glad to see you. I was more than outnumbered here.”
Dade took off his hat. “And why are you allowed to be here and we’re not?”
“Someone had to give me a ride.” Rhonda stepped out from behind Patrick’s tall frame. “They won’t let me drive.” She hissed out a breath. “My hands move well enough, but I have no grip yet.”
Owen smiled and walked towards her. “Why didn’t you let me know darlin’? I would have tried to help.”
Rhonda smiled up at him then looked around to Momma G. “See,” she said with a grin.
Momma G laughed. “Oh, I know all about my, Owen. Raised him on my knee alongside that little trouble maker.” She smirked at Dade when his mouth dropped. “Always knew Owen had something in him.”
Owen grinned over at her. “You could have shared. It might have done me some good to know about this a long time ago.”
Momma G sat down. “Oh, things happen when they’re meant to, Owen, always.”
Owen sat on the table and motioned for Rhonda to sit on the couch.
Rhonda grinned as she sat down. “It’s one way to get a man to hold my hands.” She winked at him.
Patrick snorted and walked over and sat in the other chair. “I’m sure you don’t need the help.”
Rhonda shrugged. “Maybe. At least I didn’t before I looked like this.”
Owen looked up from the hand he held. “You mean you weren’t always this lovely?”
She grinned. “Sweet man.” Turning, she glanced at Leena. “Are you sure you want him?”
Leena nodded. “Oh, I think my heart’s set on him now.”
Rhonda sighed loudly. “You girls took all of them. You didn’t even leave any to share.”
Dade shrugged as he pulled Cora to his side. “Hey there’s always, Kevin.”
Patrick laughed. “Don’t sic her on that poor boy, he’d never make it.”
Rhonda glared at him.
Rachel held up her hand and took two steps then stopped and put her hand over her stomach. “Oh.” She turned quickly and headed up the stairs.
Steven looked around at everyone, then ran after her.
“Oh dear.” Momma G grinned. “Hopefully someone doesn’t have morning sickness on her wedding day.”
“I’m sure they’ll be more upset if it happens during their wedding night.” Chris said with a grin.
Kasey smacked him. “Is that all you men ever think about?”
Chris looked at Owen who shrugged as he picked up Rhonda’s other hand and then back to her. “Pretty much.”
Momma G threw her head back and laughed. “So much good emotion in this room right now I feel like dancing. Of course, these old bones don’t dance no more so I won’t.”
“I’m fine.” Rachel said quietly to Steven as they came back down the stairs. She stopped and grinned at everyone. “I got sick.”
Cora smiled. “Only you would be happy about that, Rachel.”
Leena looked at her watch. “You men have to go.”
Owen stood up from the table. “Baby…”
She shook her head. “I need to get some sleep so I’m not napping at my own handfast tomorrow.”
Kasey nodded and pouted at Chris. “She’s right.”
“So where are we supposed to go?” Steven asked hugging Rachel back into him and rubbing her tummy gently. “I’m not going back to stay with Aunt Godzilla.”
Dade shrugged. “I’m going home. I have to get up early and pick up all the food and stuff here before I even meet you guys to get ready.”
Owen sighed. “I guess Chris and I are crashing at your place, Doc.”
Steven looked up from nuzzling into Rachel’s neck. “Sounds good.” Then he looked at the women. “So where are you ladies going to be?”
Cora grinned, resting her head on Dade’s shoulder. “Not here. Kathy and Ralph will be here shortly. They’re going to stay and finish. We’re going to Lee’s.” She lifted her head and smiled at Dade. “I’ll be back in the morning to help you.”
He nodded.
Patrick stood up. “Is there room for another body at your place, O’Reily?”
Rhonda stood up flexing her hands. “Why don’t you go with Dade? I’m sure he could use a hand in the morning.”
Patrick looked at her and saw her looking down at her hands. “You’ll get a ride there then?”
She looked up and smiled. “I’m sure someone will give me a lift.”
Cora smiled. “Absolutely.”
Chapter 2 | Winter Mist (Magic Seasons Romance Series Part 5)
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Dade dropped down on the couch. “I’d offer you a beer, but you saw the pictures. I haven’t been able to think of one since, so I don’t have any.”
Patrick sat back and grinned. “I’m fine. Is there a story behind those pictures?”
Dade smirked. “A very stupid one. Let’s just say it doesn’t matter now that I’m engaged to her.”
“Ah.” Patrick smirked. “Say no more, I feel that.”
Dade studied him for a minute. “So…Rhonda?”
Patrick rubbed his hand over his face. “Damnedest woman I’ve ever met.”
Dade chuckled. “I thought as much.”
“What?” Patrick gave him a curious look.
“Don’t what me. I’ve seen the way you look at her.”
Patrick shook his head. “I had to watch her remember?”
Dade slid down and clasped his hands behind his head. “Had to. Past tense. Don’t now.”
Patrick shrugged. “She doesn’t have anyone; no family and her closest friend was the other woman we found with her…”
Dade hissed. “That’s gotta be rough on her. Her healing isn’t going as quickly as she’d like us to believe, is it?”
Patrick leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. Looking down at his hands, he shook his head. “No. No it isn’t. Her back still bothers her a lot. They’re talking about surgery to reduce the scarring, so the skin will stretch better or something.” He looked up at Dade. “She can barely manage to make a meal for herself or hold anything in her hands.” He stood up and paced away a few feet, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “She’s frustrated with it all, and I can’t blame her there.”
“You’re half in love with her.” Dade said quietly.
Patrick smirked at him. “Oh, I’d say more than half, but I can’t get near her. She’s got a whole lot going on right now and even if she jokes with all of you about it…a man complicating her life wouldn’t help right now.”
Dade sighed. “It might.”
Patrick shook his head and turned back to the window. “There’s more. I have to go back to work.” He turned and looked at him. “I took time I had coming to me after Mabon, she doesn’t know, but next week I have to go back. Then what?” He took a deep breath. “She’ll be stuck in her apartment with no one, she lives over an hour away, so it’s not like I could ask anyone of you to check on her.”
“You won’t be able to?”
Patrick shook his head. “No. I’m going in deep, something I set up before Beltane. Hopefully not for too long though.”
Dade sat and watched the man silently. He couldn’t do that. If Cora was in Rhonda’s position and he had to leave her, well, he’d be without a job. “Would she move here?”
Patrick raised an eyebrow. “Here with you?”
Dade grinned. “No. Here to this house. I plan on invading Cora’s until we’re married. I’ve waited too many years, and now that I have her, I’m not letting go, not even for the engagement.”
“Does Cora know this?”
He shrugged. “Deep down, probably. This place will be empty, Cora and I will be a few minutes away…”
“I could ask her, but there’s a problem there…”
“Afraid of a tiny redhead, Detective?”
Patrick smirked. “At times.” He sobered. “She’s going to think that I don’t think she can do it on her own, if I ask her.”
Dade sat forward. “Yeah, I get that. Let me talk to Cora tomorrow and see what she thinks can be done.” He sighed. “Does Rhonda know you’re going away?”
Patrick nodded. “She does.”
Dade stood up. “Leave it with me and I’ll get back to you.”
Patrick dropped down on the couch and let out a long sigh. “It’s appreciated. I can’t tell you how uncomfortable I’ve been.”
Dade grinned down at him. “Well, if you take as long to hook up with her as the rest of us did with the girls… get used to uncomfortable, it only gets worse.”
He leaned back. “Somethin’ to look forward to.” He sighed again. “She’s just…I dunno, sometimes I just want to pick her up and shelter her from the rest of the planet.”
Dade leaned his hip against the chair and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “I know that too well. Can I ask a dumb question?”
“You’re entitled.”
Dade grinned. “How the hell old are you? Sometimes I think you’re my age, and then sometimes you look like you’ve lived too many lives.”
Patrick grinned. “It’s been a long career in law enforcement. I’m only thirty-five—going on seventy-some days.”
“You’ve got a rough, worn out look about you, my friend. That cute little redhead might help lessen it a bit.” He scratched his head. “And how old is Miss Caruthers? Cuz’ sometimes she looks to be about sixteen.”
Patrick laughed. “Yeah, I’ve noticed, and then she opens that nasty mouth and spews something mean.” He shook his head. “She’s actually twenty-eight.”
Dade’s jaw dropped. “Really? Wow, well guess it doesn’t matter how you look at it then, she’ll always look younger.”
He frowned at him. “Go to bed Jones, you’ve made me old and haggard enough for one night.”
Dade straightened. “Always aim to help. See you around dawn. I have four thousand things I’m supposed to do tomorrow and no clue how.”
“That makes two of us then.” Patrick said quietly as he watched Dade walk out of the room.
Patrick really liked this group of people. He’d never met a better bunch of souls in his life. He hoped Rhonda would agree to move. It would certainly make life a lot better, for her and him. These new friends would look after her, he knew that. They’d continue to look after her if anything happened to him.
He’d never given much thought to the consequences of his job before. Just knew it had to be done and did it. Since watching those deep brown eyes of Rhonda’s open when she was in the hospital, he’d done nothing but think about the possibility of changing careers, or at least finding a safer place in his chosen field.
Those eyes. Before she could speak during her recovery, he’d understood every thought she conveyed. He wanted to share her thoughts, and could communicate mind to mind without speaking a word, but she’d been through so much, he hadn’t wanted to scare her.
Then he’d heard her voice, and thought it was soft and raspy because of her trauma, but it wasn’t. That was her voice. He loved to hear her talk, even if it was to cut him up or put him firmly in his place. He never thought to tell her he could talk to her anytime, from any place if he wanted.
Sighing, he leaned back to lie on the couch. When he closed his eyes, he could see her dancing in the blue outfit Leena had made for her. He grinned. The image of her moving so sensuously and raising those damn sexy gloved arms above her head kept him awake more than one night.
He remembered seeing freckles between her breasts and wanting to taste them. He sighed, the ones across her nose also demanded his attention. Now of course, he couldn’t look at her face without thinking of where else he would find freckles.
Yes, if she would move here, he’d at least know she would never have to be alone. There would be someone that could put the ointment on her back when it bothered her, as he had been doing. He’d even had to sneak around to do it at Mabon, because she refused to let the others know how much the dancing hurt her. She had more strength than any man he’d ever crossed paths with. Each time he ran his fingers gently over the scars… Her skin was so soft he’d had to control the urge to go find Charlie and scar him, each and every time. What person could ever look at her pale soft skin and mark it in that way? Look at that lovely face and see evil?
He closed his eyes again and his phone buzzed in his pocket. Digging it out, he looked at the number. It was her.
“Rhonda?”
She sighed loud enough for him to hear her over the phone. “Yes, it’s me. Oh, Patrick did you bring the red bag with us?”
He sat up. “I did. Do you need it? It’s in the trunk.”
She sighed again. “Damn. No. My back is bothering me a bit, but no you don’t have to bring it now.”
“Are you sure? I can run it over. You’ve overdone it again, haven’t you?”
“It’s ridiculous. I’ve done a whole lot of nothing…”
“It’s probably from the car ride. We should have brought an extra pillow to put behind you.”
She hissed out a breath. “I suppose. Will you be with Dade in the morning at Cora’s?”
He nodded to himself in the dark. “I will.”
“Okay, I’ll come back with her. It’s just… if I don’t use the ointment by then, I’ll be all tight and I don’t want to be miserable all day.”
He rubbed his eyes. “I can bring it now. It’s not a problem. You don’t want to be up all night and have suitcases under those pretty eyes for tomorrow.”
“I’m sure no one will stop to look at my eyes with the gowns these women have, Pat, but thank you.” She glanced at the clock. “I’ll be fine until morning. I’ll just lie on my side carefully until then.”
“If you’re sure.” He wanted to go and bring her back here where he could see she was all right.
“I am.”
He leaned back again. “Maybe you could have a soak in the tub that always seems to help a bit.”
“I think they’re finally getting ready to go to bed, so maybe I will.” She closed her eyes. “Thank you. I know I don’t tell you often, but I’d be lost without you, Pat.”
“It’s no trouble and you don’t have to thank me.” He smiled into the phone. “Looking out for you keeps me out of trouble.”
Rhonda laughed quietly. “Well, when you put it like that, I’ll have to make sure to need you more often.”
He closed his eyes and wished. “Feel free. Now go soak that lovely body of yours and get some rest. The curiosity over not allowing me to help you shop for the dress for tomorrow is keeping me awake.”
“You just get some rest, Detective Blaine, you promised me dances tomorrow evening.”
“I’ve not forgotten. I look forward to it. Good night, Rhonda.”
“Good night, Pat.”
He hung up the phone and rubbed his hands over his face again. She was moving here if he had to tie her up and make her.
“Was that Patrick you were giggling to?” Cora leaned in the door way smiling at her.
“I don’t recall giggling.” Rhonda motioned to the bed beside her and waited until Cora came and sat down. “In all the excitement of wedding preparations, engagements, and babies…except the whole throwing up part, I forgot to get my other bag from the car.” She looked down at her hand. “It has my ointment in it for my scars on my back.” She searched Cora’s pale, caring eyes. “They get tight sometimes and it’s uncomfortable.”
Cora straightened. “Do you want me to get it?”
She shook her head. “No, Pat will bring it to your place in the morning.” She sighed. “I just wish they could be like my face, those faded and never bother me, except when I look at my face, but otherwise they’re fine.”
Cora pushed the feathered red hair back from her face. “You can hardly see them and you still look like a sweet child. I’m jealous of you. I’m starting to look old and you’re like Little Orphan Annie.”
Rhonda grinned and dropped her head. “Well that’s the first I’ve heard that. Thank you, I think.”
“Do you want me to see if Lee has anything? You saw her herbal supplies, maybe she has something that will help.”
Rhonda shook her head. “No, I’ll be okay until the morning. I’m going to go have a bath and just soak them a bit.”
Cora nodded. “Okay then.” She blew out a breath. “I have to lie down. My feet are going to drop off shortly.”
“I’ll see you in the morning.”
Cora stood up and nodded. “Yes, tomorrow is going to be one very long day.” She smirked, “and, if my sexy fiancé has anything to say about it, a very long night.”
Rhonda groaned. “No sex talk. It’s been …. feels like forever for me now.” She pursed her lips. “Oh yes, way too long. Go away.”
Cora grinned and walked out of the room.
Rhonda looked down at her hands. It’s going to be a lot longer too, she thought. What man would want to touch a body marked like mine? Her hands weren’t a big issue, few cared about how a woman’s hands looked, but the marks on her back… they even bothered her to see.
They didn’t bother Patrick, which was good as he helped her when the scars were burning. Not once had she seen pity in that man’s eyes. What she usually glimpsed as he helped her was anger …then she just wanted to climb right up him and lick him.
She shook her head and got up. It was the twisted humor of karma that her only help would have to be a dangerous looking man, the kind of man she just admired the hell out of, hormonally speaking. When she’d opened her eyes in that hospital and saw him looking down at her she’d thought the gods were rewarding her for living through it. That feeling soon wore off when she found out how often he liked to tell her what to do.
Rhonda picked up her night shirt off the dresser and walked towards the bathroom. Unfortunately, he looked at her like she was a child, just like the rest of the world. Was it her fault her body stopped growing at five foot two? It was not. Nor was it her fault that she couldn’t develop wrinkles for some odd reason.
Enough self-pity, Rhonda, she ordered herself as she stepped into the bathroom. Life goes on and you’ll find a way.