Amaranda gave a sigh of relief as he moved on up the stairs, leaving her free to go down to the kitchen. Her heart was racing and she felt hot and clammy. And angry. And scared.
“Are you all right, dear?” Jerusha was already putting dirty clothes into the big hole in the machine.
“Yes, th–thank you,” Amaranda stammered. No I’m not!
Jerusha showed her how to sort the various colors of the clothes and put them into the machine with the washing tablet. Then she pointed out how to set it with a sort of computerized window before switching it on. Amaranda was amazed that they didn’t have to wash the clothes outside by hand.
Taneli passed them in the kitchen on his way back to the outside decking. He smiled at them politely. Jerusha studied him.
“Is he bothering you?” she whispered, once he had left them.
Amaranda stared at her. She was still a little shaky and dreading having to go back out there to sit with him again. But this was a family friend. She felt sick.
“Amaranda, if he makes you feel uncomfortable you must tell Eban,” Jerusha said firmly. “Taneli can be a bit full on, but you must tell Eban if you’re not happy with it. He is going to be your husband. You need to be able to tell him anything.”
A sigh escaped the young girl.
“I will,” she promised.
A pretty sound, which she now recognized as the doorbell, interrupted their thoughts. Amaranda waited in the kitchen while Jerusha went to answer it.
“Amaranda, this is Mitzi.” Jerusha gestured to a petite, very pretty young lady, about the same age as Eban. Her beautiful, wavy red hair swept over her shoulders and halfway down her back, and her big, green eyes shone as she looked over. She wore a pretty, pale-yellow dress and shiny black heels. Her face was stunning, and she was heavily made up. I need to get some makeup!
“Hi, Mitzi. Nice to meet you.” Amaranda wasn’t sure whether to shake hands or not, and her arm twitched nervously.
“Amaranda is going to be my daughter-in-law,” Jerusha announced, smiling.
Mitzi’s beautiful glowing face fell. She gave Amaranda a look up and down and smirked.
“You’re marrying Eban?” she asked derisively.
“Yes she is, and the family are very happy about it,” Jerusha informed her, placing a comforting arm around Amaranda.
“Mitzi! I thought I heard you!” Taneli arrived at the French windows and embraced the woman who threw herself into his arms.
Amaranda looked stunned. She felt very poorly dressed and ugly. There was obviously something going on that she did not know about, and she felt like she was about to cry. Mitzi obviously didn’t approve of her, so was this another family friend she was going to have to try to avoid? This just isn’t working!
Jerusha gave her a squeeze, trying to reassure her, before Eban arrived.
“Hi, Mitzi,” he said coolly.
“Eban, I heard you were back! How are you?” Mitzi pulled herself from Taneli’s arms and thrust herself straight into Eban’s.
He looked astonished at first, but then peeled her arms from around his neck.
“I hear you two have been seeing each other,” Eban said pointedly as he walked over to Amaranda.
“We sure have, man. Isn’t she gorgeous?” Taneli showed her off proudly.
“She is, but I think Amaranda is, too.” Eban planted a kiss on Amaranda’s burning cheek. “Have you met my fiancée?” He gave her a big hug as Jerusha went to put the kettle on again.
Amaranda sensed that she was in the middle of something she knew nothing about, and had just about had enough. She felt embarrassed that Eban was making a show of her in front of this woman who was obviously much more beautiful and savvy than she could ever hope to be, and no one had had the courtesy to explain why. Taneli was now all over Mitzi, after the stunt he had just pulled with her on the stairs, and she was seething.
“Yes, we’ve met,” Mitzi said, sniggering.
“So, you’re Taneli’s partner?” Amaranda tried not to sound angry but failed miserably.
Taneli stared at her as if he were afraid she were about to divulge his recent behavior. Perhaps I should! Mitzi looked at her a little quizzically and she felt Eban tense. Even Jerusha looked over, a little anxiously.
“Yes,” Mitzi replied slowly.
Amaranda bit her lip, debating whether to say anything further. At least she had their attention, and they could obviously see that she was not happy about being kept out of the loop!
Chapter 8
Before Amaranda had chance to speak the doorbell rang again.
“I’ll get that,” Jerusha said, relieved to escape the tension.
Amaranda and Mitzi stared at each other, each silently daring the other to speak. Taneli and Eban looked a little nervously at their partners, obviously wondering what was going on. Mitzi now wore a smug expression, as if debating whether to make another bitchy remark.
Just try it!
“Look who’s here.” Jerusha returned to the kitchen with another handsome young man.
“Pascal!” Eban reached out his hand to him before giving him a massive hug.
“Hey, man,” Taneli greeted his friend.
“Hi, how y’all doin’?” The new guy had a drawl that matched his effortless good looks. His hair was jet black and lay in tousled waves around his shoulders. His loose white shirt was unbuttoned almost to his navel and dark hairs covered his bronze, muscular chest. Everything about him seemed laid back and easygoing.
“This is my fiancée, Amaranda. Amaranda meet my good friend, Pascal Levine.”
“Hi, Amaranda, it’s real good to meet you, darlin’.” Pascal held out his large, warm hand and shook Amaranda’s firmly.
“It’s nice to meet you, Pascal.” Amaranda’s mood had instantly lifted.
Pascal’s big, brown eyes twinkled as he smiled broadly at her, his perfect teeth gleaming from his tanned face and luscious lips.
“Pascal, how lovely to see you again.” Mitzi pulled herself from Taneli’s arms and launched her lithe body into Pascal’s. He had no choice but to hold her. She kissed his cheek pointedly then glanced back at Amaranda as if to show her that this man was also her property.
“Why don’t you sit outside? I’ll bring some more tea.” Jerusha was already refilling the large, brown teapot.
Amaranda followed the others out into the garden. She was the last to arrive at the table, only to find that all the chairs had been taken.
“Oh dear, what a shame.” Mitzi smirked at her dilemma.
Pascal jumped up, but Eban shook his head.
“It’s OK, she can sit on my lap,” he said, turning so that Amaranda could climb on.
She grinned at the sour face that Mitzi pulled as she jumped onto Eban’s knee and put her arms around his neck.
“That’s much better,” Eban said with a big smile.
“You’ve got it right there, bro.” Pascal laughed.
Jerusha brought out a tray with the tea and some sandwiches and cake for them all, before returning to the kitchen.
“I heard you escaped the ship wreck,” Pascal said between mouthfuls of ham sandwich. “Were you the only one?”
“I’m afraid so.” Eban sighed.
“That’s got to be a miracle, man. How did you manage it?” Taneli looked curious.
“Well, actually, Amaranda saved me. I fell and hit my head and she swam out and rescued me. I would’ve drowned with the rest of them otherwise.” Eban gave Amaranda a tight squeeze.
“Did no one else get saved?” Taneli sounded disappointed.
“No, they mostly went down with the New World. Once she hit the rocks, she went down like a lead balloon. There was hardly time to jump off the deck before she sank.”
“But you managed it?” Taneli sounded accusatory.
Amaranda felt Eban stiffen slightly, his back straightened.
“Like I said, I hit my head when I jumped from the crow’s nest. I was unconscious when Amaranda rescued me. I didn’t see much o
f the others. I just know how quick she was going down so I threw myself into the sea.”
“And where was everyone else when this was happening? I presume you didn’t live on that island all on your lonesome, Amaranda?”
“They were on the main island,” Amaranda answered a little shakily. “I just happened to be on the outcrop at the time. Would anyone else like more tea?”
“Thank you, darlin’.” Pascal, who was sat next to her, held his cup up as Amaranda poured. “So when’re we gonna hear wedding bells?”
“We haven’t set a date yet,” Eban replied. “We’ve still got all the arranging to do.”
“Well, you know where I am if I can be of any help, brother,” Pascal offered, sipping his tea.
“I appreciate that, thank you.”
“Where are you having the wedding then, here or back on the island?” Taneli asked.
“We’re having it here. Mom and Dad would never forgive me if they missed out on a wedding!”
“You’ve got a good point there.” Pascal laughed.
“So what about your family, Amaranda? Will they be coming over?” Mitzi raised an eyebrow as she asked.
“Amaranda doesn’t have any family,” Eban explained flatly.
“Oh. How sad for you. Whatever happened to them?” Mitzi’s feigned concern was not fooling anyone.
“They drowned.” Amaranda felt a large lump forming in the back of her throat. She realized that she would have no one she knew at her wedding. Everyone would be Eban’s friends and family, not hers.
“Amaranda, I’m so sorry.” Pascal reached over and put a sympathetic hand on her hers.
She gave him a weak smile.
“How about some more of that yummy cake over there?” Pascal gestured, and Eban passed it over. “I tell you one thing, Amaranda, you’ll never starve in this family, your mom-in-law makes the best cakes I’ve ever tasted.”
Amaranda giggled as he cut the cherry cake and placed a slice on her plate as well as his own.
“That’s all right if you’re not watching your weight,” Mitzi sneered. “And it’s potential mother-in-law.”
The atmosphere turned to ice once again.
“There’s nothing more boring that a woman watching her weight, in my book,” Pascal announced. “Are you a good cook, Amaranda?”
“She is,” Eban answered before Amaranda had chance to open her mouth. Thank God!
“What kind of food do you like to cook, Amaranda?” Mitzi again!
“She cooks all sorts of food, Mitzi. How about you—what do you like to cook?” Eban’s tone was firm and pointed. Amaranda could feel him tense up again.
“I don’t cook, as you well know, deary, I don’t need to do my own cooking.”
“Well it’s probably just as well.” Pascal finished his cake with a contented sigh. “Now, I want to know what your plans are after the wedding, Eban. Are you going back to sea or are you planning to join these landlubbers around here?”
“I haven’t decided yet,” Eban said, a little more relaxed. “What are you doing at the moment, Pas?”
“Well, I’m working for a small company who ship cargo around the continent. All bulky or heavy stuff that can’t safely go by road or rail. A lot of it’s fairly local so I actually get home most nights. It’s a good job, good pay, too.”
Amaranda noticed Eban’s face light up.
“That sounds ideal,” he said. “Do you think they’d have anything I could do?”
“I’ll ask around if you’re interested, bro. I’ll let you know.”
“Thanks, Pas, I really appreciate it.” Eban looked happier than he had in hours.
“Well, we’d better be going,” Mitzi announced, gracefully standing up. All the men rose at once, much to Amaranda’s surprise, as Eban lifted her onto the ground.
Jerusha arrived just as they were saying their good-byes, and offered to see them to the door. Mitzi made a big production of hugging the men and kissing their cheeks, while Tan shook their hands. Amaranda automatically took a step backward as Taneli approached her, and held out her hand politely, grabbing Eban’s arm with her other.
“You’re very formal.” Taneli laughed as he went to put an arm around her shoulder, but Amaranda took another deliberate step backward and his arm was left hanging in the air.
“Yes, I am,” she said firmly, still offering him her hand.
Eban and Pascal looked a little surprised, but watched as Taneli politely shook her hand. Mitzi didn’t even bother to approach her, but just followed Jerusha back into the house.
There was a collective sigh of relief as the three of them turned back to the table and sat down again. Amaranda poured them another cup of tea, before sitting on the chair next to Eban. Although she had been quite happy sitting on his knee, she was aware that her weight must have made his leg quite tired after a while.
“Well, no change there, I see.” Eban rolled his eyes as he drank his tea.
“No, some things never change, brother,” Pascal said with a grin.
Amaranda looked at them quizzically. Now she had stood her ground with Taneli she was not about to be left out of the conversation again.
“What hasn’t changed?”
“Those two.” Pascal nodded toward the French windows.
“I’d forgotten just how bitchy Mitzi could be,” Eban mused.
“Oh, she can be a lot more bitchy than that, trust me,” Pascal said. “You got off lightly there, bro’.”
Amaranda would have assumed that Pascal was referring to the incident that had just occurred had it not been for the looks that passed between the two men, and Eban’s unsettled demeanor.
“How come Taneli’s so interested in the shipwreck?” Eban queried.
“I believe he had a friend on board—Greenberg, I think it was? He was one of the hands, a contractor. He’d worked on quite a few different jobs from here. Never stuck to a job long, don’t know why.”
“I didn’t know him,” Eban said, shaking his head.
“I’ve seen him around the docks a bit. Didn’t usually do the local stuff I deal with, he used to prefer the cross-continental work.”
“That must have been hard for Tan, then. I didn’t realize he had a friend on board. I suppose that explains all the questions.”
“Yeah, maybe. I thought he was just being awkward. He has terrific mood swings these days, Eban, I don’t know what’s wrong with him. He used to take real good care of himself and lived in a dead smart apartment, always splashing the cash. If you don’t mind my saying, I think that’s why Mitzi got with him. Anyway, lately he’s moved to a smaller place in the dock area, real dingy it is. Seems to be having cash flow problems, between you and me, but I don’t understand why. He’s still in the same job, working the same hours. I’m afraid he might be in some kind of trouble.”
“You don’t think he’s depressed because he lost, who was it, Greenberg?” Eban frowned.
“I don’t think so. When it was announced that the New World had gone down he was furious! He went home and trashed his own apartment before getting out of his head on booze. I suppose it could have been a cover-up for grief, but we all thought he’d finally flipped. Didn’t see him for days afterward.”
“That’s awful.” Amaranda spoke quietly. Although she didn’t much like Taneli, she didn’t like to think of him being upset or in trouble.
“Yeah, well, just thought I’d better mention it in case you hear anything,” Pascal said as he rose from his seat. “I’d best be off. Early start in the mornin’.”
“Well thanks for coming over, brother, I really appreciate it,” Eban said, giving his friend a quick hug.
Pascal held his hand out to shake Amaranda’s, which she did with a smile. His warm hand enveloped hers and his handshake felt sincere.
“Lovely to meet you, Amaranda, I look forward to seeing you again sometime soon,” he said with a grin.
“You, too,” she said, beaming at him.
Eban saw his frie
nd to the door while Amaranda tidied away the dishes and took them into the kitchen. Time for a proper talk.
“I’ll put those in the dishwasher in a minute,” Jerusha offered. “You go and spend some time with Eban.”
“You have a machine that washes your dishes?” Amaranda was astounded.
“Yes we do,” Jerusha said with a laugh, “I’ll show you how to work it sometime.”
“Not right now, Mom, I’ve got plans for my fiancée right this minute.” Eban filled the kitchen doorway. His face was determined and his blue eyes sparkled with lust.
“You go ahead. I’ll call you when dinner’s ready,” Jerusha said with a grin.
Amaranda flushed.
“Ready?” He held a hand out to her and she took a deep breath, her heart pounding all of a sudden. Eban looked absolutely gorgeous standing there waiting expectantly. She walked over to him and took his hand. She could feel his heat as soon as she got close, and felt a hot glow in her belly. He led her upstairs into their bedroom.
“Eban, we need to talk.” It was supposed to sound firm, but instead it came out breathless.
“Later,” he said, closing the door without taking his eyes off her. He removed his shirt, still staring at her as she stood, trembling in front of the bed. His bronzed muscles rippled as he moved, throwing the shirt onto a chair.
“Take off that shirt.” It sounded like an order, though he didn’t shout. Her shaking hands automatically went for the belt, which she threw onto the chair with his shirt. She was trembling so much that it was hard to unfasten the buttons, but he stared at her calmly as she persevered. That look alone was making her wet between her legs.
He waited patiently as she removed the shirt and threw it with the rest of the clothes. She reminded herself that she was wearing her bikini, as she had all the time on Refrainia, but somehow she already felt naked. Heat flared through her as she felt him studying her. Normally this would have made her feel very self-conscious, but the adoring look in his eyes made her feel beautiful.
“Now the bra,” he said after a while.
Her eyes met his. Fire radiated from him, and his commanding tone made her tingle. She quickly unfastened her bikini bra and removed it, throwing it onto the chair. Her heart was beating so loud it was deafening. Her breathing was becoming more rapid by the second. She could feel herself getting wetter as she gazed at him, waiting.
Scourge of the Siren Page 7