Mind Waves
Page 26
She had purposely kept herself from thoughts of the girl because whenever she did David’s face tightened and his body stiffened—she glanced at him—like it was doing right now. If he loved her, why was it so hard for him to open up to her? “Who is she, David? The girl? Why won’t you tell me about her?”
“It was a long time ago,ˮ he said tightly, dodging her yet again. “It wouldn’t serve any purpose to bring it up now.”
The hell it wouldn’t. “I know you don’t want to share her with me. She was that dear to you. But that’s exactly why I need to know about her. If you love me like you say you do, you’d trust me. How can I be with a man who loves a ghost more than me?”
He took his hands from his pockets and rubbed his forehead. “You’re wrong, Grace. I do love you. And I’m not angry with you for wanting to know. It’s not that. It’s…Meg is…I have trouble reliving it.”
He was showing a chink in his armor. She couldn’t let the opportunity slip away. “I promise if you tell me, you’ll never have to talk about it again. I won’t pester you about it. But David, you have to understand. I have these memories that aren’t mine, and I need closure. I need to know what happened. Who is she to you? How does she fit into your life, your past? I’d ask Sophia or your Mom, but I need to hear it from you.”
Holding her breath, Grace crossed her fingers behind her back. David looked out to the lake, the choppy waves matching his expression. He glanced her way and sighed.
“I don’t suppose you’ll be happy with anything but the full story?”
She smiled, hoping she looked encouraging. He inhaled, his nostrils flaring, and looked back toward Lake Erie. “All right. What do you want to know?”
“She’s dead, right?”
“Yes.”
“And you feel guilty. Why?”
He put a hand across his forehead, shielding his eyes. “Because I killed her.”
“How can that be? You loved her. She was dear to you. You grew up together. I see…I see you as children. Was she your childhood sweetheart?”
“Yes, but not in the way you’re imagining. We were…a team, Meg and I.”
“She was your trainer.”
“Yes.” He nodded. “But more than that, she was my twin.”
“Oh, my God. David, I’m so sorry…”
He waved off her reaction. “You wanted to know. And I’m only going to say this once. Twins are a rarity in my family. When they happen, everyone knows they’ll make a strong team. We were groomed from the beginning. And we were incredible together…” His voice cracked, and he paused to collect himself before continuing. “Unstoppable. Meg always knew when I was upset. She knew how to calm me and keep me focused.”
Grace’s heart broke for him. “She sounds wonderful,” Grace whispered.
“She was…she is…very special.” He turned and made his way to the nearby rock, leaning against it as if it were propping him up. “The day Meg died…” He shuddered. “It was my fault.”
Compassion drove Grace straight toward him. “Impossible,” she denied with conviction. “You would never hurt her.”
David was silent, his expression inscrutable. Grace allowed him a few moments more to collect himself before asking quietly, “What happened?”
He didn’t tell her. He showed her. Grace still had trouble getting used to the way David could share his mind with her. But she had to admit, it made it easier for her to understand. Memories flickered by like a rolling film, and Grace was a horrified, silent spectator as the sister he loved more than life itself put herself in harm’s way to rescue David. He’d made it out. The rest of the crew and his twin had not.
Now do you understand? Grace knew he did not vocalize the words because he couldn’t.
She was having trouble speaking as well. She had no doubt it was Kyle Willard who had killed David’s sister. The same madman who had tried to kidnap her and kill David. She put her hand on David’s back, rubbing softly. “Oh, David. You blame yourself for something you had no control over. You didn’t kill Meg. You loved her. And she loved you. She would not want you to blame yourself for her death. She would not want you to be in so much pain.”
David was silent, his body hunched. Grace moved closer and took his face in her hands, forcing him to look at her.
“David. I saw what you did. You barely got out alive. Would your sister have wanted you to die, too? You know she wouldn’t. You did everything you could to save her. The situation was out of your hands.”
He didn’t speak, didn’t react.
She tried again. “Do you remember when you told me I might be falling for you, but I wouldn’t acknowledge it?”
Grace took his faint nod for a yes. “I knew I loved you then. But I didn’t trust you…didn’t believe in my good fortune. Do you remember what you told me?”
David remained silent, but Grace knew he remembered by the flicker of recognition in his remarkable eyes.
“You told me I didn’t have to believe you, but you wouldn’t let me shut you out. Well, you don’t have to believe what I’m telling you, but if you want to be with me, you can’t shut me out. You have to learn to trust me as well, David. Or we have nothing.”
Strong arms reached out, pulling her close. “You’re stubborn, but that’s why I love you.”
He held her for a long moment, then pulled back to touch her face. “Of course I trust you. I’m just not…used to sharing my feelings with anyone.”
“David…”
“Control has been drilled into my head since I was a boy, Grace. It’s a very hard habit to break.”
She nodded, trying her best to understand.
“But I can see I’m going to need to start sharing if I want you,” David added sagely. “And I do want you, Grace Woznisky.”
He leaned down and kissed her, his mouth firm on hers. She savored the moment, savored his newfound trust in her, savored the slow heat of desire building between them. But she was not done with this conversation yet.
Pulling her head away, she spoke quietly. “You’re not responsible for your sister’s death, David Jenkins. Do you hear me? The hacker took that from you. And he tried to kill me, too. You prevented that. I know one does not cancel out the other, but it’s past time to let go of the guilt you feel. You did everything you could for Meg. Just like you did for me. To protect me.”
After a long, tense moment of consideration, he smiled at her. “Meg would have loved you.ˮ He reached for her hand. “C’mon, let’s get your stuff and go to the cottage.”
“I wish I could have met Meg,” Grace said, as they reached the bench holding her suitcases. “But I feel like I have, through you. She’s part of who you are, David—your brave and honorable spirit.”
David moved to collect her luggage, then paused instead to bend and pick up a small piece of green glass next to her feet. Staring at it in his hand, he said softly, “Meg was with me for every important event in my life, and I feel like she’s with me now.” He paused, handing Grace the glass. “Now do you believe me when I say you’re the only one for me?”
Grace nodded, happily.
“The day Meg died, she wondered if either one of us would ever fall in love and get married. She believed in happily ever after. And you know what? So do I.”
Without warning, David slowly dropped on bended knee, pulling a small box from the pocket of his trousers. Grace’s stomach took a nosedive and her heartbeat soared, as she realized what was happening. She couldn’t help but look around wildly to see if anyone was watching them, to see if there would be any witnesses to what she both hoped and feared was about to happen.
They were alone.
David smiled, as if he knew every careening thought in her head. “Grace Woznisky, I have been carrying this ring around all month, waiting for the right moment to give it to you, and I feel like it’s now. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
He waited patiently, his green eyes watchful, his smile firm and steady. Grace thought sh
e might pass out from the excitement.
“I thought you’d never ask,” she finally blurted, pulling him up and into her arms so he could hold her steady.
Laughing, he did just as she wished, surrounding her with his strong, solid arms. As they continued to gaze at each other, smiling and silent, tears misted in her eyes as a deep joy filled her heart. Then, tenderly, David released her to place the sparkling emerald cut diamond ring on her finger.
The orange portal glowed and beckoned between them, and he entered. I love you, Grace Wosnisky. Will you marry me?
Yes, my beloved David. Oh, yes.
David smiled again, then bent his head and kissed her there on the beach, until Grace was positive they’d better get inside.
“David,” she finally managed breathlessly as he turned his attention toward nuzzling the side of her neck in that sweet, sensitive spot just below her ear. “Do you think we ought to check on Oliver?”
His warm, knowing grin sent waves of love cascading through her. “You read my mind.”
A word about the author…
Amanda Uhl has always had a fascination with the mystical. Having drawn her first breath in a century home rumored to be haunted, you might say she was “born” into it. After a brief stint in college as a paid psychic, Amanda graduated with a bachelor of fine arts in theatre and a master’s degree in marketing. Over the past twenty years, she has worked as an admissions representative and graphic designer, owned her own freelance writing company, and managed communications for several Fortune 500 companies, most recently specializing in cyber security. Amanda is an avid reader and writes fast-paced, paranormal romantic suspense and humorous contemporary romance from her home in Cleveland, Ohio. When she’s not reading or writing, you can find Amanda with her husband and three children, gathering beach glass on the Lake Erie shoreline or biking in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
For a sneak peek at the second book in her
Mind Hacker Series, Geneva and Rolfʼs story,
please visit Amanda online at
www.amandauhl.com
www.facebook.com/amandauhlauthor
Twitter at @AuAuthor
Thank you for purchasing
this publication of The Wild Rose Press, Inc.