Red Hot

by Ann B. Harrison

  So much for total honesty.

  It was all he had asked for and she had let him down.

  Picking up the phone, he dialed an outside line.

  “Hey, it’s me. Guess what, we cracked another milestone today. Human trials can start next month.”

  “Why are you telling me, bro? Sure I’m happy for you and all but don’t you think you should be telling Rhian?” Jake sighed loudly. “Man, get over it. So she didn’t tell you, big fucking deal. You love her, let it go.”

  “I don’t know if I can, Jake. All I asked for was honesty and she promised. What if it happens again? I can’t live like that. I had enough with Eleanor. I thought Rhian was different.” He cradled his forehead in his hand. “She’s different, Jake.”

  “You got that right. She is different and she’s nothing like that selfish frigid bitch, Eleanor. I thought that would have told you something at least. Look, Red, I love you buddy, really I do. But this has to stop. You need to be calling her every day and telling her what you’re doing, not me. I have a job to do and as much as this phone thing with you is awesome, I would rather be doing it with a chick. Get my drift?”

  “Yeah, I get it.” Red leaned back in his chair and grimaced at how this was affecting Jake. “Sorry, didn’t want you to feel like you were a surrogate or anything. Bye.”

  He hung up the phone and sat watching it. This couldn’t go on. He had to sort out his shit before it drove him crazy.

  Chapter 10

  Red got off the bike, took his helmet off, and placed it on the seat. His gaze locked on hers and he took a parcel from under the seat before he walked toward her. She stood her ground, looking like she didn't know whether to run to him or from him. He stopped in front of her. “You forgot this.” He handed over the package.

  Rhian took the parcel he had given her last week and smiled sadly when she realized it was her frog from Carmel.

  “Why? You could have posted it, saved yourself the ride, Red.”

  Red looked down at her, his heart aching with emotion. He’d had a hell of a week with Jake on his back and his own feelings being tossed around. His whole life had been structured and safe. He always knew what was going to happen and where he was headed. This blonde bombshell had thrown all of that out of the water.

  He no longer knew his visions for the future and beliefs he grew up with were the right ones or even the ones he should be living. What he thought was real and true no longer was. Science couldn't help him here. He didn't know where to start.

  “Yeah, I could but that would be cowardly. If I know nothing else, it's that.” He looked away and then met her eyes again. “Jake belted my ass all week over this and I think he's right. Just listen to me, please.” He held out his hand but she turned away and sat on the daybed watching him.

  “I was brought up differently from you. You know that. I'm the child of a scientist and a mother who lived in her husband's world. It made sense I would be just like them. I don't regret it. What I do regret is growing up with such a closed mind. I can't deny what you are. I don't understand it but it is what it is. I get that.” He coughed and picked a flower from her garden, bringing it to his nose to smell. Twirling it between his fingers he continued. “We are so different but then again, we're not. Both determined to be right, both thinking we're doing the right thing. I know you were only trying to do the something special for me, Rhian but I should have had a say. They are my eyes after all and you can't go and take over someone's life because you decide it’s best for them.” He watched her shoulders drooping lower in defeat but he had to get it off his chest. “I know you have a good heart but I have to make my own decisions. That’s why Eleanor and I broke up. She wanted to run my life but you knew that. It's the reason I lost it the other night. I have to have control of my own destiny.”

  “I know and I'm sorry. More sorry than you know. I overstepped the boundaries and the Fates will no doubt want payment, they always do. I should have listened to May and I did try but I admit I didn't try hard enough.” She stood up and walked over to him, running a finger down his arm, before she grasped his hand. “I was scared of how you would react. You know, I've seen it before so I wanted to be cautious with you. Tell a man you’re a witch and they run a mile. It kind of puts you on the defensive, you understand. When the Fates threw you at my feet, I thought it would be different but I guess I let myself believe what I wanted to.”

  * * * *

  Rhian looked at their joined fingers and smiled at him, trying to lighten the mood but feeling she had failed miserably. “I understand you wanting to stand up for yourself. You are a man after all. I thank you for bringing me my gift. I'll treasure it always.”

  She let go of his hand and turned toward the cottage willing herself to get inside before she broke down in tears.

  “Rhian, stop.”

  She halted, her shoulders tensing for another onslaught. “Just go, Red, please. I heard what you said and I understand. You were courageous enough to come and tell me to my face. I accept it. Thank you and goodbye.”

  “I'm not dumping you. I'm trying to explain how I feel and if I've fucked it up, I'm sorry. You know I suck at this dating game.” He walked toward her, and she turned to watch him, her heart racing with his words. “Hell, just look at my past failures and you can see. I don't want to lose you. I just don't know how to do this. How to let us both live with who we are without taking over the other’s life. I need your help, Rhian. I want you in my life, magic or not. I don't care. I accept what you are. Just stay with me and work through this with me, please.”

  She squeezed her eyes tight and sucked in a huge breath. Wiping her tears with the back of her hand she lifted her gaze slowly to meet his. He was standing holding a wilting flower in his hands, looking like the little lost boy she’d met when he crashed his bike to avoid the orphaned fawn.

  “Oh Red, what have I done to deserve you?” She smiled and the tears rolled freely down her face. She ran to him, laughing with joy. Wrapping her arms around his neck she kissed him, her salty tears on their lips.

  “Call it Fate if you will. I think that was how Jake described it to me. Besides, I don’t want to miss out on our next year’s new family tradition.”

  “And what would that be?”

  “Valentine’s Day, I want to follow in my mother’s footsteps and rekindle our love each year. I kind of stuffed up this last one so I’m begging for another chance.”

  “You sweet man. It’s a date.” Rhian ran her finger over his bottom lip and along his chin before pulling him down into a searing hot kiss. She stepped back and lowered her hands to his bulging erection. “But in the meantime, I think we have some making up to do. Your call, Red. Out here in the garden or in the bedroom?”

  Other Books by Ann B. Harrison

  Taming the Outback

  A Mistress for Magnus

  Witchling: Curse of Kin series

  About Ann B. Harrison

  Ann swears she was born with a book in her hand and has never put it down. A lifelong love of reading has finally culminated in achieving her dream of writing…and publication.

  She lives in the middle of the desert in Australia in a small mining town with her own handsome hero of many years. Ann has always loved the ups and downs of life in small communities and she shares this with readers in her romances.

  Strong, spunky heroines with a good dose of sass thrown in feature in her stories. Of course these women need an equally strong hero. Bring on the hero and watch the passion ignite.

  Ann’s website: http://annbharrison.com

 

 

 
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