Sweet Reckoning

by Higgins, Wendy

  I gave a dry laugh, though I knew he was being serious. I was feeling tight all over, too.

  “I know, baby,” I whispered, squeezing his bicep. Yeah, touching him wasn’t helping my frame of mind much either. I dropped my hand. “Let’s get back to the house so we can tell each other everything and then . . . yeah.”

  “Yeah,” he breathed, eyes blazing.

  I shivered.

  “This is all your fault, you know.” A naughty smile appeared on his lips, and with a flush to my cheeks I remembered the cell-phone picture.

  The mother and daughter came out of the restroom, passing us. Kaidan gave me a hopeful look and I shook my head. I was not going in there again.

  “Come on, Kai. I have stuff to tell you. Big stuff.”

  He studied me. “Are you all right?”

  I wanted to tell him everything, but not out in the open like this.

  I pulled clothes on over my bathing suit, got Jay, and we headed back to the house. Kaidan kept catching my eye in long gazes, conveying wordless promises that made my blood rush faster.

  “Focus,” I told him under my breath.

  At the house Patti hugged Kaidan, and it’d been a long time since I’d seen her so happy. She continued to hum as she bustled around the kitchen, her mouth tilting up while she chopped and shredded.

  I sat with Kaidan and Jay, and we talked.

  Kai said, “I suppose my father decided to make the change of the guard, because Richard Rowe died three days ago.”

  “Change of the guard?” Jay asked.

  “It’s when they get rid of their bodies,” I explained. “The old body dies when their spirit leaves it, and they have to possess a new one—start a new life.”

  “Nasty,” Jay whispered.

  “My father was going to wait a few years, but he must’ve changed his mind,” Kai said, looking at me. “I’ve worried he’d come to you as a spirit and you wouldn’t recognize him, but he’d need a body to smell you, so I’m guessing we still have time. It can take a while.”

  “Yeah,” I said. “About that . . . he found a body.”

  Kaidan bolted upright. “You’ve seen him?”

  “Yes. He’s about your age, maybe a little older. Tall. Blond.”

  His jaw tightened. “When did you see him? What did he say? Did he touch you?”

  I told him everything. He stared at the wall, and pulled out his knife as he listened. He continued to open it. Close it. Spin it on his palm. Weave it through his fingers. Jay and I gave it nervous glances.

  “Bloody hell . . .” Kaidan thought for a while then shoved the closed knife back into his pocket. “Would you say he’s better looking than me?”

  Jay laughed. “Dude. Weird.”

  “I’m only curious,” Kaidan said.

  “Ew, Kai, no. I can’t even think of him like that. His eyes are pure evil. I don’t know how anyone can look at him and not get a bad feeling.”

  “They probably do get a bad feeling,” said Jay. “But they like it. They feel like he’s dangerous or something.”

  Oh, he was dangerous, all right. I rubbed my temples.

  The doorbell rang, and Jay practically tripped over his own feet jumping up.

  Kaidan slipped an arm around me. “You did well. That’s over, and we’ll be safe for a bit now.” He kissed my temple, then bit my earlobe, pulling me closer. I lifted my face to kiss him since we were semialone. As soon as his hot mouth met mine, I wished we were really alone.

  “I can’t stop thinking about you,” he whispered. His words and touch held an urgency that was stronger than it had been before we married, like his self-control had lessened now that we’d been together. This was going to be a long day.

  From the kitchen I heard Patti set down her stirring spoon with a clatter and say, “Well, hello, Kope. And you must be Zania! I’m so happy to finally meet you.”

  I smiled up at Kaidan’s handsome face before getting to my feet.

  “Z!” I ran, crashing into her in the kitchen. We hugged tight, and I smiled at Kopano over her shoulder. He gave me a half grin. More people were coming in behind him.

  “Well, if it isn’t my sweet Ginger!” Patti said now. “And Marna! And you’re Blake, right?”

  I couldn’t even bring myself to scoff at the “sweet Ginger” comment. We had a house full of friends and the kitchen smelled divine. The holiday had officially begun.

  UNCORRECTED E-PROOF—NOT FOR SALE

  HarperCollins Publishers

  ..................................................................

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  LOVE IN THE AIR

  We all stood in the kitchen talking over one another. Marna and I noticed at the same time when Zania made her way back to Kopano’s side and slipped her arm snuggly under his. And then they shared a look so tender that Marna turned and gave me a hand-over-her-heart “Aww!” face. She then wrapped her arms around Jay, and they stood there holding each other with their eyes closed. So much emotion filled the room, but one stood out above the rest. . . .

  Love was in the air.

  Among other things. Like lust. And the smell of turkey. A weird combo.

  Kaidan finally made his way into the kitchen with a serious demeanor. He greeted everyone, but whenever his eyes met mine, the air got hotter until a palpable tension had woven its way around the room. I could feel the warm sunbeam of his stare on me, though I pretended to ignore it. Our friends kept eyeing us. Even Patti noticed.

  She regarded Kaidan with curiosity, as if trying to figure him out. When she saw him looking at me, her brow went up. She cleared her throat and dropped her eyes, mumbling, “All righty then,” and busied herself basting the turkey.

  Okay, this was seriously getting embarrassing. I eyed Kaidan as if to say, Behave yourself! He cocked his head as if to say, I can’t bloody help it!

  When Patti left the kitchen to make the guest bed, I suddenly smelled his citrusy pheromones from across the room, and they made me light-headed. I hoped no one else would notice.

  “Blech. The newlyweds are hot for each other,” Ginger said.

  So much for that hope. Heat traveled from my neck up to my face.

  “Perhaps the whole lot of you can take a walk,” Kaidan said, dead serious.

  My eyes got huge. “Kaidan, no!”

  Blake, Jay, and Marna started laughing. Ginger rolled her eyes, and I couldn’t bring myself to look at Kope and Z.

  But Kopano, choosing to ignore the sexual tension despite his own inclination toward lust, stepped forward and held out his hand.

  “Congratulations, brother. I am happy for your blessing.”

  Kaidan took his offering and shook. “Thank you, mate. I’m glad to see you happy, as well.” He nodded to Zania, who returned his nod and gifted him with one of her regal smiles. When Kope came to me and with an outstretched hand I ignored it, going up on my toes to hug him instead. He chuckled and hugged me back before returning to Z’s side. Kaidan watched the whole time, but thankfully didn’t get upset.

  I wish I could say the tension dissipated after that. Kaidan leaned against the counter watching me, his thumb running back and forth over his bottom lip. My whole body prickled with a flush of heat, and I tried not to look at him. His need for me became the elephant in the room that everyone pretended to ignore. I thought about sending him upstairs for a cold shower.

  Patti bounded back into the room, and I plastered the fakest smile ever on my face.

  “How much longer until the feast?” I asked.

  “About one hour,” she said. She was busy peeling potatoes into the sink. “Did you get any whipped cream for the pies? I didn’t see any.”

  “No.” Rats. I knew I was forgetting something.

  “We’ll go to the market!” Kaidan suggested quickly. “Anna and I. For the whipped cream.” He sidled up to me, putting his arm around my shoulder. He felt like a heater.

  I closed my eyes for a brief moment, the fake smile still in place.
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br />   “That’d be great,” Patti said. I saw some of the snickers being held back, people on the verge of laughing. Marna waggled her eyebrows at me. Even Kope and Zania shared a quick bashful glance before looking down. Patti’s attention remained on the potatoes. If she had any idea what was going on, she kept her knowledge hidden, and for that I was glad.

  “Just don’t be too long,” Patti said, never looking up.

  Yeah, she totally knew.

  This wasn’t awkward at all. I glared up at Kaidan, but he only smiled adoringly. Blake and Jay were still trying not to laugh as I grabbed my keys and headed out of the house with Kai hot on my tail.

  No sooner had we climbed into the car than Kaidan was on me.

  “Not in the driveway!” I whispered, slapping away his hand as it sneaked up my shirt. His mouth found my neck and that place under my ear that made me crazy. I threw the car into reverse and sped away from the house.

  “I haven’t stopped thinking about you,” he said against my skin. “It’s worse than ever. Now I have these images of you that play through my mind nonstop, driving me mad.”

  It was really hard to concentrate on driving while a hot mass of passionate boy was all over me, saying things that made my brain fuzzy.

  “What if people at the house are listening?” I asked.

  “Don’t care,” he said, still nuzzling my neck.

  At the end of Patti’s neighborhood were three lots of new houses under construction. It was early on a weekend evening, so nobody was there. I parked out of sight in the cul-de-sac.

  “How’s this?” I asked.

  His response was to lift me as if I were weightless onto his lap to straddle him. We kissed hard, yanking down clothes and leaning back his seat with a jolt.

  “God, you’re so beautiful, Anna. I can’t even think.”

  “Then don’t,” I said, bringing my mouth down on his again.

  Afterward I lay on his chest, our touches more gentle. Kaidan’s eyes seemed to clear, and he sat up on his elbows, frowning down on me.

  “I’m a right prick.”

  “Kai . . .”

  “A complete bastard.” He sat us both up all the way and took my face earnestly in his hands, pressing his creased forehead to mine. “I’m sorry, luv.”

  “It’s okay.”

  “We’re in the bleedin’ car, out in the open in your mum’s neighborhood! You can’t possibly have been comfortable with that.”

  “Nobody saw. It was kind of . . . nice.” Hot. I dropped my eyes, feeling shy for saying it. “I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t want to.”

  His forehead smoothed. His cheeks were a little flushed, and he looked so cute that I wanted to kiss him again.

  Better not.

  “Seriously, though,” I said, leaning down to grab my bottoms from the floor of the car, “you have to get a grip in front of the others.” I kissed his cheek and pulled my clothes back on, which was hard to do in his lap, but I managed.

  He wrapped his arms around me, setting his chin on my head.

  “I know. I’m sorry. I’ve been a disaster since the Grand Canyon, and cold showers aren’t cutting it. You’re all I think about—and not just the sex. I thought it was bad before, but now . . . I feel you with me all the time. I’m like one of those obsessed lads.”

  Giving his handsome cheek a pat, I slid into the driver’s seat.

  “Well, I’ve felt like that about you since, like, forever.” He smirked as if he thought I was exaggerating. “Let’s go to the store and hurry back.”

  “You know,” Kaidan said as I drove, “if it makes you feel any better about my behavior, Blake and Ginger are going at it in the upstairs bathroom right now.”

  “Agh!” I cringed. “Please tell me you’re not listening!”

  He laughed and crinkled his nose. “No, I stopped when I realized . . . Gin’s like my sister.” He shuddered. Then I shuddered, and we both laughed.

  We were quick at the store, rushing home afterward, where thankfully Blake and Ginger were back with the others. Kaidan and Blake gave each other nods.

  In the kitchen it was time to put the toppings on Patti’s myriad of casseroles. Ginger was crushing crackers while Marna grated cheese. Kaidan leaned in the doorway with his arms crossed, watching with a look of contentment. Patti basted the turkey and checked its temperature. I was whipping lumps from the mashed potatoes when Kaidan came up behind me and slipped his hands around my waist, laying his chin on my shoulder.

  “No boys allowed,” Patti teased. She reached up to ruffle his hair. “Unless you want to cook.”

  He made a pouty face, which made everyone except Ginger giggle. But when they went back to working, he shot me a serious glance from the doorway, looking me up and down with a pained expression before disappearing into the other room with the guys and Zania.

  I sighed. My man really needed to stay out of the kitchen.

  “I think we should play games tonight,” Patti said. “What do you girls think?”

  Ginger smiled. “That sounds lovely!”

  It did? Had she been possessed by an angel or something?

  Patti bumped her hip to Ginger’s and they both looked happy. Marna smiled from her opposite end of the counter.

  “How are you feeling, Marna?” Patti asked her. Ginger stiffened.

  “I’m . . . all right. Bit hungrier than usual is all.”

  Patti watched her carefully. “And how are you holding up?”

  Marna swallowed, and for one second her happy face slipped to reveal the turmoil underneath. “I’m okay,” she whispered. “I don’t want anyone to worry about me.”

  “I know you don’t, dear. But everyone loves you. And it’s okay to lean on others when you need.”

  “Thank you,” Marna whispered, and with a single sniffle she would say no more. Ginger never looked up. The beaters trembled in my hand. Marna didn’t want us to make a big deal about her circumstances, and I respected that, but we surely all felt the ache inside about what was to come.

  Patti leaned in next to me when I finished the potatoes. “Those look great, honey. Time to set the table.” She smacked a kiss on my cheek.

  I opened the cabinet and looked at the full set of dishes.

  “Did you buy all this?” I asked. They looked fancier than something she would have chosen.

  “The entire house was stocked and furnished when I got here.”

  I couldn’t place the faraway look on her face, but I knew it had to do with Dad’s thoughtfulness.

  I counted plates while Marna took out silverware. Zania came in and got out glassware. Ginger gave the gravy a stir, seeming to enjoy the springy whisk. It was funny how the guys and girls had congregated separately, sort of like Patti gave off feminine vibes that drew us girls under her wings. Laughter sounded from the family room, where the guys were watching something, and Patti’s eyes sparkled. She finally had herself a big family to spoil, even if only for a day.

  We brought the dishes to the massive oak dining table in the adjoining room, and Patti showed Marna and Ginger the proper layout. I approached Zania as she was filling a pitcher with ice water.

  “How are you feeling?” I asked.

  She held out her hand for me to see. “No more shaking. I still crave it. Every day. But I will never drink again.”

  I knew that feeling. I nodded and rubbed her back. “I’m proud of you, Z.”

  “I have all of you to thank. And your papa.”

  “How are things in Boston? Do you like it there?”

  Zania bit her lip. Her olive cheeks reddened. “Things are very well in Boston. Brother Kopano is only allowed in the garden area, but he visits every day if he can.”

  “I’m so glad,” I said. I wondered about her relationship with Kope, if they’d talked about their future, but I didn’t want to pry, especially with listening ears around. I also wondered if he had told her about the kiss he and I shared, and, with a pang, I hoped he hadn’t.

  Together we fi
lled the water glasses and set the feast of food around the table. I could feel myself being watched, and sure enough, when I turned around, I had a perfect view of Kaidan sitting on the love seat, one arm over the back of it, capturing me with a hot stare. Why did he always have to look so dangerous and alluring?

  “All right, guys!” Patti called. “Dinner’s ready!”

  The boys wasted no time piling into the room. Patti sat at the head of the table. Down one side were Jay, Marna, Kopano, and Zania. Down the other side were Ginger, Blake, Kaidan, and me. Ginger had bumped me aside when I tried to sit next to Patti, so I let her. I couldn’t bring myself to be jealous. Sitting on the end next to Kai, across from Z, I couldn’t complain. I loved seeing all eight of us in couples. Everyone except Patti, that is. She looked around the table, that motherly grin of satisfaction never leaving her face.

  “Do y’all mind if I pray?” she asked.

  Silence.

  Blake, Kaidan, and the twins were frozen stiff, and though Patti had to sense it, her warm smile never faltered. I saw Kopano give Marna a small nudge, and she cleared her throat.

  “Um, whatever you’d like, Patti.”

  In awkward movements, everyone looked around hesitantly until Patti said, “Let’s hold hands.” So we reached out for each other. My heart thumped, hoping the awkwardness in the air would pass. Kaidan twined his fingers with mine, and his palm felt clammy. I bowed my head and closed my eyes.

  Patti’s voice was soft. Almost immediately a blanket of peace seemed to drape itself over the room. “Heavenly Father . . .” She sighed as if already overwhelmed. “You’re certainly asking a lot of these precious children, and I can see why. The possibilities in them are endless, and I hope they can feel that strength in themselves. We don’t know exactly what’s in store, but we know the battle won’t be easy. I beg you to fortify their hearts, prepare their minds, and free them of fear.” Her voice got thick, and I heard Marna sniff. The moment felt so peaceful. So right. “And while you’re at it, please help me not to worry. Thank you for this day, and bless this meal. Amen.”

  Amens were whispered around the table. When we lifted our heads and opened our eyes, I sucked in a surprised breath, and I wasn’t the only one. The room was bathed in bright light that shone down through the ceiling. I had to squint. It stayed with us only a few seconds before lifting, leaving us Nephilim gaping.