by Pamela Fryer
He went back to the refrigerator, grabbed a pear and a loaf of bread to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The jars were an organic brand with no preservatives, artificial colors or flavors. Lily would provide well for Annie. She would build a loving, healthy home in which to raise a child.
Anything would be better than being raised inside the IG compound, but somehow he knew life with Lily would be extra special.
He ate in silence and cleaned up the kitchen all in the glow of those faceted nightlights. There was a homey, almost Christmas-like quality about them that brought a melancholy ache to his heart.
With his belly full, Miles padded across the plush living room carpeting to the stairs leading down but stopped, having forgotten the pear. He should put it back in the refrigerator.
He turned around and stopped dead in his tracks. Annie stood in the center of the living room.
His heart leapt into a rapid staccato.
She was dressed in a black spandex body suit covering her from wrists to neck to ankles. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, fixed at the nape of her neck.
She looked like a phantom, pale and solemn and without the cheerful vivacity she’d displayed even at her most sedate times at the cabin. The child who had been overly enthusiastic about canned stew had been replaced by a ghostly, miserable-looking urchin. Her eyes were deep-set and shadowed, her mouth drawn.
Miles couldn’t move, could hardly breathe. He was so certain he’d imagined her first appearance he’d completely wiped it from his mind.
Now he knew with certainty…this child has special powers.
“There aren’t any cameras on the roof, Mr. Miles.”
Finally the breath he’d been desperate for raced into his lungs. In the blink of an eye, all incredulity was gone.
Annie is special. Simple as that.
“Don’t touch the fences.”
“Where are you, Annie?”
“I’m in the water.”
Jesus, she can hear me. “Are you hurt?”
“I don’t like it here. You’re coming for me, aren’t you?” Her voice softened with fearful hesitation, and the raw desperation in it ripped him in two.
“Yes, we’re coming. There are lots of people coming. You hang in there, okay?”
“Mr. Reilly is really angry.”
Her image dissolved into silvery ripples as though she was underwater and someone had disturbed the surface.
“I miss you, Aunt Lily.”
The last shimmery traces disappeared completely.
“Annie!” Lily’s scream made him spin around. She stood stiffly at the base of the steps, a white-knuckled grip on the wooden handrail. She wore a cotton nightshirt that stopped above her knees and her hair was a sexy tousle of sleep-rumpled curls.
Her frightened eyes flicked to him, then to the darkness of the living room behind him. She rushed forward. “Annie!”
Miles caught her around the waist and hauled her against him. He felt her softness through the thin cotton nightshirt and nearly groaned out loud. A plump breast brushed against his arm. The curve of her thigh mingled with his. It was nearly his undoing.
She was unsteady on her feet, staring into the darkness where Annie had been. Her chest heaved with panicked breaths, her face a mixture of horror, confusion and desperation. He tightened his grip, acutely aware of every soft inch of her body touching his.
“She isn’t here, Lily.”
“But…I saw her.”
“I did too.”
Her gaze snapped to him. Against his will, his heart went out to her.
“Have you ever seen her do that before?”
Lily’s horrified eyes widened. “What? No! My God.”
“Last night she appeared to me.” A chill rolled over his flesh at the memory. Annie had said she wanted to see them. She was either astute enough to know, or by some ungodly miracle she had known, Sara had died too.
“What do you mean?”
He looked at the empty void Annie had occupied. “Just like that.”
“Miles.” His name rushed out of her on a panicked breath. He brought her in front of him and held her firmly by both arms.
“You said she was special. What did you mean?”
Her gaze slipped away. She moistened her lips with her tongue. His body responded without his consent.
“Lily.” He gave her a small shake. “You’ve got to tell me what you know.”
She shook her head, still dazed. “Intuitive. That’s all. Just little things, though, that I could never put my finger on. Like the deer.”
The deer. And Eddie’s strange episode, followed by a sudden and significant improvement in his health. He glanced at the glowing face of a digital clock by the kitchen table. If he thought Eddie’s cell phone would work at the cabin, Miles would call him, even though it was midnight.
Midnight. Last night he’d glanced at the clock at eleven fifty-eight, and not two minutes later he’d seen Annie.
As Lily’s eyes met his the confusion gave way to misery. “Why did she look like that?”
“She looked wet.” Miles realized he was squeezing her arms, holding her stiffly in front of him. He relaxed his grip and eased her over to the couch. “It makes sense. Remember—she said they make her sleep in the water.”
“My God. What are they doing to her?”
Lily sagged against him. He collected her in an embrace that felt much too natural. She tucked her long legs beneath her as she leaned into him and wrapped her arms around him.
For a moment he sat in dumbfounded silence, searching for a nice way to ask her to move.
But he didn’t. One hand hesitantly touched her back and then the other found it easier to caress the curtain of soft hair falling over his chest. Lily trembled under his touch, and her embrace tightened.
His body responded with an ache so primal it shamed him, yet felt magnificent and necessary, like a breath drawn after too long underwater.
He would never betray Sara’s memory with the physical need for another woman, but forces outside his control had brought them together in this bizarre situation, and his every nerve was reacting to it with explosive need.
Something incredible was happening here, something he would no longer fight. There was time for atonement later.
And he’d made a promise to a little girl. Across some supernatural plane he couldn’t explain, he’d made a promise.
“God, Miles, I’m scared.” She leaned away and looked into his eyes. Hers shimmered with tears.
“I’m a little freaked out myself.” He mustered a smile for her sake. “At least we know she’s all right.”
Lily jerked back. “We know nothing of the sort. Did you see that? She could be dead for all we know. That could have been her ghost.”
He tightened his grip on her arm. Lord forgive him, he wished she would lean back against him again. “I don’t think so. Lily, I saw the same thing last night and she was fine afterward. I don’t think she even remembered it.”
Her expression crumbled. “What did you see?”
“She appeared in front of me. I think she moved something with her mind.” He told her about the events the night before, watching her eyes widen in shock.
“Did she say anything?”
He swallowed. “She said she wanted to see them. She’d turned the photo of my family upright.”
Lily glanced away and eased back on the couch, widening the gap between them.
“Tonight…” He swallowed over the sudden discomfort clogging his throat. “I spoke to her and she responded. Did you see?”
She nodded. “I heard her say Colton was angry and she missed me.” Lily’s attention perked. “What else did she say?”
He repeated what she’d said, but didn’t tell Lily about Annie’s heart-wrenching plea. She already knew Annie didn’t want to be there, and it would only upset her to hear it.
“Now do you see why we have to speak to this scientist?” She threw him a pointed look. “I
need to know what’s going on.”
Miles agreed, but the incident was making him think this was out of his league. Bad guys with guns he was trained handle, psychic phenomenon he was not.
Lily sagged against the back of the couch. A wisp of hair brushed across his forearm. She brought one hand to her face. “I don’t know what to do. I feel so helpless. A real parent would know what to do.”
“Nobody can accuse you of not trying.” He swiveled toward her on the couch and Lily eased back against him. Before he could consciously stop himself, he took her in his arms. She fit against him like a puzzle piece that belonged and a warm rush of comfort surged through him.
“I’ve got to get her out of there,” she said on a sigh. Her body relaxed. She was warm against him, pliant and soft and perfectly feminine. Miles couldn’t remember the last time he’d allowed himself even the basest pleasure. He never languished in a hot shower anymore, couldn’t remember the last time he’d eaten a piece of pie, hadn’t even joined his buddies for a beer and a game of pool in years.
It would be easy to lose himself in Lily’s lush beauty. Easy to close his eyes, breathe her in, let his hands roam over her.
But Lily was hovering on the edge of shock for the third time in as many days. To take her now would be to take advantage of her vulnerability. As much as he flirted with the idea of enjoying her body without an emotional connection, he was not the kind of man who treated a woman that way.
Besides, the emotional connection was already there. There was no denying it. He cared about Lily.
They remained in each other’s arms until she gave a deep breath in and out, and he realized she’d fallen asleep. He eased her over and scooped her up.
The floor plan upstairs was the same as the master suite downstairs, but where the guestroom was austere, Lily’s bedroom was warm with a cream and pink floral country pattern. He hadn’t expected this of her. The rest of her townhouse was almost severe in its modernism, yet this soft and feminine bedroom revealed more about the sweetness of the pretty woman in his arms.
Her bed was rumpled as though she’d also tried, but couldn’t sleep. He eased her onto the mattress. She moved her lips and a soft mewling sound escaped.
Miles stood back and looked at her. The cotton sleep shirt had ridden up her thighs, giving him an unobstructed view of those long, slender legs. Her nipples pressed against the thin fabric. He could barely make out the dark circles of her areolas through the thin fabric.
He drew a ragged breath and dragged his hand through his hair. A gentle breeze of roses and lemon floated up to him as he pulled the blankets over her.
With the blood rushing through his ears, Miles quietly slipped out of the room and headed back downstairs.
This was too much for him. Had his body not needed relief so badly he might be better prepared to handle this situation. But Lily was a beautiful woman with a sensual nature and a very sexy body, and Miles couldn’t think straight when he was around her.
That meant he was no good to her, no good to Annie and no good to himself.
Chapter Eleven
Lily heard the shower downstairs as she was preparing breakfast. She hurried around her kitchen awkwardly, both because she wasn’t used to cooking for a guest and because she still felt slightly uncomfortable about the previous night.
She’d awakened in his arms as he carried her upstairs, but Lily had kept her eyes squeezed shut as a torrent of unfamiliar emotions kicked and bruised her.
She couldn’t help but be attracted to Miles. He was as gorgeous as the magazine cover models she worked with in her designs. But in his mind, Miles was still married to another woman, and even as inexperienced with men as she was, Lily knew there was no competing with a memory.
She looked up to find Miles in the archway. His shirt was unbuttoned and his hair left to dry in a curly halo around his face. He was in need of a trim, but it looked downright sexy on him. He really could double for one of the cover models whose photos scattered her desk at work.
“Good morning.” Her voice sounded thick. “I’ve got breakfast on.”
“It smells great. Did I hear someone at the door?”
“I had a rental car delivered,” she said simply. She felt his eyes on her as he followed.
She poured batter onto the hot griddle in the island as Miles took a stool on the opposite side. She poured him a cup of coffee and served him a bowl of sliced fruit. He buttoned his shirt before eating, hiding away his glorious chest.
She accidentally bit her tongue. Goodness, what was wrong with her? Focus, Lily. Annie needs you to concentrate.
“You have a nice kitchen. The whole place is nice. You’ll make a good home for Annie.”
His voice sounded thick too. Was he as uncomfortable about last night as she was? He’d put her into bed wearing only a threadbare t-shirt. She should have thought more carefully about her choice of nightclothes.
“You sound confident I’ll get her back.” She looked into his eyes for an indication he believed it.
“Have you thought about what you’ll do after you do?”
“What do you mean?” She flipped the pancakes. They landed wet side down with a sizzle and immediately rose with tiny curls of steam.
Miles dropped his gaze and dug into the fruit as though he needed to think about how to convey his thoughts without making her upset. He didn’t realize the delay tactic itself put her on edge.
“Maybe you should consider professional help.”
Her already rising hackles shot up.
“You’ve got to admit, she’s not your ordinary kid.”
“She’s an innocent little girl,” Lily replied evenly. She took a sip of tea, suddenly in need of the smooth vanilla blend to calm her nerves.
“She can…transport herself. Hell, I don’t even know the word for what she can do.”
Lily scooped the pancakes off the griddle and set a plate in front of him. “We don’t know for sure she did it. It could be some bizarre experiment of Reilly’s.”
“She did it in the cabin.”
This was getting them nowhere. Lily scooped out two more spoonfuls of batter for herself with a jerky hand. “No. I haven’t thought about professional help,” she conceded. “I haven’t even thought about how to decorate her bedroom.”
“Well, word to the wise. Let her do that.” He softened his tone and dug into the pancakes. “Little girls aren’t always sugar and spice and everything nice,” he said with a full mouth. On him it was cute. “Good flapjacks, by the way.”
Lily ignored the trembling that had crept into her hands and forced a smile. She was thankful for his effort to lighten the situation. Every minute she spent with him she saw reasons his wife had fallen in love with him.
She ate quickly and then carried their dishes to the sink. “I’ll be ready in a few minutes.”
He stepped up behind her so quietly she sensed him before she heard him. He took a plate from her hand, making her nerve endings twitter. “I’ll do these. You go do what you need to do.”
Ordinarily it would have been a sweet gesture, but Lily sensed he wanted to be on his way as soon as possible.
She threw together a duffel bag with several pairs of jeans and shirts. Anticipating cold weather, she packed her winter jacket and a pair of gloves. Instead of trainers, she slipped into her hiking boots. If she encountered Colton Reilly’s ogre again there would be no standing around like a fence post. She would give him a kick in the family jewels he wouldn’t soon forget.
Miles was sitting on the couch tying his shoes with the cordless phone stuck against his shoulder when she came down.
“Okay. I’ll tell her. We’ll be leaving in about fifteen minutes. Yeah, thanks.” He disconnected the call and set the handset on the table.
“Chief Billings?”
He fixed his pant leg and stood. She could tell by his expression the news was not good.
“They found more information on Luggo. He was a bounty hunter who had his li
cense revoked in all three states they were issued in, including Washington. Whatever he’s doing for Reilly is under the table. Billings put out a statewide APB on him this morning.”
“Well, that’s a relief.” By his expression, she didn’t think Miles agreed. “Isn’t it?”
“We don’t know how far-reaching his resources are. There’s always a chance he’s got more than one henchman and if he knows Luggo’s been IDed, he might set someone else after you.”
“Someone we don’t recognize.”
He nodded, his lips set in a firm line. “There’s more.”
Lily took a deep breath. “Should I sit down?” she asked, only half joking.
“The FBI has closed their investigation on IntelliGenysis.”
Lily suddenly wished she hadn’t eaten pancakes for breakfast. The sweet flavor of the syrup soured in her mouth. “Tell me something good.”
A muscle in his jaw ticked. “I wish I could.”
“That was a joke.” She touched his elbow then bent to pick up her shoulder bag. “Are you ready to hit the road?”
“Lily, I think you should reconsider.”
Halfway turned for the door, Lily stopped. That was the last straw. “You wouldn’t sit on your hands if this was your child.”
He froze, and Lily knew she’d hit a nerve.
“Because Annie isn’t mine you think I shouldn’t care as much? For God’s sake, Miles.”
He turned away and rubbed his face as if he was at his wit’s end. “Jesus. I didn’t say that.”
“It’s written all over your face. She’s my niece. My last living family member. Five days ago I thought I had no one left, and then I was gifted with a miracle. Yes, I know it’s dangerous, but I have to take whatever risks necessary to get her back. I hardly think asking questions of a woman who doesn’t even work there anymore is life threatening.”
Lily was trembling and her palms were damp. She turned and stormed for the door. “If you don’t want to go with me, fine. Call the rental car agency. I’m sure they’d be happy to deliver another car.”