by Judith Leger
“So beautiful,” she whispered, unable to tear her gaze away. She sat on the dew-covered grass. In this rare, different world of beauty and silence, peace wrapped around her.
Chapter 17
Shay hung within the shadows of the forest, his gaze captured by Caitlyn. She sat, hugging her knees, her chin resting on the top of them. His fingers itched to remove the hairpins securing the long dark strands. He wanted to touch and comb through the silky tendrils.
He chewed on his bottom lip, allowing pain to seep into his heated thoughts. She needed his guidance to open her heart to magic.
His focus had wavered too much the last few days. Gwyneth’s action this afternoon highlighted the fact Caitlyn’s life depended on him.
Sending a silent blessing to his queen, he touched the tender spot on his left shoulder. With the medicine and her healing touch, the wound had started to heal. Still too sore to stand much pressure, by tomorrow the slice would disappear.
He frowned. Gwyneth had managed to come too close to Caitlyn. She had slipped by their defenses and attacked him too easily. He ground his teeth. Never again. He wouldn’t allow her another opportunity.
Caitlyn worried him also. Surprised to see her in the kitchen tonight, he hadn’t known what to say when she asked if he was all right. She had had an impression.
He clenched his fists.
Dammit, she’d had a vision. Myrielle possessed the same ability. He should be happy, but why had her power shone through now? After all these years of searching, and now she had begun to show abilities inherited from her parents. He’d believed the spell Gwyneth placed on her had been stronger. A nagging thought warned him that Gwyneth’s magic was involved in this. If so, she wanted to play with Caitlyn’s mind, possibly drive her insane. He’d have to keep a closer watch on Caitlyn.
A howl came from deep inside the forest. He straightened and glanced over his shoulder. The animals were on the move. He brought his gaze around to the solitary figure on the crest of the hill. She released her knees and leaned back with her arms at her side, hands pressed flat on the ground. Either she hadn’t heard the wolves or she believed this place safe from wild beasts.
Danger drew closer. He eased out of the shadows and approached her on silent feet. Worry filled him the nearer he came to her. She appeared so fragile and small, sitting there, staring up at the star-filled sky.
“Do you often wander about the grounds at night?” she asked.
He stopped and studied her. How had she known he was the one walking toward her? “I enjoy the quiet moments the night offers. And you? What brings you out here?”
“I wanted to spy on you.” The honesty in her answer surprised him.
Behind the glass lenses, her emerald gaze shifted toward him. He swallowed hard. “Did you see me do something wrong? Catch me in a scandalous act?”
Her laugh washed over him. His lips twitched, but he stopped the smile threatening to appear.
“No. I was distracted. It’s so beautiful here. And peaceful. A long way from the hectic motion of Los Angeles. I never realized there were places like this until tonight.” She patted the ground next to her. “Come, sit down. Talk to me. Tell me about this place and your magic. I want to know everything.”
He swallowed once more. Temptation beckoned him. He wanted to, but the wolves drew dangerously near. Struggling to maintain control, he shook his head. “No, it’s late. Time to go in.” He held out his hand.
She studied his face for a moment. With a smile, she placed her hand in his. A lustful fire scorched him. The slight widening of her eyes and the way her breath caught told him she’d experienced something similar. She reacted often like this when they touched. Once more, temptation rose. This time, though, he relaxed the hold on his need.
Tugging her forward, he wrapped his arms around her waist, dipping his face. His lips covered hers in a searing kiss. Another slight catch in her breath caused his control to slip further.
He allowed her freedom when they were in the void, but here he controlled the kiss. She opened to him, sighing into his mouth. With a groan, he delved deep into the warm recesses past her lips. She tasted of strawberries and cream, and he feasted on her.
A howl, closer to the gardens, echoed in the forest. Shay tore away from her. She panted and moaned, reaching to pull him to her.
“No. Caitlyn, we have to return to the castle. Now.” He wrapped his fingers about her wrist, turned and tugged her behind him.
“Shay?”
He glanced over his shoulder. She seemed to be in a world of her own, with nothing but him in her focus. Her gaze pleaded with him, but he shook his head. He had to protect her from the danger bearing down on them.
He sensed her assumption of his refusal followed by her embarrassment a second before she jerked her arm free. Her eyes glistened in the moonlight. He spoke her name, but she hurried down the hill toward the castle.
Shoulders slumped, he watched until she reached the kitchen door and disappeared inside. Pivoting, he strode in the direction of the howls. The expression on her face remained with him. He’d hurt her. Even as he felt relief that she was safe, guilt ate at him. His hand shook as he swiped at his brow.
The wolves drew nearer. Their paws crunched the dry leaves on the forest floor. Shay reached behind his waist and pulled an elfin blade free. He needed to release some of his frustration. He hurried toward the trees, increasing his speed with each step.
They met at the edge of the tree line. Three against one. Shay slashed the braver of the wolves across the neck and shoulder. A screaming yelp erupted from the beast a moment before it dropped to the ground. The last two snarled and hurled their rangy bodies at him. He kicked out, knocking the one coming in from the left clear, while he gutted the other one.
With two wolves writhing in dying spasms, the third wolf fled. Shay growled and gave chase. Leaping over fallen logs, breaking past low limbs and through thickets, he lost track of the beast on the edge of his land.
He squatted under an oak, his palm flat on the bark. He searched the area. Nothing stirred. The animal had gone to ground. It was not wounded, so it would return. When it did, he’d kill it, just like he had the other two. Gwyneth would soon find out who she dealt with.
* * * *
Caitlyn stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. Sharp pangs shot through her stomach. How could she have believed he’d want her? Look at her. Unattractive and certainly not desirable. At least, every other man she’d dated in the past had thought so. Some had even told her.
Marcy’s gorgeous features popped into her mind. Even her friend wanted Shay Evers, but he had reacted with disinterest. What signs had he shown to prove he wanted her? Sure, he’d kissed her but how many other women had he done the same with? He hadn’t shown any signs he cared for her, Caitlyn Reiley. None.
Tonight, nature’s ambiance made her forget her real purpose here. She’d assumed the nice way he’d treated her was an invitation, when all it had been was a part of his courteous behavior.
She twisted the knobs on the sink. Water gushed out, tumbling over her hands. She scooped the clear liquid and splashed her face. Her hands trembled. She held them up, trying to stop the shaking. The look in his eyes when she had said his name haunted her.
Pity had shone from his gaze. Under the surface of her dismay, fury brewed. No one had pitied her in a long time, and she loathed the idea Shay Evers would do so now.
If she was the crying type, she’d burst into tears, but she wasn’t. Tears never helped. She turned the water off, grabbed a hand towel, and marched to the bed. Twisting the terry cloth into a knot, she slumped on the mattress. Weariness washed over her, and she lay back, closing her eyes. Images of Shay whirled through her mind.
The kiss they shared tonight was so different than the ones in her dreams. She’d initiated those. Tonight, this one belonged to him. He’d fueled the fire and left her scorched in the aftermath. She gasped, pressing the heels of her hands into her eye sock
ets, hoping to erase him from her memory.
Rolling onto her side, she pulled her legs onto the mattress. By slow degrees, her body relaxed and she dozed. Waking several times during the night, she burned for him to come to her in her sleep. Each time she closed her eyes, she hoped to find him, but he remained absent.
Chapter 18
Dawn arrived too soon. Blurry-eyed, she stumbled from the bed, showered, and dressed in casual slacks and a soft green sweater. She made her way downstairs, hoping not to see him too soon. The castle belonged to him. No way to avoid him for the rest of her stay. Her job revolved around him.
She reached the door at the end of the staircase and cracked it open. More than one voice came from the kitchen. Shay’s wasn’t one of them. Thankful, she followed the hallway and entered the room.
Rhys sat at the end of the table, facing her. He raised his head, smiled and greeted her. She nodded in return. Grazelda stood at the stove, stirring something in a pot. A delicious aroma rose with the steam. The old woman glanced in her direction and motioned for her to join them.
“Ah, good morning to ye, dearie. Come, come, sit yerself down. I was preparing a few sweet oats. Would ye care for some?” She waved the spoon in the table’s general direction. Caitlyn smiled. She liked Shay’s housekeeper.
“Good morning, Grazelda. How are you today?” She took a seat next to Rhys.
“Couldn’t be better, dearie, and ye? Did ye rest well last night?”
Before she could answer, Shay called a greeting from the doorway leading to the gardens. At the sight of him, Caitlyn forgot her embarrassment.
His cheeks were flushed, his wind-blown hair flowed past his shoulders and his eyes twinkled with mischief. He caught her gaze and held it for a moment. In a flash, last night rushed forward. He’d given life to her dreams but smashed them to pieces. She stiffened her resolve, broke eye contact with him and tried to appear unaffected.
“Good morning, Caitlyn. Rhys, how are you this glorious morn? Grazelda. Looks to be another sunny day.” He breezed into the room, rounded the table and wrapped his arm about the old woman’s shoulders for a quick hug.
“Oh, go on with you. There’s rain coming today. My old bones feel it,” the elderly woman warned.
“Do you think it’ll rain, Rhys? There’s not a cloud in the sky. It’s a perfect day.” Shay grinned. He stepped around the end of the table and leaned against the counter directly in front of her.
Her back tightened at his deliberate maneuver to put his body in her direct line of vision. Rhys stood, retrieved a cup, and poured Caitlyn some tea. Glad for the distraction, she kept her gaze on him, admiring the gardener’s graceful movements.
The scrape of the chair next to her against the stone floor made her gasp. Turning her head, she came face-to-face with Shay. When had he moved? He’d turned the chair so the back was to the table, and he straddled the seat. When he spoke, his voice fell soft and close to her ear. “Did you sleep well?”
She jerked her head away from him. “No, as a matter of fact, I didn’t. I think it’s the strange place syndrome. I’ll rest better tonight. I hope.” Her voice held a chill to it. Good, let him know up front she wasn’t playing games anymore. She’d come to do a job, not have an affair that he obviously did not want.
“Perhaps–”
She cut him off. “When did you want to continue the interview? That is why I’m here. We need to start filming. Do you have time today?”
He raised a brow. “Sorry, not today. I have other obligations. Perhaps Rhys can show you around the place. Give you a tour. Would you like that?”
No, she wouldn’t. She wanted to finish this interview and leave. Instead, she said, “That’s fine.”
Turning, she smiled at Rhys and caught him frowning at Shay. Sudden realization came to her. He seemed to be matchmaking for her and Rhys. This thought fueled her anger and prompted her to question Rhys, “You don’t mind, do you? If you have other plans, I’m sure I can wander about the place alone.”
The gardener glanced at her. “No, I have nothing pressing. Let me take care of something first. By the time I return, you should be finished with breakfast. I’ll give you the tour of the castle and gardens. They are extensive, so you might consider comfortable shoes.”
Without waiting for her answer, he disappeared through the door. Mindful of Grazelda, Caitlyn sipped her tea, refusing to look at Shay. Tea was not her favorite morning beverage, but at the moment she didn’t care. Her body relaxed. She took a chance and said, “You’re up early this morning.”
“I’m an early riser,” he replied, setting his chin on his forearms where they crossed over the chair’s back.
She wanted to know if he was able to sleep last night. A part of her needed to know he suffered a little. “Were you up late?”
“All night. I wandered through the gardens and into the woods. I returned to find your photographer in the screening room watching a movie.” He raised his head, angled it to one side as he paused. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
Relief flowed through her. He had not been able to sleep last night–his words verified it.
“Yes?”
His eyes focused on a spot over her right shoulder. “I don’t want you walking about the grounds alone anymore. Make sure someone is with you.”
“Why?” She raised the cup and sipped a little of the steaming tea.
“There were wolves about last night. That’s why I wanted you to go inside. You might have been harmed,” he said.
Understanding, but unable to accept what he had told her, she eyed him. So he hadn’t broken off his kiss because he didn’t want her.
She frowned, doubting his comment. “Aren’t wolves gone from Great Britain? I recall reading that there weren’t any wild wolves here. Do you expect me to believe you?”
“You can’t believe unless you see with your own eyes, can you, Caitlyn?” He narrowed his eyes and raised his left hand.
He held it with the palm facing her, then turned so she saw the back of it. With no more than ten inches between her eyes and his hand, he bent his wrist and flipped his palm facing up. In the center lay a dew-sprinkled white rose. The petals were crisp and pristine. Her heart skipped a beat. So close, and she had not seen how he’d managed to hide the rose.
His mouth tilted upward on one side. “One day, you will believe without seeing. Magic is real, and so are the wolves. I killed two last night. Their carcasses are in the shed. Have Rhys show them to you, and then perhaps, you’ll believe.”
With those words, he stood and walked out, whistling a cheery tune. The strong scent of green grass and fresh air wafted from the air he stirred when he passed behind her. She inhaled, and a smile formed on her lips.
“He’s a good one, that he is,” Grazelda commented, setting a bowl filled with sweet oats in front of Caitlyn.
She thanked the older woman and started to respond, but Rhys came through the door. The three of them visited, discussing unimportant matters while Caitlyn ate. After she finished, they helped the old woman clean the dishes from the meal.
Holding the door leading into the main part of the house for her, Rhys glanced at her loafers and smiled. “Do you think those will be fine for a bit of walking?”
“We won’t be running, so they’ll be okay,” she said, slipping by him. She hoped the impression she had of Shay trying to throw Rhys and her together was wrong. She liked the tall slender gardener, but she felt no attraction for him.
They spent the remainder of the morning going through the house. Caitlyn found the place amazing. One thing that it did not have surprised her.
“Where’s the gym?” She glanced up at Rhys as they made their way toward the kitchen for lunch.
“There’s not one.”
“Why not? I assumed Shay kept in shape by working out. Most stars do. Does he go to a local gym or a spa? I assumed he had a trainer.” Most of the celebrities she read about usually had their own trainer.
�
�He doesn’t need a gym. Shay stays active walking. Sometimes, he’ll run. I recruit him to help me in the gardens when he doesn’t have anything pressing to attend to. All of that keeps him healthy and strong.” Rhys smiled at her.
“Are you married?” The question escaped before Caitlyn thought. She had to know. Though older than her by at least a decade, she didn’t want the gardener to think she was attracted to him.
He chuckled and stopped in the doorway leading to the grand ballroom. The sprawling room captured her attention, and she forgot for a moment the question she’d asked.
Frescos on the walls depicted magical creatures frolicking through a forest. Across the walls, unicorns and tall slender elves strolled and played among woodland creatures. She studied the detailed designs of the paintings. Braids twined within the elves’ hair revealed the pointed tips of their ears.
Four double doors opened at the far side of the room onto a side terrace. Golden cloth hung from circle brackets and was caught at the doors’ corners to flow down the sides of the frames. The room captivated her. She leaned to look further inside and noticed a grand piano sitting on the far end, as though waiting for someone to arrive and produce music befitting this place.
After surveying the ballroom, she realized several minutes had passed and she glanced at Rhys. He watched her, arms crossed over his chest and a slight smile on his lips.
“I am married to the most beautiful woman in the universe,” he said. “You remind me of her.”
Caitlyn straightened and faced him. “Do I? How?”
He studied her for a moment. “Your hair and eyes are the same color. I believe, though, it’s your smile that reminds me the most.”
Without thinking, she smiled at him.
“Yes, your smile is like hers.”
“Where is she?”
“Our home is not far from here. Perhaps, one day you will meet her. She doesn’t come here often. She worries she will distract me.” He held out a hand in the direction they were going and Caitlyn turned and walked with him.