Enchanted

by Judith Leger

  “Would she?”

  A low chuckle came from the gardener. “Oh, yes. My wife knows me very well.”

  Relieved, she questioned him about where he lived and his beautiful wife. His quiet answers carried the happiness that radiated from his gaze as he spoke of his home and love. They both enjoyed gardening.

  She listened as they continued toward the back of the house.

  “We’ll have a bite to eat and after I’ll show you the gardens,” Rhys said.

  She smiled and nodded, enjoying the tour and the companionship he offered. He helped to soothe her ragged emotions. The interview had turned her world into mire, where she continued to sink deeper and deeper. This time with him helped to stabilize her feelings and clear her thoughts.

  Once lunch was over, they strolled through the gardens. The place glowed with such splendor last night, but now, in the light of day, the glorious colors of winter plants astounded her. She questioned Rhys on how he achieved so many flowers when the icy chill of winter should have killed them. He laughed and commented about his magical thumb again. She remembered that he’d said the same thing in Los Angeles. Back then, she thought he’d been teasing, but now, seeing the extent of his abilities, she knew he had spoken the truth. He did have a magical thumb.

  They came to the top of the hill where she and Shay had shared the heated kiss. She and Rhys stopped and gazed down on the lake’s shimmering beauty and the grounds surrounding it. The breeze passed over her and with it she heard music.

  She glanced at Rhys. “Do you hear music?”

  “It’s Shay. He’s practicing in the pavilion,” he said. Raising an arm, he pointed to the opposite side of the lake. “There, across the lake.”

  She peered across the lake and saw the Greek-styled pavilion. Eight white columns held up a domed roof. Several people stood inside and more moved around outside.

  “Do you want to go? Shay won’t mind,” Rhys said. He took her arm and led her down the hill onto the path circling the shore.

  “Are you sure? I’d hate to interrupt him.”

  “Of course, I’m sure. If my eyes aren’t deceiving me, I believe your photographer is there also. He’s snapping pictures.”

  She glanced in the direction Rhys noted and saw Blake. He squatted several feet to one side and in front of where Shay stood in the opening of the pavilion. The nearer they came, the louder the noise of his camera’s shutter whined and fluttered just below the sound of the music. A video camera hung from its strap on his shoulder.

  Caitlyn experienced a guilty pang. Treated with noticeable special care, she had almost forgotten about Blake. She knew the workaholic photographer well. He’d been busy performing his job while she’d allowed strange dreams and heated desire for the interview’s subject to distract her.

  As they approached the group, she saw Marcy. Her friend stood to one side of the pavilion. Dafydd, Shay’s music tech, worked on a computer, punching keys with a flurry of movements.

  “He’s trying out a few new songs for his show. What do you think?” Rhys leaned close so she could hear him over the instruments and Shay’s vocals.

  The music and lyrics flowed through her. Shay lifted his gaze and locked it with hers, giving her the impression he sang only to her. He held out his hand. Caitlyn didn’t hesitate. She walked closer and climbed the four steps leading into the pavilion. The warmth of his hand wrapped about hers brought a smile to her lips.

  The music faded, and he grinned at her. “What do you think?”

  “I liked it.” Her heartbeat sped up. Trying to hide the sudden flare of heat in her body, she slipped her hand from his. “Are you planning to use this song for your next show?”

  “Perhaps. I haven’t decided.” He smiled, and from the glint in his eyes, she wondered if he suspected how he affected her.

  The musicians started another song. A strange cracking noise reached her above the music. She looked toward the ceiling, and stared at the sight of all the faeries and nymphs painted there. Shay shifted nearer to her.

  In the center of the painted scene, a thin line formed. Slowly, the line increased until it fractured open. What was happening up there? She opened her mouth to tell Shay but the jagged ends of a huge limb tore through the gap and shot down, straight at them.

  Her scream was cut off as he shoved her to the left, out of the way. The limb hit the ground where she’d been standing. It teetered for a second, then tilted toward them. The branch fell over, striking him in the shoulder before rolling away and crashing onto the ground in front of the pavilion.

  Chapter 19

  Marcy shouted her name. Unable to respond to her friend’s cry, Caitlyn kept her gaze locked with Shay’s. His eyes widened for a second before his knees gave way, and he slumped to the stone floor.

  Grabbing him around the waist, she knelt in front of him, trying to hold him up. Aware of the voices surrounding them, she held him, his head cradled to her neck.

  She whispered his name. Fear solidified as a lump in her throat. He groaned and raised his head. “It’s all right. Just stunned me.”

  His breath came in short gasps. She sat and helped him rest his head in her lap. The white shirt he wore flattened against his chest. A crimson flower bloomed on the shoulder the limb struck.

  She raised her eyes, searching for someone to help. Rhys appeared in front of her. “He’s hurt. He’s bleeding.”

  “Let me see.” He lifted the collar to Shay’s shirt. “It’s only a gash. Shay, come on. Let’s get you back to the castle. I’ll call the doctor to tend to you. Can you stand?”

  Marcy pressed against Caitlyn’s side. “Oh, Catey, I saw the whole thing. You were almost killed.”

  Distracted, Caitlyn failed to hear what Shay answered Rhys. He allowed his friend to help him to stand. Freed from his warmth, a chill entered her body. Marcy’s arm encircled her shoulders, but she still shivered.

  He’d come so close to death. Suddenly, she couldn’t imagine living in this world without him. Sharp painful twinges sliced through her middle. She brushed Marcy’s arms away. “I’m okay. Rhys, I’m coming with you.”

  They moved at a slow pace to the castle. Rhys stopped a few times to give Shay time to rest for a moment before they continued. Closer to the house, Caitlyn ran ahead and opened the door for them. She followed behind until they came to Shay’s room.

  Once inside, she moved to the bed and jerked the covers back. He eased onto the mattress. Lying flat with his head cushioned with a pillow, he lifted his unhurt arm and covered his eyes.

  “Maybe we should take him to a hospital. He might have a broken shoulder or even his collar bone,” she said, tearing her gaze away from Shay. His face expressionless, Rhys stood on the other side of the bed watching the illusionist.

  “We’ll see what the doctor says. If he thinks Shay needs a hospital, we’ll take him. Not before,” Rhys replied.

  “Why not? He’s hurt.” She experienced an instant surge of anger.

  “Caitlyn.”

  At Shay’s soft whisper, she twisted toward him. “I’ll be all right. It just stunned me. Listen, I can’t go to a hospital. The paparazzi will have a field day with it.”

  Reality reared its head. Of course, he wouldn’t go to the public facility for medical attention. The news would be broadcast around the world. Rumors would start and grow to outlandish proportions. Once more, she’d allowed her growing emotions for him to cloud her professional perspective.

  “You’re right,” she said, stepping away from the bed. “I’ll leave you with Rhys.” Shooting a glance at the blond man, she continued. “Let me know what the doctor says.”

  “Yes, of course.”

  She pivoted and walked to the door. She hesitated, but then stiffened her back and left, pulling the door shut behind her. He didn’t need her. She would have insisted they take him to the emergency room for a checkup, but he’d never allow that. He was Shay Evers, the superstar.

  Her short stay in this isolated place had ca
used her to forget that bit of information. She hadn’t even called Kramer and let him know what was happening. She had deliberately ignored the missed calls and refused to return them, worried her boss would hear in her words her growing feelings for her assignment.

  Somewhere along the line, her objective had changed. She searched her memory for some clue as to when this had occurred. Perhaps the first night she’d met him, or maybe after she had arrived in Wales. She didn’t know how, but she had allowed this man to become important to her.

  Without paying attention to where she was going, she just walked, lost in the memories of what had happened. Once she became aware of her surroundings, she saw she had returned to the pavilion. Everyone was gone except for Blake.

  He called out a greeting to her. She moved toward him, determined to discover how this accident had occurred. Skirting the limb, she stopped near the spot where Dafydd and Marcy had been when the limb had fallen.

  “Did you film it?” She asked Blake.

  “Yes. I think that accident was the strangest I’ve ever seen.” He opened the viewer on the video camera and pressed a button. “Here, you watch and tell me what you think.”

  The film blurred as it reversed. After a few moments, it reached a spot just before the accident. He pressed Stop, then Play. Music and voices came over the speaker. Marcy’s laugh came through louder than the rest. Strange, Caitlyn didn’t remember Marcy laughing but she’d been so caught under Shay’s spell, no one else had mattered.

  The scene played out, but even at the camera’s angle, she saw nothing to make the limb fall. The tree limb was above the dome. It broke and fell through the ceiling. Was this simply a freak accident?

  Her heart missed a beat once she saw the expression on her face as she helped Shay sit and laid his head in her lap. Fear and anguish covered her face. And there was another emotion that flickered over her features as she looked down at him. Concerned adoration.

  She shook her head in denial. Uncomfortable, she shifted away and walked to the limb, refusing to admit what she’d seen. All her secret feelings had surfaced in those few seconds. She felt bare, open for everyone to see.

  Blake snapped the viewer into place and said, “Well?”

  “I don’t know. It was an accident. Something like this will probably never happen again,” she murmured. Squatting next to the limb, she studied the splintered ends. The branch was at least eight inches in diameter. She continued to study it as she sought a reason for it to break. The wind hadn’t been gusting, and the wood didn’t show any signs of disease. Yet, it had snapped.

  “The weight might have done it,” Blake remarked. He moved to her side and stared at the splintered piece of wood.

  “I doubt it. The wood looks healthy. It shouldn’t have fallen.” She sat on the top step of the pavilion. “I just don’t understand. If Shay hadn’t pushed me out of the way, it would have hit me, not him.”

  She sensed Blake’s gaze on her, but didn’t return the look. When he spoke, she realized how stupid her comment had been. “So what are you saying? Nature has it out for you?”

  Slumping, she pinched her nose just below her glasses. “No, I’m just saying that it would have been me, not him. He saved my life.”

  “You’re not one of those people who believe you owe him now, are ya? Hey, it happened. Just a freak accident. That’s all,” Blake said. He squeezed her shoulder. “I’m going back to the house. You gonna be okay out here?”

  She nodded and watched him stroll around the lake and up the hill. He stopped at the top. Marcy came into view from the other side. They spoke to each other. Blake pointed in her direction. Marcy nodded and headed toward the pavilion.

  Caitlyn’s shoulders slumped. She didn’t want to see her friend right now. She wanted solitude for a little while. She needed to sort through the roller coaster ride she’d been on the last few days.

  Marcy’s blond hair bounced as she marched toward her. A determined glint shone in her friend’s eyes. “Are you all right?”

  Caitlyn nodded.

  With her hands on her hips, Marcy stopped in front of her. “That scared the hell out of me. I saw the whole thing. If Evers hadn’t pushed you, you might be dead right now. God, Catey, I swear I saw our entire friendship pass before my eyes.”

  Surprised at the anger and concern on Marcy’s face, so opposite of the carefree, happiness normally on her features, Caitlyn laughed. All her nervous tension oozed from her muscles. Leave it to Marcy to help her relax. She should have found her friend first instead of coming out here.

  “It’s not funny,” Marcy muttered, plopping down next to her.

  “I know. I just can’t help it. Shay’s hurt because he saved me,” Caitlyn murmured, sobering with that thought. “I’m wound up tight and didn’t even know it until you showed up and brought me some normalcy.”

  “No prob. That’s what friends are for. I don’t know what I’d do if I ever lost you. You are my best friend, even though I don’t act like it sometimes. No matter what I do, you’re always there for me. You don’t look down your nose at me. I guess I never realized that until today.” Marcy wrapped her arm around Caitlyn’s shoulders and squeezed. She leaned over and her head against the side of Caitlyn’s.

  Touched by her friend’s words, Caitlyn patted Marcy’s cheek. They sat in silence for a few minutes. A shout from the hill caught their attention. Dafydd waved his arm, calling Marcy’s name. He motioned for her to come.

  She sighed. “I guess I need to go.” Standing, she stretched her arms above her head. She straightened and grinned at Caitlyn. “You know, I never thought I’d see the day I would cater to a man. I’ll call later to check on you. Love ya.”

  Caitlyn nodded and smiled. As her friend hurried to meet Dafydd, she wished she had Marcy’s easy go lucky attitude. Thinking about her blond friend, she stood and wandered along the lake’s edge.

  The wind picked up, and clouds roiled over the horizon. Grazelda was correct. A storm approached. Not wanting to get caught in the weather, Caitlyn hurried back to the castle.

  Chapter 20

  Shay grimaced. A vile odor came from the black pot on his bedside table. His stomach cramped, threatening to rebel. “Grazelda, take that from here. It more than sickens me.”

  “Nonsense, young sir. The poultice will ease yer pain and take the swelling down in no time.” Her lined face puckered in a fierce frown. “Now, turn yerself over and let me apply it as it should be.”

  He shifted onto his left side and a groan escaped. His right shoulder throbbed, while sharp pains shot through his upper body with the slightest movement.

  “Hurry with you, old woman.” He gasped at the first touch of the heated remedy. “It’s hot.”

  “As it should be. Now hush ye, or I’ll place a sleeping spell on ye. Do ye wish that, my fine sir?” Grazelda said, spreading the thick concoction over his aching shoulder. “Oooh, yer skin, ’tis as black as soot, it is. Ye took the full strike from that limb. Are ye crazed? ’Twould’ve killed a normal human. Good thing for ye that ye’ve Tylwyth Teg blood flowing through yer veins.”

  She touched a more sensitive spot. He bit down on his bottom lip, trying to fight the pain. Waves of dizziness blurred his sight. Darkness edged his vision. “Hurry. I don’t want to pass out.”

  “Ye need to. The rest will help heal ye. I’m almost done, then we’ll get ye comfortable for the night,” she said, her touch gentler than before.

  Rhys paced next to the bed. His deep voice remained low when he spoke. “’Twas magic that caused this. Gwyneth was close. Did you sense her before you were struck?”

  “I told you, I didn’t sense anything. I saw the look on Caitlyn’s face and that caused me to shove her. I know she saw something. The limb fell so fast, I didn’t have time to look up.” Shay panted as he tried to control the pain. He concentrated on the carved Celtic curves and interlocking designs flowing over the headboard of his bed. He tried to think past the agony but failed.

  “Don
e now. Mind ye stay on that side tonight. Let this one heal without yer weight on it. Come, sire, let the poor dear rest for a bit,” the old woman said.

  Exhausted, riddled with pain, Shay clenched his teeth as Grazelda rose from the bed. She and Rhys moved away from the bed to the doorway. Shay heard the low murmur of them talking but couldn’t make out what they said. It took him a moment to realize they had left.

  The gentle crackling of the fire lulled him. His eyelids drooped lower and his breathing smoothed out. Even as he teetered on the edge of sleep, he heard soft steps approaching the bed.

  “Shay?”

  Caitlyn’s faint whisper sent currents of electricity through his skin. He forced his eyelids open. Long dark hair framed her face as she knelt on the floor beside his bed. He smiled.

  “Hello.”

  A softening of her face melted his heart. “Are you okay?”

  “No. I hurt like hell. I suppose I’ll live, though,” he muttered.

  She smiled wider and wrinkled her nose. “I hate to say this, but you smell. Really bad.”

  “It’s an acquired scent. Stick around, you’ll become used to it.” He shifted his legs and regretted it. White-tipped flames scorched through him. Another groan escaped.

  “Maybe I should leave so you can rest,” she said, a frown furrowing her brow. “You need quiet and here I am, disturbing you. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t go. It hurts only when I move. I swear I’ll be still.” He patted the bedcovers next to him. “Lie down with me. Talk to me. Tell me about yourself. Your childhood–everything.”

  She tilted her head and studied him. With careful movements, she lay down next to him. Their faces were on the same level, eye-to-eye.

  “Why do you wear those glasses?” His curiosity needed assuaging. They looked like plain reading glasses without any magnification to them. If that were true, then why would she wear them?

  “I can’t see without them.” She brushed a piece of his hair that fell across his cheek behind his ear. Her gaze caught and held on something at the side of his head.