Addison smiled. “Congratulations, Gerry and Maia.”
“Wow, okay. Wow! I guess I should finish explaining.” Gerry rubbed his forehead, looking a bit thunderstruck and glanced back at Maia.
“Wow!”
Shaking his head and rubbing his chin, with a mile-wide grin now a permanent fixture on his face, he continued, “What a bloody fucking surprise. I love you, Maia. Fuck, now where was I? You got me all flustered, woman.”
“Which is a rare event.” Bart laughed.
“You’ll have to start watching your language, Gerry, now that you’re going to be a father,” Addison told him.
“Aye, I will. Let’s see ... when Cael showed up, things started to change. I noticed a difference in Addie, not the normal differences you’d see in a woman who’s falling in love, but other changes. Fuck it, when you work side by side with someone every day, you get to know them a bit.”
Everyone laughed at Gerry’s poor attempt at cleaning up his language.
Gerry glanced at Maia. “Ah … it'll take some time. Anyway, I kept quiet and watched as things progressed with you two. Sorry I kept giving you the impression I didn’t like you, Cael. I was trying to figure you out, and then when Addie showed up with those bruises, I ... well, that’s water under the bridge, right?”
“Yeah, sure.” Cael still didn't feel completely comfortable around Gerry. After all, the man had an ego larger than his own, which was nearly impossible.
“When Jared ran out tonight, and then you two followed, I knew something was up and I told Maia about my abilities. Of course, she made me prove it first. Then she told me about Cael and Bart,” Gerry glanced at his old friend, “which I had mostly figured out on my own from all those stories you tell. Anyway, we weren’t sure where to start looking but something made us drive to the beach house. We got lucky there, and well, it looks as if we showed up just in time.”
“Well, here’s to a successful mission,” Cael said.
“Since we’re in the mood for toasting, here's to good friends, family, and wonderful lovers.” Gerry tipped his glass toward Maia, prompting several hoots and whistles from the small group.
Cael stood. “Let me add that, centuries ago, our ancestors forged a society to keep our people safe from ridicule and persecution. Even though someday mankind will find our powers invaluable and recognize their great purpose, for now they will remain secret. There will always be others who will attempt to destroy us, and we will fight.”
“As family,” Addie added.
Gerry raised his glass again. “Aye. Let’s remember the past and give honor to those who deserve it, and may we stay alive and ready in the present to safeguard the future.”
“Let’s drink already,” Bart said.
“Sláinte,” they all said together.
***
When Cael and Addie returned to the beach house, he took her in his arms and nuzzled her neck, his breath warm and sweet.
“Addison, how would you feel if I stuck around for a while ... I mean live out here?” They swayed together, gazing out the window at the moon.
With her hands wrapped around his waist, she clasped her hands tight behind his back. “Here? You’re going to move to Whisper Cape?”
He looked in her eyes. “It has crossed my mind. I want to be the one you reach for first thing every morning. I want to be the one you hold on to when you’re scared. When the demons in your nightmares rob you of sleep, I want to be there to comfort you. I love being with you. I love you. And besides ... I never told you, but I didn't rent this house from Tom Willits. I bought it.”
“You bought this house?”
“Yeah. I fell in love with it when I first saw it. When I first fell in love with you. I figured it was time for me to get back to my roots. I was born here in Whisper Cape, too, you know. And now, well, I thought we could protect the Sectorium from here just as well as we could from New York.”
“We ...? You want me to help you protect the Sectorium?”
“Well, yeah. We are stronger together and besides, like Maia said, it’s fate.”
“Hmmm … beautiful, fantastical fate.” Addie beamed.
“You still have a lot to learn, but I figured as my wife you would want to help since ...”
“Your wife?”
“If you’ll have me. Will you?”
“Marry you?”
“Yes, marry me.”
“Promise me, no more secrets?”
“I promise. That was the last one.”
“In that case, yes, I would be honored to be your wife.”
“Well, then, as your humble warrior and future husband, I do have this constant desire to protect and to serve you.”
“Oh, yes, warrior princess or not, I do need protecting and serving. I mean with all my abilities, there’s just no telling what sort of danger I might get into.”
“Right. Well, your abilities may be more dangerous than mine, but I’m still stronger than you.”
“Prove it, warrior.”
He scooped her up in his arms and carried her up the stairs. “See? I doubt you could carry me.”
She pressed little kisses on his neck on the way up. “I still think you’re arrogant, but I suppose I can deal with it. I love you. Maybe you should take me back to Bora Bora and show me some of that serving stuff you mentioned a minute ago.”
“Now, baby, that’s the best idea you’ve had all day. But this time we’ll get a room.”
About the Author
Regan Walsh was born in a small town in Pennsylvania. She enjoys writing about characters living in small quaint towns and tends to lean toward the unusual and spooky elements.
Today, she lives in Northern California with her very romantic husband, her small yippy dog, and humungous black cat. Her family consists of his and her children: four wonderful sons and one beautiful daughter, seven grandchildren. Her greatest love in life is her family and those large and ever growing holiday dinners.
When not writing, Regan enjoys traveling. Hates running, but does it once in a while. Reading and writing are her favorite pastimes.
To learn more about Regan Walsh visit
http://regan-walsh.blogspot.com
http://reganwalsh.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/reganwalsh1
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Whisper Cape Page 33