“I know what you’re doing,” she said tartly.
There went that damned eyebrow arching up again.
“Trying to intimidating me.”
“Am I?”
She scowled. Well, hell, surely he could see what this would mean?
“Talk to me.”
“What if Izzy and Mikki want a reading there?”
“They won’t ask.”
“How can you know that?”
“Because it’s a family barbie. If they want a reading they’ll come here.”
“They know me as Stella!”
“Well now, honey, that’s entirely up to you, isn’t it?”
“Don’t ‘honey’ me. And what do you mean by that?”
Unperturbed, he stood easily, but there was no mistaking the leashed power, a sudden shift of his shoulders, barely perceptible but nevertheless evident. She had the eerie feeling he’d grown a little…bigger?
With the sun going down the room was growing a fraction darker, and now the gold of his hair seemed to darken along with the room, blending in, now golden/brown while his eyes seemed darker through a trick of the dimming light.
It was unnerving. It was as though two men were contained in the one body, one easy-going, one more dangerous. Both Aaron.
Only she didn’t feel threatened.
She did, however, feel as though his gaze was stripping her bare, forcing her to acknowledge something she really didn’t want to.
“You have to decide if you’re Shea and Stella, or Shea or Stella,” Aaron said quietly.
Damn, he’d said it.
Hunching her shoulders a little, she scowled. “I don’t understand.”
He leaned down a little, the angle showing glimpses of pale blue in his shadowed eyes. “Yes, you do. You are separate from your persona. You have to decide if you want to carry that persona outside your business.” Reaching out, he placed a finger under her chin to tilt her head back, forcing her to hold his gaze. “This is something you never thought about, did you?”
Her scowl deepened. No, but she wasn’t going to admit it.
Aaron studied her face before straightening and stepping back. “I’ll pick you up on Sunday.”
“How can you possibly still want me to come when apparently I don’t know who I am?” she challenged, annoyed.
Without hesitation he reached out, hooked a hand around her nape, drew her forward and bent to kiss her gently on the forehead. “Because I find Shea very much to my liking.”
The anger was tempered with uncertainty. “And Stella?”
“Stella is not real. Shea is very real.” Another kiss, this time gently to her lips. “I’ll talk to you before Sunday. ‘Night, honey.”
The door swung closed behind him.
With a sigh Shea locked up and left the shop, leaving the hall door open so Ginger could follow when he chose to. The phone rang just as she turned into the bathroom.
Cole appeared at the doorway as she was peeling off the false eyelashes. “There’s someone on the phone for you.”
“Great.”
“Tough day?”
“You have no idea.”
“Want to talk about it?”
“Yes. No.”
“So the answer would be ‘possibly’?”
“Smart arse. Can you get the number and I’ll ring them back?” No sooner had she asked than she sighed. “Wait. Don’t.”
“You know, sis, your decisiveness is awe-inspiring.”
She regarded him suspiciously as she passed. “You’re in a bright mood.”
“Am I?” He grinned. “’Cause you’re looking a little miffed.”
“Huh.” He waited until she had her hand on the receiver before adding mischievously, “Considering you and Aaron were swapping spit just minutes ago, I’d have thought you’d be even brighter than me.”
“You’ll keep,” she promised before pressing the ‘hold’ button. Adopting her soft tone, she murmured, “Stella here. How can I help you?”
“Still there?” It was the same male tone as the previous weird phone call.
“I am. It’s been awhile since you last called. Can I help you?”
“Help me?” The man laughed unpleasantly. “You think you can help me?”
“I’m sensing you have a problem.”
“Sensing? You’re sensing?”
“I’m a clairvoyant, Mr…?”
“Then you should know what’s coming.”
“Do you need an appointment?”
“I’ll be seeing you.”
“My business hours are - hello?” Hearing the dial tone, Shea frowned and hung up. “Geez. I tell you, Cole, this job does bring in the weirdos.”
Cole lounged in the doorway while Red played with the laces on his sneakers. “What’s wrong?”
“This drongo keeps ringing, saying a few odd things, but he doesn’t make an appointment.” With a shrug, she headed back to the bathroom. “Guess I’ll meet him soon.”
Cole dogged her footsteps, Red scampering behind him chasing the loosened shoelace. “He made an appointment?”
“Not yet but sounds like he will.” Leaning over the sink, she finished peeling off the false eyelashes.
“Is that wise?”
“Customer, boyo. Customers come in all shades, sexes, colours and variety, from normal and believe, to outright weird and believe. You know that.”
“Yeah, I know.”
Something in his voice had her studying his reflection in the mirror. “What’s wrong?”
“Doesn’t this bloke strike you as maybe a little threatening?”
“Not particularly.”
“Maybe you should get a security camera in the shop.”
“Geez, that’ll make my customers relax, won’t it?”
“Not a big-arsed camera, Shea. A tiny one. It could be hidden amongst something so they’d never know.”
“And just where is the feed going to go? Your mobile so you can keep tabs on me at school when it’s supposed to be turned off?”
“Maybe Aaron could-”
“No.”
“Shea, it’s for your safety-”
“I’m fine. Besides, I can take care of myself.”
“Ryan says-
“Ryan? Seriously, he actually has something to say?”
Cole eyed her. “Cripes, you’re getting in a snit. That time of the month?”
Turning, she pointed a finger at him. “You want to see the sun rise, boyo, you’ll get your arse back to whatever you were doing.” When he opened his mouth, she added, “I’m going to shower and change, then we’ll eat.”
“Shea-”
“Subject finished. Now, unless you want to see me naked…?”
That had Cole bolting. Little shit added gagging noises with it.
“Yeah, thought that’d make you leave me alone.” Shaking her head she undressed, pinned her hair up and got into the shower.
Normally the running water and scented soap was soothing but her mind was buzzing. Mostly because of Aaron’s invitation and the problems that created.
Damn, she’d never thought of making friends, simply thought she’d be Stella to everyone which would mostly consist of clients. But dating Aaron was proving to have its own problems. Plus there was the fact that Stella was meeting his family, but Shea was who he was dating.
Mind you, she had introduced herself to his father as Shea and not Stella.
For sure Aaron wasn’t going to lie for her to his family.
“Damn.” Grabbing the towel, she dried off vigorously.
Dressed in a summer nightie and dressing gown, she entered the kitchen minutes later to find that Cole had made coleslaw and put bread and cold meat on the table. The cats were eating and he was reading a book.
She lightly cuffed the back of his head as she passed. “You’ll make some woman a fine husband one day.”
“Yeah, any woman would be lucky to have me,” he agreed, using a paper napkin to mark his place before clos
ing the book.
Shea spooned coleslaw onto her plate. “Aaron’s invited us to his family’s BBQ next weekend.”
“Next weekend?” Frowning, Cole buttered bread. “Saturday?”
“No, Sunday after work. I’m surprised, I thought the combination of food and the chance to pump Aaron for more security information would have your mouth watering.”
“Sunday’s fine. No worries.”
“But not Saturday because…?”
Cole flashed her a grin. “Gotta date.”
She stared at him. “What? With who?”
“Girl from school. We’re going to a movie then hitting up the local hangout.”
“I haven’t met her.”
“That’s because I haven’t brought her around yet.”
“Is she nice?”
“No. Imagine the worst kind of girlfriend you’d want your little brother to have and times that twice.”
Amused, Shea said, “Did you ask Aaron to check out her background?”
“I can do that myself.” At her sudden narrowed eyes, he rolled his. “But I haven’t, nor will I. Geez, Shea.”
“Fine. Okay. Can I at least meet her first?”
Thank God for easy-going brothers. Cole shrugged. “Sure. I can bring her around after school one day this week.”
“Appreciate it.”
“She thinks having a mystical sister is cool.”
“I’m not doing a reading on her.”
Fork loaded with food halfway to his mouth, Cole paused. His gaze hit Shea’s and they both looked at each other. The realisation of it hit them both at once.
“If she wants a reading, I’ll tell her I don’t do it on close friends,” Shea said.
“Yeah. Okay. Good plan.”
They resumed eating in silence for several minutes before he commented, “Life was a little easier when we first started this caper.”
“You’re telling me.” A little gloomily, she poked the fork at the coleslaw. “Making friends has its own problems.”
“Having a girlfriend makes it worse.”
“Try a boyfriend.”
“No thanks, I don’t hang that way.”
“I mean, you drongo, it’s the same for me in regards to Aaron.”
“So being old makes no difference?”
“You’re well on your way to not living long enough to find out.”
They grinned at each other.
“Never mind, sis.” Never down for long, Cole speared meat, pushed it through the coleslaw and brought the heaping forkful to his mouth. “We’ll figure it out, we always do.”
Though Shea smiled and nodded, deep inside she wasn’t so sure. Cole was correct, it was easier before, but now unexpected relationships had brought up a whole new set of problems.
Neither of them had thought ahead to what would happen. They’d planned a new life, aimed for it, started it and had thought no further. Now she had decisions to make, had to be careful that it didn’t cause a bad ripple effect for either of them.
Looking at her brother eating with gusto, Shea felt a tightening in her gut. She’d set out to create this life and now she was responsible for the outcome.
Thoughts buzzing in her head, it took her a long time to fall asleep that night.
~*~
“Sorry about the cat hair.”
Aaron glanced sideways questioningly.
Shea reached over from the passenger to pluck a ginger hair off his shoulder. “Ginger cats and black t-shirts don’t really mix.”
“Don’t sweat it. My family have pets, it’s not the first hair I’ve ever had on my clothes.”
“Is that why you carry a hair remover brush in your office?”
“Do I?”
“I sense it.”
A snort came from the back seat, a quick check in the rear view mirror showing a smirking Cole texting on his mobile. The boy was bright, energetic, had brains, and Aaron had quickly grown to like him. Protective of his sister but still a teenager at heart. No doubt he was texting his new girlfriend but had one ear open to catch the conversation. Add ‘alert’ to his list of attributes.
Aaron looked back at the quiet road. “I’m sensing that Cole told you.”
One arm leaning on the door frame, her chin propped on her hand, Shea grinned. “It’s so cute.”
He arched one eyebrow.
“You cuddling the cats, not minding getting their ginger hair all over your fancy black jacket.”
“It’s not all ginger.”
“Dog hair?”
“Brunette hair. Very long. On my shoulder.”
This produced a gag from the kid in the back seat.
Aaron smiled slightly.
“Do you have a long-haired black Persian?” Shea asked innocently. “I had no idea.”
“It’s a long-haired something.”
“Dear me.” She tut-tutted.
He cut his eyes to her briefly. “We’ll take this up another time.”
“He means when I’m not here.” Cole tucked the mobile into his pocket. “I think he’s talking adult things of which I have no knowledge.”
“Sure as hell hope you don’t know,” Shea shot back at her brother.
“Are you referring to my woman?”
“Woman? Do you even know what to do with a woman?” When Cole opened his mouth, she added quickly, “Forget it. Whatever you’re about to say, just forget it.”
“I could share some of my expertise with Aaron.”
Turning, she narrowed her eyes at him. “You just remember our little talk a few years ago.”
“Not about to forget that. I thought your cheeks were going to go on fire.”
“Mine weren’t as red as yours.”
“I suggest we just forget this whole conversation.”
They bumped fists, Cole settled back in his seat and Shea faced the front again.
Amused, Aaron drawled, “Had the talk, did you?”
“This discussion is no longer open for debate,” Shea said primly.
He laughed quietly.
Within minutes he was pulling into his father’s double driveway. The garage door was shut, Luke’s ute parked on one side with Jason’s parked behind him. Aaron pulled into the empty spot on the right.
Getting out, he glanced across the top of the car to see Shea looking up at the house while nibbling her bottom lip, her hand on the open car door. Yes, his woman was nervous.
Cole, on the other hand, shut his door and looked around with interest. “Big place.”
“Nice,” she agreed. “I like the garden.”
“It’s thrived under Aunt Lora’s hands.” Aaron locked the car doors.
“She came to live with you some years ago, right?”
“Her and Jason. Before they came the gardens were a mixture of Luke’s experiments with plants and layouts. It never looked the same from one month to the next.”
The front door opened as they went up the steps, his Aunt Lora stepping out to greet them with a smile.
“Aaron, dear, so nice to see you.” She kissed his cheek before turning to Shea with one hand extended. “Stella, I’m so glad you and - Cole, right? - could make it.”
Aaron didn’t miss the glance shared by brother and sister, nor did he attempt to correct his aunt on her use of Shea’s pseudonym. Holding the door open with one hand above Aunt Lora’s head, he prepared to usher them all inside when he caught the tell-tale stiffening of Shea’s spine. It was barley discernable but evident to his scrutiny.
“Actually, it’s Shea.” She smiled at Aunt Lora. “Stella’s my work name.”
“Is it, dear?” God bless his aunt, she didn’t blink an eye. “I can see where the use of a nom de plume would be wise in your profession. Now come in. Cole, I’m sure you’re starving, a growing boy like you.” Taking his arm, she moved into the house with Cole by her side.
He gave Shea an uncertain glance over his shoulder before politely allowing Aunt Lora to lead him away.
Aaron did
n’t comment, waited for Shea to broach the subject first.
It didn’t take long.
“Shea outside business hours, okay?”
Leaning down, he brushed a kiss across her lips, dropped his hand to her hip, curling it around the sweet curve to give her a gentle squeeze. “Your decision.”
“Yeah, it was,” she replied bluntly.
He grinned down at her.
“I don’t want to embarrass you.”
Reaching up, he cupped her cheek. “You won’t.”
“I hope I never disappoint you.”
“You won’t.”
“So sure of yourself.” She sighed.
“So sure of you.”
“Nice. Now I have to aspire to that bar you’ve raised so high.”
“No bar, Shea. It just is.” A stroke down her cheek with his thumb before he straightened and gave her a gentle push ahead of him. “Let’s go in before Aunt Lora comes back to see why we aren’t following.”
She’d just walked inside when Ant Lora called from the depths of the back of the house, “This way, dear.”
Personally, Aaron would have liked to walk a few steps behind Shea just so he could watch the sway of those curvy hips beneath the knee-length, flowing skirt she wore, but good manners - and commonsense, he was in his Dad’s house after all - dictated him to walk beside her, his hand in the small of her back steering her in the correct direction.
Or rather, his hand on her bottom which she shifted by simply reaching behind her, grabbing his hand and moving it up to the small of her back right before they went through the back door.
“Spoilsport,” he whispered into her ear.
She cast him a sly glance from beneath her lashes. “There are big people present, son, behave yourself.”
Laughing, he followed her out onto the back veranda. “You are so going to pay for that comment later.”
Before she could reply, Luke looked around from where he was leaning against the veranda post watching Jason playing Frisbee with Dog.
“Holy crap,” he said. “Did I actually hear Aaron laugh? Out loud?”
“Aaron laughs often,” Shea replied.
“Aaron?” Luke stared from her to Aaron. “You? Laugh out loud often?” Sticking a finger in one ear, he waggled it around. “Run that past me again, would you, Stella? I don’t think I heard correctly.”
The Wells Brothers: Aaron Page 23