by Geri Foster
His brow wrinkled. “How nice you have a family.”
“I’m nothing without them. They’re my...my everything.” She wrapped the bandage around his arm. “I miss them so much.”
“But, you’re here to keep them safe?”
“It’s just a precaution,” she answered. “Theo wants to make sure nothing happens to me, or them.”
He laid his hand on hers. “I’ll protect you, Penelope.”
She smiled at him. “I know you would try, but you don’t have to.”
His lips moved closer to hers. “But I want to.”
He wrapped his uninjured arm around her neck, pulling her closer. “I don’t know if this is wise,” she whispered.
Then his mouth was on hers with a fierce hunger that made her entire body go limp. He tasted differently exotic, yet as familiar as coming home. She wanted more. They never parted, even when she moved to stand between his legs, both his arms remained firmly around her.
She cradled his head with her palms and deepened the kiss. He allowed her to lead the way, yet she knew he was in complete control when fire replaced the blood in her veins. Her head spun and she lost all awareness of where she was, the time of day, or even that there was always the chance he’d leave someday if Topper broke the spell.
He was on his feet before she knew what happened. With his arms around her and his demanding lips against hers, Penelope didn’t want to be aware of anything else besides him, his heat, and his need for her.
Their gaze met. “I love you,” he whispered gently, “with all my heart.”
“It’s a wonderful idea. I have to say I feel the same way, but we both know it isn’t real. Any minute now, our love for each other could easily disappear with a snap of Topper’s fingers.”
His grip tightened. “Let’s ask Topper to never end the spell. She can do that, can’t she?”
“I suppose.”
“Then why can’t we stay like this forever?”
“Because this isn’t real, Altair. It’s not what we’d want without Topper’s interference. The spell is clouding our thoughts.” She swallowed hard and stepped aside so he would go. She couldn’t watch him go out the door... it was too hard to bear. Instead, she crossed her arms and waited for the sounds of the door closing.
She let out a pent up breath and slumped down in the chair. Her legs were no longer strong enough to support her. What had just happened?
Chapter Twenty-Five
he day of the trial, Altair sat in the small diner having his morning cup of coffee when Topper came in. Today, blue hair glorified the top of her head. She took the seat beside him.
Penelope had avoided him lately and miserable didn’t even scratch the surface of how he felt. Alone, unloved, and out of place. As much as he loved Penelope, not having her, being able to touch her, or be near her, was tearing him apart.
“So, tell me what’s going on between you and Penelope?”
Altair looked at the older woman with the mischievous eyes and smiled. “Good morning.”
“No niceties, alien. The two of you are like love sick cows.”
“What does a love sick cow look like?”
“Like you and Penelope. Why aren’t you two together?” Topper ordered coffee then snatched the breakfast roll off his plate. After taking a bite and swallowing, she said, “It’s clear as the nose on your faces that you two are in love.”
He looked at her. In the last week he’d grown accustomed to the matchmaker who loved mischief and mayhem. She had to, she created it every day. “You know all about it. We’re only in love because you put a spell on us. The way my heart hurts, I want you to remove it now. Not being with the one you love is too painful.”
“What kind of foolishness are you talking, alien?”
“We know you cast a love spell on the two of us.”
“Humph, you think that’s why you love her?”
“It’s the only logical explanation. We were both crazy about each other from the moment we met.”
Topper crossed her arms and glared at him. “I never realized people could be so lame brained.”
“Admit it. You put a spell on us.”
“I put a spell on you,” Topper said slowly. She spread her thumb and index finger an inch apart. “A small one.”
“I would like to know what you call a large one then.”
“I turned you into a few animals and a couple of plants, but I cast no love spell.”
He didn’t believe her because a spell made sense, instant attraction didn’t. “What do you mean? We thought...”
Topper scooted off the stool, walked to the door, and with a saucy wave, warbled, “Ta ta.”
Altair was beginning to hate that woman’s departing remarks. What did ‘Ta ta’ even mean? And what exactly had she just said? Often, he was so fascinated by her changing hair color he managed to miss half the conversation.
Altair left and went in search of Penelope. If it was true, and they weren’t under a spell, they could actually be in love with each other. He couldn’t wait to tell her.
When he arrived at Penelope’s house, Theo was escorting her out the door to leave to testify. He ran and stopped them. “Is it okay if I go with you?”
Theo shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t matter to me.” He looked at Penelope who was dressed in a nice navy blue suit that he wanted to strip off her in record time. “You okay with that, Missy?”
“Sure,” she replied. “No harm in that.”
While Penelope slid into the backseat of the vehicle, Altair climbed in next to the sheriff. He wanted to talk to her, but knew this wasn’t the time or place.
They arrived at the courthouse in plenty of time for Penelope to take her time going inside. While he and Theo searched the area by constantly monitoring everyone’s activities, she slowly climbed the steps.
“I hope this is over quickly,” Altair said. “I’m worried about her.”
“Frost came over here yesterday and searched every square inch of this place and gave me the okay. If he’s satisfied, so am I.”
“Good, that makes me feel better.”
Before they knew it, the trial was over and Penelope was free to leave. Much to his surprise, no one followed them and nothing dramatic happened. Soon they pulled up outside Penelope’s house.
He jumped out and opened the door for her, then waved goodbye to Theo. As she turned the knob to go inside, a click sounded.
He grabbed her by the waist and put himself between her and the blast. The force of the explosion threw them all the way to the other side of the street. When she moved beneath him, Altair closed his eyes and surrendered to the darkness.
Chapter Twenty-Six
enelope screamed as she and Altair flew through the air, his arms reaching out to protect her. Suddenly, they stopped in mid-air. Looking around, Penelope saw Lacey and Topper gently lowering their hands. Slowly, they landed softly on the ground with Altair beside her.
Absolute silence filled the air, the debris from her exploded house floated suspended in the air above them. Then Lacey swished her hands to one side, and everything fell neatly in a pile, only to quickly fall back into place.
Sitting up, Penelope was stunned to see her house practically rebuild itself. Knuckling her eyes, she blinked and stared again. “What’s happening?”
Theo and Frost came over and helped her up. Dusting off the back of her jeans, she looked at the two Witches.
“We knew something was up,” Topper said, “and got here just in time.”
Struggling to catch her breath, Penelope looked down at an unconscious Altair. “Is he all right?” Running to him, she knelt down. “The blast didn’t kill him, did it?”
“No,” Lacey said. “He’s just a little rattled, that’s all. He’ll come around soon.”
Cradling his head in her lap, she brushed her fingertips along his cheek. “Altair, wake up.”
“He might be out for a few seconds,” Theo said. “That was a pretty big explosiv
e.”
Glancing at her house that was now back to normal, she asked, “Who did this?”
“Gonzales put his brother up to it, but we caught him. He won’t be bothering anyone else for a very long time,” Frost said. “I wiped his entire memory. He doesn’t even know he has a family.”
Penelope looked up at Frost. “Gonzales will just send someone else.”
“No, he won’t,” Frost assured her. “He can’t remember your name.” Frost went over and put his arm around Lacey. “I would’ve done it sooner, but he had to stand trial and be convicted then I could erase you from his memory.”
Penelope stared at the people standing next to her. They’d saved her and Altair. “Thank you all so much.”
A groan came from Altair and she leaned down and kissed him gently on the lips. She loved him so much, but it all had to end now. Looking up, she asked. “Topper will you please remove the love spell. Altair and I need to get back to normal.”
Topper’s face brightened. “I’ve already told him that there is no damned spell. If you two are in love, then you came by it naturally.”
She smiled. “Really?”
“Aw, if you two don’t come to your senses, I’ll turn you both into Dolphins and throw you into the ocean.”
“I...I never imagined.” Penelope helped Altair to his feet. And while he appeared slightly dazed, his blue eyes shone bright with love for her. “I can hardly believe it.”
“Pardon?” he asked.
“That we really love each other.”
He smiled. “I wanted to tell you earlier, but you had to appear in court and I didn’t want to distract you.”
She laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck. “You’ve been a distraction since I first laid eyes on you.”
He held her tightly in his embrace and kissed her until her toes curled. Suddenly, Penelope held a grey squirrel in her arms and Altair had disappeared. She smiled down as Topper’s latest mischief twitched its tail. “You’re getting very creative.”
Topper grinned and turned away. “Ta ta.”
The squirrel looked up at her, his eyes seething with anger while he chattered up a storm. Oh, this was going to be fun. Obviously, Topper wasn’t finished with the space alien...and neither was she.
Also By Geri Foster
The Falcon Securities Series
Out of the Dark
Out of the Shadows
Out of the Night
Out of the Past
Out of the Depths
Out of the Blue
Accidental Pleasures Series
Wrong Room
Wrong Guy
Wrong Plan
Wrong Bride
Wrong Holly
Love Released: Women of Courage
Women of Courage, Book 1
Women of Courage, Book 2
Women of Courage, Book 3
Women of Courage, Book 4
Women of Courage, Book 5
Women of Courage, Book 6
Women of Courage, Book 7
Women of Courage, Book 7.5
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About the Author
As long as she can remember, Geri Foster has been a lover of reading and the written words. In the seventh grade she wore out two library cards and had read every book in her age area of the library. After raising a family and saying good-bye to the corporate world, she tried her hand at writing.
Action, intrigue, danger and sultry romance drew her like a magnet. That’s why she has no choice but to write action-romance suspense. While she reads every genre under the sun, she’s always been drawn to guns, bombs and fighting men. Secrecy and suspense move her to write edgy stories about daring and honorable heroes who manage against all odds to end up with their one true love.
You can contact Geri Foster at [email protected].