Healing His Soul's Mate Page 9

  The all-too-familiar pang of guilt she associated with her sister washed over her afresh. She wished she had kept her mouth shut about the guards. Cyrus had explained the dynamics behind Rekkus and his overprotective nature. She’d shuddered at what happened to his family and about the attack on the island from some mob boss who took Dana hostage to get his runaway wife back.

  What husband wouldn’t feel protective under those circumstances? Dana glanced longingly at the door then back at her plate before pushing the food around with her fork. Her actions left the kitchen staff fretting on the edges of the room. The ripple effect grew in momentum. Her dad’s warm touch on her shoulder brought her from her musings. Whatever sessions he did today left him refreshed and younger in appearance than in years, a stark contrast to her mother who seemed to have aged a decade in two days.

  “What class do you have tonight?” He sat down and placed his napkin in his lap.

  “Meditation with Cemil.” She forced a smile she didn’t feel.

  “Cemil came down with a migraine. A guy can only deal with nastiness for so long before his head implodes.” Although Cyrus directed his comment at Ashlynn, his eyes never wavered from her mother’s. Dana gaped, and, for the first time since the blowout earlier, she addressed one of the Rowans. “Cemil spent the whole day with her? His soul can’t deal with such ugliness.”

  “Dana, calm down.” Cyrus crouched next to Dana, rubbing her arm. “Cemil would be distraught if he thought for a moment he caused you any distress. He has suffered these headaches all his life. He will be right as rain after his night at one of the more remote cabins. Shadedor is taking over his classes tonight. And maybe tomorrow.”

  Ashlynn blushed. Dana bit her lip and gave a cheeky grin. “So, Shade will be teaching Ash here how to relax? Now, that is interesting.”

  Heat rushed through Ashlynn as she attempted to deflect the attention from her, but Cyrus chuckled. “Do you have the hots for Shade? And here I thought you wanted me.”

  Ashlynn’s chin shot up. “It’s not…. I mean we…. I…..”

  Cyrus sat beside her. “Calm down, honey, I was teasing.”

  Cyrus’s uncertainty left her floundering, but when Shade came near, her libido went haywire and she wanted to do things to the man that might be illegal in some states. A hush came over the table. Standing there in a sea of ripped shirts and muddy faces were ten men who looked to have been having better days.

  “Kaleb,” Dana whispered.

  “Stay right where you are, Dana, and, yes, it’s worse than it appears.” He searched the room. “Has anyone seen my wife?”

  “Not tonight, but you might find her at the hot spring, waiting for you.” Cyrus peered at Kaleb’s swollen eye. “Rekkus doesn’t usually go for the face.”

  “Well, this wasn’t Rekkus. We decided to attack him all at once. There’s a reason they don’t do it in the movies,” Kaleb grumbled, jerking his thumb at the men behind him. “This is thanks to one of their elbows.”

  “It’s a beaut, for sure,” one of the men mumbled, cracking his neck.

  Dana touched Kaleb’s arm. “Kaleb.”

  “It’s okay. I shouldn’t have laughed. I know better.” He smiled then palmed his swollen jaw. “But do keep in mind over the next week or two we, your husband’s staff, are on your side. Could you just let us watch over you? Who is it hurting?”

  She put her head in her hands. “I am so sorry.”

  “So am I.” Everyone got quiet and turned as Rekkus strolled in. Other than a little mud on his boots and a scratch on his forehead, he showed no signs of the melee the others described.

  “May I be dismissed?” Kaleb asked.

  Rekkus nodded and waved off the rest of the men as well.

  He bent to her and she buried her face in his chest. “I should have told you. But for me to function, I have to know you are safe. Otherwise, I won’t get anything done. Please understand I can’t lose you, too.”

  “The guards can stay, if….”

  “If?”

  She peeked up at him. “If you take a birthing class with me tonight with Trixie.”

  At an animal-like growl from Rekkus, Ashlynn jumped in fright.

  Cyrus grabbed her shoulder and squeezed. “It’s okay.”

  “Knock it off, Rekkus.” Dana pushed away from him. “This is nonnegotiable. Go take a shower because you stink. I’ll have the kitchen make you a sandwich before you meet me outside by the cliffs for our class.”

  “Fine.” He glared at Cyrus, daring him to say something—anything, before leaving the room.

  “Well played, Dana,” Cyrus said with a chuckle.

  “And you, Cyrus. Don’t think I haven’t realized you were in on this from the very beginning. You two seem to have one brain between you and, unfortunately, the one doing the talking is never the one with the brain.”

  “Dana, wait—”

  “No, you wait. You will fill in for Rekkus until he gets back from his shower.”

  “Yes, well, childbirth class is for couples. Not couples and their best friend.” Cyrus shifted from one foot then the other, much like a little boy trying to get out of doing an unwanted chore.

  “You and Rekkus are joined at the hip. When has being a couple ever kept you from anything?” Dana demanded. “You practically live in our living room. Tell me when was the last time you and my mate went more than a couple of hours without talking?”

  Cyrus seemed to think about it then smirked. “How about when those babies were conceived?”

  “Check and mate,” Sage said, coming from behind them. “Cyrus, take Mama here to Trixie and, yes, you do need to stay until Rekkus gets there.”

  “But I don’t want to.” He pouted, and Ashlynn wondered if he would stomp his foot as well.

  “I don’t care.” Sage looked from Dana to the uneaten food on her plate. “A dinner tray will be left in your cottage for you after your class. Now on your way, Cyrus. I want to chat with Ashlynn before Shade gets here.”

  Cyrus rolled his eyes but, in the end, did as he was told. The ladies of the island did seem to have full control of the men. But, at the moment, everyone focused on Dana and her babies. Perhaps the city with all its medical equipment might not compare to the island’s warmth, caring, and, above all, love.

  “What bothers you, Ashlynn?”

  “I suppose saying nothing wouldn’t float with you?”

  “Not a chance.”

  “I didn’t think so.” She paused to figure out the best words to avoid being insulting. “I worry that perhaps Dana needs to be in a more clinical setting.”

  “Would it make you feel better if I told you, with the exception of maybe Rekkus, we all have felt the same way at some point during her pregnancy. But when I’m not doubting my own abilities, I know this is where she needs to be.” She stood. “Come, let me show you something.”

  “Time to let the cat out of the bag?” Shade asked, coming toward them.

  “One of them and, once I talk with Rekkus, perhaps a second.”

  Shade lowered his head in agreement. “May I join you for this one?”

  “How many cats are in bags around here?” Ashlynn asked, confused by the conversations swirling around her.

  “More and more every day.” Sage sighed.

  They walked down the hall to the elevator Ashlynn couldn’t use. Sage pressed the button and waited. As the lift opened, they moved in and Ashlynn felt like something in her life would be changing tonight.

  “Stop worrying. This will put your mind at ease.” Shade seemed so sure, but Ashlynn didn’t believe him.

  When they exited, Ashlynn noticed a woman dressed in white seated at a desk in the hallway. “Nurse Janis, this is Ashlynn, Dana’s sister. Should the need arise, she is allowed up here.”

  The woman gave her a warm smile. “Nice to meet you, Ashlynn. Dr. Belmonte is down the hall in his office.” As they strolled past, the woman lifted a pencil and pois
ed it over a book of crossword puzzles. Sage opened a door at the end of the empty hallway. “We showed this to your father earlier.”

  She ushered Ashlynn into an immaculate operating room. Lots of shiny instruments, gleaming white walls and floors, and a new feel to everything. “Has Dana seen this?”

  “Once. She prefers to think about natural childbirth, but Rekkus wanted to make sure, should the need arise, we could take care of her and the babies. We have a full staff on call.”

  “So they are here in case Dana needs them,” Shade assured.

  “That seems like a lot of expense for just in case.”

  “Your brother-in-law can afford it. But we thought the knowledge would help you breathe a little better.”

  “It does. Thank you.”

  “It did your father, too.” Sage smiled, and the nurse came around the corner.

  “Sage, Myron phoned. Ms. Silverstein needs you.” Nurse Janis indicated the direction they had come in with a flick of her head.

  “If you two would excuse me?”

  “Is there anything else you want to see up here?” Shade asked.

  She shook her head, still in shock at what she saw. “No. That’s it for now.”

  Shade waved her ahead of him down the hallway to the elevator. He kept a wide distance between them. While she longed for him to touch her or be close, he seemed to be pulling away. Of course, he would be conducting her class later. Maybe he didn’t want to blur the lines between staff and guest.

  Once they were outside, he spoke. “We have our choice of locations tonight. We can head to the lake, into the apple orchard, or, if you prefer, the yoga room. I believe the cliff area is being used by Trixie for childbirth classes.”

  “How about the lake? I haven’t been there yet.” She estimated they had thirty minutes of light left, and she wanted to be outside as long as possible. Once the light failed her, ability to see would diminish as well.

  He walked. This morning, he had been right next to her, and there had been constant contact. Now they would appear to anyone passing to be complete strangers. “You want to tell me what is going on?”

  “We are attempting to remove all stress from your life in hopes of easing the headaches.”

  “No, with you. If you would prefer to be elsewhere, I can go back to my room and lie down.”

  He stopped. “There is nowhere I would rather be.”

  “Then why are you acting like I have the plague? Was it the kiss earlier?”

  “I overstepped my boundaries this morning. I should not have done so.”

  “Do you regret it?”

  “I am assisting the staff here in your healing. It is inappropriate for me to come on to you.”

  “Are you on staff here?”

  “No.”

  “That settles it.” She smiled. Closing the distance between them, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “I do not know what is going on, but I do know my pain and fears ease when you are near. I don’t claim to understand how you discern all you do, but I am starting to see things here aren’t always black and white, and sometimes I have to have faith and trust.”

  After a brief second of him standing as still as a statue and her wondering if she read too much into this morning’s embrace, he relaxed. His arms snaked around her, pulling her against his hard body. His mouth came down on hers begging her to open for him, demanding she submit to his kiss. She might have started this dance, but he would damned well be leading it.

  Lifting her off her feet, he moved them both off the main path and into the cover of the trees. Not a great hiding place, but it might prevent another ragging from Rekkus. His lips worked their way over her cheek to the soft spot under her earlobe. “I have been overrun by images of you in my arms all day.”

  “I, on the other hand, got funny looks from all the staff for, I quote, ‘snogging’ with you.”

  He pulled back, gazing into her eyes and grinned. “I’ll make it up to you.”

  “Not tonight you won’t, Romeo.” Sarka stood on the path staring at them both with her hands on her hips. “I’ve been asked to tell you the other cat is about to come out of the bag, whatever the hell that means. Sage assured me you would understand.”

  “Thank you, Sarka.”

  “By the way, she has a room. Try using it.” Sarka turned on her heel and wandered off.

  “How can she be related to the other three?”

  “Hard to believe, isn’t it?” He smiled, fixed Ashlynn’s clothes so it didn’t appear she had been accosted, and, hand in hand, they walked down toward the beach.

  Ashlynn’s steps slowed as they came to the top of the hill leading down to the lagoon. “You already know what is about to be said, don’t you?”

  Shade nodded. “I do.”

  “Can you tell me?”

  He pulled her into his arms, ascertaining what she needed before she did. “It’s not my secret to tell, and, if I told you, I don’t think you would believe me anyway.”

  “Is it bad?”

  “No, just different.” With an encouraging nudge, he urged her down the trail. “Come on.” To her surprise, her father waited for them, and no surprise her mother was nowhere to be found. Rekkus made a great number of concessions where Ashlynn and her father were concerned but stood unwavering regarding her mother. Rekkus protected Dana, but he couldn’t protect his wife from words thrown at her. No one could, and sometimes words hurt worse than fists.

  “Hey, glad you came.” Dana’s smile didn’t hide her nervousness.

  “Apparently, you have something to share with us. Something more important than your birthing class?”

  “I…we do.” Dana peered over her shoulder at her bedroom door. “We will head back to class in a bit.”

  Rekkus came out of the bedroom, naked as a jaybird. Awe of his perfect chiseled body turned to an ick factor at seeing her brother-in-law naked.

  Dana blushed. “Rekkus!”

  “I can’t do this when I am dressed,” he stated as if he made all the sense in the world.

  “You could have worn a towel.” She threw a pillow at him, as nervous as Ashlynn had ever seen her. “There is something we need to tell you, well, show you. I don’t know how to….”

  “Baby, I got this.” A second later, he disappeared, and in his place stood a massive tiger no color she had ever seen in nature. Black with silver stripes.

  Their dad slumped onto the arm of the chair he had been standing near, gaping at the cat.

  Ashlynn knew she hallucinated. “Yeah, that didn’t just happen.”

  “Are you kidding me?” Dana threw her hands up in the air.

  Then Rekkus returned. “Well, your way wasn’t working.”

  “Is that your idea of being subtle?” Shade asked.

  “Do they know? Yes. Object achieved,” Rekkus said as if they were talking about the weather and he wasn’t again naked.

  “Yes, but you could have had them sit down first or given them some warning.” Dana tried to shove her husband out of view.

  The room spun. Ashlynn pulled off her glasses to stabilize her life. “That didn’t just happen.”

  Rekkus shrugged. “I can do it again if you need me to.”

  Ashlynn and her dad chorused, “No.”

  She closed her eyes, her world turned, and the next thing she knew she lay horizontal on the sofa, Shade sitting next to her, patting her hand, and her sister hovering. Rekkus—fully dressed—brought her a glass of water. “At least the Stone sisters handle my shifting the same.”

  “Excuse me?” Ashlynn asked.

  Dana giggled. “I passed out, too.”

  “Oh?” She sat up. “Where is Dad?”

  “He needed some air,” Dana said, pointing out the window at their father silhouetted against the setting sun. “Maybe this wasn’t the best idea.”

  “No, it’s better this way.” Why had she said that? She couldn’t think. Someone turning into an
animal was something of myths, fairy tales, and horror films. “So, are you carrying tigers?”

  “She is carrying babies,” Sage said with a smile. “But now you know why she can’t deliver anywhere else.”

  Ashlynn nodded. “Um, I’m not feeling great. Do you think we could talk about this more in the morning when it’s had time to settle in.”

  Dana bit her nail and nodded.

  “All I care about is your happiness, Dana. His being a tiger is a bit weird, but who am I to say anything?” I’d give anything for someone to love me like he loves you.

  ***

  Shade led Ashlynn out of the house after a brief series of good-byes and assuring a hormonal sister everything was fine. They took Sage’s cart as Shade didn’t believe Ashlynn couldn’t make the fifteen-minute walk. The shock of seeing someone shift into an animal would be hard for anyone. The slow, tense drive seemed never ending. Ashlynn sat silent, staring straight ahead. He didn’t blame her for needing time to absorb the new reality they’d shown her. Once she did, she’d have questions, and he wanted to be the one to answer them for her.

  That damned Rekkus had very little empathy for humans. Amazing the Fates found one who could put up with him.

  Shade parked the golf cart and waited for Ashlynn to move or speak. Finally, she mumbled, “Can I beg a favor?”

  “Anything in my power to give you.”

  “Will you stay in my room tonight? Keep me company? I just don’t want to be alone. And, when I am with you, I don’t feel the pain so strongly.”

  “I would be happy to stay with you. Let me grab my bag, and then we can head to your room.”

  She smiled at Myron, who asked how it went. Ashlynn just continued to smile.

  “That well, huh?” Myron tapped a card on the desk.

  “He was very naked.”

  ’“Ah, Kitty tends to like the naked part. Nice for us, too.”

  Shade reached into the office and grabbed his bag he had left there earlier. Throwing it over his back, he followed Ashlynn to the elevators. “You have to press the button. It won’t let me.”

  “Won’t let you?”