Annie's Song(11)

“The damn good Samaritan who helped me get home. Now apologize.”

He took a deep breath, ran one hand through his hair. “I’m sorry. I was just worried.” He looked at Annie. “Especially when my fiancée disappears for several hours.”

“What?” Annie stared at him. “I wasn’t gone that long.”

“Look at the horizon, Annie. Where was the sun when you left?”

“It was early afternoon . . .” Her voice faded as she watched the sun touch the water, orange light flaring across its surface. “How—”

“The standing stones,” Penn said. She laid a hand on Annie’s wrist, touched Eric’s arm. His eyes widened, then he let out his breath, the anger on his face easing. “Inside that circle, time can be—fluid. True fact.” Her statement had Annie smiling. Claire would like Penn, as a witch, and a person “Welcome to England.” Warmth spread through Annie’s arm; she blinked, met Penn’s gaze. She had the energy of a healer. “Get some rest, Annie. I’ll look forward to seeing you in my shop. And I have to tell you, I covet that jacket.” Her fingers brushed the cuff. “I may need one of my own.”

Penn let go of them, snapped her fingers. A business card appeared, the same brilliant turquoise as her hair. She tucked it in Annie’s hand, patted her cheek, and strolled down the sidewalk, obviously used to the attention the locals gave her.

Eric cleared his throat. “She’s the real thing, isn’t she?”

“And I’m not?”

He stepped out of punching range. “That’s not what I meant, sweetheart. I am just as in awe of you. She’s simply more—obvious. I like subtle.” He moved in, both hands closing over her fist. “I like you, blondie.”

“I like you back, handsome.” Tears stung her eyes, the anger leaving as fast as it appeared. “Oh, God—am I going to be an emotional psycho the whole nine months?”

“Probably.” He laughed. “We’ll get through it. You want this, don’t you?”

“More than I expected.” And it surprised her, how much she already loved the idea of a baby. Their baby. “I’m scared out of my mind, Eric. What if I’m no good at this mommy thing?”

“Annie.” He tugged her forward. She pressed her face into his shoulder, comforted by the feel of his arms around her. “You are going to be an extraordinary mother. And we’re going to be a family.” His lips brushed her hair. “We’re going to be a family, Annie.”

She heard the grief edging his voice, tightened her grip on him. More than anything, she wanted to help him get past the pain that still haunted him, the blame he still carried from his sister Katelyn’s death. Creating their own child was a huge step in that direction.

Sliding her hands up, she framed his face. “I’d kill for a steak.” He smiled, just like she planned. “Feed me, handsome.”

“After we make some calls. I want to share our news with everyone.”

“Eric.” God, she wanted to shout the news, but it was so new, and there was always the chance—her mind refused to finish that thought. “Don’t you think we should wait, until we’re sure?”

“Can you keep this secret from Claire?” He touched her cheek. “She’d want to know, even if something did happen. And I know you’re dying to tell her.”

“Let’s eat first, so I can think about it.”

Eric smiled at her, led her up the steps of the hotel, treating her like she was made of glass. Since she felt kind of fragile at the moment, she didn’t complain.

Even though she knew she should keep the news close, make sure everything was all right with her, with the baby, she had already made up her mind.

And she couldn’t wait to tell Claire.





SEVEN



Claire shook her head, watching Marcus as he walked down the dark alley behind her house, headed for his Jag.

He was courting her.

Without using any of his considerable charm, or his Jinn hocus pocus, he managed to work his way into her heart. Into the life she created with Zach.

She rubbed the bridge of her nose. Zach. He rolled his eyes every time she mentioned Marcus, and avoided him like he was contagious. Claire knew part of the animosity was Zach protecting her. She was afraid he felt threatened by Marcus, that he was unsure of his place in Claire’s life.

How many ways could she tell him that he was her life? That her life before him felt empty and hollow in comparison?

With a sigh, she closed the door, leaned against it. She could hear Zach in his room, typing on his laptop. He loved research, the power of information, and never seemed to get enough of it. His intelligence still startled her. The fact that he could hold his own with any adult, on pretty much any subject, had her both proud and concerned.