Because You're Mine(64)

The light from the candles reflected off their eyes and made him feel he was surrounded by hostile glares. He blinked and the paranoid sensation went away. His steps clattered loudly on the wood floor until he reached the Oriental rug. He found Alanna’s bright hair in what seemed a sea of people.

Maybe it had been a mistake to come back here. The more he was around Alanna, the more Liam seemed to take over. The smart thing to do might be to run from this place and forget all about Alanna. But when she turned those green eyes on him, his will to flee drained away.

She glanced up at him, then turned back to talk to Barry. He’d hoped to exchange a glance with her. For something in her eyes to confirm their connection.

“You okay?” Ciara whispered. “We were worried.”

He took a seat between her and Alanna. “Fine. I went by my parents’ house for a few minutes.”

How did he even try to explain what was happening to him? It sounded so crazy.

The aroma of fried chicken and gravy made him suddenly ravenous. He took some chicken from the plate that Alanna passed to him on his other side then handed it to Ciara. Both women were staring at him as if trying to see inside his soul.

He put down his fork. “What?”

Alanna’s green eyes probed his face. “I’ve been pacing the floor since you left. I don’t understand how you could know these things and do the things you’re doing unless it’s like you said. Is Liam in there with you?”

At last they weren’t dismissing his fears. “I think he is. And I don’t know what to do about it.”

“Maybe an exorcism?” Ciara suggested. “This whole thing is brutal. And it scares me.”

“I could talk to the priest.” Jesse stared at Alanna. “But I don’t much like what I’ve learned about myself. I don’t want to go back to being the man I was before the explosion. You didn’t like me, did you?

She shook her head. “But you were Liam’s friend, so I wanted to.”

He rubbed his forehead. “I have to fix this somehow.”

Was exorcism the answer? And did he even want Liam gone? At least the Jesse he was today made Alanna’s eyes light up, just a little bit. He wasn’t stupid, and he’d noticed the way she looked at him earlier. If there was a chance she might fall for him, he’d rather keep Liam’s spirit around.





Twenty-Seven


Alanna’s head throbbed, but she didn’t dare take anything for it because of the baby. The evening couldn’t be over too soon for her. Being around Jesse was torture. Everything in her was drawn to him now, and it felt off and strange when she’d disliked him for so long. But there were too many instances of Liam’s influence to ignore now.

Exorcism. The very word brought a shudder down her spine. Wasn’t that more about demons? Liam was no demon, so how could that help? Besides, she’d lost Liam once. She didn’t want to lose the small piece of him that seemed to be residing in Jesse.

She rose and went outside to stand on the porch in the twilight. Bugs hummed in her ears, and the thick scent of the marsh swirled around her. The door creaked behind her, and she turned to see that Jesse had followed her.

“Are you all right?”

She shrugged. “I’m gobsmacked. I don’t know what to make of all this.”

He stepped close enough that his shoulders brushed hers. For an instant, she wanted to turn and bury her face in his shirt. Clenching her hands into fists, she stood her ground. “What are you going to do?”

“What do you want me to do?”

She turned her head and stared up at him. The porch light haloed his head with light. “You’re so much like Liam now. It’s like I can’t stop looking.”

“I don’t want you to. I can be Liam. I don’t have to try the whole exorcism thing. We can just get in my car and go away.”

Her mouth went dry at the thought, and everything in her wanted to do as he said. But there was no going back, was there? “I’m married to Barry.”

“The marriage hasn’t even been consummated, has it?”

She shook her head and heat swept over her face. “You know why I married him.”

“Liam is your real husband, and if he’s here with me, then we belong together.”

His persuasive words penetrated deep into her soul. She missed Liam so much. She stepped away. Before he could tempt her even more, she turned and rushed back into the house. Inside the foyer, she took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, then went to find her mates in the dining room.

She found Ena laughing and talking to Grady. At least they were having a good time. They brushed past her and went out to the front porch together. Fiona and Ciara headed to the parlor still talking to Barry about the schedule for the upcoming tour. Richard and Patricia strolled after them discussing protecting the seashore. Richard was doing most of the talking.

She glanced across the table and found Patricia staring at her. A shudder worked its way up her spine at the coldness of her mother-in-law’s glare. Alanna recalled the expression of fear on Patricia’s face when she saw Maire. Was there any connection between the women?

She was alone with Patricia so maybe she could get to the truth. “Patricia, I’d like to be friends. I know we got off to a bad start. Can we begin again?”