Fairytale Come Alive (Ghosts and Reincarnation #4)(100)

“I don’t think this is a good idea,” she whispered when he closed the door behind them.

“Why no’?” he asked, guiding her through the small sitting room into the bedroom, putting everything on his bureau and opening a drawer.

“Because…” she began then paused then went on, “Can we talk in your study?”

He walked up to her with a pair of his thick socks.

“No,” he held out the socks, gentled his voice and ordered “Put those on, baby.”

She stared at the socks but didn’t move. He lifted her hand, set the socks in her palm and walked away.

“Socks?” she asked his back as he opened another drawer.

“Put them on,” he ordered.

“But –”

He turned to look at her.

She couldn’t even see his face but she still bent and put on the socks.

When she straightened, he was close and before she could say a word, he pulled one of his jumpers over her head.

“Um…” she muttered as she shoved her arms through and he tugged the tendrils of hair at her neck free of the collar, “I’m not getting it.”

He looked at her shadowed form in his sweater. She swam in it.

Definitely better than the posh cardie.

He walked away, explaining, “We’re going outside.”

“We are?”

He pulled on a jumper. “Aye. Best place in the house.”

He grabbed the wine and then guided her out the door to the balcony. He put the glasses on the railing and saw her give them a funny look while he uncorked the wine.

Then her eyes went to his face. He couldn’t see her clearly in the dark but he felt her gaze.

“Pren,” she said softly.

He cut her off. “We need to talk about Fee.”

Even though she was two feet away, Prentice felt her go still.

He ignored it and poured the wine. Handing a glass to her, he took a sip from his.

Then Prentice decided it was f**king well time to get a few things straight. Straight enough so that head of hers couldn’t twist them, no matter how hard she tried.

He got close and circled her with an arm around her chest, turning her so her back was to his front. He rested his weight against the railing and put pressure against her chest with his forearm as indication she should rest her weight against him.

She struggled with this for a moment. When he didn’t release the pressure, with a sigh she relaxed against him.

His eyes went to the sea.

The night was chill, the moon mostly hidden, the sea only a midnight blue blanket with caps of white.

As it always did, this vision settled him.

“I loved her,” Prentice whispered and Elle went solid against him for only a moment before her hands came up. Her fingers curling on his forearm, she left them where they were and she relaxed. Prentice went on, “I still do.”

“You miss her,” Elle said softly.

“Aye. Every day. Even after all this time, I can open the front door and forget she won’t be on the other side.”

Her hands squeezed his arm.

“We were happy,” Prentice told her.

Elle nodded but he heard her breath hitch.

This time his arm squeezed her.

“I’ll always love her, Elle.”

“Of course,” she whispered.

He took a sip from his wine and then rested his jaw against her head.

“I’m a man who’s been blessed.”

Her body jolted again and she stammered, “Wh… what?”

“I had Fee. She was no’ long meant for this world but I knew her since she was wee and she was mine for awhile. It was a blessing.”

Elle relaxed and nodded again. “You’re right, Pren.”

“Then,” he continued, “you came back.” She went solid as a rock against him but he ignored it and carried on, “I’ve lived a good life in this village, with Fee, but you’re still the best thing that’s been in it.”

“Oh my God,” she breathed.

He ignored that too, put his wine glass on the railing and his mouth to her neck.

“To have Fee, who gave me her and then Jason and Sally and then to have you,” he murmured. “I’m a man who’s been blessed.”

“Pren –” she started but her breath hitched again and she stopped.

“Come back to me, Elle,” he coaxed softly.

She was pulling at his arm with her hands now but he held strong.

“I don’t give a f**k about the photographers,” he told her. “If they come with you, then Jason, Sally and I’ll get used to it.”

“You don’t know how bad it can get.”

“I don’t care, either.”

“You can’t say that.”

His mouth left her neck, his jaw went back to her head and his other arm stole around her belly.

“Aye, I can.”

“You can’t,” she said firmly.

She was digging in.

He decided to switch topics.

“Tell me about your ex-husband.”

Her body jerked again.

Off-guard.

Good.

“What? Why?” she asked, her voice higher pitched.

“Because I want to know.”