Lucky Stars (Ghosts and Reincarnation #5)(135)

Still smiling at the sea, Belle sighed.

Maybe, just maybe, Belle “Meek and Mild” Abbot might stop being so darned meek and mild.

She might, instead, take more risks.

She wasn’t certain about this haunting business but the rest of it sure as heck paid off.

On this thought, Gretl, who was in front of her, twisted her neck to look down her body as Baron, behind Belle, gave a small, warning woof.

She’d just lifted her chin from her knees in order to look toward The Point to see what caught the dogs’ attention when she heard, “Belle.”

Her head turned, her eyes moved up and she saw Miles walking to her, the wind tousling his blond hair.

Holy heck.

She shifted her arms from around her legs, putting one hand in the rug to push herself up as the dogs roamed closer to her and she started, “Miles –”

He lifted a hand swiftly and interrupted her, “Please, Belle, don’t get up. What I have to say won’t take long.”

She pulled in a breath and kept her head tipped back to study him. His handsome face seemed thoughtful but she could read nothing else.

To her disquiet, Miles finished his approach and dropped to the grass to sit a few feet away from her. As a response, Gretl settled on her belly at Belle’s feet, her head up, eyes on Miles as Baron circled close.

“As you undoubtedly know, things have not been good, Miles, but I’m feeling better,” She told him in hopes of heading off any nastiness. “I ask that you please don’t mess that up.”

He gave her a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m pleased to hear that, gorgeous. That’s why I’m here. To be sure you’re okay. I came to The Point and tried to talk to you the other day but,” he threw out a hand, “Jack wouldn’t let me.”

She still disliked that he called her gorgeous. It wasn’t his place anymore as he well knew.

And she didn’t like that smile. It did not say he wanted her to be okay. It said something else. She was sure of it.

“Well, I’m okay,” she assured him anyway.

“Good,” he muttered, his eyes moving to the sea, his body settling in like he did not, in fact, intend not to take long in what he had to say but as if he intended to stay a while. “I assume, since you’re still here, you’re staying?” he asked the sea.

Belle didn’t much like this lead in.

“Miles, perhaps you should –” she started to advise him to talk about his brother’s future with his brother but he interrupted her again, his eyes cutting back to her.

“I promise, Belle, swear it’s with your best interests at heart when I advise you, if you can, to curtail Jack spending time with Yasmin.”

She felt her heart lurch and her shoulders get tight as his words hit her.

“I don’t think –” she began again only to be cut off again.

“They were lovers,” he informed her.

“I already know that.” She couldn’t quite keep the snap out of her voice though she also didn’t quite try.

“And she’s divorcing Quincy. She’ll be free again soon.”

Belle felt her eyebrows draw together at what he was implying.

“So you’re telling me Yasmin will make a play for Jack?” she asked in disbelief.

“No,” he answered. “I’m telling you that if Yasmin’s free, Jack will make a play for her. And Yasmin won’t make him work too hard. He’s who she’s always wanted, Belle, and I fear it’s the other way around for Jack too.”

She felt her blood begin to pound through her veins and for the first time in some time, the healing wound at her temple hurt.

Before she could say a word, Miles continued.

“They’ve known each other since we were very young. They have a connection that’s grown throughout those years. What they had was passionate. And it never really ended. On some level, you must know that since she’s still around and around all the time.”

“You’re beyond belief,” Belle whispered, the wind carrying away her words.

“I’m sorry?”

She scrambled angrily to her feet, Gretl scrambling with her and Baron got close as she dashed her hair behind her ears in a (failed) effort to control it and repeated loudly this time, “You’re beyond belief!”

Gretl woofed her agreement and Baron growled his warning as Miles got to his own feet.

“Belle, gorgeous, you know after what’s happened to you I wouldn’t tell you this unless I was looking out for you.”

Belle just could not believe this!

She leaned into him and reminded him on an irate cry, “I just lost a child!” She threw her hand out to indicate The Point and reminded him, “And it was your brother’s child. So, that means, your brother just lost his child too!”

“I know that,” he clipped.

“And, a month after that crushing blow, you think it’s in my best interests to deliver another one by coming to me and badmouthing your brother and our friend?” she queried heatedly.

He lifted a beseeching hand to her and urged, “Look around, Belle, it can’t have escaped your –”

“What hasn’t escaped me, Miles,” she interrupted him on a hiss, “is that Yasmin has been nothing but kind and gracious to me and Jack has never been anything but loving and gentle. Except, of course, after I let my own anxieties and your behaviour muddle my head then proceeded in making what could have been the biggest mistake in my life. In fact, the only person who has anything to do with any of this who has treated me unkindly is,” she lifted a finger and pointed at him, “you.”