An Original Sin (25 page)

They lingered in front of a jewelry store, and Fortune sighed as she looked at the sparkling gems. “This reminds me of my cross. As soon as you get another paycheck under your belt, I can get it out of hock.”

He scowled. “Ye should ne’er have had to leave it at that cursed place.”

Uh-oh.
He was starting to sound intense again. “Look, I have to go into this store and shop for something to wear to Michael’s party.”

“I dinna want to go to his party.” He eyed an ice-cream stand hungrily, then fished in his pocket for some change. “Do ye want some ice cream?”

She shook her head. “Stay here and eat your ice cream while I go into this store. You know that’s pure fat, don’t you?”

He grinned. “ ’Tis why I want it.”

She watched as he bought a chocolate cone.

“Would ye like a lick?” He slowly swept his tongue across one side of the ice cream, and his eyes slitted in bliss. She watched, mesmerized, as he then licked his lips.

The serpent in the Garden of Eden. She knew exactly how Eve had felt. Chocolate. She could have resisted any other flavor. Leith. She could’ve resisted any other mouth, any other tongue.

“OK, just one lick.” Taking a quick lick, she let the guilty pleasure slide down her throat. Then her gaze caught Leith’s, and the sudden pounding of her heart convinced her that her arteries were in no danger of clogging anytime soon.

When she’d finished, he watched her with hooded eyes, then purposely licked the same spot. Slowly. Her lips tingled and her hands grew clammy as she watched that incredible mouth in action, imagined herself plunked in a sugar cone with Leith sliding his tongue sensuously across her…“I’ll…I’ll be right back.” Before he could offer to go with her, she rushed toward the store. His warm chuckle stayed with her all the way to the women’s-wear department.

When she finally came out, she was feeling really stupid. How could anyone get worked up watching a man eat an ice-cream cone? OK, not just any man. A man with a sexy mouth that—

She spotted him sitting on a bench with a bulky package clutched in his large hands. There was something warm and comfortable about knowing a man waited for you.

If only he would go back with her. No, that was a fool’s dream. If he went back with her it would be against his will, and he would never again be able to sit unnoticed in a crowded place.

Frowning, she watched the sideways glances women cast him as they swayed past. He wasn’t doing such a great job of going unnoticed now.

He stood as he saw her approach, and she couldn’t control the rush of pleasure just being with him gave her. What would she do when she knew for certain she’d never walk toward him again, never see him smile in greeting again, never look into his eyes again? Something like real pain tore at her.

“Did ye not find what ye sought, Fortune? Ye dinna look verra happy.”

Forcing a smile, she held up her package. “I found exactly what I wanted. Looks like you did some shopping, too. Let’s see.”

He held his package out of reach as she grabbed for it. “Two can have secrets, lass. Ye’ll find out soon enough.”

She took a deep breath and let herself relax into the moment.
Enjoy the present. But keep your memories safe.
“Ready to go home?”
Home? Where is home
?

“Aye. Ganymede willna be happy wi’ us gone so long.”

He walked to a nearby phone to call a cab. He’d adapted easily, much more easily than she, in some ways. Of course, he didn’t have the future of humanity resting on his shoulders. That was unfair. He had the pain of his bitter past to deal with.

He returned and automatically grasped her hand as they walked toward the exit. “I hope Blade can get this identification soon. We canna afford so many taxis. How do ye feel about riding a Harley?” He turned a hopeful glance her way.

I don’t want to return to 2300. I’d rather stay here with Leith, even if I have to learn to ride a Harley.
Amazing how momentous revelations came in the darnedest places. She’d always remember that her revelation came in front of the Godiva chocolate shop.

She couldn’t answer his question, couldn’t go along with his what-if game. Cosmic forces wouldn’t leave them here long enough for her to have to worry about riding Harleys, no matter what she wanted. “Wait a minute, Leith. I’d like to get a small box of these chocolates.”

He paced impatiently as she made her purchase.
Wow, talk about expensive. They’d better be worth it.
She’d wait until tonight to savor them while she lolled in bed.

She almost chuckled to herself. A week ago all she
would’ve thought about was the Godiva’s fat content, but gradually a product’s pleasure index was becoming more important.

Pleasure index.
Where would Leith rate? She glanced at other men hurrying past, then looked at Leith, who now leaned against the wall outside the store. He looked like a dark predator among a sea of rabbits. She smiled at her comparison. A few weeks ago, she’d never have believed she was a woman who’d choose dark and dangerous over warm and fuzzy. Yes, Leith’s pleasure index would rate very high.

Leaving the mall, they hurried to the taxi. In the backseat, Leith automatically pulled her to him, and she sighed as she settled comfortably against him. She’d miss his warm companionship, the feel of his body next to hers. She, who’d done so little touching in her life, couldn’t seem to get enough.

When she went home, everyone’s hands-off attitude would seem cold, unfeeling.
When she went home.
Which brought her back to her personal revelation. She took it out and examined it. She didn’t want to go home. Clear Lake had become her home. Yes, she’d miss certain things about her own time, but that was all they were—things. There were no people. Her mother? No, she’d realized the truth long ago about her mother. Fortune’s disappearance would only be a minor blip on her mother’s life-screen. After her discussion with Leith about family, Fortune could face that knowledge without bitterness. Her friends? None who’d remember her with anything more than faint fondness.

She closed her eyes and sighed. What was she thinking about? Her trip into this time had nothing to do with her personal choices; it had to do with the continuation of the human race. She felt the burn of tears behind her closed eyelids. God, she’d miss Leith.

“Ye havena answered my question.”

“Huh?” She opened her eyes to look at him.

“How would ye feel about riding on a Harley?” He reached over to push a stray strand of hair from her face.

“Well, it’s so…open. I mean, you’d get wet when it rained, and cold in the winter, and—”

“ ’Tis not about comfort, lass. ’Tis about adventure, the thrill of the wind whipping yer hair, the oneness wi’ everything around ye.” She felt his smile in the darkness.

“I suppose so.” She didn’t think so. She couldn’t imagine straddling the strange machine and roaring away. Her hovercraft had all the comforts of her own home. She simply set her destination and forgot about it.

“Life isna about comfort, lass. When ye’re old and gray, ye willna remember the comfortable things ye did. Ye’ll remember the things that made yer heart sing.”

I’ll remember you.
“You could be right. But I suspect your question had a purpose.”

“Hmm.” He laid his chin on top of her head. “Blade said he could get me a Harley. I think I would like one.”

Oh, Leith.
The emptiness inside frightened her. “It sounds right for you.”

Leith felt her disbelief, her refusal to consider that they might have a chance for a life together. She was ever the logical one, and he knew in his mind she was right. But it wasn’t his mind that drove him into more foolish speech.

“Stay wi’ me, Fortune. Stay wi’ me in this time, or return wi’ me to my time. I promise I’ll keep ye safe,” he whispered in her ear. Now why had he said that? It wasn’t as though he loved her. Yes, he admired her, felt comfortable with her, desired her, but she wouldn’t fit in his world. He’d have to listen to her constant complaints about its primitiveness. His offer must have stemmed from his wish to protect her. That was it. He felt better now that he understood his reason.

“I appreciate your offer, Leith, but I can’t. I have to return to my time. I have a—”

“Duty. Aye, I know.” As a warrior, he understood and even admired her determination to return to her time with a man, with him. Then why his anger? Because his heart knew she’d rejected him, would never want to stay with him. Why should she? He had nothing to offer her other than his body, and she wanted that for her world, not herself.

He was still in a roaring bad mood when the taxi stopped.

He paid the taxi driver, picked up all their packages, then climbed out behind Fortune. It was amazing how watching her wondrous bottom in motion eased his anger, or at least distracted it. As the taxi sped away, he started walking toward the house.

Then a remembered feeling hit him, a sense of something being wrong. Perhaps it was an instinct honed in a time when failure to notice something out of place, something not as it should be, could mean death. But whatever it was, he felt it now.

He quickly set the packages down, then put his arm out to stop Fortune. “Dinna go any farther.”

“What?” Clearly puzzled, she stopped.

“Mayhap there is hope for ye yet. ’Tis the first time ye’ve listened to me since we met.”

“Oh, I don’t know about—”

“Shush, woman. Someone has been here who doesna belong.”

He finally had her full attention. “How do you know?”

He moved slowly forward, his body tense, ready. Now he had a full view of the house. “The window by the door has been broken, and the door is open.”

“Ohmigod, Ganymede’s inside! We have to save him.”

Leith paused as the incongruity of her statement hit
him. “I dinna think Ganymede will be the one needing to be saved. Besides, whoever was inside is gone.”

“Are you sure?” She moved up beside him, her body pressed to his side.

Even with the vibrations of danger still strong, his body acknowledged her closeness. This would not be a woman to take into battle, where a moment’s distraction could be a man’s last. “I dinna feel a presence.”

“A presence? We’re not talking spirits here.”

“When ye’ve lived wi’ danger yer whole life, ye know when ’tis near. Whoever was here has gone.” Still cautious, he held up his hand when they reached the door. “I’ll go inside. Ye stay here until I’ve searched.”

He could see her nod in the darkness.

Keeping to the shadows, he crept into the house. Long practice made his entrance silent. Moving through the darkened house, he watched for movement, listened for an unfamiliar sound. By the time he reached the kitchen, he felt confident he’d been right. The house was empty.

Turning to search for the lights, he met gleaming amber eyes. At least Ganymede had survived. Not that he’d ever had a doubt. Switching on the light, he found the cat crouched atop the microwave oven. Leave it to Ganymede to protect that which affected his stomach.

Before he could do more, he heard Fortune coming. So much for her promise to stay outside. He winced as he heard her stumble over furniture.

“Where’s Ganymede? Is he OK?” She rushed into the room, blinking at the sudden light. Locating the cat, she scooped him into her arms. “He’s my kitty,” she crooned as she hugged him to her. “Did those big, bad burglars frighten him?”

Leith didn’t know who was more embarrassed, Ganymede or him. But considering the attention Fortune was
showering on the cat, Ganymede probably thought the embarrassment worth it.

“I thought I told ye to stay outside.”

She blinked at him. “You expected me to listen to you?”

“What would ye have done if ye found a burglar still here?”

“You said no one was here. I believed you. Shouldn’t I believe you?”

He spoke through gritted teeth. “Pretend ye charged into the kitchen and found a strange man here. What would ye do?”

“I wouldn’t have charged in if I didn’t know you were here, but hypothetically, I’d talk to him and explain the lack of logic in what he was doing.” She bent her head and made soft cooing sounds to Ganymede. The cat’s expression had turned blissful.

“Talk! Ye’d talk to the bastard? I canna believe ye.”

Her expression turned grim. “What would you do, Leith?”

“I’d bash him wi’ anything I could lay my hands on.”

“Exactly the response I’d expect from you.” She looked as though she’d confirmed her worst fears.

He wouldn’t be able to leave her alone for a minute for fear she was trying to reason with some madman. “Isn’t there anything that would drive ye to violence?”

“Almost every problem can be solved without violence.” Her expression had turned stubborn. “We’ve wasted enough time. Let’s call the police.”

“I dinna think that’s such a good idea. We shouldna call attention to ourselves until Blade can get us identification.” As he spoke, he strode back into the living room, then peered at the floor near the front door. Bending down, he noticed several tufts of black cat hair and a few drops of blood.
Hmm.
He hadn’t seen any wounds on Ganymede, so he could only assume…

“Do you think this was a regular burglary, or is it connected to that mountain-gross who threatened you?” She bent down to see what had caught his attention.

His respect for her reasoning powers, if not her common sense, rose. “I didna notice anything missing. There’s blood on the floor, so Ganymede marked him.”

She nodded. “We have to get the packages.”

He followed her out the door, and as he stooped to retrieve their packages, he saw what he’d missed in his previous concentration on the house itself.

“What happened here, Leith?” Fortune’s hushed question mirrored his own thoughts exactly.

Someone or something had fought a war on their lawn. Plants were uprooted and chunks of sod were flung everywhere. Bits of cloth and tufts of black fur trailed a path to where the deep grooves dug by the wheels of a motorcycle told the tale of a frantic escape.

“The mountain-gross lost.”

Fortune’s comment was a statement of fact—one that Leith agreed with. He would say nothing of his plans to Fortune. He would deal with the man in his own way. But he somehow felt that Bones would not be coming back to this house.