Kelpie (Come Love a Fey) (17 page)

He
gave me the boyish grin that had always melted my heart.  “Everything you’ve
always wanted- I know Ada, I do- the big old house, the white picket fence, and
two-point-five kids.”

I
smiled at him, even as my eyes watered.  He was right.  It was what I had
always wanted.  He asked me to wait, but I had been waiting.  I had waited for
him for well over a year.  I had hoped and prayed, and begged him to change.  I
had wanted him to finally settle down and make me the happy little wife.  But
did I want that anymore?

I
looked into his eyes.  They glittered with hope.  “It’s all thanks to you Ada. 
You’re my motivation.  I want to be worthy of being at your side.”

I
shook my head.  “I just don’t know anymore, Noah,”   I didn’t know what else to
say. 

Leith’s
face flashed into my mind, and I shoved the image away.  This wasn’t a choice between
them.  It was a matter of what I wanted my life to be.  I had carried my dreams
for so long, but I wasn’t sure I believed in them anymore.

I
shivered and stepped away from Noah’s grasp.  “I don’t know.”

He
nodded.  “That’s fair- I’ve put you through hell- but I’ll still hope.”  He
glanced at the other couples passing by.  “I guess I’ll ask you again next
year.”  He gifted me with that smile again, and my heart just about broke in
two. 

He
thought I was punishing him for treating me badly- that I was just holding out
for the sake of being stubborn.  I wanted to tell him that he was wrong, but
there was no way I could explain.  I wasn’t sure
I
understood what was
going on in my heart right now.  I felt like a huge shift was happening inside
me; Noah represented safety from the change that I could feel washing over me. 
That was not a reason to take him back.  We walked on in silence.

He
paused and pointed up at the branches overhead.  “Look at that.  Isn’t it odd
to see a robin this time of year?”

My
cell vibrated and I pulled it out.  Seeing my home number on the screen, I had
a moment’s panic.  What if Leith had set the apartment on fire or something?

“Hello?” 
I stopped to sit on a park bench, and Noah waited patiently, watching Una hop
about on her perch. 

“Ada,
are you coming home soon?”  Leith sounded anxious.  I thought it must be
important if he had deigned it necessary to actually pick up the phone and make
a call.

“Not
right away.  What’s wrong?”

He
mumbled something I didn’t quite catch.  “I forgot how to use the microwave.” 

I
rolled my eyes.  “What are you cooking?”  Noah raised his eyes at me and I
stood and paced across the sidewalk. 

“Fish
sticks.”  Leith’s voice was low, his words short and clipped.

I
turned my back on Noah and whispered into the phone.  “Put them in, close the
door, push the number one, and wait.  If they aren’t hot enough do that again
until they are.  I’m hanging up now.”

“Ada,
wait,” he sounded angry.  My eyebrows raised in surprise.  He couldn’t really be
jealous- could he?  After all, I was just a tool for him, a place to stay until
he was ready to face his betrayer.

“Please
come home.”

I
clenched my teeth.  “I will be home in an hour or so.  Deal with it.”  The line
went dead and I put my phone away.  The damned fairy had the nerve to hang up
on me!

Noah
joined me, a frown tugging down the corners of his mouth.  “Who was that?”

 “House
guest.  I’m putting him up for a friend.  They uh… aren’t big on technology
where he used to live, so he gets uptight sometimes.”

He
frowned.  “Do you need to go home?” 

I
thought of Leith back at my place, stewing.  “Yeah.”  I should probably go back
before he decided to do something weird.

When
we got back, Noah insisted on walking me to my door, despite my protests that
it wasn’t necessary.  I paused outside the door, not knowing what to say.  If
this were a date, it would be time for the good night kiss.  But this wasn’t a
date.

Noah
grabbed my arm and pulled me close.  Apparently, he hadn’t gotten the memo.  I
scrambled for a polite way to avoid his advance.  I wasn’t ready to make this
decision yet.  I was saved by Leith.  He jerked the door open and stood there
in all his bare-chested, bare-footed glory.

“You’ve
returned.”  His voice was flat, deep and quiet.  I knew that quiet tone.  It
was worse than shouting.

Noah
looked between us questioningly.  I cleared my throat and pulled my stiff lips
into a smile.  “Noah, this is the house guest I was telling you about.  Leith,
Noah…”  I gestured weakly.

Noah
held out his hand, determined to be polite.  “Nice to meet you.”  Obviously, it
was anything but nice.  Finding out that your date has a half-naked
God
living with her wouldn’t exactly make one’s day.  Leith inclined his head but
didn’t move to take Noah’s hand.  He turned and stalked away.

I
faced Noah, and worried my bottom lip between my teeth.  “Well… that was
amazingly awkward.  Now you see why I didn’t want you to walk me up.  Quite the
charmer isn’t he?”

Noah
laughed, but his hazel eyes were pinched.  “Quite.”  He sighed.  “Remember what
I said, Ada.”

I
nodded and stepped inside.  Then I closed the door behind me and leaned against
it for a moment.  Irritated, I pushed off the door and headed for the living
room.  “Leith!”

I
found him on the couch, pouting, while he pretended to watch the news.  I was
having trouble believing that someone so even-tempered could suffer from such
an ailment- but it sure as heck looked like he was jealous.

I
took my coat off and plopped down next to him, trying not to smile.  “How were
your fish sticks?”

He
snorted.  “How was your date?”  He turned his dark blue eyes on me, the
unreadable mask firmly in place.  “If I wasn’t here, would you have invited him
in?”

I
rolled my eyes.  “Look, I’m not dating him, Leith; I just wanted to make sure
he was okay.  I owe him that much.”

He
regarded me for a moment in silence, and then narrowed his eyes.  “He asked you
to take him back,” he said with certainty.  “Did you refuse?”

I
took a deep breath.  “He didn’t ask me to take him back,” I snapped.  Well, he
had asked me to wait for him, but that was different.  “Besides, none of this
is any of your damned business!”

He
turned his attention back to the TV.  “Of course, you’re right.  I have no
reason to care about the love life of a human.  I have much more serious things
to deal with.”

Fed
up, I picked up the pillow and threw it.  It bounced off Leith’s head and he slowly
turned his head to look at me.  He kept that flat expression on his face, and I
burst out laughing.  One side of his mouth twitched.

“I
apologize,” he said finally.  “I don’t know why I’m acting like this.”

I
shrugged
.  I have a pretty good idea why
, I thought.  It was exactly how
I had reacted to Mair.  Both of us were idiots.  “Maybe you need some air or
something.”

He
nodded.  “I do.  I need to go to the forest tomorrow and try to find more of
the Overhill fey.”  He sat up and gave me a brilliant smile. 

I
had a bad feeling about that look.  “What?”

“We
should spend the day in the forest.  You could use a day off work, and I need
some… fresh air, just as you said.”

I
frowned at him.  “No.  I have things to do tomorrow.”

He
shifted his weight, leaning into my space.  His dark eyes took on a lustful
gleam, and I suddenly had trouble breathing.  “Please, Ada,”   he whispered,
his breath warm on my cheek.

I
put my hand over his face and shoved.  “Nice try.”  

I
could feel the blood pounding in my cheeks.  Leith sat back and laughed, no
doubt thrilled that he had affected me.  He was still laughing as I went to my
room and slammed the door.

I
n the end, Leith
talked me out of going to work.  I switched on the weather report as we drove
away from town.  The meteorologist promised sunny skies and record high
temperatures as we headed into an Indian summer.  I rolled down my window and stuck
my arm out, letting it ride the wind.  It was late morning, but the air already
felt warm- glorious.

I
glanced at Leith.  He was watching me with a smile.  His whole demeanor changed
every time we went out on one of these excursions.  Part of it was anxiety, I
thought.  He was looking for his people but at the same time, he always ran the
risk of meeting the wrong people.  The ones that wanted him dead.  Then there
were the ones that didn’t come when he called- those who had probably passed
from this world. 

But
aside from all of that, there was an air of relief about him any time we left
town.  He didn’t belong there.  He belonged outdoors.  I glanced at him again.  His
sharp features were in profile as he looked out the passenger side window.  His
dark, wavy hair glistened as it ruffled gently in the wind, and he lifted a
long, graceful hand to brush it back from his face.  He seemed more…other
today.  My heart did a little flip-flop and I returned my attention to the
road.  I had gotten used to having him by my side, but that wasn’t where he belonged.

We
drove along for about an hour, leaving my little town behind as we made our way
out to the middle of nowhere.  No matter where you are in Michigan, you are
never far from water.  I followed Leith’s vague directions without complaint,
used to it by now.

Finally,
we pulled off on the shoulder of a narrow dirt road.  I helped Leith gather our
things.  I had the forethought to bring lunch and a blanket today.  Mom would
be so proud of me for using the giant picnic basket she had gotten me so long
ago.  I even brought along a big fluffy towel for Leith, since he always ended
up wet.

Leith
took the basket as if it weighed nothing, and I followed him into the woods in
companionable silence.  We walked for some time, and I let myself just enjoy
the day.  I didn’t play hooky from work very often.  It was nice.  As I
listened to the breeze through the treetops, the tension slowly drained from my
body.  The bright sun warmed my face.  The first few orange leaves had fallen
and I crunched along merrily behind my companion, thoroughly enjoying myself.

Leith
led us to a stream that fed into a large lake.  We deposited our things on the
grassy bank and I went to look out across the water.  It was beautiful.  The
water was surprisingly clear for an inland lake.  It had that kind of stillness
that hinted at depth.  Leith spoke from just behind me, startling me with his
nearness.  “This place is beautiful.”

I
nodded, smiling at the happiness in his voice, even as it reminded me, yet
again, that this was his element.  I turned to him.  “Who are you looking for
today?”

He
frowned as he considered.  “I don’t know for sure, but I think there is a
caretaker here.”  I kept forgetting that Leith hadn’t lived here before his
slumber.  Even if he had been familiar with this area at one time, he had slept
so long that things were bound to have changed.  I got the feeling he tended to
call up whatever was near and hope for the best.

“What
is a caretaker?”  I went to spread out the blanket so I’d have a place to hang
out while he did his thing.

He
shrugged, still looking out over the water.  “Most forests have a caretaker- a fey
that is more powerful than most and takes responsibility for the area and its
creatures.  I can feel a glimmer of magic here- so there may be one nearby.”

I
nodded and sank down on the blanket.  I was surprised when Leith came to kneel
beside me.  “Aren’t you going to do your hands-in-the-water thing now?”

He
laughed.  “Later.  You don’t have any obligations today, so we can play first.”

I
couldn’t help but grin back at him.  “Play?” 
Oh, good lord.

He
nodded and gestured at our surroundings.  “Come swim with me!”

It
was my turn to laugh.  His face fell a bit, and I suppressed a smile.  “You
can’t be serious.  I mean, the water is probably freezing.”

He
shrugged.  “It won’t be too bad.”  He held out his hand and I raised an eyebrow
at him.

 Won’t
be too bad.  Great once you get used to it.  Refreshing.  Growing up in
Michigan, I had heard it all.  What those things really meant was that it was
going to be cold as hell but you were a wuss if you admitted it.  I put my hand
in his and let him pull me to my feet.  “I’ll keep you company, but I’m not
getting in that water.”

He
smirked, “mmm…”

I
didn’t trust his response, but I found myself following him anyway.  His
happiness was infectious.  I kicked my shoes off and rolled up my jeans,
averting my eyes as Leith reached for his zipper.  The man had no modesty
whatsoever.  He probably only wore clothes to humor me.  I was tempted to sneak
a peek while I rolled up my cuffs, but refrained.  Not human, I reminded
myself.  Sure, he probably wasn’t insane, which was a relief, but he was still
off limits.