Whisper Cape (10 page)

“Oh shit, shit, shit. Now what?” Addie considered using her new skill. “I guess this should be a good test.”

She looked around and, confident she was alone, focused on the lock, stretching out her hand, her fingers pointed straight at the door. Sparks flew toward the handle, unlocking the door, and to her amazement, also starting the truck. As the engine roared, Addie opened the door, jumped up on the seat, and turned the ignition off. She sat stunned for a minute, trying to comprehend what just happened.

“I really need to be careful with this.”

Once again she left her truck, this time with camera and keys in hand. As she walked closer to the edge of the cliff, she snapped pictures, trying not to think about the story Bart had shared with her. Instead, she focused on capturing the waves as they crashed against the rocks jutting out from the cliff. She took several more pictures, and then as she looked closer over the edge, she noticed a small cave in the rocks below.

“Hmmm … that would be great if I could get a shot of that white foam flowing into the opening.”

Wanting to find a more direct angle of the waves slamming against the rocks before they entered the cave, she leaned over as far as she could, but still couldn’t get a complete shot of its opening. She inched closer—ignoring her sudden fear of heights—held the camera close to her eye and searched through the viewfinder. She took a step forward and the ground under her feet gave way.

Chapter 10

Addie screamed and dropped the camera as she struggled to grab hold of a root protruding from the side of the cliff. She hung on with one hand groping for the edge with the other, screaming for her life as a hand grabbed her wrist.

“Hold on!”

“Please …” She looked down at the rocks and the waves crashing over them, the roar exploding in her ears. “Oh God, please don’t let go!”

“Don’t look down, look at me. I won’t let go. Let me have your other hand.”

“No, I can’t. I’ll fall.” Her gaze moved again to the jagged rocks below.

“No, I’ve got you, I promise. Look at me.”

It was a command, one she couldn’t ignore. As she looked in his eyes, she saw strength and confidence and allowed herself to trust him.

“Now reach up and give me your other hand.”

With every ounce of courage she could muster, she let go of the root and grabbed his outstretched hand.

“Good, I’ve got you. Now dig your toes into the side of the rock and push.” With one fast sweep, he pulled her up and she landed on top of him.

There they lay, face to face, chest to chest, his arms wrapped tightly around her, as she stared down at the dark blue eyes she remembered so well from the night before.

“It’s you,” Addie said, sounding a bit like a squeak-toy.

“Yes, it’s me. That’s twice now, Grace.”

“Twice?”

“Yes, twice in the past twenty-four hours I’ve had to save your life.”

“Last night? I wasn’t dying then, just dazed.”

He grinned. “So, what the hell were you doing just now?”

Fully conscious of his body underneath hers, she squirmed. “Let me up, will you?”

“Sure, if you promise you won’t try to kill yourself again.”

“Kill myself? Why would you think I was trying to kill myself?”

“I can’t think of any other reason why you would get so close to the edge without looking where your feet were.”

Noting his cynicism, Addie twisted to free herself from his grip. “Let me go.”

“No, not until you promise,” he grinned.

“You are infuriating. You know damn well ...”

“There are some who would agree with you, but I’m still not letting go until you promise.”

She sighed and rolled her eyes. “Okay, I promise I won’t kill myself. There, are you happy? Now let me up.”

“Sure, if you insist.” He unclasped his arms as he laughed.

“Why are you laughing? I could have died.” She stood, brushing the dirt from her clothes.

“‘Could have’ are the operative words here, Grace. Lucky for you—again—I was here.” He stood, and running his hand through his hair, smiled.

Remembering her camera, Addie turned her attention to the ground.

“Oh no, where’s my camera?” She stretched out on her stomach, positioning her body close to the edge to see if she could see it anywhere. He crouched down next to her as they both peered over the edge. The camera swung on a branch by its strap. “Damn it.”

He rubbed his chin. “Looks a bit too far to reach.”

Addie glared at him and wished her newly acquired talent could help retrieve the camera. She sighed. Even if it could, she wasn’t ready to share that particular skill with anyone just yet, especially him. With her luck, he’d turn out to be the FBI and turn her over to some government science lab for alien testing or something. She stood and brushed herself off again.

He stood up also and looked around. “Sorry, there doesn’t seem to be anything around here long enough to reach it.”

Addie watched him brush the dirt off his coat. “I don’t think you’re going to accomplish much there.”

“What?”

“Your coat.”

He frowned as he looked down. “What’s wrong with my coat?”

“It looks like it was in a war … and lost.”

He smiled and she thought he almost looked proud.

Remembering her camera, she murmured, “Well, this is just great. I’ve wasted my whole freaking morning. I had some great shots of the waves, too.”

“Not to mention the replacement cost of the camera,” he added.

A moment ago she found him heroic, now his callousness irritated her. As she turned to leave, his hand caught her arm.

“Where are you going? Don’t you want your camera?”

Addie glanced down at his hand on her arm and frowned. With a look of reluctance, he let go.

“Of course I do. Unfortunately, it’s hanging twenty feet down the side of a cliff on a branch with no possible way any human could retrieve it without a twenty-foot pole and I don’t see any around here, do you? So unless you’re going to fly down there and get it, I’m leaving.”

For a minute, he looked as if he actually considered it. Addie shook her head as she walked off, wanting to get as far away from him as possible.

Idiot, a self-righteous idiot.
“Shit, now I have to buy a new camera.”

As Addie stomped back to her truck, he strolled along beside her. She quickened her pace hoping he would take a hint and leave her alone, but his stride was much longer and he didn’t have any problem keeping up.

“Why are you following me? You’ve had your laugh for today. Please leave me alone.”

“Well, you could at least say ‘thank you.’”

“Thanks. Satisfied?”

“You’re a hardheaded one, aren’t you? I’m not sure if I find your stubbornness irritating or sexy. Oh yeah, speaking of heads, how’s yours, Grace?”

“I’m not stubborn, I’m annoyed, and if I irritate you ... tough. Your problem, not mine. And I’m sure there are plenty of women around you can have sex with.” With a fierce look, she added, “Call me Grace one more time and I’ll deck you.”

“I didn’t say I wanted to have sex with you. I just said you were sexy. Though I wouldn’t mind if you want to—I mean have sex.” He ran his hand through his hair again, and then stuffed both hands in his pockets.

She stopped walking. Did she just hear him correctly? She looked him up and down. Considered. Maybe some other time, some other place, a tumble with him might be wonderful, but she didn’t know him and she wasn’t in the habit of sleeping with men she didn’t know. The prospect of having sex hadn’t occurred to her in a long time, at least not since she moved here.

“Well, pal, I’m flattered you find me so sexually ...” Addie's eyes fell to his crotch, “arousing. That’s quite an ego you have, but your arrogance won’t help get you into my pants. So don’t think for one minute just because you saved my life I’m going to jump in the sack with you. I don’t even know you. I thanked you for saving my life, now please go away.” She placed her hand on her forehead, felt the bump from the night before, and started walking again. She was annoyed, her head throbbed, and yes, she was slightly aroused.

“I can’t.”

She stopped again, placed her hands on her hips, and asked, “Why not?”

“I need a ride,” he muttered and lowered his head as he rubbed his sexy stubbled chin.

Addie didn’t respond right away, she just stared, unable to believe he wasn't joking. He looked at her as if he were actually hurt because she wasn’t jumping at the chance to sleep with him. She started walking again and smiled when she heard the frustrated slap of his hands on his coat as he came up next to her.

“Come on now, I just saved your life, the least you can do is give me a ride.”

“You may have saved my life but you’re still annoying.” They reached her truck and her hand shook as she tried to place the key in the lock.

“Here, let me.” He took the key from her, unlocked the door, and holding it open, held Addie’s arm and helped her in.

She looked at him and sighed. “Okay, get in. Do you have a name?”

He intrigued her, and that bothered her. She hoped he couldn’t detect the tremor in her voice.

“Cael Sheridan,” he said, slipping onto the passenger seat.

She took a deep breath and looked over at him. “Kyle?” she repeated, now completely in control of her voice again.

“No, Cael. C.A.E.L. Pronounced ‘Kay-el.’ My mother had a thing for the Celts. Cael was the name of an ancient Gaelic warrior,” he said with a broad smile.

“Oh.” Amused, she thought it seemed fitting.

“So ...?” He raised his eyebrows and stared at her.

“So what?” Addie started the truck and eased onto the highway, trying not to look at his gorgeous face.

“So, are you going to tell me your name? I suppose I could just continue to call you Grace, if you prefer.”

Addie hesitated. Oh, what the hell, what would it hurt to tell him her name?

“It’s Addie.”

“Addie?”

“Yeah, Addie, short for Addison.”

“Addison, I like it. It suits you.”

“Oh yeah? Why?”

“It’s a strong name. You strike me as a strong-minded woman. What goes with it?”

“Excuse me?”

“Your last name, you do have a last name, don’t you?”

“Oh, yeah, it’s MacKenna. Addie MacKenna.”

He fell quiet for a moment, a pensive look on his face as if he just remembered something important.

“Well, Addison ...” he finally said, drawing out her name, the sound lingering on his lips. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Her father was the only one who had ever called her Addison. She thought about telling him she preferred Addie, but the way he said “Addison” with his deep velvety voice had a certain melodic sound to it, and she decided it would be okay.

“So Cael, where do you need to go?”

“Into town, if you don’t mind. I need to see a man about a house for lease.” He rolled his window half way down and the wind carried his scent to her as she inhaled. He smelled like a combination of salt water and musk and she wondered if he'd been in the water, but nixed the thought. He'd have to be crazy; it was too damn cold.

“Aha, so you’ll be staying in the area for a while, huh?”
Settle down Addie
, she ordered herself,
you sound like an eager beaver
.

“Yes, it seems so,” he said, tapping his finger softly against his lower lip and sounding contemplative. He didn’t seem to want to share any more information. She found him very mysterious, but fascinating. After a few seconds, she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, and saw he was frowning again.

They pulled into town and he directed her toward the real estate office. It was late in the day and some of the streetlights were already on, creating an amorous mood. Addie loved this little town, especially at this time of day.

He got out of the truck and turned toward her. The light from the lamp above gave his dark hair a reddish glow. “Thanks for the ride. See you around, Addison,” he said as he got out.

***

Cael needed to pull himself together. What a disturbing revelation. Addison MacKenna, could she be Ristéard’s daughter? If she was, why had Ristéard never mentioned her? He knew something was up when he saw her start her truck from outside without even touching it. Then, when she said her last name, he knew at once she must be the professor’s daughter. Cael wondered what she knew of the crystal and sacred book, if anything, and from what he could see, it didn’t look as though she had a handle on her telekinetic power just yet.

Why did Ristéard keep her a secret? Was he protecting her? How much did she know?

He knew there had to be a reason why he kept running into Addison, especially now since he knew who she was ... damn. Was she part of his mission? Was he supposed to protect her? She was beautiful, but this was more than just a physical attraction and he feared things were about to get very complicated.

Chapter 11

As promised, Darcy came over with a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon.

Addie took a sip of wine. “I saw the mystery man today.”

“What mystery man?” Darcy had a puzzled look.

“You know, the guy I almost ran over. He was at the cliffs this afternoon. I saw him when I was there taking pictures.” She took another sip. “He saved my life.”

“What? How?” Darcy asked.

Addie picked at a slice of pizza. “It was stupid really. I wasn’t paying attention, I slipped, and as I was hanging there on the edge of the cliff, he grabbed me and pulled me up.”

“Holy crap, Addie, you were hanging from the edge? You could have died!” Darcy sipped her wine and took a bite of the pizza, plopping an additional slice of pepperoni in her mouth with it.

“Yeah, I guess.”

“You guess? If he hadn’t come along ... well, jeez.” She shuddered. “So, what’s he like?”

Addie shrugged. “He’s different.”

“Yeah, he’s different. From what I saw the other night, he’s a lot different from any of the guys around here. He’s gorgeous.”