"He works in the corporate offices of BioLab and he"s a good friend of one of the biochemists working on the PDG."
"Really? He must have heard about your accident and came to see you. I"m sure you"re very important to your company."
"He couldn"t have made it to Sea Haven that fast. Even by plane. He didn"t have time. He had to have been here before the accident." Ty shook his head. "Or maybe I was so out of it I just imagined him. On the other hand, I remember that I dreamt about you when I was unconscious." A faint, slightly self-derisive smile curled his mouth. "I do that a lot so it isn"t surprising. Then I opened my eyes and saw your face and thought I was dreaming. G.o.d, you"re beautiful." His voice roughened and his eyes darkened even more.
Libby felt the rasp of his voice tripping little arcs of electricity through her body. Why was she so susceptible to him? She"d never felt such an overwhelming pull towards one man in her life. Not so all-consuming. Her throat was dry, as were her lips. She wanted to touch him. Her fingers itched to touch him. Libby Drake, always in control, was fast sweeping out of control by the slow burn spreading through her body with every heated look he gave her.
"I"m not, you know," she said, "beautiful." It took a while to find her voice. No man had ever called her beautiful before, but Tyson couldn"t seem to take his eyes off of her. His desire was so stark and raw she couldn"t help but believe his sincerity.
"You are to me. I really do dream about you."
He took another drink of wine and she watched him swallow. Even that was erotic. She had it bad. "You dream about me?"
His faint smile failed to reach his eyes. "You don"t want to know what I dream, you"d slap my face."
A slow flush spread over her entire body. His voice was such a turn-on to her. G.o.d help her, all she wanted to know in that moment was exactly what he dreamt about her. All she could think about was tasting his skin. She closed her eyes and took a drink of the ice water, hoping it would help. It didn"t. She touched her tongue to the beads melting on the outside of the gla.s.s, wishing it was his chest.
"d.a.m.n it, Libby. You"re killing me. I don"t have as much discipline as you think I do. Maybe we should find a bed and get it over with."
His abrupt tone, almost a snarl, brought her up short. What was she thinking? Libby knew her nature inside and out. She wasn"t a one-night-stand woman. She didn"t have flings. And she had always, always been far too aware of Tyson Derrick to think she"d walk away unscathed. He wanted s.e.x. Plain and simple and who could blame him with the way she"d been acting? She"d been mentally undressing him most of the evening. She pressed the gla.s.s against her burning face.
"Libby?"
She cleared her voice. "While I really appreciate the invitation, especially the utter finesse with which you delivered it, I still think I"ll have to pa.s.s."
"Why?"
The challenge in his voice dug under her skin, raising p.r.i.c.kles until she felt her temper beginning to stir. Or maybe it wasn"t his challenge, maybe she just wanted him so bad she was edgy and restless and wanting to pick a fight with him. Need clawed in the pit of her stomach, raging at her so she had to look away.
Libby"s gaze collided with a man at the table to her left, only feet away. Recognition jolted through her. Her breath left her body in a rush and she sat up straighter, her eyes suddenly wide with fear as she turned back toward Ty.
His reaction astonished him. One moment Tyson could feel the l.u.s.t of a lifetime raking his gut, hardening his body, hammers driving through his skull until his head thundered and his blood thickened and poured into his lower region with such ferocious heat he feared he might spontaneously combust, and then she looked at him with fear instead of pa.s.sion. She looked vulnerable and fragile instead of sultry and seductive.
Everything in him responded on the most primitive, protective level, just as it had on a s.e.xual level. He had never felt protective in his life, yet he wanted to stand up and smash something-or someone. He wanted to sweep her into his arms and shelter her against his stronger body. Cracked ribs and torn muscles aside, he suddenly was a caveman, adrenaline rushing and the need to protect her swamping him, even dampening the intensity of his physical attraction.
He reached out to take her hand, wrapping his fingers securely through hers to let her know she wasn"t alone. He heard several chairs sc.r.a.pe and turned his head as three men surrounded the table, pulling out chairs and seating themselves without an invitation.
"I don"t suppose you noticed you"re interrupting a private dinner." Tyson greeted them sarcastically. He raised his hand to summon the waiter.
One of the men moved his jacket casually to reveal a gun in a shoulder harness. Instead of sobering him, Tyson felt fury sweep through his body. He nearly came across the table to strangle the man. He was well aware of Libby"s pale face and her fingers tightening around his as if to restrain him. "Is that supposed to intimidate me?"
"I want a few words with the young lady," the tallest of the three men said in a low tone. "I"m John Sandoval and these are my colleagues. I"m here on behalf of my boss, Edward Martinelli. I only need a few minutes of her time to avoid a lot of unpleasantness. I"m certain she doesn"t wish to make these photographs public." He tossed several eight-by-ten"s on the table in front of Ty.
Tyson glanced down at the pictures. They were of him in his hospital room, obviously taken through the gla.s.s part.i.tion. He appeared to be in bad shape, unconscious, tubes and lines running from his body to machines. Libby stood over his unconscious body. It must have been the reflection of the flash in the window because she seemed to glow, as if her body gave off a strange light, the aura surrounding her white hot. Her hands were on his head and her eyes were closed.
His heart jolted hard in his chest and then began to pound. There was pain on her face. Not just pain, but gut-wrenching agony. And in each succeeding photograph, the pain appeared to grow worse until blood flecked the corner of her mouth and tears tracked down her face. The last picture showed him alert and wholly conscious and Libby huddling against the wall looking lost and vulnerable.
"You see now." John leaned forward, flicking the pictures with his finger. "It would not be good for the tabloids to get these photos along with a copy of your brain scan after your accident."
"And just how would you have gotten his confidential records?" Libby demanded. Her fingers tightened on Tyson"s until her knuckles turned white, but she kept her voice even.
John shrugged. "These hospitals are so careless leaving patient files everywhere. My boss simply is asking for a few minutes of your time. He"s a generous man, but not a patient or forgiving one. You do not want to be his enemy."
"And he does not want to threaten me," Libby said and her green eyes began to smolder with quiet fury. The wine in Tyson"s gla.s.s bubbled and frothed blood red. She tried not to let them see they"d kicked her in the gut. If those pictures were printed in a tabloid, she and her sisters would become the next media freak show.
"Edward Martinelli is a friend of mine," Ty said. "We go rafting and climbing together. I intend to give him a call and let him know you"re hara.s.sing and threatening Miss Drake." Tyson pushed the photographs back across the table, contempt showing in every line of his face. "Anyone can doctor photographs. All they need is a software program and they can produce any effect they want. I"m not impressed with your so-called evidence."
Libby didn"t dare look at Tyson. She was catching some of his thoughts. He didn"t believe in the Drake sisters" gifts and felt if they hadn"t been so eager to get the world to believe they could perform magic, these kinds of threats wouldn"t happen. He hadn"t noticed the wine in the gla.s.ses or the coffee in the mugs bubbling. She took a breath and let it out slowly to calm herself down. Very casually she laid her palm over the nearest winegla.s.s to still the bubbles.
Tyson ran a finger down Libby"s arm to get her attention, giving her a brief smile. "The sheriff will be here any minute. He"s rather fond of Libby and trying to blackmail her isn"t going to go over big."
"You misunderstand," John said, reaching for the pictures.
A hand reached over his shoulder and scooped up the pictures. "Libby, I"m sorry we"re late for dessert. Have you ordered yet?" Elle Drake handed the photographs to the man standing behind her.
Jackson Deveau towered over Elle, but only because she was short. He was a stocky man with broad shoulders and obvious power, unlike Jonas Harrington"s much more subtle strength. Jackson"s features were set in hard lines, his eyes glittering with menace. "Gentlemen, I believe you"re in our seats."
The same man who had moved his jacket to show his gun, did so a second time, a casual gesture meant to intimidate. Instantly Jackson"s hand circled the nape of the man"s neck and slammed his head violently to the tabletop. The muzzle of the gun in the deputy"s other hand pressed deep against his skull. "Libby, Ty, move back from the table now."
Tyson had already risen, pulling Libby out of her chair and behind him. Ty glanced around the room. The other occupants were silent, watching the drama unfold. Mason Fredrickson, one of Sea Haven"s residents, and an older man Ty didn"t recognize flanked Jackson. Both men were reserve law enforcement, willing to back up local authorities when there was no one else available.
John didn"t move but the other man reached inside his coat and Mason pinned his hand. "I wouldn"t. You don"t know Jackson. He"d shoot all three of you and then we"d have to clean up this place before we could have dinner. Just keep your hands on the table."
Jackson cuffed the first man and put the second one in flex cuffs. All the while John Sandoval merely stared at Libby. "They have permits to carry the guns." His gaze remained on her face. "This is all so unnecessary. He only wants to speak with you, a few minutes of your time. To anger him would be foolish." He lifted Libby"s water gla.s.s in a casual gesture and took a drink, no expression on his face.
Sandoval choked. He dropped the tumbler of water so that gla.s.s shattered across the table and the liquid soaked into the cloth. Both hands went to his collar. He tore desperately at it, his coloring mottled. Libby pushed Tyson out of her way and rushed to Sandoval"s side as Jackson and the other two men pulled their prisoners away from the table. Sandoval went down to his knees, Libby"s arm preventing him from falling. She took one look at his face, the gasping for air and turned her head, her gaze locking with her younger sister"s. They stared at one another for a long moment.
Libby lowered Sandoval to the floor and loosened his collar. His lips turned blue and he made terrible gasping sounds. Using her body to cut off the view of the others in the room as best she could, Libby traced symbols in the air over his head. The lines glowed silver and sparkled, revealing another darker set of symbols. Libby hissed and glanced back at Elle.
The silver sparkles leapt over the darker ones, extinguishing them. Libby bent over the man, her lips against his ear as she seemed to be aiding him. "It would be very foolish of you to threaten anyone in my family," she whispered.
Libby stood up and moved back behind Tyson to Elle. She caught her younger sister by the arm. They stood, nearly nose to nose, staring at one another. Elle reached out and jerked Libby to her, holding her close. I feel and see danger all around you, around your aura, and I can"t find the source. I"m so afraid for you.
Elle rarely used telepathic communication, so Libby often forgot she was a strong telepath, but her sister"s voice was clear in her mind, the fear echoing loudly. Libby laced her fingers through her sister"s, connecting them together so they could feel power leaping back and forth. On some level Libby was aware of Jackson removing the three men from the restaurant and the waiters hastily cleaning the table off, but it all seemed far away.
Is it Edward Martinelli?
I can"t tell. I don"t want to be away from you and Hannah is uneasy as well. I need to talk to Sarah to see if she"s picked up anything evil lurking in the shadows around you.
When I was in the hospital, before I began to heal Ty, did you feel it then?
Elle looked confused, close to tears. I don"t know. I"m sorry. I don"t know.
For just one moment, Elle"s mind was open to Libby and she caught a glimpse of the terrible burden her youngest sister had to bear. The continual bombardment of thoughts, of emotions, the awareness of people around her, especially her sisters and their private hopes and fears. Elle knew their secrets and she fought to keep their privacy. Libby felt the oppressive burden of all those secrets and the tremendous power always running through Elle"s body, the feeling that she must keep everyone safe.
She hugged Elle close to her, deliberately allowed her hands to run up and down her sister"s arms, the warmth opening deep inside her so that Libby could ease Elle"s suffering. I"m safe tonight, baby. Thank you for loving me so much.
Elle blinked back tears and looked around her, startled to see Mason Fredrickson and a waiter and Tyson so close.
They were forming a wall with their bodies, blocking off the Drake sisters from prying eyes.
"You okay?" Tyson asked, reaching for Libby"s hand. "You look pale." He drew her hand to his shoulder.
"Yes, I"m fine. I"m sorry to put you in that position. Martinelli must be desperate to send men with guns to intimidate me into talking with him. Do you really know him?"
"Yes. I know him and this just doesn"t sound at all like him. Whoever this John Sandoval is, he isn"t a.s.sociated with Ed. I"ll call Ed and let him know what"s going on," Ty said.
"I hope you"re right," Libby replied. She turned her attention to Mason Fredrickson, a man her older sisters had gone through school with. "Thank you, Mason. It was courageous of you to back Jackson."
"I was having dinner with Sylvia and she realized you were in trouble. She could tell by your expression. I"m reserve with the sheriff and so is Mike Dangerfield, so we just kept an eye on things. I"ll catch you all later." He sauntered across the room back to the small intimate table in a darker corner of the restaurant.
Elle and Libby exchanged a quick glance. Are they getting back together? Elle sent the question to her sister.
Libby shrugged. She hoped so. Mason had been good for Sylvia and in spite of the fact that she"d had an affair, Sylvia obviously loved him and had helped save her ex-husband"s life when someone had tried to kill him. Deliberately Libby peeked around Tyson"s larger frame and waved to Sylvia, mouthing a thank-you.
Sylvia beamed, waving back. Elle added her small smile to Libby"s larger one and lifted a tentative hand in response. "I guess I"d better be going."
Libby caught her sister by the arm and held on. "Have dessert with us." She didn"t want to face Tyson"s questions, or his judgment on the things her family could do. He"d seen the brief argument between the sisters and their magic. Elle had backed off, but she had resisted at first, her fear for Libby overcoming her inhibitions of using their talents in public.
Elle shook her head. She was trembling. "I think I need to go home and lie down." She rubbed her temples. "I"ve been getting those headaches again, Libby."
"I"ll come with you," Libby said instantly. She smiled up at Tyson. "Thank you for such a wonderful evening. I had fun right up until Sandoval and his henchmen joined us."
"I don"t know, that was kind of fun, too," Ty said with a faint grin. "Didn"t you come with the sheriff? I"m Tyson Derrick, by the way. You"re Elle?"
"The deputy," Elle corrected. "And yes, I was running here and he picked me up. Nice to meet you. I"m sorry for horning in on your date."
"I was getting myself into trouble anyway," Ty admitted. "I annoy Libby on so many levels."
"Not all of them, obviously," Elle said, brushing back Libby"s hair from her neck.
Libby made a face at Elle. "Don"t start, Elle. Hannah and Sarah and Kate were relentless. Elle"s the baby of the family," she added for Tyson"s sake.
"Come on. I"ll take you both home." His hand went to Libby"s back, his palm blazing hot through her thin blouse.
Suddenly she was very nervous. His tone was back, that sensual, husky voice, deep enough to vibrate right through her body and wreak havoc on her brain. Elle would know. Libby blushed, unable to prevent the color sweeping up her body.
Elle nudged her. Jackson does that to me. I hate it.
He does? That was a shocking revelation. And it had to cost Elle dearly to admit it, but she was fair. If she knew Libby"s private secrets, she"d reveal her own in turn.
Sadly, yes. I stay away from him.
I should be staying away from Ty. If he"d keep his mouth closed and just let me look, everything would be wonderful, Libby admitted.
"What are you two doing?" Ty asked, as he escorted them from the restaurant.
Libby winked at Elle. "Elle"s telepathic. We were talking about you."
He halted just outside the door, frowning, but regarding the two of them as if they were alien specimens under a microscope. "You"re not serious, are you?"
"Absolutely. Would you like Elle to talk to you?"
Tyson bit back his first reaction. Libby was pretty shaken up. There was no point in talking to her about living in the real world-not yet. "No." He let the door close behind them and made his way to the car. "I"ll pa.s.s."
He opened the door for Elle to climb into the backseat and stepped in front of Libby, preventing her from entering his car. His thighs pressed close and his body heat enveloped her. "On the other hand, at least you were discussing me. If you"re talking telepathically about me, it has to be something really good." His voice had dropped another octave, sending a shiver of awareness down her spine.
How did he do that? She wasn"t a s.e.xual creature, she"d always known it and accepted it. Joley oozed s.e.x. Hannah took men"s breath away. Elle could stop traffic. Her other sisters could step into a bar and every head would turn-but not Libby. She just wasn"t like that. She didn"t think or feel s.e.xually. Men were colleagues and she was busy, too busy to try to tame her wild hair and put on makeup and pretend she had b.r.e.a.s.t.s. But every single time she looked at Tyson Derrick she melted, grew hot and had extraordinary erotic fantasies. She felt s.e.xy even with her racc.o.o.n mask eyes, her burnt nose and wild hairdo. He could make a goat feel s.e.xy.
For heaven"s sake, Libby, I can"t keep a straight face. A goat?
Libby burst out laughing. Stop reading my mind!
You"re broadcasting loud enough for the entire town to hear you. Elle definitely snickered.
Tyson wrapped his arms around Libby and drew her against him, distracting her. He looked down at her with his blue eyes and his s.e.xy sinful lips and she was fixating before she could stop herself, staring at his mouth, imagining the feel, the taste.
"You shouldn"t look at me like that, Libby," he cautioned, bending his head to hers until they were a breath apart.
She grew weak-kneed staring into his eyes but she couldn"t look away. She couldn"t remember why she was so determined to keep a distance from him. She felt him wince when he drew her close and almost of its own volition, her hand came up and with slow deliberation pressed against his sternum, and once again slid down to his cracked ribs. Heat spread between them.
His lips brushed over hers, feather-light, taking the oxygen from the air. Her heart leapt and began to pound.
Libby! Elle leaned into the front seat and hit the horn hard. The sound blasted Libby and Tyson apart. Elle glared at them through the window. "You"re fogging up the windows."
Ty rubbed the bridge of his nose. "We"re not in the car. Technically, that"s impossible."
"Not really," Libby muttered and pulled open the door. "Sorry, Elle."
Chapter Seven.
"LIBBY Katherine Drake, you little hussy." Sarah Drake regarded her younger sister with a stern eye. "You stood out on the porch kissing that man for half an hour. You have whisker burn to go with the Rudolph nose."
"Elle left me alone with him," Libby said. "It"s her fault. She knew I had a weakness for him and she just went into the house and left me there. I deny all responsibility."
Elle made a rude noise and took a cookie as the platter floated past her. "She"s so bad she was practically tearing his clothes off on the sidewalk outside the restaurant in front of the world."
Hannah flung herself onto the floor, stretching out her long legs and smirking. "Libby has fallen."
"I have not," Libby insisted. "I don"t like him. It"s pure s.e.xual attraction and nothing else. He"s just so hot and I can"t resist. I"m using him for s.e.x and throwing him away afterward."
Laughter filled the room. "Right, Libby," Kate agreed. "You do that. It"s so your personality."