Rituals (Cainsville 5)

"She insulted me," he said.

"She pissed me off."

"I won't pretend that I don't find that more gratifying than I should, but I will ask you not to let her get to you. I'm quite accustomed to her insults." He handed me my mocha. "Drink up. We'll be there soon."

--

When we arrived at our destination, I was out of the car before it even stopped, Lloergan shoving through the seat gap to follow me, alarmed by my haste. I gave her a quick pat and then dashed up the steps and around to the back porch, and when Gabriel found me, I was leaning on the railing, gazing out at the lake.

I grinned over at him. "Does it only get cell phone reception on Tuesdays, if I hold my phone just right?"

"With any luck, it doesn't get cell phone reception at all."

"I can make sure of that." I took mine out, shut it off, and then raced down the back steps and started crossing the rocks.

"Careful, Olivia. It's slippery."

"Then you'll have to come and keep me safe," I called back. "After you change into those jeans you claim to have bought. Come on, Lloe. Time to explore."

CHAPTER NINE

A few months ago, Gabriel and I had sat on the shores of Lake Michigan and talked about our dream vacation homes, places we'd go to get away from the city and Cainsville and all they entailed. Mine had been a cabin on the lake, where I could read and relax on the deck. That's what Gabriel had found for me.

After dinner, we sat on the back deck, watching the waves. The sun had dropped, taking any warmth with it. We had a fire roaring inside and the chalet radiators jacked up, with the rear windows and door wide open to let that heat flood out. We sat right on the deck, in a nest of every blanket and pillow we could find. And we had wine. An amazing--and very expensive--Bordeaux, probably another untouched gift from a client.

Between the fire and the blankets and the wine, we kept warm through the first hour of conversation, but as we entered the second, Lloergan had retreated indoors to lie by the fire, and I could no longer hide my chattering teeth.

"Let's go in," Gabriel said.

"I don't want to."

"If you're--"

"I'll be fine," I said as I tugged the blanket higher. I managed to stop my teeth from chattering...only to start shivering convulsively.

"Here," he said, and held out the blanket he was using.

I shook my head and shifted closer to pull it over both of us. He put his arm out, motioning for me to come closer still, and I didn't need a second invitation. I sat beside him. Then I inched closer, as casually as I could, chatting and sipping wine. He put his arm around me, and a few minutes later I was snuggled up against his side, his arm around me.

"Better?" he said.

The pile of blankets trapped our body heat and made it very toasty. But if I admitted I was fine, he might shift aside. So I nodded, chattering my teeth a little, which gave me the excuse to snuggle closer still. He tugged me over until I was

curled up in his lap, his arms around me, and I decided I heartily approved of this "lakeside cabin in December" plan.

If I gave another shiver, it wasn't the cold, but the fact I was snuggled up with Gabriel, feeling the heat of his body, smelling the scent--his scent--that permeated his bed when he would insist I sleep there, and I'd wake from dreams I didn't want to have, not while I'd been with Ricky. Dreams that I was allowed to have now, even if they left me aching and torn between hoping that one day they'd no longer be dreams and fearing they always would.

When I shivered, he mistook it for a lingering chill. His arms tightened around me, and he lowered his face to my hair, and I could feel his breath and the pound of his heart, and all I could think was this.

This, this, this.

This is what I want. This is more than I ever thought I could have with him, and I want to stay just like this for as long as I can, not breathe, not move a muscle in case the buzz of the wine passes and he pulls away.

I closed my eyes and listened to the sound of his breathing, and then I smelled wildflowers. Smelled wildflowers and felt the heat of the sun and arms around me, and I was thinking the same things. Don't breathe, don't move, or you'll spook. He'll realize what he's doing and it'll be over.

"You're certain you're all right?" It was Gwynn's voice, young. "You scared the life out of me, Mati, seeing you tumble like that."

No. I squeezed my eyes shut and pushed the vision aside.