The Skye Trilogy: Isle of Skye, Isle of Night, and Isle of Dawn. * Bonus: Scrumptious Skye Confections Cookbook* (44 page)

“Yeah, well it takes more than two drinks to get this girl on her back, if you know what I mean.” I smiled

“Oh my goodness,” Winifred muttered

Archie looked delighted at my quip. “There is something to be said for a challenge.”

We chatted for several minutes. We talked about my childhood, the bakery in Yuma, and what my plans were for the new business. I found myself wishing that this wonderful, quick witted man could have been in my life since the start.

“I’m hungry.” Jeremiah declared thirty minutes later.

“Hungry?” I asked. “We just had breakfast.”

“Almost four hours ago,” he stated. “You’re not hungry?”

“I’m not but I can always eat.” I smiled

“I would almost trade my balls for a pint.” Archie announced

We all had gaped at him for a second before I started laughing loudly. “Riah told me I reminded him of you. I have to say I agree.”

“I do not think that you should have any alcohol right now Archie.” Winifred said primly.

“For Christ’s sake, he just was held captive for over a hundred and thirty years. A pint isn’t going to kill him.” I said

“Julia and I will go to the Pizza Cove and get some food.” Jeremiah said, rising up from his chair.

“Pizza?” Archie asked. “What exactly is that?”

“Baked dough with tomato sauce and melted cheese shaped into a pie.” Julia answered

“I want tomatoes and green peppers on mine.” I requested. “Oh and get one with some meat. Pops probably could use a little protein.”

“You called me Pops.” Archie grinned widely

“Grandfather is just so pedestrian.” I said

Jeremiah and Julia left leaving me alone with Archie and Winifred. After dispensing of some more small talk, Archie’s eyes begin to drift shut and we both told him to rest before lunch.

“So why did Mathias want to see you?” Winifred asked softly

“Oh, he wanted to introduce me to the new arrivals.” I answered. “How long have you known that Mathias would be my Guardian at night when the Fae arrive?”

Winifred looked perplexed. “Mathias and I discussed it when I suggested he leave to go recruit and gather Guardians before the Fae got here.”

I stood there for a minute shocked. When I finally found my voice, I croaked out, “You asked Mathias to leave? I thought he volunteered?”

“No.” she replied surprised. “Mathias felt that he was needed here more, but I disagreed. I knew only Mathias would be able to convince Robert to come back.”

For the past four months, I thought Mathias had jumped at the chance to get away from me, to find out that he didn’t really even want to go sent a shock to my system. Why didn’t he tell me that?

“So you decided that Mathias be my night Guardian a while ago?”

“Willa I know you and Mathias have a tenuous relationship but I would really encourage you to cooperate,” she said

“Tenuous?” I asked. “That’s one way to put it.”

“It’s only for a few weeks,” she said. “I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

“Isn’t there a spell we can do that will stop anyone, besides me, from teleporting into my house?” I wondered aloud

“There might be a spell. Something to discuss and look into tomorrow I suppose,” she replied

“Tomorrow?” I asked. “What’s going on tomorrow?”

“Well, obviously today I couldn’t even think about anything besides Archie but we do need to all get together and start brainstorming. I also want to increase our sessions daily. You must learn to control the elements on a larger scale.”

“I know.” I said. “I already thought about that. I mean these defensive spells have been great, but I don’t think they are going to do much against a Fae Lord or a powerful witch.”

We sat and talked quietly until Jeremiah and Julia arrived with the food. Archie’s eyes immediately opened and fixated themselves on the cup Julia was carrying. When he took his first sip we all watched in amusement. Archie’s eyes closed, and he let out the most blissful sigh. That was nothing compared to when he took his first bite of pizza though. For five minutes he ate with gusto, all while proclaiming it to be the most marvelous food ever invented.

I was eating my slice of pizza that when I heard something hit the floor I jumped out of my seat. I looked up to see Julia’s face looking off into space as if in a trance.

“The cove, the cave, the mountain, the forest,” she muttered

“What do you see Julia?” Jeremiah asked urgently

“Paintings,” she answered. “Paintings folded up like a scroll. They’re hidden in the wall, a corridor, a paneled hall. R H, H R, I can’t tell. It’s a crest of some sort.”

“What else do you see Julia?” Winifred asked gently. “Can you see where?”

Julia was quiet before she blurted out in a rush. “England, they’re here in England.”

“Where Julia?” I prodded

“S, it starts with S.” she answered before slumping in her chair. “I lost it. I’m sorry.”

“Julia!” I exclaimed. “Don’t be sorry you nitwit! That’s awesome.”

“The paintings are hidden in a paneled hallway. The crest had an R or H and the town started with an S.” Jeremiah said into his cell phone. I had been so focused on Julia I hadn’t realized Jeremiah had made a phone call.

“Milton?” I asked. Jeremiah nodded and walked out of the hospital room.

“What the hell is going on?” Archie asked bewildered.

We quickly filled him on everything, but he had a lot of questions which is why it was almost five o’clock before we were interrupted by my parents, Gussie, Cuddy, Rhoswen and Oliver.

“HI sweetheart,” my dad said cheerfully as he walked in and gave me a hug.

“Is that a pint?” Oliver asked his eyes quickly narrowing on the offending cup which had held the beer contraband.

“Relax Uncle Oliver, it was mine.” Jeremiah said smoothly

“I doubt that.” Oliver replied. He asked for us all to leave the room, except for Rhoswen so he could do an examination.

“Willa, don’t forget tomorrow, bright and early.” Winifred reminded me.

“Yes ma’am.”  I said cheekily. “What’s your definition of early?”

“Meet me at the cliffs.” she said in a low voice. “I want to keep our little sessions private so come alone.”

“That’s sounds so clandestine.” I whispered back.

My grandmother had given me a long look before she went over to talk to Gussie and Cuddy. I joined my parents who were conversing quietly with Julia and Jeremiah.

“I’m exhausted.” Julia said. “I think I’m going to go back to the apartment and get some rest.”

“I was thinking the same thing.” Jeremiah agreed. “Sadly though I have to head over to Guardian offices and help Milton.”

“I’m sure they can spare you for one night.” Cecily remarked.

“I’ll only stay for a few hours. I love Willa’s recliner, but it would be nice to sleep in my own bed tonight.” Jeremiah said. “Besides, I ran out of clean clothes.”

“Willa, you haven’t been doing his laundry?” my mother asked. “After all the help he has been giving you?”

“This is how you repay me?” I asked Jeremiah

Jeremiah just grinned before giving me a quick peck on the check. He said goodbye to everyone and left the hospital.

“What are you going to do tonight Willa?” my dad asked

“I am going to go home and see what my poor, neglected houseguest has been up to all day.” I replied

“Oh no.” my mother said in horror. “You left Polly alone all day?”

“What’s the worst that she could do?” I asked confidently

I said my own goodbyes and headed home. I was looking forward to chilling out with Polly and the dogs this evening. I just wanted a few hours of relaxation before tomorrow which I had a feeling may be trying.

It didn’t even register to me right away when I pulled into my driveway what exactly the steel contraption was on my back lawn that I could just make out through the trees. I slowly walked around the house hoping like hell it was some mirage.

“POLLY!” I yelled when I finally found my voice. Polly came bounding out of the steel monstrosity happily. Her face glowed with excitement.

“Can you believe it?” she asked. “Isn’t it beautiful?”

“Polly, what the fuck is this thing in my back yard?”

“So I was hanging out in town today and met this great chick named Mary? She owns the kitchen store? She said she knew you. Anyway, we were talking, and I told her how I missed my Airstream camper and she told me her father made one. I guess he wanted to go camping or something at one time. So then she tells me he was just going to junk it but if I wanted to take a look I could.”

“You bought a homemade Airstream camper and put it in my garden?” I asked astonished

“No.” she answered. “He freaking gave it to me Willa. Isn’t that awesome? It’s ten times better than the one I had in Yuma.”

I walked over to inspect this so called awesome piece of equipment. Yes, it did vaguely resemble an Airstream but the steel panels were shabbily welded together, and the windows weren’t windows at all, they were just cut out square holes with plexiglass in the frames. I didn’t even want to look inside.

“Polly, at any time did you think you should have consulted with me?” I asked. “Didn’t you realize this may be overstepping the friendship boundaries?”

“You don’t like it?” she asked hurt. “Willa, this thing rocks, look inside.”

“Oh no, I’m good.” I replied

“Come one. Just one peek and you’ll see why I am in love.” Polly said

I walked a few more steps before tripping on a couple of huge wires. When I looked down I realized they weren’t wires, they were extension cords running into my house.

“Oh my God, I feel like I just came home to find my distant cousin from hick town U.S.A. visiting.” I muttered

“Ta, da!” Polly said as she opened the door that was hanging slightly off the hinges. “Ignore the door I just need to rehang it.”

I took a deep breath before venturing into Polly’s new crib. My nose wrinkled at the slightly musty odor but overall I was pleasantly surprised. The living room area was neat and tidy, complete with black leather couches and a lime green shag throw rug. The kitchen area was small but functional. Even the bedroom was neat, if not somewhat weird, decorated in blacks and reds.

As much as I hated to admit it, this place was Polly’s mother ship, and it had called her home.

“All right, it’s not half bad.” I admitted. “But Polly I can’t just have an RV hooked up to my house and on the property. I’m sure there’s something in the lease that states this land is not to be put in use as a campground.”

“Oh, it’s totally cool.” Polly answered. “Mathias said so.”

“Mathias said so, huh?” I asked doubtfully.

“Yes.” she smiled, “By the way, congrats! You guys sure worked things out in a hurry.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked perplexed. “Nothing has changed with us and our relationship.”

“Didn’t look like that to me.” she replied raising her eyebrows.

“What do you mean?”

“When a guy brings several pieces of luggage into my friend’s house and informs me he’s moving in I’m thinking that’s a game changer.”

I stood there dumbfounded. What the hell was she talking about? Not even saying anything I turned and ran inside the house with Polly hot on my heels. When we finally reached my bedroom, I went right to the bathroom and noticed a few things right away.

“Vampires brush their teeth?” Polly mused. “You learn something new every day.”

The double sink, which usually held my lone toothbrush, was now joined by another dark blue brush. I pulled open the doors on the left side and saw a few razors, shave gel, and some more toiletries. I turned around and spied a bottle of French shampoo and a large bar of cream colored soap in the walk in shower.

I picked up the soap and inhaled the spicy scent that was imbedded in my brain. This was his soap. His soap that he used to lather all over his naked ripped body. There is no way I could ever take a shower after him and smell these fumes. I felt myself grow uncomfortable horny just imagining him in the shower covered with suds.

“What was he thinking?” I asked. “The Fae aren’t due here for four more days.”

“What does that have to do with anything?” Polly asked.

I filled her in on the new details of my Guardian night watch. Polly started laughing hysterically.

“Oh to be fly on these walls in the coming weeks.” she finally answered

I ignored her and went into the closet. My mouth dropped when I saw half of it was filled with his clothes. His clothes that had his spicy scent clinging to them filling up my closet with their seductive fumes.

“Wow, how many items of clothing can you have that are the color black?” Polly asked she walked over and perused his side of the closet that he had claimed.

The half of the closet that Mathias had hung up his clothes, were in fact, filled with dark clothing, although I did notice some gray and navy blue tucked in here and there.