Mind Games

“Well enough I sent the files off to my boss. Now I’m anxious.” Setting down the watering can, she pressed a hand to her stomach. “I put a lot into this one. I try to put a lot into every project, but this one…”

“Glowing snakes,” he said, and walked up the steps.

“Glowing snakes and wild boars and sucking bogs and volcanos.”

“Sounds dangerous.” He ran a hand down her braid.

“It’s not called Perilous Island for nothing. I don’t expect to hear anything from New York until next week soonest, so I’m anxious.”

“Maybe I can do something to help with your anxiety.”

She tipped her face up to his. “Maybe you can.”

He swept her up, made her breath catch.

“Well, that’s a very promising start.”

“I got more,” he assured her, and carried her into the house.

Chapter Twenty-four

After Perilous Island got the go-ahead, Thea decided to take two weeks off before she got back to the parallel universe concept she’d put on the back burner.

Days where she’d take time to walk in the hills, for a good fall cleaning, for harvesting, for spending time with friends and family.

Time to read books, watch movies, bake, maybe to draw some for fun instead of work. And time to spend with Ty when his son was at school, and his own work allowed.

For her, it equaled a more perfect vacation than a trip to Paris, and was marred only by the occasional headache or mild nausea when she felt Riggs jiggling at her window locks.

But her confidence there grew. She’d win that battle.

As fall teased the air, she did as she pleased.

And it pleased her to go back to work after a break when she felt fresh and renewed.

If she wondered how long her life could drift this way—the battle of wills with Riggs, the house that seemed, for the first time, too empty, the man and boy down the lane that weren’t really hers—she reminded herself how lucky she was to have her gift, to have her home, to have the man and boy down the lane.

Then Maddy said yes.

“What happened to six months?”

“He’s sneaky.” Maddy tossed her hair and curled her legs under herself on Thea’s couch. “Arlo’s a sneaky bastard,” she said, and gulped down some wine.

“Let me see that ring again.” She snatched Maddy’s left hand. “A sneaky man,” she agreed, admiring the princess-cut diamond, “of excellent taste.”

“It is pretty, isn’t it?”

“It’s beautiful. I’m so happy.” She threw her arms around Maddy and rocked side to side. “Happy for you, for sneaky Arlo, for me.”

“Why for you?”

“Because my best friend’s getting married to a sneaky but really great guy who loves her like crazy. And she’s going to ask me to stand up for her. You better damn sight ask me to stand up for you.”

“I didn’t think I had to ask. Will you?”

“You know I will. Oh my God.” She jumped up from the couch, danced in a circle. “When? When’s the wedding?”

“Next spring. Probably May. He tried to sneak in right after Christmas so we could start off the new year married. Like I’d fall for that!”