Kiss of the Goblin Prince (9 page)

Lucky her.

She clamped her teeth together as another wave of self-pity broke over her back. She forced a breath out between her teeth. It could be worse. There was always someone worse off. She didn’t want to believe that. She wanted to wallow, even though she’d sworn long ago not to do that. It was a trap. Once in the mud it had a tendency to cling and suck her down. She couldn’t afford to get stuck in the mire.

Brigit was talking the cop’s ear off in the kitchen. She was excited to be staying overnight with Eliza. To a kid, everything was a new adventure. To Amanda, it felt like defeat. She worked hard, damn hard to get there. To get to college, to finish college, to buy a house, and raise her daughter. Outrage got her moving again. She would get her life back; there was just a temporary hiccup.

She finished packing, rounded up Brigit and Sheriff, and off they went. The only night she’d ever spent under the Coulter roof was after Matt had a party while his parents were away. His father never approved of her—she didn’t have the right background. Yet she knew exactly which room she would be sleeping in—Matt’s.

There was nowhere else for her to stay.

Roan and Eliza were in the guest room, the master room having been gutted for renovation. And the study downstairs was being used by Dai. She couldn’t say the idea of being under the same roof as him was entirely unwelcome. Their last conversation left her with a desire to know more…and he was more forthcoming than Eliza. So the only two rooms left in the house were the bedrooms Matt and Eliza had used as children. And Brigit would want to sleep in Eliza’s princess room.

When they arrived, Brigit proved her right, immediately laying claim to the pink-and-white, rose-patterned room filled with old dolls and soft toys. There’d been a time when she’d first started dating Matt that she’d thought Eliza strange for keeping such a childish room as a teenager, but now she understood her need to hold on to the past. Eliza’s mother had decorated that room, and that was all Eliza had left of her. She touched her bare finger; she’d lost another piece of Matt.

In Matt’s room, she sat on the end of the bed. The room was the same as it was when he’d died. Surf posters on the wall. His clunky computer was on the desk. Clean laundry in a pile on the chair. Even surrounded by his things he was a memory, insubstantial and untouchable. The love they’d shared was faint and offered no warmth or support. She rubbed her hands together hoping the heat would reach her heart.

It didn’t. She was lonely. She didn’t want to be by herself. Dai’s smile flickered in her mind. He was quiet and mysterious and despite her best efforts she was drawn to him. Something about him sparked an interest she hadn’t felt, or wanted, in years. Her body knew exactly what she needed. Her skin ached to be touched. She wanted to be alive again.

Dai set her on edge like she was a desperate teenager. She closed her eyes. What would his lips taste like?

Amanda gave herself a shake. How could she be thinking of Dai while sleeping in Matt’s room? No matter what her body thought, she wasn’t going to start having flings and introducing strange men into Brigit’s life. With a sigh, she pushed aside all thoughts of men and what her body craved and went to check on Brigit.

She cracked open the bedroom door and waited for her eyes to adjust to the dark. Brigit’s breathing was quiet, as it should be. The day off to rest had helped: one more and she’d be back to her usual self. Brigit knew the risks as she’d been hospitalized before. Her teachers knew, and Amanda wasn’t far away if anything happened. It was ten minutes from the high school where she worked to Brigit’s school. In a few more years, Brigit would be in high school. Her little girl was growing up.

Brigit rustled as she rolled over. “Mom, can you tell me about Dad?”

Amanda smiled. She should’ve known Brigit wouldn’t be asleep after all the excitement. “Sure, honey.”

She sat on the bed and smoothed Brigit’s hair. “Daddy liked to surf. We used to go to the beach all the time.”

“And I was in your tummy.” Brigit knew the story well.

“That’s right. One day he didn’t come back.” He’d gone to the aid of another surfer and they’d both disappeared. She’d been on the beach, with every breath she’d expected him to reappear. He didn’t, not until the next day when both men’s bodies washed ashore.

“Because the angels took him.”

“That’s right.” She’d started the lie for herself so she didn’t feel alone, even though she no longer believed it, she continued the story for Brigit. “He watches over us because he loves us and wants to watch you grow up.”

“Do angels get tired?”

“Maybe. I know little girls do.” She gave Brigit a kiss. “Get some sleep.”

She closed the door but let her hand rest on the handle. If Matt were there, he would know what to do. He would’ve been qualified by now, a doctor who could tell her if she was being too protective of her only daughter. But he wasn’t. Matt never even met Brigit. She’d been six months pregnant when he drowned. She’d almost lost Brigit out of grief.

Since then, Brigit was the center of her world.

It had been enough. But she was restless like she wanted more even though she was unsure how to get it, or even what it was. She went downstairs, looking for a distraction. She wasn’t tired, and she didn’t want to be alone with her thoughts and fears. At the back of her mind she knew the police didn’t catch every criminal. They may never catch Flynn. If they didn’t, would she be safe?

Eliza was watching TV, curled up against Roan. Amanda hesitated in the doorway, then turned away. She couldn’t intrude.

In the kitchen, Sheriff looked up from under the table. The dog spent most of his time under the kitchen table, a habit from when Brigit was little and food had rained from the highchair. He’d made himself at home in Eliza’s house very quickly.

Her laptop lay dormant at the other end of the table. She flipped the screen up and restarted it. Almost everyone could be found on the Internet. Maybe she could find the something Dai was hiding, and a reason not to trust him. Something that would kill her interest.

She expected to have to do some digging, but all she had to do was type in his name. Dai King. Language expert, collector of rare books and translator. He’d been to outer Mongolia, Africa, Iceland, and other places to research local legends and lore. He was well traveled, well-educated, and notoriously reclusive.

At the end of an article there was a mention of his parents’ and sister’s death, but it didn’t say what had happened. Amanda bit her lip and stared at the image on the screen. Even on the computer, she could see his eyes held more secrets than the oceans and were twice as dangerous. There was more to him than a deceased family and a bunch of dead languages.

Her life was much simpler if she wasn’t distracted by handsome, dark-haired strangers. She should be walking away. She’d made promises to Matt. She had Brigit to care for. But she couldn’t ignore the flutter in her stomach when Dai had first looked at her in the church. She wanted to revel in the dizzy thrill and breathless rush of attraction, the tingle of a first kiss. There’d been no one since Matt, and until Dai appeared out of nowhere she’d been fine. Maybe she’d been alone too long. She thought Matt was the one, and if he were alive, he would’ve been. But he wasn’t. And she didn’t want to spend the rest of her life by herself. She wanted someone by her side. She pushed her fingers through her hair. What was she going to do?

She didn’t need any of the complications a relationship would bring. Hell, she wasn’t even sure she wanted a relationship. She just wanted…something. Amanda eased out a slow breath. Maybe she just needed to get laid. Laughter bubbled up; it had been so long she’d forgotten how to do it. Her smile faded. Casual sex wouldn’t fill the growing vacuum of emptiness.

***

Dai paused in the kitchen doorway. Amanda was laughing at something on the computer. Her long brown hair was loose for a change. She looked younger, more carefree. Then she looked up and saw him. Her eyes widened and the grin left her lips.

He had that effect on people, but usually only when he’d looked like a goblin. He almost checked his hands to make sure he was still human. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

She closed the laptop. “You didn’t. I was just…wasting time on the Internet. You know those videos of cats being silly.”

Dai nodded and caught sight of her bare feet tucked under the chair. He’d never seen her so…undressed, even though she was still in her work pants and shirt. It was as if some of her armor slipped and she was a little less walled up.

“You’re not into Roan’s Bollywood films?”

“Not my thing. I thought you must’ve been in bed already.”

“I went for a walk.”

“This late?”

He shrugged. “I like being outside and it’s peaceful.” He wasn’t afraid of being attacked. Nothing could be more terrifying than seeing the might of the Roman army descend on a small town, or a hundred goblins wanting blood. He was pretty sure he could handle any would-be thugs.

The silence stretched between them. He glanced at her. Amanda was watching him; she was waiting for him to ask her a question and continue the conversation.

“I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”

She sighed and the words poured out like she’d needed permission to let go. “A student—a patient—broke into my house today. The police suggested I stay somewhere else until they find him. If it were just me, it wouldn’t matter.”

Why would it matter less if it were just Amanda? Did her safety not matter? “Is he dangerous?”

She shook her head. Her hair shimmied across her shoulders, the ends resting on the swell of her breasts. He wanted to run his fingers through the silken stands and smooth them out. He forced himself to listen to words and not just watch the movement of her lips.

“He never used to be, but the police want to talk to him.” She touched her left hand. Her wedding band was missing.

Was her husband no longer at the front of her thoughts?

When her fingers found nothing she glanced down as if surprised. “He took my ring.”

Dai raised one brow. “Why would he want your ring?”

“It’s gold,” she said as if the metal meant nothing.

“Gold?” Gold was everything to a goblin, or even an ex-goblin. Just the word was enough to spark his interest. He sat at the table with her. For a second he thought he saw her eyes light up with the same spark he’d seen when he’d held her in his arms as they’d danced.

“He suffers from kleptomania, so he can’t help himself when he sees gold.”

How very goblin…yet obviously the kid was human. Over the centuries he learned plenty about the theory that goblins were once humans who had given in to greed.

“Why do the police want to see him?” Dai had a feeling he already knew if the kid was turning goblin.

“He’s becoming violent.”

“Did he hurt you?” If he had, Dai would hunt him down.

“No. I think he still trusts me.” She ran her teeth over her lower lip in a move both innocent and seductive. “He needs help. The longer he avoids the police, the worse it will be.”

Dai nodded but didn’t agree with her theory. He doubted the police could do anything to save the boy. A human with the compulsion to steal gold was just too great a coincidence. He’d have to see if the kid was on his way to losing his soul. Maybe it wasn’t too late to stop him from giving up everything for a chance at nothing.

“You’ll be safe here.”

“I can’t stay here forever.” She gave him a smile that barely turned up the corners of her lips.

His lips twitched in sympathy. “I know that feeling.”

She leaned forward as if she didn’t want to be overheard. “They’re a bit intense, aren’t they?”

“Enthusiastic, I’d say.”

If she knew what Roan had been through, she’d know he had time to make up for. Maybe he did too. Her hand was only inches from his on the table—long fingers and short nails. He’d already felt her delicate touch on his shoulder. Kissed those knuckles. But what would her hands feel like on his skin? He wanted to know—he wanted the touch of another after so long.

Amanda considered him for a moment. “You didn’t bring anyone to their wedding.”

“I didn’t have anyone to bring, but I danced with you.” Something he’d do again without hesitation. He liked the way she’d felt in his arms.

Amanda’s cheeks flushed pink.

“I meant you no embarrassment.”

She placed her hand over his and gave his fingers a soft squeeze. “It’s been a long time since I danced with any man.” This time there was no mistaking the heat in her eyes. Her hand lingered over his as if she was unwilling to let him go, but there was nothing demanding or harsh in her touch.

“I’m glad you made an exception for me.” He turned his hand over so their palms touched. The simple gesture was everything he’d forgotten could exist. Not every action was designed to injure. For a moment he let himself believe that no harm would come.

Her palm warmed against his, but there was more to the simple caress than she could see. A growing number of golden threads slipped from Amanda and into his skin. Without his willing it, his darker strands were meshing with her. When he was around her he couldn’t help it. His subconscious sought her out. It was unsettling considering he’d been in control for so long.