My Soul to Keep (The Soul Keeper Series - Young Adult Paranormal Romance) (6 page)

     
 
Someone is hunting me I can feel it. I may
have a very short life and I don’t want to waste one more day of it paranoid
that no one discovers my secret.
 
The
thought that I have a CIA agent that is assigned to keep me alive is haunting.
There could very well be a snipers rifle pointed at my head right now. Does
Elijah know I am out here? How much privacy do I actually have? He never set
any boundaries for my safety and he says he’s the best at what he does so I am
not going to stray from my routine unless he tells me otherwise. The cool water
feels exquisite, churning around me as if it’s becoming acquainted with my
body. The moonlight bounces off the surface like a million faceted diamonds. As
I make my way back to shore there is a man watching me, maybe this wasn’t such
a brilliant idea. I inch closer with fear clinching my chest, I recognize
Elijah and relief ebbs through me. I let out the breath I’d been gripping.

His face is lit by the full moon, and reveals the
work of art he is. Dark straight brows over dark lashes highlight his azure
blue eyes like sapphire gems.
 
His nose
is that perfect boyish shape that begs to be kissed. His soft lips curve seductively
at the edges giving just a hint of a smile. I move in closer. His strong jaw
line frames it all out with extraordinary take-your-breath-away beauty. He
holds a towel out for me as he turns his head away from me. His lashes meet his
cheeks. As I emerge from the water the wind chills its icy breath on me. I
snuggle into the towel as he wraps it around me. I lay my head against his
chest because everything about this moment says I can. He tightens his embrace.
His heart is beating like some wild Indian rain dance inside. He nuzzles the
top of my wet head.

“Come on let’s get you inside, I’ll make you some
tea.” He puts his arm around my shoulder and we walk back up to my house.

He fills the kettle and opens the cabinet to the
left, pulling out two cups like he has lived here for years. I wonder if he
knows every inch of this house by now. This is beyond weird. I head up to my
room to change, putting on a gray cotton camisole and pajama shorts. A steamy
cup of Chai tea made with cream and sugar and a touch of cinnamon waits for me,
which is exactly how I take it. He is sitting at the counter barefoot in jeans
and a tee looking every bit of comfortable and sexy as a man can. I want to
wrap my arms around him and not let go, but instead I sit beside him.

“Thank you.” I sip my tea and it fills me with
warmth. His eyes round as he takes me in.

“You’re welcome.” His smile melts me. I am glad he
is not chastising me for swimming alone at night, though something tells me he
wants to.

“Did you ever meet my grandmother?”

“Yes, she is an amazing woman, let’s you know just
what’s on her mind.” He chuckles and looks up like he is thinking of her.

“That’s her alright.”

“I am going to visit her in the morning.”

“Mind if I come along?”

“Not at all, I’m sure she’d like that.”

“Good, I’ll pick you up at six.”

“Okay.”

“Good night Brennen.” I love the way he says my
name, slow and smooth, his voice is like velvet. I restrain the urge to pull
him into me; it takes all of my strength not to. He leans in and I hold my
breath, hoping nonetheless for a goodbye kiss, instead he tucks a lock of my
hair behind my ear like I’m his little sister. It stings. So this is it. I
sigh.

“I know.” He sighs as well. He locks and closes the
back door behind him. I watch him through the wooden shutters as he makes his
way back to his house.

***

 
Elijah picks
me up at six a.m. in a stunning blue 1969 Camaro. My dad would have gone nuts
over this car. His hair is still wet from the shower and he smells like some
woodsy scent with a hint of sweet baked cinnamon roll. Does he really bake? He
always smells of something sweet. My nose lingers as he holds my door open for
me. He looks at me with brows cocked. I slide into the leather interior; his
car even smells like him. I drink it in. I am wearing a cream pencil skirt and
red sleeveless cowl neck blouse and black heels. I note how his eyes carry down
my legs before he puts the car into reverse. My choice of wardrobe was very
intentional. The radio is tuned to classic rock and a sweet guitar rift is
playing in the background.

“You know, you’re all she talked about the last time
I saw her. She is so proud of you,” he says and flashes that knock-out smile at
me and I can’t help it, I break out in a cheesy grin myself. I notice he smiles
quite often. I think it must be how he gets the world to bend at his will.

“I miss her so much. I hope she remembers me today,
I need her to,” I trail off, gazing out the window as we drive over the water.
He puts his hand on my knee and strokes lightly back and forth. My eyes can’t
hide their want. He clutches my hand to reassure me then releases it. I know his
intentions are to comfort me as my friend but I can’t help my feelings of
disappointment, I turn my gaze toward the window. I wish he would give in to
his feelings.

“I think Sam Montgomery really likes you, it is okay
if… you know, want to go out with him. I’m sorry for blowing up on him in class
the other day.”
 
What? So now he is
offering dating advice for me? Oh that really hurts. I stare at him in
disbelief. He has no intention of giving in to his feelings and now he thinks
that
me
dating Sam will accomplish what? He may be
older than me but he wants to play games like some little boy. I don’t play
games.

“I like you Elijah, I don’t care that you are an
agent, that I am part of your job description. I crave you.
 
And Sam, well he is nice and he is someone I
could care about even, but this thing between us is like nothing I’ve ever felt
before.”
 
I take his hand and kiss his
fingers.

“Crave hmm?” A playful smile crosses his lips. “You
are very hard to resist Bree. My desire for you is unquestionable.
 
But if I give in to what I want, I can’t keep
you safe. I can’t lose focus on the real threat that someone wants to hurt you
and if that ever happened, I would be crippled Brennen.” He kisses my fingers.
I bask in the softness of his lips and resign my seduction for another
day.
 

“Well there ya go,” I quip.

We sign in at the front desk and I pass one of Grandma’s
nurses in the hall. Edith I think is her name.

“She’s having a good day today Ms. Hale.” I confirm
her name with her badge.

“Oh thank heaven, Edith.” I smile as Elijah squeezes
my shoulder. I am glad he is still on a touching basis with me at least. I picture
myself pinning him against the wall as we round the corner.
“Well look what the cat drug in!” Grandma teases as she gets out of her chair
and throws her frail arms around me.

“Hey Grandma, how are you?”
 
I hug her neck and I don’t let go until I
squash the tears welling in my eyes.

“Hey now, what’s this about, everything all right
with my little girl?” She has a strong southern accent. Her salt and pepper
hair is coiffed into the South’s signature curled football helmet.

“Oh Grandma, I just missed you that’s all.”
And someone wants to kill me
. I sit in
the chair next to her. “Grandma, do you remember Elijah he lives next door.”
She turns to him and is unsure of whether or not she knows him. But she gives
him a curt nod to be polite.

“How’s your daddy?” Oh dear, she’s slipped away too
soon.

“Daddy’s fine Grandma, I’m sure he’ll be along soon
to visit you.” Her doctors say to just go along with whatever she believes to
be factual for the day, because causing further stress magnifies the effects.
Elijah mouths he will wait outside and sneaks out the door.

“Well he better,” she huffs as she pulls the sleeves
of her jacket down. She is dressed more for the country club than the cafeteria
in a pastel pants suit.

“Now what else is bothering you child?” She holds my
hand, her own being as feeble as paper. I am afraid if I squeeze too hard it
would break.
 

“Well there is a guy I like, but…”

“Now you listen here if it’s one thing I know, which
ain’t much, it’s that men will give you hell until you put your foot down. I
tell you what.” I laugh and smile at my grandmother. I love hearing her
stories, they usually have nothing to do with the conversation at hand, but
still relevant in my book.

“Your Grandpa went out drinking one night, missed
super and everything that night, he had never done that. When he got home I
didn’t say one word to him I just let him stumble in and kiss my cheek and he
knew, he took one look at me and he knew he had made a mistake. He got down on
his knees, wrapped his arms around my legs and swore he’d never be late again.
And do you know? He was never late coming home again. In fact he is due here
for breakfast in a few and I bet you money he will be here on time.” This story
she remembers, a time from before I was even born. I nod amazed at how the
brain works. My grandfather passed away twenty years ago.

“It all boils down to trust, it’s something no
relationship can survive without.”
 
Fair
point, I mean I obviously have to trust Elijah with my life. I wonder if he
trusts me to keep things a secret.
“How do you get someone to trust you?”

     
“Do you
trust me?”

     
“Yes Grandma.”

     
“Why?”

     
“Cause you
have always been there for me. I know you’d never lie to me.”

“Always, is the key. Always takes time. Always
doesn’t come tomorrow or in a week. You never want to keep things secret for
too long Brennen.” She is so full of words of wisdom today. I ponder her advice
for a moment. I wonder what secrets she has kept for too long.

“Like when your daddy gave you that necklace for
your eighteenth birthday.” Great now she has memories that never even happened.
I won’t be eighteen for five more months.

“What necklace Grandma?”

“You remember, the one that he found the day someone
left you on the back steps of the house. You were just the tiniest thing God
ever made!” The color has bled from my face. Please let her be making up fake
memories.

“Grandma I don’t remember the story, can you tell me
one more time please?” My voice is trembling and small.

“Well I hope I can remember.” She laughs at herself.
“Let’s see, your daddy was going out on his usual five a.m. morning run and
when he went outside there was this wicker basket on the porch. He looked
inside and he about soiled his pants when he saw your little green eyes staring
right back at him, quiet as a church mouse. You were all wrapped up in the
softest pink blanket I’d ever felt. He called to me Mama, Mama, get out here. I
was elbow deep in biscuit dough, so it took me a minute. When I came out he was
holding you like you were made outta glass.

He was mesmerized by your beauty; oh you were such a
pretty baby. He nodded to the basket and I looked inside for a note, anything
that could be a clue, and there was just that necklace. Two silver angel wings.
Maybe it was all your mother could give you, I don’t know. But your daddy loved
you the minute he met eyes with you.” My heart beat bangs the blood in my ears
like the beating of a tympani drum as the adrenaline pumps in. My mother wasn’t
my mother and my father, was he my real father? Did he get somebody pregnant?
Or was I just abandoned by both of my parents? My hands were shaking and the
tears were streaming down my face as I turn and walk over to the window so she
can’t see me.

“Grandma, did Daddy ever find out if I was his child
or not?”
  

“I think you’d better ask him that.” Oh no! That
sends me over the edge. I can’t hold back anymore, I run out of the room as
fast as I can before I completely break down in the hallway. I sink down next
to a pillar in the hall and pull my knees into my chest. The giant lump in my
throat succumbs to the dam of tears and a storm of violent weeping overtakes
me. My whole life could be one big lie. A thousand thoughts run through my
mind.
 
Elijah finds me there still
sobbing a few minutes later.

“Brennen, what’s wrong?” He sits next to me on the
floor and puts his arm around my shoulder. I am sobbing and can’t speak through
my ragged breaths.
 
He helps me to my
feet and we go out the front door. In the car he hands me a box of tissues he
swiped from a side table inside. I take one and try to calm down. This is not
happening, she was delusional. Why would a single man raise a newborn baby
unless it was his? How could my dad have kept this from me? My whole childhood
was a lie. He was in the Navy back then too. Maybe that’s the key. I need to
find out where he was nine or ten months before I was born. Of course I don’t
know if I was brand new when he found me so I better figure in a few extra
months too.
 

“Is it your Grandma that has you so upset? Please
talk to me.” He grips both of my arms searching my face for some clue that
would piece together a reason for my hysterics. My short breaths come in faster
than they leave and I can’t stop them. Elijah holds my hand and tries to soothe
me.