Red Hot (14 page)

“You don't believe me and you're pissed off
with me. How is that possible, Red? Hmm, tell me.”

“Honesty, Rhian. I'm sure you remember that
conversation. You know the one where you promised me you would be honest with
me before you fucked my brains out. This isn't being honest. Even if I don't
believe in the shit you do, you could have told me the truth. Given me a chance
to see if I wanted to be in a relationship with you being all fruity and all.”

“Fruity,” she yelled at him, her insides
burning in fury. “Fruity, you jerk. I'm not fruity, I'm a bloody witch for
God's sake. Not some fucking hippy who throws around colored crystals and
pretends to weave magic spells. I'm not some sideshow alley freak.” She was
breathing hard and ready to slap him.

Red took off his glasses and pinched the
bridge of his nose. He put them on the bench and rubbed his eyes. “This is
giving me a headache. I'm sorry, Rhian, if I called you a freak. But shit, this
is just a little bit much isn't it? I'm a scientist. I don't believe in
witches.”

“What will it take, Red? Do you want me to
show you what I can do, would that do it for you?” She lifted her hand and
flicked her fingers. The lights went out. A shout from outside reached her ears
and she turned the lights back on again. She looked across the room into his
pale face.

He stood staring at her his lips drawn
tight. It wasn’t enough obviously. She would have to bring out the big stuff.

“Okay, hang onto your hat, buddy.” The next
minute they were standing in her lounge room. Red looked around the familiar
room, his eyes were huge in his face.

“No, no. This isn't possible.” He looked at
her shaking his head. “Tell me that this is just a bad dream, please tell me.”

“Nope, not even close Red. Have a good look
around. Everything seem nice and clear to you. No dream like fuzzies happening
at all? Great.” She took a step closer to him. “Well here is the kicker, Red.”
She took a deep breath. “Do you realize you aren't wearing your glasses right
now?” He reached up for them and then looked at her in confusion.

“You don't need those ugly glasses any
more, Red. Never again, okay. It went against my code to do it but I did it
convincing myself I was doing it for you, not for me. You see, I can't do
things that benefit me, only those around me. Even witches have a code.” She
laughed bitterly. “When I met you, you seemed so unsure of your own appeal and
I put it down to those bloody glasses and your job. Nothing I could do about
the job and I honestly didn't want to. It was you, your life and I don't have a
problem with that. I even think being nerdy kind of suited you. But you hated
your glasses and I understood that. I could do something about it so I did.”

Rhian walked away from him and looked over
the bay, keeping her back to him as she continued. “May had a fit because at
the end of the day it would benefit me and I had done something to you without
asking for your permission, a big no no in magic circles. I couldn't convince
her otherwise and she was well and truly pissed with me. I wasn't even sure it
would work to start with but now we both know it has.”

“You had no right.” He stood glaring at
her, his fists clenched by his side.

“I know that. But I did it for you. If
nothing else you can look at yourself in the mirror and know you won't be
judged again for your looks. You can have anyone you want without being
prejudged.” She turned back to him, her heart breaking at the look he was
giving her.

“I wanted you. Why wasn't that enough for
both of us?”

“I'm sorry. It's like my Da says. I jump
before I think. I don't care what you look like, I never did. I love you for
yourself and the person you are. I wanted you to be happy with how you were. I
should have asked first, I know that.”

“You spring this on me and take over my
life at the same time. Thanks, Rhian. That makes you no better than Eleanor.”
His eyes darkened as he spat the words at her.

Her temper fired and she looked up at him.
“Never, ever make the mistake of putting me in the same sentence as her. At
least I had your best interests at heart. She was only looking out for
herself.”

* * * *

Rhian stood, her shoulders sagging in
defeat. She had totally stuffed up any chance they had of having a normal
relationship by taking it upon herself to change his life. Falling to the floor
she wrapped her arms around her knees and cried.

May reached down and hugged her. “Oh honey,
I'm so sorry. He is in a foul mood. Even Jake can't get him to settle down.”

“I overstepped the boundaries. I know that
but I want him back May. I so want him back and I'll do anything I have to.”
Rhian cried on her friend’s shoulder. Eventually May went and made her a cup of
coffee and settled her down enough to leave her.

When May arrived for work the next day
Rhian was still sitting on the couch where she’d been the night before. May
pulled her to her feet and sent her into the bathroom for a shower. When Rhian
walked out with a towel wrapped around her, May pushed her toward the closet
with orders to get dressed and come out to the kitchen.

She dressed but was still miserable when
she went to the kitchen. She sat and ate what May put in front of her and then
went to work. She didn't hear from Red that day or the next. By the weekend she
was certain he would never call her again and she didn't even feel like going
to her cottage.

She stayed home, ignoring the phone that
rang constantly. She could see it wasn’t his number and didn’t want to talk to
anybody else. Wandering her house, she dreamed of what might have been and how
stupid she’d been taking matters into her own hands without asking his
permission. Her ego had taken over, thinking she knew better than he did about
what he wanted. About what was good for him.

The following week dragged along the same.
Valentine’s Day came and she spent it alone. Fingering the invitation Red had
given her only reduced her to a new bout of tears. She was looking forward to
starting a family tradition like his mother had. She took the invitation and
placed it in a keepsake box in her bedroom. Her tears stained the envelope as
she cried over it.

She tried to talk herself into going to see
him but decided any contact had to come from him. He had to be the one to
forgive her and the chances were getting slimmer as the days went by. The way
he’d looked at her when he found out she was a witch burned into her brain. She
doubted she would be welcome anywhere near him ever again.

The following weekend she decided to go to
the cottage. If only to get away from town and clear her mind. It was worth the
trip. She missed her garden and the solitude of her tiny cottage. The break
would do her good and May encouraged her to leave town. She had seen Jake and
reported Red was not returning his phone calls either. She had really pissed
him off and Jake was worried about him. Apparently he had gone into this kind
of reclusive state when Eleanor had dumped him too.

One more thing to blame herself for.

She had hurt him badly and she would never
forgive herself.

Loading her car early on Saturday morning,
she set off as the sun came up over the Bay. The stress of the last week and a
half eased slightly as she drove down the motorway. When she turned into the
driveway, the tears fell. This was her sanctuary, her happy place. This was
where she felt most at home and able to let her feelings show.

Nero jumped from the car and walked around
the garden, brushing against the day bed where she and Red had made love the
last time they had been here. She ran her fingers through the bright flowers
lining the pathway.

When she opened the front door, the tears
fell again. Rhian curled up in a lounge chair as she cried her heart out. She
promised herself this would be the end of it. After this weekend, no more
tears. She had to move on with her life.

* * * *

Red slammed the door to his office. His
team had broken yet another milestone with this vaccine and he didn’t have
Rhian to share his news with. She had become so much a part of his everyday
thoughts it hurt.

A witch, how was that fucking possible?

Nothing he understood could explain what
she was. His father would have laughed if he’d told him but Red had seen the
proof. He knew it was true. Looking in the mirror was evidence enough. His
glasses were thrown in the bin, useless now she had cast her magic on him. Sure
he had been pissed to start with but that was because she had held it back.

So much for total honesty
.

It was all he had asked for and she had let
him down.

Picking up the phone, he dialed an outside
line.

“Hey, it’s me. Guess what, we cracked
another milestone today. Human trials can start next month.”

“Why are you telling me, bro? Sure I’m
happy for you and all but don’t you think you should be telling Rhian?” Jake
sighed loudly. “Man, get over it. So she didn’t tell you, big fucking deal. You
love her, let it go.”

“I don’t know if I can, Jake. All I asked
for was honesty and she promised. What if it happens again? I can’t live like
that. I had enough with Eleanor. I thought Rhian was different.” He cradled his
forehead in his hand. “She’s different, Jake.”

“You got that right. She is different and
she’s nothing like that selfish frigid bitch, Eleanor. I thought that would
have told you something at least. Look, Red, I love you buddy, really I do. But
this has to stop. You need to be calling her every day and telling her what
you’re doing, not me. I have a job to do and as much as this phone thing with
you is awesome, I would rather be doing it with a chick. Get my drift?”

“Yeah, I get it.” Red leaned back in his
chair and grimaced at how this was affecting Jake. “Sorry, didn’t want you to
feel like you were a surrogate or anything. Bye.”

He hung up the phone and sat watching it.
This couldn’t go on. He had to sort out his shit before it drove him crazy.

Red got off the bike, took his helmet off,
and placed it on the seat. His gaze locked on hers and he took a parcel from
under the seat before he walked toward her. She stood her ground, looking like
she didn't know whether to run to him or from him. He stopped in front of her.
“You forgot this.” He handed over the package.

Rhian took the parcel he had given her last
week and smiled sadly when she realized it was her frog from Carmel.

“Why? You could have posted it, saved
yourself the ride, Red.”

Red looked down at her, his heart aching
with emotion. He’d had a hell of a week with Jake on his back and his own
feelings being tossed around. His whole life had been structured and safe. He
always knew what was going to happen and where he was headed. This blonde bombshell
had thrown all of that out of the water.

He no longer knew his visions for the
future and beliefs he grew up with were the right ones or even the ones he
should be living. What he thought was real and true no longer was. Science
couldn't help him here. He didn't know where to start.

“Yeah, I could but that would be cowardly.
If I know nothing else, it's that.” He looked away and then met her eyes again.
“Jake belted my ass all week over this and I think he's right. Just listen to
me, please.” He held out his hand but she turned away and sat on the daybed
watching him.

“I was brought up differently from you. You
know that. I'm the child of a scientist and a mother who lived in her husband's
world. It made sense I would be just like them. I don't regret it. What I do
regret is growing up with such a closed mind. I can't deny what you are. I
don't understand it but it is what it is. I get that.” He coughed and picked a
flower from her garden, bringing it to his nose to smell. Twirling it between
his fingers he continued. “We are so different but then again, we're not. Both
determined to be right, both thinking we're doing the right thing. I know you
were only trying to do the something special for me, Rhian but I should have
had a say. They are my eyes after all and you can't go and take over someone's
life because
you
decide it’s best for them.” He watched her shoulders
drooping lower in defeat but he had to get it off his chest. “I know you have a
good heart but I have to make my own decisions. That’s why Eleanor and I broke
up. She wanted to run my life but you knew that. It's the reason I lost it the
other night. I have to have control of my own destiny.”

“I know and I'm sorry. More sorry than you
know. I overstepped the boundaries and the Fates will no doubt want payment,
they always do. I should have listened to May and I did try but I admit I
didn't try hard enough.” She stood up and walked over to him, running a finger
down his arm, before she grasped his hand. “I was scared of how you would
react. You know, I've seen it before so I wanted to be cautious with you. Tell
a man you’re a witch and they run a mile. It kind of puts you on the defensive,
you understand. When the Fates threw you at my feet, I thought it would be
different but I guess I let myself believe what I wanted to.”

* * * *

Rhian looked at their joined fingers and
smiled at him, trying to lighten the mood but feeling she had failed miserably.
“I understand you wanting to stand up for yourself. You are a man after all. I
thank you for bringing me my gift. I'll treasure it always.”

She let go of his hand and turned toward
the cottage willing herself to get inside before she broke down in tears.

“Rhian, stop.”

She halted, her shoulders tensing for
another onslaught. “Just go, Red, please. I heard what you said and I
understand. You were courageous enough to come and tell me to my face. I accept
it. Thank you and goodbye.”

“I'm not dumping you. I'm trying to explain
how I feel and if I've fucked it up, I'm sorry. You know I suck at this dating
game.” He walked toward her, and she turned to watch him, her heart racing with
his words. “Hell, just look at my past failures and you can see. I don't want
to lose you. I just don't know how to do this. How to let us both live with who
we are without taking over the other’s life. I need your help, Rhian. I want
you in my life, magic or not. I don't care. I accept what you are. Just stay
with me and work through this with me, please.”

She squeezed her eyes tight and sucked in a
huge breath. Wiping her tears with the back of her hand she lifted her gaze
slowly to meet his. He was standing holding a wilting flower in his hands,
looking like the little lost boy she’d met when he crashed his bike to avoid
the orphaned fawn.

“Oh Red, what have I done to deserve you?”
She smiled and the tears rolled freely down her face. She ran to him, laughing
with joy. Wrapping her arms around his neck she kissed him, her salty tears on
their lips.

“Call it Fate if you will. I think that was
how Jake described it to me. Besides, I don’t want to miss out on our next
year’s new family tradition.”

“And what would that be?”

“Valentine’s Day, I want to follow in my
mother’s footsteps and rekindle our love each year. I kind of stuffed up this
last one so I’m begging for another chance.”

“You sweet man. It’s a date.” Rhian ran her
finger over his bottom lip and along his chin before pulling him down into a
searing hot kiss. She stepped back and lowered her hands to his bulging
erection. “But in the meantime, I think we have some making up to do. Your
call, Red. Out here in the garden or in the bedroom?”