Chasing Rainbow, Page 27

  “I don’t think I want to be part of this,” Arthur said into a prolonged silence. “This could seriously damage my reputation.”

  “No one has to know about it,” Mary reminded him. “But if anyone should hear about it, you can always dismiss it as a parlor game.”

  Arthur shook his head. “In my capacity as a minister, I can’t be involved in such things.”

  “I’m not asking you to participate as a minister. Besides, this is just a test of the woman’s talents. I feel we owe it to the residents of the Towers to check her out. And what better way than to test her on something we already know.”

  There was another long silence, this time broken by Felix Crumley. “I don’t much hold with this psychic stuff, Mary, but I do like Rainbow. She’s a sweet young woman, and if you set about proving her mother is a fraud, she could be seriously hurt.”

  “Did I say her mother was a fraud? In fact, Felix, I seriously doubt it. I am absolutely convinced the woman believes in what she does. But she might be wrong. And before she holds a seance for the Towers residents, someone ought to check her accuracy.”

  “Why does it have to be us?” Arthur asked.

  “Because we’re here,” said Mary. “And who else is going to bother?”

  Gene had rented a car so he could get to his filming sessions for the environmental group that had hired him as spokesman. He dropped Roxy and Dawn off at Mary Todd’s house and then headed out for an evening with Nellie Blair. Rainbow was charged with hanging around to wait for her mother’s call to come get her.

  It was enough to drive her nuts. For one thing, she was worried about what Mary might be up to. In spite of the fact that she loved Mary, she wasn’t blind to the older woman’s faults, among which was her being meddlesome.

  And she couldn’t stop thinking about Jake. Their time together that afternoon had been like a fairy tale come true, and now that she was facing an evening by herself in her empty cottage, she was paying the price for her weakness. It was going to hurt worse than she had ever imagined, she realized. Far worse. Why didn’t he at least call?

  And then there was that impression of fire, water, and doom that she’d had three times now. That seriously worried her, and she kept thinking about it, trying to make sense of it, recognizing its importance but unable to unravel the mystery. What if everyone at the Towers was facing some kind of threat?

  Finally, ten minutes after her mother had left, unable to stand it any longer, and despite all her resolutions, she called Jake. She wanted to be angry that she’d had to call him, but the instant she heard his voice, she melted.

  “Hi,” she said shyly, when he answered the phone.

  “Hi.” His voice turned warm and welcoming. “I’ve been sitting here staring at my computer, wishing you would call.”

  “Really?”

  “Really. I wanted to call you, but I didn’t want to stir your mother up. Can we do something together tonight? Go out for dinner? Take in a movie? Walk on the beach?”

  “I have to stay here and wait for my mother’s call. She’s doing that seance for Mary Todd, and she’ll need a ride home.”

  “Then how about I come over there?”

  “Really?”

  “Really. Is it okay?”

  “Oh, yes,” she said, her voice turning breathless. “Please.”

  As soon as she hung up the phone, she started wondering where she’d left her brain. Not five minutes ago she’d been feeling miserable, recognizing that the closer she got to Jake the more it was going to hurt when they separated, and instead of needing her own common sense, she’d invited him over here!

  She was out of her ever-loving mind!

  But that didn’t keep her from running to the bathroom to comb her hair and put on a touch of makeup. She almost changed into something prettier, then decided that was going too far. She’d already let him know how eager she was to see him. Why compound the problem?

  Jake made it over in record time. Almost before she’d finished putting on her lipstick, he was knocking at her door.

  Her heart was hammering as she opened it, and when she saw him, she couldn’t prevent the wide smile that creased her face. He was here, and suddenly all the rest of it didn’t seem so important.

  She invited him in, and as soon as she closed the door, he reached for her, sweeping her into his arms and giving her a deep, devouring kiss.

  She felt herself melting into that warm, soft place he seemed to take her to without any trouble.

  He lifted his head suddenly, looking down at her. “How long does a seance take?”

  “It varies…”

  “Well, what’s the minimum time?”

  She shook her head. “Well, assuming she can get into a trance … maybe an hour?”

  “Let’s assume she can.” Then he lifted her right off her feet. “Where’s your bedroom?”

  She could have been offended, but she wasn’t. This was exactly what she wanted. No time for thinking, no time for letting ordinary things get between them. Just the two of them loving one another in the only way they could.

  He carried her across the living room and into her bedroom, where he lowered her feet to the floor. “You make me crazy,” he said huskily. “Absolutely crazy.”

  That would do, she thought, and found herself feeling as sexy and beautiful as she had ever felt in her life. In his eyes she could see herself as he saw her, and what she saw made her feel so very good.

  He reached for the hem of her T-shirt, and pulled it up over her head. Then he tossed his own onto the floor beside it. Helpless to stop herself, she reached out and ran her hands over the broad, muscled expanse of his chest, loving the way he felt, loving the sensation of his skin against hers.

  He smiled and tugged at her shorts until they fell to her ankles, and he steadied her as she stepped out of them. His jeans went the same way. Then her underwear and his disappeared into the corner and he drew her against him, crushing her to him so that they met from chest to knee.

  She could feel his arousal against her belly, and the sensation sent spears of delight shooting through her.

  It was strange, she thought, as the haziness of passion filled her, but she felt as if she had been created for this moment and this man … as if she had been born to be right here.

  “There are no ghosts here,” he said.

  “No.” What was he talking about?

  “Let’s leave all our ghosts out of this, okay?”

  She nodded, not quite sure she understood, but at this point she was willing to agree to anything if only he would keep on holding her and touching her.

  Bending, he pressed his mouth to her breast and sucked strongly, a sensation so pleasurable that she felt her womanhood throb sharply in time to the movement of his mouth. Her knees turned watery, and she clung desperately to his shoulders, afraid she would fall and lose his kiss on her breast. Her nails dug into him and he groaned.

  Wrapping his arms around her waist, he lifted her off her feet, keeping her breast available to his mouth. Throwing her head back, she wrapped her legs around his waist and pressed herself snugly to him, needing more, so much more.

  Never had anyone made her feel this way, but Jake’s touch was like a spark that turned into an instant conflagration. Just the look in his eyes was enough to make her feel weak, and his merest touch filled her with hunger for him.

  Dimly, without realizing they had moved, she felt the bed beneath her back, and then he was lying on top of her, between her legs, his weight bearing her down in the most delicious way. His mouth moved to her other breast, renewing the assault on her senses, and she heard herself groan, a deep sound that was torn from her very depths.

  She arched against him, needing the pressure of him between her legs.

  Then, in the space between one instant and the next, she came to her senses. She might want him with every cell in her body, but she needed more, far more than sex. Without something more, what they were doing became a meaningless, cheap
act.

  “No,” she said, and pushed against his shoulders.

  He lifted his head, looking down at her from heavily lidded eyes. His cheeks were flushed with passion and he was breathing at least as heavily as she was. “What’s wrong?” he asked hoarsely.

  “I don’t want to do this, Jake.” Her voice quivered, revealing that she was on the edge of tears, but she swallowed hard and blinked them back. “This isn’t right.”

  He stared at her for long seconds, as if his brain were having difficulty grasping what she had just said. Then with a deep groan, he rolled off of her and lay beside her with his eyes closed.

  She closed her own, unable to look at him, unwilling to read his expression. He was probably furious with her, she thought. And he had every right to be. She shouldn’t have let things go this far before saying no.

  “Rainy?” His voice was still husky, but so gentle it brought the tears back to her eyes.

  “I’m sorry.” Her voice was thick, her throat so tight it hurt.

  “No,” he said. “I’m sorry.”

  Astonishment forced her eyes open, and made her look at him.

  “I am sorry,” he repeated. He raised himself on one elbow and looked at her. “The way I barged in here and just carried you off to bed … well, it was disrespectful. I’m sorry if I made you feel cheap.”

  It took her a few moments to find her voice. The tightness in her throat and chest nearly smothered it. “It’s … I’m sorry, Jake. I just can’t be . .. casual about this.”

  He nodded. “Understood.” He touched her cheek gently, then rolled out of bed to pick up their scattered clothing. He passed hers to her, then turned his back and donned his own.

  Still blinking back tears, Rainbow pulled her clothes on quickly, with trembling hands. She had been a fool, she decided, a fool to let him get so close, and a fool to call things off so late. The sensible woman she believed herself to be was apparently a chimera.

  “Hey.” Jake spoke softly and crossed to her, touching her cheek again. “It’s okay,” he said. “I got carried away, and I apologize. You’re right. There has to be more than sexual attraction. For both of us.”

  Which was, she thought glumly, as good as admitting that was all he felt. And right now, she felt as if someone had driven a stake through her heart. But somehow she managed to find a smile for him, wobbly though it was.

  “Rainy?”

  “Hmm?” She couldn’t quite trust herself to speak.

  “I mean it,” he said quietly. “I want more than sex with you. Sex is wonderful—I’d be the last person on earth to deny it—but it’s not enough. I’m losing my head over you in more ways than one.”

  Suddenly the pain in her heart was gone, and she was able to look at him steadily, her momentary fear vanquished.

  “I keep promising myself to take it slow, so we can build the things that really count.” He gave a rueful laugh. “I’m not doing too well in the ‘slow’ department. I’m sorry.”

  Then, before she could decide what to say, he hugged her and dropped gentle kisses all over her face. “Time, Rainy. Give me time. Please?”

  She nodded, and was delighted with another kiss.

  “Now,” he said, “before I lose my head all over again, can we go into another room and talk about something safe?”

  His pleading tone actually made her want to laugh. “Sure. How about some tea?”

  “Sounds safe enough,” he agreed. “With the counter between us, okay?”

  Together they went out to the kitchen and started a pot of tea, the old emotional standby in Rainbow’s family. Jake reminisced about some of the teas he’d drunk in various places, allowing as how his favorite was green tea.

  When their cups were full, they sat side-by-side at the breakfast bar.

  “My family does everything in the kitchen,” Rainbow remarked. “It’s like the rest of the house doesn’t exist, at least when there’s anything to be discussed.”

  “Must be nice. I never really had your standard family. My dad died when I was young, and my mother had to work. Uncle Joe was a great father figure, but it wasn’t the same as having a whole family that could gather round to do things together, or discuss things.” He shrugged. “Not that I’m complaining. My mom was wonderful, and Uncle Joe was as good a father as any kid could ask for. He just didn’t live with us.”

  “It must have been hard on you, though.”

  He flashed a crooked grin. “Oh, there were advantages. There was no one to check up on me after school, for one.”

  “Did you get into a lot of trouble?”

  “Nah. I was always one of those geeks, you know? The most trouble I ever got into was miixing chemicals from my chemistry set that weren’t supposed to be mixed. I’m probably lucky I didn’t start a fire or asphyxiate myself. And I was always a rock hound. I started when I was about eight, with a hammer from Joe’s toolbox. I never did tell him I’d heisted it, but I figure he probably knew anyway. So I’d go out after school, instead of doing my homework, and wander around, chipping off chunks of rock in the woods and hills around the house.”

  “You lived in a little community?”

  “Northern New Jersey. We had a house on what used to be a farm, so I had plenty of room for exploring.”

  Rainbow smiled. “That sounds really nice.”

  “Had a stream out back, too, a creek that was deep enough for swimming and good for fishing. Joe got me my first rod and reel, to replace the cane pole I’d been using, and I thought I was such hot stuff for a while.”

  He smiled, his eyes growing distant with memory. “About the time I was thirteen, we had to move. The guy who was renting us the property decided he could get more money elsewhere, so we moved into town. Boy, what a change that was. But it helped me develop what social skills I have.” He gave her a rueful look. “Not that I seem to have too many, lately.”

  “You’re doing just fine.” She felt a tug on her heart for the little boy he must have been. She was sure his childhood had been more difficult and lonely than he was letting on.

  “Anyway,” he said, “to continue with a long and boring story, I had my first girlfriend when I was sixteen. It lasted about four weeks, but I was pretty proud of the accomplishment. Somebody liked me well enough to go steady with me for a whole month.”

  “At that age, that really is an achievement.” “Yeah.” He laughed quietly. “Then came college, and that’s where I got a real education. I went right back to rock hounding and met another geology student. I have to tell you about Annabelle. She was a real free spirit, willing to pack up a tent and sleeping bag and head into the hills on weekends to look for rocks. I thought that made her just about perfect. By junior year, we were engaged, and we lived together in this ratty little apartment off campus that we shared with about ten thousand cockroaches and our friends. It was great fun for a while.” He sipped his tea and shook his head.

  “What happened?”

  “I guess you could call it a personality conflict.” He looked straight at her. “I’m telling you this so you’ll understand my initial reaction to you. Annabelle was New Age when the term was new. She lived and breathed enough kooky ideas to start a zoo. It started to get to me after a while, particularly when she planned every day according to her horoscope and mine.”

  “Horoscopes?” Rainbow wasn’t too fond of them, like the cards, they could be used to focus psychic intuitions, but like the cards they could be equally useless or abused.

  “Horoscopes. At first it was the ones in the paper every morning. Then she was buying books that promised to give more accurate ones. And finally she was casting them herself. Every night she’d settle down and do our charts, and if they warned of an accident the next day, she’d insist we stay home. Or if they said it was a good day for financial gain, she’d hare off to spend money on something she thought was a good investment I mean, those things controlled her. Finally I just couldn’t take it anymore, and I left.”

  “I’
m sorry.”

  “I’m not.” He smiled at her. “Annabelle had other wacky ideas, of course. Overnight she decided to become a strict vegetarian, and she started talking about chakras, and trying to even out the flow of mine. I began to get the impression that she thought there was something seriously wrong with me but didn’t have the guts to say so.”

  “I can see why.”

  “So anyway, to get to my rather roundabout point here, I tend to react negatively to anything that reminds me of her. So you got flack for Annabelle as much as anything when we met. And I’m sorry. My behavior was inexcusable.”

  Rainbow shook her head. “There’s no need to apologize, Jake. We’re both guilty of that.”

  “Walter, you mean?”

  She nodded. “Walter. And others. Apart from my client base, I guess I’ve developed a very distrustful attitude toward people. Uncle Gene says I need to break out of my shell.”

  “I can sure as hell see why you’ve developed one if other people react to you the way I did on our first meeting.”

  One corner of her mouth lifted, and she felt a trickle of amusement. “Other people aren’t usually quite so blunt.”

  He winced. “I deserve that.”

  “Oh, don’t feel bad about it. I can deal with bluntness a lot better than two-facedness. At least I know where I stand.” Her expression grew shy. “Is that what you meant about leaving our ghosts out of it?”

  It apparently took him a minute to remember what she was referring to. His brow knitted, then cleared. “Oh! Yeah. That’s what I meant. Maybe if we can leave our ghosts out of it…” He hesitated.

  Rainbow leaned forward, hardly daring to hope, afraid that the least little sound would prevent him from continuing.

  Then, startling her, the phone began to shriek jarringly.

  She gave him an apologetic look. “That must be my mother.”

  “Go ahead. Don’t mind me.”

  It was Roxy, and all she said was, “Come get me this very instant!”

  “Mother? What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t like being deceived. And Mustafa hates being tricked.”