ridiculous things, especially him. He had to find some answers. He could barely explain inappropriate behavior with preteens without flicking on her overload switch.
Thanks to the brilliance of his late wife, the sunken tub was not standard white. Millions who linked black with death and Satanism were clearly out of the loop. Forget sudsy white bubbles too. Aaron took the CD player from the bedroom and plugged it in the far corner. A classical disc, set for instant replay, should please his green lady. And speaking of whom—anxious and delighted at the same time?
“Hi, Jade, come on in. Could you turn the knobs when the tub’s filled? I’ll be with David in the other room. Call me if you need me. Do you understand?”
She didn’t answer as she stepped in the bath, gleefully filling her cupped hands. He really hoped her powers didn’t include mind reading, but maybe that was why she’d left the dress on.
In the kitchen, Aaron forced David to yield the turkey sandwich. Shoving it in his mouth, he talked around the food. “I’m gonna get online and check for leprechauns and vampires. She’s in the tub. She really likes water. Guess I should Google mermaids, too.”
“Yeah, okay. I’ll help after I make a sandwich. Again.” David chewed on his healed lip. “You seriously think I’m a minion now? I should have given Kenny the twenty bucks. Suppose I turn green?”
“Stop worrying. I was only teasing. First kiss, right?” Aaron groaned. “Twelve years old and you locked lips with a goddess. Not fair to the human girls in your future. I know she made you kiss her, but no moves, especially anymore necking, even when we understand what she is.” He grinned and turned to leave. “If anyone kisses her, it should be me. Just because you found her—she’s much closer to my age. Not that we know her age. Maybe she’s only two days old, but I can and will, beat you up.”
David shook his head along with the roll of his eyes, and Aaron exited. He’d barely settled in the computer chair before David joined him, choking down his sandwich.
Before looking for clues, Aaron decided her dress had pretty much had it. At a local shop’s website, he ordered a black shirt, a green one, two pairs of black jeans, black underwear, sandals and a pair of black sunglasses. They guessed at sizes and hoped she’d be pleased. With an extra charge, the shop agreed to deliver pronto. After spending an hour searching fruitlessly for anything to explain her existence, he left David scrolling news clips.
Oh God. Submerged. No trace of air bubbles.
Water splashed, arms soaked, he lifted her. Her dazzling eyes flinched open. Damn. As usual, he’d frightened her. He jerked back and released her. “I’m sorry. I thought you’d drowned.”
“Drowned? You thought I was gone? You’re afraid?”
“I didn’t mean to grab you but you weren’t breathing.” What the hell had David found? Why was Aaron doing everything wrong trying to help this skittish angel?
“Water won’t hurt me. What’s breathing?”
“You’re breathing now.”
The adrenalin rushes never ceased, from plunging devastation, thinking for a few seconds her breath had stopped, to the seductive high of breasts rising and falling. Wet silk clung— I’m such an idiot —the object was to lower her fear.
Her limp hand felt so small in his. She should be able to hear, let alone feel his heart trying to break through his ribcage. He clasped his hand over hers, flat on his chest. A deep relieved gulp from him, and comprehension filled her eyes.
“Yes, I’m breathing, but not in water,” she said. “I don’t need to now, but do anyway.”
“Interesting. We’re never going to figure you out.” His heartbeat settled, he lowered her hand from his chest—and green eyes widen with the return of anxiety? Could he conclude she liked touching him? Beyond interesting!
“I need you to figure me out, Aaron. Why’d David have wrong water on his face?”
“You
Thanks to the brilliance of his late wife, the sunken tub was not standard white. Millions who linked black with death and Satanism were clearly out of the loop. Forget sudsy white bubbles too. Aaron took the CD player from the bedroom and plugged it in the far corner. A classical disc, set for instant replay, should please his green lady. And speaking of whom—anxious and delighted at the same time?
“Hi, Jade, come on in. Could you turn the knobs when the tub’s filled? I’ll be with David in the other room. Call me if you need me. Do you understand?”
She didn’t answer as she stepped in the bath, gleefully filling her cupped hands. He really hoped her powers didn’t include mind reading, but maybe that was why she’d left the dress on.
In the kitchen, Aaron forced David to yield the turkey sandwich. Shoving it in his mouth, he talked around the food. “I’m gonna get online and check for leprechauns and vampires. She’s in the tub. She really likes water. Guess I should Google mermaids, too.”
“Yeah, okay. I’ll help after I make a sandwich. Again.” David chewed on his healed lip. “You seriously think I’m a minion now? I should have given Kenny the twenty bucks. Suppose I turn green?”
“Stop worrying. I was only teasing. First kiss, right?” Aaron groaned. “Twelve years old and you locked lips with a goddess. Not fair to the human girls in your future. I know she made you kiss her, but no moves, especially anymore necking, even when we understand what she is.” He grinned and turned to leave. “If anyone kisses her, it should be me. Just because you found her—she’s much closer to my age. Not that we know her age. Maybe she’s only two days old, but I can and will, beat you up.”
David shook his head along with the roll of his eyes, and Aaron exited. He’d barely settled in the computer chair before David joined him, choking down his sandwich.
Before looking for clues, Aaron decided her dress had pretty much had it. At a local shop’s website, he ordered a black shirt, a green one, two pairs of black jeans, black underwear, sandals and a pair of black sunglasses. They guessed at sizes and hoped she’d be pleased. With an extra charge, the shop agreed to deliver pronto. After spending an hour searching fruitlessly for anything to explain her existence, he left David scrolling news clips.
Oh God. Submerged. No trace of air bubbles.
Water splashed, arms soaked, he lifted her. Her dazzling eyes flinched open. Damn. As usual, he’d frightened her. He jerked back and released her. “I’m sorry. I thought you’d drowned.”
“Drowned? You thought I was gone? You’re afraid?”
“I didn’t mean to grab you but you weren’t breathing.” What the hell had David found? Why was Aaron doing everything wrong trying to help this skittish angel?
“Water won’t hurt me. What’s breathing?”
“You’re breathing now.”
The adrenalin rushes never ceased, from plunging devastation, thinking for a few seconds her breath had stopped, to the seductive high of breasts rising and falling. Wet silk clung— I’m such an idiot —the object was to lower her fear.
Her limp hand felt so small in his. She should be able to hear, let alone feel his heart trying to break through his ribcage. He clasped his hand over hers, flat on his chest. A deep relieved gulp from him, and comprehension filled her eyes.
“Yes, I’m breathing, but not in water,” she said. “I don’t need to now, but do anyway.”
“Interesting. We’re never going to figure you out.” His heartbeat settled, he lowered her hand from his chest—and green eyes widen with the return of anxiety? Could he conclude she liked touching him? Beyond interesting!
“I need you to figure me out, Aaron. Why’d David have wrong water on his face?”
“You
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