Read Online Three Wishes by Jenny Schwartz - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jenny Schwartz
Ads: Link
care.”
“Why?”
Miriam blinked, as though she’d forgotten Cali’s presence. Reminded, she hesitated. “I owe him my life.”
“Hmm. But it’s his choice whether to live with love or death. He’s made himself strong in a violent world. He’s chosen.”
“He chose wrong!”
Cali laughed. “He wouldn’t agree with you. He likes his money and power.”
“There are more important things in life.” Miriam was affronted. “And why do you care about David?”
“I don’t. Miriam, this isn’t your world. You’re not going to save David. All you’ll do is drown with him. Go back to your life and forget him.”
Miriam’s eyes narrowed. “He told you to say that.”
“What?” Cali jerked, startled.
“I wondered why you were being friendly. You’re not a local. David told you to get me to leave. He probably flew you in. He doesn’t want me around waking his conscience.”
“What conscience?”
“I’m not leaving.” Miriam stood. She dusted off the seat of her jeans. “David needs saving and I’m the one to do it.”
“You have to leave.”
“I remember David as a boy. I remember his family and the man he should have grown to be. I remember his parents’ pride in him. I’m not leaving till they can be proud of him again.”
She stalked off.
“Damn.”
“She loves him,” Andrew said.
“Oh, so you’re lurking.” Cali was proud she hadn’t jumped at his sudden appearance. Now she hoped he didn’t notice her racing heart. “How can she love David? He’s horrible.”
“Is he?” Andrew stood beside her, back in his army fatigues. He looked tired and needed a shave. “The local people respect him. They trust him.”
“All that proves is he’s smart enough not to dirty his own backyard. And why are you looking like something the cat dragged in? David hasn’t done anything all week.”
“I have other charges. They’ve been busy.” He smiled slightly. “Three rescues, one car accident prevention, two untangling misunderstandings and five challenges to reach beyond themselves. But you’re right, I should have shaved and tidied up. I wanted to see you.”
“I thought you were angry with me.” She despised the vulnerability in her voice. She looked away, concentrating on Miriam’s vanishing figure.
“I was,” Andrew said.
Her gaze flew to his.
“You wouldn’t trust me. You panicked and tried to reduce our loving to a transaction. I was offended. It took me a while to realize I’d failed the same challenge I often set my charges. Trust must be earned. It’s not you who failed, but me. When you responded to me, desire ruled me as surely as it takes a teenage boy. I pushed too far, too fast.”
“I wanted you,” she pointed out.
“Do you still?”
“Here and now?”
Heat flared in his eyes before he veiled them. “Don’t tempt me. I’d like the chance to earn your trust. We make a pair, Cali. You’ve embraced hate and I’ve refused all emotion. I still care, but the shell of weariness is growing thicker, harder. You break through it. We need one another. I want to woo you.”
His tone and the promise of his words sent a shiver through her. Dawn was over, the day bright. She could smell the fresh green grass, see the dew sparkle.
Abruptly, her world tilted.
Andrew reached out to her and she flinched away.
“David’s picked up my bottle. He’s going to make a second wish.”
Chapter Nine
David breathed deeply. It had to end. So far Miriam had respected the boundaries of his closed bedroom door, but she was invading the rest of his life. She was changing the meals his chef cooked, taking over and making the food his mother had served. Everywhere he looked, Miriam reminded him of what he’d turned his back on. She laughed, she listened to people, she cared.
His hands tightened on the red glass of the djinni bottle.
Miriam had burst back inside twenty minutes ago, interrupting his early-morning coffee and the quiet time in which he caught up on
“Why?”
Miriam blinked, as though she’d forgotten Cali’s presence. Reminded, she hesitated. “I owe him my life.”
“Hmm. But it’s his choice whether to live with love or death. He’s made himself strong in a violent world. He’s chosen.”
“He chose wrong!”
Cali laughed. “He wouldn’t agree with you. He likes his money and power.”
“There are more important things in life.” Miriam was affronted. “And why do you care about David?”
“I don’t. Miriam, this isn’t your world. You’re not going to save David. All you’ll do is drown with him. Go back to your life and forget him.”
Miriam’s eyes narrowed. “He told you to say that.”
“What?” Cali jerked, startled.
“I wondered why you were being friendly. You’re not a local. David told you to get me to leave. He probably flew you in. He doesn’t want me around waking his conscience.”
“What conscience?”
“I’m not leaving.” Miriam stood. She dusted off the seat of her jeans. “David needs saving and I’m the one to do it.”
“You have to leave.”
“I remember David as a boy. I remember his family and the man he should have grown to be. I remember his parents’ pride in him. I’m not leaving till they can be proud of him again.”
She stalked off.
“Damn.”
“She loves him,” Andrew said.
“Oh, so you’re lurking.” Cali was proud she hadn’t jumped at his sudden appearance. Now she hoped he didn’t notice her racing heart. “How can she love David? He’s horrible.”
“Is he?” Andrew stood beside her, back in his army fatigues. He looked tired and needed a shave. “The local people respect him. They trust him.”
“All that proves is he’s smart enough not to dirty his own backyard. And why are you looking like something the cat dragged in? David hasn’t done anything all week.”
“I have other charges. They’ve been busy.” He smiled slightly. “Three rescues, one car accident prevention, two untangling misunderstandings and five challenges to reach beyond themselves. But you’re right, I should have shaved and tidied up. I wanted to see you.”
“I thought you were angry with me.” She despised the vulnerability in her voice. She looked away, concentrating on Miriam’s vanishing figure.
“I was,” Andrew said.
Her gaze flew to his.
“You wouldn’t trust me. You panicked and tried to reduce our loving to a transaction. I was offended. It took me a while to realize I’d failed the same challenge I often set my charges. Trust must be earned. It’s not you who failed, but me. When you responded to me, desire ruled me as surely as it takes a teenage boy. I pushed too far, too fast.”
“I wanted you,” she pointed out.
“Do you still?”
“Here and now?”
Heat flared in his eyes before he veiled them. “Don’t tempt me. I’d like the chance to earn your trust. We make a pair, Cali. You’ve embraced hate and I’ve refused all emotion. I still care, but the shell of weariness is growing thicker, harder. You break through it. We need one another. I want to woo you.”
His tone and the promise of his words sent a shiver through her. Dawn was over, the day bright. She could smell the fresh green grass, see the dew sparkle.
Abruptly, her world tilted.
Andrew reached out to her and she flinched away.
“David’s picked up my bottle. He’s going to make a second wish.”
Chapter Nine
David breathed deeply. It had to end. So far Miriam had respected the boundaries of his closed bedroom door, but she was invading the rest of his life. She was changing the meals his chef cooked, taking over and making the food his mother had served. Everywhere he looked, Miriam reminded him of what he’d turned his back on. She laughed, she listened to people, she cared.
His hands tightened on the red glass of the djinni bottle.
Miriam had burst back inside twenty minutes ago, interrupting his early-morning coffee and the quiet time in which he caught up on
Similar Books
