Dangerous Tides (22 page)

"I've spoken to you, you just never heard me."

Libby frowned. She'd been attracted to him for years. Secretly maybe, but she would have noticed if he'd shown an interest in her. "That's not true."

"It's true, you just didn't notice someone like me."

"Someone like you?"

"You're repeating things. Do you need something? Water? Tea? You always drink tea. You look more like a ghost than you usually do." He jumped up again and rested his palm against her forehead.

Libby jerked her head away, scowling. "A ghost? I look more like a ghost than I usually do?"

He crouched down in front of her so they were eye to eye. Up close she could see he looked haggard and worn and his concern for her was etched into the lines of his face. "You're repeating everything I say." He enunciated each word carefully.

"Because I can't believe you would say such a thing, even if you're thinking it."

He rocked back on his heels. "What did I say wrong this time?"

"Do you think a woman wants to be called a ghost? News flash, buddy, women don't take that as a compliment. It makes me feel like a zombie walking."

"That's silly," Ty replied, exasperated. "You know you're beautiful, Libby. You can't possibly think anything else. You're incredibly intelligent, you actually understand what I say when I'm talking to you and when you smile, everyone around you wants to smile with you. You
are
pale right now. I'm thinking of calling a doctor and having you examined. What's wrong with everyone here that they don't see you're ill? You need someone to take care of you."

Libby knew her mouth had fallen open. She could only stare for a long moment, hoping a fly didn't buzz by. The man was impossible. He was always either saying something that made her want to hit him—or something that made her want to kiss him. Right now she wasn't certain which she wanted to do the most.

"I
am
a doctor," she reminded him, striving for a balance. There was no maintaining any kind of equilibrium around Tyson. She felt too much compassion, too much physical attraction and she was so annoyed she wanted to scream. No one in her life had ever torn her in so many directions. "If I needed treatment, I'd get it, Ty. And my sisters love me very much. They definitely would make certain I received any medical care needed." The moment the words left her mouth she thought of Hannah. She hadn't seen her sister losing weight and she certainly hadn't helped her.

Tyson caught her chin, the pad of his thumb running over her lips. "Now you're looking sad. You have the most expressive face. I used to sit in class and stare at you. I could for hours, you know, even when you're looking at me like I'm crazy. Why are you so sad all of a sudden?"

"I was just thinking I should have helped one of my sisters with a problem she has. She always looks after all of us and we didn't notice when she needed us most."

He patted her knee. "Tell me what she needs and I'll take care of it for you."

"Why would you want to do that?"

"So you won't worry anymore."

Libby shook her head. "I have no idea what to think about you, Ty. My family is my life. I've seen the way you curl your lip when you talk about us and I know you think we're all con artists. And then you go and say something like that." She drew a deep breath. "I love my sisters and my parents. They're part of me—a big part of who I am."

"I know that." He sighed and stood up. Things hadn't gone at all the way he needed them to go. "Do you mind if I come back to see you again tomorrow? We can go for a walk."

"Did you really go without eating or sleeping?"

"That's not nearly as important as the fact that I couldn't work. Nothing interferes with my work. Well, with the exception of you."

He ran his hands through his hair again, leaving him looking more like a rumpled professor than ever. She pressed a hand to her stomach, not liking the feeling of her insides melting. "You couldn't work?"

His eyes narrowed again, his gaze on her face. "You sound faint. Should I get your sister for you?"

"You couldn't work because of me?" If he spouted a factoid instead of answering her, she might really name him as a candidate for a rocket to Mars. On the other hand, if he answered, she was going to do something stupid like kiss him again.

"Damn it, no, I couldn't. Work is important to me. I don't need you doing this to yourself so I have to be obsessed over your health. You're a doctor, Libby, you should know better."

There wasn't going to be any kissing. She raised her voice. "Sarah? Do we have any Tums in the house?"

"You don't use too many antacids, do you? You certainly don't want to end up with kidney stones. The most common elements of calculi are calcium, oxalate, phosphate and uric acid."

Libby turned her face away from him, afraid the laughter was far too close. He'd done it again. She doubted if he was even aware of it. "Thanks for that information. As a doctor, it's certain to come in handy."

He frowned at her. "I'm going to let you rest, Libby. I need to actually get some work done, but I'm coming over tomorrow to take you for a walk."

"How can you work when you have broken ribs?" Her palm brushed lightly over his ribs, generating that same heat he'd felt before when she touched him.

He covered her hand with his, held it tightly against him. "Not for the forestry. I have a lab in my basement and I've got a project I'm interested in."

"Really?" Her face lit up with interest. "Tell me about it."

"Tomorrow. I want to see if I can get anywhere tonight. Maybe now that I don't have to worry your sisters locked you in the tower and let you die, I can get something done." He stood up, reluctantly letting her hand go as he bent over her to brush a kiss on top of her head. "I'm coming over tomorrow, Libby, so tell the guardian to let me in."

"If you're referring to my sister, her name is Sarah."

"You have a lot of sisters." He strode out of the house, pausing at the door to look back at her.

Libby could feel her heart beating way too fast. His expression was so—hungry. Caring. Longing. Even more than that, he looked protective of her.

"You'd better get some rest."

"I will, Ty," she assured him. When he closed the door she let out her breath, hardly realizing she was holding it.

"Is he gone?" Sarah asked, venturing into the room.

"Yes."

"Baby." Sarah rubbed the top of Libby's head affectionately. "The man is just plain maddening. I can feel how attracted you are to him, but he's just too weird."

"He's brilliant. He can speak several languages, talk about any subject I want to discuss and he's very, very hot. And a good kisser." Libby looked up at Sarah, feeling a little lost. "He's brilliant and that's like an aphrodisiac to me."

"Or more likely it's the wounded bird syndrome."

"What in the world is that?"

"Your continual need to help those in need. If anyone is in need, it's Tyson Derrick."

Libby made a face. "Now you have me being the good girl again. Libby the saint. I'd much rather the attraction be all about sex. Libby the bad girl is much more to my liking."

Sarah groaned. "Yes, because all bad girls like to be told you're so pale you look more of a ghost than usual. I nearly choked to death on that one, and Hannah would have turned him into a toad on the spot."

Libby burst out laughing. "The man can really hand out those compliments, can't he? The worst of it is, I'm actually starting to find it endearing."

Sarah rolled her eyes. "You're so sunk. And that just makes my point. You couldn't be bad if you tried, it isn't in your nature. No one else on the face of this planet would find that man endearing. He's like some kind of porcupine. Touch him and you come away with a hand full of quills."

"He's really quite sweet."

"The man analyzes feelings, he doesn't actually feel them."

"You're wrong, Sarah, and he's not 'the man.' His name is Ty or Tyson."

"I'm sorry, hon." Sarah ruffled her hair. "Drink your tea."

"I know nothing can come of it," Libby said. She realized she sounded regretful and frowned.

"Not necessarily," Sarah said, ashamed of herself when she could see the naked longing on her sister's face. It was just that she wanted to love all of her sister's choices. She couldn't imagine loving Tyson Derrick. "The lock fell from the gate and the house let him in. There was no resistance, Libby, did you notice that?"

"I was too busy noticing how hard his body is. It isn't fair, Sarah, he should either have brains or brawn, but not both."

Sarah laughed. "Elle wasn't happy that we kept him away from you. She said we should let nature take its course."

"What does that mean?" Libby was horrified. "What does she know?"

"Elle never says exactly what she means, but she was very adamant. It's hard for her to maintain a balance of giving people privacy, free agency and warning us off doing something stupid because she knows things we don't."

"Her life is so difficult, Sarah. I worry about her. She told me she doesn't want to have children."

Sarah put down her cup of tea, shocked. "She did? Why? She carries all the gifts. Without her, the Drake legacy would most likely end."

Libby sighed. "She's so sad. I think it's such a burden for her. I told her to talk to Mom. Mom had to learn how to cope with knowing what everyone is thinking and feeling all the time. I try to help, but Elle won't let me."

"You shouldn't be helping anyone for a while, Libby. You need to strike some kind of balance. You give too much of yourself to everyone. If you keep letting people take pieces of you, eventually there'll be nothing left. You know better than to take on someone's illness or injuries."

"It was Jonas. I had no choice." Libby defended herself.

"You did it twice. Healing infections is one thing, you're merely using energy to heal, but taking on something of that magnitude, you're absorbing the injuries. You could die. Why did you heal Tyson Derrick?"

Libby looked down at her hands. "I didn't have a choice, Sarah. I couldn't stop myself. I had no intention of healing him, but I was pulled there and then it was happening. He doesn't even know it."

"He doesn't want to know it because he'd have to believe in something he can't prove," Sarah said. "It's easier to believe we're con artists."

"He doesn't believe that," Libby insisted. "He's a scientist. He thinks differently."

"Magic is science. He just can't explain it, but it's all about energy and the universe. He doesn't fit with us, with our magic."

"Maybe not," Libby admitted and blew on her tea to avoid her sister's eyes.

Chapter Nine

LIBBY tried to hide her excitement and nervousness from her sisters as she surreptitiously glanced at the clock in her living room. Tyson was going to be there any minute. She'd really tried this time with her appearance. She was always pale, but she used foundation, hoping to give herself more color. She'd even applied more eye makeup than usual. She still wore a comfortable pair of jeans, but her top was clinging under her light sweater.

The pull of being with him didn't make sense to her, unless, as Sarah pointed out, it was the wounded bird syndrome. Libby walked over to the couch and put her arm around Hannah's neck to lean down and kiss her on top of her head.