Merry & Seduced (7 page)

Amme reached over and slid the gear into the correct position. She was good at retaining information. Once she heard instructions, she never forgot.

“I told him I wanted to kiss him,” Amme said.

The van hopped once before Camryn managed to get it working. “Was that before or after I told you how to make a salad?”

“After. We had this stuff called garlic bread. He wiped some food off my mouth. He looked as if he wanted to kiss me, so I gave him permission.”

“Not quite the same thing,” Kaya said and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Your ear is showing,” Jannike said. “It still looks pointy to me.”

Kaya wrinkled her pert nose and rearranged her hair. “Tell us what happened.”

“Nothing,” Amme said, still disappointed. “Autumn woke during the night and screamed. I was in with her, trying to calm her down. She said there were monsters hiding in the wardrobe. I was checking for monsters and doing a go-monster spell when Marcus walked into the bedroom. He took one look at me and got this weird expression, as if he were in severe pain.”

“What were you wearing?” Camryn asked.

“No, more to the point, what was he wearing?” Jannike asked.

“I had on a T-shirt and my jeans,” Amme said.

“Bad move,” Kaya said. “We need to get her some of that Earth lingerie stuff today. First stop.”

“And a swimsuit. I told him I was going to get a bikini, but usually I didn’t wear anything when I was swimming.”

Camryn barked out a laugh at the same time as she changed gear, ready to turn onto the main road. The van jumped forward in a series of jerky hops.

“That does it,” Amme said. “Describe the road rules and the van controls, so I can drive us back home. We have a child in this vehicle. I favor the idea of lingerie.”

“I hope you have plenty of currency,” Jannike said to Camryn. “I want some of this lingerie stuff too.”

A
mme had never had such a fun day, and they arrived back at Marcus’s house with lots of parcels. Even Autumn was laughing and happily chattering with the other women.

“When are we going to the beach?” Autumn asked.

“We’ve run out of time today, but we can have a swim in the pool,” Amme said.

“I can’t swim,” the child said. “I can float and started to learn to paddle like a dog.”

“I’ll teach you,” Camryn said.

Amme pulled up in front of the house. “Let’s unload everything here and sort out our packages inside. I’ll make coffee.”

“Ooh
, listen to Amme,” Kaya said to Jannike. “The lady hostess.”

“No biscuits for you,” Amme said. “We have some. We ordered chocolate chip cookies on the internet last night.” She climbed out and opened the rear door to let Autumn out of her car seat.

“I want to try some more of that chocolate stuff,” Kaya said.

“Me too,” Jannike said.

“God,” Camryn muttered. “I thought the shop owner was going to have a coronary when you two started eating all her samples.”

“She offered them to us,” Kaya said.

Camryn chuckled. “True, but next time just take one, not a handful.”

The other women clambered out of the van and divvied up the parcels.

Amme led Autumn into the kitchen and sat her at the kitchen counter. “You wait there while I help the others with the packages.”

Autumn nodded. “I want a swim.”

“As soon as we get organized,” Amme promised. “And we have to blow up the wings to help you float.”

“I didn’t realize we’d purchased so many things,” Camryn said.

“Will it be all right?” Jannike asked. “You have enough currency?”

“My first husband had a lot of money,” Camryn said. “Gabriel had it invested and the interest has mounted up while I’ve been away. Plus there is the sale proceeds from our apartment that I sold. Luckily, I wasn’t stupid enough to spend all my money when I was drunk.”

“Lucky for us,” Amme said and gave Camryn a one-armed hug. “Thank you for sharing your currency with us.”

Camryn shrugged. “You’re my family. Besides, it’s not as if I’m going to get back to Earth very often.”

And it was true. They were a family. They might bicker and tease each other, but if any one of them required help it wasn’t necessary to ask. “Until Gweneth and I joined the
Indy
, I’d never had a family,” Amme said. “It makes my heart-pump swell.”

“Your heart,” Camryn said with a smile. “It makes your heart full.”

“Enough with the mushy stuff,” Jannike said in her usual tough manner. “I need to eat then I want to see what happens to my new swimsuit when it gets wet.” She held up a tiny suit and doubt furrowed her brow as she scowled at the bright orange-and-black fabric. “I was surprised it fit me.”

Amme shared a glance with Camryn, and they both laughed.

“I’ll teach you how to make sandwiches,” Camryn said. “A skill everyone should learn.”

“I can make sandwiches,” Autumn said.

“Perfect,” Amme said. “You can show me how. What do we need first?”

“Chocolate,” Kaya said, searching through all her packages. “Ah!” She seized a wrapped bar from amongst the shopping bags. “Do I eat the wrapping?”

Camryn studied the ceiling, puffed out a breath. “Damn, I’m so tempted. No, can’t do it,” she muttered. “No, you rip it open. I can show—”

“I’ll do it,” Kaya said, taking an abrupt step back. She peeled the wrapper back of a large chocolate bar and took a big bite.

“See all those small squares,” Camryn said.

“Yeth,” Kaya said through a mouthful of dark chocolate. She swallowed and moaned her pleasure.

“The squares are there to help break off pieces,” Camryn said. “So that it’s easy to share.”

“Oh.” Kaya pulled back the wrapper and broke off individual squares. “One for you. One for you.” She dispensed single squares until everyone had one.

Jannike popped hers into her mouth. “Thank you so much for sharing.”

Camryn grinned and accepted her allocation.

“That’s not going to fill us up.” Amme ate her single square before Kaya demanded it back. “We definitely need sandwiches. What do we do first, Autumn?”

The sandwich-making lesson took no time, and soon they moved out to the pool, all dressed in their new swimwear.

“Camryn, how does this flutter board work?” Amme asked.

“I’ll show you now.” Camryn pulled off her T-shirt to reveal her bright red bikini.

Amme led Autumn to the pool.

“This is a pretty suit,” Autumn said. “I like blue.”

“I know,” Amme said, her voice grave while her heart-pump did an extra little squeeze. “You told us blue is your favorite color.”

“I can float,” Autumn said again.

“Really? You’d better show me, so I can learn.” Amme listened to Camryn’s explanation about holding her breath and kicking, and watched both Camryn and Autumn float in the shallow end of the pool.

At the other end of the pool Gweneth, Jannike and Kaya splashed and tossed around a ball.

Ry appeared around the corner of the house, and Amme caught the flare of passion in his features when he saw Camryn. She sighed. That was exactly what she wanted to find one day. Unlikely, it was true, but a cyborg could hope. Living and traveling with the
Indy
meant her life was quite different from her original purpose. Maybe one day she’d find a man who wanted to keep her—a man like Marcus.

Ry appeared around the corner of the house, and Amme caught the flare of passion in his features when he saw Camryn. She sighed. That was exactly what she wanted to find one day. Unlikely, it was true, but a cyborg could hope. Living and traveling with the
Indy
meant her life was quite different from her original purpose. Maybe one day she’d find a man who wanted to keep her—a man like Marcus.

As if she’d summoned him, the man walked around the corner of the house with Nanu. He was listening to something Nanu said. He must have felt her gaze because he glanced over toward the pool and came to an abrupt halt. Mogens plowed into him from behind, sending Marcus lurching forward two steps.

Amme glanced down at her scantily clad body and a smirk crept into position. Job done.

“W
e went to the Christmas tree farm and bought two trees,” Nanu said. “We have them on a trailer. And we got some mistletoe stuff, but it’s not real ’cause the real stuff is rare.”

“We’ll unload them in a bit,” Marcus said, his gaze still on Amme. She was golden skin and curves, her body in perfect proportion. He lifted his hand in acknowledgment then his attention went to his daughter. She wore a blue polka-dotted swimsuit and her hair was wet so she’d been swimming already.

“I could do with a swim,” Nanu said.

“We should unload the trees first,” Ry said.

“Aye, Captain,” Nanu said. “I’ll get the girls. It was their idea, so they should help with the hard work.”

“Captain? Were you in the forces?”

“No,” Ry said, and when he didn’t add anything, Marcus frowned.

There was something odd about this group, something that fired his instincts. He didn’t get a bad feeling, but there was something not quite normal and he couldn’t fathom what.

Nanu trotted over to the pool and spoke to the women. They levered themselves out of the pool and pulled T-shirts over their bikinis.

Marcus glanced back at Amme. She was chatting with Autumn and helping her remove her water wings. Something inside him tightened at the ease with which Amme dealt with his daughter.

“I’m so lucky Amme agreed to help me with Autumn. She’s a natural.”

Nanu shrugged. “She’s programmed that way.”

“What?” Marcus asked.

“Amme likes children,” Ry said quickly. “Nanu, let’s get started manhandling these trees.”

Marcus spent the rest of the day watching the friends interact. Occasionally, when they thought he wasn’t listening or if he left and returned to the group, he heard them communicating in those weird clicks and grunts. Then there was the enjoyment they took in setting up the trees. A small thing but all of them—even Camryn—took a childlike pleasure in the process. Their excitement was rubbing off on him, making everything feel new and bringing back memories of times when his family actually talked and spent a day together.

“What do you think?” he asked Amme and Autumn.

“It needs lights,” Autumn whispered.

“Camryn says we will shop tomorrow for decorations. We will buy these lights,” Amme said. “And something called mistletoe.”

“Blue ones,” Autumn said.

“Her favorite color,” Amme said, winking at Marcus.

“The same color as your swimsuit,” Marcus said to Autumn, and he winked at Amme in return. “I’m all in favor of mistletoe, but we already have some. We’ll put it up later.”

“Ah! The same stuff Nanu mentioned earlier?” Amme asked.

“Yes.”

Autumn gave him one of those shy smiles, and his own smile widened, emotion twisting his insides and leaving them in knots.

“Have you written your list for Santa Claus?” he asked.

Autumn fiddled with her hair, a trace of worry creasing her smooth brow. “No.”

“Well.” Marcus stood and held out his hand. “We need to get that sorted out and our list posted, so Santa Claus knows to stop here at the farm. Back in a minute. We need paper and a pen.”

“Who is this Santa Claus dude?” Nanu asked as Marcus led Autumn away to find paper.

Really? Marcus’s brows rose as he walked inside. Who hadn’t heard of Santa?

Later that night, after a fun dinner, Camryn declared she wanted to dance.

“Do you have any country music? I swear I haven’t heard any for months,” she said. “If you don’t have country some good ole New Zealand tunes will work.”

“That was a big yawn, sweetie. Time for you to go to bed.” Amme stood and went to Autumn.

“Daddy, come too?” Autumn asked, sneaking a quick glance at him.

Marcus swallowed and managed a nod. “We need to discuss our plans for tomorrow.”

“We’re gonna email Santa,” she whispered, her little girl lips curving in her shy smile, the one he was in love with. He followed Amme and Autumn up the stairs and to her bedroom.

Did she mean volleyball? Marcus wasn’t sure but he didn’t try to correct her or ask questions. Instead he enjoyed spending this time with his girls. The thought made him blink.
His girls
. When had that happened? This was only the second night and already he felt possessive.

“If you’re wearing your bikini, I know I’ll enjoy the view at the beach,” Marcus said.

“Camryn said the beach is perfect for people watching,” Amme said. “We’re going to play ball-volley.”

Did she mean volleyball? Marcus wasn’t sure but he didn’t try to correct her or ask questions. Instead he enjoyed spending this time with his girls. The thought made him blink.
His girls.
When had that happened? This was only the second night and already he felt possessive.

“I have fun here, but I miss Mummy,” Autumn said without warning.

Marcus glanced at Amme, the beginnings of panic stirring in him. Did she know how to handle this? Of course, the kid missed her mother, and she didn’t know him well. This had to be weird for her.

“Did your mummy tell you she had to go away?” Amme asked.

Autumn nodded. “She was sick. She said she was tired, and she was sorry she wouldn’t see me for a long time.” She glanced at him, uncertainty in every line of her body. “How long?”

Amme sat on the bed and scooped Autumn up into her arms, holding her tight. “A long time, sweetheart. But did you know she can see you? She can see when you’re happy or sad. She can see if you’re behaving and eating your vegetables. She knows your swimming is improving.”

“Really?”

“Yes,” Amme said with such certainty that even Marcus decided to believe her. “I know she misses you, but she’ll be spending time with people she knows there.”

“Will they have cups of tea and biscuits?” Autumn asked.

“Yes,” Amme said. “They have those scone things that Camryn talked about. Remember the ones she said she was going to teach us to make.”

Autumn gave a thoughtful nod. “Mummy will have fun there. She knows how to make good cakes. She can show them how.”

Amme pressed a kiss to the top of Autumn’s head, and Marcus wondered if she did it to give herself a chance to rein in her galloping sympathy, to school her expression, to decide what to say to the little girl that might offer comfort. It was what he would have done because this situation was far, far,
far
away from his experience.