Valentine's Wishes (13 page)

He wrapped his arms tight about her. “My most precious little star, I loved yer before I found ye, but ’twas something I had to find out. The wish helped a little, but shall I tell ye what?”

“What?” she asked as she burrowed against him and he caressed over her hair.

“I would have stayed without it,” he whispered.

A sigh broke from her, as warm and sweet he caressed her cheek with his lips.

The sound of the van moving off caught her attention. “Oh, there it all goes.”

A bright yellow car drew up and Bal got into it, teary as both Keri and Lucy waved her goodbye.

“James will be here for me in a few minutes I would think,” Lucy said as the yellow car drove off while they waved.

“Well, this is it, I’ll call you tomorrow and I’d better be going myself. I said I’d drop the keys off at the agent’s before five.” Keri checked her watch.

“All right, darling. Oh, here’s James now. We’ll talk tomorrow, and I’ll see you at the pre-wedding festivities at Bal’s parents’ house. I can’t wait. The sari Bal gave me is going to be fabulous.” Lucy hurried away to the waiting Land Rover.

“Don’t forget to pin it or you’ll have the thing round your knees half way through the evening,” Keri called.

“See you there, darling,” Lucy called back with a wave as she got into the car.

Keri bounced the keys in her hand and closed the front door. She got into the small blue car and drove off down the street.

Poppy wiped tears away. “Goodbye, girls,” she whispered with a gulp.

“Don’t weep, please, my flower. ’Tis only mortals they are, there’ll be others.” Cedar cuddled her to him and together they flew up into the nest.

“I know but I’ll miss them, we had so much fun,” she whimpered onto his tunic.

“Yer will feel better tomorrow when the new ones arrive.”

* * * *

She woke late the following morning, and before she’d a chance to nudge Cedar awake or they had dressed and taken a sip of nectar, the sound of a van reversing blasted up to the nest.

“’Tis the new mortals,” she said, excitement running through her.

“Aye and there’s our peaceful morning done.” Cedar lay back and gave her a wink. “Now, while they are busy moving in, will yer not spend some time to keep yer partner happy, my flower?”

“As if I don’t?” she said, but his eyes full of love and desire stopped her teasing.

“Ah, yer do, all of the time.” He held her to him and she could only sigh. Together they dragged his cloak over their heads to burrow beneath and shut out the noise from outside.

* * * *

“Angela, will you put that bloody box down!”

Poppy threw back the cloak. “Oh no.”

Cedar raised his eyebrows at the loud masculine shout from the front garden. “’Tis a male after my own heart from the sound of it.”

“He sounds like a brute, if yer ask me. Come on, I think we might need to grant a few wishes.” She dragged on her short summer gown and stood to peer over the top of the nest as he hooked the gown up for her. “Come on,” she said, tapping her foot while Cedar slid a green tunic over his head.

“I’m ready, don’t fret.”

They both checked no mortals were directly beneath them and flew down into the front garden. Her hand caught in Cedar’s, she nudged him, for there at the end of the garden, a mortal girl with brown curls and freckles waited. The girl, who stood by the removal van, drummed her fingers against the van’s side and pursed her lips. The male, who Poppy remembered to be the girl’s partner, stood just a short way from them by the front door. She glanced at Cedar. “Something’s wrong, the male didn’t seem this way when the couple visited the house before.”

Cesar put a finger to her lips. “Shhsh, my sweet. Watch.”

The male strolled down the path to the girl, dumped a large rolled up rug at her feet. “Will you do as I’ve said, and not lift things? That’s why we’ve paid these guys a small fortune to move the boxes.”

At least the male didn’t shout this time.

“Kieran, will you stop treating me like I’m a china doll. There is nothing wrong with me carrying a small box of glassware.”

Poppy nodded at the girl’s words, but Cedar gave a soft laugh. “What’s so funny?” she asked.

“Ah, I think I know what their problem is,” he said, his wonderful smile broadened.

“What? He’s bad tempered?” she murmured, casting a glance back at the tall, well-built young man in jeans and a white T-shirt.

“No, he’s not. Look carefully at her, my love.” He lifted her hand up and kissed it.

“Oh, how wonderful,” she whispered and caught her lip. Cedar hugged her to him and nodded.

“Angela, you don’t argue over this. You go inside, find the kettle and put it on to make some tea. And then tell these gentlemen where the boxes go, because if you don’t, I’ll lock you in the car until the whole lot’s finished.”

“Sometimes you’re a bloody bully!” the small female said. The male lifted her up in his arms so she squeaked.

“Yes, my perfect wife, I know. But if you think I’m letting you haul boxes about when you’re three months gone, you can think again. The choice is yours, inside and make tea, or in the car with the child locks on?”

He carried her through into the house.

“Oh, how sweet,” Poppy murmured to Cedar. “There’ll be a mortal babe at the same time we have ours.”

“Aye. Come on, let’s go in. I know yer will want to.” Cedar clasped her hand.

They flew in together and there were plenty of places to hide. Boxes and bags full of things littered the floors.

The male set the girl on her feet in the kitchen. “Tea please, if you can find the kettle and mugs. After that, we’ll get on with what’s left on the van.”

“Kieran?”

“What?”

“I love you, even when you’re a big bear.”

“Good.” The male bent down and kissed the girl.

“Oh, Cedar, I don’t want to move next door. I want to stay here, these two are lovely,” Poppy whispered.

“Only if these two buy a shed or something, I’m not staying indoors with them, no matter how lovely they seem.”

She sighed. “Aye, I know. It wouldn’t be safe or right.”

The small girl made a tray full of mugs of tea and then walking through to the sitting room opened the patio door and stepped out onto the deck. “Oh, Kieran, come and see. They’ve left us all the pots of flowers and herbs,” she called through into the house.

“Yes, fine. I can’t wait to get my hands on the garden.” Kieran joined her on the decking.

“I know. It’s going to be beautiful. Will you put the pond in this year?”

Cedar put a finger to his lips, and Poppy tip toed after him so they could hide behind a large pot of early geraniums and listen.

“I’m still undecided about the pond, what with the baby coming and all. Kids and ponds don’t mix well,” Kieran said.

“But the way you described it, the thing wouldn’t be ground level would it?” The girl wrinkled her freckled nose.

“No, that’s true, and there is so much room here. I’ll think about it again at the end of the week. The shed and the greenhouse will be delivered by then, and I’ve got some wicker screening coming too.” He placed an arm around the girl’s shoulder.

“I think we should have the pond. I want to see it as you described it to me the night when we first came to see at the place.”

“We’ll talk about it later, once the bed is up and they’ve brought the sofa in, so we’ve got somewhere to sleep and somewhere to sit,” Kieran said.

“All right, they can bring the sofa in next. Now, is it okay if I go and start sorting the kitchen things out?” Angela asked with a small grin.

“Yes, but no lifting or balancing on chairs.” He kissed her again before she went back into the house.

“Did yer hear?” Poppy said.

“Aye. I think perhaps we won’t need to move next door, a shed and a pond no less.” Cedar wrapped his arms around her.

“’Twill be perfect,” she murmured.

“Aye, Poppy, just like ye.”

The End

Publisher’s Note

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Romance author Daisy Banks writes sensual and spicy novels in the Historical, Paranormal, and Fantasy genres. Daisy uses a fresh and lyrical voice to weave a compelling and magical spell for readers. She has a regular blog daisybanks.wordpress.com.

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