Shaking my head, I turned around and started down the road that would take me home. The hustle and bustle of the town receded quickly, leaving me surrounded by trees and shrubs. The houses out this far were spread out rather than right next door or connected to each other.
I haven’t visited anyone out here and had no idea what their property looked like behind the wall of plant life acting as a sentinel for their homes and providing privacy. Kicking a rock, I watched as it bounced off an invisible barrier to my right. I barely ducked out of the way when it bounced back at me.
I wondered where Sebastian lived. Violet had told me it was close to my house. I had shocked myself when I ventured into stalker territory and asked Aislinn and Violet who the mysterious guy was. It said a lot that the moment I described him with his brooding brown eyes and muscular build both women knew who I was talking about. It surprised me that they knew him well enough to refer to him by a shortened version of his name. He didn’t seem like the type to talk to anyone ever.
The image of his crossed arms and scowl popped into my head. Bas, as Violet and Aislinn referred to him, made sullen sexy. I couldn’t imagine him ever smiling, yet that didn’t deter me. I was drawn to him, regardless. I couldn’t deny I was curious if his face would soften when he kissed me. What? Nope, not happening!
I reached my house in no time and paused to look over the garden. Weeds were starting to pop up, so I headed through the gate and grabbed some gloves from the table set up to the right.
“Crap,” I groaned as I lowered to my knees. That might have been a mistake. I’ll never be able to get up. Not to mention the pain in my joints would keep me awake tonight. As I knelt there yanking weeds from the ground, Sebastian intruded into my thoughts once again.
Crap. That was why I came out here. For a distraction.
Tugging on the stubborn weeds, I pulled one after another while forcing my mind to focus on the task at hand. Unfortunately, it had been too damn long since I’d been kissed or touched, in any way. For the years since Tim died, I had no reaction to men. I certainly had not been so attracted that I wanted to take one to bed.
I was used to living with that part of me dead and gone. Yet seeing Sebastian standing there with a scowl on his face had done something to me. Now my body was awake and wouldn’t let me ignore my needs.
Sitting back on my ankles, I closed my eyes and sighed, trying to push the heated ache outside of me. It was something I’d gotten very good at during the course of Tim’s illness. The sound of rippling water jolted me, and I jumped to my feet. “Shit,” I yelped when my knees started bitching immediately. Getting old sucked.
The sight of flowers blooming on the lily pads stopped any thought about my creaking body. I limped over to the gate and hurried through. What the heck did I do? And how? I had made little things happen here and there throughout my life, but nothing on this level.
The pond was at least thirty feet across and twenty-five feet wide and covered by lily pads that now had stunning white flowers on them. My mind refused to believe I was responsible for this development.
They had to be on the verge of blooming before. It was a bright, sunny day. The rays had to have coaxed the buds to open. Only there hadn’t been any buds, or any hint of them. Standing there gaping in disbelief there was no other explanation when they hadn’t existed moments ago.
Pulling off the gloves, I set them on the table then went inside and washed my hands. That started a cleaning frenzy. I washed the countertops, then moved onto the cabinet doors before starting on the pantry. That stupid pinging started up in my head again.
It took a lot out of me and I was losing steam when I finally finished with the kitchen and entered the living room. Before I stopped for the day, I had to rearrange the furniture, so it fit me. When my husband died a couple years ago, I learned there was no need to keep the house a homage to his memory. I loved him, but he was gone. It didn’t matter if I changed the arrangement or bought new furniture that he would have hated. I would still love him. Nothing, and no one, could change that fact.
My back protested when I pushed the sofa to the opposite wall and the pinging was still driving me crazy. My grandmother had arranged everything around the fireplace. There was nothing better than a fire in the winter, but I planned on creating a place I could watch television when mine arrived next week.
There was no cable service in Cottlehill Wilds, but there was internet service. Thank God for streaming. I switched when Emmie started college so she would have something to access without having to pay for it.
When I moved the love seat I stood back and hated the new arrangement. The coffee table didn’t fit with the new setup. I opened the door on the side of the house and shoved the short, wooden table outside. Turning back, I groaned at the mess I’d made.
The aches had evolved into agony and I could barely move. Time for a bath. Grabbing a bottle of wine and my e-reader, I practically crawled up the stairs and into my bathroom. I needed a break and had to stop this damn pinging.
Crossing to the old-fashioned claw-footed tub, I turned the faucets on and plugged the drain. My grandmother had several jars filled with liquid on a wood shelf in the bathroom. I had tossed the ones that reminded me of her and kept the rest. Pouring some that smelled like jasmine and apple, I turned to take off my clothes and froze.
Hobbling to the window, my eyes flew open when I saw Sebastian standing outside near the family cemetery. I was running down the stairs despite my protesting knees a second later.
By the time I made it outside he was nowhere to be seen. I stood there and turned in a circle then cursed. What the hell was he doing here again? If he wanted to talk to me why did he take off? On a good note the pinging finally stopped.
I had no idea how to find Sebastian, so I went back inside. When I heard water upstairs, I remembered I’d left the bath on. I tripped in my haste to get upstairs. I pushed my creaky body too far today.
I made it to the bathroom just as the hot water started to flow over the side. Turning the handles, I pulled the plug and allowed several inches to drain away. Checking the window to make sure no one was watching me I tugged the shirt over my head followed by my shoes and socks then the rest of my clothes.
God, it felt good to sink into the fragrant water. My aches subsided and I grabbed my device and pulled up the latest book I was reading. It was no wonder I enjoyed stories involving paranormal and fantasy creatures. It was part of who I am.
I lost myself in the story until the water cooled. With a sigh, I set my glass of wine down and got to my feet. I was pleased to discover my knees and back held me without much complaint. Whatever the oils were, they had to have magical powers. A bath had never felt quite so good before.
I was dried and dressed as the sun started to set. I was hungry again after a long afternoon of walking, weeding and cleaning. When I made it downstairs, I hit my limit of the impossible for the second time that day.
“How did I make this one happen?” I asked no one as I stood in a perfectly arranged living room. The sofa and love seat were on the opposite side with the chair finishing off the seating. The painting of a landscape that hung above the mantle was gone and empty brackets were in its place. Precisely where I planned to hang the flatscreen TV.
I really need to figure my shit out. Although, I don’t mind making flowers grow and getting the house to clean itself. I turned and went into the kitchen to grab a light dinner. Nothing sounded good and I had no desire to cook.