[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
want?
82
Taking The Fall
You.
And I ve have had more than enough of you. Go away.
I can t.
Yes you can just click your ruby red slippers together
and piss off out of my life. And stop looking at me like that be-
cause I want you and I refuse to have you again.
Come on, lovely one, you like me. James gave her a ra-
kish grin.
Yes as much as I like bamboo under the fingernails.
Really? James arched his eyebrow at her. I ve never
found that particularly appealing.
Lord, he was all that and I want him. Leave me alone,
James.
I ll keep coming back to you.
And I ll keep saying No. Because I have to.
You re a hard woman.
You ve made me so.
* * * *
Instead of going to work, Jontie called in sick. It took no
effort at all for her to persuade Tosh to have the same dreaded
malady.
Tosh s mouth dropped open as she stopped them in the
street when Jontie told her what happened. You are kidding
me. So what are you going to do?
I don t know. She wanted to hate both of them for what
they d done to her but even as she visualized their faces, such
sweet memories kept coming back to squash down the hate.
Well, you have to go to work eventually.
83
Taking The Fall
I know. Shopping on a sunny day could only lift her spi-
rits so far, whereas unemployment made them plummet.
Tosh pushed her sunglasses back from her eyes and
looked at her friend. When s this saving thing supposed to
happen?
From what I gather sometime in the next day or so,
hence the reason I plan to be sick until the day after tomor-
row. I ll just sit around and mope about what could have been.
Maybe eat a carton of ice cream. Sometimes it could be better
than sex.
What about the angel and the demon?
Jontie blew out a deep breath. They re out of my life.
You know, that almost sounded convincing. Tosh
touched her friend s arm. You love them.
Maybe. I hate them for doing this to me. Jontie felt let
down and while it wasn t the first time that had happened in
her life, the fact it was those two men who did it hurt.
Okay, I don t get this. Tosh looked confused. Yes,
they came into your life for an undisclosed reason, but the
thing is, Jontie, you were always going to have to make a
choice whether to save Carter or not.
An unconscious, spur-of-the-moment choice, not influ-
enced by sex.
You are so lucky to even be having sex. And two men?
Jeez, I can t even remember what sex with one guy s like,
Tosh declared in envy. Yeah, the angel and demon stuffed up
but can t you see that people in love do dumb things?
Jontie snorted at her words. Oh please they re not in
love! This was just a game to them.
84
Taking The Fall
How do you know?
Because they wouldn t have treated me that way. They
should have been honest and told me. And then what, Jontie? You still
would have fallen for them because you were meant to.
Did you ever think that maybe neither of them had a
choice?
Tosh the diplomat. God help us all. Everyone does.
Did you choose to fall in love with them? It was a valid
question and they both knew it.
No, it just happened, Jontie conceded in a soft voice.
So how is that any different?
When Tosh was logical there was no way to fault her. She
was a smart woman. Are you my friend or theirs?
Yours, and only a friend would tell you that you re being
stubborn and throwing away the best thing that s happened to
you.
Jontie stiffened in shock. You re not helping me. Oh
crap, it s him. She watched Edward Carter as he got out of
his car and started to cross the street only yards away from
them. It was a very busy street. Jontie felt the hair stand up on
the back of her neck. This is it! She knew in a heartbeat what
she did now would determine a certain course. And I have no
idea what to do.
What? You save him now?
Or not. Jontie looked at Tosh. What am I to do?
Nothing. Tosh dropped her shopping bags and before
Jontie had time to stop her she dashed off towards Edward
Carter. I ll do it for you and break this hoo doo.
85
Taking The Fall
Jontie looked on, horrified as she watched the car ap-
proach Carter, whose head was turned in the other direction.
It was only Tosh grabbing his arm and jerking him backwards
that saved his life.
Tosh! Jontie ran to where her friend lay sprawled on
the ground with Edward Carter beside her.
What the bloody hell are you playing at? he bellowed in
rage as he looked at his stained clothes.
She saved your life, dickhead. Jontie helped Tosh to
stand. I doubt very much that I would have. Maybe this was
what was supposed to happen. Are you okay? She looked her
friend over in concern.
Sure, problem solved.
* * * *
Another looked on. Oh dear, rushing in where angels
fear to tread, Tosh McRae. I am going to have to teach you a
lesson. He smiled as he thought about it. Yes, you ll do
nicely for what I have planned, Ms McRae.
86
Taking The Fall
Chapter 8
Gilbert appeared a couple of hours later and took her
hand. Hello, Jontie.
Hi. She d gone from hating them both to feeling shy
and uncertain.
I ve just come by to say goodbye.
Jontie stiffened in shock. This wasn t what she had ex-
pected to hear.
What? But I need you.
Gilbert s smile was soft on her. You ve forgiven me?
Yes, you had no choice. It was pointless hating someone
who was doing what they believed was right.
I m glad. He held her hand to his lips.
Why are you leaving me? Is it as I fear? Now that my part
in Edward Carter s life s finished, Gilbert no longer needs me?
Whatever your fears, my darling, they re unjustified.
His hand engulfed hers. Besides this is just a temporary good-
bye.
What? I don t understand. Is he leaving me or not? And
how will I get by without Gil?
You need to be with James. He needs you more than I at
the moment.
87
Taking The Fall
This is so confusing. His words contradicted themselves.
What about you, Gil? What do you need?
The angel gave a deep sigh of resignation. That s not
what this is about. It s about James and redemption.
You like him. Jontie could see it in Gilbert s eyes.
Something had changed in Gilbert when it came to the de-
mon. But what?
As I ve said before, no one s either all bad or all good.
We ve proved that in the way we ve treated you. We were
both so caught up in our own ends and treated you badly.
But I forgave you both of you because I love you.
What had happened in the past was just that. Jontie did not
want to relive the wrongs or the rights.
Gilbert pulled her into his arms, hugging Jontie close.
That means everything to me, my darling.
But you re going to leave me anyway? His voice
sounded made up to that fact. Will I ever see you again? The
thought that she might not, tore at Jontie.
You ll see me very soon.
A sudden chill ran up Jontie s spine. If he was leaving her
to James for only what sounded like a short time, that could
only mean one thing. James?
He s a demon and the lifestyle they lead is precarious at
the best of times.
Are you saying& Jontie stopped when she saw the an-
swer in Gilbert s eyes.
Be with him, love him and I ll be there the minute you
call for me. Gilbert pushed back from her, breaking the con-
tact of their bodies.
88
Taking The Fall
James is going to die? Is that it? She looked at Gilbert. I
thought demons were immortal. How can someone as beautiful
as James die?
Everything can be destroyed, Jontie, including immor-
tals. Gilbert leaned in and kissed her. Enjoy the time you
have together. He left before she could speak another word.
Jontie stood stunned. It was like a vital part of her had
gone.
James?
The demon appeared before her. Yes, lovely one?
I m sorry for everything. She moved to him and
touched his face. How I ll miss you.
So am I. He caught her hand in hers. I don t have much
time.
Oh God, it s true. What? Please tell me you re wrong, Gil-
bert s wrong. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl exclamation.htw.pl
want?
82
Taking The Fall
You.
And I ve have had more than enough of you. Go away.
I can t.
Yes you can just click your ruby red slippers together
and piss off out of my life. And stop looking at me like that be-
cause I want you and I refuse to have you again.
Come on, lovely one, you like me. James gave her a ra-
kish grin.
Yes as much as I like bamboo under the fingernails.
Really? James arched his eyebrow at her. I ve never
found that particularly appealing.
Lord, he was all that and I want him. Leave me alone,
James.
I ll keep coming back to you.
And I ll keep saying No. Because I have to.
You re a hard woman.
You ve made me so.
* * * *
Instead of going to work, Jontie called in sick. It took no
effort at all for her to persuade Tosh to have the same dreaded
malady.
Tosh s mouth dropped open as she stopped them in the
street when Jontie told her what happened. You are kidding
me. So what are you going to do?
I don t know. She wanted to hate both of them for what
they d done to her but even as she visualized their faces, such
sweet memories kept coming back to squash down the hate.
Well, you have to go to work eventually.
83
Taking The Fall
I know. Shopping on a sunny day could only lift her spi-
rits so far, whereas unemployment made them plummet.
Tosh pushed her sunglasses back from her eyes and
looked at her friend. When s this saving thing supposed to
happen?
From what I gather sometime in the next day or so,
hence the reason I plan to be sick until the day after tomor-
row. I ll just sit around and mope about what could have been.
Maybe eat a carton of ice cream. Sometimes it could be better
than sex.
What about the angel and the demon?
Jontie blew out a deep breath. They re out of my life.
You know, that almost sounded convincing. Tosh
touched her friend s arm. You love them.
Maybe. I hate them for doing this to me. Jontie felt let
down and while it wasn t the first time that had happened in
her life, the fact it was those two men who did it hurt.
Okay, I don t get this. Tosh looked confused. Yes,
they came into your life for an undisclosed reason, but the
thing is, Jontie, you were always going to have to make a
choice whether to save Carter or not.
An unconscious, spur-of-the-moment choice, not influ-
enced by sex.
You are so lucky to even be having sex. And two men?
Jeez, I can t even remember what sex with one guy s like,
Tosh declared in envy. Yeah, the angel and demon stuffed up
but can t you see that people in love do dumb things?
Jontie snorted at her words. Oh please they re not in
love! This was just a game to them.
84
Taking The Fall
How do you know?
Because they wouldn t have treated me that way. They
should have been honest and told me. And then what, Jontie? You still
would have fallen for them because you were meant to.
Did you ever think that maybe neither of them had a
choice?
Tosh the diplomat. God help us all. Everyone does.
Did you choose to fall in love with them? It was a valid
question and they both knew it.
No, it just happened, Jontie conceded in a soft voice.
So how is that any different?
When Tosh was logical there was no way to fault her. She
was a smart woman. Are you my friend or theirs?
Yours, and only a friend would tell you that you re being
stubborn and throwing away the best thing that s happened to
you.
Jontie stiffened in shock. You re not helping me. Oh
crap, it s him. She watched Edward Carter as he got out of
his car and started to cross the street only yards away from
them. It was a very busy street. Jontie felt the hair stand up on
the back of her neck. This is it! She knew in a heartbeat what
she did now would determine a certain course. And I have no
idea what to do.
What? You save him now?
Or not. Jontie looked at Tosh. What am I to do?
Nothing. Tosh dropped her shopping bags and before
Jontie had time to stop her she dashed off towards Edward
Carter. I ll do it for you and break this hoo doo.
85
Taking The Fall
Jontie looked on, horrified as she watched the car ap-
proach Carter, whose head was turned in the other direction.
It was only Tosh grabbing his arm and jerking him backwards
that saved his life.
Tosh! Jontie ran to where her friend lay sprawled on
the ground with Edward Carter beside her.
What the bloody hell are you playing at? he bellowed in
rage as he looked at his stained clothes.
She saved your life, dickhead. Jontie helped Tosh to
stand. I doubt very much that I would have. Maybe this was
what was supposed to happen. Are you okay? She looked her
friend over in concern.
Sure, problem solved.
* * * *
Another looked on. Oh dear, rushing in where angels
fear to tread, Tosh McRae. I am going to have to teach you a
lesson. He smiled as he thought about it. Yes, you ll do
nicely for what I have planned, Ms McRae.
86
Taking The Fall
Chapter 8
Gilbert appeared a couple of hours later and took her
hand. Hello, Jontie.
Hi. She d gone from hating them both to feeling shy
and uncertain.
I ve just come by to say goodbye.
Jontie stiffened in shock. This wasn t what she had ex-
pected to hear.
What? But I need you.
Gilbert s smile was soft on her. You ve forgiven me?
Yes, you had no choice. It was pointless hating someone
who was doing what they believed was right.
I m glad. He held her hand to his lips.
Why are you leaving me? Is it as I fear? Now that my part
in Edward Carter s life s finished, Gilbert no longer needs me?
Whatever your fears, my darling, they re unjustified.
His hand engulfed hers. Besides this is just a temporary good-
bye.
What? I don t understand. Is he leaving me or not? And
how will I get by without Gil?
You need to be with James. He needs you more than I at
the moment.
87
Taking The Fall
This is so confusing. His words contradicted themselves.
What about you, Gil? What do you need?
The angel gave a deep sigh of resignation. That s not
what this is about. It s about James and redemption.
You like him. Jontie could see it in Gilbert s eyes.
Something had changed in Gilbert when it came to the de-
mon. But what?
As I ve said before, no one s either all bad or all good.
We ve proved that in the way we ve treated you. We were
both so caught up in our own ends and treated you badly.
But I forgave you both of you because I love you.
What had happened in the past was just that. Jontie did not
want to relive the wrongs or the rights.
Gilbert pulled her into his arms, hugging Jontie close.
That means everything to me, my darling.
But you re going to leave me anyway? His voice
sounded made up to that fact. Will I ever see you again? The
thought that she might not, tore at Jontie.
You ll see me very soon.
A sudden chill ran up Jontie s spine. If he was leaving her
to James for only what sounded like a short time, that could
only mean one thing. James?
He s a demon and the lifestyle they lead is precarious at
the best of times.
Are you saying& Jontie stopped when she saw the an-
swer in Gilbert s eyes.
Be with him, love him and I ll be there the minute you
call for me. Gilbert pushed back from her, breaking the con-
tact of their bodies.
88
Taking The Fall
James is going to die? Is that it? She looked at Gilbert. I
thought demons were immortal. How can someone as beautiful
as James die?
Everything can be destroyed, Jontie, including immor-
tals. Gilbert leaned in and kissed her. Enjoy the time you
have together. He left before she could speak another word.
Jontie stood stunned. It was like a vital part of her had
gone.
James?
The demon appeared before her. Yes, lovely one?
I m sorry for everything. She moved to him and
touched his face. How I ll miss you.
So am I. He caught her hand in hers. I don t have much
time.
Oh God, it s true. What? Please tell me you re wrong, Gil-
bert s wrong. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]