Part 14 (1/2)

”Merry Christmas, Simon.”

His shoulders tensed under the pea coat he wore against the cold whipping off the water.

She expected him to simply walk away when he stood. He surprised her by stalking over and trapping her against the high back of the stone chair.

”What do you want with me?”

His anger was a refres.h.i.+ng change from the dead stare he usually gave her if they crossed paths. Claire took in a shaky breath.

”A truce.” He raised his eyebrows. ”I want to walk in my own town and not be afraid to run into you, or worry each time I enter a shop, or look out a window, that I will have to avoid you.” She closed her eyes briefly, the last weeks weighing on her heart. ”I'm tired of your scorn, Simon. Not so much for myself, but it's affecting Zach, and I won't tolerate him being hurt by you.”

He pushed away, ran one hand over his hair. ”You care about the kid.”

”I am madly in love with him. And you would be as well, if you gave him a chance-”

”He's an abomination-”

”He's an innocent, Simon.” She grabbed the front of his coat before he could escape. ”Zach remembers nothing from before-and I am eternally grateful for that. Do you have any idea what he escaped? Being sent Between is punishment for mortals, a chance to redeem their soul for what they did in life. But Zach never lived; his punishment was to be forever, because he wanted life.”

”He had bliss, Claire. The blessing of-”

”Don't say it.” She let him go and moved away. ”I was there, Simon. And I do remember-everything.” He flinched, his hands shaking as he straightened his coat. ”You wanted my story-well, here is the rest of it. I tried to save the girl whose soul originally filled this body. She died in my arms, and I took it over, to have the chance to atone for what I had done, what I was. And I did. For more than eighty years I lived as good a life as I could, helped people when they needed it, and buried my past so deep I nearly forgot.”

”Claire-you don't have to-”

”Let me finish. Please.” Simon nodded, his face in shadow. Not being able to see his reaction made it easier for her to let the words spill out. She wiped at the tears staining her face, surprised by them. ”When you met me, I had just been sent back from the threshold of h.e.l.l, by my master, my brother, Azazel. I pulled the demon who possessed my cousin through the gate she opened. The demon who killed at least three people and threatened the lives of my friends, along with every soul in this town. My town. Everything I had left, every bit of power Azazel locked behind the wall is gone. I gave it all to Zach, to save him. I am as human as I will ever get.”

With a sigh, Simon stepped forward, until the light from the nearest streetlamp touched his face. The conflicting emotions that darkened his green eyes tore at her. ”What you were, Claire, no matter how clean you try to wipe that slate, collides with every belief I stand for. Every word I speak to my congregation. I can give you the truce you want, simply because it hurts me to feel this way. But I can never be friends with you. I hope you understand.”

He reached out, closed his hand in a fist before his fingers touched her. Then he turned around and walked out of her life.

Again.

EIGHTEEN.

Claire stood at the window of her shop, smiling as she watched last minute shoppers hustle through the twilight. Christmas Eve always had an urgent feel to it for retailers; that final surge of desperate people needing to find the perfect gift on nearly empty shelves.

The first time she experienced this phenomenon as a shop owner, Claire scheduled a second s.h.i.+pment of her most popular stock, to be delivered on December 23. She always cleaned it out by five pm on Christmas Eve. And this year had been even more successful.

Zach joined her at the window, draping one arm across her shoulders. He already stood eye level with Annie at nearly six feet, and the yoga he practiced with surprising discipline began to fill him out.

”That was some crazy action today. I didn't think you could cram so many people in the shop at once.”

She laughed, wrapped her arm around his waist and leaned into him. ”It was something. I believe I even rendered Mildred speechless with the Christmas gift.” The thought of the old woman at a loss for words widened her smile. ”So, son of mine-are you ready for our celebration?”

”Can you give me a minute? I have a surprise for you.”

He kissed her cheek and dashed off before she could open her mouth to say yes or no. Chuckling, she watched him disappear into the back of the shop, went back to her window gazing. And grabbed the wide sill when she saw Marcus standing just outside.

Her heart pounding so hard she could barely breathe, she moved to the door and opened it.

”h.e.l.lo, Claire.” His deep, sand rough voice wrapped around her. And the ache sitting behind her heart finally let go.

”Marcus.” It took every ounce of control not to jump him right there, in the doorway. In front of every pa.s.serby. ”Please, come in.”

She stood aside, let him walk past her, closed the door and faced him. He swept her into his arms before she could take in another breath.

”G.o.ds-I never thought to touch you again.” He tightened his grip on her. Claire simply held on, pressing her face in his throat. His scent filled her, musk and spice, with the edge of heat. She lifted her head and he met her lips in a kiss that burned through all the grief of the last months. Breaking off, he rested his forehead against hers. ”How are you?”

His casual question startled a laugh out of her. ”At this precise moment, stunned.” She leaned back, met his eyes. Gold striated the jade, richer and deeper than she'd ever seen it. ”How?”

”You remember.”

”I'd hardly forget watching you all but condemned to death. Jamal made certain I didn't lose any of it.”

”Typical.” He lowered her to the floor, but kept his arms around her. ”He wanted you to remember him.”

”It worked.” And so did the curse/gift he gave her when he cracked the wall to her power. It gave her Zach- ”Heaven above-”

She pulled herself out of Marcus' embrace just as Zach came bounding back into the front of the shop. He skidded to a halt, his smile disappearing.

”Hi.” His quiet voice was anything but welcoming.

Letting out her breath, Claire stepped between them, rubbed Zach's arm. ”Sweetheart, I'd like you to meet a friend of mine. This is Marcus.” She slid her hand down his arm and linked their fingers. ”Marcus, this is Zach. My son.”

The two males stared at each other. Surprise flared in Marcus' eyes; suspicion in Zach's. After a silence that had Claire ready to say anything to break it, Marcus held out his hand.

”A pleasure, Zach.”

He glanced down at the offered hand, up at Marcus, back down at his hand. The manners Claire drilled into him had him accepting the handshake.

”How long have you known my mom?”

”We met-”

”Annie has invited us to a Christmas Eve dinner.” Panic had her interrupting before Marcus could answer. She still hadn't figured out how much to tell Zach about his past, or how to explain a supposed gap of what he thought was sixteen years. ”Would you like to join us, Marcus?”

”I would be honored.”

”Mom.” Zach tugged on her hand. ”Mom-can I see you a minute? In private,” he said, his gaze skating over to Marcus.

”Of course. Will you excuse us?”

Zach practically dragged her into the back room. ”Who is that guy?”