Nia took a deep breath and drew on the spot in her center where her inspiration came from. The only hope for stopping the havoc Pierus and Mayhem left in their wake was to soothe the people in the square with a broadcast nudge. Her midsection heated as she summoned the energy necessary to calm the distress. Scrunching up her shoulders, she blew out a long breath, aiming it at the two fighting dudes. They immediately stopped throwing punches. But the others didn't stop. Something blocked her widespread nudge from being effective. Her head pounded and her heart jackhammered against her ribs with the effort she put into the nudge.

Pierus had found some way to cheat the system, like a dishonest accountant cooking the books.

Nia scurried toward the bickering women, waving her hand in front of them as she approached. Their expressions blanked, then filled with contrition. They immediately apologized and hugged it out. Nia continued after Pierus, making her way toward the restaurant patio. She squinted at the angry waiter and the dripping customer, jabbing them with an instruction to knock it off and make up. The waiter's look of horror told her she'd been successful, but the disgusted patron demanded to see the manager.

Nia opted to ignore the man's continued outburst, knowing some people were just jackholes, completely lacking in proper manners. That kind of person was beyond her ability to inspire to niceness.

She lost sight of Pierus in the crowd, but thankfully, no more violence occurred. He'd made his point. The b.a.s.t.a.r.d and his b.i.t.c.hy daughter had volleyed the first shot. But Nia swore she'd get the last one. The challenge was on.

Hailey hadn't calmed down one iota by the time Thomas arrived home. To make matters worse, Marilee had joined the weeping frenzy. The sight of the kind-hearted woman's red-rimmed eyes and tear stained face pained Thomas. But not nearly as much as the shadow of despair he recognized on his niece's face. It took a huge effort to contain the desire to join them. Crying never brought back the dead.

"I'm so sorry, Thomas. I wouldn't have interrupted your date for anything." Marilee squeezed her hands together, holding them against her ample bosom. She swiped under her eyes, disturbing the wrinkles there. "I just didn't think."

Hailey had launched herself into his arms the instant he walked through the door, and clung like a barnacle to his neck as he attempted to ease Marilee's guilt. "Please don't worry about it. It was bound to happen sometime. I'm only sorry it happened on your watch, and not mine."

Marilee laid a hand on Hailey's head as she prepared to leave. "I pray she'll get past this grief soon. Poor little-"

Hailey sobbed louder, drowning out the rest of the words. Her small body trembled as he held her tight against his chest. He eased his hand up and down her spine. "I'll talk to you tomorrow, Marilee." He stood in the open doorway, watching Marilee hurry across the street. As soon as she shut the door behind her, Thomas hustled through his house. The screen door smacked the wall behind it as he burst into the back yard.

Moving to the center of the lawn, he clutched Hailey to his chest as he plopped down on the gra.s.s. She wrapped her thin legs around his waist and held on, pouring out her grief and tears. He rocked back and forth, and softly sang her favorite nursery rhyme into her ear. After several minutes of repeating the refrain, Hailey finally calmed enough to release her strangle hold on his neck.

They both drew a deep breath.

"Better now?" he asked. His cheek and the neck of his shirt were damp.

Hailey hiccupped and nodded, her soft blond curls catching in the late evening stubble on his jaw.

"Okay if I put you down now?"

Her arms relaxed even further.

He patted her back. "We'll just lay out here in the yard for a while and talk to your mom and dad."

She nodded again and crawled off his lap. Rolling to her back, she rubbed her eyes with her fists. She drew a shuddering breath as Thomas reclined next to her, and stretched out.

Above them, the new moon edged toward a half moon, and stars blinked, as if delivering a message meant just for them. The vastness of the night sky had always been calming. For both of them. Hailey put her hand in his, wrapping all of her fingers around his index finger.

"You want to start or should I?" he asked, turning his face toward her.

They'd developed a mechanism where they took turns talking to Doug and Cindy, telling them what was happening, what scared them, what they'd learned that day. Thomas took as much comfort from it as Hailey. Right now, though, he'd pay money for the instant calm Nia dispensed with just a light touch of her hand.

"I'll go." Hailey looked at him for a long instant, and then turned to look to the heavens. "Tonight I saw a lot of things on the television that upset me. There was a bombing like," her voice hitched, she squeezed his finger harder, but she forged on, "like the one you died in. It was scary. Why are people so hateful and dangerous?"

His gut churned as his niece asked the same question that had plagued him recently. He'd hate if his distrust in man's innate goodness had worn off on this little girl. Hiding his disillusionment from her should have been at the top of his list.

Jamming his other arm under his head he watched Hailey's profile, waiting to see if she'd continue.

Tears twinkled in the corner of her eye, but she rubbed them away with a sigh. "I tried to remember all the good things, like Uncle Thomas taught me. Like how much I like puppies, and ice cream. I didn't do a very good job."

"You did fine, munchkin." Thomas tucked her small body against his, slipping his arm under her until her head rested on his shoulder. Her breathing had slowed as calm blanketed both of them.

"Your turn." Hailey poked his belly.

He considered what he wanted to say to his brother and sister-in-law. He certainly couldn't voice his experience with the crazy accident he'd witnessed. Instead, he opted to share some about his time with Nia. "I had a date with the most amazing woman tonight."

"With Ms. Nia?"

He skimmed over the gory details and went for a redacted version of the truth. "Yep. We took a walk on the waterfront and talked a bunch."

"Did you kiss her?"

"Hey, I'm talking to your mom and dad. You should stop interrupting."

Hailey giggled. "Yeah, but did you?"

He'd lost himself in Nia's arms, in her kiss, in her delicious response to him. "Maybe."

"Will she be your wife? She could help me take care of you."

"Whoa there, Nellie. I said maybe."

"I'm Hailey, not Nellie." She giggled again. If he could keep the conversation light hearted, he might get some sleep tonight. Hailey's elbow dug into his ribs as she rose to look at him. "I wouldn't mind if she came to live with us."

"We barely know her."

"But we like her." Hailey crossed her legs tailor-style, resting her hands on her knees.

"What if she is secretly an alien, or some supernatural being? What if she can make us do things with her mind?" Like soothe his agitated state, or arouse him to painful hardness? He pushed the memory away. He sat up. "Like dance the funky chicken, or tell horrible jokes that make everyone groan."

"Her eyes are too pretty to make you do something silly like that."

The only thing Thomas knew for sure was if Nia had powers like that, and she directed him to take off all her clothes with his teeth, he'd do it in a heartbeat. He gave himself a mental shake. Swiveling until he faced Hailey, he tucked his feet up under his thighs, mimicking Hailey's posture. "She does have pretty eyes. And she is really nice. Nia wanted to make sure you are okay. We were both really worried about you."

"Can we call her?" Hailey's eyes were hopeful. "We should let her know I'm all better now."

"Are you?"

Hailey chewed her lower lip and concentrated on his chest before answering. "I'm still a little scared. But I don't think I'll have a nightmare. Let's call Ms. Nia."

"You want to?" he asked.

"We should make sure she made it home okay, just like we do with Mrs. Marilee."

"Good point." And a great excuse, Thomas thought, as he dug the phone out of his pocket. His niece's smile was only slightly haunted now. The girl plucked blades of gra.s.s as they waited for the call to connect.

"h.e.l.lo?" Nia's voice came clearly from the speaker.

"Hi. It's Thomas and Hailey. I was just telling Hailey about our walk on the riverfront." Hopefully, Nia would get the message that he hadn't shared the details of the accident they'd witnessed.

"Hi, Ms. Nia." Hailey stopped pulling the gra.s.s and stared at the phone he held between them.

"How are you feeling, Hailey?" Concern, shaded by compa.s.sion was clear in Nia's tone.

"I'm better. But I'm sorry I made Uncle Thomas come home from your date early."

"I don't mind, Hailey. I'm glad you're okay. I have to say I don't like the news either."

Thomas held his breath, his shoulders drawn up. If she were going to mention the hit and run, she'd do it now.

Thankfully, Hailey didn't give her a chance. The little imp gave him a triumphant smile and rushed on. "Ms. Nia, would you like to come to our house tomorrow for breakfast? Uncle Thomas makes really good French toast. I mean really, really good."

Her laugh was low and musical. "That's generous of you to offer. But-"

"Please say yes. Please." Hailey bent at the waist, extending her hand toward the phone, as if Nia could see her begging. "Uncle Thomas, tell her to come."

"Hang on, Nia," he instructed. He pinned Hailey with a hard stare. "How about you go get ready for bed and let me talk to Ms. Nia alone for a second."

Hailey's smile brightened the dim shadows of the back yard. "Okay! I'll see you tomorrow morning, Ms. Nia." She blew the phone a kiss then popped up. Thomas rocked back on his tailbone and drew up his knees as she skipped across the lawn, and then hopped up the steps to the house. Once she was safely inside, he leaned his elbow on his knee and lowered his head into his free hand.

He groaned. "I'm so sorry about that."

Nia's laugh jingled from the phone. "I'm not."

Taking the phone off speaker, he pressed it to his ear. "You're not?"

"Not in the least. It was a charming invitation."

"Would you like to have breakfast with us?" Hope floated like a helium balloon.

"I believe I would. What time would you like me to come over for this stupendous French toast?"

"In an hour?"

An instant of silence happened at the other end of the phone. Followed by a short squeaky gasp. "An hour? You mean you'd like me to have breakfast with you in an hour, or sleep over and eat with you in the morning?"

He'd take whatever he could get, but his d.i.c.k was certainly hoping for the latter. "Is the sleep-over option anything worth considering?"

"Definitely." Her voice was a seductive purr. "But what about Hailey?"

"If we're really quiet, she'll never have to know. She's already expecting to see you in the morning."

"Thomas," she began, but paused. He could almost hear her voice in his mind, telling him to be very certain this is what he wanted.

"Listen, I know we only just met, but we witnessed some extreme s.h.i.t tonight in front of The Rowan Tree. And your kiss...Lord, Nia. It spoke to me that we could be good together." Steady breathing was her only response. He rushed on. "I really want you here. We don't even have to...you know. We could just cuddle. Please say you'll come now and stay the night."

"If I come, we both know we won't be only cuddling." The promise in her voice stroked his libido and every fiber of his being stood at attention waiting for her next words. The breath she drew was audible over the phone. "I should probably wait until Hailey is asleep. When will that happen?"

Victory! He struggled to tame the erection pressing into his zipper and to keep jubilation from his voice. "Once I get her settled, she'll fall asleep fairly quickly. Give us ninety minutes just to be sure." He rattled off his address. "I'll leave the front door unlocked."

Chapter 11.

Nia parked her dark blue Saturn Sky at the curb in front of Thomas's house. Her sisters had laughed at her for buying a car named after the planet. But it was an appropriate car for the Muse of Astronomy. Besides, she loved the sleek lines and powerful engine.

The house was located in an upscale neighborhood filled with stately homes, an abundance of trees and nicely manicured lawns. Small landscape lights illuminated the path from the drive and a post light burned next to the door. She climbed from her vehicle, and gently shut the door. The car alarm beeped softly as she locked it.

The chirp was answered by a horrific squawk. Instinctively ducking, Nia searched the branches of the tree in the neighbor's yard for the source. And, as expected, she found the large black and white bird on a low branch. Mayhem had come to call again.

She swooped off the limb and landed on the sidewalk ten feet from Nia. The b.i.t.c.h hopped forward, rather aggressively. Nia stomped her foot and waved her arms to scare the freaking chatterbox away. When the motion didn't have the desired effect, Nia pictured a lightning bolt in her mind and let it fly toward the bird. With a squawk and a spray of feathers, Mayhem took flight and disappeared into the night sky.

Nia jerked her T-shirt down, and then hiked her overnight bag higher on her shoulder. The moon's temporary position must be affecting her as much as the mortals around her. She must be crazy to be doing what she was about to do. She paused to search her memory for any time-in any of her lives-she'd hopped into a man's bed so rapidly.

But it didn't feel rushed. Just right. There had been time in past incarnations where she'd felt like she'd known someone forever. But it had never been the case of lovers or husbands. And after thousands of years of existence, there'd been plenty of those.

She'd been married thirty, no thirty-one times. And she'd loved each of her husbands. She'd never had children, unlike her sisters. Her head had been too much in the clouds to spare time for kids. But, then, she'd never really wanted any. It would be too difficult to see her children die at the end of their mortal lives. While she'd be reborn in the next generation, her children would be born mortal. Therefore, they wouldn't be reincarnated. Once dead, they'd remain dead.

The one bad thing about her life following the path of a mortal existence was that she was born with detailed memories of each lifetime. She remembered every husband and lover from past lives. She tried to avoid comparing the men, but sometimes, it happened. And right now, not having slept with Thomas, she had a ma.s.sive sense of antic.i.p.ation. Much more than in any other age.

The curtain in the large picture window flicked to the side. And Thomas appeared in the scant opening. The drapes floated closed, and ten seconds later, the front door opened, spilling soft yellow light and a shadow across the path. There was a halo around Thomas's torso, accentuating his broad shoulders, lean waist and narrow hips. His golden locks glinted in the reflected porch light, and the stubble on his cheeks winked with red highlights.

He leaned his weight onto one hip, tipping his head to the opposite side. "Are you going to wait for sunrise there, or would you like to come in?"

Her heart raced at the sight of his casual posture and rugged good looks. She started up the path toward him. "I'd love to come in." She paused in front of him and laid her hand on his chest. Beneath her palm, his heart galloped in time with hers.

Lowering his head, he hovered his lips over hers. "Thank you for coming over." The whisper of his breath painted her mouth with promise. He laid his hand over hers.

A halo of golden brown circled the edges of his green eyes. Flecks of gray winked in the depths in his irises. Nia lost herself in the dark blond lashes, gilded by the light reflected on the porch. Lifting her chin, she offered her lips.

Thomas claimed her mouth with a tender, searching kiss. His lips quested over her mouth as he laid his hand on her shoulder blade and drew her closer. Taking a step backward, he moved into the house without releasing her mouth. She followed willingly.

Reaching behind her, Thomas swung the door shut. He flinched when it banged closed, and pulled his lips away.

Resting a hand on her shoulder he pressed the other to her mouth, silencing her question. "Shh. Didn't mean for the door to slam. I'm afraid I might have woken Hailey." His body was tense as he c.o.c.ked an ear toward the stairwell.

Nothing but silence competed with the rush of blood in Nia's ears. The noise likely hadn't reached the girl's room.

"Whew," he breathed a relieved sigh. Then refocused his attention on her.

The muscles of his chest shifted under her palms as he moved his hands behind her back. Rounding them over the curve of her b.u.t.tocks, he drew her closer, until the hard ridge of his erection pressed into her belly. The pressure was divine. She wanted to climb him like a tree until she could wrap her legs around his waist.

She slid her arms around his neck, and speared her fingers into the hair curling over the collar of his shirt. Kissing him with eyes wide open, she was warmed by the fire in his gaze. He thrust his tongue deep within her mouth as the kiss turned hungry and searing.