The dark wooden shutters snapped back against the walls, flooding the room with an opaque light that had just a hint of green in it, the ever-present mist reflecting off the grass on the surrounding mountains.
Joy smiled in appreciation. “It’s beautiful. I bet it’s spectacular when there’s no fog.”
He refrainedfrom telling her there were no clear skies here. He didn’t bring her here to talk about the weather. “Why did you want Holly to see Luca marry Milly?”
The change in subject caught her attention. She folded her hands in her lap and crossed her legs, bringing his attention to her thighs where the green velvet lay. He couldn’t tell which would be softer to the touch.
She shrugged. “After the visitto Thea, I thought that one appropriate. I wanted her to see that some of her efforts over the year did bear fruit.”
“But that isn’t our charge. Are you saying that the visit to the church would in no way help her open herself to new experience?”
“Of course not.” She moved her gaze to the window view. Her head cocked slightly to the right. “I want her to be open to the possibility of love, tosee what could be in store for her as well.”
If she hadn’t moved her head, he would have believed her, but his training as a Glasgow Watchman kicked in. “You didn’t mention that while we were there.”
She moved her gaze back to him. “It wasn’t time. I plan on doing it later, when she’s ready.”
He didn’t shake his head, forcing himself to hold her gaze. She wasn’t that hard to read…to him. “Youbrought her there soyoucould go.”
“What?” She broke eye contact, even as she waved his comment aside. “Why would I want to go? Except, perhaps, to cheer up after that harsh visit to the hospital.”
He rose from his chair, positive he’d found a vein. His height, already an advantage in their solid forms, would be more so now with her sitting. He took the two steps to bring him directly in frontof her, forcing her to look up. “You wanted to attend the wedding of the soulmates. Why?”
She frowned. “I told you why.”
“No, you told me why you brought Holly there, but that wasn’t the main reason we made that visit.”
A flash of pain in her blue eyes reflected her thoughts before she scowled at him. “I don’t know what you’re trying to intimate, but you’re way off track.” She uncrossed herlegs and stood, about to walk by him.
He grabbed her by the shoulders. “Tell me.”
Her eyes widened before she looked down and tried to twist away. “What are you doing? We’re supposed to be helping Holly. Why are you attacking me?”
He didn’t let go. There was too much at stake, but he was careful not to hurt her. “Joy, we have to be honest with each other. There’s more going on here than simplyHolly’s need to be ready for her own life without Cameron.”
She scowled up at him. “You keep saying that, but what evidence do we really have?”
His lips quirked up of their own accord. “How about the fact I had a trance induced memory of something I haven’t thought of since I transitioned? How about the fact that I was told if I’m not successful doing it ‘their’ way instead of mine then thiswill be my last assignment?”
She stilled. “They told you that?”
He nodded.
“So, when you said if you were a failure, Cameron would be too, you meant you would no longer be a spirit guide if you failed?”
“Correct.”
“And if Cameron is a failure then that means a terrible future for Holly.”
He wouldn’t say that, but if she thought that, she might open up and hopefully give him an idea of whatwas really going on with their assignment. Seeing her vacillate, he nudged, “Tell me why you chose Luca and Milly’s wedding…please.”
Her gaze flitted away before she would meet his eyes again. Her slender throat revealed her hard swallow before she spoke. “I wanted to witness a marriage that would last forever.”
“Why?” He kept his voice low, as if he sympathized with her. That was what he’dbeen taught.
“I was in love once, too.”
That was different from what she’d said earlier, that she didn’t have time to find a husband. Then again, she cocked her head slightly to the side at the time. “What happened?”
