Free A Late Summer Bloom by Cherrie Mack

silence.”
    “Because you’re always talking,” Simon said.
    Desiree shot him an irritated look. “I’ve seen enough grass, Giselle,
show me to your room. I want to freshen up.”
    “Oh—of course.” Giselle turned around. “It’s this way.”
    “It’s amazing—a house in the middle of nowhere, complete with a
protection spell, and still you lock the back door?”
    Giselle giggled. “No. I don’t stay in the main house.”
    Desiree reached out, pulling her friend to a stop. Angry, she glanced
over at Julien for an explanation. He offered her nothing but a shoulder shrug.
With her hands on her hips, she turned back to Giselle. “You mean to tell me,
you sleep in the servant’s quarters? He hasn’t even let you in the main house?”
    Julien interjected. “It’s not what you think—the house was, it was—well
it...”
    “You are mumbling, Mr. Beaumont.” She turned back to Giselle. “Have you
been inside at all?”
    “Well, no, but—”
    “But nothing. You are the tenth power and mister personality here
decides to put you in the—the maid’s quarters? You deserve better than that. A
traveler should kneel before you. Not this, ‘do as I say’ crap he’s dishing
out.”
    Julien chuckled at her zealous rant. “Hold on just a minute, Miss
Mercier. You haven’t the faintest idea what’s been going on. The
tenth power? Let me ask you this, why is she afraid to tap into her
power? I’ve been trying to teach her for the last two days. She doesn’t try. And
what of her true calling? She says she hasn’t discovered it, yet something
holds her back. How can I help her fight the most powerful warlock of our time
if she refuses to help herself?”
    Simon spoke. “Desiree, this is between—”
    “Stop talking about me like I’m not here!” When Giselle shouted, the
winds picked up. The trees danced in the glory of the wind, and a bolt of
lightning crackled in the distance. The change in the atmosphere was immediate.
“I am standing right here. All three of you are arguing about me, over me, at
me. I get it! I’m of no use to anyone.” There was more lightning, more wind.
    Desiree watched Julien go to Giselle, taking her gently by the hand.
“You’re right. Let’s talk about this inside. All of us.” Giselle responded with
a small smile, causing Desiree to roll her eyes. Really?
    Julien held the door open for her and Giselle walked inside. Desiree
watched as Julien glanced up at the tree tops. Following his eyes, she, too, noticed
the tranquility. The trees were still, and the electricity buzzing through the
air was no more. Julien followed behind Giselle.
    Desiree noticed Simon studying the atmosphere as well. She got closer
to him and his posture stiffened. “Don’t worry. It’s me, Desiree. I’m not gonna try to hook up with you,” she snapped.
    His shoulders relaxed. “Hook up? What does this mean, hook up?”
    She shook her head at his obvious lack of modern language and leaned
over to whisper in his ear. “Just so you know , I’m not
leaving this house until I am confident this jackass does the right thing by
Giselle. And if you don’t want me to go to Cottonwood Landing, then you will
just have to stay here with me.”
    Desiree pulled the door open with force. As she walked in, she glanced
back at him. “By the way, hook up? It means fucking. Or do you not know that word, either?”
    ****
    When the screen door slammed behind her, Simon stayed in the same spot,
unmoving. The feel of her breath on his ear made his loins ache. And her use of
language caught him somewhere between amusement and shock. Simon bowed his head
when he realized his simple plan had backfired. He must remain with Desiree
until Giselle was ready to fight or he was ready to live.

 
    Chapter Fifteen
     
    Night came quickly as Simon and Julien laughed like old friends.
Desiree was quiet, almost reflective while she helped Giselle clear the table. In
the kitchen, Desiree prodded her friend. “Why do you act