Mike cupped her cheek in one hand and stroked her cheek. “I believe you thought you were doing the best thing you could.”

She let out a tremulous breath and treated him to a sweet smile. “Well, that’s a start.”

He didn’t reply. He couldn’t. Her skin was soft, her hair curling gently around her face, and he was entranced. Then, when she moistened her lips with her delicate tongue, his body went up in flames.

“I missed you last night,” she said. Her fingers idly stroked the bed, making him realize how badly he needed her to stroke him.

It had been like this from first sight, Mike thought, this unique yearning for her.

Only her.

“I missed you, too.” The admission cost him a chunk of pride, yet he didn’t care.

“What did you say?” She cocked her head to the side, a twinkle in her eyes. “Are you really admitting that you missed me?” she asked, obviously pleased. Her genuine pleasure at their connection was a tangible thing.

He’d made her happy and he was glad. But she didn’t need to know he’d lost his inner battle. It was up to him to come to terms with wanting her despite their differences, and with accepting what she offered, only for as long as she was his wife. Those were his burdens to bear.

He pushed those thoughts out of his mind and turned his attention to the woman in front of him. “Yes, I missed you. I admit it. I hope now that you’ve gotten what you wanted out of me, you’re not complaining?” He shifted his touch from her face and ran his hand along the back of her hair, savoring the feel of the long strands against his skin.

Amber shook her head and grinned. “Far from it. Want to know just how glad?”

He nodded and she looped her arms around his neck, pulling him close until his lips closed over hers. He kissed her with all the longing and pent-up desire that had been building ever since she’d left Boston. Kissed her with the same passion she exhibited and then some.

He eased her backward until she lay on the bed, their mouths never breaking the sensual connection. He pulled her shirt up and slid his hand beneath the soft cotton, moving upward until he reached her breast, covered by a sheer slip of a bra. Ignoring the material, he cupped her in his palm and moved his hand in deliberate circles until her nipple peaked against him. Then he moved to the other breast, arousing her the same way.

Beneath him, her hips rotated in a rhythm that begged him for so much more than he was giving her, and he reveled in her soft whimpers. He slid his mouth from her lips, across her cheek, and began nibbling on her earlobe. His tongue trailed a path down her neck, pausing only in places he knew would make her writhe in need.

Ignoring his own desires in favor of hers wasn’t easy. He wanted nothing more than to bury himself in her soft heat and slake the yearning, if only for a little while. Because with Amber, the need for her always returned, fast and with more intensity than before.

She reached for him, obviously intending to lift his shirt, but he held her hands at her sides. “Your turn first,” he whispered in her ear.

He reached for her, about to lift the hem of her shirt, wanting to replace his hands with his mouth and give her even more pleasure.

The sound of yelling suddenly intruded on their desire-filled haze. His father’s yelling. From outside.

Mike closed his eyes, wanting to push reality away, but he couldn’t.

Amber shot backward against the pillows, readjusting her clothes as she moved. “Something’s wrong!”

He rose and shifted the waistband on his jeans. His body still hadn’t absorbed that it wasn’t going to happen and he tried to find some comfort before heading outside to see what had upset his father.

Amber stood.

“Are you okay?” He touched her pink, flushed cheek.

“No,” she said shakily. “But it doesn’t matter. Let’s go see what’s going on.”

He nodded. The immediate connection had been broken, but the heat they’d generated left the promise of more to come.

Together they ran, heading out the front door.

“What’s wrong?” Mike asked, running up to his father.

“Some stranger’s takin’ my jujus off the trees out front!” Edward yelled, storming up to the house.

A car slowly pulled up the graveled driveway, seeming to follow him. Mike didn’t recognize the automobile and from the way Amber perched her hands on her hips, and squinted as she glanced over, neither did she.

“Where were you?” Mike asked his father.

“Out doing my daily check of the property. Once in the morning, once in the evening. And it’s a good thing I stick to routine because I found a trespasser!”

Mike ran a hand through his hair. “This has to stop,” he muttered, glancing at his agitated father.

Amber placed a calming hand on Mike’s back. She couldn’t talk to him now, but Gabrielle was right. They did need to discuss Edward’s mental health and the possibility of having the older man see a doctor.

The car came to a stop and to Amber’s surprise, Clara Deveaux stepped out from the driver’s seat, Edward’s beloved jujus in her hand. Between her own father’s health and Mike’s return, Amber had forgotten all about Clara’s possible visit.

The other woman made an impressive sight as she strode up the driveway, her long, flowered dress flowing around her as she moved.

“Who is that?” Mike asked.

“What is she doing here?” Edward yelled.

Before Amber could reply, Clara spoke to Amber. “It’s a good thing you asked me to come. This man needs saving worse than I thought if he’s relying on black magic to help him keep the curse away.” Clara waved the juju in the air.

“You invited her here?” Edward turned toward Amber, his face beet-red, his eyes deep and accusing.

“Who is she?” Mike asked once more.

Amber’s invitation, which had seemed like an answer to Edward’s troubles, suddenly seemed ill-advised. Not that she knew why.

But Edward glared at her with a look of betrayal in his eyes. Like father like son. His expression reminded Amber of Mike’s the night she’d confessed.

Lord help her, Amber thought, her stomach clenching because she didn’t know what kind of trouble she might have caused by bringing Clara here. Mike, who stood beside her, was as confused as Amber by his father’s reaction.

She opted for the simple truth. “I met Clara when I was buying your gifts,” she said to Edward. “The dreamcatcher, the tea and candles. You liked them, remember? Clara’s lovely, which you’d see if you just give her a chance.”

“I knew those things reminded me of her!” Edward yelled before darting around Amber, and running for the house.

He returned minutes later, armed. “Git going! Leave!” he shouted at Clara. “I don’t need your help!” He dangled Stinky Pete in front of the woman, like a loaded gun.

“Dad!” Mike shouted. “Put that thing away.”

It was like a scene out of some bizarre comedy. Amber expected Clara to run away screaming.

Instead, the other woman strode up to Edward, getting in his face as if she had the right. “Give me that poor animal. A descented skunk?”

“How did you know it’s descented?” Amber couldn’t begin to imagine.

“It’s obvious.” Clara shook her head as if surprised Amber even had to ask. “Even a crazy man isn’t going to live with that kind of odor around him.”

“Excuse me, but did you just call my father crazy?” Mike stepped forward to defend his parent.

“Pot and kettle,” Edward muttered.

“Just how do you know this woman?” Mike asked.

“Ask her,” Edward said.

Amber turned to Clara. “Well?”

“I’ll explain in a moment,” she said to Mike and Amber. She glanced at Edward. “Now, what in the name of the Goddess were you thinking, making that animal your pet, you crazy old coot!” Clara asked him. “You’re nuttier than you were seven years ago!”

“And you’re bossier,” Edward snapped.

“Age will do that to you.”

Watching the byplay, Amber shook her head in dismay. Clara hadn’t mentioned knowing Edward before. And worse, the mild-mannered Clara Deveaux Amber had met in her shop had been replaced by a strong, take-charge woman with an agenda, leaving Amber feeling betrayed.

“How could you have deceived me that way?” Amber asked Clara. “I invited you here to help him and you used me to…to what?” She splayed her arms in front of her, frustrated and annoyed.

She couldn’t bring herself to look at Mike. Beyond his confusion, Amber was sure there was anger simmering below the surface. Anger at Amber for bringing this woman into his father’s already off-kilter world, creating more chaos and causing him obvious pain.

“I should have told you…” Clara stepped toward Amber.

“That’s right, you should have,” Amber said.

Beside her, Amber felt Mike’s curious stare, but he remained quiet. Obviously, he was content to observe and find out just what kind of trouble Amber had caused him now.

“Honey, when you first came into the shop, you were just another customer.” Clara touched Amber’s shoulder.

“And when you realized I was talking about the Corwins?” Chilled, Amber ran her hands up and down her arms, shocked she’d been taken in by this woman.

“You were talking about us to this stranger?” Mike asked, his voice hard.

“I was looking to buy a gift for my father-in-law. I said he believed in curses and I wanted something to show him I respected his beliefs, something that would help him,” Amber said. “She drew the conclusion after I gave her my full name.”

Mike nodded slowly, seeming to accept that explanation, and Amber’s guilt eased a little.

“Edward and I knew each other a lifetime ago-” Clara’s stare drifted toward Edward and lingered, softening.