Ever Tempted by Odessa Gillespie Black Page B

leaves fall, I realized if I had taken one more step, I would have fallen to my death. At the time, the prospect was scary. My shapeshifting had begun, but full recollection of my past hadn’t come to me yet, so I didn’t understand that I wouldn’t have come to an untimely end, as such. I would have started over.
    This evening the seals were back on the beach. I knew Allie would get a kick out of them.
    And I was right.
    Allie’s delighted face stole my heart as she pointed at the seals as they flopped on rocks, slapped at each other, and snorted their happiness at their audience.
    “This place certainly tops Rolling Hills Manor. And your family owns this?” Allie said. We bounced over the pebble-covered walkways toward our cottage.
    “Yeah. I don’t have the best memories of them. The house is nice, though.”
    “If you have means to live better than a farmhand, why would you slave at that house?”
    “It kept me close to you.”
    Allie looked back over the tennis courts, small golf course, and the pond on the lower end of the island where three of the five small houses sat.
    “Now that you’ll be part owner of the island, if you ever get mad at me, I’ll know where to look.” I wasn’t ready to talk about my parents just yet. At least not in front of Ricardo. I’d never informed him of my aversion to my real parents or of their revulsion to me. Or that I’d ultimately seen this island as a prison instead of a heavenly getaway.
    He loved it, being the caretaker and all, so that revelation would have hurt his feelings.
    “If there’s need to hide, you won’t find me,” she joked.
    I nudged her and gave her a warning look, for a moment forgetting that after a week, she may not have to worry about our future. I might have to go through with the deal I’d made with Grace. I’d only put Shelby and Kaitlyn on the task so that Shelby would get off my back.
    I think by the look on Kaitlyn’s face, she’d have been at peace with whatever I decided to do.
    Trying to conceal my dismal mood, I helped Ricardo haul our bags in. He went back in to see to some last minute final touches.
    I stood with my hands in my pants pockets. Mount Hood’s majestic snowcapped mountain top towered in the distance. Here the air was much cooler in the summer time. It could have been early spring.
    With her arms wrapped around her to ward off the chill, Allie stared in wonder over the Northeastern Seaboard. For traveling, she’d changed into a cream-colored pants suit that clung to every graceful curve of her body.
    My heart wrenched in envy.
    I hated even the air for it coming between us.
    Ricardo said in his thick Native American accent, “You should be set. I turned on the hot water heater, and Nelvi made sure all the beds were made with fresh sheets.”
    Allie turned and ambled toward us.
    “Thank you so much, Ricardo.” I took Allie’s hand when she reached us.
    “It’s good to see you again, Jack.” Ricardo smiled mischievously and gave a little bow.
     
     

Chapter 6
     
    I hadn’t been called that in eight years.
    I nodded good-bye to him as the shade of the trees cooled off that side of the island. The breeze was soft and for the first time, I felt at ease on the little piece of land poking out of the northeastern sea.
    “What did he just call you?” Allie looked astonished.
    “Obviously, I wouldn’t be named Colby Kinsley when I was born. I changed my name when I remembered who I was.” I tugged at my collar.
    “What was your full name?” Allie’s curious gaze burned on my cheek as I eyed her through my peripheral vision.
    This wasn’t a comfortable subject. “Jack Luttrell. Now, could we talk about something else?” I turned over a leaf on the bush bordering the walk. A caterpillar had been hiding there. I left him to his hiding spot, respecting his privacy.
    “No. I need to know the man I’m marrying.” Allie placed a hand on her cute, curvy hip.
    God, she did things to me I couldn’t