Into Thin Air by Cindy Miles Page A

You've done great things with those feathered appendages, Sir Gawan, even if you do keep them hidden. Do not ever forget that."
    Gawan grunted. "Wings are highly overrated, methinks— hrumph!"
    Ellie, arms and legs flailing, seemingly dropped out of nowhere and slammed into Gawan.
    Nicklesby stumbled out of the way, just in the nick of time.
    Gawan, though, took the hit full force and tumbled to the floor with Ellie atop him. They both landed with a grunt, nose-to-nose. Their mouths, Gawan noticed as he stared at Ellie's tempting one, were a mere whisper apart.
    "Oops," Ellie said, a sheepish smile on her face. "Sorry."
    And for the first time since being picked up from the lane that wintry night, Ellie smiled a full-blown smile.
    Gawan blinked. The weight of her body pressed against him, and the warmth of her breath fanned his neck. Damn, but he could feel her heart beat against his chest. So real.
    How the bloody hell can she be mostly dead?
    The tightening of his groin at the intimate contact assured him that while Ellie of Wherever was mostly dead, there was, indeed, a certain part of her that most definitely remained very much alive.
    Get up, Conwyk, you letch ...
    "Dear girl, take my hand," Nicklesby said, poking out his bony hand.
    Ellie kept her eyes trained on Gawan's and, if possible, gave an even wider smile, annoyingly endearing, and it was then he thought he saw something. Cocking his head to the side, he stared, then blinked. 'Twas the most minute of details, and one he'd obviously missed before: an unmistakable, barely there imprint at one corner of her mouth.
    He nearly choked. By the devil's pointed hooves, this was not happening. He had to be wrong.
    He peered even closer. Nay, he was right.
    Lo, how he loathed being so right.
    'Twas a soul mate's unstolen kiss ...
    Gawan jumped up, at the same time dragging Ellie up and then shoving her into Nicklesby's arms.
    Both stumbled, then looked at him as though he'd lost his bloody mind.
    And in fact, in truth, he thought he just truly had.
    Bleeding priest's and saint's curled toes combined. Ellie, the almost-ghost whose only memory was of herself shamelessly groping the male pride of a naked David statue, was his blasted soul mate.

    His Intended.
    Chapter Seven
    Ellie stood there, Nicklesby's skinny arms steadying her, while Gawan's face turned pale. He shoved a hand through his hair, scrubbed his five-o'clock-shadowed chin, rubbed his eye sockets with the pads of his fingers, and then muttered something under his breath.
    Gawan inclined his head. "Mind her, Nicklesby."
    Then he pushed his hands into his pockets and stalked off. Mumbling. In Welsh.
    Nicklesby took a step toward Gawan. "But, sir?" After a moment, he shook his head.
    "What's wrong with him?" Ellie asked. "He looked like he was going to throw up or something."
    Which was sad, because she could have sworn they'd shared an intimate moment on the floor. Not that she'd meant for it to happen, of course. She couldn't help where she'd fallen. But fallen on him she had. Then that funny look had taken over his sexy features, and the intimacy was gone.
    "Hmm," Nicklesby said. "I've not a clue." He grasped her elbow. "I daresay 'tisn't a bothersome stomach, though." He clucked his tongue. "No need to fret, young lady. 'Twill all be well. Most likely a matter of forgotten business came over him. Come." He gave her elbow a tug. "Would you care to see the castle? Mayhap you were here on a tour of sorts before you were interrupted with your work? You Americans love to tour old castles."
    "I'll take 'er, Nicklesby!"
    Young Davy emerged through the wall at a full run and skidded to a halt before Ellie. "Do you wanna come wi' me, then? You'll fancy the views!"
    Wow. Would she ever get used to all this ghosty stuff? It was one thing to sit on the Haunted Mansion ride at Disney World and see the cute little Victorian spirits sitting in the car with you as you passed the mirror. Quite another thing altogether for it