Somewhere I'll Find You by Linda Swain Page A

serious,” he replied shortly while he shoved away from the wall.  “The blood isn’t mine.”
    Looking about at the shattered glass and the wine that pooled along the floor , Paige’s hold on her emotions let go entirely and her eyes flared with fury.   “I’ve had nothing but problems eve r since you arrived at the door!” she snapped, bunching her hands into fists.   “ First, I’m shot at; now someone breaks into my home.  What are you, a human magnet for trouble?”
    Michael’s eyes were hard and cold.  “We can discuss that later.  Right now I want a change of clothes because , like it or not, until this is settled, I’m sticking to you like flypaper.”
    “You’re not staying here.”
    “No,” he agreed , while he began hauling her up the stairs.  “And neither are you. ”
    And neither was the spirit that watched so carefully.

Chapter Five
     
    He drove well but fast.  Paige found her eyes drawn often to those strong hands on the wheel as they eased her restored Cord along bumpy roads and past sand dunes.   It had taken Paige a long while and a good deal of money to restore that roadster to its original condition.  It’s just my luck that I parked closer than he did.  Damn me and damn him too!
    “You wouldn’t happen to have any idea where we’re going, do you?”  She asked crossly, trying to find something other than the precarious state of her automobile on which to focus.
    A short laugh exploded from Michael, his hands easing around the Cord’s wheel.  “Let’s just say that Serena should never be trusted with national security.  She’s told me all about your cottage.   That’s where we’re going – but do tell me if I take a wrong turn. ”   Not that I will.  I remember the address from the dossier Miles gave me, and I’m certain I can get there.
    “I see.  Remind me to wring her neck the next time that I see her.  That is , if I ever see her again, ” she added gl oomi ly.
    “You will.”  There was an assurance in his voice that he was far from feeling.  His plans had taken an unexpected turn, one that he wasn’t certain how to deal with.  The dossier that Miles had given him was only a shadow compared to the flesh and blood woman sitting next to him.  “You seem to have pretty good instincts,” he offered, trying to break the silence that lingered between them.
    A slight shrug of her slender shoulders was her only response.
    “Want to talk about it?”  He tried to soften his voice, hoping to elect some sort of reaction from her.
    “I’d rather not.”
    “Do you often have unexplained visitors rummaging through your home?”
    She turned away from the view outside the passenger window.  “Not until you appeared on my doorstep.”
    “Look, I’m trying to get a grip on what happened back there.  A little help from you would be appreciated, Angel.”
    Made indignant by his easy familiarity , she half turned to him, only to whip her head back towards the window barely a half-second later.  “Must you keep calling me that?”
    Well, at least that got a reaction out of her.   “It suits you,” he replied dryly.  “It’s said that a demon is nothing more than a fallen angel.  I’m still trying to work out which one you are.  In the meantime, why don’t you fill in the gaps about this cottage that Serena left out? ”
    Turning back to the window, Paige’s thoughts drifted back to the day she had found her second home.  She had been driving aimlessly, allowing the warm day to wash away her pre-wedding jitters. She should have been looking forward to her wedding , but nagging concerns kept entering her mind.
    She had taken a curve too sharply; downshifting at the sound of a thump, she had pulled over carefully to the side of the road , hoping that she hadn’t damaged the car .  And, it was then that she had seen it.
    Like a vision from a fairytale, she spied the roof covered with purple flowers.  She was drawn to the cottage just as she