A Witch Like No Other (44 page)

The smiles that lit their faces surprised her; did they
really think she
’
d stop loving them because of Baby Julian?

“
You cant
possibly think I’
d stop loving
you,” Dreamer said, amazed. “That
’
s ridiculous.
You
’
re
supposed to stop loving
me.”

“
Never,”
Pandora said fiercely, Ted and Marlon as well.

Paul looked at the clock, saying “It
’
s getting late,
everyone.”

Everyone
’
s faces fell, Dreamer
’
s as well. They
didn
’
t
want to separate, not when everything had miraculously sorted
itself out.

Pandora and Marlon scowled at Paul, wondering if he enjoyed
spoiling the moment. Paul winked at them, saying “Actually, I was
going to suggest you staying here with your mother.
It
’
s
almost two a.m.”

“
Dad as well?”
asked Marlon hopefully, and everyone looked at Dreamer.

“
I should have.
I’
ve got an
upstairs.”

“
Ok then.”

“
Sweet dreams
honey,” she whispered, pulling his soft quilt over him. Baby Julian
slept on, his tiny thumb in his mouth.

Dreamer didn
’
t even know what to say. Neither did Ted. They
stared at each other for a good ten seconds, then Ted said “Um…
hi.”

“
Hi,” Dreamer
said quietly, then she pulled herself together. “Um… upstairs.
Pandora and Marlon’
s had their
showers now, so you can have yours.”

“
I’
ve summoned some of
your things from your house,” Dreamer said nervously, wondering why
he was staring at her so intensely. “They
’
re in your room- um, the
room opposite mine. That
’
s the room on your left
when you go up the stairs… Ted?” she said, as he continued to watch
her. “What
’
s the matter?”

“
You’
re so beautiful,” he
said quietly, and Dreamer smiled.

“
Thank you. The
shower’
s waiting for
you.”

“
No-
didn’
t you hear what I was
saying?”

“
I was admiring
your every angle,” he admitted as he moved closer. “What was you
saying, Dreamer?”

“
I… I was
saying that- that your room is upstairs and…” Dreamer trailed off,
staring at the milk-chocolate man she loved. Ted had a finely
featured face that went well with the muscular body that came with
it. His build gave the impression of a man who used his physical
strength often, but Dreamer knew that Ted was as gentle as a mouse.
His appearance intimidated his opponents in court, but if they knew
him the way she did they would be more confident, not afraid of him
one bit.

Ted knew what she was thinking. Dreamer watched those
beautiful lips curve into a smirk, Ted saying “You like what you
see, don
’
t you?”

Dreamer almost nodded. Dragging her eyes away from him, she
said “You
’
re very vain, Ted.”

“
Because of
you. All I have to do is look into those emerald eyes…” His eyes
scanned her face hungrily. “To know you love me as much as I love
you.” He stepped so close she grazed his torso.
“I’
m right,
aren
’
t
I?”

Dreamer didn
’
t answer. She hardly heard a word he said, simply
gazing at the rows of perfect white teeth behind those
lips.

“
Aren’
t I?” Ted repeated
softly, before he lowered his mouth to hers. To both of them
something shifted in the universe, because the kiss felt like
lightning jolts, shocking them all the way to the tips of their
toes. Dreamer
’
s arms curved around his neck, Ted lifting her off her feet
as he pulled her closer. He was so focused on the tender kiss, he
didn
’
t
hear Marlon and Pandora traipse downstairs. Neither did
Dreamer.

Eyes closed, in their own world, Ted and Dreamer
didn
’
t
react to the noise. Marlon grabbed Pandora by the arm and pulled
her back upstairs, whispering “They don
’
t know we was there.
They don
’
t have to.”

“
Ok, ok- just
let go of me!” she hissed. “And thanks for waking me up for
nothing, camel mouth!”

“
Nothing!” he
whispered, offended. “It was to talk to Mum! You know, midnight
chat and stuff!”

“
Well
we’
re not going to have our
midnight chat now, are we?” Pandora pulled away from her brother.
“I
’
m
going back to sleep.”

“
Did you hear
that?” she murmured against Ted’
s mouth, Ted answering “It might be the baby.”

“
I’
ll check,” Dreamer
said, her voice low. “You
’
d better get your
shower, Ted. I… I
’
ll show you where your things are.”

“
Follow
me.”

“
The
bathroom’
s right
there.”

Dreamer sat on her bed, feeling there was a vast change in
her and Ted
’
s relationship. Never, she thought, had Ted ever made her
feel that way with just a kiss.

Ted didn
’
t dare go and talk to Dreamer again, knowing she was
up. Though her kisses were always mind blowing,
that
one…
Ted shook his head, still revelling in the electrical feeling. He
hoped Dreamer would come and say goodnight. If it reached half two
and she didn
’
t, he would go to her instead.

Dreamer walked in slowly, a smile spreading across
Ted
’
s
face.

“
You
ok?”

Dreamer nodded. “I had a quick shower, and… I made you a
hot drink as well. It
’
s downstairs with mine if you want
it.”

“
You
didn’
t have to make me a hot
drink before I go to bed.”

“
I
always
make you a hot drink before you go to bed.”

“
Slipped my
mind,” he said amusedly, and she smiled.

“
Are you going to work
tomorrow?” asked Dreamer, but Ted said no.

“
I’
ve moved up in the
firm,” he said, and she gasped.

“
You’
ve been promoted?
That
’
s
excellent, Ted!”

Ted smiled, saying “It didn
’
t feel excellent at the
time, what with you being gone and all.” His smile grew. “But now
it feels great.”

“
What role do
you play now?”

“
I’
m a private lawyer now;
I don
’
t have to rush to someone
’
s aid as much as I used
to. I
’
m earning fifty two thousand a year-”

“
You’
re
kidding!”

“
Nope.
That’
s how private I am. Not
only that, but I
’
ll be called all over Europe to help people. Three
times a year I
’
ll have to leave the country, it comes with the
package.” He smiled at her, taking her hand. “That means, my
lovely, that I
’
ll be taking you, Marlon, Pandora and Julian on
holiday with me.”

Dreamer
’
s eyes filled as he kissed her hand.

“
You
don’
t mind Julian not being
your son?”

“
No,” Ted
admitted. “It bugged me at first, when I saw the
pictures-”

“
What
pictures?” she said, staring at him. “I made sure my baby
wasn’
t in any magazine photos,
so how could there be pictures of him?”

“
Well…” Ted
hesitated. “I sort of hired a private detective to find
you.”

“
Really.” Ted
nodded. “Well now I’
m going to
hire a private lawyer besides yourself to sue you, Ted! How could
you spy on me?”

“
It
wasn’
t spying, Dreamer. I
missed you,” he said calmly. “Nobody would tell me what was going
on- Miriam acted like she knew nothing.”

Dreamer averted her gaze to their hands, entwined on the
kitchen table. Ted wondered if now was the time to give her his
version of the Spanish Inquisition. She looked so innocent. His
heart said no, but his mind screamed
yes!
He chose to go
with his mind.

“
Why
didn’
t you tell me it was
Miriam who was messing your head around?”

“
I
didn’
t want you to be mad at
her,” Dreamer said, looking anywhere but at him.
“Don
’
t
be angry, Ted- let me explain how she feels.”

“
I’
m all ears.”

“
It’
s not like that!” he
burst out, for the third time. Each time Dreamer explained Miriam
to him, he had the same reaction. “Explain it again.”

“
Ted,
I’
ve explained it around four
times now.” Dreamer picked up her wand, tapping his and her mug at
the side. The cold chocolate drink was instantly hot again, steam
rising from each mug. “That
’
s how she feels, yes?
She feels like you stuck your foot in everything when I came back
just like you did when we met- she thinks she
’
ll be singled out
again.”

“
It’
s not like that,” Ted
repeated. “Call her.”

“
Ted,
it’
s gone four in the
morning.”

“
Call her,
Dreamer.” Ted didn’
t care what
time it was. “Now.”