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“You go first,” she said. “I’ll be there in a few minutes.” She stepped away from Colin. “Tell nothing to no one.”

“If that’s what you want, that’s what I’ll do,” he said as he left the secluded area, and she could hear him talking with Ramsey.

Gemma wanted some time to herself to think about what was happening in her life. She couldn’t help remembering all that Tris had told her about his niece’s wish and how it had come true. To Gemma, it almost seemed as though her wishes were also coming true. She had the job she’d wanted so much, and she was enjoying every minute of the time she spent buried in the old papers. And now a man she’d been attracted to from the moment she met him had asked her out.

The only problem was his former girlfriend. What Gemma wondered was whether or not Jean really felt that it was over between them.

And what about his family? Gemma thought. How were they going to react to their beloved Jean no longer being in the family?

Gemma put her hands over her face. All in all, she couldn’t see this as turning out well. If she had any sense, she’d tell Colin to stay away from her.

But Gemma knew she wasn’t going to do that. Being altruistic was good, but throwing away a man who seemed to be everything she’d ever wanted was just plain stupid.

She headed back toward the house.

13

GEMMA,” SARA SAID as she held out a plate of some strawberry dessert, “are you sticking with your Heartwish being to get a good job?”

Gemma’s mind was so full of thoughts about her and Colin that she had no idea what Sara was talking about. “I need to shower and change.”

“Don’t do it on our account,” Rams said.

“Yeah, keep the shorts,” Luke said.

Gemma looked at Mike, and he shrugged. “Sure, why not?” Gemma said as she took the plate and went to sit on the grass under the shade tree. Colin was in a chair as far from her as he could get. She didn’t look at him.

Joce spoke first. “We were talking about the Heartwishes Stone and thinking about what we’d use its magic for. Luke wants immortality.”

“My goodness!” Gemma said. “You certainly know how to wish big.”

“My wife left out the details,” Luke said. “All writers want immortality. That’s why we’re so vain as to think someone would want to read our thoughts. But it would be nice to think that my grandchildren will like reading my books.”

“I’m sure they will,” Joce said, smiling at him.

“Wives’ opinions don’t count in this,” Rams said. “What about you, Sara? What would you wish for?”

“There’s nothing I don’t have. I got the house I wanted, the man, and this.” She rubbed her big belly.

“Ha!” Mike said.

They all looked at him.

“I was her third choice of man,” Mike said, and everyone laughed.

“Is this a joke I’m missing?” Gemma asked.

“Come over some afternoon and help me feed and diaper, and I’ll tell you all of it,” Joce said. “But I’ll tell you now that Mike was not her third choice.”

“She wouldn’t have been interested in me if she’d met me in an ordinary way,” Mike said.

Tess gave her brother a hard look. “I would have arranged a meeting with Sara if you’d just bothered to visit once in a while.”

“I would have if—”

“Order in the court!” Rams said loudly. “You two can argue later. Let’s get back on the subject. Sara, my dear cousin, there must be something you want.”

“Good health and safety for the people I love.”


Tags: Jude Deveraux Edilean Romance