Ghost Silk (Ghost Perfume, Book 2) | ✔

4 - Make it sweet - Part 1

Rain broke out in a great rush a day later. Wide, dark clouds gathered in the skies, dark and low, and on Sunday night they opened over our heads.

When I saw them earlier, I warned the Alistairs what was coming - I wasn't sure if any of them besides Michael had been here last year for the rainy season - and Michael brought out a tarp for the indoor courtyard and another for the space at the front of the house where we parked some of the cars. Lukas and Alexander and I helped him put the tarps up, and they held up steadily to the rain.

The next morning I came downstairs to see Lukas standing at a window, contemplating the rain that hadn't let up since the night. Raider sat at his feet, looking between the rain and Lukas.

For all the natural vitality in Lukas's features, his mood seemed low and unpeaceful. A bit like a sulky pouting kid.

I liked the white-noise drumming of a storm, but I'd started to notice that Lukas was quick to turn away from anything like rain or silence, quick to interrupt a pocket of time too unfilled by human voice or activity. He liked to make impersonal things personal. I thought it was because a part of him was permanently lonely.

I watched the slight deepening of his rare frown, now, as he watched the storm outside the window. He hated the rain.

He didn't notice Raider, who was headbutting his leg.

I ran forward the last few steps to hug him from behind, singing good morning.

He turned to put his arm around me, smiling. "Morning, Rosie. Hungry?"

"Want to walk the dogs?"

Raider perked up and Invader magically appeared, wagging his tail.

Lukas jerked his head towards the blurred window in answer. "It won't kill them to stay inside."

"I think it could. Let's go." I slipped out from under his arm.

He followed me and the dogs to the foyer. "Where do you think you're going?"

I grinned over my shoulder as I walked outside.

I felt ridiculous walking into the rain, but it emboldened me to think that this would cheer Lukas up.

"Rosie," he laughed, following me outside.

As soon as we left the cover of the tarp, the cold water soaked us.

Raider and Invader ran circles round us happily, kicking up mud with their tongues out, and cantered in the direction of the forest behind the house.

I walked backwards in front of Lukas as we followed the dogs. I wiped water out of my eyes. "If you want to be a local, you can't let the rain ruin your fun. It's going to pour for weeks."

"I want to be a local. Is this my rite of passage?" A broad grin split his cheeks and his eyes glowed merrily. His hair was plastered to the sides of his face.

The muscles looked spectacular under the cling of his soaked shirt.

I raised my arms and twirled. "Sure!"

"Numbskulls," Alexander shouted. I came to a stop, peering around Lukas.

Alexander jogged towards us. He shouted at me that I was going to get sick and he shouted at Lukas for allowing it.

I was hustled back to the house while Lukas went after the dogs.

"Stay inside when it's raining," Alexander ordered, wrapping me in towels.

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