Fire & Ice

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Six

Journal Entry:

Things have finally been getting back to normal around here. There haven't been any more noticeable threats, which is good, though that's also resulted in me not having a feasible excuse to live at Portia's any longer—not that I'm letting that stop me. I think Marsha has enjoyed having me around more, though. I can tell she's been missing me.

Portia has something planned for today. She's very excited about it, and it's taken all my power to resist sneaking into her thoughts to discover what it is. I can't ruin it—it's making her too happy, and I've missed her naturally buoyant personality.

***

We made our way onto the flat rock at our special place in Oak Creek Canyon. The extreme fall air was crisp and nippy, but bearable with our jackets. There were still a few leaves clinging to the trees around us, but excluding the evergreens, most of the leafy foliage was on the forest floor.

"So what's up your sleeve?" I asked casually, as we stood holding hands looking at the scene before us.

"What do you mean?" She was going to play the innocent game, it appeared.

"I mean you've been acting like a giddy school girl all morning. I figured something was going on." I smiled at her, determined to ferret out the truth.

"You peeked into my head, didn't you?" She pursed her lips, eyes narrowing as she studied me accusingly.

I shook my head. "No. I figured you'd tell me when you were ready," I answered innocently, grateful that I'd restrained myself.

She released my hand, placing both her arms around my neck, popping on her tiptoes to give me light kiss. I kissed her back, amused, as I waited for an explanation.

"I have a present for you," she said, rubbing the end of my nose with hers in Eskimo fashion.

"Really?" This surprised me, since I thought she had some secret to tell me. I definitely wasn't expecting presents. Now I was really curious. "What is it?"

Her eyes flashed excitedly. "It's in my pocket. But you have to find which pocket," she said with a devious smile.

I grinned widely—search the girlfriend—this was a game I had no problem playing. "I'm up for the task, but are you sure you are?"

She laughed, but didn't move away, as my hands began traveling about her lush body, quickly locating the bulge in her pocket.

"That was way too fast," she complained with a sigh.

"Guess you'll have to hide it better next time," I replied with a smile as I fished the box out of her pocket, examining the pretty blue paper and slightly smashed bow. "Wow. It's wrapped and everything."

She released me, stepping away so I could open it.

"You do know my birthday is a long way off still, right? It's not until April." I raised an eyebrow and laughed.

"I know. Open it," she replied, clearly impatient.

"All right." The need to prolong her torture was more than I could pass up. Very slowly, I started removing the paper, carefully loosening the tape so it wouldn't rip or mar any of the design.

"Rip it off!" she almost shouted, grabbing for the package. I jerked it away, holding it where she couldn't reach it.

"Take it easy!" I teased, shaking my head, and clicking my tongue. "Who knew you could be so impatient!"