Harlequin E Shivers Box Set Volume 4 by Reisz Tiffany; Godman Jane; Hancock Barbara J.; Christie Jen

Author:Reisz, Tiffany; Godman, Jane; Hancock, Barbara J.; Christie, Jen [Reisz, Tiffany; Godman, Jane; Hancock, Barbara J.; Christie, Jen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Itzy, Kickass.to
ISBN: 9781460342701
Amazon: B00KV62NT4
Publisher: Harlequin E
Published: 2014-10-11T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

“What you playing at, Annie-girl?”

I showed Ouma an innocent, questioning face. I wasn’t hopeful. It was impossible to fool my grandmother.

“With the big fella.” She jerked a thumb toward the stoep. Nicca’s broad-shouldered silhouette was dark against the twilight sky.

“I don’t know what you mean,” I said untruthfully.

She snorted. “Don’t give me that, Annie-girl. I hope you know what you’re doing, that’s all. He’s the sort who plays for keeps.”

I sighed. “Ouma, this man who we had to run from—”

“Die slegte bliksem?”

I smiled. Ouma had a way with words. “Yes, the bad bastard. When I first saw him, I fell for him so utterly, so completely, it was like—Oh, I can’t explain it!” She waited. “I can’t just switch that off.”

“You still love him?”

“I don’t know if I do love him. Or if I ever did. I don’t even know what love is because he’s left me so mixed up. But I was intoxicated by him. Almost as if he cast a spell on me and I can’t break free of him, even with all these miles between us. Even after everything he’s done. With Nicca, it’s different. I can’t love them both, can I? I have to sort it out, Ouma.” I tapped my finger against my temple. “In my head.”

“Well, while you’re sorting it out in your head, would you mind not also sorting it out with your bottom half? And maybe keeping your broekies on around the big fella? I don’t want any more little bastards running around the place.”

“Ouma!” I buried my head in my hands.

“Don’t you ‘Ouma’ me, my girl. I’ve got eyes. I’ve seen the pair of you sizzling up the air between you when you look at each other. I was young once, you know. I can remember what it was like.” She grinned at my flaming face. “And, from what I remember, it was very nice. One last thing. If you want my advice, Annie-girl, you’ll forget the bastard and keep the big fella. You don’t come across many like him. When you do, it’s worth hanging on to them.”

Later, as we sat out on the stoep after dinner, I said to Ouma, “You told me that you don’t want any more little bastards around the place.” Rudi had joined us, since the conversation was about him, as well. In fact, it was more important to him. “But you never did have that. Rudi and I weren’t bastards. And we think you knew it all along.” I watched her face as she gazed up at the highest peaks before answering.

“Ja,” she said eventually. “I did know it. Your ma married her rooinek lordship in Maheking. When she came back here, he went away to carry on fighting. How was I supposed to feel about that? I had a new son, but he was off killing my own people! Then we got word that he was dead. Killed in battle at Diamond Hill, but he was hailed a hero by the British