Drake Sisters 07 - Hidden Currents

little flip. “Go, honey. I’l catch up with you.â€
    El e nodded, uncertain how to voice the emotions wel ing up.

    10
    ELLE found her sisters sprawled out around the spacious living room. They smiled at her wanly, Libby stil pale and weak, but the others were clearly stronger. Ilya looked a bit harassed and she felt a little sorry for him. Her family could be very overwhelming at times. Bomber remained by the bank of windows staring out to sea, his ears forward, his body stil , eyes focused on the unusual fog surrounding the house.
    Sarah beckoned to her to come join them. “You scared us, honey. You nearly burned out your talent completely, but thank you for saving Hannah and Jackson.â€
    â€œYou al helped,†El e pointed out. “I’m not certain I could have helped Jonas pinpoint their location without you. And thank you. I appreciate you coming over and working so hard to heal me.â€
    â€œOf course we’d come,†Sarah said. “In spite of everything, you do look better this morning. I can see Jackson is taking good care of you.â€
    El e blushed, her color creeping up her neck into her face. She didn’t know why. Jackson had been more than a gentleman. She realized that her fingertips had gone to her tingling lips and she hastily pul ed them down under her older sisters’ watchful eyes. She tasted Jackson in her mouth and it hit her then, he had miraculously managed to replace the touch and taste of Stavros with something good, something exciting. He didn’t demand anything in return. He didn’t even ask for anything. Jackson.
    A stabbing pain shot through her head and he stuck his head through the doorway, black eyes half concerned, half furious. “Knock it off, El e,†he snapped, his tone low and mean.
    Her sisters al swiveled around to stare at him. Tension rose in the room. They had no idea. El e burst out laughing. He real y was big bad Jackson, but hidden underneath al that steel muscle and the cold black eyes was something altogether different that no one, not even her sisters, suspected. He hid the gentle giant very wel beneath that blue-jeaned devil.
    â€œI didn’t mean to.â€
    He gave her another glare and disappeared again.
    â€œSame old Jackson. I see his social skil s haven’t improved much,†Sarah said. She waved her hand toward the teapot and it floated across the room and poured another cup of tea into the mug she was holding. “The man real y needs to join the twenty-first century. I thought he might have improved while you’re so fragile.â€
    â€œJackson is careful with me.â€
    â€œYeah, that sounded like it.†Sarah rol ed her eyes.
    El e looked around the room at her sisters, al obviously in agreement with her older sister’s opinion of Jackson. She could have defended him, but it seemed more important to guard him, to hug his secret side to herself. She simply shrugged her shoulders. “Has Jonas cal ed about Hannah?â€
    â€œThe baby is fine, and Hannah is much better. Jonas said she warmed up fast in the ambulance. Both of them are very grateful to you and Jackson,†Sarah continued. She waved the teapot in El e’s direction.
    El e pointed to a mug sitting on the coffee table. Sarah waved her hand again. She’d already forgotten El e wasn’t al owed to use her psychic talents. “Thanks, Sarah.†It was embarrassing not to be able to use her skil s. She rubbed at her throbbing temples. She’d had a headache for so long she’d forgotten what it was like without one. Jackson never forgot that her brain was shredded and every time she used her talent, she was at risk.
    â€œWe’re al very grateful to Jackson. He did an amazing thing.â€
    El e lifted an eyebrow. “So you’re saying he’s a cretin, but a heroic one.â€
    Sarah nodded. “Very heroic.â€
    Jackson stepped into the room looking sexy with a black tee stretched tight across his broad shoulders and heavy chest. His jeans fit him like a glove and now that she knew what he was hiding there, she couldn’t help but notice the front of his jeans. “El e saved us both,†he corrected, pouring tea the old-fashioned way. He wasn’t adept at levitation or parlor tricks. He just needed something hot to chase away the last of the cold lingering inside him.
    He stirred in honey and drank the first cup down