The Prophecy (The Guardians) - By Wendy Owens Page 0,36

walked over to a chair, ignoring the egg matter splattered across him.

“What?” Rachel asked intrigued. “What do you mean?”

“Ah, I see I’ve piqued your interest.”

Rachel was at the end of her rope, her amazing gesture had blown up in her face and she was not in the mood to be toyed with. “Come on, let’s hear it.”

Hidden in a chair tucked under the table, Gabe revealed a brown paper bag. Setting it on the table he pulled out two bundles, wrapped in wax paper. She watched as he carefully unfolded the edges to reveal what was hidden with in. Rachel gasped when she saw the pastry, they looked so delicious she imagined they could grace the cover of a Bakery Monthly magazine. She watched in amazement. “I believe these shall work great for breakfast madam. Hmm… what else do I have in here?”

Gabe reached into the bottom of the bag and pretended to root around for a moment before pulling out and revealing a deep blue, leather bound book. “I thought some reading material for after breakfast was in order.”

Rachel’s mouth fell open a little wider as she continued to watch. Gabe pulled out one book after the next, stacking them on the table.

“Oh, Gabe! How did —” Rachel grabbed a nearby rag. Wiping her hands off as best she could, she rushed over to the table and began reading the titles on the spines of the book. Mansfield Park, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, The Secret Garden, Journey to the Center of the Earth. Each title she read made her giddy with excitement.

“I wasn’t sure what type of stuff you like to read, so I told the guy to give me a variety.” Gabe explained, looking at Rachel with an intense anticipation.

“I don’t understand, where did you get them? How did you get them? It’s not safe is it?” Rachel rambled off the questions, never looking away from her new treasures.

“Don’t worry, I have ways to avoid being detected. People are used to me wearing a helmet when I go out.” Gabe laughed, proud of the story he had weaved for the locals, “I have them all convinced I was in this horrible fire and I was left hideously scarred.”

“Are you serious? How did you convince them of that?” Rachel asked, stopping to look up at him, momentarily more amazed by his tale.

“I use an enchantment spell; they see what I want them to see.” Gabe replied.

“I don’t think I will ever get used to all this magic stuff. Wait…” Rachel looked intensely into Gabe’s eyes, “do you ever use that stuff on me?”

“Never,” Gabe replied mischievously, a grin plastered across his face.

“I’m serious, Gabe,” Rachel barked. “If I ever catch you using your hocus-pocus crap on me we are going to have a problem. Got it?”

“Yes, yes, I promise, no magic on you. I don’t need to use my magic on you anyways; you fall so easily for my handsome ways that I don’t even have to bother.” Gabe laughed as he jested.

“Whatever you say,” Rachel gave Gabe a slight push and then devoured the corner of her pastry before plucking Mansfield Park from the pile and settling into the corner.

“You’re going to start reading now?” Gabe asked a little shocked.

Rachel could hear the disappointment in his voice, but she couldn’t deny that all she wanted to do at that exact moment was dive into the intricacies of Fanny Price’s life and the romantic entanglements happening all around her. Sheepishly, Rachel peered over the pages of the book and asked, “Do you mind?”

“I suppose not.” Gabe lied looking at his uneaten pastry.

“How about you come lay down here with me and we can read to one another?” Rachel requested.

“I don’t know,” Gabe replied, hesitating. While the idea of being close to Rachel was quite appealing to him, reading a book aloud to one another seemed more like punishment. “I don’t really think I would be very good at that.”

“Nonsense,” Rachel said patting the spot next to her on the bedding, motioning for him to join her. “I’ll start.”

Gabe looked at her long, bare legs that poked out from beneath her skirt. All he wanted to do was run his fingertips along her silhouette, exploring all her luscious curves and deep valleys along the way. If reading a book is what would make her happy, he was willing. At least somewhat.

“Can we at least read something not so—” Gabe wondered what word would be least offensive to Rachel.

“Not so what?”

“Umm,