Ghast Me Gently (Wicked Good Witches Book 4) by Starla Silver Read Free Book Online Page A

speak. He would be sure to discuss it with William later.
     

CHAPTER FIVE
     
    Melinda begrudgingly accepted Riley’s assistance in getting off the beach. She wanted to get away from the crowd of gawking onlookers. Once back in town, she spun around and faced him. The words came out easier than she expected.
    “Thanks for your help, Riley, but I can manage just fine from here.”
    “Maybe so. But I’m not sure you should be on your own right now.”
    She frowned. “Well, what you think doesn’t really matter.”
    He let out a growly breath. “Look, Melinda. I really don’t know what to say. I’m mostly just sorry.”
    “About?”
    “You being a Howard and me being a Deane. My brother was so pissed when I told him.”
    “You told your brother?” She didn’t believe it.
    “Yes. Why? You didn’t tell yours?”
    “None of your business.”
    “Well, yes I told my brother,” he confirmed. “I had to. He would have found out sooner or later and better from me than someone else.”
    Melinda frowned again. She feared he was right on that point.
    “He was livid though. I mean, it was the one thing he swore me not to do. Don’t go bothering the Howards. Let them go about their business, don’t get in their way. Let them get used to us being here and let us have a chance to introduce ourselves, let them understand we mean them no ill–will…” he went on, as if speaking to no one in particular.
    When finished, he looked up at Melinda and shrugged.
    “Sorry, rambling.”
    She nodded whatever in reply. In truth, she had been listening and clinging to his every word. She heard nothing but sincerity as he spoke, but perhaps that’s just what her heart wanted to hear.
    “So how is it you just so happened to be here on this very beach, at this very moment?” she interrogated haughtily.
    “Um, well, do you remember how I’m sort of perceptive about things?”
    “What about it?”
    “It’s a bit more than that. Sometimes those perceptions I get… well, more like feelings really. Anyway, they drive me to have this need to do something, to be somewhere specific. Today they brought me to this beach. I had no idea why until I saw you, and that wave.”
    “Wait wait wait.” Melinda flung her arms around her head wildly. “Are you saying that you’re prophetic, or empathic?”
    “I wouldn’t say prophetic, or empathic. I’ve always called myself a feeler .”
    “A feeler?” Melinda snorted. “That’s the best you could come up with?”
    “Yeah, um, not my forte, coming up with names for things. My brother always makes fun too. But what else could you call it? I mean it’s not like I’m a full on empath, and the things I feel don’t really tell me anything specific, they just lead me to places where for some reason, I need to be.”
    “You could have called yourself a detector, a finder, a perceiver, or probably a dozen other names I can’t think of right now, but you went with a feeler …”
    “Okay, I got it, feeler sucks.”
    Melinda took in a deep breath. “Riley, I’m sorry. Really, thank you for your help today but I cannot be seen with you. Do you have any idea what people would say? What my brothers would say?”
    “I know. I get it. I had no idea that my whatever you want to call it was taking me to see you. Although I should have guessed, seeing as I haven’t stopped thinking about you in days and it does sometimes lead me to things I want.”
    “Really?” Melinda’s anger slipped away for a moment.
    Riley shot her a quick smile that said, yes .
    Her legs went jelly-like, and she wasn’t entirely sure it was just because she had run long distance and nearly drowned, or because Riley was so close.
    “I… I really wish you weren’t a Howard, Melinda.” His voice was low, his gaze averted at the ground.
    Melinda could not reply, her throat swelled up and no words would formulate.
    How could he possibly be evil? Perhaps on the surface he wasn’t. Perhaps he didn’t believe