Lucky Stars (Ghosts and Reincarnation #5)(110)
Author: Kristen Ashley

“As you undoubtedly know, things have not been good, Miles, but I’m feeling better,” She told him in hopes of heading off any nastiness. “I ask that you please don’t mess that up.”

He gave her a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m pleased to hear that, gorgeous. That’s why I’m here. To be sure you’re okay. I came to The Point and tried to talk to you the other day but,” he threw out a hand, “Jack wouldn’t let me.”

She still disliked that he called her gorgeous. It wasn’t his place anymore as he well knew.

And she didn’t like that smile. It did not say he wanted her to be okay. It said something else. She was sure of it.

“Well, I’m okay,” she assured him anyway.

“Good,” he muttered, his eyes moving to the sea, his body settling in like he did not, in fact, intend not to take long in what he had to say but as if he intended to stay a while. “I assume, since you’re still here, you’re staying?” he asked the sea.

Belle didn’t much like this lead in.

“Miles, perhaps you should –” she started to advise him to talk about his brother’s future with his brother but he interrupted her again, his eyes cutting back to her.

“I promise, Belle, swear it’s with your best interests at heart when I advise you, if you can, to curtail Jack spending time with Yasmin.”

She felt her heart lurch and her shoulders get tight as his words hit her.

“I don’t think –” she began again only to be cut off again.

“They were lovers,” he informed her.

“I already know that.” She couldn’t quite keep the snap out of her voice though she also didn’t quite try.

“And she’s divorcing Quincy. She’ll be free again soon.”

Belle felt her eyebrows draw together at what he was implying.

“So you’re telling me Yasmin will make a play for Jack?” she asked in disbelief.

“No,” he answered. “I’m telling you that if Yasmin’s free, Jack will make a play for her. And Yasmin won’t make him work too hard. He’s who she’s always wanted, Belle, and I fear it’s the other way around for Jack too.”

She felt her blood begin to pound through her veins and for the first time in some time, the healing wound at her temple hurt.

Before she could say a word, Miles continued.

“They’ve known each other since we were very young. They have a connection that’s grown throughout those years. What they had was passionate. And it never really ended. On some level, you must know that since she’s still around and around all the time.”

“You’re beyond belief,” Belle whispered, the wind carrying away her words.

“I’m sorry?”

She scrambled angrily to her feet, Gretl scrambling with her and Baron got close as she dashed her hair behind her ears in a (failed) effort to control it and repeated loudly this time, “You’re beyond belief!”

Gretl woofed her agreement and Baron growled his warning as Miles got to his own feet.

“Belle, gorgeous, you know after what’s happened to you I wouldn’t tell you this unless I was looking out for you.”

Belle just could not believe this!

She leaned into him and reminded him on an irate cry, “I just lost a child!” She threw her hand out to indicate The Point and reminded him, “And it was your brother’s child. So, that means, your brother just lost his child too!”

“I know that,” he clipped.

“And, a month after that crushing blow, you think it’s in my best interests to deliver another one by coming to me and badmouthing your brother and our friend?” she queried heatedly.

He lifted a beseeching hand to her and urged, “Look around, Belle, it can’t have escaped your –”

“What hasn’t escaped me, Miles,” she interrupted him on a hiss, “is that Yasmin has been nothing but kind and gracious to me and Jack has never been anything but loving and gentle. Except, of course, after I let my own anxieties and your behaviour muddle my head then proceeded in making what could have been the biggest mistake in my life. In fact, the only person who has anything to do with any of this who has treated me unkindly is,” she lifted a finger and pointed at him, “you.”

His face went hard and he crossed his arms on his chest. “How did you know about our conversation?”

His question confusing her, she leaned back and crossed her own arms on her chest, asking back, “What conversation?”

“Jack and my conversation. At Mum’s party. How did you know Jack said he wanted a crack at you?” Miles explained and Belle felt her own face get hard.

“He didn’t say that,” she returned.

“It doesn’t matter who said what. It matters how you knew. Jack thinks I told you and we both know I didn’t.”

“None of this matters now at all, Miles.”

“How did you know?” he pushed.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Did Yasmin tell you?”

“It doesn’t matter!” she cried and Gretl woofed again.

Miles stared at her then muttered, “She told you. And why do you think she told you, Belle?”

“She didn’t tell me,” Belle denied, shaking her head and in the heat of the moment admitted a moment of rudeness. “I overheard her and Joy talking.”

“And you think that wasn’t planned?” Miles sneered.

She felt her eyes grow round.

“You are,” she whispered. “You are beyond belief.”

Miles shook his own head. “Think about it, Belle. She was done with Quincy then and she wanted a free run at Jack. Or, more to the point, she wanted Jack to have a free run at her since she likes being chased. She saw how he reacted to you so she didn’t delay in making that so.”

Belle ignored the wind whipping her hair across her face and uncrossed her arms so she could plant her hands on her h*ps before she asked cuttingly, “You’re telling me that Yasmin finagled Joy into a hallway she would have no idea I was walking down at the precise time she could have no idea I was walking down it to orchestrate a conversation that would put me off Jack. Is that what you’re telling me, Miles?”

“You’re getting to know her,” Miles retorted. “She’s very clever.”

“Yes, she is. You know who isn’t?” she queried but didn’t pause for an answer although she did thrust finger at him, “You!”