Charmed & Dangerous (13 page)

Wednesday, 5
P.M
.

Waning moon

Sweet, Texas

Happy witches: 12

M
et Peggy and her gang for tea at Cinnamon’s Tea House yesterday. Can’t say the rest of the coven is as crazy about me as she is.

I remember in high school when there were kids at lunch no one would sit next to, but I looked for those people and always sat with them. Most of the time they were a lot more interesting than the people who sat at the jocks’ or cheerleaders’ tables.

I now know how those loner kids must have felt because at the tea no one would sit next to me. And I looked so darn cute.

Peggy had placed me at the opposite end of the table from her and as the other witches filed in, they chose to sit at least one space away. Each woman would come in and nod with a tight smile. Then they’d go sit as far away as possible.

That is until Ms. Helen walked in. She plopped herself down, and I poured her a cup of orange spice tea.

“You look adorable in that dress, Bronwyn. I’m pretty sure I had one just like it back in the sixties.” Helen smiled and grabbed one of the tiny cucumber sandwiches off of the platter.

I’d worn a red and white polka-dot shift with a white sweater. Added three-inch red pumps and a pearl necklace. Very Jackie O. Not my normal garb, but I’d had tea enough with my mother’s friends to know what was expected. Most of the other women were dressed the same.

“It might
be
your dress. I found it at a secondhand shop in Dallas.” I laughed and handed her the sugar.

“Well, it sure looks better on you than it ever did on me.” She took a sip and squeezed my hand. “How’s that young man of yours doing?”

When she said it I’m ashamed to say the sheik’s face popped into my head before Sam’s. Bad Bronwyn. Bad. Thought I’d been over that little matter. Move on, girl! Move on! The sheik’s a big fat no-no. Well, he’s not fat. In fact, those abs are enough to make a grown woman cry with joy.

I looked up to see Ms. Helen staring at me with a strange look in her eyes.

“Oh, um, Sam’s good. I saw him at the nursing home just now and everything’s great.”

I wondered if she could read minds. She cocked her head to the right as if to evaluate me in some way. Before I could think about it, Mavis Calright walked in.

Next to the words
prim
and
proper
in the dictionary is a picture of Mavis. Her hair is never out of place, she always wears gloves, and her dresses are couture. I’ve seen her tooling around town in a silver Mercedes.

She didn’t seem happy at all that the only seat left open in the room was the one to the right of me.

She stood for a moment looking perplexed. Peggy, who had been burning the ear of Leslie Clark, a beautiful blonde witch with curls down her back, gave Mavis a wicked stare and motioned her to the chair next to me.

Mavis shook her head tightly and refused to sit down.

Peggy pushed back her chair and walked toward the other woman. “Please, Mavis, sit down.” The words were said through terse lips and gritted teeth.

She shook her head again. “You know I can’t.”

“Yes, you will. Or you can leave.” Peggy’s sharp tone made the woman wince.

Mavis’s hands twittered around as if she were ready to take flight. “She’s a high witch and anyone who sits to her right might be seen as one who wishes to challenge her power.”

Mavis’s voice was little more than a whisper but it had been enough to cause a hush around the room.

What in the hell was she talking about? I’d never heard such nonsense. It must have been some coven thing.

“Mavis, you”—she looked around the room—“and the rest of you, need to read your books more carefully. It’s only seen as a challenge if the witch is a part of our happy little group, which she isn’t. And even if she were, there are several other things that have to happen before a challenge can be made.”

The relief made Mavis’s shoulders visibly drop. She turned her back on Peggy and reached out a hand to shake mine.

“My apologies, I’m sorry.” Her willowy fingers felt surprisingly firm against my own.

“It’s no problem really. Can I get you some tea?” I reached for the pot when she nodded yes, and poured her a cup.

“We’ve heard so many stories about you and your powers, and we’re all terribly frightened of you.” Her eyes widened in surprise. “Oh, no, I just said that out loud, didn’t I?”

I laughed and she put her head in her hands.

Ms. Helen reached across the table and patted the woman’s wrist. “There, there, Mavis. It’s okay. Bronwyn has a great sense of humor.”

The older woman turned to me. “You’ve got to forgive her. She’s had foot-in-mouth disease since the day she discovered her powers. She looks about as close to perfection as a woman can get, but she never says the right thing. Isn’t that so, dear?”

Mavis rolled her eyes and blew out a breath. “I’m afraid that’s true. Please forgive me. I’ll say the wrong thing at every turn through the entire lunch. By the end of the meal, you’ll want to knock me out with one of the teapots.”

“Oh, I’ve dined with worse, believe me.” I meant it. Through my years protecting various diplomats, I’d had to eat with some offensive and often ugly people. And I don’t mean scary looking. Just wicked on the inside. But Mavis wasn’t that way.

After that, she relaxed, as did most of the other women at the table. In all, eleven witches were there, and I talked with most of them.

A few of them continued to eye me with a wary look, but that’s something I’m used to when dealing with other magical folk. Tried to make it clear that I in no way wanted to harm anyone, but it didn’t help. Oh, well, never cared much about being the popular girl.

It was fun to sit and listen to some of the other women talk about their daily lives. The conversations centered on family, work, and children. Like any gathering of women, but it seemed strange since these women were all part of a powerful coven.

I believe that’s the secret to the success behind Sweet. People with power, and those in powerful positions in the town, want everything to be as normal as possible.

Some of the women invited me to their homes, and I may take them up on it. I’ve never been part of a community like this and it’s important to me.

Have just enough time to change into my ugly clothes before Sam and his protectors get here. Guess he thought he couldn’t handle a night alone with me, so he begged Caleb and Kira to come over too.

“We’ll get done a lot faster with help,” he promised.

“Yeah, right,” I told him. But I knew the game.

They’re bringing Chinese for dinner. Hope they don’t forget the dim sum.

Thursday, 7
A.M
.

Sweet, Texas

Witch’s friends who are boys: Too many

O
h, what a tangled web…Not gonna go there. It’s not my fault the fates conspire against me in the love department. Okay, maybe it’s a little bit my fault, but please. Even I couldn’t have foretold what happened last night.

Sam, Caleb, and Kira arrived, in overalls, loaded down with Chinese food, pink frosted cookies from the bakery (almost threw up when I saw them), and two six-packs of Mexican beer.

We set up in the breakfast room where I’d put Grandma Erma’s breakfast table and chairs. It’s a cozy nook with a bay window that looks out over the conservatory. It’s one of my favorite places in the house and I painted it red, to match the dining room, which is off to the left.

“I thought Kira and I could work on your downstairs bathrooms.” Caleb smiled at the librarian and grabbed her hand. “She loves to use power tools, and can put up the new hardware after we paint. Then I can move on to the next one.”

“We figured with the four of us working for a couple of hours tonight we could get tons done,” Kira chimed in. “And what I learn from your house, I can turn around and do to my own place.”

“In case I forget to say it later, you guys are the best.” I raised my bottle of beer, as did the others. “Here’s to the best friends a girl could have.” We clinked bottles. “I’ll be forever grateful, and anytime you need anything I’ll be happy to help.”

Kira and Caleb glanced at each other with suspicious smiles.

“What are you two up to now?” I raised an eyebrow and gave them my best “You better tell Mother what you are doing” look.

“Well…” Kira blushed.

“We’re talking about getting a place together here in Sweet.” Caleb finished her sentence.

Honestly, I thought it was kind of quick. They’d only known each other a couple months. But they were happy, so who was I to judge.

Smiled and hugged them both. “That’s really great.” I tried to sound like I meant it.

“That
is
a surprise. Did you find a place yet?” Sam had a secretive look that made me wonder what he really thought. When he glanced at me I realized he thought the same thing I did: it was too soon.

“No, we’re just in the talking stages. We thought about my place, but it’s so small.” Kira twisted a blonde curl around her finger. “We’re curious about the house down the road from you, Bron. Would that bother you?”

“Don’t be silly. There’s a good ten acres on this place so it’s not like you’d be right next door, and even if you were, that would be great. Can’t imagine better neighbors.”

“From the outside it looks like a great house, but we haven’t been able to figure out who lives there. Harry, the real estate guy in town, says it isn’t occupied but it’s not listed either. He’s doing some research to find out who it belongs to.”

I’d noticed no one lived there but hadn’t thought much about it.

“What about the magazine in Dallas?” Sam interjected.

Caleb had freelanced for the last ten years and lived in New York most of that time. Last May he moved to Dallas to work on a business magazine that had gained national recognition. It was Caleb’s investigative reporting on corporate fraud that gave the magazine all the media attention.

“Talked to my editor and he doesn’t care where I live, as long as I turn my assignments in on time. I’ve got a friend who wants to lease my apartment and says I can use the spare room whenever I’m in town.”

“Well, it sounds like you’ve got it all figured out. I want you both to be happy.” I gathered up the dishes and Caleb put his hand on mine.

“I know it may seem too soon, but we want to be together. This is right for us.” Caleb cocked his head and lifted an eyebrow.

I turned to look at Kira, who wore a hopeful face with tears brimming. They need my reassurance. I’m still not sure why, but I wouldn’t be the one to rain down on their love with my usual pessimism.

“You guys, I really am happy for you. And I’m here if you need me.” I smiled, my most genuine smile.

We tossed the remainder of the food in the fridge and Sam and I headed to the attic. I moved the boxes to the edge of the opening and he carried them down the ladder and into the bedroom.

When it came time to move furniture down, Caleb helped get the dresser and side tables into the new space. I opened up boxes and pulled out the art I wanted to use in the room.

Several of the pieces had been painted by my family. Grandma Erma’s water-colored mums blended seamlessly with Aunt Patricia’s acrylic paintings of whimsical fairies dancing in a forest filled with golden light.

“How do you do that?” Sam opened another box with the cutter and looked at me with amazement.

“What?” I had no idea what he was talking about.

“I’ve watched you hang photos and paintings and not once did you measure anything. And the crazy thing is, it all works.”

I laughed. “I’ve never been much on measuring except when it comes to potions. My mom can do the same thing. We look at something and just know when it’s right.”

“You know those photographs in my office?”

“The black-and-white ones?”

“Yes. It took me almost a month to decide exactly where they went. Then I consulted a book on the proper placement for photos and measured for hours to get the exact spot. My house has bare walls because I bought too much art and have no idea where to put it all.”

He put his thumbs in the straps of his overalls and looked like a good ole boy ready to plow the farm. The sophisticated Dr. Sam in overalls. Sweet really did rub off on people.

“Maybe I could help you with that.”

“Sure, just let me know when you want to come over.”

I realized in all the times we’d been together, never once had he invited me to his house. Discovered that I was more than a little curious to see how he lived. I’d seen his office, which looked like something off of Madison Avenue. Would he have the same taste at home?

“You know, you look pretty damn adorable in those overalls.” I pointed to his dusty denims.

He looked down and laughed.

“Caleb loaned them to me. I had on jeans and a sweater and he told me that wasn’t appropriate for the kind of work we’d be doing. He grabbed these for me out of his truck and made me put them on. Actually, they’re kind of comfortable.”

“Well, Farmer Sam, I think this room is just about done. How do you feel about doing some painting?”

“I’m yours for the evening; use me as you please.”

“Oh, you know better than to say something like that to me. It conjures up some very sexy, albeit wicked thoughts.”

He grinned. “Can’t say I haven’t thought about christening your new bed in here. But you know…”

“Yes, yes. We’re taking things slow. Any idea when we can get back to the sex part of our relationship?”

“Soon.” His eyes turned a deeper blue and the look he gave me made my insides melt like butter on a hot cinnamon roll.

“Okay, long as you know patience isn’t one of my best virtues.” I smiled and left him to ponder that as I walked into the hallway.

Noticed it was suspiciously quiet downstairs. Found Kira and Caleb in the kitchen looking more than a little guilty.

“Are you two making out in my kitchen?” Crossed my arms and waited in the doorway.

“No,” Kira said with her mouth full. “We’re eating all of the cookies. These things are heaven with icing.”

I would have agreed, had I not eaten an entire box so recently. Shook my head and walked to the fridge to get another beer.

“You guys eat all those you want, just make sure you leave a couple for Sam.”

He came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. I could feel a certain part of him had grown excited, and it made me laugh. All through the evening he’d found excuses to touch me.

“Did I hear you mention my name?” He squeezed me tight.

I turned in his arms and planted a kiss on his lips. Just for good measure I pressed my pelvis bone into his hardness to show him that I knew exactly how he felt. Then I pulled away to find the paint for the kitchen.

“If you want a cookie, you better hurry up. Kira and Caleb have just about eaten the whole dozen.”

“Hey, you guys, no fair.” Sam pushed his way between them. “Those are my favorite.” He sounded like a little boy who hadn’t been picked to be on the winning team.

“You children play nice and give Sam his cookie. He’s going to need all this strength tonight.” He turned and looked at me with a raised eyebrow. “Well, this kitchen isn’t going to paint itself.”

That made him chuckle.

Caleb and Kira pushed themselves off the kitchen counter and grabbed two paint trays. “We’ll help. We’ve got to do some touch-up’s in the bathrooms and we have to wait for the paint to dry first.”

Three hours later my kitchen had taken on a Mediterranean look. Dark golden walls with hues of brown and red made it very old world. A few more coats of glaze and it would be perfect. I needed to strip and refinish the cabinets and put up a stainless steel backsplash and it would be done.

At midnight we threw some sheets on the furniture in the living room to protect it from the paint and flopped down for a rest.

“I can’t thank you guys enough for everything tonight. You’ve done more for me in a few hours than I’ve been able to do in the four months I’ve lived here.”

“No problem.” Kira raised her teacup in a cheer. “Here’s to Bron’s happy new home.”

The others raised their cups in agreement.

“Thanks again and you’re welcome to crash here if you need to.” I gave Sam a look that told him exactly what I wanted.

“Oh, that’s sweet,” Kira said. “But I’ve got to open up the library early tomorrow. I’m in desperate need of a shower and my own pillow.”

“And my appointments start at seven-thirty tomorrow morning.” Sam tried to keep his voice light, but I knew he had no plans to stay.

Caleb and Kira gave us both a confused look but didn’t say a word. My guess is they figured Dr. Sam would sleep over and I’d take him to the office tomorrow. No such luck. Argh!

They all carried their cups to the sink, and then I walked them out to the truck. Two cars came up the driveway as we headed out.

“You expecting company?” Caleb asked.

“No.”

Two black Suburbans parked on each side of Caleb’s truck. The tinted glass kept me from seeing who was inside. The door opened, and Sheik Azir got out.

What in the hell?

“Bronwyn, so good to see you.” He took my hand in his and squeezed it.

“Sheik Azir, this is more than a surprise. What are you doing here?” I realized I’d been staring at the man and that he still held my hand. Glanced at Sam, who didn’t seem happy at all.

“We had mechanical difficulties with the plane and decided to land here to see if we could switch out jets.”

I shrugged. “Sure, no problem. As far as I’m concerned they’re both yours and you can use them whenever you like.”

“Bronwyn, you know that jet is yours free and clear. I gave it to you and I’m not taking it back. I only meant to ask a favor.” He frowned and touched my arm.

Sam, Caleb, and Kira had leaned against the truck and were taking in the conversation. The sheik suddenly realized they were there.

“Oh, my apologies. You have guests. How rude of me. I’m Azir. It’s nice to meet you.” He put out his hand.

They each shook it in turn.

Kira cocked her head to the side, taking in Azir’s caramel skin and chocolate eyes, laced with a fringe of long lashes. “So
you’re
the reason Bron’s been gone so much.”

At this revelation, Sam crossed his arms against his chest and his jaw tightened. Yep, that was one unhappy camper.

“I’m afraid I’ve kept her busy the last few weeks with some difficult projects. She’s become quite important to me.” He turned and smiled at me. But there was something sneaky in his eyes.

When Sam took a step forward Caleb grabbed his arm.

“Well, come on, good buddy, we better get on our way. You’ve got those patients in the morning.”

Sam didn’t say a word, but if a look could kill, the sheik would be as flat as a pancake run over by an eighteen-wheeler.

Before Sam got in the truck he walked over to me and planted a hard kiss on my lips. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Nice to meet you, Sheik,” he said as he stomped back to the vehicle.

“Would he be the reason you were so sad in the garden that night?” The sheik eyed me suspiciously.

“If you’ll hold on a minute, I’ll grab my keys and take you to the jet.”

“Avoiding the question, Bronwyn? I’ve always thought of you as a woman who tackles things head-on.”

“No, I just don’t discuss my private life with my clients.” I put my hands on my hips.

“So many rules where clients are concerned. But I thought we established in Oslo that we were more than business acquaintances.” He pointed a finger toward my house. “And if you remember, you offered your home to me anytime I wanted to visit.”

“You want to stay here? Tonight? I…um, we just painted, and it smells really bad. Wouldn’t you be happier at a hotel somewhere?” No. Way. He couldn’t be in such close proximity. I hadn’t made that charm yet to help me resist him.

“In Sweet?”

He had a point.

“We have some very nice bed-and-breakfasts in the area. Beautiful old mansions where I’m sure you”—I motioned to his people—“and your entourage would be quite happy.”

He made a motion toward the car and a man came out with a bag. “Are you afraid of me?” He shook his head. “I’ve been on the plane for the last eighteen hours and I’m exhausted. And I must admit I’m also very curious about this world you have separate from your work.”

“Well, it’s really hard to do that when my work shows up on my front lawn. Are they staying, too?” I pointed to the cars.

“Only my executive assistant, Maridad. You met her at Duban Industries. I didn’t think it proper for me to stay in a single woman’s home without some kind of chaperone. Maridad fits the bill quite nicely.”

“Whatever, sure. Hope she doesn’t mind the smell of paint.” I opened the door and he motioned for the woman to leave the truck and come inside. She suppressed a laugh and I knew she had something she wanted to say to me, but she didn’t dare.