Love Potions (10 page)

“Then, I’m not crazy.” Lydia’s whole body shook violently.

“No, darling, you are not crazy. But I have a feeling when I tell you what he’s done, you are going to be rightfully mad.”

“Cast a spell?” Lydia tried to comprehend all that Malina was saying. Erik considered her his? Erik cast a spell? “Tell me everything. Please, I have to know what’s going on. There are the dreams. And so many strange things have been happening since I met him.”

“Like?”

“Like this,” Lydia said softly. She took a deep breath, put out her arms and instantly the air in the room sped up like a fan had switched on. Only she was the fan. A paper blew across the floor and the curtains fluttered along the picture windows edges. Malina didn’t look at all shocked by the display. Dropping her arms, the wind slowly stopped. “What’s happening to me? What did he do to me?”

“Well you see, lassie. It’s like this. The men would tiptoe around this part, but at my age I can’t be bothered. We MacGregors are a clan of ancient warlocks and you are my brother’s
inthrall
. You are connected to him and can borrow his powers with a single touch. That thing you just did, calling the wind, that’s Erik’s power you are using. It’s different for everyone. His gift came in the form of weather. It may sound neat, but try being weatherman’s sister. He used to make it flood when I had a date so they’d cancel.”

“But I don’t want to be his
inthrall
.” She sat down on the chair, fidgeting.

“In this case, it wasn’t a choice. Unless you cast a spell to become one?”

Lydia shook her head in denial. “I wouldn’t know how.”

“Then you come by it naturally.” The woman shrugged as if it were no big deal. “If things get passionate, more power will be absorbed. I’m not sure all you have done with him, but if you were to have sex it would only make the powers you absorbed all the more potent. In fact, knowing Erik, he probably cast a spell on you the first time you were alone with him. Something small to relax you so you would be yourself around him without the awkwardness of having first met. He was never a very patient man.”

“You mean…?” Lydia stood and began to pace. She was getting a little irritated. It was bizarre that she could talk to a complete stranger like this, especially since that stranger was Erik’s sister. Something inside her told her she could trust Malina, even if she couldn’t completely trust the woman’s brother. “If I am what you say and he is…then, that means…? If he cast a spell to relax me, could it possibly make me do things I would never normally do?”

“I suppose.” Malina nodded, her brow furrowed in thought. “If inside you really wanted to do it but would never normally act on the instinct. Erik would never force you to like him or be with him against your will, but such a spell might speed up the course of nature.”

Lydia didn’t know whether to feel relief that she had an excuse for acting the way she did, or anger at Erik for making her act the way she did. It didn’t matter that she had enjoyed it. Not every impulse she had was meant to be followed. “I don’t know what to say.”

“I’ll let you think about what I’ve told you, but I’m sure you’ll have questions later.” Malina grinned, changing subjects. “Now, about these lotions.”

Lydia slowly nodded, going to get the samples. Was she crazy for believing Malina so readily? Maybe, but in truth it was the only explanation that made sense.

Grabbing a sample box out of the kitchen, Lydia carried it back to the living room. She had a feeling she and Malina were going to be friends—just as soon as she strangled the woman’s brother.

Chapter Seven

Time did not cool Lydia’s anger toward Erik over his little spell. In fact, all it did was give her an opportunity to plan ways to pay him back. With Malina’s help, she was able to make a special fragrance just for him. Her nervousness over Erik dissipated with the more time Lydia spent with his sister. Malina helped her channel some of the left over power flowing through her blood, controlling it.

Hugging the special gift basket close to her chest, while trying to carry the bags of lotions and soaps Malina had ordered, she waited at the MacGregor mansion’s front door. “We should have split this into two treks up the hill. My arms are killing me.”

“I still say this is strange.” Charlotte, her arms also laden with product, adjusted her weight, lifting her knees to inelegantly steady the bottom of her bag. “Yesterday you wouldn’t leave the house and today we’re delivering half our inventory to the very man you’ve been avoiding.”

Loud footsteps sounded on the other side of the door and Lydia gave her friend a slight smile. “Yesterday was a very interesting day.”

“I suppose,” Charlotte drawled. “Then again, you weren’t standing in line at the post office with pervert Brad staring at your ass while he slurped on a slushy. I told him he could go after they helped me carry the load inside, but he insisted on keeping me company. Apparently, I needed help watching my ass. He kept asking about you. Think he was angling for a threesome.”

“Gross, Char.” Lydia gave a small laugh. “I’m very proud of you for not stringing him from a flag pole like Buck Mitchell.”

“Buck
grabbed
my ass.” Charlotte said. “Big difference.”

“He was eight.”

“Old enough to know better. And he still asked me to prom in high school.”

Lively footsteps neared and the door was pulled open. By the look of the man, he was undoubtedly another MacGregor. This one had short dark hair. His bangs fell over brown eyes flecked with green. Damn, but the whole clan of them were undoubtedly attractive specimens of male perfection. This one was no Erik, but his cute, devil-may-care smile and sparkling eyes were just as charming.

“Iain, who is it?” came a voice.

Another MacGregor man poked his head around the corner. His hair was longer and his eyes were solid brown. He glanced first at Lydia, before stopping to stare at Charlotte. His mouth fell open, and he didn’t say another word.

Iain, the one with short hair who held the door, grimaced and pushed the second man back. “Forgive my brother, Euann, he has no manners. We only keep him around because every family needs an idiot.”

Euann grunted as he was shoved behind the door. Suddenly, his fist reappeared, slamming Iain in the shoulder with a loud pop.

Iain grinned. “Ladies, excuse me.”

Iain dove behind the thick oak door and the sounds of a scuffle ensued. Lydia shared a glance with Charlotte before they both rushed to peek at the fight. The two men growled at each other in a gruff foreign language as they wrestled around the floor.

“Och, not again!” A third MacGregor paused at the top of the stairs. His brown hair was tipped with blond. His green eyes filtered to Lydia and Charlotte, their arms still laden with packages. He quickened his pace, hurrying down the stairs. “What’s all this?”

“Hi, I’m Lydia Barratt. I live just down the hill. Malina ordered these products from my store yesterday, and I told her I’d deliver them this evening.” Lydia glanced at the two brothers, who paused in their fight to stare at her. Euann’s face was squished against the floor under Iain’s hand. “If this is a bad time, we can come back.”

“Och, no lassie, do not pay attention to my cousins. Every family needs a couple idiots and we keep them around for entertainment.” The man came to the end of the steps. “I’m Rory. Let me take those for ya.”

Rory took Lydia’s bags and set them on a long decorative oak table near the bottom of the stairs before doing the same for Charlotte.

“You’re Lydia?” Euann asked from the floor, sounding surprised. His words were muffled from Iain’s hand against his cheek, as his brother kept him pinned. “I didn’t recognize you—
mururphum
…”

Iain pushed his fingers over Euann’s mouth.

“Erik’s Lydia?” Iain asked, as if his position was the most natural in the world. At that moment, Euann grunted and bucked up, tossing his brother off him. Iain slid a few inches across the marble floor on his back.

Lydia didn’t know how to answer.

“Why don’t ya two go see if ya can unpack some manners?” Rory shook his head at his cousins. “There are plenty of boxes to look in.”

“Wow,” Charlotte said. “You’ve really cleaned this place up fast. It looks wonderful.”

“Aye,” Rory said. “Then again, there are a lot of us to attend to it.”

“If ya think this house is impressive, wait until I get the golf course put in. That will be a thing of beauty.” Iain picked himself up off the floor. “And shinty field.”

“Och, not again with the sports. I’m sure these ladies don’t want to hear about that,” Euann muttered.

“I love golf,” Charlotte stated. Lydia wondered at the challenging stare she gave Euann.

“Do ya now?” Iain grinned. He slapped Euann on the shoulder. “Maybe Lydia will let us trade ya for this one.”

“Actually, I’m rather partial to Charlotte,” Lydia answered.

“Och, ouch!” Euann grabbed his heart.

“Oh, no, I didn’t mean it like…” Lydia shut her mouth. Iain pushed Euann as he moved past him. Euann laughed.

“Though, I don’t know what shinty is,” Charlotte admitted.

“Oh, lass, ya don’t know what you’re missing!” Iain exclaimed.

“It’s only the best sport in the world,” Rory added. “Ya should come around next spring. We’ll have a shinty tournament and caber tossing.”

“It’s glorified Scottish field hockey,” Euann stated dryly. He met Charlotte’s stare as he righted himself. Lydia actually felt sorry for the guy. Two seconds into seeing Charlotte, he looked like a love-sick pup. With Charlotte’s complete oblivion to a man’s attraction, her friend would never even notice.

“This one hates sports,” Iain announced, nodding at Euann as if that was the worst offense of all. “We can’t understand how he can call himself a MacGregor and hate the two best sports in the world. I’ll tell ya what, as soon as the course is finished, ya can come play golf with us.”

“I’d love to.” Charlotte grinned.

“Ya wouldn’t happen to like whiskey as well, would ya?” Rory asked, offering his arm to Charlotte.

“I might,” she said.

“A lassie after our own hearts,” Iain proclaimed. He hooked his arm through Lydia’s.

“Where—?” Lydia tried to ask. She looked about, helpless as he tried to lead her from the room.

“Well, of course we expect Erik’s Lydia to stay for dinner,” Iain said. “Ya did not think we’d let ya escape once we had ya in our grasp, did ya? Malina was very clever to invite ya here tonight. She knew we’d be here to greet ya.”

Erik’s Lydia?

Lydia shivered, all too aware of the power these men had. She looked helplessly at Charlotte’s back as they were led deeper into the house. What had she done? Was it a mistake coming here? Should she have told Charlotte about the warlock’s powers? Lydia had tried, but everything she came up with sounded insane, and Charlotte had already been worried. She’d been so angry with Erik and intent on delivering his present that she hadn’t stopped to think about what would happen if she couldn’t leave the MacGregor mansion.

“Do not look so worried, lassie,” Iain said softly. “We’ll not bite ya.”

“Erik might,” Euann winked at her, grinning widely.

Not knowing what was coming over her, she couldn’t help herself as she said, “He’d better be careful. I bite back.”

…

Lavender and mint.

Erik’s heart quickened as he hurried downstairs. He’d been painting the far wing, expecting someone to bring him dinner. When no one did, he’d been forced to venture to the dining room.

The large pile of packages on the table near the bottom of the stairwell caught his attention. Lydia’s scent lingered in the front hall. She’d been there. Automatically he moved toward the front door, hoping he could find her and stop her before she had a chance to hide in her house again.

“She even drinks like a Scot!” Iain’s laughter stopped him. “That settles it. We’re selling ya, Euann, and giving this one your room.”

Erik froze. He could tell by the tone in his brother’s voice that they had visitors. He looked at the packages, this time seeing one labeled with his name. A small smile curled his mouth. Lydia was still there, and she forgave him. Why else would she bring a present? Erik excitedly glanced down at his clothes, before looking to make sure no one saw. He brushed is hand over his shirt, magically knocking off the dried paint stains from his old T-shirt and jeans. Yes, they could have magically painted the home, but they enjoyed old fashioned labor—at least for a few weeks until one of them grew tired of the chore and cast a spell to bring the paintbrushes to militant life. However, spells took energy and it would be a shame to sacrifice some of the old oak trees in the yard for such a purpose. Better they survey the gardens and protect the landscape they wished to keep first.

Next he ran his fingers through his hair to be sure it was clean, then over his face and arms. Satisfied he didn’t look too much like a mess, he turned his feet toward the dining room, eager to save Lydia from whatever playful torment his family had planned. Jokes and insults were being traded between his brothers and cousin when he entered. Instantly he smelled the old whiskey. They’d gotten into the liquor.

“Erik!” Iain proclaimed. He sat next to Charlotte at the oversized dining table. The poor woman tried to smile at him, but he could tell by the tightness in her face she was still trying to breathe over the hard fumes still burning in her throat.

Erik nodded at her before finding Lydia in the chair next to Charlotte. Rory sat on the other side of her. Lydia met his eyes briefly before turning them to the plate in front of her. There was so much he wanted to say, yet with his family around he wouldn’t be able to. Love them as he did, they’d not help the situation—especially with an open bottle of whiskey in front of them.

“Looks like ya started without me. Or did ya forget ya left me holding the paintbrush?” Erik asked. He jerked his head at Rory, silently gesturing that the man should move and let him take the seat next to Lydia. Rory grinned and didn’t stand. Instead, his cousin placed his hand on the back of Lydia’s chair and kicked his feet out in easy repose.

“I didn’t forget,” Iain assured him. “But we gave your Bridie pies to the ladies.”

Lydia looked at her plate and then him. He read the apology on her features before she could get it out.

“A worthy enough cause,” Erik put forth, stopping her words. “Where’s the banshee?”

“Malina’s in town placing orders with the locals,” Iain said. “She said something about towels, sheets, robes…” He waved a dismissing hand.

Erik winked at Euann as he made his way toward Lydia. “Told ya she’d take over if we invited her down.”

Euann lifted his whiskey shot in acknowledgement before tossing it back.

Then, grabbing Rory by the shirt collar, he forced the man to his feet and tossed him aside. He took the now empty chair next to Lydia. She looked at him, stunned. He smiled, took her hand and lifted it to his mouth. He kissed the back of her fingers. Softly, he said, “I’m glad ya came.”

Lydia pulled away from him and folded her hands in her lap. “Malina ordered supplies and asked me to deliver them. I’d be foolish to turn away such a big new client.”

Rory gasped suddenly and pointed toward the ceiling. “I have golf balls in the attic!”

“No ya don’t,” Euann said.

“I do,” Rory insisted. “We can hit them off the roof.”

Iain instantly rose to his feet. He grabbed the whiskey with one hand and Charlotte’s arm with the other. He pulled the slightly inebriated woman to her feet. “Come on then, love.”

“Wait,” Lydia said, standing, “she doesn’t know about…”

Iain smiled knowingly. “Don’t ya worry, Lydia, I promise not to let her fall off.”

Charlotte laughed. “I think I know enough not to fall off a roof.” Then to Iain, she said, “We should cut Lyd off. I think she’s had too much to drink.”

Lydia didn’t look like she’d had anything to drink. The wine glass in front of her was untouched.

“I don’t think we’ve had enough,” Iain answered.

“Right you are!” Charlotte agreed. “To the roof!”

“To the roof!” Iain and Rory repeated in unison.

“Aye,” Euann drawled without enthusiasm, not as excited but undoubtedly going to flirt with Charlotte and drink whiskey, “to the roof.”

“I should go keep an eye on Charlotte.” Lydia tried to follow Euann. “You all probably enchanted the clubs or something.”

“Och, no!” Euann said. “No magick when it comes to sports.”

“Some things are sacred,” Erik added. “And we don’t enchant objects. It never goes right.”

Before he left the room, Euann grinned and mumbled to himself, “Besides, I hid all of the golf balls. Good luck trying to find them.”

“I should still go keep an eye on her,” Lydia stepped toward the door.

“No, wait, I want to talk to ya.” Erik made a move to grab her arm, but stopped himself.

“But Charlotte doesn’t know about your family,” Lydia answered. She met his eyes briefly and then looked away.

“And ya do know?”

“Malina came to see me. She had a lot of interesting things to say.” Lydia crossed her arms over her chest.

Mo chreach!
She was lovely even when she was mad at him. Let her be upset, at least she was talking to him.

Erik grimaced. “Did she?”

“Oh, yeah. And you should be worried. I know all about your little memory erasing spell. I spent days trying to figure out what happened to me. I almost checked myself into a mental institution at one point.”

“Did ya now?”

“No,” she admitted before declaring, “But I could easily well have.”

“You’re angry,” he stated.

“Yes, I’m angry!” Lydia yelled. “You whammied my head.”