by Nicole Hall
~Nicole
Rebellious Magic
Modern Magic - Book 5
1
DRU
What was the point of having magical powers if she couldn’t use them to smite her enemies? Dru Collins glared at the barista—was a male coffee slinger still called a barista?—and propped her head on her fist. He wasn’t even trying to look busy, and yet her drink still hadn’t been fixed. How hard could it possibly be to dump coffee and milkshake mix into a blender?
Hard enough that her first one hadn’t been blended at all. Dru tried to prod him into movement with sheer will, but no luck. Across the bistro table, her roommate, Samantha, shook her head as she watched.
“That’s never going to work.” She sipped her drink, perfect as usual with her neat ponytail and tailored suit.
“Don’t tell me what to do, devil woman.” Dru threw in a pout when the barista moved away from the blenders to serve another customer.
“First, you need better taste in movies. Second, the line is ‘don’t tell me my business, devil woman’.” Samantha rolled her eyes. “If you’re going to come at me with quotes, at least get them right.”
“So bossy.” Dru finally turned her back on the counter to focus on Samantha. “He’s not even trying. It’s been like fifteen minutes since I went up there, politely, I might add, and asked for my actual order.”
“You could remind him. Maybe he forgot.”
“No. It’s a matter of principle now.”
Samantha shrugged. “Your loss. Have you heard from Nick?”
Dru sighed. “Yeah, he was delayed by his job, and he’s not sure when he’ll be here now. At least his stuff got moved in. Honestly, I don’t know what I was thinking trying to share a room with him and Keely. It was so lucky that she met Seth at just the right time.”
“That was convenient.”
Dru took a moment to appreciate Seth’s fine form in her mind. Tall, muscled, with golden eyes and a wicked grin, Seth could be on the cover of one of her beloved sexy books. She assumed Samantha imagined the same thing in the lull because Keely’s guy was hot.
“Anyway, Nick takes up more space than Keely, but I don’t mind.”
Samantha put her cup down and met Dru’s eyes. “You’re absolutely sure you want to room with him? I know it was your idea, but as the owner of the lease, I have no problem with telling him to look elsewhere if you’re not comfortable.”
Dru grinned at Samantha’s protective streak. She’d expect nothing less from the alpha roommate. “I’m sure. He’s my best friend. Can we—"
She halted abruptly as a cute guy with short, chestnut hair and a dimple stopped next to their table. He smiled wide, but it didn’t quite reach his brown eyes. “I heard there was a lady in need of a drink.”
He set a frosty blended coffee in front of Dru, but Samantha answered him.
“Thank you, but she’s not interested.”
His eyes narrowed. “I’d like to hear that from her.”
Dru nodded. “I’m not interested.”
He inclined his head and moved away to claim a table in the corner. She watched him for a second, but he pulled out a tablet and didn’t look back their way. Water beaded on the outside of the plastic, and the creamy drink called to her. When Dru reached for the straw he’d dropped next to it, Samantha slapped her hand away.
“Don’t drink that.”
Dru frowned at her. “Why not? This is clearly my drink. It has my name on it.” She picked up the cup and turned it to display the name scrawled in black.
“He could have done anything to that. I swear I can’t take you anywhere. I’m not carrying your limp body back to the house if you pass out.”
Dru snorted. “I’d like to see you try in those heels.”
Samantha leaned back and smirked, stretching her long legs in front of her to admire the shoes in question. “Honey, I can sprint across the financial district in these heels.”
Another voice carrying a hint of an accent spoke from behind Dru. “I remember those heels.”
The smile faded from Samantha’s face, replaced with a dainty scowl. “Fancy seeing you here, Luc.”
Dru spun in her seat to see two men approaching from the door. The one in front, Luc, she recognized in passing, dark hair, artful stubble, open collar under an expensive looking suit. He worked with Samantha. Or near her. Or against her? Dru wasn’t sure, but they had some kind of work connection.
The other man drew her eyes even as Luc inclined his head in greeting. Tall. Broad. Confident. The last one stopped her short. He stood there in jeans, a definite oddity among the suits and dresses everyone else wore. His massive biceps strained the fabric of his plain tee shirt, and the dark edge of a tattoo peeked out from under his sleeve. A backward hat finished off the gym rat look without trying too hard.
A gym rat in an upscale coffee shop. This one had a story. Would he be as arrogant as he was attractive?
He met her gaze and raised a dark brow. She’d probably been staring, but Dru had never been accused of being subtle. She wanted to paint him. Oils over watercolors maybe. Something vivid to match his blue eyes.
“Dru?” Samantha’s voice dragged her attention away from the preliminary sketch in her head.
“Hmm?” She turned around to face her surly friend.
“Are you going to try for a third drink?”
Dru blinked, then remembered why she’d been annoyed ten seconds ago. “No. Karma wins this one.”
Luc took her hand and kissed it. “I don’t believe we’ve been introduced. Luc Marsyas, at your service. It would be my pleasure to order you a new drink if this one isn’t to your liking.”
Dru pulled her hand back and surreptitiously wiped it on her dress pants. “Really putting it on strong there, but no thanks.”
He laughed, and beckoned the other man forward. “This is my associate, Oren Ashir. He’s new in town.”
Samantha mumbled a polite greeting, and Dru waited to see if the big guy’s voice lived up to his physique.
“Nice to meet you.” His eyes skimmed over Samantha to settle on Dru again, and she forgot to breathe for a second. The rich, low baritone confirmed her suspicion that this guy—Oren—might be too perfect.
“Dru Collins.”
Oren didn’t try to touch her, which made Dru happy. She hated touching people she didn’t know. Who knew where they’d been?
“May we share your table?” Luc asked the question innocently, but the look he gave Samantha asked something else entirely.
Dru expected Samantha to politely refuse—Samantha was always polite to acquaintances—but her spine stiffened as she gathered their cups.
“I’d rather set my hair on fire. You can have the table.”
She stood and tossed the drinks in the trash, walking out the door without a backward glance. Dru grabbed her bag and popped out of her seat, glancing at the men with wide eyes.
Luc never dropped his bemused smile. “She always did love a dramatic exit.”
Oren looked like he was holding in a laugh. Too bad Samantha had lost her mind. Dru would have enjoyed getting to know these guys. She sighed and gave them a little finger wave as she followed Samantha out of the café.
Her insane roommate waited for her on the sidewalk, massaging her temples.
“What the hell is wrong with you? I thought Luc was a work friend or something.”
Samantha dropped her hands, a frown still marring her face. “Not a friend. We work in the same building and in similar fields.”
“What about Oren?” They joined the flow of pedestrian traffic marching back toward Samantha’s office and Dru’s subway stop.
Samantha shook her head. “I’ve never met him before. He’s not Luc’s usual type. I wonder if he’s a client.”
Dru fanned herself. “As long as he’s not with Luc, I’m happy. That means I have a chance.”
They slowed as the light in the intersection changed, stopping at the edge of the busy street. Samant
ha gave her a considering look. “I can’t speak for Luc, but Oren couldn’t stop staring at you. He’s a little big for my taste, but there aren’t many men I’ve met that make you look short.”
Dru gave her a little curtsey. “Six feet plus in these heels. Fabulous, by the way. I don’t know how you find such comfortable shoes.”
Before she could get fully upright again, a sudden shove in the middle of her back sent her stumbling forward, directly into traffic. From somewhere behind her, she heard Samantha shout her name, but panic made her hyper focused on the SUV barreling toward her as she fell.
Time slowed to a crawl. She sucked in a breath and gathered her magic, not sure what she intended to do with it. Her arms flailed for balance as her foot slipped off the curb. At the last second, someone grabbed her arm in a tight grip and yanked her backwards.
The force spun her around, and Dru smacked against a firm chest. She looked up, way up, to meet Oren’s eyes. A tingle chased across her skin and a brush with magic not hers made her gasp softly. Both their chests rose and fell with jagged breaths as the world caught up.
“Dru!” Samantha pulled her away from Oren and checked her for injuries. “Are you okay?”
The crowd gave her a little space, but when the light changed, they had to move or be trampled. Oren guided them away from the street to where Luc stood under an awning.
Dru grabbed Samantha’s frantic hands. “I’m fine. Thanks to Oren.” She turned and smiled at him. “Nice reflexes, by the way.”
“I’m glad you weren’t hurt.”
Samantha frowned at the two men. “What were you doing there anyway? Were you following us?”
Luc scoffed. “Yes. We definitely weren’t walking back to my office, which happens to be in the same building as yours.”
Her eyes narrowed at him. “Where’s your coffee, then?”
He shrugged. “We decided not to indulge today.”
Dru broke in before Samantha could level any more accusations. “Don’t you two have to go back to work at some point?”
Luc and Samantha both checked their watches. Samantha swore. “I’m going to be late for a meeting.”
“Go. Test your theory about running in those stilettos. I’ll be fine.”
Samantha squeezed her hand. “Call me if you need anything.”
Dru nodded and sent her off with a smile. She hurried away, digging her cell phone out of her purse. Luc shared a look with Oren, then sauntered after Samantha. She stiffened up as soon as he reached her, and Dru wished she knew why Samantha disliked him so much. Definitely something to ask tonight over dinner.
Without anywhere pressing to be, Dru turned to Oren. “Thanks again for saving me.”
“You’re welcome.”
Dru waited a beat, but he didn’t say anything more. “Not really talkative, are you?”
He chuckled. “I can be. I’m just not sure what to make of you.”
She tried not to be offended by that. Even Keely claimed Dru’s personality was intense, and that girl was the nicest person she’d met on the planet. Still, she’d hoped this guy in particular wouldn’t be scared away.
Dru tried for a nonchalant shrug, though she’d be disappointed if Oren turned out to be a dick after all. “Let’s try this. How tall are you, exactly? And can you bench press a car? Maybe a pyramid of cheerleaders?”
His chuckle turned into a full-blown laugh. “Six foot five, and I’ve never tried, but I can definitely lift a tall, sassy female with one hand.”
His eyes raked over her, and Dru’s pulse picked up. She still felt the residual effect of being pressed against his chest, a prickle of magic over a layer of heat. The sensation made her want to reach out and touch him again.
She curled her fingers into her palm. Better not start petting the chests of near strangers. “I should get going too. I have work to do.”
“May I escort you?” His formal words made her pause, but she shrugged. If he wanted to harm her, he could have simply not caught her when she’d been about to faceplant into oncoming traffic. She’d planned to take the subway back, but the walk wasn’t too bad either.
“Sure, but I should warn you that I expect you to talk.”
“I think I can manage that.”
After a block of strained silence, Dru had second thoughts. Sure, Oren had saved her from being flattened, but maybe that meant he wanted her in one piece for his own nefarious needs. She didn’t know Luc, and even he’d only claimed Oren as an acquaintance, not a friend. Then again, the mystery sent a little thrill through her. Plenty of people surrounded them on the sidewalk, so as long as she didn’t go down any deserted alleys, Dru felt fairly safe.
There was one easy way to assuage her nervousness that she excelled at. Asking questions.
Dru snuck a glance at him, but his profile didn’t reveal much other than he didn’t marvel at New York City like most tourists.
“How do you know Luc?”
“He helped me locate someone.”
Dru waited, but again, he didn’t elaborate. “Okay, we’ve had our meet-cute, you’ve saved my life, now we’re conveniently alone on a busy street. This is the part where we get to know each other a little before we rashly jump into bed together.”
That got his attention. His gaze cut to her, and his brow furrowed. “I’m not walking with you just to get you into bed.”
Dru shrugged. “Too late. According to the rules, we’re now destined to end up together. The more we fight the draw, the worse our situation will end up.”
Oren shoved his hands in his pockets. “What rules would those be?”
“The rules of every rom-com ever. Guy and girl meet. Hotness and hijinks ensue. I’m a firm believer that life imitates art.”
“And our story is a rom-com instead of, say, a tragedy?”
“With me involved? Yeah, it’s a rom-com.”
“Your rules are capricious. What if I’m the villain?”
“Then unfortunately, I’m going to have to kick your ass when we get to my house.”
He chuckled. “Maybe some other time, kalia. Why are we going to your house?”
Dru skirted around a woman pushing a stroller and shook her head. “I do most of my work from home. I’m an artist, mostly painting, but I dabble in digital. Right now, I’m making a bunch of art for an upcoming ad campaign with a major company. I can’t tell you more or they’ll send ninjas or something.”
“Ninjas?”
She grinned. “It’s what I would do, but I didn’t read the contract that close. What does kalia mean?” Dru tended to jump from topic to topic during conversations, but Oren took it in stride. He seemed to be a stride kind of guy.
“Where I’m from, it’s a small animal that will fiercely protect its home, even against a much larger opponent.”
She scrunched her face. “Did you just call me small?”
“To me, everyone is small.”
A warm little glow started in her chest. She’d never been small. Amazon. Giant. Twig girl. The last one had stuck a lot longer than she’d hoped. Kids were assholes. They turned the corner, and she spotted her row house at the end of the next block. Not much time left to make a decision about him.
“I’ll take that as a compliment and ignore the part where you called me an animal.”
He slanted a look at her that she couldn’t read. “To be an animal is sometimes better than a man.”
“You’re really not from around here, are you?”
“Why do you ask?”
“You have weird speech patterns.”
Oren frowned. “I’ll have to work on that.”
Dru stopped outside the wrought-iron gate and turned to face Oren. “This is my place. Thanks for walking me home.”
“My pleasure.” He took in their little courtyard, and his eyes lingered on a potted plant she’d recently moved. The courtyard got a lot more sun than their shady backyard, and that particular plant liked warmth and light. She’d rescued it from Samantha, who’d gotten
it as a gift from one of her clients. Samantha and plants did not mix.
His attention returned to her, and Dru felt that little thrill again. “Isn’t this the part where you invite me inside?”
Dru crossed her arms. “You mean after that enlightening conversation where I learned very little about you? I thought you weren’t interested in my bed?”
He grinned, and the wicked gleam in his eyes turned that thrill into urges. Naughty urges. “I said I wasn’t just interested in your bed.”
She gave him a slow once-over. “You’re not that pretty.” It was a bold-faced lie, but Dru had a lot of experience in lying with confidence.
“Yes I am, but I’m happy to thwart your rules for once. I’d like to talk to you more.”
She raised a brow. “About you or me?”
“Both.”
Dru didn’t know why she was arguing. The man got her lady parts revving, and he’d saved her ass. The least she owed him was a real conversation. “Okay, but I need to work for a while. Come back tonight. If you’re lucky, Samantha will make us dinner.”
“What if I’m not lucky?”
“Then the rules state that a hilarious mishap will force us apart and you may never find out whether or not you’re pretty enough.”
Oren laughed and shook his head. In a movement that demonstrated his speed once again, he captured her hand and brought it up to his mouth for a kiss. “I’m glad we met, kalia.” He released her, turned, and walked away with his hands in his pockets.
Dru watched him leave, her heart racing. His kiss had felt like old school wooing instead of a smarmy come-on. For once, she didn’t want to wipe off her hand.
Dru had changed into her most comfortable college shorts and a tank top as soon as she’d gotten home. Dress clothes were a necessary evil as far as she was concerned. Constricting and boring didn’t appeal to her. She wanted to be able to move in what she wore.
Now several hours later, Dru’s back ached from sitting hunched over her computer for so long. She could spend days painting standing at an easel, but sitting at the dining table making miniscule adjustments to her art gave her a headache.
