by Emelia Blair
His accent is still the same, but there is suddenly something more cultured about it, and it leaves me baffled. “W-what do you mean?”
He’s looking over at where Stacy is serving coffee to some customers and chatting and he says, “It’s more relaxed than any kind of diner I’ve seen. Everybody knows everybody.”
I smile, a little proud of my hard work. “Well, it’s a small town. It’s not uncommon for that to happen. But this is a very family orientated place. When I started setting this up, everybody pitched in.” I straighten up enough to look around, happily. “I didn’t have enough money so people would stop by, help me paint the walls, help me set up. It was a joint effort. We look out for each other in this town.”
Finn is staring at me now. “They’re quite welcoming. Reminds me of when I lived in Dublin as a boy.”
My lips curve into a slight smile. “So, that’s where you’re from?”
“Well, no. I lived there till I was fifteen and then I moved to WestHallor to live with my grandmother. Refused to shake off the accent though. She hates it.” He chuckles with the last part.
My headache is slightly subsiding and I’m starting to feel a little hungrier now. I eye the sandwiches in the display case and murmur, “From Ireland to England. That’s a bit far off from our little town here.”
Finn’s small smile doesn’t reveal anything as he shrugs, calmly. “Is it?”
I’m not really paying attention, motioning to Stacy to get me a sandwich and something to drink but then I turn to meet his steady gaze. “I would say so. What brings you here?” The man might have cured my hangover. It might be a little too early to tell but I’m definitely feeling better a few minutes into the ugly tasting drink. Since I had been bemoaning the fact that I might have to go around the whole day in this horrifying state, I’m beyond grateful to him.
At my question, Finn just smiles again. “Nothing worth mentioning at this particular moment.” He shifts in his seat, getting comfortable, and then pins me with his eyes. “So, tell me Miss—”
“Just Clara, please,” I say, hastily, unable to handle the way he says ‘Miss Clara’. It makes me feel strange, almost raw and naked. He shouldn’t be able to make it sound so blatantly sexual but he does.
He blinks and then a slow smirk unravels on his lips, before he says, “All right. Clara, then.”
Why does that sound even worse?
“I was wondering, Clara…” He smiles at me now.
Even though it’s an innocent smile, I feel like I’m being watched by a predator, my heart beating a little wildly in my chest. He’s not even doing anything!
As if he doesn’t notice my flushed cheeks, he continues, “If you could tell me about some of the sights I could see here? Maybe some good tourist spots?”
Just then, Stacy puts down a cold cut sandwich that I’d prepared this morning and a cup of coffee. She glances over at Finn, a pretty blush on her cheeks.
He just gives her that rakish smile that would warm any woman over.
Maybe I’ve had too long of a dry spell, I wonder as I bite into the sandwich. It would explain why I’m acting like a hormonal teenager around this man. “Thanks, Stacy. Can you do a quick inventory of the beans in the back? Bert is coming by in an hour and I want to give him an estimate.”
Stacy nods and after another shy glance towards the Irishman sitting across from me, she leaves.
Finn is watching her walk away.
I say, flatly, “Don’t even think about it. She’s in high school.”
Finn turns towards me. “Brunettes aren’t my type.”
I sip at the coffee. “Oh, yeah?”
He watches me from under the hood of his lashes. “I seem to have a thing for prickly blondes.”
I splutter, the mouthful of coffee still in my mouth and swallow with great difficulty, coughing as I attempt it. Grabbing the napkin, I wipe my mouth while glaring at him, simultaneously. “Who’re you calling prickly?”
His eyes widen, fractionally, and there’s laughter in them. “I apologize. There’s nothing prickly whatsoever about you.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Just when I was thinking I could maybe get along with you.”
His knees brush mine as he pulls his chair closer, saying silkily, “There are other ways to do that.”
“Look, you perv—”
“You could show me around town.”
My face turns red.
Again, he looks amused. “Well, guess I’m not the pervert here, after all.”
I glower at him. “I don’t have time to—”
“Your Aunt said you’d do so,” he interrupts.
I pause and hesitantly ask, “Which aunt?”
“Veronica.”
Well, damn it. She’s the scary one.
If Aunty Vee did say that, and I refuse it, there will be unlimited lectures in my future. However, I want to spend as little time around this man as possible. His presence makes me self-conscious and I don’t like it. “Well,” I shift in my seat, uncomfortably, trying to mentally weigh which situation is worse: getting lectured by Aunt Vee or an evening with this man. Finn wins by a mile and a half. “I guess I can take you once the dinner rush dies down.”
He stands up, looking satisfied. “It’s date then.”
He starts walking away and I call out, annoyed, “It’s not a date.”
He raises a hand in the air, saying over his shoulder with a smug tone, “Sure it is, Darlin’.”
Bastard.
The dinner rush sees my two aunts show up and I serve them the smoked salmon, the main dish on the menu today, along with roasted potatoes. There’s also hot lentil and chicken soup, a recipe I’d bribed an Italian friend of mine to part with.
Both my aunts have a difference of one year between them. But they’re both brunettes with blue eyes, and wildly independent. While we may look as different as night and day, we all share the same birthmark on our right wrist. It’s in the shape of a moon. Women of the Winter family have always been born with this particular birthmark. It’s a sign of our magical heritage or so my aunts have always told me.
While Aunt Vee is more business minded and handles the B&B they run out of our large ancestral home which has more than ten bedrooms, Aunt Helen runs a small herb shop in the business district of the town. Her shop usually has little knick knacks but she sells herbal tonics which are surprisingly effective.
“Aunt Vee…” I put down her plate in front of her, looking irritated. “Did you tell that Irish guy that I’d show him around town?”
She raises a brow at this. “He’s well educated, handsome, and I’ve got a good feeling about him.”
Of course. She has a feeling. I keep forgetting about those feelings of theirs.
“Regardless,” I tell her, stubbornly. “I don’t like him.”
“Sure you do, honey.” She waves away my protests.
“I have to look after the dinner rush, you know.”
“That’s why we’re here. We’ll lock up for you.”
The stare off between us ends with me looking away first, defeated, as always. “Fine,” I mumble.
Aunt Helen reaches out to pat my hand. “You’ll enjoy it, sweetheart.”
I don’t say anything.
Aunt Vee then looks at me from the corner of her eye. “You sure weren’t complaining when you made out with him last night.”
“Oh, dear God!” I exclaim and walk away to the sound of her laughing and Aunt Helen scolding her for teasing me.
Danny is here, once again, with Ben in tow, and I serve the younger boy some fried chicken and chips, while his brother devours the soup, his face smudged with soot again.
“What were you doing today that has you looking so dirty?” I ask, stealing one of Ben’s fries, and chewing on it, slowly.
“I’m a firefighter, babe. If we don’t look all mussed up, we’re not doing our job right.” He flashes me a disarming smile. “I rescued a kitten out of a tree today.”
�
��Was it Sharon’s kitten?” I ask, my lips twitching.
He avoids my gaze as he answers, “So what if it was?”
“How did it get up the tree? It can barely climb on the sofa.”
“It’s a cat,” he says, fidgeting with his spoon. “They are one of God’s mysterious creatures.”
“You’re so full of shit, Danny.” I laugh. “Desperate is a new look for you.”
“Oh, shut up,” he mutters.
“It’s a good look,” I tease.
He growls at me. “I don’t know what you’re so damn happy about.” He waggles his brows, his eyes lighting up in sadistic delight. “Don’t you have to go put on some makeup or something for your arranged date?”
I scowl.
Chapter 3
A half hour with Finn has me begrudgingly admitting that I might just be biased for no reason.
The man is wickedly charming. He has a cultured way of speaking, refined and full of class but his accent is thick.
But…I just don’t know what to make of him.
He’s wearing a long trench coat and a suit underneath which I find odd. Why would he wear a suit while on vacation? I’m adamant on being polite to him though, so I don’t ask him. We’ve been walking around the town park which has been decorated with green, red and yellow fairy lights and it makes for a mesmerizing sight.
“Is it always so beautiful here?” He asks.
I pull my woollen hat over my ears, feeling them burn from the cold, “Not always. Christmas in less than two months. We always start decorating after the first of November. This is just the start.”
He glances my way, a question in his eyes.
I shove my hands in the pockets of my jacket, wishing I’d layered up under the jacket. “We have a yearly competition every Christmas. Whichever shop does the best Christmas décor gets a trophy and gets a free two person dinner at Val’s.”
“Val’s?”
“It’s a fancy restaurant. Very posh and all. It’s not just for the dinner though. It’s fun. I won the year before last and Mayor Roger gave me this sash that I wore around everyone just to piss them off.” I snicker. “And then me and Danny went to dinner afterwards.”
Finn pauses and asks, “You and Danny, you’re together?”
I grin at the idea. “Sometimes we are and sometimes, we’re not.”
Finn stares at me.
I smirk to myself. Let him think what he wants. I’ve always been very open with my sexuality. It’s never been something I feel ashamed of. I’m not promiscuous but if and when I want a lover, it’s not hard to find one. It’s just that this particular year has been sort of dull.
“That’s not a yes or a no.”
I give him a mocking smile. “Considering it’s none of your business, I think that’s all you need to know.”
There’s a gleam in his eyes as he replies, “Considering that I want you in my bed, I think it is my business.”
I stumble over my feet only for him to catch me, a strong arm looping around my waist. I stare up at him, stunned. His eyes darken, imperceptibly, and for a moment it feels like I can see gold specks in the amber of his eyes. There’s a hunger in his gaze that my body seems to recognize and reacts to. Something in my expression must have given it away because his arm tightens on my waist, pulling me closer to him till I’m pressed against the hard muscles of his frame. I tremble at the heat coursing through my blood. I’m hyper aware of where his fingers are digging in, despite the jacket I’m wearing.
He’s just watching me, hungrily.
Yes, I know – I know that if I let him, I could get him out of my system tonight. It would be so easy to sleep with him and be done with it. Yet, a part of me hesitates. There’s a knowing inside of me that this isn’t the right time or the right moment. This is the part of me that has helped me make decisions over the years, letting me decide when I’m stuck at a crossroads. My aunts call it a gift from my blood. And this gift is telling me to step back. My own reaction to this man frightens me; it’s so intense.
Finn’s eyes are on my face and after what seems like forever, he releases me, stepping back with an exasperated amusement. “Not right now, then.”
My heart is beating so fast that I’m scared he might be able to hear it. “I’m not going to sleep with you.”
There’s an endearing look on his face right now, mixed with affection. He takes my limp hand and lifts it to his lips, his eyes fixed on mine. “Are you trying to convince me or yourself?”
I open my mouth but nothing comes out.
“Has no one ever tried to seduce you before?”
The childish part of me hisses in irritation, before I can stop myself. “I’ll have you know, I have been seduced plenty of times before!”
Good job, Clara, I groan to myself. Now he probably thinks you’re the town slut. You sure showed him.
Finn’s lips twitch and he says in a gravelly tone, “I’ll take your word for it. I guess I’ll have to work extra hard.” That Sphinx-like smile that is so unique to him, reappears on his lips.
Then before he can say anything else, I slap my hand on his mouth, desperately. “One more word about anything related to that and this tour is over.”
When he arches his brow, I narrow my eyes at him. “I mean it. One more word and I’m out.”
Although technically, I have enough grounds to leave right now, my feet still refuse to. It’s like I know I’m playing with fire but I just want to get a little scorched.
He studies me and then realizes I’m not playing around. He grasps my wrist and lowers my hand. “Very well.”
I swallow heavily and we continue walking. However, there’s this sharp awareness between us and it has me on edge. He’s not doing anything to break the tension and I know it’s deliberate on his end.
Manipulative little bastard.
“Further ahead is Wicca Lake. It’s a two hour hike,” I say, finally, in a casual airy tone. “We can go take a look if we want unless you’re scared of ghosts.” I shoot him a sly look.
“Ghosts?”
Why does he sound so intrigued?
“Yeah.” I shrug off my irritation at his seeming interest. “Back when the town was founded, it is said that of the three founding families, the Winter family were all witches, well the females that is. The legend goes that the town prospered under them for a decade before they were ostracized by the town people. They were then burnt at the stake, their bodies tossed in the lake. That very night, the water of the lake that had always been so clear, turned black and once a month, if you know when to look, the lake’s water is pitch black. And when that happens, all the dead witches come out to haunt the surface of the water.”
“Aren’t I staying at the Winter Mansion? Wasn’t all the family murdered?” Finn asks, a sincere interest alive in his voice.
“As it goes, Wicca Springs prosperity diminished overnight. The town struggled but it was falling into ruin. Then, two generations later, a woman showed up claiming to be the last of the fallen Winter family. She had a husband and a daughter with her. The townspeople welcomed them back with open arms, desperate for relief. The town archives say that Selena Winter revived the town in a year. Her daughter went on to marry a local blacksmith and the bloodline continued. The bloodline and the name of the Winter family is carried forward by the women. It’s always been that way.”
“How did they know she was who she said she was?”
I smile mischief in my tone as I answer, “Every daughter of the Winter family is born with a very particular birthmark on her right wrist.”
His gaze automatically goes to my wrist. “Does that mean…?”
I shrug, tucking both hands inside my pockets, securely. “Let’s head back.”
“But—”
“It’s so cold,” I say, loudly. “And I’m tired.” As I start walking in the other direction, I see him watching me with his eyes narrowed and I laugh silently all the way back to the main street.
“So, how w
as it?”
I jump in surprise when hearing Aunt Helen’s voice from behind me and nearly drop the hot chocolate in my hands. “Why’re you still up?” I ask, sitting down across from her.
She’s in a steel grey night gown and I have to admire how graceful and elegant she looks despite her age. Both my aunts have no shortage of suiters but it’s always mystified me as to why they refused to marry.
“I thought you might want to talk.”
Both my aunts are as different as night and day. Aunt Vee is more aggressive while Aunt Helen is gentler, kinder. But what they share is a very sharp sixth sense. Aunt Helen can always tell when something is troubling me. She doesn’t even have to be in the same room or house. There have been times when I would get a call from her at a very stressed out moment or she would send someone with some herbal tea leaves with instructions that I brew them and drink them almost instantly.
Aunt Vee, on the other hand, has always known when I’m up to no good. Whenever I tried to sneak out of the house for a party or brought a boy around, she’d know. I’ve never managed to figure out how but she would always be there.
When I had my heart broken for the first time at a party I’d managed to sneak out to, she had been waiting outside for me in the car. She hadn’t scolded me, just taken me for ice-cream at one in the morning, and let me cry in her arms. When I had gotten home, Aunt Helen had been waiting in her nightgown with a cup of tea for me. She’d cuddled me and comforted me and I’d never felt more loved than in that moment.
They love me, unconditionally.
I reach out and grasp Aunt Helen’s hand. “What would I do without you?”
“Still be a terrible cook, I imagine,” Aunt Vee’s came voice from the doorway as she enters. “So, how did it go?”
I give her an exasperated look. “You two have never been this persistent. It’s been years since you involved yourself in my love life; what are you up to?”
Aunt Vee sits down next to her sister. “We want to have grandchildren sooner or later.”
