Charlie gnawed the corner of her lip. “I can get us what we need from the Stinker. All those dishes are just sitting there since it’s been closed . . . we might as well put them to good use.” She took a deep breath. “If you’ll give me a ride over there this afternoon, we can load them into your car and into mine. It’s probably a good idea for me to have some transportation, so I can do some legwork for next week, right?”
I was conscious of the need to tread carefully. As Lucas had pointed out to me, Charlie was much more fragile than her tough exterior showed. Thinking of myself at her age and imagining what it would have been like to navigate life without anyone to help, I made a deliberate decision and nodded.
“Absolutely. It would be a big help for me if you could handle some of the shopping and maybe even negotiate what we’re going to charge them, once we have an estimate of our costs. Having your own car here is a good idea.”
“All right.” Charlie leaned against a plastic tote, crossing her arms in front of her small chest. “I got an email yesterday. It was from Uncle Reg’s lawyer. I guess he did have one, after all.” She flickered a glance at me before resuming her staring contest with the cement floor. “He left me the bar. He left me everything. I can’t believe it, but he did.”
“Charlie.” If she were anyone else, I’d have pulled her into a comforting hug. “Wow. That’s huge.”
“I guess he didn’t have anyone else to leave them to.” She was retreating, trying to play this off, but I wasn’t going to let her.
“He left his whole life’s work to you, Charlie. Don’t underestimate how important that is.” I ventured one hand out to squeeze her arm. “If Reg went to the trouble of making a will, it means he thought about this. You’re not his heir by default. He chose you.”
To my shock, her eyes filled with tears. “He was a good guy,” she whispered. “I didn’t always let him know I knew that, but he was. He could’ve kicked me out when Aunt Val died. He didn’t have any real ties to me. But he didn’t. He kept me.”
This time I didn’t fight the urge to hug. Gathering her close, I smoothed Charlie’s spikey black hair under my hand. “The longer you live, one of the things you learn is that we choose the people we love. I have a family up north, and I love them dearly, but I also have my family down here: Lucas and Mrs. Mac, Nichelle and her kids, Mary and everyone at Leone’s. I love them just as much.” I paused a moment. “You can choose to be part of us, too. I know you probably feel like we were thrust upon you, that we all found each other by accident, but I know that there’s no such thing as coincidence or happenstance. Everything happens for a reason.”
Charlie nodded, but she didn’t speak.
“We haven’t known each other very long, of course, and you might think we’re all a bunch of whackadoodles. We are, actually.” I pulled back a little and winked at her. “But we’re very loyal whackadoodles, and if you give us a chance, we won’t let you down. Not on purpose, anyway.”
Charlie swallowed, her throat working as she stepped back. I knew she needed a little distance now, and I was willing to give it to her.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do yet. I’m not sure I want to run the bar, not without Reg. And I’m not ready to go back there to live.” She shuddered slightly.
“You don’t have to,” I assured her. “Even if you decide to open the bar again and give it a go, you can stay here as long as you want. I was serious when I told you that yesterday.”
She focused on some distant spot over my shoulder. “Thank you. Thank you for . . . giving me a place to be.”
I mirrored her stance, folding my arms over my chest and speaking with measured words. “You’re welcome. Now let’s go get your car and the dishes. We need to get moving on this job. Fast.”
THE STINKER, THE late Reg Landon’s bar, wasn’t nearly as seedy as I’d pictured it to be. The exterior was campy, with the fish painted on the bricks, but everything was neat and well-maintained. Inside, it was the same story. A wide variety fishing paraphernalia, both contemporary and vintage, hung on the walls. The bar was clean, and the tables and chairs were relatively new.
Even the kitchen was in good shape. As I watched Charlie move around the room, opening cabinets and taking out plates, saucers and cups, I wondered how much of its pristine condition was her doing. She definitely knew her way around.
We’d come in through the front of the bar, and I noticed that she avoided the part of the kitchen that led to the pantry and freezer. Judging a couple of telltale stains and some medical litter, I realized that must have been where her uncle had collapsed and died. I didn’t blame her for not wanting to linger there.
We worked together quickly to pack up the dishes before we loaded first her car—a blue compact that was definitely used, but seemed to be in good shape—and then mine. I stayed downstairs to give her some privacy while she packed some more clothes and other essentials. Once she was finished, we didn’t waste any time heading back to my house, Charlie following me in her car.
We were just pulling into the driveway when my cell rang. I grinned when I saw the caller ID screen as I answered the call.
“Is this the beauteous Jackie O’Brien?” Rafe’s voice held its perpetual teasing note.
“I don’t know about beauteous, but it’s me.” I shut off the car and opened the driver’s side door. “What’s up, Rafe? Aren’t you supposed to be saving the world instead of flirting with middle-aged women?”
He laughed. “You’re not middle-aged, gorgeous. You’re barely old enough to be my big sister.”
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t stop the pleased smile from creeping over my face. Rafe was a good friend, someone I’d felt comfortable with from the first moment we met. Getting to know both him and his girlfriend, Nell, was one of the bright spots in our connection to Carruthers.
“Flattery will get you nowhere. What can I do for you?”
“It’s more like what I can do for you. Or rather, what Nell can do for you. Are you home?”
I glanced back to where Charlie was climbing out of her car and beginning to unload boxes. “Just got here. Why?”
“Because you’re about to get company. Nell and I are about five minutes away. That cool?”
“Uh . . .” I cast a quick glance over to the house next door. Lucas’s car was there, but that didn’t mean he’d returned from the Reckoning that had called him away earlier. “Yeah. Of course. I always enjoy seeing you two. Just so you’re aware, though, I have a houseguest. Or . . . a boarder.” I wasn’t quite sure what to call Charlie yet. “And she’s not aware of the extracurricular activities that go on around all of you guys.”
“Ah, is that the chick Lucas brought home after the Reckoning?” Rafe sounded amused. “He told us that story. Nell informed him that he was damned lucky you’re so tolerant and accepting.”
“Have I mentioned how much I love your girlfriend?” Nell Massler was not the warm and cuddly type. One of the most powerful witches who’d ever walked the earth, she tended to exist in a constant state of barely-controlled energy, and her eyes were usually guarded. But she loved Rafe, and she’d allowed Lucas and me to get close enough that the four of us had formed a close-knit circle of friendship.
“Get in line, baby. This woman’s all mine.” I heard the muffled sound of a voice on the other side of the phone, and Rafe chuckled again. “Don’t worry. We’ll be cool around the civilian. We just need to chat, and there’s some business we have to take care of, but we can be subtle, I promise.”
“I trust you.” And I did. “Not sure if Lucas is around, but I’ll be happy to see you.”
“Awesome. Be there in a flash, babe.” He disconnected, and I tucked the phone back in my pocket as I wondered what was this was all about.
Charlie paused near the trunk of her car. “Everything okay?” She’d resumed her serious, distant stance, but she’d lost the sullenness. I could live with that.
“Yes. A couple of friends are in the area, and th
ey’re going to stop by.” I briefly considered telling her a little about Rafe and Nell but decided against it. She’d see them soon enough for herself.
We’d just finished toting in the last box of dishes when a 1967 black Chevy Impala turned slowly into my driveway. Charlie’s eyes went wide.
“Oh, my God. That car is gorgeous.” Her mouth dropped open.
I smirked. “Wait until you see the guy driving it.”
The door opened on the driver’s side, and Rafe Brooks emerged, looking every bit the sexy man beast he was. His dark hair was its typical hot mess, just begging a woman to run her fingers through it. Green eyes smoldered in a near-perfect face. And the body? Let’s just say when Rafe moved, everyone around him was more than a little turned on. His black T-shirt strained over the broad chest and muscled arms, tapering to a narrow waist where jeans hugged both his perfect ass and steel thighs. When I saw him, all I could think was sex personified. He had the goods, and watching him, it was clear he knew how to use them, too.
“Oh . . . my . . . God.” Charlie gripped my arm, her breath coming now in little puffs. “Please, tell me he’s single. Tell me he’s not gay. Tell me he’s not an asshole.”
I laughed softly. “Not gay. Definitely not an asshole. He’s one of the best men I’ve ever met, outside Lucas.” I gave a little sigh. “But sadly for you, also not single. Check out the passenger side of the car.”
As though she could hear us from all the way down at the end of the driveway, Nell climbed out of the Impala with an amused expression on her striking face. If Rafe had the type of magnetism that drew everyone toward him, Nell was the opposite end of the spectrum. Her air of banked power made most people hesitate to get too close. She was beautiful, even if it was in an unexpected way: her jet black hair set off the palest skin I’d ever seen among the living. But it was the huge, bright blue eyes that made passers-by often stop and stare.
“Hey, pretty lady.” Rafe reached me, wrapping me in a tight hug that spoke of our close friendship. I also felt somehow safer and more relaxed when he was nearby. Perhaps that was part of his supernatural power: Rafe was a mind manipulator. He could influence the direction of thoughts, the strength of emotions . . . and he could even play with memory and the perception of time.
“This is a very nice surprise.” I tiptoed to kiss his cheek, rough with stubble, and then turned to greet Nell, too, hugging her. She allowed it, although her response was much subtler than Rafe’s was.
“It’s always good to see you, Jackie.” Her voice was low and thrummed with energy. “Sorry for the short notice. We were on our way back from a visit with Rafe’s grandparents when Cathryn asked us to detour here.”
I glanced up at Rafe, frowning, but he only gave his head a little shake as he smiled down at the young woman standing next to me, still gaping at him.
“Hey. I’m Rafe Brooks.” He held out one large hand. “You must be Charlie. Glad to meet you.”
As if in a trance, Charlie placed her small fingers in his grip. “Yeah. Charlie.”
“And this is my girlfriend, Nell.”
As though it physically hurt her to do it, Charlie ripped her eyes away from Rafe and managed a semblance of a smile at the other woman. “Hey. Nice to meet you.”
Nell nodded, one side of her mouth quirked up in her habitual half-smile. “You, too. Rafe and I work with Lucas.” She slid her gaze to me. “And sometimes Jackie.”
Charlie’s eyebrows drew together. “Oh. You mean at his other job? The one he has to go away for sometimes?”
“Exactly.” Rafe grinned. “Consulting. We . . . consult.” He slung a friendly arm around my neck. “And we’re also very good friends. We love Jackie. It doesn’t hurt that she’s a damn good cook, too.”
“Yeah, yeah. I know the hard truth. You only love me for my food.” I pretended to pout, and Rafe smacked a kiss on my cheek.
“Aw, don’t be silly. We love you for all your other wonderful qualities, too.”
Shaking my head, I ducked under his arm. “Come on. Let’s go inside before the neighbors start talking about me two-timing Lucas with the hot younger man who’s hanging around.”
The kitchen was nearly filled with boxes, and Nell raised one eyebrow. “Are you moving, Jackie?”
I snorted. “Hardly.” Our eyes met, and I knew what we were both thinking. Lucas and I might be moving soon, but it wouldn’t involve packing boxes. Wherever we went with Carruthers, we’d all be traveling light.
“No,” I continued after a beat. “Charlie and I have a catering gig next week, and these are the dishes.”
“What’re you catering?” Rafe’s eyes crinkled in amusement. “The early bird special?” Rafe never got tired of laughing at the fact that Lucas and I lived in a retirement community. It was an endless source of teasing for him.
I grimaced. “You’re not far off. We’re doing the brunch before the Ms. Florida Senior Living Pageant.”
Rafe threw back his head, chortling. Even Nell’s smile was wide as she elbowed him in the ribs. “Stop. I think she’s serious.”
“I am.” I could hear the resignation in my tone. “Mrs. Mac is a contestant, and she volunteered us to cater it.” Hooking a thumb toward Charlie, I narrowed my eyes. “And this one agreed that we could do it.”
“Oh, I gotta be there for that. Can you get us tickets? Seriously. I want to support Mrs. Mac.” Rafe twined his fingers with Nell’s. “We can do that, can’t we? When is the pageant?”
“Next week.” I shook my head. “But it’s a long way to drive for something like this. You don’t have to do it.”
“Jackie, babe, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Rafe winked. “Matter of fact, is Mrs. Mac around? I think I’ll go over and talk to her about hooking us up with tickets.” He amped up the wattage on his killer smile, turning it on Charlie. “Want to walk over there with me? I’d love to hear about what you’re planning to serve for the brunch.”
I wasn’t sure whether or not Rafe was using his mind manipulation on Charlie. At this point, I was fairly certain that all he’d have to do was crook his finger and she’d follow him anywhere, even without that extra intervention. Her eyes had the luminous glow of a girl in the thrall of a serious crush as they walked out of the kitchen.
“And there goes my lover, with his latest conquest.” Nell sounded resigned, if slightly amused. “He just can’t seem to help himself.”
I sighed. “He doesn’t see anyone but you, Nell. You’re his forever.”
“I know.” Nell had never struck me as the jealous type, and that wasn’t any different now. “But don’t you ever wonder what that would be like, to have that kind of natural charisma? To attract people of both sexes, wherever you went? Rafe just has this . . . something . . . that makes everyone want to be closer to him.” She bit her bottom lip. “I’ve always seemed to have had the opposite effect. The one that makes people want to stay away.”
“You’re just reserved. There’s nothing wrong with that.” I leaned my back against the edge of the kitchen counter. “Something’s up, isn’t it? Why did Cathryn asked you to stop here?”
“It wasn’t quite that surprising.” Nell shrugged. “We figured we’d be making the trip down here sooner or later, but Cathryn suggested it made sense to do it now, since we were passing fairly close by on our way back from King. She wants us to increase your protections here.” She hesitated. “And I think she wanted us to check out Charlie, too. You know—with us not being certain what form that demon might take or whose body he could be borrowing, any time someone new enters our lives, we have to be cautious.”
I hadn’t even thought about the fact that Charlie could have been a vehicle for the demon from the Hive to gain access to Lucas and me. “You don’t really think she is, do you?”
“Honestly? I can’t tell for sure, but I don’t get a vibe, and I don’t think Rafe does, either. Cathryn would be the final word, of course. But until she can get down here, I think you’re safe. Especially considerin
g the advocate for light mentioned her to Lucas.”
“He told you about that?”
Nell nodded. “He wanted us to have the whole story, just in case. She seems all right, though. I don’t think she’d be drooling after Rafe so obviously if she were demon trying to fly under the radar.”
“You may be right.” Although I had a hunch even demons would probably find Rafe irresistible. “I haven’t noticed anything off. She’s sort of difficult sometimes.”
“Aren’t we all, at times? We’ll keep an open mind and see what happens.” Nell stood in the center of the kitchen, turning in a slow circle as she surveyed the room. “What I need to add here isn’t anything complicated, but it should keep all the nasties at bay, at least for the time being.”
“If we can do this, why do we need to think about the possibility of moving away? I thought the only reason for us to gather was to make sure we’re safe.” I’d been trying to think of a way around leaving Palm Dunes. The idea of abandoning my friends at a time when we all could be facing the end of days made me feel ill.
“What I can do has a limited lifespan, and it might not work on everything. Plus it can’t protect from humans who mean you harm, and we know the Hive often uses them.” Nell closed her eyes, raised her hands into the air. Everything around us shimmered for a moment before she lowered her arms and looked at me.
“I can work with this. No one’s been trying to infiltrate here that I can perceive, so I’ll do a basic boundary spell and then add a few extra bells and whistles. It’ll allow you both to go about your lives without any worries.”
“How will we know if someone’s disturbed your boundary? Will they be physically kept from intruding? Or will there be some kind of alarm?” I tried to imagine what that might sound like and wondered whether or not my usual daily intruders—Mrs. Mac and other neighbors—would accidentally set it off. That could get dicey.
“You won’t know, and neither will they or anyone else nearby. Certainly no one who’s . . . typical. But I will know.” Her eyes met mine, and somehow the calm assurance and confidence I saw there made me feel better. Although I’d never really seen her in action, outside of the summoning spell she’d done the day we’d called for Delia, I had a healthy respect for Nell’s abilities.
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