“It’s okay.” He gripped the hand I rested on his shoulder. “I saw him the moment it happened. He looked relieved. This is what he wanted.”
I didn’t know if Gunner really witnessed what he thought he did or he simply convinced himself he had. In the end, it didn’t matter. It was over.
“Well, that’s that.” I squeezed his shoulder. “Anyone up for lunch? I’m starving.”
Rooster groaned as he rubbed his forehead and looked around at the mess, which was going to take days to clean up thanks to the force I put behind the spell. “We definitely need to talk.”
Twenty-Nine
I had the next day off, which meant more work around the cabin. Because it was the afternoon (and I was already dressed) I opened all the windows to let the sunlight in. I figured I could air out the space for the afternoon and then make some decisions on the furniture. Almost everything would have to go if I wanted to be comfortable. The problem was, I had no idea how long I would be staying … or how comfortable I truly wanted to be here.
“Hey.”
I jumped at the voice, turning swiftly to find Gunner standing in the driveway. I’d been standing on the front porch, lost in thought, and hadn’t heard him drive up. Had he been on his motorcycle that would’ve been impossible. He was leaning out the driver’s window of one of the lumberyard trucks, and the smile he shot me was smug.
“I’m going to get a bell for you,” I complained, descending from the porch. “You need to learn to make a noise or something.”
“I wasn’t being purposely quiet,” he countered. “I think you were lost in your own little world.”
That was entirely possible. “So ... what’s up?”
He grinned. “I brought some more supplies to work on the cabin.”
“So I see.” I made sure to keep a least a foot between us as we circled to the rear of the truck. It was indeed full of supplies ... and a picnic basket, which made me furrow my brow. “What’s this?” I plucked out the basket and lifted it.
“That is lunch.”
“For who?”
“Us.”
I pinned him with a pointed look. “We’re having lunch together?”
His grin widened. “We are,” he confirmed, smirking. “I brought a blanket and everything.”
“That sounds ... cozy.”
“Don’t worry, your virtue is safe with me.”
“I’m pretty sure I lost that in high school.”
He chuckled as he grabbed the blanket from the back and pointed toward a spot in the shade. “Come on. We have some things to talk about.”
I wasn’t particularly worried that he was going to jump in feet first and ask me on a date. We were still dealing with the fallout from the takedown at the church. Until that was completely resolved, we weren’t free to look forward ... which was a very small comfort.
“What did you bring?” I peered into the basket as he spread the blanket, much to the kitten’s delight as it raced after the fluttering edges and tried to wrestle them to the ground.
“I see you have your buddy with you.” Gunner chuckled as he captured the kitten and sat on the blanket with him, watching as I placed the basket on the center of the rectangle and opened it. “I hope you like potato salad.”
“I happen to be a big fan of potato salad,” I admitted, grinning as I sat cross-legged across from him. “What else is in here?”
“Macaroni salad.”
“I like that, too.”
“And sandwiches.”
“What kind of sandwiches?”
“Ham and cheese.”
“Oh, you went all out.” I winked at him, genuinely amused. “May I ask why you brought the picnic? Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate it, but you could’ve just stopped by and said whatever it is you want to say.”
“And what do you think I want to say?”
I shrugged, unsure how to proceed. “I’m guessing Rooster is angry.”
“Why would he be angry?”
“Because ... .” I trailed off, uncertain.
“He’s not angry,” Gunner said, catching my eye to be certain I was listening. “He is surprised, like the rest of us. You do understand that you’re more powerful than the average witch, right?”
“I’ve never really thought about it.”
“No?” He waited a beat. “I’m not sure I believe that. I think you wonder about it all the time, but you push it out of your head because you want to appear strong. If you look back, you can’t look forward.”
“You sound like a fortune cookie.”
He flicked the end of my nose. “That won’t work on me. I know the secret you’re hiding.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“You’re really a soft touch.” He leaned forward, his finger scratching behind the kitten’s ears, and didn’t stop until his lips were inches from mine. I was torn between wanting to lean closer or run in the other direction. “I think you have a puffy pillow for a heart.” His smirk was ridiculously attractive.
“And I think you’re full of it.” I found the strength to pull back, and grabbed the container of potato salad. Changing the subject was in order, so that’s what I did. “How are things with Father Bram?”
“Oh, you mean Brian?” Gunner leaned back on his elbows, allowing the kitten to sprawl on his stomach and fall asleep. “He claims that we can’t prove he was doing anything because mummies aren’t real and nothing came through the mirror.”
I stilled, running the scenario through my head. “Huh. He has a point.”
“Don’t worry about it. My father isn’t an idiot. We told him what happened, what Bram was planning, and we’re working on something that will make sure he’s locked away for life.”
“Do I want to know?”
He shrugged. “Probably not, but it’s up to you.”
“I think I’ll pass. As long as he stays locked up, that’s all I care about.”
“I figured that.” He accepted the plate I handed him, potato salad and a sandwich prominently displayed. “I talked to Bart. Cecily has been put on an involuntary hold at the same hospital my mother is in. They’re going to figure out a treatment plan that hopefully has her living on her own again down the line.”
“Not right now, though?”
“No.”
“That’s probably a good thing. I mean ... ultimately I felt sorry for her. She’s still a danger to society right now.”
“She is. And she won’t be wandering around getting into mischief for the foreseeable future.”
“That’s good.”
He forked up a mouthful of potato salad. “She admitted to painting the symbol in the basement, by the way. It was the same symbol on her tree. It’s part of the ritual for calling Mammon, which she thought would be a good thing. Apparently she didn’t realize Mammon was a demon, not an angel.”
“I don’t think she’s all there.” I twirled my finger near my head for emphasis.
“I agree.”
We ate in amiable silence, which Gunner was the first to break.
“How are you after that display you put on yesterday? I wanted to talk to you after the fact, but you disappeared.”
“I needed time to think.”
“About?”
That was a hard question to answer. “I’m not sure. There’s a lot going on in my head these days.”
“It might help to talk about it.”
He sounded sure of himself, but I wasn’t convinced it was the right move. Still, I didn’t have many outlets. He was the person I knew best here, the one individual I knew I could talk to openly.
“I’ve been thinking about what I saw in the vision.”
“You mean the two women?”
I nodded.
“Do you think one of them was your mother?” he asked, his tone gentle.
“I don’t know. Neither one of them looked like me, if that’s what you’re asking. They both had darker hair. I’ve spent some time thinking about their noses, and those were differen
t, too.”
His eyes lit with amusement, he shifted and pinned me with an amused look. “Their noses?”
“You know what I mean.”
“I do. I’m not making fun of you.”
“That’s not how it sounds.”
“Yeah, well ... fair enough.” He pivoted quickly. “The mirror has been destroyed. The fragments were taken to a local industrial lot and melted down. Marissa was in charge of that. She complained about the smell, but because she didn’t have to lift a finger in the fight Rooster thought it was only fair she contribute.”
“I guess I’m sorry I missed that.” I played with my potato salad. “There was another woman in the room.” I’d almost forgotten about her, but I’d woken in the middle of the night, bolting upright from a bad dream, and hers was the face I remembered. “Who was she?”
“You mean Caroline Boston.” He wiped the corners of his mouth with a napkin. “She’s an odd duck. I don’t know how to explain her. She’s been in tight with that crowd since they came to town. She denied being in on it — and Bram and Cecily are keeping quiet, at least about her — but I’m not sure I believe her.”
“She has a bad aura.”
“You can see auras, too?”
“Sometimes,” I hedged. “Hers was dark. She’s got a dark soul.”
“Well, she’s not under arrest. She didn’t make a move on any of us, and my father says he can’t hold her.”
“I guess that means we’ll have to watch her.”
“Pretty much.” Gunner abandoned his food and snagged my fingers, taking me by surprise. “Do you want to go on a date with me?”
The invitation was out of left field. “I ... right now?”
“I figure we’re on a different sort of date right now,” he replied with a chuckle. “It’s a fun date, relaxing. I was hoping we could do something more formal.”
“What did you have in mind?”
“Dinner. A walk on the beach.”
“No dancing?”
“I’m not much of a dancer. If you want to go dancing, I might be able to figure something out.”
I should say no. That’s what I told myself. I wasn’t even sure I was staying. I couldn’t, though. My heart would’ve revolted. The attraction I felt for him was almost chemical, and there really was no turning back. “I guess we can go on a date.”
His grin widened. “Good. I’m definitely looking forward to it.”
“I’m sure you are.” I went back to poking my potato salad. “When do you want this date to occur?”
“I haven’t decided yet. I want to plan a nice evening. I have a feeling Rooster will want to talk to you first. Just remember ... he’s a big softie, just like you.”
“Ha, ha, ha.” I rolled my eyes as he broke off a piece of ham and fed it to the suddenly-awake kitten. “Oh, by the way, I named him.”
“Really?” Gunner cocked his head and met my gaze. “I’m dying to hear what you came up with after all this time. Is it three names, like Theodore Wayne Booth? You know, like a serial killer?” He chuckled at his own joke.
“No. It came to me last night ... in my dreams.”
“Okay. I’m listening. What’s his name?”
“Merlin.”
He was quiet for a bit and then he burst out laughing. “All this build-up for the name Merlin? That seems a bit on-the-nose. Still, he’s your cat. It’s your decision.”
“I think he told me his name.” The words were out of my mouth before I thought better about uttering them.
“Excuse me?” He arched an eyebrow. “The cat told you his name? When did he start talking?”
“I don’t know.” I averted my gaze because I felt a bit daft. “I just heard someone whispering it in my dreams last night. It’s not a big deal.”
He opened his mouth — perhaps to say something annoying that would send me right over the edge — but then he snapped it shut. “Merlin is a fine name. We should get him a collar and tag ... and take him to the vet.”
“I already have an appointment for next week.”
“That’s convenient.”
“I might be a new pet owner, but I’m not an idiot.”
“No one could ever call you that.” He moved his fork to my plate and stole some of my potato salad. “So, where do you want to go on our date? I mean ... what’s your favorite sort of food?”
“The kind you can eat.”
“Such a funny girl.” He shook his head. “Do you like seafood?”
“Yes.”
“Steak?”
“Yes.”
“Is there anything you don’t like?”
“Endless questions.”
“Ugh. You’re going to be a lot of work.” He poked my side before breaking out in another grin. “Do you want me to surprise you?”
I’d had worse offers. “Sure. That sounds nice.”
“Great. Liver it is.”
“Don’t make me hurt you.”
He scrubbed his cheek, considering. “What would a geek eat? I mean, on Star Trek, what did they eat? We could go that route. You know, make it a themed evening.”
“You should probably start running now,” I threatened.
“Oh, it’s too late to run. We’re stuck with each other ... at least for now.”
He spoke the truth. I couldn’t have walked away even if I’d wanted to. There was definitely something there.
“Let’s go with steak,” I suggested. “I love a good steak. You’re buying, though.”
“But of course. I’m nothing if not a gentleman.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
“Don’t worry. My reputation precedes me. Ask anyone. I’m going to totally sweep you off your feet.”
That’s exactly what I was afraid of.
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About the Author
I want to thank everyone who takes the time to read my novels. I have a particular brand of humor that isn’t for everyone – and I know that.
If you liked the book, please take a few minutes and leave a review. An independent author does it all on their own, and the reviews are helpful. I understand that my characters aren’t for everyone, though. There’s a lot of snark and sarcasm in my world – and I know some people don’t like that.
Special thanks go out to Heidi Bitsoli and Phil VanHulle for correcting the (numerous) errors that creep into a work of fiction.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
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Books by Amanda M. Lee
An Avery Shaw Mystery
Who, What, Where, When, Die
If it Bleeds, it Leads
Buried Leads
Shot Off The Presses
The Preditorial Page
Misquoted & Demoted
Headlines & Deadlines
Misprints & Mistakes
Bylines & Skylines
Off the Record
Unwritten & Underwater
Extra! Extra! Dead All About It
On Deadline & Under Fire
A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Mystery
Any Witch Way You Can
Every Witch Way But Wicked
Witching You Were Here
Witching on a Star
Something to Witch About
Witch Me Luck
Life’s a Witch
Charms & Witchdemeanors
The Trouble With Witches
Murder Most Witchy
A Witch Before Dying
A Breath of Witchy Air
Witch, Interrupted
A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Short
Careful What You Witch For
Wicked Brew
On a Witch and a Prayer
You Only Witch Once
The Christmas Witch
Bewitched
A Solstice Celebration
Witchdependence Day
Happy Witchgiving
Merry Witchmas
Four-Leaf Clover
Thistle While You Work
Landon Calling
I Dream of Twila
How Aunt Tillie Stole Christmas
A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Fantasy
Witchy Tales
A Witch In Time
Make A Witch
A Witchmas Carol
All My Witches
Close Encounters of the Witchy Kind
An Aisling Grimlock Mystery
Grim Tidings
Grim Offerings
Grim Discovery
Grim Reunion
Grim Expectations
Grim Holiday
Grim Rising
Grim Tempest
Grim Vows
Grimlock Family Shorts
Grim Like Me
Grim & The City
Now & Grim
Grim & Bear It
Grim & The Dead
Death Gate Grim Reapers
Only the Lonely
A Mystic Caravan Mystery
Freaky Days
Freaky Lies
Freaky Hearts
Freaky Games
Freaky Places
Freaky Rites
A Charlie Rhodes Cozy Mystery
The Bigfoot Blunder
The Chupacabra Catastrophe
The Werewolf Whoops
The Megalodon Mix-Up
A Moonstone Bay Cozy Mystery
Witchin’ USA
Witch Out of Water
Covenant College
Bad to the Crone Page 28
