“Blip. There. I just rewound the last five minutes,” Graham said.
“So…I didn’t just kiss you,” Jade said.
“Nope, definitely not. I’m pretty sure I’d remember something like that.” The corner of Graham’s mouth twitched.
Jade managed a smile. She glanced at the time. “Well, we’d better go open up the store.”
“Right.” Graham hesitated. “Can I ask you one thing before we do?”
“Sure.”
“I absolutely didn’t just kiss you. But, if I had…uh…what I’m trying to ask is, the kiss itself wasn’t—er, wouldn’t have been terrible, right?”
Jade tried not to smile. “No. Not terrible at all. If I wasn’t completely hung up on someone else, it would’ve been perfect.”
He let a breath escape, gave a nervous chuckle, and reached for the door.
“Graham,” Jade said.
He turned back, arching a brow.
“When you find the right girl, she’s going to be really lucky.”
~
Wednesday evening, Graham arrived at Jade’s house with a stack of pizzas in hand, ready to focus on Chloe’s project. Thankfully, they’d both been able to move past the unexpected kiss without much awkward tension between them. In the moment, Graham had enjoyed it, but now it disturbed him to remember. He still felt like he’d taken advantage of a friend, even though she’d initiated it. And knowing Chloe would be hanging out with the two of them all night, he couldn’t help but feel nervous she’d suspect something. He didn’t want Chloe to find out about that kiss. What if she thought it actually meant something?
Graham placed the pizza boxes on Jade’s table and gave her a wary eye.
“What’s up?” she asked, getting plates out of the cupboard.
He let his gaze flick around the room first, stalling what he had to say. Already his collar was feeling hot, and his palms were getting clammy with perspiration. “I….”
When he peeked back at her, she was watching him, her brow furrowed in question. He had to get this out before Chloe showed up. “What happened Monday…er, didn’t happen. I just wanted to make sure…”
“The not-kiss? What about it?” Jade asked.
He let out a quick breath. “Well, have you mentioned it to Chloe?”
“Gosh, no,” Jade said.
“And you don’t plan to, right?”
“Not if I can help it. I love Chloe to death, but she doesn’t need any more fuel for relationship drama.”
Graham gave a quick nod. “Right. Okay. Forget I mentioned it then.”
Jade’s eyes narrowed as she considered him. “Wait. Why do you care? Chloe’s not….” Her eyes suddenly went wide. “Do you like her?”
“What? Uh…” Graham rubbed the back of his neck with a hand. “I mean, she’s cool….”
Jade’s lips tugged up. “You do, don’t you? Does she have any idea?”
“Zounds, I hope not.”
“Oh. You don’t want her to know, then?”
“Well, not yet. I mean, I’m not sure how I feel about her. I just…didn’t want me accidentally kissing you to mess with whatever might—or might not—happen with her.”
Jade nodded, and her expression was sympathetic. “I have to admit, I was wondering.”
“What?” A flash of panic rose in Graham’s gut. “How—?”
“I can read people’s emotions—remember?”
“Oh. Right.” Graham recalled the times the three of them had been together. Jade must have caught a whiff of it then.
She smiled kindly. “Don’t worry. I won’t say anything if you don’t want me to.”
Graham fiddled with the hem of his shirt. “Thanks.”
A few minutes later, Chloe arrived, ready to dig deep into her fashion design project. Thankfully Graham’s nervousness had worn off by then. The three of them scarfed the food as Chloe lamented her workload. “I have so much to do before the show on Friday—I have no idea whether I’ll be able to get it all done in time.”
“That’s why we’re here,” Jade said. “Just tell us what we can do.”
“Probably not a lot,” Chloe said. “Unless you know how to sew. Just be available when I need you to try something on.”
After they had eaten dinner, the three of them went to work. Jade and Graham practiced standing like statues as Chloe fit things on them, pinned, sewed, and readjusted. Despite what Chloe had said, it looked like things were coming together. She’d fashioned Jade an exquisite gown in deep navy with a plunging neckline and sparkling beads dripping down from the bodice like water droplets. It was absolutely stunning on her.
“This looks amazing, Chloe,” Jade said, spinning in her dress.
“I just need to get more beads. I’ve already bought out two stores, but there’s still a gap right…there.” She pointed at a spot above Jade’s left hip.
“Well, if you’re done with me for the night, I’m going to jump in the shower,” Jade said. She looked pointedly at Graham, and he had the distinct impression she was trying to make herself scarce…for him? His neck got suddenly hot.
Chloe set to work on Graham’s formal outfit. She laid out the thick fabric that would become his jacket, pulled out her scissors, and began to cut out the pieces.
Graham watched. “I feel so useless just standing around while you work away. Want anything from the kitchen?”
“Nah, I’m good.” Her focus was concentrated on her work as she bent over the table. She’d put her hair up in a messy bun a few hours back, and thin wisps of it trailed down her neck. Graham couldn’t help admire her while she worked.
“You’re in the zone,” he said.
She chuckled. “Yeah, I guess so.”
He nodded. “I get like that when I’m writing.”
“Yeah?”
“I like to block out the world around me and just let the words flow.”
“I bet you’re a fast typer…typist? Whatever.”
“Actually, I write by hand.”
She glanced up from her work. “Whoa—no joke?”
“It’s like an art to me.” He hesitated, wondering how much to share. “I got made fun of in school ’cause I took calligraphy—and was one of the few who actually enjoyed it.”
“Woah. That’s like, the fancy lettering, right?”
He smiled. “Yep.”
“There’s one more hobby for your profile.”
Graham grimaced, hoping she would drop that topic.
“I didn’t even know people still wrote that way,” she said.
“It’s a dying art. I like to play around with different pens and fonts, and sometimes I create my own. I let my stories dictate what style, usually.”
“Wow, that sounds really thought out. But what if you make a mistake?”
“Well, they’re all imperfect as first drafts, but that’s also when I’m refining my lettering styles, playing with ideas. I use a computer for the middle drafts because it’s a faster way to edit—plus I like having a digital backup copy. But my final manuscripts are always hand-lettered.”
“And you never mess those up?”
“I do, sometimes. If I can’t make it look right, I’ll turn it into a flourish or a decorative design. I’m not an artist, but I like playing around with stuff like that.”
Chloe’s eyes bugged. “That sounds like a ton of work.”
He gestured at her sewing machine. “Kinda like that.”
“Well, maybe. But this feels…doable. Writing an entire book by hand…that just feels impossible.”
He grinned. “I feel the same way, just in reverse.”
“I guess we all have our talents.”
Graham grabbed a drink from the kitchen and planted himself on the sofa.
“So, have you thought of anything else to add to your dating profile?”
Graham groaned. “That again?”
“What? You seemed open to it last week.”
“I never said that.”
“So, wh
at—you were just humoring me?”
He shrugged. “Maybe.”
She glowered at him.
“You were enjoying it too much. I couldn’t tell you no.”
“So why not?” Her dirty look disappeared, replaced with a look that said she’d just had some realization. “You like someone.”
“What? No—I—”
Graham’s face went hot, and he prayed he wasn’t beet red.
Chloe’s eyes narrowed as she pondered something. “So…are you into her?”
“Who?”
Chloe nodded at the door to the bathroom. “Jade.”
“What? No. I mean, she’s cute, but it’s not like that. We’re just friends.”
“Friends wishing for more?”
Graham thought of the accidental kiss, which didn’t help his body temperature. “No. Just because I think she’s attractive doesn’t mean I want to date her.”
“Okay. Then why are you in the know with the Logan stuff? Why would she tell you if you weren’t getting close? Before she told me?”
Graham suddenly understood. Chloe was hurt—jealous, maybe—because he had known about the breakup first.
“Plus, she apparently told you about her ability. That’s a big deal. She’s really private about that little fact.”
“She didn’t tell me—well, not initially. I sort of found out firsthand. It was an accident.”
Chloe’s eyes lit with understanding. “Like with Cam. That makes more sense.”
Graham wasn’t sure what had happened between Jade and Cam, but Chloe seemed willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
“I’ve got to get her and Logan back together,” she said, shaking her head as she went back to work.
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.” Graham thought about all that had passed between Jade and her ex and how much it had screwed with her emotions. He wasn’t sure why this guy, in particular, brought up so many complicated feelings for her, but his instinctive reaction was that she should keep her distance from him. Especially if Logan were part of the problem.
“Well, it’s worth a shot. Maybe they both just need to cool down, spend some time alone, and remember why they love each other.”
“Maybe.” But after that kiss, Graham knew Jade hadn’t forgotten. He hadn’t asked her why she’d broken up with her boyfriend because he didn’t want to pry, but he knew something big must’ve happened between them. You couldn’t love someone like that and let them go that easily. He knew how she felt—he’d witnessed it first hand. So much love—and so much pain.
“If it ends up not working out, I’m sure I can help her find someone else.” Chloe glanced his way out of the corner of her eye. Her hands held her work in place. “You said she was pretty. Maybe you should consider her after all.”
“What?” Graham yanked on the collar of his shirt. They kept coming back to this. “Girl, you don’t quit.”
“What? I just want you both to be happy.”
“Why are you trying so hard to fix everyone else’s lives? You keep sticking your nose in other people’s business without even asking.”
“Hey—I’m just trying to help. I have their best interests in mind.”
“Oh yeah? When’s the last time you went on a date?”
Chloe’s mouth clamped shut, and her machine stopped whirring. Her eyes were on him as if she were either stunned or furious. Graham wondered if he’d crossed the line, but he held his ground. Chloe didn’t answer, and he wasn’t going to let her off that easy this time.
“Seriously—when? I want to know. How long?”
She stared at him.
“I’m not letting this go,” he said.
She bit her lip.
“How long?”
“Two years.”
Graham’s jaw dropped. “What? You can’t be serious.”
Her gaze fell away, and her shoulders hunched.
“Why the heck that long?”
“It’s…it’s none of your business,” she mumbled. Then, like the flip of a switch, something inside her changed. She grabbed the scissors and the bolt of fabric, and she went slashing away, venting whatever Graham had unleashed.
He couldn’t decide whether to feel relieved she’d backed off or guilty that he’d found her soft spot and jabbed a stake into it.
Suddenly, Chloe leapt back. A tiny squeal escaped her lips, and she clasped one of her hands over her palm.
Graham frowned and stood to see what had happened. “Chloe? Are you o—” He gasped when he saw the blood.
It rose from beneath her cupped hand and trickled down onto her lap. Spots flecked her workspace, the dark suit fabric, and the carpet. Her eyes were wide in shock.
He hurried to her side. “You cut yourself.”
She nodded. “The scissors. I wasn’t watching—they slipped.” She took a breath. “I need to wash up.”
“The kitchen,” he said.
She kept her palm pressed against her hand as she rose to her feet. He followed, turning on the water for her and grabbing the roll of paper towels.
Chloe put her hands under the cold stream of water without so much as a flinch. She carefully lifted her palm to view the cut.
Graham saw what looked like maybe a two-inch gash in the heel of her hand, leading to the lower part of her thumb. Blood flowed swiftly from the cut. He swallowed, reminding himself to stay calm, and gave her some paper towels. But she wasn’t flipping out or screaming from the pain, and he could imagine it must hurt pretty bad.
“Wow, that’s worse than my little mishap with my first pocketknife. I had six stitches. You should probably get to the hospital,” he said. “I don’t think a Band-Aid is going to do this one. Want me to drive you?”
“I…”
“It’s gonna be tricky with one hand.”
She nodded. “Yeah. Okay.”
“Okay.” He handed her the paper towels. “I’ll meet you outside—anything you need?”
“Just my purse.” A bit of a daze overtook her expression.
“Okay. Let me tell Jade, and I’ll be right there.”
Chloe nodded and headed outside.
Graham knocked on the bathroom door, but all he could hear was the water running. “Jade—Chloe cut her hand. I’m taking her to the ER. We’ll be back in a bit.” He grabbed Chloe’s purse and left.
~
Holly had called twice that week, and Violet ignored both calls. Just because her friend had lost her boyfriend suddenly didn’t mean Violet wanted to talk to her.
When Logan got home from work Wednesday, Violet was ready for him. Her day alone had been refreshing, and now she needed him to show her a little attention.
He cooked dinner, and they had a relaxing meal. It was like they'd been together for quite a while, a couple who had already fallen into old patterns.
“So, what’s with the hair?” she asked.
He glanced up from his plate.
“Your hair grows fast—has it always been like that?”
A look close to embarrassment crossed his face, his mouth turning down in a worried frown. “Yeah.”
She frowned. “I’m pretty sure you grew, like, six inches of hair over the weekend. That’s fast.”
She noticed his arms. “Speaking of hair, your arms look extra hairy tonight.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “Is that related?”
Logan’s frown deepened. He rubbed at his arms. “I…uh…I’ll be right back.” He ran to the bathroom.
Violet wondered what his problem was. She heard a faint humming sound. Frowning, she strode to the bathroom door and put her ear to it. “Are you using an electric shaver? Oh, hell.” She stifled a snort, and when he didn’t answer, she returned to the table. Her food was only half gone, but she wasn’t hungry anymore, so she went to the living room.
When Logan finally emerged, she gave him a look from her spot tucked into the sofa. He was still brushing at his arms. He glanced at the table as if unsure if he should finish his food, but he ende
d up joining her instead. He perched on the edge of the cushion about a foot away from her, and she patted the spot next to her. He scooted over, but wouldn’t hold her gaze for long. It was a little adorable how nervous her presence seemed to make him.
Her power didn’t affect Logan the same way it had Ras, the bounding eager puppy. Instead, it changed him more subtly. Almost like it had to work harder. She wasn’t sure why—maybe it was personality, perhaps something else—but she didn’t mind. He still wanted to please her, even if it took on a different vibe.
“So is that why you disappeared randomly this weekend?”
“Uh, maybe?”
“So. Your hair grows like a weed. I can’t believe I never knew this about you. Even those years you were teaching in Boulder?”
He nodded.
She narrowed her eyes. “Okay. So tell me what else I don’t know about you.”
He blinked, then met her gaze. “I don’t own a television.”
“Really? Huh, that’s so…quaint. Now that you mention it, I don’t remember seeing one at your place. What else?”
“I met my father a few months ago.” He arched his brows as if seeking whether that was a satisfactory answer.
“Okay. Not quite as interesting. What else you got?”
“Um…I’m really strong.”
She chuckled. “Right. I’m sure you are. Big, strong man and all.”
“I don’t mean normal strong. I mean…I have the strength of ten men. Twenty, maybe. I don’t know exactly.”
She bit her lip, containing her amusement, but her curiosity was piqued. “Really?”
He nodded. “Want me to show you?”
“Sure. Why not.”
Logan scrambled off the couch and did a slow turn, scanning the room as if debating how best to demonstrate his claim. He returned to face her, paused. Squatting down, he slid his arms underneath the couch. His jaw clenched as his muscles strained to lift it.
And, to her amazement, the couch rose off the ground, with Violet still seated on top. A giggle escaped her mouth. “Oh, wow! This is so cool!” She turned to look all around, then leaned over the back to see how far up she was. If her condo hadn’t been an open, two-story structure, she’d have hit her head on the ceiling. “Nice! Look at you with your tricks!” She couldn’t stop grinning.
Enchanter: The Flawed Series Book Four Page 17
