by Cate Masters
Annie went on insistently. “Intelligent and energetic. You need a younger man to keep up with you.” Annie shrugged. “I’m only pointing out the obvious.”
“Please, stop.”
Annie’s lips twisted to one side, an indicator of her self-restraint. She wanted to argue. “I’m going to push more pie before the fireworks.” She arranged slices on a tray and hummed on her way out.
Joss held her fingers to her eyes. She should serve more lemonade. People would want it to go with dessert. He’s out there. Being near him rattled her to the core. Maybe expanded to shake the ground too. He might have forgotten what happened between them. Joss couldn’t.
You’re letting your imagination run away with you. Her mother used to repeat the saying nearly every day, probably to counter Gram’s influence, who told her to trust the energy flowing through her, leading her in the right direction. Trust her heart.
How? She couldn’t trust her heart when she had no idea how to control it.
* * * *
A few guests left. Taz’s loneliness reached out to Joss from the veterinary practice down the road. Not wanting her dog to think she abandoned him, she went to Eric who sat on the stone wall at the back of the patio with a glum expression.
“I know your practice is closed today, but could I possibly see Taz? It’s the first holiday without him, and I don’t want him to think I’ve forgotten.”
Eric rose. “I’ll bring you over.”
“No, I could let myself in. You should stay.”
“I’ll take you over, if you promise to excuse my messy truck.”
“Why don’t I drive? Let me tell Annie first.” Joss found Annie refilling a coffee carafe in the kitchen. “Would you mind if I left for a bit? Things have slowed down, and everyone’s finished their dessert. I can’t let a day pass without seeing my baby.”
“I’ll handle it. Go on,” Annie urged.
“Thanks. I won’t stay long.” Hurrying outside, she gestured to Eric, who followed.
His long legs jammed his knees against the dashboard. His presence overwhelmed the car, and her. You’re only visiting Taz. He’d have extended the same professional courtesy to anyone.
Inside the practice, he switched the lights on dim.
She spoke softly to the dog, and his tail flopped.
“He’s still sedated and groggy.”
“He knows I’m here, and that’s what matters.”
“Yes. You’re here.” He stepped behind her. “Do you mind never having a holiday to yourself?”
“No, I love being surrounded by people.”
He eased closer. “Sometimes it’s nice to be alone.”
“Sometimes.”
Huskiness edged his soft tone. “Like now.”
Her skin prickled at his nearness, so close his breath warmed her hair. His arm brushed hers as he reached to take hold of Taz’s cage.
She turned to face him, and there was no mistaking the heat in his gaze.
He whispered her name, and it sounded like an eternal wind, seeping into her soul and creating a whirlwind there. It caught her up, lifted her heart to his. She leaned into him as he pressed his soft, warm lips to hers. She opened to him, wanting whatever he was willing to give, and equally returning what he offered. Hungrily, his tongue probed hers, and he pressed her against the kennel.
Taz lay quietly, but barking and hissing erupted on both sides of his cage.
Eric whirled her around in a dreamlike waltz to an exam room, and lifted her onto the table. His gritty voice rubbed her heart raw. “I want you so much. I can’t think of anything else.”
“What about…” Joss couldn’t bring herself to say Sheree’s name. “Your girlfriend.”
“No, she’s not.” Inserting himself between her bare legs, he slid her toward him, pushing her sundress higher, running his hand up her thigh. “I want you, Joss. No one else.”
When a small voice in her head warned it was madness, she hushed it. Sanity was overrated, she countered. A little craziness might be exactly what she needed. Laying her palms against his cheeks, she drew him to her in a rush of need. His hands explored her curves and contours, his lips along her skin like a symphony come to life. When he guided himself inside her, they moved with the rhythm of the wind and stars, a storm within a place of eternity.
Light seeped away outside, leaving only the fireflies, blinking like a firestorm in their own revelry. Holding him tight, she breathed in the moment, so beautiful she never wanted to let it go.
His whisper came softly, almost inaudible. “Stay with me tonight.”
The words galvanized her back in reality. The event still went on at the inn, and she’d left Annie alone to deal with it. “I have to get back.” Gram would be returning soon. Then all hell would break loose.
Resignation thinned his lips before he briefly touched them to hers. He helped her down, and she adjusted her sundress, grateful the travel-friendly fabric didn’t easily wrinkle.
“Ready?”
“I think so.” Her cognitive function became spotty. Probably because she’d lost several neural connections. Whoever coined the phrase “mind-blowing sex” knew what she and Eric experienced. Regaining her equilibrium would take a great effort. Now, she luxuriated in the lush moment, content to not to think, only feel.
One final check of Taz took her aback. She could swear he was smiling.
Chapter 18
Outside, Eric breathed in the lavender-scented air. Darkness gathered under trees, and the blue of the sky shifted from azure to indigo, the horizon rimmed with orange. Halting to stretch before getting in the car, he wished he could scoop her up in an embrace. She was always rushing off, hurrying here and there. Out of his reach. They’d finally reconnected, and he didn’t want to lose the bond again.
The engine revved and the headlights outlined the building in stark relief. No sooner had he plopped into the seat beside her than she drove off, barely braking before turning toward the inn, her intent gaze focused ahead.
When she parked, he hated to let go. “Joss…”
“I have to hurry. It’s almost time for the fireworks.” She grabbed her purse and climbed out.
Heaving a breath, he followed more slowly. We just made our own fireworks.
Joss rushed toward the patio where Annie waited. “How’s it going?”
She seemed surprised at Joss’s breathy tone. He flashed a smile in greeting, not sure whether he should stay or leave. So it wouldn’t appear suspicious, he sat at a nearby table.
A mischievous gleam twinkled in Annie’s eyes. “Fine. How’s it going with you?”
“Good. Taz is recovering well. Right?” She turned to Eric almost in desperation.
“Yes. He’s coming along.”
“Sure.” Annie sounded anything but sure. “It’s nearly dark. Everyone ready for fireworks?”
The two women spoke to one another, but he couldn’t make out what they said. Annie cleared some dishes off the serving table and went inside. Joss came to where he stood looking out over the field of flowers, dazzling in the display of flickering lights gathered there. “The fireworks will start any minute.”
Eric nodded toward the field. “It’s amazing how they flock to the lavender.”
“Gram used to say they’re fairies. They bring good luck and protection.”
He gave a short laugh. “I never used to believe in magic.”
Kyle strode outside, then stopped short. “Mom.”
At the young man’s glare, Eric shifted uncomfortably. “I should get going.” Much as he’d like to stay, he couldn’t push things. Nor could he kiss her goodnight as he wished. Instead, he touched her arm and nodded goodnight to Kyle.
Heading home, he couldn’t deny a certain magic in the atmosphere. Maybe even a bit of luck. A strange thrum filled the air. He cut across the yard, past the stable to the stone bridge. Like metal to a magnet, his steps brought him to the field. Darkness sp
read across the lavender but the lithe stalks beckoned him on, swaying in a slow waltz with the wind. At the far edge of the grounds, he halted and faced the house.
Solar lights lined the patio, and silhouettes of people moved there. Kids ran in the yard, laughing. Music played softly in the house and floated through the night. He longed to be part of the homey scene.
The place brimmed with life. A year ago, he wouldn’t have believed it possible. He crouched and ran a palm across the tops of the blooms, then drew his hand to his nose. The aroma hit him with a rush. Powerful. So soothing, he stretched out among the flowers.
In one year, his personal life had changed drastically too. Finally able to relax completely, a wave of well-being washed over him. Breaths relaxed into a slow rhythm, his muscles unwound. Odd. A beer or two sometimes took the edge off like this, but he didn’t like to drink much in case an emergency call came in.
Loud pops and hisses sounded, and kids squealed. Flashes lit the sky for seconds then dissolved. A jet stream of smoke streaked upward and exploded into a blossom of yellow light. People at the inn clapped and cheered, and the show grew in intensity.
After the fireworks display fizzled to a stop, he reluctantly stood and headed home. Several times, he turned back subconsciously to glance at the house, and the silhouettes of people moving under the party lights. He searched for Joss, but gave up after awhile.
Long after the laughter faded and headlights of departing visitors swept through his bedroom like search lights, the scent of lavender drifted through the window. With it, came sleep.
* * * *
The stars twinkled brighter tonight, like the fairy lights in the field. So bright, Joss could almost hear them hum. The sizzle and crackle below ground grew louder. The ley line seemed impatient. Maybe it knew what awaited them all.
“Mom,” Kyle repeated, stepping closer.
“Sorry, sweetie. Did you need something?” Clearing the last of the dishes from the patio, Joss breathed in the evening air. Even its lavender scent didn’t ease her mind.
“What were you doing with him?”
“Checking on Taz.” She returned to clearing the tables, hoping to end her son’s interrogation.
“It took two of you?”
Assuming a casual tone, she lifted the dishes. “He’s the vet, Kyle. Because it’s a holiday, I couldn’t get in to see Taz without Dr. Hendricks.” Eric’s formal name came out awkwardly.
Heaving a breath, Kyle stared across the field toward the practice. “Right.”
“Honey.” She reached for him, but he evaded her touch.
“I’m going out with some friends.”
She called as she went inside, “Have a good time.” He’s too much like his father. An exasperated sigh escaped when she set the dishes in the sink.
A pent-up smile widened Annie’s eyes as she drifted close. “Soooo. What’s new?” Shoulders hunched, she gripped the countertop.
Rinsing the plates and restacking them, Joss averted her gaze, and hopefully, the conversation. “Not much food left. I’m calling today a success.”
Annie’s teasing tone belied her feigned innocence. “Yes. Very surprising, toward the end, wasn’t it?” She nodded slowly, probably to pump for more info.
Bracing for the onslaught of another interrogation, Joss turned. When she opened her mouth to explain, only a choked sound came out. Tonight had not gone as planned, most definitely. And she couldn’t decide what to do about it.
Annie grasped Joss’s shoulders. “Hey, I think it’s wonderful. He looked happy when you guys came back.”
“Oh, God.” She rubbed her temples. “What gave us away?”
“Well…it’s pretty easy to put together. Rumpled clothes. Mussed hair. Goofy grins.” Her own grin dissolved. “His. You weren’t grinning. Why not?”
“This is crazy. I never intended it to happen before, and certainly never intended it tonight.”
“Before?” Annie blinked hard. “It happened before?”
“I didn’t tell you because it should have been a one-time thing. The night Taz got hurt, I was so upset about losing him, and he held me, and things got out of hand.”
“Right.” Hurt evident in her downturned mouth, Annie backed away.
“Annie, please. I’m sorry. I didn’t know how to explain it.”
“Why do you need to explain it?”
She resisted the urge to melt into her friend’s arms. “I don’t know. It’s…” Words like wonderful and dangerous came to mind, a bad mix.
“Exciting? Fun?” Annie prompted.
“Yes, but also crazy.”
“He doesn’t seem to think so.”
Turning back to the sink, she loaded plates into the dishwasher. “I don’t want to get caught up in something doomed to turn into a mess.” Or doomed her lover to an early death.
“Because he lives nearby?” Confusion knit Annie’s brow.
“And I’m not ready for such a relationship.” Every time she was with him, the energy bristled like lightning. No wonder The Underworld had taken notice of him.
Annie handed her the last of the glasses. “Don’t worry about it. There’s no rush, right? Take your time, and it will come clear.”
“You’re right. Thanks, hon.” After giving her friend a quick hug, she surveyed the kitchen. “You put in a long day. Why don’t you sleep in tomorrow?”
Annie brightened. “Because! We already have five dinner reservations for next weekend, and I have so much to plan.”
“Five? From customers who were here today?”
Annie’s curls bobbed with her enthusiastic nod. “Isn’t it great?”
“Yes, fantastic.”
“I’ll take these inside.” Grabbing the dishes, Annie sauntered off humming.
Joss gave one last check of the patio. Beyond the field lit with fireflies, stood Eric’s house, visible at the bend in the road. A light winked out in a room upstairs, and the house went dark. Something like gravity pulled at her, urged her to reclaim the bits of herself she’d left there earlier. To complete herself again.
But first, she still had a few things to take care of, like shutting whatever door to Hell had opened. She definitely didn’t want any more demons crashing her parties.
* * * *
Aunt Lydia sat at a table in the dining room with Annie, tarot cards spread between them. Both women hunched forward intently.
Her aunt concentrated on the cards. “Mmm.”
Annie spoke in a hush. “What is it? What do you see?”
“You have many intriguing aspects.”
“Intriguing how?” Eagerness shone in Annie’s eyes.
“You’re talented, intelligent, an expert chef. Fun to be around.” Lydia used her theatrical voice, brimming with drama and intrigue.
Sighing, Joss set the dishes in the sink. “I already told you about Annie’s wonderful traits.”
Straightening her spine, Lydia sniffed. “The cards reinforced it.”
“Anything else?” Annie leaned forward.
Joss rinsed off the plates and stacked them in the dishwasher. Her aunt droned on, describing Annie’s virtues, carefully sidestepping any direct predictions. Not because Lydia couldn’t nail them. In general, people didn’t want to hear what their futures really held. Somehow, it took away the verve of daily life.
After wiping the counters, Joss scanned the extra food stacked in plastic containers. “I hope those won’t go to waste.”
“I’ll take some home,” Annie offered. “I give our neighbor Mr. Adams something every week, to make sure he eats once in awhile. Since Edna died, he’s skipped some meals.”
“Oh, the poor thing. Take the lot of them. Some of this will freeze.”
Standing, Annie stretched. “What a great day.”
Lydia gathered the cards. “You certainly outdid yourself. The food tasted wonderful.”
“Everyone said so,” Joss added. “Why don’t you
go get some rest? I know I’m ready for bed.” Though the day’s excitement left her wired and eager for more.
It would be a long night.
Her aunt laid out cards and studied them. An eyebrow snaked up. “Well, you have the going to bed part right.”
Joss winced. “Aunt Lydia…” She plopped onto a chair, unable to argue any further.
Quickly returning to her seat, Annie leaned her chin on her palm. “Ohhh, I knew it. Tell us more.”
With an air of practiced mysticism, Lydia studied the cards laid out before her. “I see great change. And great love awaits. The love of a handsome man who adores you.”
With a gasp, Annie smiled. “How exciting.”
Joss lurched out of the chair. “It’s hooey,” she lied to Annie as her thoughts shifted to Eric.
“Accurate hooey,” her aunt reminded her.
Joss forced a laugh. “You should be getting home. It’s been a long day.” But she and her family still had plenty of work to do. She gestured Annie away.
Grabbing her purse, Annie said, “Yes, I’m pooped. Good night.” She lingered in the doorway long enough to tease, “The clock has been chiming the right hours.”
Lydia’s blue eyes focused on Joss. “Remember what your grandmother told you. One day you will fall under a man’s spell, and the grandfather clock would tell you it’s the right time.”
Affecting a stern tone, Joss hoped to deflect her aunt’s hopes as much as her own. “I’m going to my room. Alone.” She rose.
Lydia’s sing-song voice taunted. “Not for long.”
“Right. Soon Taz will be home.” The cards had only revealed her sleeping with someone she loved. How had Aunt Lydia known about her dream?
Chapter 19
Work held Eric hostage. He needed to see Joss again, but couldn’t until he’d visited with every patient. Hours from now.
At the approach of footsteps, he looked up, and his heart flip-flopped in his chest. Walking toward him, the overhead light gave Joss’s honey gold hair a glossy sheen. So beautiful, she might have been an angel.
It took him a moment to find his voice. “Good morning.”
