The Professor Woos The Witch (Nocturne Falls Book 4)

by Kristen Painter

  “She did what?” Cole was already suspicious of Lila after her visit this morning, but going to see Pandora? That was unnecessary. And an equation that didn’t add up. “What the hell did she want?”

  Pandora shook her head, her jaw jutting to one side in clear frustration. “I don’t know, but I’m pretty sure she got it.”

  He grabbed her shoulders to hold her in one spot for a moment. “You’re still not making much sense.”

  She looked up. “The whole conversation was…” She squinted at him. “Did you cut your lip?”

  “No, why?”

  She circled her finger at his mouth. “You’ve got something red right there.”

  He wiped at it, then looked at his hand. He groaned in disgust. “It’s lipstick. From Lila. She kissed me.”

  Pandora jolted back. “She did what?”

  He shook his head. “She kissed me. It was nothing. And it was completely unwanted. She read too deeply into me agreeing to let her come in to talk this morning. That’s how Lila is. Turns an inch into a mile.” He watched her expression. “Are you mad?”

  Pandora crossed her arms. “That she kissed you? Hell yes. I don’t like it at all. But I’m mad at her, not you.”

  Relief poured through him. Pandora really was the woman for him.

  She frowned. “We still need to talk. In the course of her visit to me, she told me you had coffee. In fact, she told me all kinds of things. And ultimately, I think I agreed to some things I didn’t mean to.”

  He sighed. “Lila is a master manipulator.” He pointed toward the kitchen. “Let’s go sit. This is a conversation best had sitting down, I’m sure.”

  While he made a fresh pot of coffee, Pandora laid out everything that had transpired. He held his comments so as not to break her train of thought. While the coffee brewed, he leaned against the counter and listened. And nodded. And shook his head.

  “So that’s about it.” Pandora looked miserable. He felt for her. Lila had that effect on people.

  “You don’t have to bring up the mentoring to Kaley at all, you know.”

  Pandora cut her eyes at him. “So that Lila can do it and make me look bad? This is a lose-lose. I have to.”

  “Kaley will pick you.”

  She shook her head. “You think that, but this is her mother we’re talking about.”

  “In name only. You’ve already showed Kaley more care and attention in the last week than Lila has in years.” Behind him, the coffee hissed that it was done.

  “But Kaley is starved for her mother’s attention. I can see it in her. Why else would she have called Lila?”

  He brought two cups of coffee and the sugar to the table, then went to the fridge for creamer. “I don’t disagree with that. But I don’t want Kaley to pick her. I want Kaley to pick you. Can you imagine if Lila disappears on Kaley again while she’s supposed to be mentoring her?”

  He set the creamer in front of Pandora as she answered. “That kid will be crushed.”

  “Agreed.”

  “As much as I don’t want Kaley getting hurt, at some point she’s going to have to realize her mother is not reliable.”

  Cole sat down at the table. “She knows that. I think she’s just hoping Lila’s suddenly going to change.”

  “Poor kid.”

  He thought for a moment. “I really hope Kaley didn’t say anything to Lila about me being a familiar. I mean, we know she already knew. That’s why she married me. But if she knew that I was now aware of my true nature…and that I was embracing it…” He rolled his shoulders as the thought shot tension into his body. “It wouldn’t be good.”

  “I don’t think Kaley would have brought it up. I gave her the whole speech in the car on the way to the coven meeting about how that information was not to be shared and how it could put you and your dad in danger. She took it very seriously.”

  He drank his coffee. “That’s good, but you saw how your conversation with Lila went. She has a way of making people tell her things.”

  “That she does. Fiddlesticks.” Pandora rubbed her brow. “You know, I could…no. Never mind.”

  “What?” He let his coffee cool. “Say it.”

  She looked up through her lashes while she stirred her coffee. “I could check in with the ACW. See if there’s any reason Lila shouldn’t be approved as a mentor. You know, registered complaints, misuse of magic, that sort of thing.”

  He nodded. “Do it. Please. For Kaley.”

  She sipped her coffee. “I’m really not mad about the kiss, and I get why you’re letting Lila spend time with Kaley—”

  “I didn’t say it was going to happen, I only said I’d talk to Kaley about it. Which I will tonight. I also said that if Lila screws up once, it’s over.”

  Pandora nodded, her expression tight with reservation. “I just can’t shake the sense she’s up to something. I’ve never in my life been so whiplashed by a conversation as the one I had with her today. She even insinuated that you still have feelings for her.”

  He barked out a harsh laugh. “That woman has a bigger set than most men I know.” He sighed. “I wish I could tell her to leave, but if I prevent her from seeing Kaley, I look like the bad guy to my daughter.”

  Pandora nodded and stared into her coffee. “I don’t want you to put yourself in that position. I just hope…” She took a deep breath and looked up at him. “Please tell me she’s not going to get in the way of us.”

  He put his hand on top of hers and gave it a squeeze. “She’s not. She might try—”

  “I think she already is.”

  “It’s not going to make a difference.” He darted forward, scooped her into his arms and settled her on his lap.

  She let out a soft whoop and grabbed his shoulders, grinning. “Don’t get frisky. I have to go back to work.”

  “We both do. But right now, listen to me, Pandora. I’m crazy about you. You’ve opened a whole new world to me. One I’m still not adjusted to, but I’ll get there. I’m not about to do anything to change what we have going on. I already said I’d stay, didn’t I?”

  She nodded. “Yes.”

  “You want a key to my house? My truck? Want my high school letter jacket? Another one of my feathers? Name it, it’s yours.”

  She laughed. “You had a letter jacket? What sport did you play?”

  He scowled at her playfully. “I was a mathlete, thank you very much.”

  Her mouth bent into an odd line, then she burst out with more laughter. “That makes so much sense.”

  He clutched at his chest and pretended to be wounded. “Geeks are so under-appreciated.”

  “Now, now.” Her gaze took on a wicked glint as she dipped her head to meet his mouth. “Let me show you how much I appreciate you.”

  The next morning, Pandora caught her mom just as she was unlocking the door to Ever After. “Hey Mom.”

  Corette turned. “Good morning, darling. On your way to a showing?”

  “Nope. I’m on my way here, to talk to you. I do have a showing but not until later. You don’t have any brides first thing, do you?” It was a quarter to ten, the same time Corette opened the store every morning.

  “I have one at ten thirty. Half an hour enough time? I need to pull dresses for her, so that’s the best I can do.”

  “It’s plenty. And I can talk while you get things set up.”

  “Come on in.” Corette pushed the door open.

  Pandora walked in and took a breath as her mother locked the door behind them. A faint floral scent always lingered in the air, but beyond that, there was something so fresh and hopeful about her mother’s shop. All those wedding dresses on the racks and displayed on the mannequins just waiting for the right bride. Someday… But maybe not any day soon. Not with Lila in town.

  Corette flipped the lights on, and the crystal chandeliers and overheads brought the place to life. Fresh flowers, supplied by Marigold’s shop, naturally, adorned the front table. Everything was done in soft, flattering pastels, a
llowing the brides to be front and center.

  “I need to turn the sound system on and get the coffee on. Will you keep an eye out for Delaney? She should be by any moment with today’s refreshments.”

  “Sure thing.” Delaney Ellingham, recent wife of Hugh Ellingham, who was one of the vampires who’d founded Nocturne Falls, provided the sweets that Corette set out for her customers every day. Pandora smiled. No wonder Ever After was so popular. Who wouldn’t want to shop here?

  “Thanks. Back in a jiff.” Corette disappeared into the offices.

  A minute later, easy, romantic jazz filled the store.

  A minute after that, Delaney knocked on the front door. She cradled a large pastry box in one arm, the words Delaney’s Delectables printed in whimsical script on the top.

  Pandora unlocked the door and let her in. “Morning.”

  “Hey, you’re not Corette.” She grinned. “How are you?”

  “Good, you?”

  “Fabulous, thanks. Here are today’s goodies.”

  Pandora took the box. A delicious aroma wafted up at her. “What’s in here?”

  “Mini coconut cupcakes, lemon petit fours, frosted sugar cookies and white chocolate buttercream truffles.”

  Pandora stared at the box. “I think I became a diabetic just listening to that. Although I’m a little sad there are no brownies in that mix.”

  Delaney popped her eyebrows and frowned. “Talk to your mother. She won’t allow anything that could stain the dresses. No chocolate, no red velvet, no berries. You get the idea.”

  “Makes sense.” Pandora put the box on the front table.

  “I’m glad you’re here,” Delaney said. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you. I have a friend who’s interested in moving here, but she doesn’t have a ton of money. Wait, that doesn’t sound right. What I mean is Roxi’s not vampire rich. Although with the way her books are selling, who knows? Anyway, she’s got plenty of money, but I don’t think she wants to blow it all on a house. Is there much on the market in the way of starter homes?”

  “Wait, back up. Her books?”

  “She’s a romance author! Roxi St. James. Isn’t that cool?”

  “Wow, very. I wonder if Willa knows her. Willa loves romance novels.”

  “I’ll ask Willa next time I see her. I told Roxi this place could be really good for her. If you can’t be creative in this town, you just can’t be creative.”

  “I’m sure I can find her something.” Pandora pulled a card from her purse. “Give her my info and have her call me. Is she a supernatural, by any chance?”

  Delaney took the card. “Nope. Regular old human. But she’s fresh out of a divorce and looking for a new start.”

  “I’m happy to help.”

  “Thanks.” Delaney tucked the card into her purse, then put her hand on the door. “Talk to you soon.”

  Pandora locked the door behind her just as Corette walked out. “Was that Delaney?”

  “Yep, and the box she dropped off is on the table here.”

  “Thank you.” She clasped her hands in front of her. “Now, what can I do for my favorite redhead?”

  Pandora took a breath. “Cole’s ex-wife showed up two days ago, and every fiber of my witchy being tells me she’s up to something.”

  Corette blinked once, then her eyes narrowed. “Did she come to try to get Cole or Kaley back?”

  “No idea. Maybe both. Kaley called her, which she says is the reason she came, but Mom, I don’t trust her. She came to see me at my office yesterday right after she paid Cole a visit. And somehow, during the course of that visit to me, she got me to agree to talk to Kaley about her taking my place as Kaley’s mentor. Cole and I decided last night that we weren’t going to say anything to Kaley until I talked to you about it today.”

  “What exactly happened?”

  Pandora put a hand on her forehead. “I wish I could say. Mom, I’ve never been so expertly manipulated in my life. I don’t trust her, but she hasn’t done anything suspicious that I can point to. Yet.”

  “Trust your instincts, honey. That’s something too many women don’t do.” Corette tipped her head. “How can I help?”

  “As the coven secretary, you have access to the ACW’s membership files. I want to see if there’s ever been a complaint about this woman.”

  Corette nodded. “If there was, it might be grounds for banning her from becoming anyone’s mentor.”

  “Exactly.”

  Corette checked her watch. “We’ve got five minutes. Let’s go.”

  Thirty seconds later, Corette had the ACW website pulled up and had logged onto her account. She clicked through to the membership roster, an area accessible only to those with certain positions in their covens.

  “What’s her name?”

  “Lila Aquinos.” Pandora leaned over her mother’s shoulder to see better.

  Corette typed the name in, hit enter and the processing wheel started to spin. Two seconds later, it retrieved a file marked Aquinos, Lila.

  Corette moved the cursor to the file, but didn’t click. She shook her head. “This is a violation of the oath of office I took.”

  “Mom, it’s perfectly within your rights to check the file of a witch who’s come to town if you think she could be a danger to a member of your coven.”

  “That’s not the violation I’m talking about.” She gave Pandora a stern glance. “I have the authority to see the file. You do not.”

  Pandora straightened. “You’re right. And I don’t want to get you into any trouble. I’ll go wait in the store.”

  “Thank you. I’ll be out shortly.”

  Pandora walked back into the showroom. She studied the dresses in the window. Pretty beaded confections that would turn some lucky woman into a princess. With a sigh, she went to the front table and snuck a petit four to help pass the time. The dainty little square of lemony cake and tart icing melted on her tongue. “Oh, wow. Delaney, you have done it again. Of course, that’s going to mean an extra ten minutes on the treadmill tomorrow morning.”

  Corette came out of the office. “What was that dear?”

  Pandora swallowed the last bite. “Nothing, just talking to myself.”

  “Did Charisma suggest that?”

  “No, I was just—Mom, what did you find out?”

  Corette’s mouth narrowed to a thin line. “No report of any kind.”

  “Not a single complaint?”

  “No. Sorry.”

  Pandora pushed a strand of hair behind one ear. “I guess it’s a good thing. Maybe she’s not out to create trouble after all.”

  “Or she just hasn’t been caught doing anything yet. A clean report doesn’t mean she couldn’t be up to something.”

  “Good point. I’ll keep that in mind.” Pandora smiled. “Thanks. I should get going and let you get to work too.”

  Corette smiled. “Happy to help. Have a good day, honey.”

  “You too, Mom.” Pandora left and headed to her showing. Her mother’s reminder only confused Pandora more. Was Lila up to something? Or could she really be just a woman who recognized that she’d screwed up and wanted to mend her relationship with her daughter?

  If Pandora didn’t give her a chance, who would? Maybe it was time to give Lila a few feet of rope. If she hung herself, that wasn’t Pandora’s problem.

  As soon as her showing was over, she texted Cole to let him know she was free like she’d promised him she would the night before.

  Come over if you can, he texted back.

  On my way.

  When she arrived, he was in the driveway pitching stuff into the dumpster. Amazing how sweat and dirt could make a man look so yummy. She waved. “Hey.”

  “Hey.” He didn’t smile. “We need to talk.”

  “That sounds ominous.”

  He looked around. “Inside.”

  She followed him into the house, trying not to panic and waiting as patiently as she could until the door was shut. The second it closed, she asked, “
What’s going on? Is this about Lila? You didn’t change your mind about staying, did you?”

  He grabbed her shoulders and gave her a firm, fast kiss. “I’m staying, that hasn’t changed. But I had a talk with Kaley this morning and—wait, I need to back up. Lila came by last night right after you left.”

  “You think she was waiting for me to leave?”

  “Yes. She said all she wanted was to take a walk around the neighborhood with Kaley. I agreed, but I made Kaley take her phone.”

  “So you could track her with the GPS app, right? Smart.”

  He nodded. “That’s all they did, too. Just walk. They were gone thirty minutes and then they were back. Lila said good night and left. It seemed like a good start to letting Lila have some time with her.”

  He wiped his hand over his face, smudging dirt on one cheek. “I talked to Kaley this morning. I tried to play it cool, but she knew I wanted to know what they’d talked about on the walk. She said Lila had asked her if she’d found any feathers around lately. Gave Kaley some song and dance about how they’re great for making protection amulets for witches who can see auras and she’d make one for Kaley if she found one.”

  Pandora’s jaw fell open, and for a moment, she couldn’t form words. “That’s BS as far as I know. There’s no feather protection amulet for aura-readers. Lila wants to know if there are feathers around because she wants to know if you’ve shifted. She wants to know that you know who you really are.”

  Cole shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “I did my best not to react to any of it, but I think I failed. I asked Kaley about the phone call that she’d had with her mother, the one that led Lila to come here. Kaley didn’t want to say much about it. So I asked her straight out if she’d told Lila about me being a familiar.”

  Pandora swallowed. “I think I already know the answer to this.”

  Cole took a breath. “Kaley told her. She said she thought her mother counted as family.”

  Pandora’s phone chimed with an incoming text. She reached for her purse, then stopped.

  “Get it,” Cole said. “It could be Kaley reaching out to you.”