Magni

by Janice M. Whiteaker

  Or his lips.

  She dropped her eyes to the floor as the emotions warring in her body got caught somewhere between arousal and panic. It wasn’t until this instant that Christine realized how close those emotions sat in her life. She took a deep breath, finding a scrap of focus.

  “It’s more than I hoped for.” Then, because it was becoming nearly impossible not to look at him Christine let her eyes find his. “Thank you Magni.”

  A low rumble moved through her. A silent vibration. Like an earthquake that only happened in her little square of the universe.

  And it came from him.

  It was terrifying. Confusing. Stimulating.

  It made her stomach and her thighs clench.

  “Do you want to get this all set up then?” Rhea popped up beside them. “Talk about perfect timing, huh?” She started lining the delicate chains across the velvet lined display case.

  “She’ll have to come help you later.” Magni barely glanced Rhea’s way.

  Rhea raised an eyebrow. “Why’s that?”

  “I need her to come with me to the diner.” Magni’s attention was on Christine, his eyes hesitant, questioning. As if he wasn’t sure if she would be going with him.

  Or if she was about to run screaming down the street.

  Both were plausible options.

  If Christine was smart she would run down the street in the opposite direction and pretend the man she harbored so many conflicting feelings for didn’t just make her the most beautiful piece of furniture she’d ever seen.

  But she was tired of running away from him. Retreating any time their paths crossed. Pretending like he didn’t exist. Pretending like it didn’t matter that he did. That’s why she went to his cabin. Mostly.

  “Okay.”

  Magni’s shoulders relaxed, their wide expanse dropping the littlest bit. He finally turned his attention to Rhea, giving Christine a second to catch her breath. “I’ll bring her back later.”

  Later?

  Christine was still off kilter from the display case and the amount of attention he directed her way when Magni’s hand gently came to rest against her back, easing her toward the door. Her stomach twisted as he opened the door and guided her out onto the sidewalk.

  Suddenly running screaming in the opposite direction held a certain amount of appeal.

  “I just want to be sure I understand what you need.” His voice was low and smooth.

  If he only knew. Christine nodded, unable to do much more. When she went to his cabin, hoping to put aside the past between them once and for all, this was not the reaction she expected from him.

  And it wasn’t one she was prepared for.

  Magni opened the door to the diner. It was empty. Christine scanned the vacant space, desperately hoping to see someone, anyone. “Where is everyone?”

  Last she heard the crew was working nearly around the clock trying to finish the place up. It showed. In the week since she was last here the walls were finished and painted. The floors were installed. Wires dangled from the vaulted ceilings where the fixtures she and Magni were making would hang.

  “They’re waiting on inspections.” Magni stepped into the room behind her taking one hand off her back and tucking both into his jeans pockets.

  She turned to face him. “What do you need to know?”

  He eased toward her, his blue-grey eyes the color of storm clouds just before dropping the weight of rain filling them. “I don’t want to talk about light fixtures.”

  “Then why did you bring me here?” Christine could barely get the words out. They sounded more like a whisper between lovers than the demand for answers they should have been.

  “I wanted to talk to you alone.” Magni stepped closer, increasing the urge to flee in terror or throw up in panic with each inch he gained. “There are some things I need to say to you.”

  All the air in the room whooshed past her. At first Christine thought it was a reaction to Magni’s body being inches from hers. Then a deep voice cut the tension between them.

  “Excuse me.”

  Christine slowly leaned to one side to peek around Magni’s wide frame. A man stood in the doorway. The expensive cut of his suit and the strong line of his jaw would make the tall, handsome stranger the most attractive man in the room in most circumstances.

  Not this one.

  Magni didn’t take his eyes off her. “Go away.”

  The man’s smile didn’t falter. “I heard this was quite a welcoming town.” He stepped inside, letting the door close at his back. “You’re making me think I heard wrong.”

  Christine looked up at Magni then back at the man at the door. “Are you looking for the bed and breakfast?” She tried to step around the giant blocking her path to the door. “I can take you there if you’d—”

  She yelped, cutting her offer of help short, as Magni turned to face the man, using one hand to push her behind him, pressing her body tight against his back. “It’s across the street.” His hand held her firmly in place. “There’s a sign.”

  “Well then.” Even without seeing his face, Christine could tell the unknown visitor was still smiling, not the least bit intimidated by the man staring him down.

  Idiot.

  “I guess I’ll head that way.” She heard the door open. “I’ll be sure to let them know how helpful you were.”

  The sound of a low growl reverberated through her. Restrained and quiet but no less threatening. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind mister suit and tie had no idea how dangerous the man pressed against her was.

  It was something Christine should remind herself of as well, but it would have to wait because right now she could only focus on one thing. The fact that the man was pressed against her.

  It was the closest she’d ever been to Magni, not that she could get much closer than the front of her body pressed into the back of his. The scent of wood and the outdoors smothered out everything else. Like she was in the forest surrounded by peace and tranquility.

  But she wasn’t. She was surrounded by strength and agitation. Christine could feel the strong lines of lean muscle under the worn fabric of Magni’s shirt. The longer the stranger stayed, the tighter they became, until they felt ready to snap.

  And so did she.

  Christine tried to step back, put some distance between her body and Magni’s, but his grip on her only tightened. He held her there until she heard the soft sound of the metal door swooshing into place. Slowly Magni’s hand eased off, leaving the spot it covered feeling cold.

  Vacant.

  She stepped back and the feeling of emptiness spread across the front of her body. She took another step. And then another, hoping the added distance would ease the odd sensation. “Why did you do that?”

  Magni stared at the door a second longer before turning to face her. “He’s not here to look at you.”

  A sharp retort sat on the tip of her tongue. Was it something she wanted to do? To poke the beast just as they were beginning to find some footing to stand on?

  Yes. It was.

  “How do you know he’s not?” Christine waited, standing tall behind the challenge she gave him.

  Magni’s brow lowered, the storm in his eyes intensifying as he stalked toward her. “Because I said he’s not.”

  Christine struggled to swallow as her heart pounded in her chest. What was happening? One minute she didn’t exist and the next?

  No one could look at her?

  “Wait a minute.” Christine held her hand up. “I’m pretty sure you don’t get to have any say in who looks at me.” She took a step in his direction. “Or who I look at.”

  Magni cocked an eyebrow, the look in his eyes now laced with something she couldn’t quite identify. Not without breaking the promise he forced her to make to him the morning she tried to save him from the pain of losing his wife.

  The memory of the venom in his words as he accused her of being so many things she wasn’t soured Christine’s stomach and heated her face
. Not because of embarrassment.

  But because she was pissed.

  “Listen to me and listen to me well.” Christine felt the energy around her start to move as she let the decades old anger bubble up inside. “I am a grown fucking woman and if I want to look at a handsome man then I’ll fucking look at him.” She tipped her head to one side. “If I want to do more than look I’ll do that too.”

  A low growl that could stop a man in his tracks rumbled through the diner.

  She rolled her eyes at him. “Don’t start that shit with me.” She waved her hand at him. “You don’t get to be decent to me for a few days and then start making rules about who looks at me.”

  Christine pushed past him, shoving open the door and escaping into the street before she did something stupid, like let a man come in and tell her what to do.

  Plenty of men had tried. It landed them all out on their ass and if she was smart that’s where Magni would end up too. On his ass, firmly planted on the other side of the wall she started the day he showed her what people do with a gift like hers.

  Gail waved at her from across the street and Christine picked up the pace, refusing to look back, worried she’d see Magni’s eyes on her.

  More worried she wouldn’t.

  “Come over here.” Gail smiled from the porch of the B&B. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”

  This was good. She could go spend the afternoon with Gail. Keep herself from trying to read too much into what just happened.

  Mister suit and tie stepped into view, giving Christine her first full look at a man who was probably only a few years younger than she was. He still had on that dazzling smile from before. The one he kept in the face of a giant, irritable mountain man.

  He certainly wasn’t easy to scare that’s for sure.

  Christine climbed the steps, keeping her smile on Gail. “How are you?”

  Gail grabbed her in a quick hug before directing her toward the handsome stranger. “This is Craig. He’s in town...” Gail’s brow furrowed. She turned to Craig. “What are you in town for?”

  “I’m just visiting.” He tucked one hand in the pocket of his perfectly cut suit pants. “Looking around. See what sort of interesting things I can find.” He held out his other hand to Christine, his dark eyes fixed on hers. “So far I haven’t been disappointed.”

  “Well that’s just wonderful news.” Gail clapped her hands together. She rested one hand on Craig’s bicep. “Christine makes the most beautiful jewelry.” She nodded toward the gallery. “We have a whole display set up across the street. You should check it out.”

  “I think I’ll do that.” He kept his gaze on Christine. “Maybe the artist herself would like to join me?”

  “Of course she would.” Gail grabbed Christine by the waist and pushed her into Craig’s side.

  Craig crooked his arm at the elbow, offering it for her to hold. It was so gentlemanly. Gallant. Something most women would eat up.

  Christine slipped her hand into the space between Craig’s arm and his body, managing a smile. “Thank you.”

  “Dinner’s at six.” Gail called after them from the porch as Craig led her across the street.

  “They offer dinner at the bed and breakfast?” Craig opened the door to the gallery.

  “They will until the diner’s done.” Christine gave Rhea a wave as she walked in. “Then they will only offer things like pastries in the morning and snacks the rest of the day. Everything else will be at the diner.”

  Craig pointed down the street. “And the diner is where I met mister personality?”

  “That might be the best description I’ve ever heard of him.” Christine turned to Rhea as her friend reached their side.

  “Description of who?” Rhea looked from Craig to Christine. Who is that?

  “Rhea, this is Craig.” Christine answered the question she didn’t have to hear. “He’s looking for interesting things.”

  “Well he’s in the right place for that.” Rhea laughed. “Greenlea is the most interesting place I’ve ever been.”

  “It certainly is beautiful.” Craig’s gaze slowly slid to Christine, then back to Rhea. “I hear you have some jewelry I should make a point to see.”

  “I do.” Rhea led him to the beautiful display case. Christine held back, letting her friend take over some of Craig’s attention for a minute.

  He was certainly handsome, in a clean cut sort of way. And charming. And a gentleman.

  But it wasn’t enough to keep Christine from staring at the handcrafted walnut display table instead. The man who made it for her was none of those things. In fact, Magni was quite the opposite.

  He was rugged and rough around the edges. Wild. Uncivilized.

  Savage.

  Feral.

  A man who could never be tamed.

  She would be a fool to think anything different.

  And that’s what scared her. She didn’t want him different.

  Christine stepped up to the table, careful not to put her hands on the hardwood. This time not because of a promise she made to someone else, but because of a new promise she made to herself.

  They made their peace. She and Magni were in the best place they would ever be. What happened all those years ago was as resolved as it ever would be and now it was time to move on. It was the only option she had. Anything else was too dangerous for her.

  It was best to let sleeping dogs lie. Pretend it was all put to bed.

  Pretend she’d done all she could to give Magni the peace that eluded her.

  5

  “How’s it going?” Jerrik slid into the vacant stool beside Magni at the bar, nodding at his sister Kari as he sat down. She smiled in acknowledgment before turning her attention to the small line of people waiting to order a drink. Jerrik turned to face Magni and his head tipped back in surprise. “What in the hell happened to your hair?”

  “It was in my way.” Magni tipped back his third beer, scanning the busy bar as he drank. It was his turn to babysit. Make sure no one gave Kari any trouble. Not that the new onslaught of visitors had given them much trouble. If anything the new crowd rolling into Greenlea was easier to manage, even though there were three times as many of them. “Why are we still doing this?”

  Jerrik shrugged. “Just keeping an eye on things.” He leaned back in his seat, looking like a man at ease, relaxing after a long day. But his youngest nephew was never at ease. Never relaxed.

  Especially after the goat in the woods.

  His eyes barely moved but Magni would bet his hind teeth Jerrik knew every move that was made. Every conversation being had. Every person who was dangerously close to being overserved. The deputy could take off his uniform but Jerrik was never off duty.

  “It’s been quiet.” Jerrik held up one finger when Kari looked their way. “I don’t like it.”

  “Quiet’s a good thing.” Magni finished off his beer and leaned across the bar to toss it into the can tucked against the wall. The bottle hit the bottom with a heavy thud.

  “Not as far as I’m concerned.” Jerrik’s eyes zeroed in on the far back corner of the family’s bar. A group of young men sat around a high top table. The tension emanating from the group was palpable. “Something’s up over there.”

  Magni took the beer Kari brought for Jerrik while his nephew’s attention stayed fixed on the group of skinny guys who looked like they’d be more at home in a wine shop than a bar intended to entertain a rougher demographic of men. He swallowed half then looked at the label. “What in the hell is this shit?”

  Jerrik drug his eyes from the corner to glance in Magni’s direction. “It’s a pale ale.” He started to look back across the bar before his attention snapped back. He yanked the bottle from Magni’s hand. “Asshole.”

  Magni leaned back in is seat, doing his best to settle in for the evening. It wasn’t working out so well for him. Even three-and-a-half beers in he was restless. Agitated.

  All because of a pecker in a suit.

&
nbsp; Kari worked her way down the bar. The crowd was keeping her busy tonight but his niece took it all in stride. Out of the whole family she was probably the one having the easiest time handling the extra workload. She grabbed a bottle of his preferred beer from the cooler and made a pass, setting the drink in front of him. “That’s your last one.”

  “You’re kidding.” He frowned at the beer. “You expect me to sit here all night and not drink anything?”

  She smiled sweetly at him. “You’re welcome to all the water you want.”

  “I don’t drink fuckin’ rain.” Magni crossed his arms over his chest and glared at her. For the second time today his bad attitude got him nowhere fast.

  “Then I guess you’ll just have to be thirsty.” Kari winked at him. “I need you to be in tip-top shape in case those guys in the back can’t get their panties unbunched.”

  Magni rolled his head toward the back corner of the dim bar where the men were now talking. “Look. They’re fine. Talking it out like their therapists taught them.” Magni turned back to Kari. “Can I have another beer now?”

  She lowered her brows at him and pointed at the bottle she just sat in front of him. “You have a beer.”

  Magni leaned onto the bar. “But I want another one.”

  He was being a pain in the ass. He didn’t care. If anyone in this family could handle his bullshit it was his spitfire of a niece and after the way today blew up in his face Magni was ready to dish out a little bit of bullshit. Hell, he was kinda hoping one of the guys in the back had half a sack. He could use a good fight to burn off some steam.

  A good fuck would work too but that wasn’t looking to be in the cards for him today.

  Probably not tomorrow either.

  And considering the woman he was most interested in fucking wasn’t looking to be so tolerant toward him Magni probably wouldn’t be getting what he wanted the next day either. That meant his options were getting drunk or getting in a fight.

  If he was lucky he’d get both.

  Kari shook her head and looked at Jerrik. “That one is going to be the problem child tonight.”

  “That one is the problem child every night.” Jerrik’s beer barely made it to his lips when all hell broke loose in the back corner.