She sat down on the floor and then placed her bag on a chair in the corner. “Not every person who asks me out gets set up with a girlfriend. Sometimes I get a sense, and I do it. It’s just a flutter in my mind. I hardly notice it, and then it turns out they are meant to be together. Can’t really explain it.”
He laughed. “In ancient times you’d have been the most important woman in town, the paid professional matchmaker. People would have traveled for months on end to introduce you to their kids.”
“What a completely horrifying idea.” She shuddered. “No thanks. How are you feeling today?”
He sank into the chair behind him. “Still figuring out how to get myself around without colliding with furniture. By the time I’ve mastered it, I’ll go crazy and be restrained in bed anyway.”
“Oh, I’m sure we can figure out how to get you used to the proximity of things before then.” Surely, there must be services to help. Even if they went to the humans.
“Melanie…” Elliot grinned. “I was making a dark, obviously bad joke. I don’t need your help with this. At least not yet. I collide with things sometimes but mostly I’m fine. It comes with the territory unfortunately.”
She scratched her head. “Maybe I don’t have much of a sense of humor.”
“Maybe I make you nervous and sort of uncomfortable because of my white eyes and blindness. Plus the whole cursed thing. I bet you laugh plenty when you’re elsewhere.” He sighed.
She had to correct him. “I tend to be a pretty serious person.”
“Well then, someone has to spend his life—or her life—figuring out how to tempt your sense of humor to come play.”
How had this conversation taken place? It was… bizarre. “Um, well, not so far. His, by the way. I do prefer men in that regard. Although I think I would have accidentally eaten Edward for breakfast. I’m not easy. It’s tough to date me, and I wouldn’t wish the task on anyone I legitimately like, so there is the problem laid out nice but not neatly. I see you’ve brought boxes in.”
Elliot leaned back on the chair. “Well, technically I had Edward do it, but yes. I think this is all of them. There might be more of them in the garage. I’m going to ask Edward to look there tomorrow. But for now, I think we won’t even get through this today, so it’s good enough to start with.”
She smiled. “We are barely going to make a dent unless this goes remarkably faster than I think it will. All right, so here’s what we’re going to do…” Melanie took off her blazer and set it aside. He couldn’t see her, but she was still dressed professionally, even wearing pantyhose under her black skirt. Her white blouse was buttoned all the way up.
Melanie took a seat in one of the chairs by the desk. “I’m going to make three piles. One for things we’re going to keep for one reason or another. One we’re going to discard. And one we’re uncertain about. Then afterward I’ll divide the keep into separate piles. And figure out the maybes. I’ll read them to you, and you can tell me what I’m looking at if I can’t sort it out. Sound good?”
He nodded slightly, barely a tilt of his chin. “You’ll probably know better than me. This is legal, obviously, but it’s also posterity stuff. My family saved everything. There might be some things people want to see. The Cursed family. It drew enough attention during our lifetimes.”
That made sense in a sick, twisted sort of a way. It was like they were a circus attraction and had been drafted for life in the big top tent with no consent of their own.
She snapped her fingers. The papers in the first box would travel over to her and then went where she directed them using her magic. It was a minor spell, barely registering on the Richter scale of her magical ability. The box was his paternal grandfather’s, and it was evident right away that the man had saved everything. As a lawyer, she appreciated the diligence. There didn’t seem to be a receipt he’d thrown out during the year they went through.
Elliot stayed attentive to her questions about every slip of paper, every note she went over for about three hours, and then it had just been too much for him. He placed his head in his hands. Mel stopped talking and watched him for a second, not exactly sure what to do. It was interesting to spend this much time with him. In the past, when she’d fantasized about him, she hadn’t known how good he smelled. That was the first thought that struck her. It was a combination of the freshness of a woodsy soap and sandalwood, her favorite combination. That really shouldn’t surprise her. Everything about Elliot had always been her favorite everything.
He was also tapping his foot on and off. It was like he had a steady rhythm in his head. It wasn’t an obnoxious sound, easily tuned out. Yet, she actually found it kind of soothing, in a weird way. Should she say something about his having hit a wall?
She bit her lip. His father used to get exhausted simply trying to get through the day. “Hey, would it be okay if we took a break?” She rose. “I could really use some food. Want to go get some with me? Off the clock? Two people who need to eat.”
He smiled, lifting his head. “And she lets me off the hook for falling apart for a second. Sorry, sometimes it hits me hard. Yes, you should go eat. I don’t leave the house, so I won’t be joining you, but thank you for the offer.”
His father had quit leaving the house, too. But he’d had a wife and a son who visited. Plus, her father and mother had been around, a lot of people to speak to. Elliot was alone with Edward who didn’t seem to hover too much or really be looking out for him as far as Melanie could tell. Maybe that was preference from Elliot. Still, it had to get lonely.
“Well, I’m not really in the mood to go out. I went to a dinner party last night. Speaking of which, you should be hearing from my Enforcer group. They want to see if they can help you. They all signed NDAs…”
He cleared his throat. “I trust you to handle that. I’m beyond being able to manage that kind of thing myself.”
“Right, well, how about if we bring food in? I could use the company without having to get restaurant ready.”
He nodded once. “I’d like that. I don’t remember the last time I ate a full meal. I mostly just make do with whatever scraps I put together in the kitchen after Edward leaves for the night. Last night it might have been cheddar cheese and pickles. As I’m not pregnant and having weird cravings, that didn’t really do it for me.”
No, that didn’t sound appealing at all. “How about if I bring in Italian?”
He rubbed his stomach. “I could really go for some Italian.”
So could she.
* * *
After she’d ordered the food by sending her magic to the restaurant, she got busy setting up the kitchen for them to eat at the table. The few meals she’d taken at the main house when she’d been a child she’d eaten in the kitchen. The family ate in the dining room, but tonight Elliot would have to adjust and eat with her where the staff used to be. She doubted he’d care, and it was a weird, leftover feeling of not wanting to be somewhere she didn’t belong when she stepped into the dining room.
Maybe people didn’t really ever get over the lectures they got as children. Stay out of the dining room, Mel. That’s for the family.
A popping sound filled the room before Kim appeared before Melanie. She smiled, taking off her sunglasses. “Sorry, I’m so late. Long day. Don’t ask. I will be glad to be officially done with Enforcer things someday.”
Mel lifted an eyebrow. “Someday? Do you think that’ll ever be? I can’t see you and Stefan ever stopping. Not even when the little one comes.”
Kim patted Melanie on the arm. “I’ll be lucky if he doesn’t wrap me in the proverbial bubble wrap and keep me locked up somewhere with the baby to never emerge. In the meantime, I get to keep working until he finds a way to encourage me to stop. Stefan always manages to get his way with me eventually. I never could resist him.”
Melanie had gone to high school with Stefan. She hardly remembered him. In school, she’d had her sights on one thing and that had been working her way up and ou
t so that someday she could belong. Stefan had been on the wrong side of the tracks and seemed like he held everyone on the so-called right side in disdain. She couldn’t remember having one conversation with him before he’d popped up in Ava’s social circle several years ago.
To Melanie, maybe the best part of Stefan was his wife. Kim was somehow both kind and scary. Melanie wasn’t even sure how she pulled that off.
“Let me tell him you’re here.” Melanie stepped away from Kim. “He doesn’t see a lot of people or go anywhere anymore.”
Kim nodded. “I’ll wait here. I read up on this today. I think the chances that I can help are…”
“Slim to none.” Elliot floated toward them. “Hi, I’m Elliot. I can’t see you, but if you’re here, I’m going to presume you’re one of Melanie’s Enforcers.”
Kim winced, but he’d not had to witness it. She straightened after a beat then walked to him. “That curse is all over you.”
He nodded. “You can see it so you’re better than half of the people who try. But just because you can see it doesn’t mean you can remove it. Am I right?”
Kim placed her hand on his arm, and Melanie liked her even more than she had a minute ago. It was amazing how many people wouldn’t go near the Boothes. As though the curse was contagious. It was lunacy. That wasn’t how these things worked, but Mel had seen it over and over. Elliot’s father hadn’t shut out the world and some of those who had come in had done so with utter horror on their faces. Even without sight, Melanie had to believe there was a feeling a person might get when they were in the presence of someone who found being around them nightmarish.
“You’re right. I can see it but that doesn’t mean I can fix it.” She closed her eyes and then opened them. “It’s the fastest moving curse I’ve ever seen. I can’t get a grip on it. Like it’s…”
“Fluid,” he answered for her. Clearly, Elliot had heard this before. “Thanks for coming and looking. It’s just one of those things. Unfortunately, my burden to bear. I do appreciate you taking the time. We were just about to have dinner. We can order more. Are you hungry?”
Kim rapidly blinked. “No, thank you. That’s very nice.”
Melanie couldn’t imagine that too many people offered Enforcers something to eat. Most of the time they were probably just ousted from the house.
Elliot turned the force of his white gaze to Melanie, and it moved through her like a hot gust of air. She rubbed the back of her neck. He took a breath and squared his shoulders. “How about you, Mel? What can I get you to drink? We have so much wine in this house that will have to be distributed to someone after I’m dead. Do you want to help me drink some of it before I can’t anymore?”
Kim looked between them, lifting an eyebrow. Melanie wasn’t sure what that was about, but it quickly passed.
Elliot smiled. “I’m getting you the wine. End of story. It was my father’s passion. The Boothe men all fixate on something. Used to take me to this place in France. An old town. It should be thriving by now with the wine enthusiast boom, but it never did. It’s practically abandoned. Doesn’t make sense really. Why some places thrive and others don’t.”
Melanie had seen all sorts of receipts for that place. A small town in France. Elliot’s grandfather had spent a lot of time there, too. “I will take some wine.”
Kim shook her head. “I’m pregnant so I’ll have to decline and…”
A pop sounded again and this time a drink floated in front of Melanie. It was a smoothie. Mel smiled. She was used to this from Ava. The woman was always getting readings from the Earth that her friends needed certain nutrients and then sending them on to them with no warning.
“Someone else here?” A muscle ticked in Elliot’s jaw. Despite his relaxed appearance, he was obviously tense.
Melanie touched his arm. “No, but it seems you have been sent a drink from my friend Ava. She’s an Earth healer, and she gets… signals as best as I can understand it… that people need certain things. I put you on her radar. You’re going to get drinks.”
He put out his hand and snapped his fingers. The drink came to him. “Thank her for me. If I get the chance to meet her, I’ll thank her myself.”
“Will do.” Melanie turned just as the food arrived onto the table.
Kim stepped back. “I’m going to think about your issue, Mr. Boothe, I’m not just running away and saying oh well, done. I figure out how to fix things. It’s what I’m good at.” She hugged Melanie briefly. “See you soon. Have a good dinner.”
“Thanks,” Melanie answered as she tried to read into whatever Kim wasn’t saying. There was something in her tone and it was Mel’s job to figure these things out, usually. Still, she didn’t have time for Enforcer maneuverings. Not with the current workload she’d taken on.
Plus, she’d never admit it, but she was very glad to have Kim leave as she popped away. It wasn’t right that she felt that way, but Melanie wasn’t above admitting to herself she liked to have Elliot’s attention to herself. She’d had it all day and there was something addictive about it. Elliot could focus, even with his white eyes, better than anyone she’d known. One word from him was worth ten of anyone else.
She walked to the table and sat down. Okay, she had to pull herself together. This was rapidly getting out of hand. He was a very nice, cursed, dying man. If he could see her, there was no guarantee he’d like what he saw. She was pretty, but beauty was always in the eye of the beholder. Melanie had to keep her head on straight. That was all there was to it.
Chapter 4
Dinner with Elliot turned out to be fun. Melanie couldn’t remember the last time she’d enjoyed eating with anyone as much as she did with him. It helped that the food was so delicious. Warm, tasty pasta and chicken coated in cheese meant she was going to have to do twice as much exercise when she got up the next day, but she loved every second of it.
Elliot sipped his wine. “I was the first Boothe not to grow wine.”
She stared at his hand as he held the stem of the glass. “Why didn’t you?”
He smiled. “I had other interests.” He set down the glass using his hands and not his magic. It was the first thing she’d seen him move unmagically the whole evening. Everything else had been spelled into working. “I can’t remember the last time food tasted this good.”
His answer had been cryptic, and the lawyer in her wanted to pry. Your honor, I ask you to magically compel the witness to answer the question. But she was enjoying this too much. Melanie could always read witnesses, what they said and what they didn’t. It wasn’t different with Elliot. He knew he hadn’t answered, and since she’d officially known him for about five minutes, she was going to leave him be on it.
“Surely, even if you don’t want to leave the house, you could order the finest food in the world delivered here.” That was one of the gifts of their lives. Magic made everything easier. Humans had to use phones. All witches had to do was spell something into happening. They could have gotten the food straight from Italy if they’d wanted to. Local had just seemed simpler since she knew the menu. But he didn’t need to eat whatever he found in the fridge.
He tilted his head to the side. “That’s true. You’re one hundred percent right. It’s very easy when you’re in this condition to forget that you still can do things. I don’t know if that’s the nature of the curse or just because of what happens with the vision, but it starts to become much more normal to do nothing, to speak to no one. The fading away from life… it happens slowly, but it happens.” He smiled, which took some of the edge off how sad what he said to her was. “Tonight has been a nice reminder of what it is to have dinner with a beautiful woman.”
Her cheeks heated, which she was glad he couldn’t see. “You don’t know I’m beautiful.”
“Oh you are. I heard Edward’s reaction to you and what you said about your baggage. You’re beautiful. Dangerously so.”
She set down her own book. “It has never done a thing for me, what I look like. I�
�d rather people know me for other things. Although, I think about it. I’m a living, breathing person. I do have some vanity.”
“Honesty.” He nodded once. “An admirable quality. You don’t pull punches. Living and breathing. Yes, that you are. As opposed to being… dead. Like a ghost.”
His mind jumped from one topic to another in the most interesting ways. “Ghosts?”
“Sure, ghosts. Everyone claims to have seen a ghost here on the Boothe estate. Even Edward and he’s almost never here after dark. Didn’t you? In all your years living here? Your parents did.”
Had they? They’d never mentioned it to her. “I must not be creative enough to be visited by ghosts. They don’t come say hi to me. No, I’ve never seen them and my parents never mentioned they had.”
His smile was huge. “They didn’t want to scare you. There are five ghosts that usually hang around here. The main on the third floor. My great-great, oh who can remember how many greats, grandmother who periodically appears in the music room. That was the one I think that your mom used to see regularly. The gardener still tending the roses out back. One no one knows the identity of in the attic and then the most recent one is a jilted lover of my great-grandfather. She sometimes shows up in my bedroom. I can’t see her anymore, but I can hear her creaking the floorboards.”
Melanie drummed her fingers on the table. “A walking witch ghost. Do they lose their ability to fly when they are dead?”
He threw his head back in laughter. “I’ll have to ask her.”
“Please do, I’m fascinated.” She realized what she’d done when he stopped laughing abruptly. This was the problem she made on dates. They’d been having a lightweight conversation about ghosts. He’d been teasing her. And she’d just turned it uncomfortable. Did they lose their power to fly when they died? What was the matter with her? This was always when the dates—not that this was a date—went askew. They either decided she was someone they wanted to sleep with and be done with or simply be done with her altogether.
Tragic Magic: Wards and Wands #3 Page 4
