Spellcasting with a Chance of Spirits: A Paranormal Women's Fiction Romance Novel (Grimm Cove Book 3)

by Mandy M. Roth

  Austin laughed—right up until Burgess scurried onto him, making his way to Austin’s shoulder. He then yanked on Austin’s hair.

  Try as I might, I couldn’t recall a time in my life when I’d seen someone look more horrified.

  Austin came closer to me, yelping as he did. “Get it off me!”

  Chapter Twelve

  Marcy

  The next I knew, Austin and Elis were both ripped away from me, leaving an exceedingly tall and strikingly handsome man with piercing green eyes standing before me. It was a body my brain thought it knew well, because he’d been making so many guest appearances in my dreams since I’d come to town.

  I raked my gaze up Bram, slowly, positive the temperature had spiked.

  I was so swept up in looking at him that I barely paid any mind to Austin as he ran out and onto the front lawn, turning in circles, trying to get Burgess off him.

  Something of an accomplished acrobat, Burgess managed to not only stay on Austin, but race around his shoulders and then down the back of his shirt. That only served to set Austin off more. He fell onto the grass and did a bizarre version of stop, drop, and roll. Except there was no fire. Just a fox squirrel. Every turn Austin did left the bulge that was better known as Burgess moving around under his shirt, easily avoiding being smushed.

  “Get it off me!” shouted Austin again, though his voice was scarcely noticeable above Elis’s belly laughs.

  Burgess was in no real danger, unless we were counting his hearing from the decibel level of Austin’s shrieks. If anything, Burgess seemed to be enjoying himself. Something told me he’d just invented a new game involving turning slayers into screaming fools. If so, he was totally winning.

  I allowed them to deal with the situation, picking instead to refocus on the hunk before me. Bram Van Helsing had a certain something about him that basically demanded everyone around him take notice. I’d not been unaffected. In fact, I’d noticed him quicker than I did most people.

  Tonight, he wore a light gray dress shirt and a pair of charcoal-gray dress slacks. Black wing-tip shoes completed the ensemble. He looked very dashing, even though I normally preferred my men to be far more bohemian and less aristocratic meets corporate CEO.

  Less…Donald.

  I didn’t want to mar the moment with thoughts of my ex, so I pushed him out of my head.

  “Hello, Mr. Dana’s Father,” I said, licking my lower lip as my gaze met his.

  Much to my delight, he ignored Austin’s antics as well, choosing instead to grab for the door. He clutched it tight with one hand, raking his green gaze down my body as he did. His eyes locked on my chest and didn’t budge.

  “Ah-ha! Victory!” Austin shouted a second before Burgess darted past my feet and into the open front door of the mansion.

  Bram never looked away from my chest and didn’t seem very bothered to have a squirrel running into his home.

  Elis kept laughing for a few more seconds before gathering hold of himself. “That was epic,” he managed between labored pants.

  “Bite me,” said Austin partially under his breath. “It creeped me out.”

  “It’s a squirrel,” returned Elis.

  “Says the guy who screeched the second Marcy did a magik trick and pulled a squirrel out from her bag, and then from between her boobs,” said Austin.

  Try as I might, I couldn’t get a word in edgewise. Not even to point out the fact that Burgess hadn’t come from my breasts so much as they’d simply been in his path to Austin’s face.

  “Don’t call her boobs, well, boobs, in front of her,” said Elis before clearing his throat. “I mean, at all. Don’t call them that at all. And she didn’t pull him out of there. He came from the bag and then fell in her…um, cleavage.”

  “Like a Jack-in-the-box,” Austin said with a grunt. “Hey, seems like we’re not the only ones swept up by the sight of them. Do we tell him that her boobs or whatever we’re calling them are magikal and that small woodland creatures can appear out of them, or do we let him figure that out on his own?”

  Elis chuckled from behind me.

  “Evidently, he’s noticed the top,” said Austin.

  Elis coughed slightly. “Hard to miss.”

  “I’d say so, since your face was in her…erm, never mind,” said Austin.

  “Yeah, her neverminds,” replied Elis, sounding pleased.

  Bram growled. The noise was reminiscent of a shifter rather than a vampire. “I do not want to see that again.”

  “Boss, she likes to hug,” said Austin. “Seemed the least we could do for her. Marcy, want another hug?”

  I beamed. “I do!”

  I made a move to go for him, only to have Bram’s large, powerful arm catch me around the waist, just under my chest, and jerk me hard against him, so much so that I grunted upon impact.

  I twisted around and the next I knew, my hands, which seemed to act of their own accord, were on the hard planes of his cloth-covered chest. Heat rushed over me and I wondered if it counted as a hot flash. He smelled of currants, apples, and vanilla. A combination that was good enough to eat. “Ooo, you’re very firm.”

  “I bet he is,” Austin offered with a chuckle. “Bet that isn’t the only spot that’s stiff.”

  “Really?” I asked, slinking my hands over Bram’s torso and then his arms. I squeezed. “Ooo, you’re right.”

  Bram tensed and, for a second, sounded as if he were in pain.

  I gasped. “Did I hurt you? Did I squeeze too hard?”

  Austin lost it, laughing loudly. “Not possible.”

  Elis even joined in the laughter.

  I wasn’t sure what they found so amusing. The idea of harming Bram didn’t sit well with me. I pressed tighter to him and twisted around partially, staring at the other men. “I’d appreciate you not laughing at the idea of him being hurt.”

  They shared a confused, yet amused look before laughing more.

  I ran my hands over Bram absently as I narrowed my gaze on Elis and Austin.

  Suddenly, it was like it had been when I’d first met Bram a month ago. Like someone had cracked him open and exposed his raw emotions to me with so much force that it nearly knocked me over. Thankfully, he was still holding me upright. “He’s been nothing but good to each of you all of your lives. He’s watched over you from the day you were born, making sure you were protected, cared for, and had everything you’d ever need. Each of you were offered the best educations money could buy and handed every opportunity possible. He’s always had your best interests at heart. You should have his at heart as well. Shame on you both.”

  Confusion covered their faces.

  “Uh, I went to college on a scholarship,” said Austin. “He didn’t have anything to do with it.”

  “Yes, he did. It was a scholarship that Bram gave you under the guise of one of the many corporations he owns,” I said sternly, unsure how I knew that. I wasn’t too shocked, since the ether had a way of making sure I knew what I needed to know, when I needed to know it. “He’s done as much for every single Van Helsing and Harker. He didn’t have to do that. He could have just sat on his fortune, but he didn’t. He’s always seen to it his family is cared for.”

  “Uh, how does she know that when we didn’t?” asked Austin. “She didn’t get that much information from you when she was touching you.”

  I couldn’t answer that because I wasn’t sure how I knew what I did. All I knew was that I was right.

  Elis eyed me, and the corner of his mouth drew upward. “I think she’s linked with him somehow.”

  “She can read minds like he can when he’s getting his freaky-creepy on?” asked Austin, his eyes wide. “That means she totally knows I was picturing myself in bed with her right before the squirrel popped out of her bag and then landed between her breasts. Never have I wanted to be a small rodent more in my life. Anyone else wondering how it was the little guy survived between all that glorious—”

  The growl that came from Bram spoke volumes t
o his level of irritation.

  I kept tracing my hands over him, staring back at the other two Van Helsing men. Every ounce of me wanted to soothe Bram’s temper and lighten the mood. “You know, a few weeks ago I was taking a bath, and the guy I was there with was talking to me about lovers. I said I wanted a younger one. I’m starting to change my mind on that.”

  “Please don’t,” said Austin. “I’ll be good. Promise. Wait, who were you taking a bath with? Because if what Elis is hinting at is true, we may want to put a protection detail on him right away before the big guy there tries to kill him.”

  I cocked my head slightly to the side. “Who would try that? No matter, the man is already dead. He was dead at the time of the bath too.”

  Elis sucked in a big breath. “You were bathing with another vampire?”

  “No,” I said before a small trickle of knowledge slid over me. A smile touched my lips. “Not yet anyway.”

  He stiffened. “You’re planning to take baths with a vampire?”

  “Life is what happens when we’re busy making plans,” I returned.

  Elis eyed me. “Meaning what? You are going to bathe with another vampire?”

  Bram stared down at me as if he too was waiting for a response to the question of me taking baths with other vampires.

  Elis moved toward me slightly and then seemed to rethink the action. “Marcy, it’s important you answer because we’re going to need to figure out a way to deal with…?”

  “No, she’s not,” said Austin before stiffening. “Hold on, are you? Is that why you keep turning me down?”

  Finally, there was a break in their questioning enough for me to answer. “No. I’m not going out with a vampire. And I’ve only taken baths with Bram.” I thought harder on it all. “Well, that might not be true. I guess there is a chance my friend was a vampire when he was alive. I know he was something more than human. I’m just not entirely sure what kind of supernatural he was. Might have been a vampire. But he wasn’t actually in the tub with me. I mean, I did get out and tackle him to the floor while naked and covered in bubbles and sweet potatoes. Does that count?”

  Austin bent his head slightly, lifted his brows, and stared at me blankly. “I’m not sure what she just said there but it sounded a lot like she’s been bathing with Bram and has a dead friend who was possibly a vampire. That sound about right to you?”

  Elis cast Bram a sideways glance. “You’ve been taking baths with her?”

  Bram’s arm tightened around my waist.

  “Lucky,” said Austin with a slow shake of his head. “Seriously, we need to bottle whatever it is that man has. Where do I put in to have his aura?”

  “I’m going to have to agree,” said Elis, zeroing in on Austin. “Explains why he’s been heading out every night. I get it now. He was taking baths with her.” He then glanced at Bram. “You know, this place has sixteen bathrooms. Twelve of those have tubs. Why not do it here?”

  “Sixteen? Really?” asked Austin. “I thought it had fourteen. You’re going to have to show me the other two. I’ve lived on the estate my entire life and honestly, I still get lost. This place is ridiculously large.”

  I stopped and thought harder on it all. I then laughed softly. “Ignore me. I haven’t bathed with Bram yet. I will. I’ve done other things with him in my dreams. Can we count that?”

  “Did she just say she’s having sex dreams about Bram?” asked Austin.

  Elis simply stared at me and then nodded. “I think so.”

  “I stand by my lucky statement,” added Austin. “That man has all the good fortune.”

  “Except for the whole demon-in-him bit,” offered Elis.

  “Are you kidding? I used to think that was a negative,” said Austin with a shake of his head. “Seeing the type of chicks he gets, I’m starting to think the demon is the sex-magnet part of him. We should go get ourselves demons.”

  Elis stiffened. “No thanks.”

  “They’re adorable,” I said, still close to Bram. “I just want to hug and squeeze them more.”

  “I’m game.” Austin’s hand shot up. “I’m up for doing it with you covered in nothing but bubbles and sweet potatoes too—although I’ll admit that would be a new one for me.”

  Elis rubbed his brow, laughing softly. “Dumbass.”

  “You’ve dreamed of me too?” asked Bram before clearing his throat.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Marcy

  “Crap,” Austin said, sounding worried all of a sudden at Bram’s mention of having dreamed of me. “They’re dreaming of each other?”

  “It would appear so.” There was no surprise in Elis’s voice and his look said he’d suspected as much.

  “Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Because with the amount of stuff we’ve seen over the years, I’m on the fence,” said Austin with a quick lift of his shoulders. “She’s not a dream demon or something, is she? Hold up, is she a succu-witch too? I don’t know about anyone else, but I’ve had my fill of succu-witches.”

  “I might be one,” I admitted with a shrug. “I don’t really know what I am. Maria was only able to tell me that I was born here in Grimm Cove. She doesn’t know much beyond that.”

  “Really?” Austin worried his jawline with his hand. “I don’t remember a time when Maria was at a loss for answers.”

  “Anyone else find it surprising Maria, who seems to always know everything about everyone, doesn’t know a lot about Marcy’s birth parents?” asked Elis.

  “Yes,” said Bram, his deep voice seeming to wrap itself around me and settle in my bones. “I have no real knowledge of them either, but I feel as if I should. I normally remember everything and everyone.”

  “While you’re doing a version of hugging her,” said Elis, looking to Bram, “I’d like to point out she was born around the same time as your daughter. I’m guessing Dana was your main focus back then. Not other people in town.”

  “True,” said Bram, taking a small step back from me. His gaze snapped to my chest once again and he swallowed hard.

  “Boss is noticing her neverminds again,” said Austin with a snort.

  Even Elis snickered.

  I nearly pulled out my birth certificate to show Bram, like Maria had suggested, but the next I knew, Bram was unbuttoning his dress shirt in a lazy manner.

  Delight raced through me. I nearly clapped at the show being presented.

  He slowed his pace, and I bit my inner cheek, wanting him to speed the process along and get to the good stuff.

  He paused.

  I grunted.

  He chuckled. “Are you okay?”

  I stared harder at his fingers as he undid another button. “Ask me again in three buttons.”

  “Ms. Dotter,” he said, drawing my attention to his face.

  “Yes?”

  He finished undoing his shirt before easing it off. He then filled the gap between us, lifting the shirt and putting my arms through the sleeves as if I were a child needing to be dressed by an adult. He set about rolling the arms of it up several times for me. Lastly, he began to button it, his knuckles skimming my bare stomach and then my breasts.

  With a gasp, he released the shirt, leaving it only buttoned partway on me.

  I lifted my arms to protest being put in yet another man’s shirt on this night. A small red stain on the cuff area caught my attention. My eyes widened, and I brought my arm to my face. I licked the spot.

  “What is she doing?” asked Elis.

  Austin adjusted himself. “Don’t know but it was hot.”

  “Ms. Dotter?” Bram stared at me, his brows meeting. “What are you doing?”

  I held out my arm to show him the red spot. “Trying to guess who was for dinner.”

  Elis laughed.

  Austin blushed. “Uh, it’s not blood. It’s ink. I might have sort of broken a pen in his office right before we came out and got it on him.”

  “Explains why there is basically no taste to it,” I said and expelled a l
ong breath. “For a second I thought he’d picked someone with the world’s most bland-tasting blood. Can he season that stuff or is he stuck with the same taste all the time?”

  Elis shot Bram a half-smile. “She’s interesting. Should do nicely to keep you on your toes.”

  I went toward him, my intention to hug him.

  Bram caught me again, drawing me toward him, making Elis laugh.

  “Uh, why was my father doing a slow striptease before dressing my best friend?” asked Dana from behind Bram. “I don’t even want to touch on the licking-of-ink thing.”

  I leaned, peering around Bram’s massive frame. “I wish he’d have done more of a striptease and included more than his outer shirt. He was just about to get to the good stuff. Go away. Maybe he still will.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I think I’ll stay right here. I’m afraid if I wander off again, I’ll come back to find the two of you naked and doing the horizontal bop.”

  My hand went to Bram’s forearm as I kept looking at Dana. “Let’s try and see if it works. He’s very attractive, and from the feel of his muscles, probably very good at bopping horizontally.”

  “Uh, no.” She laughed. “It’s weird enough as it is that he looks like he’s our age. I’m not sure I could handle the two of you getting busy.”

  “Why not?” I asked.

  She glanced at Elis and Austin, as if seeking backup.

  None came.

  They just stood there, all ears.

  Dana took a deep breath. “He’s the guy who donated his—”

  Narrowing my gaze on her, I eased closer to Bram, shaking my head as I did.

  With a grunt, Dana started over again. “He’s my father.”

  I smiled and winked. “That a girl. The more you say it, the more real it will feel.”

  “That’s kind of what I’m afraid of,” she said, only partially under her breath.

  “Dana, this is new territory for him too,” I said. “He’s scared to do or say anything that might set you off and send you away.”

  “He told you that?” asked Dana, surprise in her voice.