The Love Potion Groom

by Taylor Hart

  Her mind flashed to Spence and she thought about the fact she was missing him less and thinking about B.C. more and more. It seemed her crazy life was only getting worse by the hour and she wasn’t sure how she was going to fix any of it.

  Chapter 7

  B.C. sat outside of the facility on one of the benches. He hadn’t been very responsive in group therapy all day. His mother’s exit the day before had been powerful and indicative of his whole life. He sighed. At least he was seeing some of the truth. His mother was a master manipulator. Sure, she loved him. The whole reason she said she was angry at him was because he was supposed to pay the bills. And—if he lost his next movie gig, where would the money come from?

  It hadn’t sat right with him how she’d used Kira to … what? What was her master game with Kira? Annoyance rippled through him and he turned up his tunes on his mp3 player.

  How embarrassing. He felt like he was in middle school and his mother had found out his crush and brought him lunch and told all his buddies. He stood, sucking in a long breath. It’d been quite a wake up call to realize everyone, even his mother, wanted something from him. He took off, wanting to go to Kira’s meditation class around the corner, but unable to face her still.

  The doctor had released him from having all his hours in a set schedule, but he’d liked going to her classes.

  Too bad with her, he didn’t feel like he could pretend. Couldn’t fall into one of his characters so easily. Which was stupid and weird for him. Or maybe that was good, he wasn’t sure at the moment.

  He took off into a jog and passed a couple of trails before deciding last minute to try a new one. As he almost tripped off the path from turning so quick, he discovered a hidden trail. Not really a trail, but a path. It went down under a rock outcropping and opened up into a cave. He had to crouch, but as he went in, he heard water rushing. He climbed through the dark, dankness of the cave, then was surprised that it opened up. The ceiling opened and he was able to stand up straight.

  The sound of water was louder here, and it took his eyes a minute to adjust to the low light and see a waterfall running down a rock face into a pool, and running off into a stream.

  Incredible delight washed over B.C. “No way.” Immediately, he was taking off his shoes and socks and stripping down. He stepped into the water, expecting to cool his feet, but the water was warm. With a sigh of pleasure, he immersed himself in the water. The bottom of the pool was smooth stone and he found himself in his own private hot tub.

  “No way,” he stated again as he let the water flow around him, loving every second of it.

  He didn’t know how long he sat there, trying not to think, but not being able to stop thinking. Then he heard. “B.C.”

  He jolted to a standing position. Luckily the water covered his lower half. “Kira?”

  She was unexpectedly right in front of him, emerging from the low entrance. Her face turned wondrous by degrees as her eyes adjusted. “Oh my gosh!”

  He grinned at her. “Right?”

  He sat back down in the water looking ridiculously happy she was here. They were here. Alone. Together. Water swishing around him. It was like a scene in a movie. “Aren’t you supposed to be at mediation class?”

  She looked around slowly, taking in the natural wonder. When her eyes reached the pile of his clothes, she focused in on them then abruptly took on a look of shock. She laughed and put up a hand as she turned away. “Oh my gosh, you’re naked, aren’t you?”

  He was mesmerized by this woman and he didn’t want her to run off. “Wait. You can’t see anything. I won’t move.”

  She wore a black unitard with a pink shawl type thing and flip flops.

  He thought she looked amazing. So fresh and natural. Nothing like the women on movie sets with ten layers of makeup.

  “I can’t be here.” She moved back.

  Pushing ahead with his question, he asked it again. “Why aren’t you at meditation class?”

  Hesitating, she turned back. “You’re sure I can’t see anything?”

  He grinned, thinking again how she was so different than other women he’d been around. “I promise.”

  Slowly, she turned to face him, tentatively moving closer.

  He gestured to the water. “Get in.”

  Glowering at him, she shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

  Yeah, he didn’t think she’d go for it. “So why no meditation class, Moonwater?” He liked saying her last name.

  She shrugged, turning and studying the waterfall. “Gary is having some Three’s Company marathon. Apparently, Dr. Schneider said it was okay, so everyone’s there.” She shrugged and gestured to the waterfall. “I can’t believe this."

  He let out a small laugh. “I know, right? It’s crazy. Like …” he couldn’t stop himself from flirting with her. “Like our own private hot pool.”

  Her eyes went to his chest, then away. “I have to get out of here.” She rushed to leave.

  “No!” he begged, wanting to get out and follow her, but knowing he shouldn’t because he was naked. “Please. I … would really like to just talk.”

  Hedging, she turned back and he swore he saw her blushing. “I could get in so much trouble. This isn’t…”

  “Hey, you didn’t know, okay. You don’t even have to get in. Just…stay.” He immediately felt vulnerable. “Please. For five minutes.” He pulled out his car salesman act. “If you’re not happy being here, you can leave. Five minutes.” He held up five fingers.

  Eyeing him, her eyes clouded. “Always pulling out a different character, aren’t you?”

  He found it relieved him that she knew when he was doing it. “It’s easier to be someone else.”

  For a beat she didn’t respond, then she said. “I saw you switch when your mom was there.”

  Checkmate.

  His heart raced and he realized this woman was able to read his mind better than he could sometimes. Too bad when he thought of his mother all he wanted to do was cover the fact he … hurt inside. Pain usually sent him scrambling for pills, but right now, he knew he’d be fine if he could just stay here … with Kira.

  Their eyes held and he had this crazy real energy he hadn’t experienced before. Maybe on the battlefield he’d felt intensity like this. Real, raw, with nothing holding anyone back.

  “How’s Spence?” he blurted, revealing exactly how vulnerable he was.

  She glared at him and he immediately wished he hadn’t asked that.

  “I mean…” Dang, why had he asked that?

  She wagged a finger at him. “You’re just trying not to talk about your problems.”

  It felt pointless to deny it. He waved a hand through the air. “You’re right. I am.” Man, it sucked being real sometimes.

  He noticed her eyes trailing to his chest.

  Even better distraction. He pumped his pecs back and forth.

  Their eyes met again and she shook her head looking caught, but she started to laugh. “I…I’m sorry.”

  Without missing a beat he said, “I feel cheap.”

  She laughed harder.

  Oh how he liked it, relished it, wanted more of it. This woman and the way she blushed when he caught her checking him out. She was … so refreshing. Like a new addiction to him. Similar to fireworks on the Fourth of July when he was a kid and it would end, but everyone would wait for more. He’d always hoped for one more finale.

  Addiction wouldn’t be the right word for it, but there was something about her he couldn’t get enough of. That’s where he was with this woman. It rocked him to realize this.

  A shift happened between them and he felt the intensity ratcheted up a notch. Man, this would be great emotional tension in a movie scene.…They were co-writing it right now. Dang, he wanted to kiss her again.

  She glared at him and he could tell she was embarrassed. “I bet you get women staring at your chest all the time.”

  He didn’t answer. On purpose. Kind of enjoying her embarrassment. How many
women had he dated recently who’d been…not at all embarrassed about anything?

  “You’re just … I don’t know why I’m still here,” she said, crossing her arms and leaning against the cave wall.

  Seeing her get a little bit comfortable made him unreasonably happy.

  He laughed and purposefully tried to ease the tension, smiling. “Fan Girl. You can’t help it, that’s okay.”

  “Ha. Ha.”

  He snapped, “Wait, what you really meant that night at the dance club was that you loved my movies and you really liked the scene with the Brooklyn mob, can’t get enough of my Brooklyn.” He started into some phrases. “Hey, give me a quarter for some coffee.”

  She laughed again and he basked in the beauty of the sound of it as it echoed off the rocks and over the water. It was like soaring with this woman. He couldn’t stop more phrases from the movie from coming out. “I’m not a mobster, but I can be a great addition to your organization.”

  She cocked an eyebrow. “You have obviously thought about what I said that night.”

  Caught. He let out a laugh, trying to play it cool. So what if he had? So what if, as he stumbled through his drug withdrawal state over the last two weeks, he’d been practicing that stupid accent, thinking about how it resonated through his mouth. Thinking about what she would think about different iterations of the accents. He let a small smile play at his lips. “Maybe I care what you think.”

  The next words out of her mouth surprised him. “I was worried about you after yesterday."

  The realness of this moment took him off guard, he blinked and looked away. “I was fine.”

  “Just because you say it, doesn’t make it real.” She whispered.

  He looked back at her, feeling all this concern coming off of her. She was busting his act all over the place and he really didn’t know what to say.

  “Do you and your mom get along?”

  He scoffed. “You The Enquirer?”

  She grunted. “If that’s why you think I’m here, I’m going.” She turned for the exit.

  “I don’t think that’s why you’re here.” He said quickly, his heartrate increasing.

  She hesitated.

  “The truth sucks, okay.” He was playing the pity card. Too bad he felt pitiful.

  She turned back to him. “Are you going to talk to me? As B.C.?”

  It annoyed him, as much as he liked it, that she could tell if it was him talking versus a character. “I’m sorry. I just….”

  Not moving, she nodded. “I get it. You don’t know exactly who you are at the moment. That’s okay.” She let out a light laugh. “That’s actually not just a trait of an actor, ya know? Sometimes none of us know who we are at different moments.”

  He thought of the first night he’d met her, how wild she’d been. He grinned. “I actually still liked you that night, you know.”

  Again, this realness that kept happening between them happened again.

  He shrugged. “I pretty much like all the versions I’ve seen of you.” So what, he was laying it all out. So what? That’s how he felt and he was tired of wearing a freaking mask every second. “I like you, Kira. I don’t know if I’d even be the right guy for you.” He snorted, feeling messy. “You have a boyfriend.” He stated in an annoyed voice. “All I know is you’re different than other women I’ve been around.” He laughed at himself again. “Not that I’ve been around women of such …” how did he put it. “Quality before.” Had he just said that? He cringed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Never mind. I’m saying this all wrong.”

  When she didn’t respond right away he looked up at her.

  For a few moments they just stared at each other. It was the hardest character scene he’d ever done because … it wasn’t a scene at all.

  It was him. And her. Just two people, sharing something real.

  “I broke it off with Spence.” She said and held his eyes.

  Minefield. He’d just walked into one. Did he want to fist pump the air? Yes, but he didn’t want to make light of her feelings. “Okay.” He swallowed, feeling less like an idiot and more like … maybe this woman might like him, too. Strike that. He knew she liked him, but maybe there might actually be hope for he and this woman.

  “Are you okay?” He asked slowly, wishing he was wearing a swimsuit or something because it was getting hot and he wanted to get out and really talk to her.

  She nodded, then a small smile played at her lips. “I think so. I am actually amazed it didn’t hurt me. It’s like I’ve been bracing myself to be upset, ready to run out and buy the chocolate, but … I haven’t needed it.”

  His heart raced. Oh man, oh man, this woman and all these feelings he was having about her and now he didn’t know what to do. It was like … he had no game. Normally, he would hit on her or something but she wasn’t like any kind of woman that he’d met before.

  She frowned. “Tell me the truth about your mom.” She said softly. “Are you really okay?”

  Worry coursed through him and all of a sudden he wanted to tell her anything she wanted. He felt safe with her. He splashed his face. “My mother sees me as a bank.” He couldn’t stand to look her in the eyes and see the immediate pity. He messed with the bubbles around him in the water. “I’ve known that, but not … really.” He felt himself actually get emotional, which really pissed him off. “I didn’t really know it until she admitted it with Dr. Schneider.” He met her eyes again. “She said, ‘You need to clean up so you can pay for my house. You promised me that.’” It shocked him that he was actually tearing up. He sniffed and looked away, trying to think of something else.

  “That sucks,” she said plainly.

  He met her eyes and saw a sincerity that he honestly wasn’t accustomed to. How come every bit of her sincerity made him feel more and more enthralled with this woman?

  He shrugged. “Boo-who I have a mother who uses me. Waa, cry me a river.” He thought of all the guys he’d served with. “Believe me, it could be worse. There are a lot of people who would kill for my life.”

  She wagged a finger at him. “Don’t do that.”

  “What?” He thought he was being tough. Cause he couldn’t stand whiny, even from himself.

  “Don’t act like—just because you’re vulnerable about something that you shouldn’t be.”

  Her words hit the center of his chest.

  “Everyone’s vulnerable sometimes.” She lifted her eyebrows.

  He liked her. Man, he liked her. “I suppose Nana said that.”

  A small smile played at her lips. “She did.” She turned on her heel and waved a hand at her face. “I seriously have to leave because I’m way too hot.” She crouched and went through the hole.

  Immediately, he stood and got his clothes, stickily pulling them on his body and rushing after her. “Wait!”

  He scooted through the opening and weaved his way out and down the path. The air felt cool. Which was funny because it was St. George, Utah in June, which was never described as cool.

  “Wait! Wait!” He called when he saw her half-way up the path to the facility. To his delight, she stopped.

  He caught up to her and got a whiff of …something. Orangey? “Are you wearing orange perfume?”

  She stopped walking and glared at him. “Why would you ask that?”

  Okay, she was weird about him smelling her. “Because I just smelled it on you.”

  Then she closed her eyes and let out a light laugh “Stinking’ Kevin. Be still my heart,” she said softly.

  For a second he was confused. “Excuse me?”

  She gave him a brilliant smile and laughed. “My cousin, he put this potion on me this morning as I walked out of the door and …” she laughed again. “I can’t believe it.” She looked mystified.

  For some stupid reason he remembered when her cousin had talked about a love potion and her Nana. “Is this the same love potion from the dance club?”

  “No.” She was even more embarrassed and began
walking faster. “I just…” she waved a hand through the air.

  He took her hand to stop her. “Wait. Explain,” he demanded.

  She laughed, again. He didn’t know what was happening, but he loved her hand in his and he loved the way her face flushed all embarrassed.

  She looked at their hands and yanked hers back. “No, I…Nana had some herbal remedies, some oils that she would call potions when she would mix them.” She sighed. “We’ve been rummaging through them and I found a couple and mixed them up. Dr. Schneider actually used to buy some and asked if I would sell some to him. He uses them to help patients manage their emotional states.” She looked down at her wrist again. “Kevin put some on me this morning when I wasn’t looking and just…” she trailed again. “He said maybe it would get your attention.” She looked sharply up at him. “I don’t want your attention.”

  The way she was denying she wanted it, made him grin wider. “Well, you can tell Kevin that it worked.” He winked at her.

  She yanked her hand back. “Stop, I shouldn’t have gone in there and talked to you. I shouldn’t have told you about Spence. I shouldn’t—”

  It was too late, he took her hand again. “Yes, you should have. And, thank you.” He was sincere.

  She seemed to sense his sincerity because she didn’t pull back.

  “I needed to talk and you helped.” Chills rushed over him at how true his words were. “Thank you.”

  Her eyes fluttered and she nodded, then pulled her hand back. “You’re welcome.”

  For a second they just stood there and he really, really, really wanted to kiss her.

  He put a finger into the air dramatically, like some brilliant scientist with a new discovery. “Hey, if your potion works, then you could pay for Julliard all on your own.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Yeah.”

  “I’m serious, I would totally endorse it.” He flashed another grin, then put a hand out, not wanting to make her mad. “But only if you wanted me to. Not because I’m … overcompensating and doing nice things for you.”