Charmed Spirits

by Carrie Ann Ryan

  She shook her head at her melancholy thoughts. This was not the time for that. Her family’s magic book, seeping with generations of knowledge and power, sat before her. She should be happy for freak’s sake.

  Every night, after Matt, and sometimes Justin and Tyler, left for the day, she’d tidy up and come to the office to read the texts. She’d left the book here when she’d run from town. She knew the only reason it hadn’t been damaged or stolen while she’d been gone was because of magic. But now it was hers in truth. Her grandmother had been a witch but only possessed a small amount of magic that she used in herbs or to heal the occasional cut and scrape on her and Matt. He’d always been fascinated with it…and so had she.

  She hadn’t tried any of the spells, and she wasn’t sure she was going to. The last time she had…well, it hadn’t turned out well.

  A knock on the door saved her from having to relive the memoires that she’d worked so hard on burying deep down. She quickly locked up the book and went to the door.

  Abby stood on the other side, a hesitant smile on her face, as if she wasn’t quite sure of her welcome.

  “Hey, hon!” Jor waved her friend in and smiled. She was doing her best to instill some confidence in the smaller woman, but sometimes it was as if she was trying for nothing.

  “Hi, Jordan,” Abby said, her long brown hair down behind her shoulders and flowing in the wind. Abby was around half a foot shorter than Jordan’s five-nine but a few pounds heavier. It wasn’t as though she were overweight; it was just that having breasts and hips such as hers tended to distribute differently on such a small frame. To Jordan, Abby’s full curves looked pin-up worthy, but to Abby—and others—she looked heavy, unattractive, and stuffed in her clothes. The witch in her wanted to kick some ass on that one, but she didn’t know if it would do any good.

  “Can I get you anything to drink?”

  Abby shook her head and wrung her hands. “No, I’m okay. Well, actually, I came here to see if you wanted to get lunch.” She smiled, and Jordan wanted to weep at the beauty.

  Really, how stupid were the people in this town? This woman was gorgeous, but Jordan was pretty sure Abby had never been on a date in her life. Asshats.

  “I’m starving so that sounds great. But first I need to do some work on the house.”

  “Oh, okay, I can help if you want.”

  “Really?”

  Abby shrugged then tugged on her lip. “Sure, I don’t mind.”

  Jordan pulled the other woman into the room, and once Abby was out of her jacket, they got to work on the walls. They had to steam off the old wallpaper, and then scrape whatever wouldn’t come off right away. She couldn’t wait to put a fresh coat of paint on the walls to see what it looked like.

  Though she couldn’t wait to leave when she had first arrived, she had been drawn back to Holiday. People like the Coopers, Abby, and Mr. Clancy made her feel like the town wasn’t that bad. Abby had met up with her at the general store one day and hugged her in welcome, they’d been attached ever since. Maybe everything wasn’t as bad as she thought. Then Stacey and Prescott’s face came back, filling her vision and she shuddered. Maybe not.

  After another hour of hard work, Jordan stood back. “Okay, you ready to eat?”

  Abby bit her lip, and Jordan took mercy on the poor woman and grabbed her coat. The October air had cooled dramatically in the past week or so. Halloween was just around the corner and it looked like it would be a cool one this year.

  They chatted about their days as they walked to the diner, the air taking on a biting chill as they got closer. They could have driven, but it was a close enough walk that she didn’t want to deal with it. Plus, she didn’t like leaving her Mustang out on the street where anyone could see it. She didn’t trust most people not to do something to her baby when she was away from it.

  The diner wasn’t too crowded when they got through the door, so she directed Abby to a booth in the corner where they could hide if needed. Even though it grated on her that she even had to think about that crap, she’d rather not make a scene. Again.

  They took off their coats and sank into the bench cushions.

  “So, what do you feel like eating today?” Abby asked.

  “Anything edible, but nothing cold.”

  Abby laughed. “I thought you lived in New York. It’s cold back East too, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah, but not like this and not in freaking October. I swear the wind is leaching all the energy from my bones every time it blows.”

  “Weakling,” Abby teased in a rare moment of gumption.

  Jordan mock-scowled. “You’ll pay for that remark.”

  “Ooh, I’m so scared.”

  “You should be.”

  “You wouldn’t hurt a fly, Jordan Cross. I don’t care what people say; you’re a good person.” Abby leveled her gaze and lowered her voice. “I know you’re a witch, and I’m okay with it. Be yourself. Someone should.”

  Jordan fought off tears and gripped Abby’s hand. “Thank you.”

  “I like you; it’s not hard to.”

  “Tell that to everyone else.”

  “I would if they’d listen. But most people don’t seem to know I’m alive.”

  “Then stuff ’em.”

  “Good attitude.”

  Jordan’s seat faced the door so she could see precisely the moment when Stacey St. James walked through the door on the arm of…Matt.

  She shouldn’t be feeling the stabbing pain in her chest as it scraped its razor sharp claws around her heart. She bit her lip and blinked rapidly.

  “Jordan? What is it?” Abby turned in her seat, and her shoulders lowered. “Oh. You know they aren’t together, right? Stacey’s tried for so long, but Matt won’t hear of it. I don’t know why he’s here with her this afternoon, but it’s not what you think.”

  “It’s not my business what Matt and Stacey do,” she whispered, though she’d tried to sound steady and firm.

  “It should be.”

  “Drop it, Abby.”

  Abby tiled her head and gave a Jordan a look that bordered too much on the side of pity for her taste. “Okay.”

  “So, like I was telling Matt, it really all depends on the dress.” Stacey’s voice carried over the small diner, and Jordan resisted the urge to pick up her fork and stab the bitch. Matt had locked his jaw and was trying to extricate himself from her evil clutches. Good man.

  Allison, the harried waitress, nodded. “That’s great. Do you two want a table? You can seat yourselves.” With that, she hurried over to Jordan and Abby’s table. When she gave an eye roll once out of Stacey’s sight, Allison cemented herself as one of Jordan’s new favorite people.

  “Hey, guys, sorry it took me so long to get over here,” Ally said as she held her hand on her hip and tried not to smile.

  “It’s okay; I know sometimes it takes a while to get through….people,” Jordan teased, and Ally’s eyes danced.

  “You have no idea.” Ally laughed, her auburn hair slowly falling out of its wayward bun.

  “How are your kids, Ally?” Abby asked, and Ally’s smile brightened and her vivid green eyes sparkled.

  “Oh, they’re amazing. Aiden is getting so big. I think he’s taller than me now, and he’s twelve! And Cameron is getting ready for a Halloween play at school. He gets to be the Grim Reaper, so he’s excited because he gets to wear the hood. That way he thinks no one will see him if he messes up. And Lacy is loud as ever, but she’s my baby.” Ally laughed than shook her head. “Look at me go on. Sorry about that. I just love my babies and talk about them as much as I can.”

  Jordan had met Ally while volunteering at the school to help with the art department. Jordan had been bored and wanted to make sure she gave back and did something with the community. It made no sense just to sit around and let people look down on her, she was stronger than that. The others in town still looked at her like she was a witch and below them, but gradually, maybe she could change that. If not, she had to g
et over how people thought of her.

  Ally was a widow who had lost her husband a couple of years before and had fallen on hard times. She’d done everything she could for her children, but sometimes it didn’t seem like enough. Jordan was happy to see her new friend smiling since it was such a rare occurrence when she wasn’t around her children.

  “I love hearing about them so keep talking,” Jordan said honestly. That little pang in her heart that she wasn’t a mother beat louder whenever she was near Ally, but she ignored it.

  “Oh, I could go on for hours, but I still have a job to do.” She tilted her head toward Stacey, and Jordan suppressed a groan.

  “Okay then, I’ll have the club with baked chips on the side and a Diet Coke,” Jordan said.

  “And I’ll have the chef salad with the vinaigrette on the side,” Abby said. “Oh, and a water with lemon.”

  Ally nodded but didn’t write the orders down. Jordan suspected she didn’t need to as a mother of three. She could remember more than most. “Okay, I’ll put that right in.” She hurried off, deftly avoiding the bleached bimbo from hell.

  “A salad?” Jordan asked. “I thought you said you’d try a burger next time.” Jordan wanted her friend to be happy and not worry about her weight.

  Abby shrugged. “I’m fine.”

  Jordan’s eyes shot daggers toward Stacey, or at least that’s what she wanted. If that bitch hadn’t been there, there wouldn’t have been a problem. Stacey was always harping on Abby over some small infraction considering a perceived weight problem.

  Stupid blonde bitch.

  Okay, maybe she needed to tone down on the name-calling. Karma, and all that crap.

  “Is there a space for me?” Matt asked as he walked up to their table.

  Jordan raised a brow and ignored the rapid beat of her heart at his presence. “I thought you were here with Stacey.” She inwardly winced. God, petty much?

  Matt shuddered then sat in the booth next to her, his body warming her side with an electric current. Down, libido. “God, no. She cornered me when I got out of the Chevy. I saw you two walking in here and thought I’d join you, if you don’t mind.”

  “Well—” She didn’t want to be near Matt because every time she was, she started to want something more.

  Abby cut her off. “We’d love to have you.”

  Jordan glared, and Abby gave her an innocent look. Yeah, right.

  “That’s good since I told Allison that she could bring my lunch here. Talk about awkward if you’d have said no.”

  “Matt, your whole life is awkward,” Jordan grumbled, but smiled as he kicked her foot playfully under the table.

  “True, but that’s why I’m glad I have you two to make me feel better.”

  Jordan rolled her eyes. “Yes, of course. It’s our reason for existence, you know. I mean, if you felt poorly, what on earth would we do?”

  They broke into laughter as Ally brought their lunches and drinks.

  “Sorry again that it took me so long,” Ally said as she set down their food. “I swear, sometimes I just want to… And I should stop right there if I want to keep my job.”

  Matt leaned over his beef stew and winked. “I won’t tell if you won’t.”

  “You are a dork, Matt Cooper. And be sure to tell your brother, Brayden, to stop leaving so much of a tip, will you? People will start to talk.”

  Matt shook his head. “Hey, he likes the coffee.”

  “Enough that he comes in every day?”

  “Something like that.”

  Ally rolled her eyes and walked off to help another table.

  “You think she knows Bray is in love with her?” Jordan asked.

  “How did you figure that out?” Matt asked, his brows raised.

  “It’s easy to tell with the way he looks at her.” She’d seen it every morning she came in for coffee when she wanted to talk to Ally and get to know her more.

  “I wouldn’t go that far,” Matt answered. “But no, she has no idea. It’s kind of fun to watch.”

  Jordan let out a breath. “Men.”

  Abby shook her head. “Men.”

  “Hey, man right here.”

  “You’re not a man; you’re our friend,” Abby teased.

  “Ouch, kitten has claws.” Matt laughed.

  “Meow,” Abby said with a completely straight face that had the three of them rolling with laughter.

  “You see why I joined your table? You two are great company,” Matt said after they caught their breath.

  “Thanks,” Jordan said dryly. “I’m so glad you think that.” She felt all gooey inside at the feel of his body next to her, even with Stacey sitting at the counter, glaring at the three of them. She resisted the urge to wave at the bimbo, barely.

  “Any time,” Matt said. “As for Stacey, you know I don’t beat women, so there is only so much I can do.”

  Jordan blinked at that statement then burst out laughing again. God, she loved him.

  No, bad thoughts, Jordan, bad thoughts.

  “Oh, Abby, I forgot. Tyler wants you to call him when you had a chance,” Matt said.

  Abby paled and dropped her fork. “Wh-why?”

  Matt tilted his head, and Jordan furrowed her brows. What was with that reaction?

  “He had a question about the upcoming Halloween play and security and thought you’d know the answer.”

  “Why is there security at an elementary school play?” Jordan asked.

  “Because Tyler is paranoid and wants to make sure the kids are okay. Since Justin is the principal, he allows it.”

  “Then why didn’t he just call her himself?” Jordan asked.

  “Because he doesn’t remember my number,” Abby whispered, her head low.

  What the hell? “Isn’t it in the directory?” she asked.

  “Yes, but he never remembers to look there,” Abby mumbled. “It’s okay; I know what he’s going to ask anyway, so tell him that I took care of it, okay?” She looked at Jordan and Matt. “I’m in charge of setting the play up since I’m one of the only teachers who doesn’t mind staying late these days.”

  Matt nodded, a frown on his face.

  What was going on?

  “I should go take care of that now, then.” Her friend put some money on the table and stood stiffly. “I’ll see you both later, okay?” She didn’t wait for them to say anything back and left the diner in a hurry.

  “Okay, what just happened?”

  Matt shook his head. “I have no idea, but I think Tyler fucked up.”

  “If he hurt her…”

  “No, I don’t think he did it on purpose. In fact, I think he doesn’t realize how amazing Abby really is.”

  A small kernel of jealousy took root, which was ridiculous.

  “So he’s just an ass?”

  “He dates. It’s not an issue, but I don’t think he’s dated Abby.”

  “Oh…oh.”

  “Right.”

  “Huh, well, then.” Poor Abby.

  “The place will be taken down soon. Don’t worry,” Prescott St. James bellowed over the quiet conversations of the diner. Stacey wrapped her arms around him and hugged tightly. Jordan almost gagged.

  “What?” Ally asked, her eyes wide. “You can’t destroy the old Marlow place; it’s history.”

  Matt froze beside her, his face going pale.

  “Matt?” she asked, worried.

  “I can do whatever I need to get done. That place and the old Cross place need to be taken down.”

  “Excuse me?” Jordan asked, and pushed Matt out of the booth so she could stand. “You can’t destroy my home.”

  “Ah, Ms. Cross. I’m glad you’re here, as this will make it easier. Your home is ruining the property values around town. I am making it my personal mission to see that both it and the old Marlow place are destroyed.”

  “You can’t do that.” Rage filled her, and she stepped forward to slap the bastard, but Matt held her back.

  “She’s right,
Prescott,” Matt stated, his voice a little too shaky for Jordan’s comfort. What is going on with him? “You can’t take down a building because you have a grudge.”

  Prescott lifted his nose as Stacey gave a trilling laugh that sounded like cats on a chalkboard. “Oh, I can do anything I please. And I will.”

  “You’ll need the council’s vote,” Matt warned.

  “And I’ll get it.”

  “We’ll see,” Matt and Jordan said at the same time.

  “Let’s get out of here, Jor. I’ve suddenly lost my appetite.” Matt gave Ally a couple of twenties, far too much for their lunch, grabbed their coats, and dragged her out of there.

  Lucky for Prescott because Jordan’s magic wanted to kick some ass.

  “I don’t feel like driving right now. Do you mind if we walk?” He still held her hand, and she clasped it tightly, not wanted to let go.

  “Whatever you want.”

  “Don’t say anything you don’t mean, Jor.”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  He shook his head. “Never mind.”

  They walked in the cool sunlight as the wind danced around them. He let go of her hand, only to wrap an arm around her back and bring her closer. She burrowed into his side, grateful for his warmth.

  They walked in silence until they ended up by the lake, its water churning in the cool breeze.

  “Are you okay, Matt?”

  He nodded, but she didn’t believe him.

  “They won’t take your home, Jor.”

  “I know. But I also won’t have any say once I sell it.”

  Matt didn’t answer.

  “I am selling, Matt. I’m leaving.”

  “I know.” He turned her in his arms, his hands running smooth strokes up and down her back, making her want to purr. “I know.” He lowered his head, his lips barely brushing hers in a question.

  She closed her eyes and moved the fraction of an inch closer to answer. He tasted of stew, home, and Matt, that heady taste she’d thought long forgotten. He licked the seam of her lips, and they parted. His tongue danced with hers as their grips tightened. She rocked against him, wanting.

  He pulled away, leaning his forehead against hers. “I know.”

  She closed her eyes, lost in the sensation of his touch and the fact that it had no future. Oh God, she didn’t want to leave. She wanted to be selfish and stay with him. She wanted to watch Abby bloom and be happy, and she wanted to grow closer to Matt and be a Cooper….but she had to leave. It wasn’t her choice, but it had to be done—for the both of them.