“You told me it was going to be awful,” I said.
“I did. Even I didn’t expect that, though. I thought they were going to jump all over you because of the bank robbery. That’s what I was hoping for.”
“You were hoping my mother would yell at me?”
“If your mother yells at you then I’m not the villain,” Landon said. “As much as I enjoy playing around with your family, I don’t want to be the villain where you’re concerned. That never works out for me.”
“When have I ever treated you like a villain?”
“I seem to remember you thinking I was a crazy drug dealer.”
“You were undercover as a drug dealer at the time,” I reminded him. “How was that my fault?”
“I think you should believe I have an honest face,” Landon teased, leaning down so he could give me a lingering kiss. “I just want you safe, Bay. I figured if your mother yelled at you, you’d be more likely to listen.”
“I didn’t mean … .”
“I know,” Landon said, taking a step away from me. “I don’t want to fight. We’ve been apart for days. Can we please not fight?”
“I’m not trying to fight,” I said, jutting my lower lip into a pout. “You’re trying to fight.”
“Am I on your list?” Landon’s blue eyes danced with amusement.
“You’re at the top of my list,” I said, reaching over to tug on his hair.
“Good,” Landon said. He gave me another kiss. “Tell me about this Nick guy.”
“Yeah, what was up with that?”
“Up with what?”
“You were all … growly … with him.”
“I wasn’t growly,” Landon said. “I was having a perfectly nice conversation with him.”
I waited.
“One in which he was aware that you were already taken,” Landon conceded.
I couldn’t hide my smile. “It’s nice that I’m already taken.”
Landon pursed his lips. “You growled like a bear when Lila started hitting on me this afternoon.”
“I did no such thing.”
“You did, too,” Landon said, laughing. “You actually growled. I thought it was kind of cute.”
“Well, that’s because she kept touching you,” I sniffed. “Nick didn’t get close enough to touch me. Lila was … petting you. She was stroking you like you were a cat and she wanted you to curl up in her lap and take a nap.”
“I’m pretty sure napping wasn’t what she had in mind.”
I scorched him with a look.
“I wouldn’t worry about Lila,” Landon said. “She’s a little too obvious. I like my women to be mean to me for weeks before they fall under my spell.”
“I was not mean to you.”
“You kept accusing me of stalking you.”
“That’s because you kept showing up,” I said.
“I only followed you because you were acting all … squirrelly. I had no idea what you were doing, but I knew it couldn’t be good. And, look, I was right.”
“Who solved that case?”
“Me.”
I stuck my tongue out at him. “You couldn’t have solved that case without me.”
“You got me shot.”
I faltered. “I … .”
“That was a rotten thing to say,” Landon said, instantly contrite. “I didn’t mean that. I thought we were joking.”
“It’s fine.”
“It’s not fine,” Landon said. “I know you’re sensitive where that’s concerned … especially after my mother blamed you.”
A few weeks earlier, Landon’s family visited the inn for an extended stay. When Landon’s mother found out he’d been hurt in the line of duty, partially because of my presence at a crime scene, she hadn’t taken the information well. We’d moved past the issue, but it still hurt to think about it.
“It’s really fine,” I said, slipping my hand back into his. “We don’t have to dwell on it.”
“Good,” Landon said. “Tell me about the things Lila used to do to you when you were a kid.”
This night just keeps getting better and better. “I don’t see why that’s important.”
“I want to know,” Landon said softly. “You seem really upset about it. It’s been … what … ten years? It must have been pretty bad.”
“I don’t know that it was worse than anything other kids go through,” I said, averting my gaze from his probing stare and focusing on the moon. “It was just years and years of … stuff.”
“I think Chief Terry told me a little bit about her,” Landon said. “Several months ago, we were having a discussion, and he told me that a lot of kids were mean to you because you were different. They thought you were talking to yourself when you were really talking to ghosts.”
“I know,” I said. “I was eavesdropping on your conversation.”
“Tell me, Bay,” Landon prodded. “You might feel better if you let it out.”
I sighed, running a hand through my hair as I tried to compose myself. “It was just a lot of little things,” I said. “She called me names. She put gum in my hair. She picked on my clothes.”
“Was there something wrong with your clothes? Your mother doesn’t seem the type to dress you in rags.”
“No. But they weren’t designer clothes like Lila’s mother bought for her. She always thought she was better than us.”
“That’s on her, Bay,” Landon said. “That’s not on you. That’s the type of person she is. What else?”
“I … I don’t know,” I said, frustrated. “In high school she’d always make a point of spreading rumors about me.”
“Like?”
“Like I was a lesbian, or I had a crush on the janitor, or … you know … just stupid stuff,” I said. “It seems stupid to think about it now, but it was horrible then.”
“Just for the record, if you want to be a lesbian, I’m all for it – as long as I’m invited to watch,” Landon said.
I stuck my tongue out.
“I know it’s hard to forget those things,” Landon said, turning serious. “Look how well you turned out, though.”
“You spent half the afternoon telling me I was an idiot.”
“I didn’t say you were an idiot,” Landon countered. “I said I wanted you to think before you ran into danger. There’s a difference.”
“I guess.”
Landon grabbed my shoulders and forced me to face him. “Bay, I … am very attached to you,” he said. “I don’t want to think about something happening to you. I happen to like how you turned out. Please don’t let bad memories hurt you. They’re in the past. Let them go.”
“You’re good for my self-esteem,” I said, finally meeting his gaze.
“You’re good for my … everything,” Landon said, pulling me in for a hug. “Now, come on. Let’s see what kind of revenge Thistle is cooking up. I’m mildly curious to see how far off the rails she runs this week.”
“WHAT if we gave her lockjaw for the week?” Thistle suggested.
She was holding court in the middle of our living room, a chocolate martini in hand.
“I think I’m behind,” Sam said, shifting on the chair he shared with Clove. “Why do we hate this Lila person?”
Sam wisely opted to avoid dinner, so he’d spent the past half hour catching up on all of the gossip and shenanigans he missed.
“She’s evil incarnate,” Marcus and Landon answered in unison. They had memorized the family line on Lila.
“Ah, I see,” Sam said. “Carry on.”
“What do you think about lockjaw?” Thistle asked.
“It wouldn’t stop us from having to see her face,” Clove said.
“So, wait, you hate her, too?” Sam asked, rubbing Clove’s shoulders. “I thought only Bay and Thistle hated her.”
“Of course I hate her,” Clove said. “She was mean to Bay.”
“Was she mean to you?”
“Not like she was to Bay,” Clove said.
“Was she mean to you, Thistle?” Sam asked.
“She was afraid of me,” Thistle said, puffing her chest out proudly. “I rained fired and brimstone down on her every chance I got.”
“Not literal fire, right?” Landon asked. “Because that would be a felony.”
“Don’t rain on my parade,” Thistle ordered.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to rain.” Landon reached over and grabbed my hand, focusing on my palm lines as he traced his fingers over them. “Have you guys considered simply ignoring her?”
“What?” Thistle’s eyebrows nearly flew off her forehead.
“I think that’s a good idea,” Marcus said. “If you ignore her, it will hurt more than giving her negative attention.”
Thistle swiveled, hands on hips, and fixed her boyfriend with a hard look. “Are you a girl?”
Marcus was taken aback. “No.”
“Then you don’t know how girls think,” Thistle said. “You can’t simply ignore her. If there was a flash flood, would you ignore that?”
“No.”
“If your house was on fire, would you ignore that?”
“No.”
“If you got Chlamydia, would you ignore that?”
Marcus was flustered. “No.”
“And that’s exactly why we can’t ignore Lila,” Thistle said. “By the way, who would you get Chlamydia from?”
Marcus’ face flushed. “How did this conversation get away from me?”
“Have another beer,” Landon suggested. “If you’re drunk enough, none of this will matter.”
“I think we should let Aunt Tillie deal with her,” I said. “By the way, did you tell Aunt Tillie that Lila was talking smack about her?”
Thistle frowned. “No. I forgot. Don’t worry, I’ll tell her at breakfast tomorrow. I figure that will be enough to dislodge all of us from her list. Lila can have the whole thing to herself.”
“Nick can stay there, too,” Landon said.
“Who is Nick?” Sam asked.
“Some guy Bay went to high school with,” Marcus explained. “I knew him from a baseball league when I was here for summers. He was telling Bay how good she looked tonight and Landon … well … he didn’t take it well.”
“I took it fine,” Landon said.
“You were one second away from turning into King Kong and thumping your chest as you tossed him off the Empire State Building,” Thistle scoffed. “Give me a break.”
“I was just having a conversation with him,” Landon said. “It’s not my fault he doesn’t understand boundaries.”
“What boundaries?” Clove asked. “All he said was that he wished he’d dated Bay instead of Lila in high school.”
“He also pointed out she was hot,” Landon said.
“How is that bad?” Thistle asked. “It’s always nice to hear you’re hot. Don’t you think Bay is hot?”
“Of course I think she’s hot,” Landon said. “I can, though. She’s … mine.”
“Yours?” Thistle narrowed her eyes. “Are you suggesting Bay is your property?”
“Yeah, that’s exactly what I was saying,” Landon deadpanned. He glanced over at me. “That’s our cue to go to bed.”
“Wait! I’m not done planning,” Thistle said.
“Well, we’re done,” Landon said. “I’m tired, and I haven’t seen my … witch … in days. I want to go to bed.”
“You only want to fornicate like bunnies in spring,” Thistle said.
“Guilty as charged,” Landon said. He got to his feet and extended his hand in my direction. “Come on, growly, let’s go to bed. I’ve just about had my fill of your family for one evening.”
Thistle made a face as we shuffled toward the bedroom.
“Good night,” I said to everyone.
“Hey, Landon?”
Landon turned back to Thistle, weary. “Yes?”
“You’re at the top of my list now,” she said.
“Well, I guess I’m a popular guy today,” he said, smiling down at me. “Come on, Bay. I have a list of my own I want to get to, and we don’t need an audience.
“Everyone have a … good night,” he said. “And don’t you dare wake us up too early tomorrow. Bay is going to need her rest.”
Eight
“I’m surprised you’re so relaxed this morning,” I said, eyeing Landon as we let ourselves in through the back door of The Overlook. The family quarters had a separate entrance at the back of the building. It was only accessible through the kitchen, which none of the guests ever braved.
“Why do you say that?”
“We were up late,” I reminded him.
“Yes, but when I slept, it was hard,” Landon said.
“So … no bad dreams?”
Landon tugged on a strand of my hair. “No bad dreams,” he said. “However, you’re going to give me indigestion if you don’t let this go. I’m not angry. I am, however, going to lock you in the guesthouse if you ever do anything like that again.”
“You’re going to lock me in the guesthouse?”
“I’m going to chain you to the bed,” Landon said. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep you hydrated and reward you when you’re good.”
“You’re sick.”
“Hey, when I daydream, that’s what I think about,” Landon said, pulling up short when he caught sight of Aunt Tillie sitting on the sofa. She was watching a morning chat show, and she seemed intent on whatever was playing out on the screen.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“I’m watching these idiots discuss global warming,” Aunt Tillie said. “What does it look like I’m doing?”
Landon looked her up and down. “Is there a reason you’re dressed in camouflage?”
“I’m preparing for war.”
“With who?”
“The enemy.” Aunt Tillie refused to look at Landon, and I could tell it was driving him crazy.
“Who is the enemy?”
“Terrorists.”
Landon sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Do you think there are terrorists in Hemlock Cove?”
“It depends on how you define the word ‘terrorist.’”
“How do you define it?”
“People who tick me off.”
Landon glanced at me. “She’s your aunt. Do something with her.” He let go of my hand and started moving toward the kitchen. “And whatever she’s up to … it had better be legal.”
Once he was gone, I fixed my gaze on Aunt Tillie. “What are you really doing?”
“Driving your mother nuts.”
That was generally a short trip. “Why are you doing that?”
“They’re trying to confiscate my computer.”
“Are you doing anything on it you shouldn’t be doing?”
“Are you the computer police?”
I scowled. “Just try to behave,” I said. “This is an important week for them. You know that. When a lot of these people left town, the inn wasn’t up and running. They’ve turned it into a success. They’re proud. Can’t you give them just this week?”
Aunt Tillie tilted her head to the side, considering. “No.”
I swallowed my laugh. “What if I give you something else to focus on?”
“Like what?”
“Lila Stevens.”
Aunt Tillie narrowed her eyes. “What did she do?”
I told her about our conversation the day before. When I was done, Aunt Tillie was already on her feet. “I’ll be a ticked-off witch.”
Sometimes she’s spot on.
“I can’t believe she said that about me,” Aunt Tillie said. “I’m going to … .” She mimed some form of overt violence that I didn’t quite recognize.
“How about you just do something that keeps her away from me for the rest of the week?” I suggested.
“Oh, don’t you worry about Lila Stevens,” Aunt Tillie said. “When I’m done with her, she’s going to wish she’d never been born.”
That was good eno
ugh for me. For now.
“WHAT were you two talking about in there?” Landon asked, pouring me a glass of tomato juice as I settled in the open chair next to him. The table was full again, and the guests were talking amongst themselves excitedly.
“What’s going on with them?” I asked, inclining my head.
“They’re waiting for Aunt Tillie’s grand entrance,” Landon said. “They think breakfast is going to be a show, too.”
“Huh.”
“See, I don’t like your tone,” Landon said. “What were you two talking about?”
“I gave her a task so she can keep busy and out of my mother’s hair.”
“What task?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Landon cleared his throat. “Is this going to come back and bite me?”
“No.”
“Fine. Did you find out why she’s wearing camouflage?”
“She’s just trying to irritate my mom.”
Landon barked out a coarse laugh. “I wondered if it was something like that.” He glanced around the table. “Why aren’t Thistle and Clove here?”
“Would you come if you didn’t have to?”
“How did I have to come?”
“If you wanted food before you left for work for the day, you had to come here,” I said. “We’re even out of cereal.”
“You’re so domestic,” Landon said, kissing the tip of my nose. “You’re like one of those women in the cleaning commercials.”
“You’re funny.”
“I’m fine with coming here for breakfast,” Landon said. “I’ll have a long day, and I already had a long night because you’re so frisky all of the time. I can use the fuel.”
“I am not frisky.”
Landon meowed like a perky cat.
“What was that?” Mom asked, walking out of the kitchen with a pan of French toast in her hand.
“I was just … that smells good,” Landon said, straightening in his chair. He was overly affectionate this morning, and I had a feeling it had something to do with the time we’d spent apart. The thought warmed me.
“Were you two talking about something you shouldn’t be talking about at the breakfast table?” Mom asked.
Witch Me Luck (Wicked Witches of the Midwest Book 6) Page 6
