“Is it working?”
Landon cracked a grin as he shook his head. “It’s going to work because I refuse to fight with you. I’m not in a very good mood, in case you haven’t noticed.”
We’d first met when he was undercover. I always knew there was a possibility he’d have to disappear for another case, but this one seemed to have come out of nowhere and I couldn’t help being thrown for a loop. “Because you’ll miss me?”
Landon’s expression softened. “I will miss you.”
“I’ll miss you, too.”
“I know.” Landon rubbed the back of my neck as he shifted lower, making sure my mouth was only inches from his as he stared into my eyes. “The good news is that by doing this job I should be able to surprise you with something really fun in a few weeks.”
I brightened considerably. “What?”
“I can’t tell you that either, because it’s not set in stone yet,” Landon replied. “Suffice it to say, though, I think you’re going to be happy.”
“I’m happy regardless where you’re concerned.”
“Except when you think I’m going to be transferred and leave you behind after nothing more than a weekend’s notice.”
I pursed my lips, rueful. “I said I was sorry.”
“Only vaguely, and you didn’t put a lot of effort into it.” Landon stroked the back of my head. “Bay, I’ll never leave you. I promise you that.”
“I … technically you’re leaving now,” I pointed out, my cheeks flushing. “You’re leaving me to fend for myself. What happens if someone hits on me and you’re not here to defend my honor?”
“Very cute.” Landon shook his head, resigned to letting me off the hook. “Keep track of whoever hits on you and I’ll pound them when I get back. Also, I’m not leaving you. If you need me, call my boss. I’ll find a way to get in touch with you.”
“I’m guessing that’s only for emergencies, right? What if I simply can’t sleep without you?”
“Then we’re both going to be tired. I already know this is going to suck. You don’t need to make it worse.”
“I’ll miss you.” The words hurt coming out and I pressed my face to Landon’s chest so he wouldn’t see the threatening tears. Torturing him didn’t seem fair. He had a job to do. I was an adult, for crying out loud. I lived the majority of my life without him, coming to rely on his presence only in the past year. This shouldn’t be so devastating.
“I’ll miss you, too.” Landon tightened his arms around me. “I’ll figure a way to contact you when I can. If we’re lucky, this job shouldn’t take too long. A week at the most.”
He sounded upbeat at the prospect, but I could practically smell the lie. “What’s the worst-case scenario?”
“I’ll never visit again.”
I jerked my head up and found Landon grinning. “That’s not funny.”
“After your dramatic meltdown I thought it was a little funny,” Landon argued. “As for the question … I don’t know, sweetie. I’m hoping it won’t be too long, but it could last a few weeks.”
“Well, then we’ll simply have to deal with it.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and hugged him as tightly as possible, mentally binding myself to him. “I guess it’s good that we have the weekend to get our fill of each other, huh?”
“Bay, I’ll never get my fill of you.” Landon returned the hug. “You will need to spoil me rotten before I go, though.”
I mustered a rueful smile. “You’re going to milk this, aren’t you?”
“Oh, sweetie, you have no idea. Give me a kiss so we can get this show on the road. I’ve made a list of things I want to do this weekend, and each and every one starts with a kiss.”
“Even gorging on bacon?”
“Funnily enough, bacon and kisses play heavily into my plans.” Landon grinned as he smacked his lips against mine. “We’re going to have a busy weekend, sweetie. You’d better prepare yourself for a whole lot of action.”
Oh, well. I’d heard worse suggestions in my life. In the grand scheme of things, an undercover assignment was much easier to grapple with than my imagination.
I mean … how hard could it be?
One
Three weeks later
“My life sucks.”
I stared at the small platter of bacon in the center of the dining room table and sighed. If Landon were around, the platter would be twice as big and his fingers would be greasy from shoveling slices into his mouth with both hands.
“Oh, here we go.” My cousin Thistle, her hair a bright shade of orange in honor of the upcoming Halloween holiday, rolled her eyes. “Can’t you choke yourself with that bacon so we don’t have to listen to you whine any longer?”
I narrowed my eyes, anger coursing through me as I pinned Thistle with a dark gaze. “Was I talking to you?”
Thistle made a big show of glancing around the table. It was devoid of guests because it was a Monday. Last week’s guests checked out the previous afternoon and this week’s guests would arrive in dribs and drabs as the weekend approached. “If you weren’t talking to me, who were you talking to?”
I answered automatically. “I was talking to my mother.”
Mom merely rolled her eyes over the rim of her mug as she sipped her coffee. “I can see where I would be your best option given the fact that I have to love you because you share my genes, but I’m sick of your whining, too.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but Mom cut me off with a firm headshake.
“Bay, we all understand that you miss Landon,” Mom offered, adopting her best “I gave birth to you, so shut your mouth until I’m done talking” tone. “I happen to miss him, too. I didn’t realize how much I would miss him until you started whining three weeks ago – and never stopped – but we all have to adjust to the real world and be adults from time to time.”
“I don’t.” Aunt Tillie grinned from her spot at the head of the table and grabbed two slices of bacon, as if she knew it was a dagger to the heart because Landon wasn’t around to complain. “I’ve decided that the real world is highly overrated,” she said, dropping the bacon on her plate.
Mom scowled as she shook her head. “You’re not helping.”
“I didn’t realize that’s what we were supposed to be doing.” Aunt Tillie flashed an innocent look. “I can do that, too.” She turned to me, her face impassive. “Stop whining. You’re embarrassing us. And it’s completely annoying to listen to you carry on.”
My mouth dropped open as Thistle snorted.
“I never thought I’d agree with Aunt Tillie – and that should tell you exactly how low you’ve fallen – but you’re a big baby, and she’s right,” Thistle announced. “It’s time to suck it up and shut your hole. Landon will be back when he’s back.”
I ran my tongue over my teeth, frustrated. In truth, I knew Thistle was right and that’s what hurt worse than the insults. The Winchesters enjoy insulting one another. It’s something of a pastime for all of us because we’re not a very serious family … unless the world might end due to magic or a pesky poltergeist. But in general we’re gregarious and prone to humor rather than melancholy. Still, I couldn’t wrap my head around the lack of sympathy.
“I need to find a new family,” I announced, crossing my arms over my chest as I pushed back my chair. “I’m going through a terrible time. You’d think someone – perhaps my own mother – would feel bad for me.”
“I do feel bad for you,” Mom offered, her expression unreadable. “You’re clearly miserable without Landon. I sympathize.”
“We’re miserable without Landon, too,” Aunt Marnie offered, her dark head bobbing as she agreed with Mom. “We never realized how insufferable you were until he wasn’t around to soak up all of your time.”
“You’re my least favorite aunt,” I muttered.
“If that means you’re going to start whining to me, then I want to claim that title,” my aunt Twila interjected, shaking her head of bright red hair. “I can’t l
isten to the woes of life without Landon for one more second. It’s like a story to slit my wrists by.”
I pressed the heel of my hand to my forehead, frustrated. “Fine! I won’t mention Landon to you people ever again. Are you happy?”
“I am.” Aunt Tillie beamed, crunching on a strip of bacon. “You know how I hate it when you bring up ‘The Man’ in the first place. Now at least we can get on with our lives. We can forget this sordid year and find a different boyfriend for you to obsess about. How do you feel about dating a farmer? I’d love access to fresh tomatoes.”
I scalded Aunt Tillie with a dark look. “Landon is on a case. He’s not dead.”
“Don’t ruin my fun,” Aunt Tillie warned, wagging a finger. “Personally, I don’t miss him at all. It seems all he was good for was eating half a pig every morning and shutting your mouth by placing his on top of it. I can find someone else to do both.”
I slapped the table as I struggled to my feet. “I need a new family, not a new boyfriend.”
“You need to get over yourself,” Aunt Tillie shot back. “We’re all sick of your grousing and griping.”
I glanced at Mom, expecting her to admonish Aunt Tillie. When she didn’t, I merely shook my head. “I’m going to run away from home. I hope you’re all happy.”
“If it means we don’t have to listen to how much your life sucks, then I’m all for it,” Mom countered. “Perhaps you should consider renting a room from your father. This might be a good time for the two of you to bond.”
She must be getting desperate if she was seriously suggesting I spend time with my father. She didn’t have a high opinion of the man – even though she married and procreated with him. Ever since he returned to Hemlock Cove and opened a competing inn with my uncles she’d been surprisingly quiet on the subject of my father.
“I might just do that,” I warned, reaching into my pocket when my phone rang. “You’ll miss me when I’m gone.”
“I might need proof to back up that statement,” Mom shot back.
I ignored her, furrowing my brow as I stared at the phone screen. I didn’t recognize the number. Odds were it was a telemarketer, but it could be Landon. I hadn’t heard from him in more than a week and I was starting to get antsy.
“Hello.”
“Hi, sweetie.”
My heart rolled when I heard his voice and I quickly moved out of the dining room, heading toward The Overlook’s library so I could have some privacy. “Landon?”
Landon’s chuckle was deep and throaty, and my stomach twisted as several emotions I couldn’t quite name washed over me. “Did you forget the sound of my voice already?”
I swallowed hard to maintain my calm. “I … no. How are you?”
Even though he couldn’t see my face Landon recognized the hitch in my voice and knew I was close to tears. “Bay, don’t cry. I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch.”
“I’m not going to cry.” It was a lie. I was definitely going to cry. I had no idea why his absence affected me this way. I could only hope to stave off the tears until the end of the call. “How are you?”
“I’m fine, sweetie. I only have a few minutes, but I needed to hear your voice.” Landon sounded pained. “How are you?”
“I’m at the inn. Everyone is sick of me. They want me to move into the Dragonfly because I’m whiny.”
“Why are you whiny?”
“I … .” I broke off, unsure how to answer. Guilting him about his absence seemed the wrong way to go. “I’m just crabby. It’s fine. It will pass. How are you? Are you almost done?”
“I’m getting closer, but I don’t know when this will be over,” Landon admitted, causing my momentary flash of hope to fade.
“Oh, well, it’s not your fault. I’m sure you’re doing the best you can.”
“Yes, well, that sounded convincing,” Landon said dryly. “I’m going to try to figure out a way to see you, although I’m not sure when I’ll be able to swing it. Even if it’s just for an hour … .”
My interest piqued. “Are you that close?”
“I’m close, sweetie, but I can’t risk seeing you in case someone recognizes me,” Landon replied. “I was hoping to be able to figure out a way to sneak to the guesthouse. I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.” I said the words automatically. “You’re safe, right?” Some things were more important than the fact that I missed him. His safety was my top priority.
Landon seemed amused by the question. “I’m fine, Bay. I’m worried about you.”
“Me?” That was fairly hilarious given the fact that I lived in Hemlock Cove. The town had only one stoplight, for crying out loud. “I’m fine. I’ve been working … and apparently complaining to the point that no one wants to spend time with me.”
“I desperately want to spend time with you,” Landon supplied. “I miss you.”
The tears were back, thickening my voice as I fought to maintain control. “I miss you, too.”
“Oh, please don’t cry.” Landon sounded as if he was on the verge of tears, too. “I have to go in a few minutes. I have someplace to be, but I cannot hang up if you’re crying.”
I fought to regain control of my emotions. “I’m okay. I’m just … tired.”
“Haven’t you been sleeping?”
That was a loaded question. Admitting I couldn’t sleep without him beside me seemed immature and codependent rather than romantic and cute. “I’m fine.”
“I can’t sleep without you either,” Landon said, instantly making me feel better. I could practically see his lips curling, and it lightened the load. “It’s been almost exactly a year since we met.”
“I know.”
“We’ll celebrate as soon as this case is done.”
“Okay.” I wanted to ask when that would be, but putting additional pressure on him didn’t seem wise. “You’re not in danger, right?”
“Bay, I’m fine.” Landon cleared his throat. “I never seem to find danger unless I’m with you.”
“That’s true.” The statement cheered me, though only marginally.
“You’re not getting in any trouble, are you?” Landon’s tone shifted from amused to serious. “I worry because I’m not there to keep you out of trouble.”
I was fairly certain I should’ve been insulted, but I was so relieved to hear his voice. “What kind of trouble would I get in? I’ve mostly been working, and then I go home and read at night. Thistle spends all of her time with Marcus – they’re moving in together as soon as his renovations are done at the stable. They’re making plans with this cool interior design program she found for her laptop. I’ve been on my own. I can’t get in trouble on my own.”
“You’ve been alone?”
“I’ve been reading.”
“Bay, I don’t like the idea of you sitting around on your own,” Landon grumbled. “I don’t want you to be lonely.”
“I’m a Winchester. We’re always up in each other’s business,” I pointed out. “I can’t possibly be lonely.” That was an outright lie. I felt Landon’s absence like a hole in the heart, and the reason I couldn’t stop complaining was because of that simple fact. I tried to look at the bright side. “It’s only for a little longer, right?”
“Bay, I’ll get home to you as soon as I can,” Landon promised. “I … miss you so much.”
“I miss you, too.” My voice was small as I fought tears yet again. “You need to stay safe. That’s the most important thing.”
“That’s exactly how I feel about you.” Landon was quiet for a beat. I could hear muffled voices behind him. When he spoke again he sounded resigned. “I have to go.”
“Okay. Well … .”
“I love you, Bay.” Landon’s voice was rocky, almost strangled. “I will find a way to see you as soon as possible. I promise.”
“Just finish your case.” I didn’t have the heart to tell him that a stolen hour would only make things worse if we had to say goodbye again. “I love you, too.”<
br />
“Be good, sweetie.”
I was reluctant to end the call, but I knew Landon hated being the first to disconnect. “I will. You, too. I … .” My voice broke.
“I love you so much. I’m sorry about all of this. I promise to make it up to you.”
Landon’s voice was stronger, so I forced myself to match his tone. “I’ll have bacon waiting when you come back.”
“I don’t care about the bacon. I only want you.”
“Oh, well, things must be dire.”
Landon mustered a ragged laugh. “I’ll call as soon as I can.”
“I know. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
I stared at the phone for what felt like forever. When I lifted my head I found Aunt Tillie standing in the open doorway.
“If you’re going to give me grief, I don’t want to hear it,” I muttered, swiping at a tear on my cheek. “I know I’m being pathetic. I recognize it and would laugh and point if someone else in this family behaved in this manner.”
Aunt Tillie scratched the side of her nose, her expression unreadable. “You’re definitely a whiner.”
“Thank you so much for your support.”
“I don’t know what you want me to say,” Aunt Tillie admitted. “The boy has a job to do. You knew that when you took him on. He’s doing the best that he can.”
“I’m well aware of that.”
“It doesn’t help him to know that you’re sitting around here pining for him,” Aunt Tillie pointed out. “If he’s worried about you he can’t possibly focus on his job. He’s probably in a dangerous situation, and you’re only exacerbating things because you’re such a crybaby.”
I pressed the tip of my tongue to the back of my teeth as I fought to maintain my cool. I wanted to explode, tell her she was a terrible woman who gets off on making others miserable. But I knew she was right. Landon was in the middle of a serious situation, and I didn’t want to make it worse.
“I don’t mean to be a crybaby. I can’t seem to help myself.”
“That’s because you and Landon are co-dependent.” Aunt Tillie was blasé as she glanced at her fingernails. “He’ll be back as soon as he can. You don’t doubt that, do you?”
Murder Most Witchy (Wicked Witches of the Midwest Book 10) Page 2
