Power of the Witch

by Deanna Chase

  “So why did she think there was going to be a wedding happening next fall?” Shannon asked, her curiosity getting the better of her patience.

  This time his laugh was bitter. “She didn’t really think that. It was all a lie, a publicity stunt for an endorsement deal and a reality television show she’s been booked on.”

  Shannon sat back in her chair, stunned. When she finally found her voice, she said, “That sounds like one incredible story, Brian.”

  “I know. But it’s the truth.” He picked up his champagne flute and downed the contents. “I had to go down there and deal with her father, who is concerned about his daughter being a laughing stock. He and my dad are threatening each other with lawsuits, because after the way old man Manchester behaved, my dad wants nothing to do with him. It’s a right mess and exactly why I left Knox Corp. I have no interest in all that drama. I just want a quiet life here in Keating Hollow where I get to babysit Skye and set my own hours. And start dating you, if you’re game.”

  Shannon stared at Brian, shock rendering her speechless. His story was incredible. And yet, she one hundred percent believed him. It was just the type of crazy she’d run from ten years ago. It was the same type of crazy her mother had brought to her front door earlier in the week.

  “Shannon?” Brian asked. “Are you all right? You look a little—”

  She threw her head back and burst out laughing. She couldn’t help it. How was it possible they were living exactly the same life only with different details? “Oh hell, Brian. I’m sorry. I’m not laughing at you. I promise.”

  “Are you sure?” he asked as she continued to chuckle.

  “Wait until you hear what happened with my mother.” Shaking her head, she wiped at her eyes that were watering from her hysterics. She then explained how Gigi Ansell was trying to run Silas’s life and had stooped to blackmail when Shannon had been unwilling to help her.

  “So she kicked you out of your grandmother’s house because you wouldn’t take her side on what Silas should do with his career?” Brian asked.

  “Oh, no, Brian. It isn’t Grandma’s house. It’s her house. Or at least that’s what she says. Technically, Grandma left the house to my dad, but he does whatever she says, so that detail hardly matters.”

  “That’s… cold.” His eyes were suddenly stormy, angry on her behalf, and it made her smile.

  “Hey,” she said, reaching across the table to cover his hand with her own. “It’s okay. My mom and I haven’t seen eye to eye for years. All I want is to make sure that Silas is all right. She’s causing all kinds of problems for him right now. It’s making him miserable, and I’m afraid he’s going to tank his career if she doesn’t let up.”

  “Like you did?” He twined his fingers between hers.

  “Nah. I liked acting, but never enough to put up with the BS. Silas loves what he does. I just don’t want her to ruin it for him.”

  “She won’t,” he said.

  “How do you know?”

  “Because you won’t let her.” Brian squeezed her fingers, giving her reassurance. “Silas knew what he was doing when he came here. You’re the one person he can rely on.”

  He was right. Shannon was the only one in her brother’s life who cared solely about him and what he wanted. She was his rock. And always would be. No way was she going to let him down now.

  “Thanks for that,” Shannon whispered, glancing down at their joined hands. She couldn’t help thinking, Damn, that feels good. The crushing disappointment that had been weighing on her ever since she saw that article online was gone. Her heart was lighter and so was her spirit. For the first time in days, she actually felt like she could breathe. And it was all because she’d fallen for him.

  Chapter Nineteen

  The ache in Brian’s gut had finally eased. The moment Shannon had smiled at him and then let him hold her hand, the wariness of the last few days had finally faded away. The fact that she hadn’t answered any of his texts had bothered him, but when she said she’d blocked his number, he was certain he’d missed his chance. But by some stroke of luck, she managed to put the gossip behind her, behind them, and was clearly having fun in the moment.

  “Here, try this.” Brian held a forkful of his lobster risotto out to her for her to try. And when her lips wrapped around the utensil, he thought he’d pass out right there. What he wouldn’t give to have those lips on his… and other places.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked with a seductive gaze, as if she knew exactly what was going through his mind.

  “I was just thinking about the massages waiting for us.” The image of her naked and lying beside him, even if it was on a massage table five feet away, was driving him insane. He had no idea how he was going to survive an hour, knowing she was right there but unable to touch her. Couple’s massage suddenly seemed like a very bad idea.

  “I think maybe we should have had the massages first, then dinner,” Shannon mused. “I’m probably going to fall into a food coma and miss half of it.”

  He agreed but knew there was no way that was going to happen to him. His body was too attuned to hers. If he hadn’t known she was so sore from moving, he might’ve suggested skipping the massages at the spa and offered to do the honors himself. But it was way too soon. She’d just started talking to him again.

  Down, boy, he ordered himself and took another drink of champagne.

  “Your risotto is going to get cold,” she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

  “Who cares?” he replied, staring her down like she was his next bite.

  “Okay, dude. I get it. You’re ready for the massage portion of the evening. Should we flag down our waiter and let them know we’re—”

  A loud crash, followed by screaming and shouts, came from the front of the spa. Brian was out of his chair first with Shannon right behind him. He glanced over his shoulder and noticed her grimace as she rushed to keep up with him. Damn, she really was aching. He wanted to slow down for her, but instinct had him rushing to the lobby area of the building.

  Faith Townsend stood in the middle of a pile of shattered glass, staring out the hole where her window used to be while she barked into the phone. “Drew? We have an issue. How soon can you get here?”

  “Holy hell, Lena!” Shannon said from behind him. “What happened?”

  Brian glanced back and saw Shannon holding her hand to her throat as she glanced around with wide eyes.

  “Someone threw a brick through the window,” Lena said, her voice shaking.

  Brian vibrated with energy. The need to do something pulsed in his veins, and standing there waiting for the sheriff was out of the question. “Shannon, check to make sure Lena is all right. I’m going to check outside and see if anyone needs help.”

  Shannon grabbed his hand, stopping him. “I don’t think you should go out there until Drew gets here.”

  He leaned down and brushed a kiss over her forehead. “I’ll be fine. Trust me.” Without another word, he stepped out of the spa and was nearly blinded by flash bulbs. He threw his hands up and turned away, trying to recover from the big bright spots swimming in his vision.

  “Brian!” a man shouted. “Was anyone hurt? Are you bleeding?”

  “Mr. Knox, can you tell us what your fiancée thinks of you having dinner with Ms. Ansell?”

  “Is the wedding still on?”

  “Does the brick that sailed through the window have anything to do with Cara Manchester?”

  The questions bombarded him from every angle. How many reporters had been camped out in front of the spa? One of them must’ve seen something, right? He raised his arms, waving them in the air, trying to get everyone to quiet down.

  But the questions kept coming along with the flash bulbs, and finally he gave up and went back inside to find everyone just staring at him. There was no reason to say anything. They’d all heard the questions. He walked over to Shannon, and without a word he pulled her into a hug. “Are you all right?” />
  She wrapped her arms around him but shook her head. “Not at all. Are we going to be able to get out of here without being mobbed?”

  “I don’t know,” he said into her hair.

  Shannon pulled back and turned to Faith. The pretty blonde had just returned from retrieving a broom and looked like she was ready to start cleaning up.

  Lena stopped her though. “Not yet, Faith. We need to take pictures for the insurance. And Drew will want pictures for the police report.”

  “Right.” She propped the broom against the wall and scanned the area, grimacing at the shattered vase and the shelf of merchandise that had been destroyed.

  “Faith?” Shannon said.

  “Yeah?” The spa owner appeared shaken, and Brian wondered if she’d already called her fiancé, Hunter. Probably not. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and called Jacob. He didn’t have Hunter’s number, but Faith’s sister Yvette likely did. He spoke quietly, letting Jacob know what had happened, including the mob of paparazzi.

  After Jacob relayed the information to his wife for her to call Hunter, he said, “Jeez, man, that’s insane. Do you think they are camped out at your house, too?”

  “Well, now I do.” He ran a hand through his hair and felt like he wanted to come right out of his skin. How was he going to live like this for two more weeks before Cara got around to setting the record straight? He couldn’t. He’d issue his own statement, but he knew no one would pay much attention to it until Cara responded. Cheating was just too good a scandal to ignore.

  Maybe he should leave Keating Hollow and hide out for a bit. He glanced at Shannon and knew he couldn’t leave her in this mess. He’d take her with him in a heartbeat, but who was to say the photographers wouldn’t follow them? Especially if Silas was with them. It was a no-win situation.

  “You can come here and use the guest room if you want,” his friend said and then chuckled as he added, “Or share with Skye.”

  “That sounds restful,” Brian said dryly. “I’ll probably be there in a few hours after I get Shannon home safely.”

  “All right, man,” Jacob said. “I’ll leave a light on for you.”

  “Thanks.” He ended the call and went to see what he could do to help.

  An hour later, Drew had cleared the paparazzi, telling them all he needed them at the station for questioning and if they didn’t comply, he’d haul them in himself.

  “Thanks, man.” Brian held his hand out to the deputy sheriff. “You have no idea how much that helps.”

  “I’m sorry they keep hounding you, Brian,” Drew said, shaking his hand. “It’s not something we’re used to around here.”

  “No kidding. It’s one of the reasons I moved here.” He patted Drew on the shoulder and moved past him to collect Shannon. When he found her in one of the reception room chairs, he sat beside her and took her hand in his. “Ready to go?”

  “Yes. You have no idea.” She looked like she was dead on her feet, and after the day she’d had, he wasn’t surprised.

  “In that case…” Brian scooped her up and held her against his chest as he carried her outside to his SUV. She chuckled and told him carrying her wasn’t necessary, but he noticed she didn’t protest too hard.

  “You’re sweet. You know that, Brian Knox?” she said from the passenger seat.

  Brian glanced over at her before starting the vehicle and felt a wave of tenderness wash over him as he stared into her whiskey-colored eyes. He couldn’t stop himself from wanting to wrap her in his arms and keep her there forever. Which was ridiculous, because if ever there was a woman who could take care of herself, it was Shannon Ansell.

  “Are you going to kiss me, or just stare at me all night?” she asked as her lips twitched with amusement.

  “I will. Just give me a moment.” He leaned over and cupped her cheek, savoring the way she was looking at him. Her expression was sleepy but full of love, and trust, and something that felt an awful lot like home. “I can’t wait until the day I can hold you all night, Shannon.”

  Her breath caught, and she whispered, “Me neither.”

  “But not tonight. You need your rest,” he continued.

  “I can sleep while you cuddle me,” she said with a tiny pout.

  Brian laughed. “Nope. Not even close, gorgeous girl. I won’t be able to keep my hands still.”

  She visibly shuddered at his words, and it only made him regret his decision to not take her home with him even more. Although, he wasn’t going home, was he? He didn’t know yet, but he’d place bets there were a bunch of photographers clogging his driveway at that very moment. “Fine, then kiss me already.”

  He felt his insides light up as his lips brushed over hers. And in that moment, everything was perfect.

  Chapter Twenty

  Perfect. It was the word Brian had uttered right after that amazing kiss Shannon had shared with him in his SUV right outside of A Touch of Magic. But there wasn’t anything perfect about Shannon’s reality at the moment. She was supposed to be spending her first night away from her grandmother’s home—the home she’d come to think of as her own—in her new rental, but instead, she was sitting in Brian’s SUV, staring at the circle of photographers camped out on her sidewalk. “I can’t stay there. Not after what happened at Faith’s spa.”

  “Definitely not,” Brian said. “You can come back to my place if you want.”

  There wasn’t any innuendo or flirtation in his tone, only concern. She frowned and pressed a hand to her throbbing head. “Don’t you think they’ll be there, too?”

  “Probably. Jacob already said I could use his spare room. I’m sure they won’t mind one more guest if you want to come along.”

  “I could go to Noel’s inn, I suppose,” Shannon said, but she quickly dismissed the idea. “Only I bet some of these jerks are staying there.”

  “Probably,” Brian agreed.

  There weren’t that many places to stay in Keating Hollow if you weren’t already someone’s personal guest. Shannon pulled out her phone and called Hope. After explaining the situation, Hope confirmed that Silas was still there with Levi and that the paparazzi were nowhere to be seen.

  “You can stay here if you want,” Hope said. “Levi’s room is free. He’s been staying downstairs while his ankle heals.”

  “That would be great. Thanks. See you in five.” She ended the call and asked Brian if he could drop her off at Hope and Chad’s place.

  “Yeah, okay,” he said, sounding slightly disappointed. But he gave her a tiny smile and put the SUV in gear.

  Shannon stared out the window at the pretty tree-lined street and idyllic cottages and said, “I just don’t understand why anyone would throw a brick through the spa’s window. What did that accomplish?”

  Brian let out a humorless laugh. “It got me outside, didn’t it? They got their photograph. Only they couldn’t have known I’d be the one to go out there, so I really don’t have any idea. It seems random, doesn’t it? The paparazzi doesn’t usually resort to destruction of property.”

  “No. They don’t. Usually stuff like that only happens when celebrities snap and an altercation takes place. I just don’t get it.”

  “It feels like the world has gone crazy,” Brian said.

  “Not the entire world,” Shannon said with a sigh. “We still have good friends who are there for us when we need them.” As she heard herself say the words, a weird sense of peace settled over her. Shannon hadn’t ever really felt like she fit in anywhere. She’d had Miss Maple all these years and Wanda, but Wanda was such a social butterfly that they didn’t get a lot of quality time together. There were other residents of Keating Hollow she was friendly with, but until Hope arrived, she’d never really felt like she had a girlfriend she could count on. Nor a boyfriend for that matter. She’d dated of course, but no one had ever meant enough to make her want to stick with the relationship.

  That had changed when Brian came into her life. She watched him from her side of the vehicle. Hi
s features were hidden in shadows, but she could still see his angular jaw and five o’clock shadow. Her fingers itched to touch his cheek, his lips, his soft hair. The man was beautiful; there was no doubt about it. And she suddenly regretted not taking him up on his offer to go back to Yvette and Jacob’s house.

  “What are you thinking about over there?” he asked, his voice husky.

  She chuckled. “Nothing.”

  He turned and his smoldering gaze met hers. Yeah, he knew what she’d been thinking about, or at least guessed, and he was thinking the exact same thing. Her body warmed, and sweat broke out on the back of her neck.

  “Is it hot in here or is it just me?” she asked, lowering the window a crack.

  “You’re definitely hot, Shannon.”

  She felt her cheeks heat as she flushed. “Stop. This conversation is only going to frustrate us both.”

  He laughed. “You could always change your mind you know.”

  She’d been considering it, if only subconsciously. But the truth was, she needed to be with Silas. If the paparazzi was going to keep coming for them, he needed to be her first priority. “I wish I could, but my brother…” She shrugged. “This kind of crap is really wearing on him. I need to stick close.”

  “I get it.” He pulled into the driveway of the cottage Hope and Chad shared. The front porch light was on, illuminating the pretty red shutters. He reached over and cupped her cheek with his palm. “Can I call you tomorrow?”

  She leaned into him, closing her eyes. “You better.”

  “Count on it.” He gave her a slow, tender kiss and she prayed that the photographers would find a more interesting target as soon as possible. She wasn’t sure she could take even another day without him in her bed.

  Finally, Shannon broke away and hurried out of the SUV. Once she made it onto the porch, she turned and blew him one last kiss.