“So… I’d love to talk about Zella.”
“I am at your service,” Johannes said.
I perked up and sat practically on the edge of my seat. My thirst for knowledge had always been intense. “I saw her headstone, but there were no dates or even a last name. Who puts the flowers there for her?”
The fondness of the smile on his face gave me a brief pause. “I leave the flowers for her. I don't want her grave to go forgotten. She affected all the people she talked to and brought a light to their life. She didn't stop until got things got done the way she thought they ought to be. Zella was integral to helping build this town up.”
“She sounds a little like my Grandma Maggie. At least, what I've heard about her.”
“Maybe it's a trait of the Barlow women to stand so tall and proud.” He moved his hand over mine, and my skin warmed at his touch.
I smiled. “I've definitely heard the word ‘headstrong’ tossed around on an occasion or two.”
“Oh, just one or two?” He smirked at me as I stammered a protest. “I'm just kidding, sweetheart.”
I laughed. “So, are there any actual stories about Zella, or is she like an urban legend like the big wolf that’s running around?”
The smiled dropped from his face, which made my own falter. His posture was rigid.
“You've seen the wolf?”
My mind raced as I tried to formulate a response. Was he going to think I was crazy if I confirmed it? I swallowed heavily before nodding.
“Interesting,” he said and moved his gaze back to the lake.
At least it didn’t seem like he thought I was crazy. I twiddled my thumbs trying to come up with something else to say to distract from my admission.
After a while, he sighed quietly and looked back at me. “You just look so much like her.”
“Hm?” Had I heard him correctly?
Before he could say anything, a voice cut across the park.
“Mayor Dodgson, there you are.” A man with a grizzled beard came up, a look on his face saying he was none too pleased with something. Johannes stood as he approached. He looked familiar. It took a few moments to realize it was because I had watched him throw a fit in the grocery store earlier in the week over an expired coupon.
“Mayor, I've tried to call your office multiple times. I'm still having an issue with my neighbor's kid playing loud music all night.” The man's hazel eyes snapped to me. He looked me up and down as if he had discovered a dirty little secret despite the fact that we were together in broad daylight. It made my skin crawl. Despite my unease, I maintained my composure and folded my hands in my lap. I wouldn't let him know his gaze was bothering me. Besides, if I made a scene here, I’m sure it would only cause issues for Johannes… No matter how much I wanted to give this stranger a piece of my mind.
Johannes looked between the man and me, noticing the uncomfortable glance he was sending. Johannes's voice became harsh, more so than I had ever heard it before. It was a tone of finality. “If the noise is that much of a problem, feel free to contact the police department regarding the issue. Otherwise, my office hours are between seven in the morning and four in the afternoon. Do be sure to call ahead.”
The man huffed but eventually walked away, grumbling the whole time. Johannes sighed, raking a hand through his hair before turning back to me.
“I'm terribly sorry about that. I've been dealing with him for weeks now. None of the other neighbors in the area have complained, and it's truly a matter for the police. But that never seems to be an adequate answer. To be quite honest he’s only doing all of this because I turned down his daughter’s request to practice her photography at my home.” He tugged at his rolled shirt cuffs to fix the wrinkle that had formed.
“That seems strange…” I frowned. How could someone be angry with another because they didn’t want their private space invaded?
“It’s no secret that the townspeople are very curious what my house is like. It doesn’t help that it’s historic. I have had several societies ask about getting photographs of it for places-of-interest articles, but I’ve no interest in that.” He paused. “I hope you don’t think me callous.”
I stood and moved closer to him. “That's all right, I understand. Your home is your private area, people should be considerate of that.”
He ran his knuckles down my cheek before lightly pinching my chin in affection. “You're too kind, Alice.”
He leaned forward, his soft, pink lips brushing against my own in the most delicate kiss I’d ever had. “You're so beautiful,” he murmured quietly.
My mind blanked—How did I bag a guy like this? Johannes smiled down at me, seeming to absorb my reaction.
“Such a sweet girl.” He brushed his thumb across my lower lip. He leaned down again, though our lips didn’t connect. His brow furrowed as if debating whether he should kiss me again or not. I hoped he would.
A blaring car horn tore him from his indecision. We both jerked around, looking toward the little drive that led into the park just in time to see a metallic silver Passat careening into one of the streetlights. It slammed into the brass pole nose first, and the whole hood crumpled inward. I gasped, reaching for my phone to call 9-1-1, but before I’d even hit the nine, the driver was already out of his car, shouting toward the woods.
“Ya dumb dog!”
Dog…?
I scanned the treeline. There—a black tail vanishing between the trees. At that height, it had to be my wolf. Without another thought, I took off after it.
Pushing myself harder, I managed to catch up with the animal as it stopped in a clearing. It turned around and stared at me. My chest heaved as I took the time to really look at it. The wolf took a step closer to me. I half expected it to curl its lips in threat—it was a wild animal, after all—but its expression stayed neutral. I couldn't stop myself, I moved forward toward it as well. There was something about this wolf that drew me to it.
“Alice!” Johannes shouted, voice muffled by the trees between us.
My gaze was torn from the wolf as I excitedly turned toward the man looking for me. “Johannes, do you see it?”
“My dear, what are you talking about?” He frowned.
I whipped back, only to find myself alone in the clearing. My posture dropped. I was so close to someone else proving the wolf really existed. This seriously couldn’t be happening. I raked my fingers through my hair before clenching my fists at my side. “No, it was just here.”
His jaw clenched, eyes darting around. He pulled me to him. “Let's get out of here. I think perhaps you just need some rest.”
“I’m all right.” I shook my head.
The wolf had been here, damnit. It was mere feet from me, and yet it disappeared before I turned back around. I was sure Johannes was thinking that I was crazy.
“Let’s go back to my place. I have some relaxing tea that I think you’d like.” He extended his hand toward me to take.
“Are you sure that’s okay?” He had just told me that he was very private when it came to his home, among other things, and I didn’t want him to feel like he had to let me invade his space.
“I wouldn’t offer if I wasn’t sure.” He smiled as I finally took his hand.
Well, if he was sure…
~~~
“Please sit, I'll grab us something to drink,” Johannes said as he unlocked his front door and led me in.
I quickly took my shoes off and placed them neatly on the rack as soon as Johannes disappeared into what I assumed was the kitchen.
His living room looked like it had come straight from a high-end interior design magazine. The crisp white of the couch made me nervous to even sit on it. Hesitantly, I perched myself on one end, back stick straight, as if slouching even a little would ruin the whole illusion that I might belong in such a place. It wasn't long before he came back in, two steaming teacups in hand.
“Here you are.”
“Thanks,” I said as I took my cup. The heat from the porcelain warmed
my hands, making me realize how cold I had actually been after my run through the woods. I blew gently before taking a sip. The taste of honey, sugar, and chamomile hit my tongue and filled me with a warm buzzing. “It’s so good.”
“Now, tell me what it was you were chasing after.”
He moved to sit next to me. His knee touched mine, the fabric of his pants tickling my skin. If I felt out of place just sitting on his couch, I couldn’t imagine how ridiculous it would make me feel to explain I’d been looking for an urban legend. I looked up at him through my lashes. Johannes sucked in a breath and moved closer to me, putting his drink on the wooden coffee table to move a hand to my thigh.
“You can tell me. No need to be so shy, sweetheart.”
I took another drink from my cup before I worked up enough nerve to tell him anything. I didn't want him to think I was crazy. Biting my lip, I finally said, “That man said it was a dog. I was just worried.”
“You can't just go chasing after animals like that. You don't know what kind of mongrel it could've been. What if it had attacked you?” He curled a loose bit of hair that had fallen from my bun around his finger.
“But, I don't think—”
He cut me off before I could finish. “Look at this, you've hurt yourself.”
I looked at him in confusion until I followed his line of sight to a thin slash on my calf. Funny—the moment I saw it, I started to feel it. Apparently my adrenaline had worn off. “I must've scratched it on a branch. It's nothing to worry about, Johannes.”
“Nonsense!” He was up and out of the room before I could protest. I supposed it would be better to treat it before I somehow managed to bleed on his pristine couch.
Johannes returned, a first-aid kit in hand, and knelt before me so he could place my foot on his bent knee to bring the laceration closer to him. A furious blush tore across my face as I realized moving my leg had spread open the skirt of my dress. I quickly pressed the fabric between my legs, thanking all that was good that I had not worn my “granny panties,” as they had so lovingly been dubbed after Suzanne had visited me at Grandpa’s and promptly busied herself in my drawers.
Johannes gave a none-too-subtle smirk. “My apologies.” He didn't seem very sorry at all.
I hissed as he sprayed disinfectant on my cut. He breathed out a quick apology before affixing a large bandage over it. He kissed near the edge of the bandage before placing another on my kneecap. He adjusted, moving so he was on his knees between my legs, hands on either side of my hips. Leaning in, he let his lips hover over mine. “Maybe I should just make sure there's nothing else. We wouldn't want something to go untouched, would we?”
Chapter Four
“You in there?” Sue waved a French-manicured hand in front of my face. I jumped, startled by the abruptness of it. I may have also made an embarrassing squeal of fright. She raised her arched brows and tilted her head at me.
“Sorry.” I put my spoon back into my still-steaming bowl of soup. Chunks of vegetables bobbed from the displacement.
“So, have you talked to him since, you know?” She made a face and gestured with her shoulders.
She was referring to the night at Johannes's two weeks ago. After he’d bandaged my leg, it’d been clear he was interested in playing a different sort of doctor. His hands had slid up my thighs, under my dress, and dangerously close to the hemline of my panties. The look on his face had been nothing short of sinful, with that devious smirk and glint in his eyes that just said absolutely everything he wanted to do to me. And when he had hooked his fingers into the elastic, I’d reacted. It hadn’t exactly been a good reaction. I had jerked back, my knee had come up farther than intended, and it’d connected with his face.
He’d sworn (the first time I’d heard him do so) and grabbed his nose. Blood had started trickling down his face immediately. I’d grabbed the washcloth he had brought in for my leg and pressed it to his face. He’d hissed with pain and pulled back to head toward what I assumed was his bathroom. Looking around, I’d realized there was blood not only on his pristine couch, but also his crisp white flooring, and on my legs. I’d run my fingers through my hair in shame before rushing out.
It had only been after the cool outside air had hit my face that I’d remembered we’d walked back to the school, and Johannes drove us here. My options then became either figuring out how to walk home from Johannes’s house, covered in Johannes's nose blood, or calling Sue for a ride. People, like the man in the park, were already giving me enough strange looks—I didn't need to give them any more reason to. I instantly regretted calling Suzanne, though, because as soon as Sue had been sure I was okay, she’d laughed at me the whole ride home.
By no means was I an innocent woman, but I hadn’t anticipated him to be quite so interested. To be honest, he had a habit of making me quake in both sinful intrigue and nervousness I wasn't quite accustomed to. People I had dated before were far from Johannes’s level. My dating history was sparse, but still contained men thinking they were more intelligent than women, women that were the definition of fuck bois, and a string of questionable rebounds. Nothing ever really lasting. People tended to think bigger girls would take anyone, no matter how terrible their personality or looks. But Johannes… He was handsome with his striking blue eyes set in his flawless porcelain skin. He had high cheekbones, a sharp nose, and a strong jaw. His features were framed with deep brown, nearly black, hair that was always brushed back neatly and looked incredibly soft. And it was no secret around town that he was beyond wealthy. You could practically feel his opulence by just talking to him with the way he spoke and carried himself. And then to walk into his lavish house?
There was no way a guy like Johannes should be interested in a schoolteacher like me who was barely scraping by and spent all her free time taking care of her grandfather. I could hardly justify buying myself the latest issue of Elle when I found it at the grocery store. He was gorgeous and surely had plenty of women from his own money status to choose from. I’d been in Janafield long enough to know what the rumor mill had churning: that he had enough family wealth to buy all of the properties within the town limits, if he wanted to. And judging from the high vaulted ceilings, crown molding, and immaculate furniture, the rumors had to be true. If that wasn't intimidating, I didn't know what was.
“How can I talk to him ever again, Suzanne?” I palmed my face, shaking my head.
“You're being so dramatic. Once, when Tommy and I were trying for a baby, I accidentally kneed him in his you-know-whats. Coincidentally, we did conceive Darla that night.” She shrugged. “So, maybe it's a good sign, you know? Plus, it totally could've been worse. At least you didn't break his nose.”
I groaned. “That doesn't make me feel better. I hurt him and then ran away practically dripping with his blood, and then I didn’t talk to him afterward and—ohh my gosh, I'm such a loser.”
“Hey, girly, calm down. That's highly exaggerated, and you're going to hyperventilate with the way you're going.” She clicked her tongue. “Hasn't he tried to call or text you?”
“Well, yes, but I've been too nervous to look at his messages… Plus I saw him the next day at the grocery store, and his nose looked terribly bruised! I ran away so fast I almost knocked over a tower of toilet paper.” I groaned and thumped my head down against the cool laminate of the lunchroom table.
“I can never face him again.” I whined dramatically as Sue patted my back.
“Poor Alice… But, looks like you don't have a choice.” She smiled at me, and then her eyes darted over my shoulder. “I’ll tell Cole not to bother coming to meet us,” she said, putting the lid back on her lasagna.
I frowned. She’d barely touched her food. “Wait, what do you mean? Where are you going?”
Sue stood and winked at me. “Call me later, sugar.”
When I twisted to watch her leave, I realized what she meant. Johannes was approaching, nose still looking slightly swollen but far better than it had been that night. I averte
d my gaze and hoped against everything that he wasn't coming to my table. Yeah, right.
I avoided his gaze for as long as I could, until he sat in a chair beside me and cleared his throat.
I burst out, “Listen, I'm really—”
“Please don't apologize, Alice,” he said softly, as if I were a doe about to dart if introduced to too much excitement. “It was an accident. It feels fine now.” He reached over and grabbed my hand, thumb rubbing across my knuckles. “I should apologize to you. I hadn't anticipated that you would be unwilling to,” he paused briefly, “move forward with things.”
“It's not that I wasn't interested.” I stumbled over my words. “I—It just—It was unexpected. And I may have panicked.”
“Let us put it in the past and move on. I have missed you dearly these past two weeks, Alice. You've been avoiding me. Let's go for dinner tonight. My treat.” He straightened his posture and smiled widely, giving a glimpse of his pearly winter-white teeth.
I hesitated. “I would absolutely love to, but I have dinner at my dad's house tonight. We meet up every Wednesday and he makes it this big thing…” I rolled my eyes, even though our dinners together did mean something to me. Dad and Grandpa were the only family I had.
“I could go with you. It's getting dark much earlier now, and I'd feel so much better if I knew you were getting to Madison and back safely.” He tucked some loose hair behind my ear. It caused a ticklish shiver to run down my spine.
I debated his offer. Dad wouldn't mind, right? I didn't have to tell him Johannes was from Janafield. It wasn’t like Dad would know him, anyway. Johannes had become the mayor long after he’d left. Plus, he always made way too much food for just the two of us.
“All right, sure. I'd like that. Just don't be intimidated by my dad. He's not as gruff as he looks.”
“Of course, sweetheart. You can tell me more on the way.” He stood to leave—or I thought it was to leave. He leaned down, bringing his face close to mine. “I look forward to it.” One of his large hands gripped my chin to raise it up enough for my lips to meet his. The kiss lingered, leaving a warm tingle in me that lasted well after he had left.
Eyes Like Autumn (Seasons of the Magi Book 1) Page 4
