Under Her Spell

by Isabella Ashe

  Bryony spread her palms helplessly before her. "What can I do? It's over. Besides, it's not like we had a future together."

  "But you loved him?" Kasey asked.

  Bryony nodded. "I still do, God help me."

  Her eyes filled with tears, and Kasey reached over to squeeze her hand. They sat in companionable silence for a long minute while Bryony struggled to regain her composure. "What's done is done," she said. "Zach made his decision about me and no one can change his mind, least of all me. No use discussing it to death, right? "

  "Right," Kasey said, frowning thoughtfully. "So, what now?"

  "Now," Bryony said, "we figure out how to save Kinney's Lagoon. There's a Board of Supervisor's meeting Tuesday night, and I plan to be there." She pulled a notebook from her black leather shoulder bag and slid it across the table.

  "Take a look at this phone list. I thought we could divide it up and call everyone on it by tomorrow night. Urge them to come to the meeting with a prepared statement opposing Seashore Estates. If we have a huge turnout, I know we can at least get the board to postpone the decision."

  Kasey glanced through the script-covered pages. "There are at least a hundred names here."

  "So what? You have a big date tonight?"

  "Nope," Kasey said. "Okay. When do we start?"

  Bryony grabbed her notebook back and stuffed it in her bag. "Right this minute," she said. She would save the lagoon if it took every last ounce of her strength. And the more she dedicated herself to her cause, the less time she had to dwell on her shattered heart.

  Two nights later, Bryony faced the moment of truth.

  The library's community room was jammed to overflowing. It seemed like the entire county had turned out for the emergency meeting. Bryony squeezed through the crush of bodies, clutching her notes and scanning the room for Kasey. Her friend waved wildly from across the room. She was trying to say something, but the babble of the crowd drowned out her words.

  Bryony scanned the room, picking out the familiar faces. Already, dozens of people had come up to her and thanked her for leading the fight against Seashore Estates. Knowing the room was packed with her supporters gave her a warm glow inside. But she was also uneasy. Again and again, she glanced at the small knot of people gathered at the front of the room.

  She recognized the members of the board, and the lawyer representing Mandell Corporation. Frank Mancini was in the group, as well as a bald, bespectacled stranger in a gray suit. They were involved in a quiet but apparently intense discussion.

  Bryony would have given anything to hear what they were talking about. If they were cutting some kind of deal without public discussion, she'd have to make sure they didn't get away with it.

  Vivien came up behind Bryony and tapped her on the shoulder. "They're about to start," she said. "Let's find our seats."

  They located empty chairs toward the front of the room. Bryony laid her coat across the seat on her left and motioned Kasey to join them. Kasey pushed her way through the throng and dropped, flushed and breathless with excitement, into the chair.

  "You'll never guess what I heard," she said into Bryony's ear. "Maybe it's only a rumor, but --" Before she could continue, the board chairwoman called the meeting to order. "Never mind," Kasey said. "If it's true, you'll find out soon enough."

  Bryony's curiosity was sparked, but she quickly turned her attention to the front of the room. The clamor of the crowd diminished and a hush came over the room as everyone found chairs or lined up in the back, straining to see.

  The chairwoman tapped her microphone and cleared her throat. "I have an announcement to make," she said. "It looks like this meeting might not be necessary after all."

  A buzz of curiosity rippled through the crowd. Bryony sat up straighter, frowning.

  "It seems," the chairwoman continued, "that someone's made an offer on the land that was to become Seashore Estates. Mr. Frank Mancini, the property owner, has apparently come to an agreement with the Berenson Scientific Trust. Because the new purchaser does not plan to develop the land -- in fact, it will become a bird sanctuary -- there is no need for us to consider a change in zoning."

  The people in the room met the announcement with cries of joy, drowning out a few muted roars of protest. Bryony sat stunned, trying to work out the implications. It wasn't until Vivien and Kasey caught her up in a triumphant bear hug that she realized they had won. She smiled so broadly that her cheeks ached. "We did it, we did it!" the three women chorused, laughing together in relief and astonishment.

  "Just a minute!" a rather officious voice called over the pandemonium. Bryony turned to see that the Mandell Corporation's representative was on his feet, his face beet red with indignation. "Tis announcement is premature," he continued loudly, frowning at the celebrating crowd. "Our company has an option to buy that land, and until our lawyers can take a look at the contract --"

  Bryony and the others quieted, turning to look questioningly at Frank Mancini. He stood and wiped his palms on his pants. "Ah, I'd like to introduce Mr. Paul Seidner." He gestured to the man beside him, the balding man in the gray suit Bryony had noticed earlier. "Mr. Seidner is an ornithologist with the Berenson Scientific Trust. He tells me their lawyers looked over the contract and determined that I can sell my land to whomever I want. And I'd much prefer it went to them."

  He sat down again, to a hail of spontaneous applause. The ornithologist waited until it died down before he rose and spoke for several minutes. He explained that Frank Mancini's contract with Mandell specified that the agreement could be broken by either party until after the resort's environmental impact report won approval.

  The terms were meant to protect the Mandell Corporation if the Board of Supervisors voted against Seashore Estates. In this case, however, the clause had backfired and allowed the Berenson Trust to make a competing offer. Of course, it was significantly less than Mandell was paying . . . .

  Bryony stole a look at Frank Mancini's face and, seeing the smile there, knew he didn't care. Not only was he getting his money immediately, but he was protecting the lagoon and the birds that lived there. For him, it was the best of both worlds.

  Paul Seidner went on to explain how the Berenson Trust, alerted that the lagoon was in danger, decided they couldn't pass up the chance to establish an observatory there. The lagoon was perfect, he said. The diversity of bird species was astonishing.

  Bryony smiled to herself. She could have told him that.

  The meeting disbanded, and most of the participants ended up at the Seashell Cafe to celebrate. Bryony felt a rush of euphoria as she shook hands or exchanged jubilant hugs with half the town. Eventually, she found herself greeting the lagoon's savior. "Mr. Seidner," she said, grinning at him, "you don't know how pleased I am to meet you. You're a lifesaver, truly you are. I can't thank you enough."

  The ornithologist blushed under her praise. "Thank you, Bryony. But I'm not really the person to thank. If your friend hadn't called us, I wouldn't even be here. He's the one who really saved the lagoon."

  "My friend?"

  "You know. Zachary Callahan."

  Bryony's knees went weak, and she leaned suddenly against the counter for support.

  "Are you all right?" Paul Seidner asked.

  "Fine," she said. "I didn't know Zach had called you."

  "I guess he didn't want to ruin the surprise." The man chuckled. "I don't know how he found out that the Trust was looking to set up a bird sanctuary -- he must have serious connections in the scientific community. He even managed to get my home number. When he called me Saturday, I almost told him to call me at the office. But he can be rather -- ah -- rather persuasive when he wants to be. I'm sure you know how he is."

  "Yes, of course," Bryony answered. Her head was whirling.

  "Well, anyway, he somehow convinced me that this was an opportunity not to be missed. I flew in Sunday morning, and the rest is history. We don't usually move so fast, but this was a special case. It's a beautiful town, and a
beautiful lagoon."

  "I couldn't agree more," Bryony said. "Excuse me, please."

  "Certainly. I'm sure we'll talk again."

  Bryony slipped away and found a relatively quiet booth in the back of the restaurant. She folded her arms on the table and laid her head down on them. She felt tired and heartsore, despite her pleasure over the lagoon's last-minute rescue.

  Zach had given her that gift. Zach, who believed in progress and profit and had still done everything in his power to help. He'd seen how much she loved Kinney's Lagoon, how important it was to her, and done something about it. It was the best gift she'd ever received.

  And now Zach was gone, and she couldn't even say thank you. A wave of longing swept over her as she remembered his arms around her. It was hard to believe she would never feel them again. She wanted to cry, but there were no tears left. She had shed them all over the past few days, weeping silently into her pillow after she turned off the lamp by her bed.

  She remembered the warning in the old book of potions: If you will take a man for your own, give him this love philter. Yet do so not lightly, nor if you are not for each other. For that will lead only to misery.

  That caution had become all too relevant to her own life.

  Kasey slid into the other side of the booth. "Thinking of Zach?" she asked.

  Bryony nodded. "This is his victory too," she said, and explained what she'd been told. "Zach should be here," she finished.

  "You're right," Kasey said. "Why don't you call him, at least, and tell him what's happened? He'll want to know."

  "I couldn't," Bryony said. "He'd only think I was plotting again -- chasing after him."

  "Maybe now that he's had a chance to think about it, cool down a little --"

  Bryony's expression grew cold. "No," she said. "Drop it, Kasey."

  "Geez, all right," her friend said. "But Bryony, if it's only pride keeping the two of you apart, and you still love him --" Bryony's glare cut her off midsentence. "All right, all right, I'll stop. For now, at least. Come on, I'll buy you a slice of chocolate fudge cake. That'll make you forget all your sorrows."

  Bryony smiled despite herself. "If you insist," she said, doing her best to put Zach out of her mind. It wasn't easy, but she knew it was for the best. After all, she couldn't spend the rest of her life thinking about a man who didn't love her.

  If he'd said he did, even just once, everything would be different. She wouldn't have let him slip out of her life so easily. She might have taken Kasey's advice. But she had to face the truth. Zach didn't love her. He never had, and he never would.

  It was that simple.

  Zach stared out his office window, oblivious to the street scene below. His thoughts were elsewhere.

  The dreadful emptiness of the past few days was wearing him down. He went through the motions of living and working, but his heart was not in it. He had no appetite, no enthusiasm, no joy in anything. He couldn't even bring himself to care about the next issue of the Skeptical Observer.

  Even his managing editor had noticed. Frowning over his friend's red-rimmed eyes and permanent scowl, Martin had commented that the vacation apparently hadn't served its purpose. Zach seemed even more tense than before he'd gone.

  Now Zach returned to his desk and shuffled idly through the papers there. His eyes fell on the computer printout of his column. Martin was asking for it, but he couldn't bring himself to turn it in. Maybe he would tear it up choose a different topic, one he could write about with more objectivity.

  He put his feet up on his desk and, leaning back in his swivel chair, laced his fingers together behind his head. He found himself wondering what Bryony was doing. Working at Heart's Desire, no doubt, ringing up purchases and restocking shelves, or reading one of her fairy tales so intently she didn't even notice the customers coming in. She might even reach up absentmindedly to brush back a fiery curl, twisting it around her finger in the endearingly girlish way she had. His lips twitched into a smile, remembering how he had watched her do just that while she sat in bed, recovering from her fever.

  Zach cursed aloud and abruptly planted his feet on the floor. Damn that woman, anyway. She kept intruding on his thoughts, no matter how he fought to keep her out. She had seemed so innocent, so guileless, but he had to keep telling himself it was nothing but an act. Bryony Lowell, the true Bryony Lowell, was not the person he'd fallen in -- the person he'd --

  Just then, his secretary buzzed. Relieved by the interruption, Zach snatched up the phone. "A young woman to see you," the secretary informed him in aggrieved tones. "She won't state her name or business, just says she's got to talk to you. Should I --"

  "Send her in," Zach said. His heart jumped in anticipation. Bryony, here? He would have thought her too proud to come to him, after the last scene at her house.

  But the blond woman who rapped lightly on the door and then stepped inside wasn't Bryony after all. "Do you remember me? Kasey Stollmeyer. I'm --"

  "Bryony's friend. Yes." Zach struggled to keep his disappointment from his face. The effort made his voice harsh and his expression forbidding. "What do you want?"

  Kasey's eyebrows shot up at his rudeness. "I just have one thing to say, and then I won't bother you again. Bryony told me everything, about that stupid list and what you thought. I want to set the record straight. I wrote that list -- it was my idea -- and Bryony had nothing to do with it. She's not the sort to scheme and plot to make a man fall in love with her. She doesn't have to. Bryony Lowell is the sweetest, best, most decent person I've every known, and for you to accuse her --"

  "Did she put you up to this?" Zach asked.

  "Absolutely not. She'd kill me if she knew I was here," Kasey said.

  Zach fixed her with his most intimidating stare, the one that made quacks and impostors of all kinds cower in fear. "Why should I believe you?"

  Kasey tossed her hair and glared right back. "I don't care if you do. I just had to get this off my chest. If you could see what you've done to Bryony -- she goes around half in a daze, working so hard I'm afraid she'll collapse, barely eating or sleeping, and it's all because of you."

  Zach's face softened a fraction, but Kasey didn't notice. She went right on with her indignant speech, her hands on her hips. "You hurt her, Zachary Callahan. And I just thought you should know that. She says she loved you -- says she loves you still, if you can believe it -- but I don't know why, when you're the most heartless man I've ever met."

  Zach started at Kasey's last words. "She still loves me?" he asked, in a voice barely above a whisper.

  "That's right, she does," Kasey said. "And it's tearing her apart. All because you trust some mad invention of your suspicious mind over Bryony's word."

  "But how can I know she's telling the truth?" Zach asked. "How can I ignore the evidence right in front of my eyes?"

  Kasey heaved a deep sigh and shook her head. "You're too caught up in your scientific notions of proof and evidence and data, that's the problem. Why don't you just look into your heart? If you'd ever done that, you'd know Bryony could never, ever lie to you."

  "I want to believe you," Zach said. "But I can't. I don't know how."

  "Fine." Kasey turned to go. "I've said what I came to say," she said over her shoulder. "The rest is up to you." She slipped out and shut the door behind her, leaving Zach alone with his thoughts.

  He had no practice with trusting his emotions, no experience in thinking with his heart. It felt foreign and dangerous, like leaping from a cliff with no thought for what lay below. But the pain of the past few days drove him to it at last.

  Half an hour later, he picked up the phone and called in his secretary. When she arrived, notebook in hand, he gave her very specific directions. Next, he asked Martin to come into his office.

  "Here's what I'm going to do," he began.

  Business was slow on Wednesday afternoon. Bryony sat on her high stool behind the counter and read from a thick volume of fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm. The dark and bloody st
ories fit her mood more than her usual romantic fare. Somehow, cannibalism and severed fingers appealed to her more than handsome princes riding to the rescue. Now she knew that happy endings were for stories, not real life.

  The telephone rang. Bryony sighed and lay down her book. For the past few days, every call had made her heart jump, hoping she might hear Zach's low, sexy voice on the other end of the line. But she'd recently forced herself to stop hoping.

  "Heart's Desire," she said in her crisp, businesslike phone voice. "Bryony Lowell speaking."

  "Bryony," Kasey said, "Bryony, you'll never guess. It's too, too wonderful."

  Bryony frowned. "What is?"

  "I can't tell you, but turn on your television. Channel 2. Hurry!"

  "What's going on?" Bryony reached for the knob on the television set she kept behind the counter and flipped it to the right channel. The news was on, and a reporter in a raincoat was talking about a hurricane that was damaging crops in Hawaii. "Kasey, I don't know anyone in Hawaii."

  "Not that, silly! It's on next. You can thank me later." Without another word, Kasey hung up. Bryony gave the receiver a puzzled stare and then, hearing the dial tone, placed it back in its cradle. Now what was that all about? She turned to watch the television screen again.

  The program had shifted back to the studio, and a brunette anchorwoman was announcing the next segment. "In local news, here's a switch," she said with a chuckle. "San Francisco's most rational man, Skeptical Observer publisher Zachary Callahan, called a press conference today to announce that, of all things, he now believes in magic!"

  Bryony's heart jumped to her throat as Zach's face filled the screen. He was as darkly handsome as she remembered. She had to clench her teeth against the sobs that threatened at the sight of his strong, arrogant square face and close-cropped ebony curls.

  Zach leaned toward the camera and smiled. "I know this will come as a shock to those of you who know me as a rational and scientific-minded person. But I want to tell the world that I recently fell under the influence of a spell -- a love spell fashioned by a beautiful enchantress."