Her gaze narrowed until she could see only the wick. She didn’t force the magick. Instead, she let it flow slowly up from within her. Like a gentle trickle at first, it began to rise. She stared at the wick, pictured it glowing. A short flare of power burst forth and the wick seemed to come alive from within, bursting with a flame that shot six inches in the air.
“Wow.” Esther leaned back in her chair, her eyes wide.
Maggie’s face was pale, her green eyes huge. “That was incredible. How much effort did that take?”
“Hardly any.” Rhiannon rested her hand on her stomach, feeling the steady hum of her magick. She was shocked herself by how easily she’d done it after years of struggling.
“How’s the control?” Esther asked.
Both women knew that had been a concern of hers. “So far, so good. I’m going to have to practice until I get used to it.” This small test had done a lot to build her confidence. That, and the fact she’d had years of watching and studying her Grammy, Momma and sister, Gwen. They all had great control. If they could do it, so could she.
A new sense of confidence welled up within her, a sense of pride. “After all these years, I finally did it.”
“Thanks to Ryland,” Maggie reminded her.
All her pleasure fled. “Yes, thanks to Ryland.”
“Give him time, Rhiannon,” Esther counseled. “It must have all been a complete shock to him.”
“That’s an understatement,” Maggie said. “For a man like Ryland, it would have probably been more than he could compute. He’s so…” She knocked on the table. “Hardheaded and black and white.”
He was also smart and funny and kind and wonderful. Rhiannon’s tummy jumped and her heart began to beat rapidly. Ryland had his faults, but so did she. The thing was together they worked. She could see it. Why couldn’t he?
“Doesn’t matter.” She figured if she told herself that enough then it would be true. He knows what I am. I can’t make him accept me. It’s his choice.” As much as she wanted to deny it, a small part of her heart still held out hope. Her head was telling her to get on with her life, which she planned to do. But Ryland’s absence would leave a big hole in it. For a man she’d only known a couple of days, he’d changed her life completely. It was hard to imagine not seeing him, not hearing his voice.
She had to stop this. Both her friends were watching her with concern in their eyes. “I’m fine. Really.”
“No, you’re not.” Esther was nothing if not honest. “But you will be.”
“We’re here for you, Rhiannon,” Maggie added.
Rhiannon soaked up the love pouring from her friends and wondered where Ryland was and how he was doing. Was he even thinking about what had happened between them or had he already moved on?
Chapter Eleven
Ryland tossed and turned the entire night and finally rolled out of bed just after sunrise. It was a good thing he didn’t have to go to work today. He doubted he’d be much use to anyone. He couldn’t get a certain witch out of his head. She’d tormented him all night long, keeping him from sleeping.
If he was the type to believe in such things, he’d wonder if she’d cast a spell on him. But no, she’d removed a spell from him last night. At least that’s what she’d said. And the words she’d spoken last night had certainly sounded as if that was what she was doing.
Candles and magick. He shook his head as he padded naked into the bathroom and turned on the shower. When the water was at the right temperature, he stepped beneath the spray. Planting his hands on the wall in front of him, he lowered his head and let the water pummel him.
Last night had been a roller coaster ride. Rhiannon’s confession had blindsided him. The last thing he’d expected to discover was that a seemingly intelligent, strong woman like her believed she was a witch. It was crazy.
Ryland grabbed a bar of soap and worked it over his arms and chest, building a thick lather before shifting lower. Then there was what had come after that. His dick twitched and shot upright. “Traitor,” he muttered as he looked down at himself.
There was no doubting the sexual chemistry between him and Rhiannon. It was explosive. Even after her confession, he’d wanted her. Was this how his dad had felt with his mom? Christ, he couldn’t think about it. Not now.
Ignoring his hard-on, he rinsed off, shut off the water and stepped out of the shower. He quickly toweled off and headed to his bedroom. He’d get dressed, have some breakfast and throw himself into his chores. With all his crazy hours lately, his laundry had piled up, his cupboards were almost bare and he’d noticed a dust bunny in the hallway that resembled a tumbleweed. It was past time to do some cleaning.
Hours later, the laundry was done and he’d cleaned his house from top to bottom. Hell, he’d even scrubbed the bathroom. But nothing he did could make him stop thinking about Rhiannon.
The feel of her soft skin, the sweet floral scent that enveloped her and her breathy sighs as he touched her all haunted him. Images of Rhiannon flashed through his brain. Rhiannon, serious as she told him about being a witch. Rhiannon, her eyes soft and passion filled as he made love to her. Her tiny, curvy body accepting his as he pounded into her, taking them both over the edge. Always Rhiannon. No matter what he did, his thoughts always brought him back to her.
Why? Why was she so special?
It was hard to pinpoint. She was smart, funny, kind and sexy as hell. The corners of his mouth turned upward. Sexy came first and last and a few times in between. No matter what he thought of her mental state, there was no denying he wanted her.
Usually, he had no trouble walking away from a woman, away from anything that smacked of a permanent relationship. From the first, he’d known Rhiannon had permanent stamped all over her. But that hadn’t deterred him.
He tossed the mop into the utility closet and slammed the door. He had to get out of here. He looked at his watch and realized the time for lunch had come and gone. Not that he had much in the house to eat anyway. It was time to remedy that.
Grabbing his keys and a jacket, he strode toward the door. He’d go grocery shopping first. Maybe even stop somewhere for a bite to eat when he was done. Anything to get his mind off Rhiannon.
He turned on the radio as he drove to the local market. The station was playing a country song about a love gone wrong. He flicked it off again and made the drive in silence. He took a deep breath and swore as he caught a whiff of Rhiannon’s perfume or soap or whatever it was. He’d forever associate that light floral scent with her. It made him hard almost immediately.
He rolled down the window to air out the truck and just as quickly rolled it back up again. The woman was driving him crazy. He didn’t want to be reminded of her, yet he couldn’t bring himself to let go of her sweet scent.
He was swearing under his breath by the time he pulled into the parking lot of the grocery store. The cool air helped him get his body back under control as he strode into the store. He was grateful. The last thing he needed was to have a hard-on while shopping. He could only imagine the gossip that would fuel.
Grabbing a cart, he headed down the first aisle. He tossed in a few packages of chicken, a steak and a package of ground beef. That reminded him of the pasta Rhiannon had cooked last night.
His fingers clenched the handle of the cart as he wheeled it down another aisle. But it was what had happened after dinner that he couldn’t get out of his mind. The mere thought of her sexy, hot body wrapped around him had his cock stirring to life. Thankfully, the cart and his jacket covered the telltale bulge. He swore as he grabbed a box of rice and threw it on top of the growing pile.
But it was more than sex and that was what was bothering him the most. He’d never felt more in tune with a woman. She was smart and funny. She was also nuts. He swore under his breath and then had to apologize to Mrs. Grady, who just stared at him as he pushed his cart farther up the aisle.
A witch. Who the heck even believed in witches and magick? That was all fantasy and fict
ion.
“Hey, buddy.”
He glanced up and found Jed watching him with concern in his eyes. “Hey.”
“You okay?”
“Yeah, just distracted.”
Jed laughed. “The grocery store can do that to a man.”
Ryland grinned ruefully. It was true. It was amazing how many single women tried to chat him up in the grocery store. Today he was so deep in thought he hadn’t noticed anyone.
“Any news on Rhiannon Sparks’s case?” In the back of his mind, he figured if there was news, it would only be right for him to tell her in person. It would be the professional thing to do. Not that he needed an excuse to see her.
Jed shook his head. “Nothing concrete. It’s the same style and signature of a few other cases of vandalism. If we catch the culprit, we can tie him in to a bunch of these crimes.”
They both knew the chances of catching the graffiti artist were slim to none unless they got lucky. Ryland nodded. “Do you believe in magick?” He wasn’t even aware he was going to ask the question before it was out of his mouth. Jed and he went back a long ways and he trusted the other man like a brother.
Jed’s eyes narrowed as he studied Ryland. “Why do you ask?”
Ryland shrugged, not wanting to get too specific. For some reason, he felt the need to protect Rhiannon’s reputation. Especially after the graffiti incident. If word got out that she truly believed she was a witch, she might find herself the target of more than just vandalism. It might even escalate to physical violence. The thought burned like acid in his gut.
Jed glanced down the aisle. “Why don’t we get checked out and go grab a coffee?” Ryland followed his friend’s gaze and realized Mrs. Grady was halfway down the aisle, pretending to be shopping while she tried to overhear their conversation. Neither of them had spoken loud enough for her to hear, but he didn’t want to take a chance.
“Good idea.” As Ryland wheeled his cart to the front of the store, he snagged a few more items off the shelves. Whatever he missed, he could pick up later.
The woman running the checkout was one he’d gone to school with. Kathy March, or Kathy Bragg now that she’d married and settled down. She was also a talker. She told him about her two kids and asked about his dad. He answered in monosyllables so as not to encourage her. That didn’t matter a whit to Kathy. She chattered on while she scanned and bagged his groceries. She was fast and efficient, for which Ryland was grateful.
When his groceries were paid for, he loaded them into his cart and wheeled them out into the parking lot, stowing them in the passenger seat of his truck. Jed was already in his SUV and pulled up behind him. “Meet you at Clancy’s.”
“I’m right behind you.” Clancy’s was a local bakery that served soup and sandwiches as well as an array of baked goods. It was popular with the locals and tourists alike, but at this time of the afternoon it wouldn’t be too busy. The lunch rush was over and the kids weren’t out of school yet. Perfect timing.
Ryland drove the short distance to Clancy’s and found a parking spot close by. He locked up the truck and strode up the sidewalk. Jed had beat him there and was waiting at the door. Both men walked inside and ordered coffee and a thick slab of hot apple pie. By mutual agreement, they carried their food to a table in a quiet corner of the shop.
They settled in and both men took a few mouthfuls of pie. Ryland almost moaned as the sweet and spicy tang of apples and cinnamon hit his tongue. It reminded him of Rhiannon. Hot, sweet and spicy all at the same time. He choked as he tried to swallow and had to grab some coffee to help wash it down. Damn, he couldn’t even eat without the woman invading his thoughts. This had to stop.
Jed watched, his gaze thoughtful as he pushed his plate away, the piece of pie only half-eaten. He took a sip of his coffee and set his mug back on the table in front of him. “You want to know if I believe in magick?”
“Yes.” Ryland forgot about the pie and coffee sitting in front of him, his entire focus on the man sitting across from him.
“I’m part Native American and part Irish.” He paused and shook his head. “I was born believing in the unbelievable. Why?”
Ryland hesitated, not wanting to betray Rhiannon in any way.
As if Jed sensed his unease, he leaned forward. “It goes no further than here.”
He nodded. “What if someone you knew told you they were a witch?”
“A woman?”
Ryland nodded. He glanced around the bakery to make certain no one was close enough to hear anything they said. He leaned in closer. “Rhiannon.”
“Ah.” Jed sat back in his chair and rested his hands on his stomach, a smile playing on his lips.
Ryland sat up straighter, all his senses on alert. He didn’t like the look on his friend’s face. It was too…interested. Rhiannon was his. “What the hell does that mean?”
Jed picked up his fork, broke off a piece of the apple pie and popped it in his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. “Now there’s a woman to make a man think about magick.”
He gripped his mug tight and forced himself to stay calm. He was jealous. Why the hell was he jealous about a woman he’d only been on two dates with? It wasn’t logical, but there was no denying the burning in his gut.
“I take it you’re not asking about a set of spiritual beliefs, but something more than that?”
“Yeah.” The lighting of all those candles in her room pushed the situation far past just a set of spiritual beliefs, although he had no idea if that was part of the deal for her or not.
“Ry,” Jed began. “There are more things in this world than we can see and hear and touch with our five senses. Call it magick, call it the paranormal, call it whatever you want. It exists.”
Picking up his mug, Ryland took a sip of his coffee and let the bitter brew slide down his throat. “I believe in what I can see or touch.”
Jed nodded. “Fair enough. But you asked me what I believed and I’m telling you. I believe some people have gifts, power, something extra. Whether that turns out to be a good thing or a bad thing depends on the individual.” He grinned. “I’ve often wondered if Rhiannon was fey. You can feel the power emanating from her. She looks like a fairy too.”
“Or a witch,” Ryland muttered.
“Or a witch,” Jed agreed. “The thing you have to ask yourself is what does it matter? How much do you like this lady?”
“That’s the question.” Ryland pulled his plate over and finished off his slice of apple pie before draining the rest of his coffee. His thoughts tumbling over in his mind, not lending themselves to any easy answers. Jed silently finished off his own snack and waited patiently.
“This has to do with your mother, doesn’t it?”
That was the problem with having a friend as good as Jed. They’d met when they were both kids and had fallen in together almost at once. They’d been through skinned knees, baseball practices, sleep outs and teenage angst together. Jed came from a stable, loving family, while Ryland’s home was anything but tranquil. “Partly.”
“Your mother was a weak woman who couldn’t deal with the real world. It wasn’t all her fault, but she didn’t try to help herself either.”
“I know.” It hurt him to admit it, but Ryland had often thought the same thing, blaming his father for being as much of the problem as his mother. They’d never sought help or treatment for her, preferring to keep it quiet and inside the family. It had been like dealing with an active volcano—never quite knowing when it was going to erupt.
“It’s not your fault, Ry. You were just a kid. It was your parents’ responsibility to do something to help the situation.” There was no pity in Jed’s eyes, only fact. Ryland was glad. He couldn’t stand being the object of anyone’s pity. He’d gotten enough of that from well-meaning teachers and adults when he was growing up. His parents might have thought they could hide his mother’s mental problems, but this was a small town and people talked.
“Could you picture your mother running her own busi
ness, being part of the business community?” Jed continued.
Ryland stopped and shook his head. The mere thought was impossible. His mother had been too fragile, too afraid of life, of everything. Rhiannon on the other hand was strong and fearless. She’d told him about herself, all the while knowing his reaction probably wouldn’t be a good one.
A heavy weight felt as though it had been removed from his shoulders. Jed had given him a lot to think about. “Thanks, Jed.”
“No problem. I didn’t really say or do much of anything.”
No, he hadn’t, but he had reminded Ryland of something important. Rhiannon wasn’t his mother and he wasn’t his father. Was he willing to lose Rhiannon over this? The answer should have been easy. They’d just met after all. But Ryland already felt the connection between them and knew deep in his gut that if he let her go he’d regret it for the rest of his life.
Shoving back from the table, he stood. “I gotta go.”
“Good luck,” Jed offered as he tipped up his mug to finish the last of his coffee.
“Thanks. I may need it.”
Chapter Twelve
Rhiannon wiped the back of her arm over her brow, ignoring the way her sweater clung to her torso. She was a hot, sweaty mess, but she was very pleased with her afternoon’s work. She surveyed the dining-room table with pride. It was lined with batches of six-inch candles—blue, green, pink, orange, yellow and red ones. Each had a different purpose. All were infused with magick.
Refusing to mope the entire day away, Rhiannon had called her mother and Grammy this morning to tell them about her breakthrough in her magick. Both women were thrilled, chattering excitedly over the phone lines. Both of them had wanted her to come home immediately so the entire family could celebrate. She’d put them off, citing her upcoming busy season, and promised an extended visit early in the New Year.
She hadn’t had the heart to tell them about Ryland. Neither woman had asked how her magick had been released. That in itself was telling. Rhiannon suspected Gwen had filled them in on the gory details and they were keeping quiet so as not to upset her further.
A Touch of Magick: Spells, Seduction and Secrets, Book 1 Page 14
