by Falls, Bella
Luke scoffed and gesticulated with his hands. “How can you speak of her like that? First, it’s a Ferrari, and I have to say that it’s good to be working on something that reminds me of…” He paused, glancing at me to see if I caught his slip.
“Home?” I finished, ignoring the slight sting of his words that meant he still didn’t think of living here as his true home. “You mean it reminds you of Italy.”
In a blur, he closed the distance between us and planted his mouth over mine. When I wouldn’t respond to his kiss, he nipped my jutting lower lip. “Don’t be offended, cara . I just meant that I like working on the Italian craftsmanship. It really is a fine example of a Ferrari. It was one of the first they made for their non-racing cars with an independent rear suspension.”
Luke rattled on uninterrupted for ten minutes speaking in his strange car language that I knew nothing about nor cared to pay attention to, although I nodded my head whenever he got truly excited over another detail.
“I’m going to paint her red like Steve McQueen’s car. When I’m finished with her, she will be worth every second I spend on her.” He stopped talking long enough to notice me again. “Am I boring you?”
“No.” My answer wasn’t a total lie. While I didn’t really listen to the particulars about the car, I couldn’t help my heated attraction to his enthusiasm. However, my concern for why he kept rambling about the car and not really talking to me had my complete attention.
“What’s wrong, Rue? Did something happen with your family? Is your uncle okay?” He put down the dirty rag and took my hand in his. The oil on his fingers might stain my skin, but I welcomed his touch that I’d been missing for the past few days.
“We’ll get to that in a second. I want to know why you’ve been avoiding me.” He turned his face away from me, but I cradled his cheek and drew him back. “The truth, not more talk about a car.”
He nuzzled into my touch. “I’m sorry, love. I haven’t been very fair to you, have I? But I didn’t want to add to your burdens.”
“Let me decide what I can or cannot handle. Please don’t hold back whatever is bothering you. You’ve never done that before to my knowledge, and I don’t want you to start now.” Against my nature, I waited for him to say something, anything, to help me understand. When he remained too quiet, I filled in the silence with my hypothesis that had been brewing for days. “It’s because you tasted that blood the other night, isn’t it?”
He cast his eyes down to avoid my gaze. “I told you I thought I could handle it. But it’s like a person who quit smoking ages ago and then takes the first drag after so many years have gone by. The desire that bloomed inside me for a mere moment threw me off guard.” Luke closed his eyes and fingered the leather cord he always wore around his neck. “I thought I would be immune to the call of the blood after all this time.”
Any normal person would back away from a vampire who declared how he desired the taste of blood. But I trusted my boyfriend and his control more than he did. “And how long did that mere moment last?”
He frowned and backed away from me. “Longer than it should have. I didn’t want to be around you in case my presence put you in danger.”
“How long?” I repeated.
With a sigh, he finally met my eyes. “At least five minutes. Maybe ten before I felt the craving dissipate.”
I couldn’t contain the chortle of disbelief that burst out of me. “Are you kidding? I thought you were going to tell me you were still bothered. Ten minutes is nothing.”
“It is to one like me,” insisted Luke, holding my hands again. “It is an eternity when I’ve chosen the path that I have. I would not dare to be around you if I thought my old, darker desires might put you at risk. When I first told you about my true self, what did I say?”
My mind recalled that giddy moment of having him pull back the curtain on what he’d been hiding. That night had been the first time we’d declared our love for each other, but he bound my loyalty to him with his confession and covenant to me.
“You told me that I was the sun and moon combined who lit up your darkness. That I was more precious to you than any sparkling gem. That you would cherish me as long as you walked the Earth.” My heart warmed with every treasured statement.
I leaned forward to kiss him again for such pretty words, but he held me back, running his thumb over my lips. “And what did I promise you?”
With tingles breaking over my skin, I whispered. “That you would sacrifice anything to keep me from harm.”
“And I have, love. I couldn’t bring myself to be around you until I was sure the effects of the blood no longer called to me.” He placed his forehead against mine. “But perhaps I was a little too cautious. Forgive me for staying away so long.”
I placed both hands on either side of his face. “I will if you’ll kiss me already.”
We got in a good minute or so of intimate reassurances to each other before Walter interrupted us. “Did either of you want the rest of the sticky buns you left on the counter?”
“No,” Luke and I replied at the same time.
“Good, because I already ate them.” The old mechanic waved his fingers at us. “Carry on with whatever you’re doing. I’m sure the car will fix itself.”
Left alone again, Luke chuckled. “He really makes it too easy sometimes.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, trying to figure out a way to bring back the romantic mood.
“I love Walter, but who does he think lives around here who would bring in a car like this to be restored?” he gestured at the scraps he was working with. “It’s not like you see a lot of these driving around. And if he paid close attention, he’d notice my affinity for vintage vehicles and not just for fixing them up.”
Luke led a simple life on purpose. He owned a modest house, dressed like all the other Southern men around, and worked a job he didn’t even need. The fraction of what I knew he owned shocked me, but he never flaunted it. Heck, only his car habit gave even a hint there was more to him than what you saw.
“Yes, but I thought you were trying to keep what wealth you have quiet? I think the saying you told me was, a flashy vampire was a hunted one.” I gave him one last peck on the lips. “By the way, you weren’t fooling me. I knew you somehow arranged things to make it look like the job to fix the Ferrari that is just like Steve McQueen’s came from an outside customer.”
His eyes brightened. “Hey, you remembered what I told you about her.”
“That’s what excites you? Car talk? Maybe I should pay attention and learn more terms.” I struck an exaggerated pinup girl pose. “Like carburetor. Ooh, stick shift. And those vroom vroom engine thingies.”
“Ooh, baby. Keep talking like that and I’ll take you home for the rest of the day.” He wiggled his eyebrows and chased me until I accidentally kicked something small, ruining that particular pile of car pieces.
Distracted until he found whatever my foot had caught, I watched him with a goofy grin plastered on my face. Everybody deserved their own vices. Vintage cars weren’t the worst thing he could choose…as long as I didn’t have to compete with them for his attention for too long.
“Actually, do you think you could spare me a few minutes more without getting Walter upset? I need your advice. Well, more like your guidance.” I glanced at the door, hoping Luke’s boss would be too busy sleeping off his sugar coma from wolfing down all the sticky buns. Needing to make sure we wouldn’t get interrupted, I spellcast a privacy bubble over the whole space of the garage.
“It must be serious if you’re using magic. What’s going on?” Luke rolled two short, wheeled stools over and asked me to sit down with him.
I explained what had been going on, weaving the events together so he could see the gaping holes and missing pieces that I wanted to find myself. Saving Sarah’s story for last, I did my best to give him every detail, including how she knew she would be summoned like that because of her use of a crystal ball.
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��Do you see the easiest solution like I do?” I exclaimed, breathless from my excited account.
Luke didn’t say anything. Standing up, he paced in front of me. “I see that my attempts to stay away from you might have done more harm in the long run. Surely you’re not asking me to support you using the object that you know has brought considerable trouble to you and yours?”
The stool rolled away from me when I jumped to my feet. “But if a single use of the crystal ball could show us who killed Croy, then everything could be over.”
“That’s the problem. You think you can use it like one of those silly toys. You know, the black ball thing where you ask it a question, shake it, and a tiny die inside shows you some generic answer through a small window.” He squinted his eyes, trying to remember the name.
“A magic eight ball? I know they’re not the same thing,” I scowled.
“Exactly. Crystal balls are notorious for sometimes giving specific predictions, but most of the time, they don’t. And it’s in the interpretation of what was shown that causes problems. If you won’t take a ghost’s word for it, then ask me. You know I have information from my experiences that will support what she suggested.” His expression changed to the one I despised when he used his past as a weapon against me.
Seething, I couldn’t keep the sarcasm out of my voice. “I imagine you either knew someone who had one that brought about their downfall or you used one yourself at one point, and although it brought you some fortune, it almost threatened to ruin your life, right? Or maybe you can tell me any kind of story that will show how wrong my thinking is on the matter.” Turning on my heel, I stalked toward the door to leave.
He gripped my hand to hold me in place. “No, I don’t want to use my past against you. That’s not my intent, and I’m sorry if it felt that way.”
“Then why can’t you at least try to consider my point?” I pleaded.
Luke sighed. “Because I think in this case, perhaps your stubbornness is preventing you from seeing all the warnings that are as clear as flashing neon signs telling you not to do it.” He paused for a second, rubbing his thumb across the back of my hand. “What does your dad think?”
Heat rose in my cheeks. “I haven’t exactly talked to him yet.” Since things weren’t going the way I’d hoped, I made my last play, turning on my flirt. “You know, I was kind of hoping to have you on my side when I approached him. Solidarity in numbers.”
“It surprises me that Buck would even consider using it at all after hearing what Sarah told all of you.” Luke looked down at me. “He’s usually the most cautious out of all you Jewells.”
Inside, my inner child who wanted her way stomped and screamed, throwing a proper tantrum. But on the outside, I wrapped my arms around my boyfriend’s waist and pulled him against me. “He still is. He told me he thinks getting rid of it is the best idea. But don’t you think that’s a little hasty? Shouldn’t we use everything we can to find out the truth?” I fluttered my eyelashes.
Luke’s left eyebrow crooked up, and he kissed the tip of my nose. “Nice try, but you’re not going to win me over no matter how attractive I find you. I think the smartest move would be to find a way to destroy the thing before more problems show up at your doorstep.”
I allowed a little fire power to ignite and crackle over the surface of my body, sparking with intense heat against his skin. He jumped back with an undignified yelp, and I released any lingering magic, including the privacy bubble. Hitting a button on the wall, the metal garage door opened, letting in the sun and giving me an escape.
“Rue, don’t leave like this. Let’s talk some more,” Luke called out to me.
I turned, continuing to walk away backwards, and pointing at the car. “I think you should spend more time with your other girl.” My foot stumbled over a large rock, and I lost my balance with a yelp.
Instead of finding myself injured from falling on the pavement, I rested in Luke’s embrace. His vampire speed allowed him to catch me right before I hurt myself. Now, only my ego was bruised.
He brushed my hair away from my face. “No need in going to such lengths to get my attention,” he teased, still holding me steady in his arms. “If it will help, I will be by your side when you speak to your father about the crystal ball and we will see what the outcome will be.” Like a fairytale prince who swept the princess off her feet, he planted a dramatic kiss to seal his promise.
Walter whistled at the two of us. “Luke, stop pawing your girlfriend out here in broad daylight. Willie’s towing Mrs. Beecham’s old Cutlass here for you to find out why it won’t start.”
My boyfriend lifted me until I could stand on my own two feet. “Yes, sir. I’ll be there in a minute.”
I stuck out my tongue behind Walter’s back while the old man walked back inside. “Why can’t he do any work?”
Luke covered my mouth to hide my sass when his boss turned around, tapping his watch. “I don’t mind. Gives me something to do other than catching girls who fall for me.”
“I wasn’t falling for you. Just near you. And, while I thank you for catching me, I need you to know that I’m no damsel in distress.” I kissed his cheek and walked carefully toward my truck. “I’m completely capable of rescuing myself,” I informed him over my shoulder.
“I know,” he agreed, choosing wisely not to point out how close I was to getting hurt from my own clumsiness. “But it can’t hurt to have me by your side supporting you.”
On my drive home, I formulated my plan to convince everyone that my idea could work. When the truck rolled to a stop at a red light, I pulled out my spell phone and looked at the name I’d recorded from spying on Barney’s pad. Blacksheep .
Whatever that word meant, I would figure that out, too, and fill in one of those gaping holes to get closer to the truth. Both might be huge battles to fight, but I intended to win at all costs.
Chapter Fourteen
F or all my bluster and bravado, I couldn’t bring myself to confront my family right away. Every time an opportunity to say something to Dad or Uncle Jo presented itself, I found myself tongue-tied out of fear of letting them down. To their credit, neither of them made any big decisions about the crystal ball other than to leave it in our family safe. But the time would come to make the call, and I needed to pull up my big girl panties before it was too late.
Everyday we kept the barn with all the vendor spots closed was another day we didn’t bring in any money. While our family could afford the deficit for a short amount of time, some of the vendors who sold their goods in our space needed the business. Dad took down the sign at the front of our property and disabled the spell, using his talents instead to cast a significant ward at the back of the property to keep people from wandering too far away from the main barn. Per my idea and with Aunt Delia’s blessing, we brought in a different food truck each day, having them park across the road that led to the storage area to discourage any strays and help herd the aggressively curious into the restricted area.
By the third day of our reopening, I noticed a few repeat customers. Despite their change in clothes, they started to stand out from the rest. Since I remained on high alert for any trouble brewing, I asked Crystal to open up her small booth when she wanted the exposure for her boutique down the road. By lunchtime, we compared notes on the more peculiar cases.
“Did you see the lady with the cat-eye glasses?” my friend asked while we sat on Bessie’s open tailgate out back, chowing down on our barbecue plates from today’s food truck. “I don’t know if she’s been in here before, but she spent most of her time going to every single vendor, picking up one item, acting like she was inspecting it, and putting it down. But while she did that, her eyes lit on everything except on the object she supposedly liked enough to ogle.
Buddy the barn cat jumped up into the back of the truck and rubbed up against both of us. He chased a bee away and then settled in between us, curling his tail around his body and relaxing in the midday sun.
I scooped more coleslaw on top of the barbecue on my bun before smashing it all together and taking a big bite. “I didn’t see her today, but I think she was here yesterday. Did she look like our old English teacher from eighth grade, Mrs. Lincoln?”
“Jumpin’ jinxes, that’s who she looked like! Thank you, that’s been bugging me all morning. Old Stinkin’ Lincoln, who reeked like mothballs. Yes, that’s the woman I saw.” Crystal took a long sip of her iced tea. “Did you spot anybody?”
Waiting until I swallowed my mouthful, I nodded. “Yep. There were two guys walking around, checking out every store but not buying anything.”
“I know who you’re talking about. I caught one of them knocking on the walls like a weirdo.” She wiped her mouth with a napkin.
I stared at her. “Really? Maybe I should get Dad down here and tell him.”
After sending him a quick text, I finished my barbecue lunch and returned inside with Crystal, who went back to her stall of beach-themed goodies. Dad strolled in with Slobby Bobby on a leash.
I crouched down to pet the dog, and a long strand of drool leaked out of his mouth. “Make sure you keep him away from the products so he doesn’t soak them.” Bobby rewarded me by slobbering on my petting hand.
Dad pulled him back by the leash. “You said you had something to tell me? It’s about time, don’t you think?”
It surprised me to hear him pick up on the fact that I’d been unable to really talk to him for the last few days. Then again, I didn’t have a great history of getting much past my father and his shrewd observations. The lady with the cat-eye glasses passed by both of us, avoiding our gazes with great intention.
“There.” I pointed her out to my father. “That woman’s been in here before and peruses around but never buys anything. And Crystal said she saw a strange man looking where he wasn’t supposed to and rapping his knuckles on the walls.”
Instead of being alarmed, Dad sniffed. “I’m not surprised. It happens sometimes when word gets out one of us has found something of significance.” He didn’t have to wiggle his eyebrows for me to get his meaning about the magical objects we bought and traded in secret.
