Essence of the Witch

by Deanna Chase

  As the other woman stood, Miranda reached out and grabbed her hand, squeezing slightly. “Thanks, Shannon. You’re a good friend.”

  Shannon grinned down at her. “I am, aren’t I?”

  Miranda laughed. “I see you aren’t lacking ego either.”

  “Only when I’m having a bad hair day.” She winked. “Listen. Hope, Hanna, and I are planning another girls’ night tomorrow night. Are you interested? The three of us were thinking mani-pedis at Faith’s spa and then dinner at the Townsend Brewery.”

  A night out with the girls? There was no way she was going to turn that down. She hadn’t lived in Keating Hollow long, and while she was friendly with Yvette and her sisters as well as Shannon, she hadn’t made much of an effort in the friend department. It was time to change that. “Sure. What time?”

  Shannon gave her the details and glanced one last time at Gideon, who was now settled at a table near the front window. “Good luck with that one. If the apology doesn’t work, try flashing him some leg. I never met a man who could resist a little bit of skin.”

  Miranda rolled her eyes, but she knew Shannon was only teasing. She showed appreciation for Miranda’s fondness for wearing dresses all the time. Especially the ones that revealed a little skin.

  “They’re just so… you,” Shannon said. “Sexy, romantic, alluring. Just like your books.”

  “Thank you,” Miranda said, her cheeks heating with a flush. “That’s kind.”

  “It’s the truth,” Shannon said. “See you tomorrow.”

  As Shannon made her way out of the café, Miranda took a deep breath and walked over to Gideon. When he glanced up at the sound of her footsteps, she asked, “Is this seat taken?”

  Chapter Four

  “It is now,” Gideon said, gazing up at the beauty he hadn’t been able to get out of his mind since he’d seen her the night before. It had taken all of his willpower to not follow her home or try to get her number. After her reaction to him and her outburst about him leaving her, he’d thought it best to just leave things alone. He wasn’t interested in upsetting her further just by being present. But now that she’d approached him, there was no way he was going to turn her away.

  She gave him a sheepish smile. “I know I already apologized for my behavior last night, but I feel like a complete jerk. Will you let me take you out to dinner while you’re in town to make it up to you? Assuming you have time, of course.”

  “You don’t need to make anything up to me, Miranda. But I’d love to have dinner with you.” His lips twitched, and he couldn’t help the smile that claimed them. She’d just given him an opening he couldn’t refuse. “I have nothing but time. How about tonight? Tomorrow? Both?”

  “Both?” she asked, raising a skeptical eyebrow, making sure he knew she thought he was pushing his luck. He didn’t care though. While he was in Keating Hollow, it would be impossible to stay away from her. “Maybe just tonight,” she finally said. “Tomorrow I have plans.”

  He raised his coffee cup in a one-sided toast. “It’s a date then.”

  Miranda glanced down at herself, and Gideon didn’t miss the tiny cringe she tried to hold back. He wasn’t sure what that was about. He thought she looked great in her long black skirt and deep purple long-sleeved shirt. And even though her hair, which she’d tucked into a haphazard bun, was a little on the wild side, he appreciated her bohemian look. This was what she’d looked like at home in the apartment they’d shared for a short time. Real. Comfortable. His.

  The thought came out of nowhere, and regret slammed into him. Miranda Moon had never really been his. She was a free spirit who couldn’t—shouldn’t—be tamed. But there had been a time when she’d offered what she could to him and he’d walked away, knowing that the path he’d chosen wasn’t one that would ever work for her. They were just too different. Had different goals. As a couple, they would’ve never made it. He’d been certain of it then. And judging by the internet search he’d run the night before he was even more certain of it now.

  Miranda Moon was a bestselling author of paranormal romance. He was a numbers guy with his father’s high-profile media company. He spent his days in meetings and boardrooms. She spent hers in cafes creating her art and traveling to promote her books. It was exactly what he’d always wanted for her. Not to be stuck in LA, with him, and expected to play the supportive wife like his mother had for over twenty years before his dad left her.

  “Give me an hour? I’ve been working all day and wouldn’t mind a chance to clean up,” she said. “I can meet you somewhere. We could go to Woodlines. Or if you want something more casual, there’s a great new pizza place called Mystyk Pizza just down the street.”

  “Pizza sounds perfect,” he said. “But you should know there’s no need to clean up. You look great. As always.”

  A pink flush crept over her cheeks, and he loved that his words had an effect on her. “That’s sweet, but I’d feel a lot better after a shower. It’s been a long day.”

  The image of Miranda, naked with water cascading over her body, made every part of him come alive. What he wouldn’t do to join her. “Of course. An hour it is then.” He stood and held out a hand to her. When she took it, he gently tugged and then led her out of the café. “Which way is your car?”

  She laughed. “It’s Keating Hollow, Gid, not downtown LA. You don’t need to walk me to my car.”

  He shrugged, unfazed. “It never hurts to be a gentleman.”

  The sweet smile she flashed him made his insides come alive, and when she gestured to her black Mercedes, he chuckled. It was just the kind of car he’d pictured her driving. She had a very earth-witch style but always had liked her creature comforts. With his hand on the small of her back, he walked with her to the vehicle and then pressed a kiss to her cheek. “See you soon, Miranda Moon.”

  Gideon didn’t miss the way her breath caught or her tiny shiver. And suddenly he was transported back seventeen years to when he first met her and had known instantly that they had a connection. It was still there and just as strong as it had ever been.

  Miranda nodded, clicked the lock on her key fob, and slid into the driver’s seat of the small car. With a tiny wave, she drove off down the street. Gideon stood on the cobbled sidewalk and watched until her car disappeared into the night.

  “You’re not lost, are you?” a friendly voice said from behind him.

  Gideon turned and jerked back when he recognized Cameron Copeland, a screenwriter who’d penned Ace Media’s highest grossing film to date. Gideon laughed and shoved his cold hands into his wool coat. “Nope. I’m here for a much-needed quiet vacation. You?”

  Cameron mimicked Gideon and rocked back on his heels. “I was called in to meet with an actor for my next project. Turns out Silas Ansell is spending the holiday season here with his sister. Since I’m here, I decided to hang out and write for a while. Seems like the perfect place to relax and let the words flow.”

  “Silas Ansell, huh? I hear he’s Hollywood’s newest darling.” Gideon could small talk with the best of them.

  “He is. At least he’s talented. And I hear he’s a total pro on the set. Not that I care much about that. I just want an actor who can bring my work to life on the screen, not make up their own script, if you know what I mean.”

  Gideon did. Cameron Copeland was the kind of screenwriter who was precious about his work. Any changes or modifications had to be approved by him, per his latest contracts. He’d earned that right, though. The man had three Oscars to his name and countless other awards. “Is it going well?”

  “Sure. The kid wants to work with me, so I think it’s a lock.” His smirk implied he was taking all the credit for landing the actor with the most buzz at the moment.

  Gideon was certain that, if he asked around, everyone from the executive producer right down to the company’s unpaid interns would take credit for getting Silas on board, but Gideon didn’t care about egos. All he cared about was good films and television. The types of productio
ns that spoke to people in some way. It was interesting that his job required him to care about the numbers and money, but while he did his job to the best of his ability, the truth was he’d only stayed in the business so that he could have some sort of hand in bringing good work to the masses… even if he wasn’t the one creating it. “Excellent. Well, I have somewhere to be.” He nodded to Cameron as he passed and added, “Good luck.”

  “Don’t need luck when you have hard work on your side,” Cameron chirped.

  Gideon pretended he didn’t hear that last bit. Instead, he hunched his shoulders and headed to the Keating Hollow Inn where he was staying. If Miranda was going to get prettied up, the least he could do was put on a clean pair of jeans.

  Mystyk Pizza turned out to be the kind of place that rippled with magic. The moment Gideon stepped through the door, his body felt alive, energized. Clearly, the place was run by fire witches, and they had played to their strengths. The walls had large burnt-wood art pieces depicting various scenes from Keating Hollow. His favorite was a swimming hole down by the river that appeared to have witches dancing in the moonlight. They just looked so… free. But there were also scenes from Main Street, a local winery, and another one of a small family orchard. It was nice to see the town being documented with someone’s art.

  After waiting patiently for the hostess, she seated him in a secluded booth in another room in the restaurant and assured him she’d escort his guest to him as soon as she arrived. As he sat and waited, he sipped his wine and stared into the hearth of one of the many fireplaces as the flames flickered and morphed into a variety of holiday-themed scenes: a family building a snowman, Santa and his reindeer flying high over a village, carolers singing around a Christmas tree, witches burning a log for Yule. He was transfixed and a little envious another fire witch had chosen to use their gift in such a way.

  What was he using his for? Nothing lately, other than putting out Jax’s hair fire. He didn’t even have cause to light a fire in his own hearth at home. It was never quite cold enough in southern California to justify one.

  “Mr. Alexander?” a woman in jeans and a black button-down shirt asked.

  “Yes?”

  “Hi. I’m the manager here at Mystyk Pizza. Ms. Moon just called with a message. It appears she’s having car trouble and won’t be able to make it.”

  Car trouble? Damn. Standing, he dropped some money on the table and said, "Thank you for the update. I’ll be back another time.”

  “Of course.” The manager stepped aside, letting him hurry past her.

  Gideon didn’t have any idea where Miranda lived or exactly where to look for her, but he did know which direction she’d gone when she’d left an hour ago, and the town just wasn’t that big. It wouldn’t take much searching to find her.

  Chapter Five

  Miranda sat behind the wheel of her car and let out a cry of frustration. What was this? The fourth or fifth date in a row that had gone horribly wrong? Maybe the sixth. How could her recently serviced Mercedes just die without warning?

  How many times had she daydreamed about the opportunity to reconnect with Gideon again? More than she could count, and finally, here was her chance. She knew they led very different lives and this dinner date wasn’t going to turn into anything more than a friendly reunion. But whatever it was, she was looking forward to spending some time getting to know who he was now versus who he’d been fifteen years ago. She’d been trying to tamp down her nervous energy, but it had only gotten worse the closer she got to Main Street. Then just as she was about to turn right onto the main road, the car had just died and rolled to a stop.

  The first thing she did was check the gas gauge. It would be just like her to run out of fuel, especially since she’d been in deadline mode for the past few weeks. But no. The gauge said she still had more than half a tank. And that was where her knowledge of vehicles ended. There was no point in even checking under the hood. She wouldn’t know what she was looking at anyway.

  After calling for the town tow truck, she swallowed her disappointment and called Mystyk Pizza to have them relay a message to Gideon. If she was honest with herself, she was more upset about missing her date than whatever it was that caused her car to break down. The car could be fixed. But would there be a second, no third, chance with Gideon? Not if he was leaving town soon.

  Miranda leaned back against her seat and closed her eyes, trying to block out the fierce disappointment that had settled in her chest.

  Tap, tap.

  The sound of someone tapping on her window made her let out a startled cry as she nearly jumped right out of her seat. “Holy crow’s feet!”

  “Miranda? Are you all right?” The muffled voice belonged to none other than Gideon Alexander.

  She pushed the door open and stepped out into the cold December air. “Gideon? How did you find me?”

  He gave her a self-satisfied smile. “It wasn’t that hard. Keating Hollow isn’t exactly a bustling metropolis.”

  Blinking, she stared at him, touched that he’d made the effort to find her. But then she laughed. “Did you show up here to be my knight in shining armor? Because I already called the tow truck guy. He should be here—” She glanced at the time on her phone and frowned. “He was supposed to be here ten minutes ago.”

  “I’ll wait with you,” he said, wrapping his hand around hers and giving it a squeeze.

  Miranda glanced down at their connection as his touch sent flashes of memories of them together through her mind. She’d worked so hard to forget what it was like to be with him, but her body hadn’t gotten the message. All she wanted to do was walk into him and let him wrap those strong arms around her. She sucked in a sharp breath and pulled her hand away. She couldn’t do this. Couldn’t go down this road again. Her heart couldn’t take it. “That’s nice of you, Gideon, but it’s not necessary. I’ll be fine. Maybe we can get a raincheck on dinner?”

  He took a moment to study her and then slowly shook his head. “No. No raincheck.”

  “Oh.” Her heart sank. It was official; she was cursed. She had to be. Why else had her dating life taken such a wrong turn? “Are you leaving Keating Hollow soon?”

  “What? No. Or more accurately, I haven’t decided when I’m leaving. When I said no raincheck, I meant that we’re not going to let a little car problem ruin the evening. After the tow truck arrives, we’ll grab some dinner.”

  Miranda’s phone buzzed, and she glanced at it again, groaning. “He’s been called to an emergency on the highway. There’s no ETA now. He’ll text when he’s on his way.”

  “I guess he’s the only tow truck service in town?” Gideon asked.

  “Yep. The next closest one is in Eureka. But they’d charge a huge service fee to come all the way out here and get my car. It’s better to wait.”

  Gideon glanced at her car that was safely off to the side of the road. “Come on. The car will be fine here. Let’s go get you something to eat. I’ll bring you back when he texts you.”

  Miranda cut her gaze to her car and then back to Gideon. “Are you sure? I don’t know how long he’s going to be.”

  His lips twitched into a smile. “I’m more than sure. There’s no way I’m leaving you here on the side of the road. So, either we both sit here and wait, or you let me take you to get something to eat. Which will it be?”

  Her eyes sparkled, and all the frustration that had been clouding her expression vanished. “Let’s eat.”

  “I’m ready when you are.” He waited for her to grab her purse from her car, and after she locked up, he guided her to the passenger side of his SUV.

  Once they were both buckled in, she said, “Maybe we should go to my place.”

  His eyebrows shot up as he looked at her in exaggerated surprise. “Did I hear you correctly? Did Miranda Moon suggest dinner at her house? Are you saying you learned to cook?”

  Miranda threw her head back and laughed. It was just like old times, and warmth started to spread from her chest out to
her limbs as she relaxed into her seat. “No, actually,” she said. “But I do have some leftovers from last night.”

  “Right. The food you and Jax never got to eat. That will work.” He chuckled and started the SUV. “Which way to chez Moon?”

  Miranda guided him through the short drive to the house at the end of the road that was nestled among the tall redwoods. The house was modest, but it was secluded and quiet. She’d thought that was what she’d need in order to get back into the groove of writing, but it turned out she rarely worked there. Instead, the house had become somewhat of an oasis that recharged her batteries instead.

  “This is a great piece of property, Miranda,” Gideon said.

  She wasn’t surprised he liked it. He’d always been a huge fan of nature. If she had to guess, she’d say wherever he lived now wasn’t far from the woods. “Thanks. I’m just renting for now until I decide if Keating Hollow is my forever home.”

  “You don’t know if you want to be here permanently?” he asked as he wound his way down her driveway.

  “I didn’t when I signed the month-to-month lease. But now…?” She shrugged. “I can’t really imagine being anywhere else. I’m in no hurry to make any moves.”

  He glanced over at her. “Waiting for the universe to speak to you?”

  “Exactly.” Miranda grinned at him. Guh. She’d missed this part of their relationship. There wasn’t anyone else in the world who knew her as well as he did. “One day I’ll just know, and then I’ll either move on or see if the owner of this place is interested in selling.”

  Gideon stopped the SUV in front of her garage and looked over at the house. Miranda studied it, trying to determine what he saw in the modest cabin. It was cute but small, with an upper and lower wooden porch. The porches had been what she was drawn to. That and the large office on the second floor. But to him, he probably saw a place that needed a lot of TLC and an add-on or two.