“Yeah, but that would also put Astra in danger,” Hannah pointed out. “She’s our first suspect whenever anything goes wrong up here. This Stormy person would have to know that. If she’s one of Astra’s followers, she should want to protect her ... not put her at risk.”
“Normally I would agree with you. This one, though ... well ... there’s something different about her. She was pushing Astra’s buttons. It’s as if she wants to see how far she can push things with everyone. I taunted Astra a bit, mentioned that Stormy was going to be trouble, but she seems determined to keep her around.”
Hannah held out her hands and shrugged. “I guess that’s Astra’s problem.”
“It definitely is,” he agreed. “I just don’t want it to become our problem.” He ate for a bit, his eyes never leaving her face. The next time he spoke, it was with a bit of trepidation. “You were agitated earlier. It was about more than the bridal party. Why don’t you tell me about it?”
Hannah sighed. She should’ve known he wouldn’t simply forget the way she pressed him. “I was worried you weren’t going to tell me you were with Astra,” she admitted. She didn’t want him lying to her, so that meant she couldn’t lie to him. “Tyler told me and I was a little ... annoyed, although I don’t know if that’s the right word.”
“How did Tyler know? I didn’t tell him.”
“He figured it out and let it slip.”
Cooper waited a beat. When she didn’t expand, he pressed forward. “And you were upset because you didn’t want me seeing Astra?”
“I just ... well ... I’m a little jealous.” Hannah turned rueful and lowered her gaze as her cheeks burned under his calm scrutiny. “She’s very pretty.”
“She’s okay. You’re beautiful. That shouldn’t matter, though. I’m with you because I want to be with you. Astra is a part of my past.”
“I know that,” Hannah offered hurriedly. “It’s just ... .” She couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence. She didn’t need to, though. Cooper understood what she was trying to say.
“It’s just that your ex-fiancé cheated on you and you’re afraid it’s going to happen again.”
She nodded. “Yeah. I promised I would never put up with another man cheating on me. It’s not that I think you would as much as I’m terrified about how I’ll react and ... this is stupid.” She rubbed her forehead. “You’re not the one who cheated on me. I can’t hold you responsible for what he did. I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.”
“There’s nothing to forgive,” he reassured her. “You’re allowed to have moments of weakness here and there. We haven’t known each other for that long. We’re still feeling around, trying to figure things out. It’s okay.”
“It doesn’t feel okay. You’ve been nothing but kind and gentle with me. You’ve been completely honest. This is my hang-up.”
“And mine is that I’m dating another witch and I’m afraid you’ll turn out like Astra,” Cooper admitted without a trace of guile. “I know in here that you won’t because that’s simply not who you are.” He tapped the spot above his heart. “In extremely rare moments, though, the fear takes hold.
“Now, I know you’re not Astra but that doesn’t stop me from acting irrationally sometimes,” he continued. “Deep down you know I’m not the douchebag you used to be engaged to.” On impulse, he reached across the table and snagged her hand. “I won’t hurt you, Hannah. That’s not what I want. Not ever. I want to protect you.”
The rush of words calmed her, elicited a real smile. “I know. Maybe we both have a few issues.”
“And maybe we can work them out together.”
She beamed at him. “That sounds like a great idea.”
THEY ATE THE REST OF THEIR DINNER IN relative peace. Then, once they were finished, they tossed the takeout containers and took Jinx for his nightly walk.
They held hands as they strolled down Main Street and the voices in the brothel were loud, screechy, and apparently filled with joy.
“Oh, you’re going to have the best wedding night,” one of the women squealed, obviously to the bride. “No, I’m being totally serious. Everyone should be a virgin on their wedding night.”
Hannah pulled up short, suddenly leery. This seemed like a private conversation she didn’t want to intrude on.
“You have to check on them,” Cooper prodded. “It’s your job as the boss. Besides, we need to reiterate to them that walking around outside the brothel is not a good idea.”
Hannah didn’t look thrilled at the prospect. “But ... I don’t want to.”
He grinned at the adorable way her nose wrinkled. “Life is full of hard choices.” He leaned over and gave her a quick kiss, a silent promise that more was to come. “I’ll be with you. It’s going to be okay.”
She let loose a tortured sigh and then nodded. “Okay. Let’s do it.”
They released hands when they hit the narrow stairway that led to the second floor of the brothel. Hannah felt as if she was invading their space as she climbed the stairs, but she plastered a bright smile on her face as she crested to the second floor and joined the melee.
The women there seemed to be having a great time. They were sprawled around the space, the bride-to-be wearing a cheap veil and holding a glass of what looked to be a sparkling drink, and they were laughing and having a good time. That made Hannah feel as if she were the school headmistress coming up to ruin the fun.
“Hey, guys.” She kept the smile in place as she glanced between faces. “I just came up to check that you’re having a good time.”
“We’re definitely having a good time now,” one of the bridesmaids said. Hannah was almost certain her name was Jenn, although it hardly mattered. “Did you bring us a stripper? That was so nice of you. We were bummed when we were told there were no strippers allowed.”
Hannah pressed her lips together to keep from laughing and slid her gaze to Cooper, who looked distinctly uncomfortable.
“I’m not a stripper,” he said upon finding his voice. “I’m the head of security.”
“Oh, it’s like a sexy cop,” one of the other women said. “He’s going to take out some cuffs and try to arrest us before ripping off his pants and starting to dance. Although ... he’s kind of a specific stripper, isn’t he? He’s a honky-tonk cop. It’s weird.”
“I’m not a stripper,” Cooper repeated, forcing Hannah to stare at the wall to maintain her composure. “I really am the chief of security. We’re just checking on you before calling it a night ... and making sure you remember the ground rules.”
The bride, Heather Clarke, jutted out her lower lip as she twirled a strand of her flaxen hair around her finger. “Oh, are you really with security? That’s a total bummer. I wanted you to be a stripper, too.”
“I’m sorry to disappoint you,” Cooper said calmly. “I really am with security. I want you ladies to have a good time, but it’s important that you stay up here.” His tone was no-nonsense. “It’s not safe to wander outside the building after dark.”
“How come?” Jenn asked on a pout. “What could possibly be so terrible that we need to lock ourselves away?”
“Especially when we have you to protect us,” another woman piped in.
Cooper remained calm, but Hannah could see a muscle working in his jaw. He was getting agitated.
“There are rattlesnakes in the area surrounding the town.” He was firm, although he didn’t raise his voice. “They come into town, too. I won’t be here. I don’t live here. Hannah lives here, but she’ll be locked away in her apartment as well.”
“Rattlesnakes?” Heather made a face. “I don’t like rattlesnakes.”
“Then don’t go outside,” Cooper shot back. “You’ll be fine if you stay inside.”
“We really do want you to have fun,” Hannah stressed. “You can’t wander around, though. It’s important.”
“We won’t wander around,” Jenn promised, her eyes back on Cooper. “If he’s not going to be here, that means ther
e would be no need. We plan on staying up here. You have nothing to worry about.”
“That would be nice.”
COOPER WALKED HANNAH AND JINX back to the apartment. The dog went tearing inside the unit and Hannah could hear him bouncing on the bed as he got comfortable. Apparently he was ready to go down for the night.
“You didn’t need to walk us back,” Hannah said on a breathless whisper as she stared into Cooper’s eyes. “I mean ... we’re okay. I’m not afraid.” Her heart pounded, her palms were sweaty, and she found she was nervous despite her bold words. Still, she held it together.
He was as much of a wreck as she was, but he didn’t show it. His fingers all but trembled as he brushed them against her cheek. “I want to make sure you’re okay, locked away for the night. It’s not about being afraid.”
“Right.” She licked her lips. “Um ... do you want to come in?”
“More than anything.” His smile was sweet. “I can’t, though. I really do want us to take our time. There’s no reason to rush things.”
“Right.”
“I honestly believe that,” he pressed. “It’s getting harder and harder to ignore that little voice in the back of my head, though.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s your hormones.”
He belted out a laugh and shook his head. “I’m pretty sure you’re right. I’m enjoying what we’re doing here, though. I don’t want to miss out on something because we felt the need to rush to the finish line.”
Honestly, Hannah felt the same way. Her hormones were throwing a riot in her chest, though, and she found herself ridiculously distracted by the warmth crawling over her skin. He did the most fascinating things to her.
“No rushing,” she said after a beat. “Even though it might be fun.”
“It would definitely be fun.” He moved closer, his lips barely an inch from hers. “This is fun, too.” The kiss he graced her with was explosive, which he wasn’t expecting. There wasn’t anything soft about it. From the second their mouths touched, it was as if they were overcome by a force they couldn’t control and suddenly they were a sweaty and groping mess.
Somehow — and he would wonder about this the entire night — he found the strength to break away from her before they tumbled over the threshold and started ripping at clothes. His breath was ragged as he took a step back, his chest heaving.
There, they eyed each other for a long time ... and then Hannah started laughing. Once she started, she couldn’t stop. Before he realized what was happening, Cooper had joined her. Their chuckles echoed throughout the stairwell.
“And that right there is why I can’t come in,” he said once he’d straightened and collected himself. “If I come in, our hormones are going to throw a party.”
“Yeah. I see that.” She wiped her hand over her forehead and briefly shut her eyes. “That was ... wow.”
“Yeah.” He tentatively reached out and ordered her hair.
“If a simple kiss goes that way, what do you think the next step is going to be like?”
Cooper’s heart rate picked up a notch at the visuals that played through his mind. “I don’t know. We’re not going to find out tonight, though.”
“You have tremendous willpower.”
Which was being tested, he realized. “I’m feeling a little weak on that front right now.” He took another step toward the stairwell to increase the distance between them. “Lock your door. I’ll bring breakfast in the morning. I ... um ... don’t look at me that way.”
Hannah’s smile was serene. “What way was I looking at you?”
“You know exactly how you were looking at me. I can’t take it.” He laughed as he slid down three steps. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
She blew him a kiss and waved. “Sweet dreams.”
“I can guarantee my dreams won’t be a problem.”
10
Ten
Hannah’s dreams weren’t as sexy as she was hoping. Instead, she found herself trapped in the foggy dreamscape again ... and she didn’t like it.
“Hello?” she called out in the vain hope she wasn’t alone. Again, the only sound she heard was the crying.
“Hello?”
She remained rooted to her spot, her hands clenched into fists at her sides in case she needed to protect herself. She knew it was a dream. There was no doubt in her mind ... and yet she couldn’t stop the fear from building in her chest.
“Hello?”
She kept calling out even though no one answered. There was no one there except the source of the crying, and that individual sounded as if she — and Hannah was certain she was dealing with a female — was a great distance away.
Part of her wanted to travel through the mist to find the source of the crying. The other part recognized that could be a dangerous proposition. The dread that filled her at the notion was daunting, and instead of rushing headlong into the fog, Hannah stayed.
“If you talk to me, I’ll come to you,” she offered. It was the best she could do by way of compromise. “I can’t risk it if you don’t talk to me. This could all be a trick.” Even as she said the words, she hesitated. Was it a trick? Was someone trying to draw her out of her safety zone?
“I won’t leave unless you talk to me,” she said with as much determination as she could muster. “That’s all there is to it. You can’t lure me away from this spot without giving me more to go on.”
Silence met her demand. She’d just about given up and was going to try to find a way to claw her way out of her dream when she heard it.
Hannah.
It wasn’t a voice as much as a whisper on the wind.
She swallowed hard. “Hello?”
Hannah. We’re waiting for you. Come to us.
Her heart gave a little jolt at the words. “Who are you?”
Come to us. You must step through the fog to find us.
In her head, Hannah understood that it wasn’t a victim speaking. No, whoever was calling to her was dangerous ... and playing a game.
“I think I’m good here,” she countered. “In fact ... I’m not leaving this spot.” She folded her arms over her chest and stared defiantly into the fog.
You have to come. There’s no other choice. If you want to save them, you must cross the barrier.
Them? Hannah squinted and tried to stare through the thick coverage. She couldn’t see more than five feet in front of her. After that, the fog was a dense wall ... and it made her increasingly nervous because she’d almost managed to convince herself that she could see ethereal hands reaching through the thick air to grab her.
“I’m not looking for you. I’m not an idiot. I just ... why can’t I wake up?”
You’re not dreaming. This is real. You must save us.
“No, you’re the ones who aren’t real.” Hannah was adamant. “I won’t go out there. You can’t make me.”
Have it your way then.
Hannah braced herself for an attack, convinced it was coming, and then a real voice broke through the haze. It sounded far away but the more she focused on it, the louder it got.
“Hannah!”
She bolted upright in her bed, her eyes wild and her hair standing on end, and met Abigail’s concerned eyes. “What happened?” she rasped out.
Abigail tilted her head to the side, uncertain. “I don’t know. You tell me.”
“I just ... it was a dream. A really weird dream.” Even as she said the words, Hannah wasn’t certain they were true. She felt lost, out of her depth ... and completely shaken. “Why were you calling my name?”
As concerned as she was, Abigail couldn’t focus on her granddaughter’s bad dream. They had other things to deal with. “You have to get up and head over to the brothel.”
“The brothel?” Hannah was a slow starter on a normal day. This morning she felt as if she were wading through quicksand. “I don’t understand.”
“The bridal party.” Abigail forced herself to remain patient. “They’re waking up ...
and one of them is missing.”
“Missing? But ... .” Slowly, Hannah’s mind began to clear. “One of the members of the bridal party is missing, the ones who were staying in the brothel because you arranged it before your death and nobody knew about it.”
Abigail was sheepish. “I’m sorry about that. No, I really am. It slipped my mind, what with the death and all.”
Hannah made a face. “That was a lovely guilt trip.”
“Thank you.” Abigail didn’t break stride. “You need to get dressed and head over there. It’s urgent.”
“Right.” Hannah reached for the jeans she’d discarded before climbing into bed the previous evening. “I should call Cooper.”
Abigail eagerly bobbed her head. “You should. You don’t need to handle this alone. Call him, and then get over there.”
“I’m on it. I ... thank you for waking me up.” She meant it. She was worried if Abigail hadn’t yanked her out of the dream when she did something truly horrible would’ve happened. “You’re getting good at being seen and heard, huh?”
Abigail chuckled hoarsely. “It pays to practice.”
“It definitely does.”
COOPER ARRIVED ON THE SCENE WITHIN twenty minutes. He was freshly showered and had changed into clean clothes — something Hannah was mildly bitter about — and he was all-business when he arrived.
“What’s going on here?”
“I’ll tell you what’s going on.” Jenn, the drunk bridesmaid from the night before, pushed in front of the other terrified women and fixed Cooper with a dark glare. “Heather is missing. You remember Heather, right? The bride. Well, she’s missing and I’m going to sue the crap out of you for this.”
“Go ahead.” Cooper was calm as he switched his gaze to Hannah. She looked frazzled, her blond hair sticking out at odd angles, but otherwise she was unhurt. That was the most important thing. “You signed releases to be allowed to stay here. Those releases have been run through ten lawyers ... and I warned you about wandering around last night. We’re not liable for one of your group taking off.”
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