"I'm not going to let this happen," she said out loud, her voice low but firm. "I need to..."
But what could she do? It wasn't like she could escape him, not any time soon, anyway. The bond was still in force, wasn't it? She'd better test it, just to be on the safe side. She slipped out of bed in only her silk and bamboo pyjamas and bare feet.
Gumbo and Prada stirred as she padded into the living room, but Jacob clearly wasn't up yet. Good. She wanted to test this without him asking any questions. Maybe the bond had dissolved by now. After all, it had been made by Onyx. It couldn't be powerful, not really. Onyx couldn't conjure enough water to fill an eggcup in the middle of a rainstorm. There was no way the bond could still be active.
"I'll take you for a walk soon, okay?" Beatrix murmured, scratching Gumbo between his ears. "Just stay with Prada for now, okay?" She bent lower and was surprised when Prada allowed her to give her a quick pat. "Even you're warming up to me, huh?"
Prada gave her an appraising look and sighed before resting her head on Gumbo's broad back once more.
"Or not." Before she could lose her nerve, she slipped out the front door and began to walk as quickly as she could away from the sleeping Jacob inside her house.
For just a moment, she really did think that the bond was broken. That this was all over. She raised one fist in triumph, took one final step to be sure and—
"Fucking hell, ow!" Beatrix yelled, clutching her stomach and doubling over in pain. It felt like someone was trying to remove her internal organs with oven mitts. It was, she thought, even worse than the first time. Groaning, she lay on the dew-damp grass, and heartily regretted her decision.
Well, that answered one question. The bond was definitely still in place, and she was stuck with Jacob and her mess of confusing feelings.
The door banged open, and Jacob came running out.
"What the hell was that?" he grunted. "Gees Beatrix, at least give me some warning! I was having a really very nice dream when I got yanked awake by that."
"I was testing the bond," Beatrix panted, pushing herself to all fours. "It's still live."
"Yeah, even I could tell that much," Jacob said, raising his eyebrows. His dark hair was sticking up in all directions, and his eyes were still sleepy. Beatrix tried very hard not to think that he looked good, even like this. Really good. "Why didn't you wait for me? We could have tested it a hell of a lot more gently."
"I..." Beatrix began. "I really did think it had ended. I don't know, I had a vibe, and I wanted to check. I was wrong, obviously." She pushed herself to her feet gingerly, her stomach still churning. Whether that was because of the bond's effects or because of how Jacob looked in just navy blue silk boxers, she wasn't sure.
"Are you okay?" Jacob asked after a moment. "I mean, it hit me pretty hard, but..."
"I'm fine," Beatrix said. "I'm sorry," she sighed. "I shouldn't have... That was a pretty stupid thing to do."
"Little bit," Jacob agreed, grinning easily. "But I'll forgive you. On one condition."
"What's that?"
"You make that feta and herb omelette for breakfast again," Jacob said.
Beatrix laughed. "You've definitely earned it."
As Beatrix followed him back into the house, she bit her lip. There was no doubt about it now. She couldn't lie to herself any longer. She, Beatrix LaGrange, liked Jacob Jones. She just didn't know what the hell she was going to do about it.
13 Jacob
Jacob didn't say anything to Beatrix about the incident.
Sure, he hadn't been delighted to be woken up by being yanked sharply around his middle. Especially since he had been dreaming about the redhead on the other end of the bond. But he definitely wasn't going to tell her that. He had been flirting with her, but still he didn't want her to know just how far gone he was. Not when she wasn't giving him any indication that she'd changed her mind about going out with an evil property developer.
Which was fine; it really was. Jacob wouldn't pressure her. He wasn't that kind of guy and never would be. But was he crazy, or had Beatrix been warming up to him ever since they had been bound together? He had caught her looking at him a few times with an expression he couldn't quite read, seen her blush when he flirted, seen the way she seemed to laugh and relax with him now, when she hadn't at first. And, of course, there was the fact that Shauna had cornered him next to the coffee machine while Beatrix had been distracted by invoices and told him, in no uncertain terms, not to give up on Beatrix just yet. That she was worth waiting for.
Jacob didn't know if Shauna could make that sort of prediction, but they agreed on one thing. Beatrix was absolutely worth a wait.
It was late on Friday afternoon, and Jacob was looking forward to a lazy walk around the site with Prada, Beatrix, and Gumbo after work. Later, they'd tuck into the lamb curry simmering in Beatrix's slow cooker and spend the evening watching old horror movies. It had been her idea, and he was only too happy to oblige. A quiet night in with the woman he couldn't stop thinking about? Jacob would have been hard-pressed to think of a better way to spend a Friday night.
He stretched, yawning, and checked his phone. Almost immediately, it began to vibrate in his hand. It was Tom. Wincing slightly, Jacob answered the call.
"Jakey!" Tom sounded joyful.
"What's up?" Jacob asked carefully.
"What's up?" Tom repeated. "What's up is that it's Steve-o's birthday, and we're getting on the beers! You promised you'd come tonight, and I was calling to make sure you haven't forgotten."
Jacob, as it turned out, had absolutely forgotten he had apparently agreed to this.
"I can't make it," he said. "I've, uh, got other plans."
"What other plans?" Tom demanded. "You can't do this to me, man. You promised. You swore to me you wouldn't miss it."
Now that he thought about it, Jacob remembered that he had promised. He'd promised Tom he'd come to Steve-o's birthday drinks, on the understanding that Tom stopped asking him to come out every Friday and Saturday night. Tom had even held true to his end of the bargain.
"I'm, uh, seeing someone tonight," Jacob said desperately. "Another time?"
"Not a chance," Tom said severely. "Wait, is this the hippie chick that mum mentioned? Belinda?"
"Beatrix," Jacob corrected him and instantly wished that he hadn't.
"Beatrix, that's the one!" Tom said happily. "Bring her! I want to meet this chick who's got you so busy. Ant says you haven't been home in a week."
"Since when do you talk to Ant?" Jacob scrunched up his face.
"I added him to my group chat," Tom said. "He's always got the best memes. Gays are good at that."
"You can't call him that!" Jacob said.
"Why?" Tom sounded genuinely confused. "He is gay!"
"Yes, but..." Jacob trailed off. "I'll see what I can do, okay? No promises."
"You already promised me," Tom said firmly. "And you're a good brother who doesn't go back on his word. You wouldn't do that to me."
"Okay, okay, enough with the guilt trip!" Jacob sighed. "I'll see what I can do."
He ended the call and sighed loudly.
"Are you supposed to be somewhere tonight?"
Jacob jumped in alarm. He hadn't heard Beatrix come up behind him.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." Jacob could see she was a little pleased to have got the jump on him for once.
"It's fine," Jacob sighed. "It's just, I promised my brother I'd come out tonight for Steve's birthday. A guy we went to school with. Not exactly a close friend, but I promised him. It was before this whole bond thing happened."
"Well, if you promised, you've got to go," Beatrix said. "You can't break your word. You'd be furious with yourself."
"How can I go?" Jacob said. "I mean, with the bond? I can't exactly get you to come along."
Beatrix let out a breath. "Am I that embarrassing? Gees Jacob, way to make a girl feel special!"
"I didn't mean it like that," Jacob said quickly. "I just meant t
hat you hate crowds and stuff. You wouldn't want to come clubbing in the city. It's not your scene."
Beatrix shrugged. "I used to go clubbing," she said. "When I was younger. I mean, it was with Onyx and his friends, so it was mostly these punk and alternative clubs. But it's booze, dancing, loud music, loads of people, most of them off their face. Same thing."
"You'd seriously come with me?" Jacob asked. "I'd be so grateful. My brother will be a nightmare if I don't show up."
"I'll come," Beatrix said, shrugging. "I haven't had a big night in a while. Might be fun." She grinned. "You're springing for a taxi, though. I'm not driving."
"Of course not," Jacob said. "Thanks, Beatrix. I owe you one."
"I don't mind," Beatrix shrugged, but then she looked away.
✽✽✽
"Are you ready?" Jacob said, knocking gently on the bathroom door. "The taxi will be here in a minute, and—"
The door opened, and Jacob abruptly forgot what he was about to say. Then he forgot how to breathe.
Beatrix was wearing a pair of tiny black shorts, showing off her long slender legs. The little yellow top she had paired them with showed more of her collarbones - and cleavage - than her beloved slogan t-shirts ever did. Her long red hair was in soft, loose curls, and she had done something to make her eyes look larger and more luminous than ever.
Beatrix was always pretty; Jacob had seen that from the first time he met her. She was always gorgeous, really, even in a ponytail and sneakers. But tonight? Tonight Beatrix was a goddamn goddess.
"Holy fuck," Jacob breathed, unable to take his eyes off her. "You look..."
"Pretty good, huh?" Beatrix said, turning in a circle. "See, I can scrub up pretty well. I'm even wearing heels! It'll be a bitch if I have to run anywhere, but—"
"I was going to say even more breathtakingly gorgeous than usual," Jacob said, trying to recover and grin. "I mean, you always look great, but this is next level."
"So I won't embarrass you in front of your brother and friends?" Beatrix teased.
"Actually, I think I'll be fighting them off you all night," Jacob said, still unable to take his eyes off those long legs, finally free from their skinny jean prison.
Beatrix laughed. "Trust me, I'm perfectly capable of getting rid of men who won't take a hint. I don't even have to use magic." She looked at him for a moment and smiled. "You scrub up pretty well yourself, you know."
Jacob laughed and ran a hand through his slicked-back hair. "Glad you approve," he said. "Ant always says I need to buy jeans that actually fit me so—"
"He was absolutely right," Beatrix nodded. "Straight guys always wear loose jeans, and it's such a shame. Girls like men's bottoms too. Don't deprive us of those simple pleasures in life."
Jacob laughed. "I wouldn't dream of depriving you of anything." Their eyes met for a moment, and Beatrix looked away, biting her lip. Jacob's heart thudded hard in his chest, like an insistent missionary banging on the door, and he felt a tug of heat low in his belly. Tonight was going to be a pleasure, that was certain. But it might just kill him at the same time.
"We should get going," Beatrix said, picking up a leather clutch and waving it impatiently.
"Yes," Jacob said, tearing his eyes away from her for a moment. "Gumbo, you look after Prada. Make sure she doesn't get up to mischief."
Gumbo stood up, stretching his long limbs and wagging his tail slowly. Jacob could almost believe he had understood him.
"Please, we know who's in charge in this relationship," Beatrix laughed, and Prada trotted in front of Gumbo as though assuming he would follow. "My dog is totally your dog's bitch."
✽✽✽
The bar that Tom had chosen was just like every other bar in Sydney, Jacob thought. Loud, crowded, and expensive. But on the rooftop terrace you could see that world-famous harbour, and the warm summer night air seemed to thrum with endless possibility.
"Jakey!" a voice called, and Jacob grimaced. He spotted his brother waving him over to a table.
"Jakey?" Beatrix repeated, looking up at him with a grin.
"Please don't call me that," he begged. "Please."
Beatrix gave him an entirely unconvincing innocent smile. "I would never!"
"Jakey!" Tom repeated, enclosing him in something between a Rugby tackle and a hug. "Bloody hell, man, it's hard to get you out of the damn house. But you're finally here!"
"Here I am," Jacob said, grinning uncomfortably. "And, uh, this is Beatrix. My friend."
"Trixie!" Tom called out and kissed her on the cheek. He couldn't resist a nickname. "Great to meet you. Damn, my brother is punching way above his weight."
"We're just friends—" Jacob interjected, with an apologetic look at Beatrix, but she smiled, seemingly willing to play along.
"Let's get some drinks into you!" Tom declared happily. "Gotta celebrate Steve-o's birthday!"
"Happy birthday, Steve," Jacob said, catching the eye of his high school friend, who already looked a little bleary-eyed. Tom had clearly been plying him for hours.
"What can I get you?" Tom said to Beatrix. "We've got some bubbles for the ladies, but—"
"Actually, I'd love a beer," Beatrix interrupted.
"She's a winner!" Tom said, clapping Beatrix on the back, a little harder than Jacob thought was entirely appropriate. "I'll be right back."
Jacob raised his eyebrows, but Beatrix just smiled. "I got this," she whispered, her hot breath tickling his ear and sending that tug low in his stomach into overdrive. "I can be charming and social."
"No doubt about it," Jacob murmured. He pulled up a bar stool, and Beatrix sat next to him, closer than she ever had before. He was acutely aware of her warm body right beside his, the smell of lavender and mint leaves wafting from her long red hair.
"So where did you two meet?" Alyssa asked, looking at Beatrix with something like suspicion.
"We're neighbours," Beatrix said, giving Alyssa a disarming smile. "Well, work neighbours, anyway. I'm right next to Jacob's site at Shepherd's Crossing."
"You live in Shepherd's Crossing?" Alyssa wrinkled her nose, seemingly astonished that anyone could be happy living anywhere without harbour views. "Not a lot going on there."
"Maybe not," Beatrix shrugged. "But I like the peace and quiet. And I needed the space for my workshop and garden, so..."
"Beatrix owns a skincare line," Jacob explained. "All-natural organic stuff. It's called Just Like Magic."
Jacob had the pleasure of watching Alyssa's eyes bulge suddenly.
"You own Just Like Magic?" Alyssa said, her tone and body language shifting from condescending to sycophantic in an instant. "Wow, I had no idea!"
"She's the CEO and Founder," Jacob said, enjoying the moment.
Beatrix laughed. "And worker ant," she said. "We're a small company. Even the CEO has to be very hands-on."
Tom returned a moment later with a frothing beer jug and two more glasses. "Get stuck into that!" he declared happily. "Because it's Steve-o's birthday!"
The group let out a cheer, and even Beatrix joined in. Jacob looked at her questioningly, but she just smiled. She was absolutely right. She was good at fitting in with the group.
✽✽✽
Two hours later, Jacob felt pleasantly warm and boneless from the endless frothy beer that Tom kept topping up his glass with. It felt good, he thought, to be here with Beatrix by his side. She seemed to be having a good time, or at least she was excellent at faking it. She laughed and chatted with the group as though she had known them as long as he had. And Jacob was glad that for tonight at least, there were no comments about his love life. Or lack thereof.
"Let's get some shots!" Tom declared suddenly, standing up. "Jacob, you'll do shots with me. Beatrix?"
"Why not?" she laughed, shaking out her long hair and smiling.
"You don't have to," Jacob said quietly, right by her ear. And was it his imagination, or did she seem to tremble slightly at that?
"I know," she said. "But it's been a while
since I've had a night out. And this is nothing like those goth bars Onyx drags me too."
"One thing I can say for my brother is that he's never dragged me to a goth bar," Jacob said and allowed Tom to pull them over to the bar.
"Tequila!" Tom shouted, and the bartender dutifully began to line up shot glasses, salt and lemon.
"Nothing good has ever happened after drinking tequila," Jacob said, shaking his head.
"Aww, such a spoilsport," Tom said. "You need to loosen up, man. You work too much."
"And you think tequila is going to help?"
"Absolutely!" Tom's smile was slightly maniacal.
The tequila tasted like rocks and poison as it went down, but Jacob couldn't deny that kick was invigorating. So invigorating that when Tom suggested they hit the growing dance floor, he couldn't think of a good reason to say no.
"You don't mind?" he asked Beatrix, who was laughing at something Alyssa, who had warmed up to her considerably, had told her.
"Not at all!" Beatrix assured him. "I like to get my boogie on. Usually, it's just me and Shauna throwing mad shapes at the workshop. This is better."
"If you're sure..." Jacob said.
"Stop worrying about me!" Beatrix said, reaching out to touch his forearm. Her hand was warm, her skin soft, and Jacob felt his stomach do a backflip at her touch. "I'm having a really good time." Her eyes met his as she said it, and Jacob wondered, for just a moment, if maybe, just maybe, Beatrix might change her mind about him.
But then she laughed and allowed herself to be dragged to the dancefloor, and all Jacob could do was follow and try to keep up.
Maybe Beatrix's dancing practice was all in her workshop, but she was undeniably a good dancer. Jacob couldn't take his eyes off her as she moved in time to the music, raising her arms above her head and shaking out her long hair. He could barely remember to do the minimum necessary manly shuffle.
"You're looking at me!" she laughed, poking Jacob's chest with one finger.
"You're a good dancer!" Jacob said quickly, his face flushing with more than just alcohol and warm summer night air.
"You sound surprised," she chided. "Trust me, if you grew up dancing around a bonfire every other night, you'd have some moves too. It's all practice."
Witch Way Now: A Paranormal Romantic Comedy (Raising Hell Downunder Book 4) Page 12