by J. Kenner
He shifted on the chair, not sure he wanted to discuss the details with his sister after all. Then again, confession was good for the soul—and it was either Zoe or Elmer. Between the two of them, he’d take Zoe any day. At worst, she’d become indignant on behalf of females everywhere. But then she’d get over it. Elmer would never let him live it down.
“Hale? What is it?” Her forehead creased, real concern reflecting in her eyes. “What did you do?”
“I started with your basic flirting,” he said. Might as well start with the truth.
“Started with? Where’d it go from there?”
Right into her bedroom. But he didn’t say that. He needed Zoe to understand how affected he was. How much the belt’s spell had mesmerized him. If she didn’t understand, she’d never agree to take over.
“The thing is, Zo, I need you on this mission. More than just as backup. I need you in there on the front line.”
“Zephron said this was your baby.” From the tone of her voice, he knew she wouldn’t ignore Zephron’s orders. Not without a damn good reason. Fortunately for Hale, he had a trump card. “Zephron didn’t have all the facts.”
“Uh-huh.” She shot him a dubious look before taking a long sip of cocoa.
“Seriously. The girl has a crush on me.”
At that, Zoe exploded into laughter, spewing cocoa on the table. “Oh, please!” She knelt on the chair, then sopped up the spilled liquid with her shirt. “That isn’t exactly news. Half the female population has a crush on you. I even ran across a Web site devoted to you the other day. And I might be your sister, but I have to say you look pretty darn cute in a loincloth. Nice buns.”
He groaned. He’d forgotten about that cover.
“I hardly think the fact that Tracy has a crush on you is a reason for you to abandon the mission.” Zoe tilted her head as the corners of her mouth turned down in a scowl. “Though I will say that it’s not like you to back out of a job for any reason. What’s really going on?”
“Her crush is what’s going on.” Hale ran his hands through his hair, as frustrated by the truth as he was by the fact that he needed help. “She has a crush on me, and she has the belt. You do the math.”
“Ohhhh.” Zoe pressed two fingers over her lips. “So, since the belt makes anyone the wearer desires fall under her spell—”
“I’m a sitting duck,” Hale finished.
“So, it’s working? I mean, you like the girl? More than the usual”—she gesticulated—“lust?”
That was the understatement of the year. “She’s amazing. There’s something about her that makes me feel . . .” He shrugged. “I don’t know. Wonderful, I guess. Which is terrible.”
Zoe quirked a brow. “Wonderful is terrible?”
“Yes. And it’s worse because even though I know it’s an illusion, the little things make it seem real—her love of the ocean, her love of animals.” He shrugged again. “The way she laughs at my stupid jokes. All these little things draw me to her. But even more, she’s got this fire—this spark—but she doesn’t even know it.” He frowned. “No, the belt makes me think she’s special. It feels wonderful . . . and I hate it.”
“Sounds perfect for the mission.”
Hale got up to refill his hot chocolate and shot her an annoyed glance. “She’s mortal—”
“You and your issues.”
“Even if she weren’t, this isn’t real. It’s a spell. I can’t work a mission while I’m bewitched.”
“Uh-huh.” Zoe ran her fingers through her hair, standing the coppery strands on end.
“That’s it? The entire scope of your sisterly advice is ‘uh-huh’? Sisters are supposed to be interfering and opinionated. I’m in need of opinions here, Zo. I need a plan.”
“I just don’t see why you can’t stay on the mission. I mean, it was your idea to romance the belt out from under her. And if you’re enchanted . . .” She trailed off, grinning. “If you’re enchanted, then you’ll really enjoy it.”
Taking a long swallow of cocoa, he counted to ten. So far, she really wasn’t helping.
“Try and follow me, okay?” When she nodded, he continued. “If I didn’t know I was under her spell, then maybe I could do that. But I do know, and it’s driving me nuts.”
“It’s not like you’re not used to dangerous missions.”
“Dangerous, yes! But not this.”
“Not what?”
He waved a hand. “Do you know what I did last night?” Too late, he realized he’d opened a door he wanted to remain shut.
Her eyes went wide. “Something totally off the charts if the tone of your voice is any indication.”
“Yeah, well . . . you could say that.”
“What?” She held her hands out, imploring. “I’m your sister. You have to tell me.”
He paused. “You’ve heard of phone sex?”
“You called and talked dirty to her?”
He ignored that. “The point is that the participants can’t see each other. Let’s just say I took that to a whole ’nother level.”
Remarkably, her eyes got even wider. “You didn’t.”
“I couldn’t help myself. She’s . . . amazing.” He slammed his mug down on the table and stood up, totally frustrated with himself and the situation. “I told you I’m bewitched. I’m doing crazy things.”
Zoe shook her head. “What’s really driving you insane is feeling this way . . . and about a mortal.” She leaned back in her chair, her grin totally self-satisfied. And she didn’t look the least bit sorry for him. “I’m right, aren’t I?”
“Yes!” The answer burst out of him. The whole thing frustrated him. That Tracy was mortal. That he desired her because of some ancient trinket. Hale wasn’t one to buckle under to any sort of pressure. And now to have been bested by some fashion accessory . . . well, that really reeked. The only good thing was that at least it wasn’t really him liking her. It was the belt. This was a curse. An enchantment. But it was better to be under a spell than to have fallen for a mortal.
Zoe laughed, the sound light and airy. “Oh, I wish Taylor were home to see this. And Daddy. You and a mortal. It’s priceless!”
Hale scowled. Their father was hopelessly in love with Zoe’s mom, Tessa. And that woman was as mortal as they came. “How much longer are you going to keep teasing me before you decide to help?”
She glanced at her unadorned wrist as if it had a watch. “Dunno. Maybe five or six more minutes.”
He rubbed his temples, thinking that maybe it would have been a good idea to catch some sleep after all. A clear head was a requirement for tussling with Zoe. When he looked up, she was grinning.
“Would you stop it? This is serious. I’m in charge of this mission, and I’ve reached critical mass here.”
With obvious effort, she managed to pull her features back into some semblance of control. “You’re right. It is serious.”
“Thank you. Finally.”
“But it’s not serious in the way you think it is.” She paused, her lips pressed together.
Hale wasn’t in the mood for guessing games. “What are you talking about?”
“You’re not going to like it.”
“I’m already under the spell of an ugly belt that’s making me do irrational, stupid things. What could possibly be worse?” He spoke lightly, but she didn’t seem to notice the levity. She didn’t even crack a smile. “I’ve been doing some research. You know, on the internet and with some books I got from the MLO. Fascinating stuff. Did you know that in the fifteenth century, the girdle—”
“Just spill it. Whatever you’re trying to say, just spit it out.”
“Okay. But, remember—you asked me to.” She took a deep breath, then looked him straight in the eye. “I gotta say, I’m getting a perverse sense of pleasure telling you this.”
“Telling me what?”
“You’re not under any spell, big brother.”
“Of course I am,” he said. Then he had the hideous feeling
he knew what was coming. “I told you—”
“And I’m telling you. I’ve looked into this. No spell, Hale. Sorry.”
He opened his mouth to argue some more, but couldn’t quite form the words. He wanted to deny it, to yell that it wasn’t true. But in fact, he’d been avoiding the truth. He’d been messing around with Tracy and she hadn’t been wearing the belt. He’d known. He just hadn’t wanted to admit it.
Now he had no choice.
“A mortal wearing the belt has no power over a Protector,” Zoe explained. A devious grin touched her lips, and he knew she was enjoying this. “So, it looks like there’s a mortal woman in your life, and you’re fresh out of excuses.”
Mordichai perched on the windowsill of Zoe’s kitchen window, looking in while she and Hale had cocoa. So far, all he’d seen was Hale wandering around looking agitated and Zoe looking smug. Unfortunately, neither was talking loud enough for him to hear anything.
He considered pressing himself to the window, but at the moment he was a red-breasted sapsucker, and while he might have a nice set of tail feathers, his hearing wasn’t as good as he might have hoped.
And if he tried to get closer, Zoe or Hale might notice him. A mortal would never be able to spot him, but his cousins certainly could. And anyone would think an eavesdropping bird pressed to the glass was odd.
Still, everything was okay. Just by being here, he’d learned what he needed to know. Hale was with Zoe and not with Tracy.
Now was his chance.
He thought about the slim brunette, wondering about the best way to get close to her. Yesterday when he’d perched on her trailer, the girl had been talking to that dust mop she called a dog. If she talked to one dog, why not another? Especially if the new dog was a stately, refined canine who whined and licked her face at all the appropriate intervals. Maybe a beagle. Or a Labrador.
No. His tail feathers twitched as he thought of the perfect dog: a collie. Mordichai was no Lassie, but he could do a damn fine impression.
His feathers ruffled as he considered his plan. First he’d be man’s—or woman’s—best friend. He’d learn what he could this morning. And then this evening he’d be the man of her dreams. A man who understood her needs and desires, almost as if she’d told him herself.
She’d forgotten to set her alarm, so Tracy didn’t wake up until about noon. She hated getting such a late start, but the reason was worth it.
As she snuggled back in bed, she remembered just how worth it. Last night she’d had the most amazing fantasy of her life. Amazing, that is, until it had fizzled at the end, leaving her teetering on the brink and totally frustrated. For reasons she didn’t quite grasp, the fantasy had lost a lot of its oomph.
Who would have thought that one’s imagination could be just as fickle as some men?
Well, imagined or no, last night had whetted her appetite for the real thing. That was for sure.
Realization bopped her on the head and she sat bolt upright. The real thing! Hale was taking her out tonight. She needed clothes. Shoes. Help. She needed help. And she knew just the person to help her—Hale’s sister, Zoe.
Her date with Leon had been a disaster, and she didn’t intend to watch history repeat itself. Now, with a plan, she slipped out of bed and pulled on a pair of ratty sweats and a T-shirt. As she was heading out and downstairs to the kitchen, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She looked like a cross between a homeless person and a teenager in a grunge band.
She had no plans to bump into Hale, but you never knew. And she certainly didn’t want him to see her like this. First she headed into the bathroom and did the whole makeup-and-hair thing. Not that it made a huge improvement, but at least she wouldn’t scare people in public. Then she headed to her closet with an eye to finding something casual yet fun and flirty. She began rummaging through her not-so-stellar collection of outfits. Boring. Boring. Dull. Boring. Needs ironing. A-ha!
A little red sundress she’d picked up from a studio resale shop. Someone had worn it on The Young and the Restless, and now it was Tracy’s turn. Apropos, considering how restless she’d felt last night.
As soon as she’d slipped it over her head and zipped up the back, she remembered why she hadn’t worn it before. The waistband was just a little too big. Well, darn. She was heading to her dresser to find a belt when she remembered her grandmother’s, still hanging on the back of the chaise where she’d left it last night.
For a second, she just scowled at it, wondering. Maybe she should have worn it for her date with Leon. Maybe if she had, he wouldn’t have been such a prick.
Or maybe he would still have been a prick, but she’d have had the confidence to respond coolly and reasonably, instead of bursting into tears in the foyer. She had no idea which was more likely, but she did know that the belt really did give her a shot of confidence, and she’d been sorely lacking in that last night.
So what if it was becoming a crutch? Some women wouldn’t leave the house without mascara. From now on, she wouldn’t leave without this belt.
Snapping it on, she assessed herself one last time in the mirror. Fortunately, the belt matched the dress perfectly, its gold color complementing the little yellow flowers that dotted the red material.
She ran a brush through her hair—there wasn’t much more she could do without a blowtorch and concrete—then headed to the kitchen to make coffee and a phone call. Hopefully, Zoe would be home and willing to help her.
She was in luck; Hale’s sister answered on the first ring.
“What’s up?” she asked, as soon as Tracy identified herself.
“I need your help,” Tracy said. “Your brother’s coming over tonight, and—”
“You haven’t got a thing to wear,” Zoe finished for her. Then she laughed.
“Exactly. And . . . well . . . you don’t know this, but my guy IQ is in the bottom percentile. I’m hopeless.”
“I doubt you’re that bad.”
“Trust me, I am,” Tracy said. “So will you help me with the clothes? And anything else you can think of? I don’t want to blow it with your brother like I did last night.”
The girl on the other end of the line paused. “I’d love to help you, but I’m not exactly an expert. If you’re bad, I’m . . . well, worse. But my friend Deena . . .” Zoe drifted off. “Yeah. Let me send my friends Deena and Lane to help you out.”
“Are you sure?” Tracy wasn’t completely certain she wanted to go shopping with perfect strangers.
“Oh, yeah. If anyone can pull together an outfit, Deena can. Trust me,” Zoe said. “You couldn’t find better help if you paid for it.”
Tracy sucked in a breath. Why not? She didn’t know Zoe well, but she trusted her. “Okay. If you say so. But do you think they’ll want to help?”
Zoe laughed. “Honey, if the object is to dress you up so that my brother Hale is prostrate with lust, well, that’s one project they would never want to miss out on.”
17
Big trouble.
Huge. Massive. Overwhelming trouble.
Hale couldn’t have been any worse off if he’d planned it.
And at the same time, he couldn’t leave. Couldn’t take his eyes off Tracy. So here he was—spending the afternoon stuck in the middle of the food court at the Century City Mall, of all places—watching the most adorable mortal in the world play with a stray collie. A mortal he had indescribable feelings for.
Zoe’s pronouncement that the belt was ineffective on Protectors had only proven what he’d known—and been avoiding—deep down. He’d been hiding from the truth, but the simple fact was—these feelings he had for Tracy were, well, real. A shiver ran up his spine; he didn’t like that conclusion at all. Rather than deal with the way he felt for the woman, he’d much rather resolve this mission and then head back to some beach where he could get his head on straight.
This situation was enough to give a guy the willies. And the really sad thing was, there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about i
t.
As much as he’d wanted to be enchanted, the truth was, he’d never really felt like he was under a spell. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. He did feel bewitched—but by the woman, not her fashion accessories.
Damn, he hated this feeling.
More than anything, he wanted to run far and fast, but he couldn’t. This was his assignment, and he was stuck with it. Get the belt. Protect the girl. And if you happen to fall for her, well, too bad for you.
So here he was watching her wander through the outdoor mall, fighting the urge to go talk to her. He was here to protect her. That was all. Later, on their date, he’d work on seducing her—but only for the purpose of getting the belt.
He’d seduce her, yes. He’d seduce her because that was the quickest and easiest solution to this mission. And, frankly, he’d enjoy the process. But no matter how much he liked Tracy, he didn’t intend to let himself get truly close. He’d keep some distance, in his head if not in his heart. He had to, for his own self-preservation.
In the end, he’d win this girl’s affection. But he couldn’t keep the prize. He couldn’t, because Tracy Tannin was dangerous. He needed to keep that firmly in mind.
“He’s just the cutest thing!” Stumbling under the weight of three shopping bags, Tracy knelt and petted the muzzle of the light brown collie with the green eyes that had been following her ever since they’d left the food court.
Beside her, Deena tapped her foot. “Come on, Trace. It’s already five, and we still have miles to go before we sleep.”
“But he’s so adorable.” With her eyes as wide as the collie’s, she turned the dog’s pointed face so that he was looking up at Deena. “Come on, Deena. Don’t you want to be his friend?” Deena’s mouth twitched, and Tracy knew she was trying to keep a stern expression. She’d fail, of course. Tracy might have only met Deena a few hours ago, but she could already tell that the girl’s carefree blond curls perfectly matched her attitude. Deena was as laid-back as they came. And Tracy had never once met a laid-back person who didn’t fall under the spell of a homeless, adorable puppy dog with “take me home” eyes.