by Amy Boyles
“So,” he said in a husky voice.
“Yes?”
“Ready to go upstairs?”
My stomach pretzeled. I swallowed a knot in my throat and croaked out, “Sure.”
Chapter 5
The best and most plausible thing I could do was pretend to be exhausted. Really, it was the only chance I had of making it through the night alone with Rufus.
As soon as he got back to the room, Rufus shucked off his shirt.
I couldn’t help but stare. Not once, not ever had I seen Rufus without his shirt on. I figured he was built—fit and trim, and I hadn’t been wrong.
He was lean and cut. Rufus possessed the muscles of someone who worked for them, not a man who spent time at the gym creating biceps from machines.
His arms were chiseled and hard, his stomach taut and a boulder could’ve rested on his shoulders.
“Have you been photoshopped?” The words fell from my mouth before I could stop them. I grinned, embarrassed.
Red bloomed on his cheeks. Apparently I wasn’t the only person who was embarrassed. “No. I’m afraid not.”
Dark hair brushed his shoulders, and for a moment I understood an inkling of why this Pepper might have chosen him over Axel. Not that I would, ever, but I got it.
Rufus extended his hand to me. I’d already screwed up. I hadn’t yawned and made a big deal about being so ridiculously tired.
Maybe if I just collapsed on the floor, that would be okay.
Without thinking my hand slipped over his, and he slowly pulled me toward him. Rufus wrapped his arms around my waist.
He brushed a rogue strand of hair from my eyes and smiled. “In all my life, I never thought I’d find someone as beautiful and accepting as you.”
My fingers dug into his smooth flesh. He was real. Rufus was absolutely real and here, and every thought I’d shoved away about him burned bright and hot in my head.
“You, Pepper Dunn, you saved me,” he whispered in my ear. His breath tickled my neck, and I shivered. “If it wasn’t for you, there’s no telling where I’d be.”
I laughed nervously. “You’d probably still be right here.”
He shook his head. A dark intensity flared in his eyes. In them I saw the depth of his love for me and the passion that went with it.
“No, I wouldn’t be. I think if you’d rejected me, then I might’ve turned back to the other side. I couldn’t have watched you go on with the wolf. It hurt me too much.”
“But that’s not true; I think you’re dating my cousin, Carmen.”
His eyebrow arched. “What?”
“I mean—you might’ve ended up with Carmen. Might’ve. I don’t know that for a fact, obviously. But clearly that didn’t happen. I mean, you’re standing half-naked in front of me, remember? Right. In front of me, not Carmen.”
I untangled myself from him. “Wow. What I wouldn’t give for a glass of sweet tea. Do you have any jelly beans in your pocket?”
Axel, bless him, always had jelly beans in his pocket. He even stored some at his house for me. I secretly thought he might have an entire barrel filled to the brim in his basement, but I’d never seen it.
Didn’t mean it didn’t exist, though. I had my suspicions.
Rufus’s hands fell to his sides. “I thought you gave them up.”
I laughed. “Jelly beans? You’ve got to be kidding.”
“Well, that and sugar. You’re not drinking sweet tea right now.”
“What?” I nearly pounced on Rufus and called him a liar. “What are you talking about?”
“You cut sugar for the wedding, darling. Don’t you recall?”
“No, I do not recall.” I fisted my hand to my hip. “Why would I do that?”
He wrapped me up again. “To be healthier.” Rufus grazed his finger down my jaw. I stiffened slightly. His eyes narrowed. “Are you feeling okay? You seem off tonight.”
I nodded, waving away his concern. “Yes, I’m fine. Of course I am. It’s just the wedding and everything. There’s so much to do. So much to work on. All this stuff. It’s a lot.”
There’s no Axel, no Hugo, no Mattie. Lord knew what else was missing from my life.
“Everything will be fine,” he said soothingly. “Everything. Just relax.”
Rufus smiled and I couldn’t help but let some of the tension roll from my shoulders and melt away. But there was still one thing that worried me…
“Since you’ve got so much going on, why don’t we just relax?” Rufus offered, nodding to the bed. “No pressure. Just cuddle and get some rest.”
I nearly shouted with relief. But there was still the cuddling part I had to deal with.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever told you this, but I tend to throw my arms and legs out when I sleep. Boy, you’d better be careful. I might hit you in the jaw. It would be accidental, of course,” I quickly added, “but be warned.”
Rufus smirked in amusement. He dropped his volume, making his voice husky. “I’ll take my chances.”
Then he kissed me. Before I could avoid it. Before I could shy away, Rufus Mayes planted his lips on me.
Every cell in my body was prepared to hate every moment of it. Every cell. But I think all the confusion that had dwelled between us, or in me, for so long was finally able to burst out. What I’d buried, the feelings I thought were dead and gone still lingered in the back of my mind.
And I found myself kissing Rufus back.
I’m not going to lie and say I completely enjoyed it. My mind was torn. My body was confused, but I will say this—Rufus Mayes can kiss, y’all.
His touch was gentle and kind, never pushing me, only asking and waiting for my response.
Part of me thought that at least now I would know what I’d missed out on in my life. I would know what it felt like to be held by him, to feel my lips brush against his soft ones, to experience his strong arms wrapped around me and feel the heat of his body consume me.
And know the rhythm of his heart as it drummed against me.
I broke the kiss first. I pulled back and stared into Rufus’s eyes, and I understood why this Pepper had chosen him. Why he fulfilled her.
But I wasn’t this Pepper. I was me.
I ran my hands down his arms and laced my fingers through his. “I don’t know about you, but I’m whipped.”
He nodded. “Then let’s go to bed.”
We lay beside each other, fully clothed, I might add, and talked.
“Do you feel bad for Axel?” I said. “I feel bad for what I did to him.”
Rufus lay on his side. One hand was propped up by his head, the other tucked under the pillow. Moonlight streamed in through the curtains. Other than that the room was pitch-dark.
The light spilled onto his face, and his skin nearly glowed from it. He was ridiculously handsome.
“Feel sorry for the wolf?” Rufus shrugged. “I don’t know why I would. All’s fair in love and war. Of course, after you broke up with him, he didn’t help himself much.”
What did that mean? The hair on the back of my neck stiffened to attention. “Oh, yeah. That’s true…but exactly what do you mean?”
Seriously. I sounded like I’d been hit over the head and lost my memory. Rufus was going to think I was mental if I kept asking elementary questions about our lives.
He groaned. “Are you seriously asking me to talk about how your ex-boyfriend went crazy and nearly sacked half the town?”
My jaw dropped. “What? I mean. No, you don’t have to talk about that.”
“Good,” Rufus murmured, “because it took you and the entire police department to calm him down. He went away for a while. Which was good.”
I silently urged Rufus to continue. “But he’s okay. Not mental anymore.”
Rufus sighed. “Can we not talk about this, please? We have so many other things to focus on. There’s practically a dinner every night this week and the people who are coming in to meet you—it’s going to be a whirlwind. So many higher-ups.”
I laughed. “That’s funny. I mean, I get that our wedding is a big deal, but why would so many want to meet us? Why would important people be coming?”
“You’re kidding, right?” Rufus pressed the flat of his hand to my forehead. “Are you feeling all right?”
I swatted him away. “Yes, I told you. It’s just all this stress.”
He dropped onto his back and sighed. “That’s a relief. I mean, it’s not every day you get nominated to the High Witch Council.”
My breath hitched. “You mean, it’s not every day you get nominated.”
Rufus’s head turned sharply toward me. “Very funny. It’s not me they want and you know that. They want you.”
“Wow. I’ll be so busy with the store and the Council. How will I do it all?”
“You can’t. I thought you’d decided that.”
“But what if my decision is wrong?” And what decision did I make, anyway?
“We talked about it so much. It’ll be fine.” Rufus reached for me and threaded his fingers through mine. “Selling Familiar Place is the best thing you could do.”
I shot up. “I’m selling it?”
Rufus propped up on one elbow and shot me a quizzical look. “Maybe you need to get some rest.”
I slowly sank back onto the mattress. “But I love that store.”
“But darling, you can’t do everything. Besides, you’ll find a wonderful person to sell it to, I’m sure.” He took my hand again and gave me an encouraging smile. “Together. That’s how we’re going to do things, right? We work together.”
“Right,” I mumbled. “Together.”
I decided this world was a real whack job. Seriously. Why would I sell Familiar Place? Was it because of the fallout from Axel?
“And once we move out of Magnolia Cove, things will get easier. Everything you’re dealing with will be better.” He grazed his knuckles over my arm. “I promise.”
Things I was dealing with. What the heck could those be?
“Right. There’s just been so much craziness since…”
He nodded, his eyes full of sympathy. “I know. It’s all been a lot for you to deal with. But”—he kissed me and spoke, his lips brushing mine with a sensuality that sent a flash of desire straight through me—“when it’s all over, when everything is said and done, you’ll feel better about your decisions. I know it.”
I eased back as I didn’t want him to think I was rejecting him. “Of course.”
Rufus tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “So is that why you took Cordelia’s call away from the table?”
“Sorry?”
“I’m surprised you’re talking to her at all.”
“Why would you say that?”
Rufus rubbed his chin. “I mean, after the whole fallout, I thought you’d written her off. You didn’t say anything to me about the two of you making up.”
Thank you for helping me out with this one, Rufus! “Oh, well, I just figured life is too short, right? You can’t hold on to grudges. It’ll give you an ulcer.”
“That’s true, but she’s the whole reason you’re leaving Magnolia Cove.” He quirked a brow.
“Oh, I remember. I totally remember.”
A smile traced his lips, and Rufus grabbed my hand and kissed it before falling onto his back. “I guess it doesn’t matter, does it? As long as everyone is happy, that is. You were angry at her for a while, and her at you. I never did understand why she was so angry when you dumped Axel until…”
My heart drummed. Sweat poured down my temples. Until, what? Until what, darn it?
I had to stop myself from shaking it out of Rufus.
“But she did accuse you of betraying him. I guess that’s where all the bad blood started. She only suffers me because I’m about to be in the family, but once you and I are married”—his gaze darted to mine—“all these relationships will be easier to deal with. After all, we’ll be happily married.”
I smiled though my stomach knotted. “We will.”
“And Cordelia and Axel will probably be engaged—officially.”
Chapter 6
It was official. I hated this town. This life. This me.
I barely slept that night as thoughts of how our lives had gotten so screwy seeped into me.
Cordelia and Axel, engaged? How had that happened?
I nearly smacked my forehead. How had any of it happened? From a wish gone psycho, that’s how.
Rufus delivered me home safe and sound. He kissed my hand like a gentleman, which he was, and smiled. “See you tonight.”
I entered the house, and Cordelia immediately swooped down on me.
We both spoke at the same time.
“I’m dating Axel—”
“You’re dating my fiancé.”
We looked at each other, and both of our shoulders sagged. “This is something,” I said.
“It’s a pickle,” she added.
I glanced around the house, looking for signs of my grandmother. “Is Betty here?”
She shook her head. “No.”
I sank onto the couch. “Thank goodness.”
Amelia entered from the kitchen with a sandwich. “I haven’t decided if we should tell her or not. Maybe we should let her know.”
Cordelia and I exchanged a charged look. “If Betty found out, she might be more upset about the fact that we’re basically imposters than we are her grandchildren.”
I jerked my chin to Cordelia. “How’d you find out about Axel?”
“We ran into him,” Amelia said with her mouth full. “He walked up and hugged her and asked her about their date.”
A spear of jealousy stabbed me. “You’re not allowed to sleep with him.”
She threw up her hands. “I don’t want to. What I want to know is, where’s Garrick? He’s who I want to be with.”
“Should’ve thought about that before you made that wish,” Amelia retorted.
Cordelia looked like she wanted to set our cousin’s hair on fire. Which she probably did.
I flared out my arms. “Okay. Let’s first get things settled. What about the wishing amulet, or whatever it is? What’d you find out?”
Now it was Amelia and Cordelia’s turn to exchange a look. “We’ll take you to the store,” Cordelia said. “It’s the easiest way to understand.”
Amelia snorted. “If you understand at all.”
“I thought your dad had to do research?” I said.
“He did that,” Cordelia replied. “Gave us a theory.”
The front door opened, and Ratchet walked in with a knapsack over his shoulder. “I found a prize today.”
“What’s that?” I said.
“Found a whole nest of honeypot ants. You know, the kind where their stomachs swell with food and they regurgitate it for the young?”
Sounded disgusting. “No.”
He rolled his eyes. “Of course you don’t. The Pepper I know would know all about that. Anyway, it’s one of the ingredients on your list for the wedding.”
He settled the sack on the floor and pulled out a jar filled with a golden liquid.
“Looks like honey.”
“Tastes better.”
Hard to believe. “Okay. Well. That’s great. Anyway”—I glanced at Amelia and Cordelia—“we need to get going to the wish shop so I can hear all this craziness that no one can explain.”
Ratchet pointed to Amelia. “I’m surprised Betty hasn’t come for you.”
Amelia chewed a bite of her sandwich. “Why?”
“Because that’s your job.”
Amelia shook her head in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
“Your job. You work with Betty catching pesky magical creature. From what I gathered, a whole mess of stinky skinks hatched out a little while ago. Betty wants to make sure they don’t screw with Pepper’s pre-wedding dinner tonight.”
“Yes, because that’s the worst thing that could happen,” I said sarcastically.
“For your in
formation, the stinky skinks are super stinky. They could ruin your meal and tonight’s important.”
I sighed and shook my head. “I get it. This entire week is important because of my marriage. I get it.”
Ratchet rubbed his whiskers. “Okay, well, since you, Pepper from a different place, knows it all, just ignore me and my attempt to help you out.”
“I’m not trying to ignore you. It’s just, it’s only a dinner. Rufus filled me in on other stuff—High Witch Council and all that—so it’s not like I’m going in blind.”
He shrugged as if the conversation bored him. “Like I said, don’t mind me, but if you want someone to explain the nuances of things you might not know, I’m your guy.”
Ratchet was right. I needed him, and I didn’t need to take out my frustration on my familiar. Even if I didn’t know anything about him.
“Sorry.” I rubbed my eyes. “This whole thing is emotionally exhausting.”
“You’re telling me.” The raccoon eyed me sadly. “You’re telling me.”
“But anyway, you were saying…” I prodded, a big smile on my face.
“I was telling you that the week is important because you’re doing all the traditional witch rituals. When a witch and wizard marry, they can choose to do traditional rituals or nontraditional.”
I nodded. “I’m doing nontraditional. A lot of the traditional stuff seemed a little weird to me.”
“Wrong,” Ratchet corrected. “You are completing the traditional rituals. Each night a ceremony is performed that brings you and Rufus closer together. It ensures a strong emotional bond between the two of you.”
Worry spiked in me. “What do you mean—ensure a strong emotional bond?”
“It links the two of you so that by the time the wedding happens on Saturday, your union will become unbreakable.”
My mind tried to process what exactly Ratchet meant. Our bond would be unbreakable? But surely that didn’t apply to me. I mean, I was only here because of a wish.
“So we’ll, like, be serious soul mates or something?” I joked.