by Tena Stetler
“Excuse me.” Pepper paused to rein in her rising temper. Ashling had always been outspoken, but…meddling in her personal affairs was off limits. “What business is it of yours? He’s a war hero and a great person. He treats me—let’s just say we get along.” This was not the conversation she’d hoped to have with her dead aunt. There was so much she wanted to know. “He can design and build anything which makes him invaluable in planning the wildlife center I’m creating on the property. If you’re interested?” she added as a jab.
“Be that as it may, he’s still damaged, unwilling to come to terms and move on. As I told him, it’s all in his mind. Physically he’s able to phase, but mentally—” Ashling shrugged and rolled her eyes. “Survivor’s guilt holds him back. He can’t help you in that condition. As a shifter, he’d be a great asset.”
“An asset? What the hell are you talking about? Wait, you communicated with him? When?”
“The night Tom Green was skulking about and got more than he bargained for from your feral dog. The man and his demons pose a serious problem.”
“Oh, I don’t think he’ll be back,” she said breezily. “Lathen and I stopped by the police department and gave statements. A restraining order was issued against him, in addition to the charges filed. Legal ramifications of his behavior will keep him busy for a while.”
“You couldn’t be more wrong. The spirit controlling him is after the McKay magic and will stop at nothing to get it.” The aura around Ashling shimmered bright red, then faded in on her. “A mere restraining order means nothing to magical creatures.”
“I’m glad to see death hasn’t reduced your penchant for the dramatic,” Pepper deadpanned, hoping that was all it was. Battling with malevolent spirits in her new home wasn’t something she wanted to deal with. “By the way what is your fault?”
“This is serious business, child.”
Her heart sank as she nodded in understanding. “What are we dealing with? What did you do?”
A wan smile strained the ghost’s features. “I’m not completely sure. But it has something do with my death and leaving the property without a McKay witch in residence to protect the magic. I had no idea that the stories told by the old ones were true.” She shook her head. “I should have paid more attention.”
Pepper’s forehead creased in confusion. “I thought the McKay magic protected the witch, not the other way around?”
“It may be a type of symbiotic relationship. But you need to research the family history. Find out who has a vendetta against the McKay’s.”
“Where do I start?” Pepper asked getting to her feet. The ocean breeze fanned long strands of hair around her face.
After a few moments of silence, Ashling snapped her fingers. “When your father and I were very young, I remember an old relative bragging at family get-togethers about how his grandfather married a powerful witch. Then he stole her magic and cast her aside for—I don’t remember the rest. Seems to me they had a child—but I can’t be sure. Check with your father. See what he remembers. That could be a good place to start.” She moved closer and touched Pepper’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. I never meant for this to happen. I was just trying to provide for Colleen.”
Feeling a cold patch on her shoulder, she looked into Ashling’s face. “I know. Would they have lived in Lobster Cove?” Panic gripped Pepper’s throat as the ramifications of the situation hit her full force. “For God sakes,” she squeaked. “I go before the town council on Friday to ask for approval on the wildlife center application.”
“Then I suggest you get moving.” Ashling’s body shimmered around the edges, faded to mist disappearing into the tree.
“Wait, Aunt Ashling, I need more…” Pepper huffed out a breath and plopped down on the bench. How do I wind up in these frigging situations? After several minutes, she pushed to her feet and motioned for the dog to follow. “Time to give you a good brushing and a bath.” She whistled for Kaylee and sauntered up the path toward the cabin.
Chapter Ten
Reining in Magic—Easier Said than Done
Wednesday morning Lathen stopped by Pepper’s after his morning appointments. He pushed the unlocked door open. Pepper sat barefoot at the kitchen table in black sweatpants and a worn faded tie-dyed t-shirt.
“Wow—what happened? You look like…” He paused and sucked in a breath.
As he spoke her eyes turned toward him. There were dark circles under them. Her long red hair was pulled back in a ponytail and, without warning, frizzed straight out from her skull like she’d stuck her finger in a light socket, then smoothed and hung down her back. Suddenly, she flipped her hands toward the ceiling and ran for the empty sink, elbowing the faucet out of the way. Her fingertips turned orange and emitted a rainbow array of sparks, settling into a bright orange, then sputtered out. Over the sink, she extended her hands in front her, shoulders slumped, when multi-colored stars sparkled forming an arc across the ceiling, then winked out.
Lathen’s eyes rounded as he stared at her with an eyebrow arched. “That’s quite a display.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know.” She shook her hands and flexed them. “It’s been a really rough twenty-four hours. Don’t know what to do about it. To top it all off, the town meeting is day after tomorrow. Gwen is due here in a couple hours, and I’m a mess. Ummm, oh hell. This has never happened before.” She paused, peered around the room, then shrugged. “But I never faced the loss of McKay magic either.” Tears welled in Pepper’s eyes, and though she tried to blink them away, one trickled down her cheek, and she swiped at it with the back of her hand.
He gathered her against him and asked, “What can I do to help? When did it start?”
“After you left Monday night, I fine-tuned the presentation for the town meeting, fed Kaylee, and went to bed.” She shook her head. “My dreams were filled with demons trying to use my magic against me, destruction of the town, and the creatures spoke in languages I couldn’t understand. I’m sure it stemmed from the encounter with Mr. Green. But Aunt Ashling was in them too.”
“Sounds like a bad nightmare.”
She straightened and pushed away from him. “As it turns out, it’s a lot more than that. A discussion with my aunt yesterday clarified a few things.” Pepper whirled around, hands on hips and asked, “And why didn’t you tell me about your conversation with my aunt?”
Surprised at her sudden mood change, he took a step back and said calmly, “Still coming to terms with that discussion. I intended to talk to you about it this morning. But when I arrived…” He spread his arms wide toward her, quickly dropping them to his side.
“Ok, so talk.”
“Your aunt voiced insights that I didn’t agree with, alluded to something bad coming, then issued an ultimatum regarding…whatever is happening between us. I didn’t know what to think or how to react. So I returned to the cabin, heard you moving around, checked on Ember, and left. It’s not every day you’re goaded into a heated conversation with a ghost. I was pissed and left to walk off my anger before starting my jobs for the day.”
She chewed on her bottom lip and leaned one hand on the back of a chair, as her ponytail continued to shift from frizzed out to normal and her fingertips turned a light orange. “Ashling didn’t explain what she meant?”
“Something about a challenge to the McKay magic and an evil spirit controlling Tom Green and trying to feed off the magic or making it his own. I don’t remember exactly.”
Pepper closed her eyes for a beat and shivered. Easing into the chair, she related to him all the information her aunt had given her. Lathen listened intently as he grabbed a chair, flipped it around, and straddled it. He rested his arms on the chair back and chin on his arms, flicking his gaze from her pale face to her fading orange fingertips.
After a few minutes of silence, he hopped up from the chair and flipped it around, shoving it under the kitchen table. “I think you need a walk.”
With a raised brow, he carefully grabbed her hands and tur
ned them over examining them closely. “You’re finished with the fireworks for the time being?”
A corner of her mouth turned up in a rueful smile, she shrugged and attempted to pull her hands from his. “No clue.”
“A quick jaunt around the property will drain some of that nervous energy and…” He couldn’t help but grin when he looked at her, red hair sticking straight out in a huge, wavy fan around her face, after breaking the band that held it in a ponytail.
“You think this is funny?” she growled.
He bit the side of his cheek to keep from laughing. “No…no…not at all.” He paused watching her, knowing there was no good answer. “Okay, well, maybe a little.” The laughter he’d tried to hold at bay came rushing out.
She pressed her lips together and narrowed her eyes at him while trying to wrestle her tresses into a tight braid over her shoulder.
“Oh, come on, you know…” He started to say she looked funny, but figured he’d dug a big enough hole with her as it was. After she finished braiding her hair, he yanked her out of the chair and tugged her to the door, calling for Kaylee and Ember to follow. “I’m aware the situation is serious, but we can’t do anything about it until you are under control. With Gwen due here soon, this is the best thing I can think of. If you have a better idea, speak up.”
“I don’t,” she said grudgingly.
“Then shake it out and move.” After pausing to stretch for a few minutes, he set the pace as fast as he could manage. The black dog trotted ahead of them. Kaylee glided above whistling, he thought as if to encourage Pepper along. On the beach, they chased the waves, enjoying the ocean’s spray, and watched the osprey catch dinner. Ember barked and charged into the water in pursuit of the gulls but never catching one.
“You know—” Lathen started but stopped. Pepper’s strong, steady gait up the path to the pond made him think she may be spoiling for a fight if Ashling materialized. But she didn’t. The pond was clear and calm; a light breeze rustled the leaves as they trooped toward the barn. Inside he paused to discuss the improvements with Pepper and the time frame for completion.
“I’m still waiting for the lumber and fencing, but figure to start Monday morning. The equipment and supplies for the marine building shipped late yesterday, probably be a couple of weeks before they arrive. I’m pleased everything is close to the schedule we set,” Lathen said.
She blew out a breath, leaned backward, then bent at the waist propping her hands on her knees. “You were right. I feel much better.” Pepper righted herself and led the way out of the barn and up the path toward the cabin.
Halfway up the path, he slipped an arm around her waist and gently pulled her to him. “Glad to hear it. Appears the frizzing hair and sparking fingers have subsided over the last half hour or so.”
Lathen brushed a long curled lock of fiery hair from her face and cupped her chin. Leaning into her, he breathed in her scent of vanilla and lavender with a slight citrusy tang, then touched his lips to hers. His tongue teased her luscious lips apart and traced their full softness. He captured her gasp as his mouth moved over hers. His breathing increased as her body curved into him, breasts firm against his chest. He went hard. Desire spun through him as his wolf awakened and demanded to be sated.
Breaking through the sexual haze, he reluctantly loosened his arm. “Unless you want me to take you right here, we better start walking.” Lathen gazed into her eyes and caught movement out of the corner of his eye. The corner of his mouth curved slightly. “Smile,” he whispered against her ear, “we got company. Is that Gwen standing on the porch, hand shading her eyes, probably searching for us…uh…you?”
Pepper jerked away and peered toward the cabin, a blush rising from her neck all the way to her cheeks. “Shit. You knew Gwen was there.” Pepper swiped at his shoulder.
He sidestepped her and raised his hands, palms up in a gesture of surrender. “I just caught sight of her.”
Pepper rushed up the rocky slope, cleared the steps, landed lightly on the porch, and threw her arms around Gwen. “You can’t believe how glad I am to see you.”
Gwen stifled a laugh with the back of her hand, glancing in Lathen’s direction. “Sure you are.” Lowering her hand, a wide grin formed on her lips, she said innocently, “I didn’t interrupt anything, did I?”
Lathen sauntered up on the porch checking his cell phone. “Nothing that can’t be handled later.” He winked at Pepper and offered his hand to Gwen. “Lathen Quartz.”
Pepper shot him a dark look. “He’s the handyman I was telling you about. Lathen, this is Gwen, my best friend and former employer at the wildlife refuge in Salem.”
Gwen shook his hand gently. “Please to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.” Her thin, dark eyebrows curved up.
“Right back at you.” He motioned with his phone. “Have an emergency call at the inn, gotta go. Nice meeting you, Gwen. See you both day after tomorrow.” He moseyed down the stairs and climbed into his truck, waving as he headed down the rocky road.
After he had left, Gwen fanned herself with an imaginary fan. “You didn’t tell me he was drop dead gorgeous, and those eyes.” She turned to watch his pickup bump out of sight. “He can work on my….”
Pepper smiled and bumped hips with her friend, knocking her off balance. “He’s off limits.”
Gwen raised an eyebrow in question and shook her head. “Too bad. The good ones always are. Now show me around this place. It looks wonderful.” She hugged Pepper again. “I’m so happy for you.”
****
Pepper, Lathen, and Gwen walked toward the Lobster Cove council chambers of the courthouse armed with revised blueprints, state and federal permits, and licenses. When they pushed through the door, Pepper noticed Kate sitting in an aisle seat close to the center of the room. Lathen put an arm out and stopped Pepper in her tracks. He nodded to the back row, where Tom Green sat reading the paper.
“He shouldn’t be here. There is a restraining order against him. Tom can’t be within one hundred and fifty feet of you. Let’s go back out and catch one of the sheriff’s deputies on duty.” Lathen nudged Gwen ahead of them and back out the doors.
The foreboding feeling Pepper woke up with this morning was back. The knot in the pit of her stomach tightened, even though the three of them had worked nonstop yesterday on the presentation. Nothing should go wrong, but she was still haunted by her aunt’s revelations and that damn waitress from Maggie’s. There were no further confrontations, but Kate gave her the stink eye, every time their paths crossed.
Officer Harris strode across the floor toward the door to council chambers. “I need you three to wait out here. Got a little problem with a restraining order violation inside.” He yanked open the door and walked inside. A few minutes later he exited with Mr. Green in tow. The officer nodded in their direction. “Go on in now.”
As Mr. Green was being escorted out of the building, he glared at Pepper. “I have the right to be in a public place. I was here first.”
Pepper’s head pounded, and she felt lightheaded. “Go on ahead, I need a drink of water.”
Lathen took one look at her and said, “No, you need to go in with us. There’s water inside.”
She closed her eyes and drew in a long breath. “Okay, let’s go.” No way am I going to let some conduit for evil keep me from pursuing my lifelong dream. Especially now that I have the means to make it happen. She jerked open the door and strode through followed by Gwen and Lathen.
There were only two issues on the council’s agenda, and Pepper was up first. The proceeding was short. Gwen told the council members about Pepper’s qualifications and experience. They looked over the local paperwork, revised blueprints, building permits, and state and federal documents and unanimously voted to allow Lobster Cove Wildlife and Rehabilitation to go forward. The only hiccup came when Kate stood and opposed the petition. The council members, most of whom had known her since she was a child, saw her for what she was, a woman scorned, and iss
ued her a warning to stay away from the McKay property.
“This isn’t done,” Kate warned giving Pepper a scathing look, before leaving in a huff, closing the council room doors harder than necessary.
Pepper thanked the council and indicated a grand opening would be planned for early fall. Everyone would be invited. After the trio left the chambers, Pepper let out a sigh of relief.
“A celebration is in order,” Lathen announced. “And I know just the place.” He took Pepper’s hand and put his other hand on Gwen’s shoulder and ushered them out of the room. “You aren’t leaving until tomorrow morning?” he said to Gwen.
“Well, I had planned to leave right after the hearing, but I’ll call Jodi and tell her I won’t be back until Sunday.” She turned to Pepper. “I’m so glad you got approval. Your property will make a wonderful and much-needed rescue and rehab facility.”
They piled into Lathen’s truck. After a short drive, he turned the truck into the graveled parking lot of a building with a green awning over the front. “Here we are.”
Walking through the door, both women paused. The tables were covered with white linen tablecloths and crystal stemware winked in the candle light. They were seated by a maitre d’ who handed them an extensive wine list and menus with the promise a waiter would be right with them. Gwen picked up her cloth napkin and fingered a fork, turning it over in her hand. “This is real silver. Never been to a place like this.”
“Me either,” Pepper said quietly. “At least not since I’ve been on my own.”
A waiter dressed in black evening attire approached the table. “Good evening, Mr. Quartz, would you like something from the bar to begin?”
“Yes, bring us a nice champagne with a creamy bubbly finesse. We are celebrating tonight.” He nodded to the two women.
“Of course, sir.”
Pepper giggled. “You made it appear like this is a threesome. We’ll be the talk of the town.”
Lathen raised a brow. “That wasn’t my intention. But…taking two beautiful women to dinner isn’t on my usual agenda. Have you decided what you want?”