She laughed.
Jake looked around the room. “Anyone seen Bob? Normally, he’s first to greet guests.”
“Keeping Howie company,” said Morgan. “Though he’s probably talking Howie into something else that will get them both into hot water with Luc.”
Missi appeared. “Virginia, Momma needs you. She can’t get the potion just right. She says it needs a chef’s touch.”
“She just wants to keep me from getting rusty with magic,” said Virginia with a sigh.
“Darlin’,” said her father. “Sigmund needs this. Somethin’ tells me if you’re in there overseein’ it, it will help do what it needs to do for now. Can you help give the boy some peace so York can start workin’ with him on controllin’ his kraken side while he’s in town?”
She glanced at Sigmund. “You’re staying in Hedgewitch Cove for a bit?”
Jake came closer. “He is. Probably a month or so. He’s going to stay at the inn here while York helps him. Can you do me a favor? Can you maybe see to it that he eats right? Betty tried to feed him ladyfingers.”
“Let me guess, they really were made from the fingers of a woman,” said Virginia, shaking her head. “I love her to pieces, but she is kind of disturbing.”
Jake snorted. “Good news. They were made from men’s fingers too.”
Curling her lip, Virginia groaned. “Sorry I missed it. Sounds delicious. How about I go help Momma with the spell, and then I can see about making dinner for everyone? Y’all can come on over to the restaurant. We can use the private room. That way, Sigmund doesn’t have to be around a lot of people he doesn’t know.”
“Thank you for the offer, darlin’,” said her father. “But I’m guessin’ he’s not gonna be much for being social.”
Jake sighed and nodded. “It was all I could do to get him to come here.”
“I’ll go to dinner,” Sigmund said fast. “If, um, if she’s going to all the trouble and all.”
Jake looked from Sigmund to Virginia and a slow smile touched his face. “Well, I guess it’s a yes. He’s allergic to cranberries.”
York and Louis laughed.
Sigmund lifted a brow.
Morgan snorted. “He’s allergic to everything. Ask him, he’ll tell you himself.”
Virginia blushed. “Cranberries are my favorite. Don’t worry. I won’t make anything with them.”
“It’s okay if you do,” he said quickly, and then swallowed hard and glanced away. “I mean, you don’t have to go to a lot of trouble for me.”
“Pretty sure not killing you isn’t going out of her way or anything,” said Morgan. “Virginia, is there anything York is allergic to? If so, feed it to him, okay?”
York grinned and waggled his brows. “See, you totally want to spend time with me. So much you want me dead too.”
Morgan grunted. “Never mind. I’d have to listen to his bad jokes and attempts at using song titles in conversation forever.”
“Don’t Dream It’s Over,” said York with a waggle of his brows.
Louis and Morgan groaned at the same time.
Sigmund rubbed the back of his neck. “Where’s the restroom?”
“I’ll show you,” said Virginia.
He came toward her and she reached for him, taking his hand in hers without thought.
Heat flared up her arm again, and she gasped.
So did he.
His green eyes widened. He released her hand quickly and hurried out of the room, leaving her standing there, totally lost as to what had just happened.
York laughed. “Really hope your date with Darrell goes better than whatever that just was.”
“Date? What are you talking about?” she asked.
Louis eyed her. “Momma is working overtime to get you fixed up with Darrell. Pretty sure she has something all planned out for the Winter Formal coming up. Might want to corner her about it while you’re in the kitchen, or you’ll end up on a surprise date. She’s done it to me twice. Not with Darrell. Thankfully.”
Just then, Darrell himself walked into the sitting room from the kitchen area. His brown hair was pushed back behind his ears, and he got a huge, very alluring smile on his face when he saw her.
“Speak of the devil,” said Morgan. “Great timing. We were just talking about you.”
Darrell glanced around. “Good? Bad?”
York snorted. “Depends. Momma is trying to get you and Virginia to go out on a date. That good or bad in your eyes?”
Virginia blushed.
Louis offered her a sympathetic look.
Darrell’s gaze heated. “Good. Very good.”
Virginia managed to blush more.
“Not that we aren’t happy to see you,” said Morgan with a slight laugh. “But what brings you here today?”
He thumbed in the direction of the kitchen. “Ran into Hank. He seemed frantic. Figured I’d follow him to be sure he was okay. His head was in the kitchen. Furfur again?”
Everyone nodded.
Darrell laughed.
Sigmund entered the sitting room once more, his gaze whipping to Darrell. He sniffed the air…and a low growl started from deep within him.
The twins moved fast, corralling Sigmund and leading him to the other side of the room.
“Whoa there,” said York, his hand on Sigmund’s chest.
Sigmund’s jaw was tight and he rotated his shoulders, his gaze fixing on Darrell.
Virginia wasn’t sure what was going on. “Sigmund?”
“What?” he snapped.
She stiffened and stepped back.
Darrell went to her and put an arm around her. “When I was in the kitchen, your mother mentioned something about needing your help. Why don’t we go on back and check on things?”
Virginia couldn’t help but look back at Sigmund. Strangely, she wanted to see if he’d protest her leaving the room with Darrell. It didn’t make any sense to her, but it was how she felt.
When Sigmund did nothing more than avert his gaze, she guessed he clearly didn’t feel quite the same pull to her that she’d felt to him.
With a nod, she followed Darrell in the direction of the kitchen.
Chapter Six
Present Day…
Sigmund walked on the pier, past the docks and the slips down in the marina, heading in the direction of Leviathan’s main office with Furfur by his side. The hellhound tended to follow Sigmund around town as often as possible, even heading out on the boat with him whenever he could.
He didn’t mind. The dog had become something of a companion to him over the last year and a half since Sigmund had first found himself in the not-so-sleepy Southern town. Had someone told him two years ago that he’d be living in the deep south, running a commercial fishing line, living at a bed-and-breakfast owned by the devil himself, and no longer working in education—a profession he’d loved—he’d have never believed them.
A lot had happened in two short years.
A whole lot.
He patted Furfur’s head as he glanced up at the main office building. Leviathan was the name of the fishing company owned and operated by the Peugeot family. They owned a fair number of businesses around town. From what Sigmund had been told, the company had been around a hell of a long time and had been started by a man who could turn into a leviathan.
Sigmund had to wonder if that guy had suffered from the same control issues that he did. It was no real surprise to find out Hedgewitch Cove had once had a leviathan. There was truth to the legends that leviathans hung out around portals to hell. Hence, one being around Hedgewitch Cove.
The afternoon sun was high in the sky and beat down on Sigmund’s bare shoulders. Despite the fact it was only the end of February, the sun was hot, at least to him. He’d spent most of his life in an area that saw much colder temperatures than Louisiana. Not to mention since coming into his shifter side, Sigmund seemed to always run hotter than he had before. That was why he was without a shirt, again.
York, who was tec
hnically his boss—if anyone could ever actually label the man in charge of anything—ran around without a shirt on all the time too. Apparently, it was a shifter thing. It was almost as if Fate wanted him to get too hot and change forms, seeking the cold water of the deep ocean.
“Not happening,” said Sigmund as he continued in the direction of the office.
Another boat came into the marina and he glanced out and over the water. In a lot of ways, the area reminded him of Everlasting and growing up on the water there.
He’d had a great home back in Everlasting, Maine, but he’d felt no desire to return to it since he’d come to Hedgewitch Cove. He’d spent Christmas back in Everlasting, visiting with his aunt and friends. It was then he’d realized that at some point over the last sixteen months, the quirky, offbeat, supernatural hot spot known as Hedgewitch Cove had become his home. Two days after Christmas, he’d put his house up for sale and within a week it had sold.
Not much of a surprise.
Property never lasted long in Everlasting.
The act of letting go of the last of his ties to the area had saddened his aunt Jolene, which in turn caused Sigmund guilt, but she’d understood in the end. Plus, she was newly married to a man she’d been in love with all her life. That man just happened to be a retired hunter who ran an antiques and artifacts shop back in Everlasting. Said shop had a huge number of magical and cursed items. One of which allowed for fast travel over long distances. That meant his aunt quite literally popped into town whenever she wanted.
That was nice. To a point.
She’d taken an active interest in his nonexistent love life.
So far, he’d been able to keep her from meeting Virginia, but it was only a matter of time before that happened. Jolene was known as something of a matchmaker. Her pairings had never been wrong, and Sigmund knew deep down she’d select Virginia. And when he didn’t act on her suggestion, she’d take matters into her own hands. She was that type of woman.
Tough as nails when needed but with a tender side—a romantic one even.
Jolene was like a mother to him, and she’d been supportive through all the issues he’d had when he’d come into his shifting abilities later in life.
The time had come for him to find something more permanent in Hedgewitch Cove, but he found himself making excuses as to why he couldn’t meet with the realtor. Sigmund knew the real reason why.
He was still living at Hells Gate—and the inn was across the street from Runes Restaurant & Pub. The restaurant Virginia operated. Staying at the inn provided Sigmund multiple opportunities to see her every day, at least from afar, and he found himself hanging on said moments.
Living for them even.
“I am pathetic.”
The woman called to him on a base level and had from the very minute he’d arrived in town. From the second he’d looked up to see her standing there in the living room of Hells Gate, concern in her dark gaze and a look of compassion on her face. What he wouldn’t give to be able to touch her, even if just for a moment. But he didn’t dare give in to the pull.
For sixteen long months, he’d longed for her in between moments of hating himself and what he was. Somehow, Virginia, even just with the small glimpses of her that he got each day, helped to keep him going.
A slight smile touched his lips at the thought of the long dark hair she often kept pulled back in a low, tight ponytail. Her sister Missi—whom Sigmund was around often, since she was married to Curt Warrick, one of his best friends who had come down for a visit from Everlasting and ended up finding his mate—would joke that Virginia needed to loosen up and let her hair down.
Sigmund couldn’t agree more. But his reason was selfish. He just wanted to run his hands through her dark locks.
Yeah. That’s not the least bit creepy, he thought to himself.
Never before in his life had he ever wanted something or someone so much. Had life been different, and if he weren’t a were-kraken, he’d have probably gone for it—asked Virginia out on a date.
He didn’t used to be reserved when it came to talking to a woman who held his interest. Then again, no woman had ever held it quite like her.
She’d basically grabbed his interest with two hands and sunk her nails into it.
And then some.
With her shapely form that always seemed to be dressed ready to attend a fancy luncheon, and with her smell.
Lavender and sage.
Furfur spotted a squirrel and took off running after it, barking as he did.
York came around the corner, in a T-shirt and jeans, carrying a boat fender in one hand. Shaking his head, he watched as Furfur ran past him and right into one of the dock posts. The act left Furfur sitting there looking dazed and confused.
“That dog is not wrapped tight.”
Sigmund laughed and tapped his thigh.
Furfur rushed back to him and took a seat like a good boy.
“Luc can’t get him to mind this well,” said York, coming to a stop before Sigmund. “What’s your secret?”
“Nothing. He just listens,” responded Sigmund.
“He bring you Hank’s head again lately?” asked York with a grin. “He seems to love doing that.”
Furfur did enjoy stealing the Horseman’s head. And York was right, the dog liked bringing the head to Sigmund. Just the other day, Sigmund had caught the animal out behind Hells Gate, digging a hole to bury the head near a rose bush. Hank had been less than pleased.
Not that Sigmund could blame the man.
A bug flew by Furfur at that moment and he took an interest, rushing off to chase it. Sigmund let him go. He’d be back before long. He always was.
York nodded out in the direction of the commercial fishing boats, which were on the far end of the pier. “Everything go okay? The equipment holding up? The boats good?”
“Yes, but do me a favor and don’t get near any of them anymore,” said Sigmund, in all seriousness. “I only just got them all operational again after the last time you boarded one.”
York, along with the rest of his siblings, was currently cursed thanks to their well-meaning grandmother. She’d gotten tired of waiting for them to find their mates and had taken matters into her own hands. Unfortunately, her power had accidentally combined with that of three others, leaving one hell of a mess in its wake. Each of the children had a spell of chaos over them, which made it exceptionally difficult for York to board any of the boats without incident.
After numerous breakdowns out in open waters, the decision was made to keep York on dry land. It was that or run the risk of the curse actually sinking one of the boats. Since that was a real possibility, it was best for everyone if he just stayed on land.
He wasn’t the only Peugeot family member who’d had to step back from his profession and allow someone else to manage things. His twin, Louis, had to take a backseat and allow another hunter to take over running the antiques and magical artifacts shop he operated.
Leopold (Leo) Gibbons, the hunter helping to run the shop, actually had ties to Everlasting. His little sister was now mated to Jake, and they had a baby boy together. The two resided up in Everlasting but were planning to visit soon.
Sigmund was looking forward to seeing them. He’d met their son at Christmas time, and from the pictures Jake texted often, the baby was growing like a weed.
Leo, who liked to grumble and groan about his sister being married to Jake, was a bit rough around the edges, but he was a competent hunter who possessed the gift of magic, so he was an asset at the shop. From what York had mentioned, Leo had saved the world a few times already by containing artifacts that were dangerous. Ones Louis had knocked off a shelf during inventory—another sign of the chaos curse.
Needless to say, Louis wasn’t doing any more inventory at the shop. He was stuck behind the counter in the antiques portion of the building, no longer permitted around any dangerous magical artifacts.
At least for now.
“Why are you carrying
that around?” questioned Sigmund as he motioned to the lime-green boat fender in York’s hand.
The item was used to helped protect the hull of a boat from damage when docked. They came in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Sigmund had yet to see anyone using lime green at the marina to date.
“Long story,” said York.
“Louis meeting us for dinner over at Howlers?” asked Sigmund, curious as to how packed their boys’ night would be. He and the men he was close to tried to meet up for drinks, food, and some pool at least twice a month. He had to admit he enjoyed the time. It helped to keep his mind off his worries.
“Yep. Just ran into Curt. He said he’ll be there too. Luc coming?” asked York.
“Last I heard,” returned Sigmund, still unable to believe one of his childhood best friends was a permanent resident of the town now. It was nice having Curt around.
Missi was the only Peugeot child who no longer had a curse on her. It had lifted once she and Curt had mated. They were expecting a little one soon. Life for them was good, and Sigmund was happy for them.
Though a small portion of him was jealous that Curt had found such bliss in the town so quickly.
Sigmund’s thoughts went instantly to Virginia. In all the time he’d been in town, they’d just glanced at each other in passing, never saying much since their first meeting.
“Ran into Darrell on the way down here,” said York, something off in his voice. “He was at the service station when I was there, checking on Virginia’s SUV. I asked him if he wanted to join us for dinner tonight. You know, hang with the guys. Seemed the neighborly thing to do. I know you don’t care for him, but he’s a nice guy.”
Sigmund stiffened at the mention of Darrell, the high school principal, who spent far too much time around Virginia for Sigmund’s liking. Every time Sigmund saw the man in town, he fought the urge to pick a fight with him. Not to mention, his kraken side was not a fan of the man. It always became agitated whenever the other male was near. It had happened the very first time he’d met the man and had yet to change.
Sigmund liked to pretend he didn’t know why he disliked the man so much, but the truth of the matter was, it was irrelevant if Darrell was a great guy. He was interested in Virginia.
Everybody Wants to Rune the World: A Happily Everlasting World Novel (Bewitchingly Ever After Book 2) Page 5