I could feel my arteries clogging and my endorphins dancing. I couldn't have asked for a better pick me up after the couple of days I'd had.
I must have groaned a little. Or a lot. Everybody in the restaurant had turned to watch me eat. "Sowwy," I managed to choke out with a mouthful of heaven.
"Is it too late to change my order?" One of two girls sitting at the square-top table asked Marge.
"Since I don't know what it is, you can't."
The girl looked crestfallen.
"It's our new sandwich. It's called the Dot," Herb yelled through the window. "It's a super-secret new menu item, only for those in the know. I'll swap out your order. You had the burger no mustard?"
The girl nodded, nearly bouncing in her seat.
I munched on a fry, trying not to blush and failing miserably. To have a sandwich named after you at the local diner was the highest order possible bestowed upon anyone. I might have to change my name to Lady Dot. Lady Dorothea was a little too prissy.
Instead of looking over at Chief, I gazed out the window as I ate, taking in the sights of people wandering Main Street. I wished with all my heart that the bookstore would open soon. I knew it wouldn't be until after the new year and it left me a little melancholy. I would have loved to have decorated the store for Yule.
There's always next year. And the next few centuries after that.
I tried to picture the city street the way I wanted it to look. The ultimate end of my goal. A bustling little rural metropolis of happiness. There were some meager decorations on the light poles already, and a few strands of lights strung up in the couple of businesses that had survived the plight of the economy crashing. I wanted more stores, more lights, and pine garland galore. Somebody needed to wrap the light poles with red ribbon, too.
It will happen. This mess has just made me more determined.
Fuck Chief.
That thought let in little images I did not want to be picturing.
Marge set another plate of food on the table on the other side of the booth and walked back behind the counter. "Food's up," she told Chief and pointed at my table.
I'm going to turn her into a bat.
Chief honestly looked afraid. "Marge," he hissed.
"It's fine," I said loud enough for him to hear. Ignoring him, I concentrated on my sandwich. I wanted to eat it as quickly as possible before it cooled. At least that's what I told myself.
I heard his sigh and his stool swivel as he turned around.
"Don't expect a tip." I knew he was glaring at the busy-body behind the counter. I could feel the heat from it.
"Here's a tip for you. Stop being an ass and tell her you suffered one too many head injuries."
Everyone in the restaurant laughed, until Chief looked around at all of them, memorizing their faces. I could even mentally picture him pre-writing their names in his ticket book.
"I need to call the network. There's enough drama from the two of them for twelve new shows."
"Order up," Herb said loudly to his wife.
"Yeah, yeah. I kinda wanna see how this plays out," she told him.
I wanted to crawl in a hole. With my sandwich, though.
Chief set his coke down on the table by his double burger and fries. "I'm sorry for this," he whispered as he slid in.
"I know." I took another bite, overstuffing my already full mouth.
"So, what's in the Dot?"
I sighed with a mouthful of food, chewing quickly and swallowing. "Little bit of rage. Lotta bit of regret. And a smidgeon of sorrow."
"That's some weird ingredients for a sammich."
"Oh, you meant the sandwich. Sorry. That's hazelnut spread, peanut butter, bananas, deep fried to golden perfection and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Or crack. Maybe both, I might be addicted."
Absentmindedly, I picked up my untouched half and offered him a bite.
Surprisingly, he leaned forward and tried it.
"Holy shit, that's sweet."
"That's why he named it after me."
He burst out laughing, trying to cover his mouth and saving me from the spray. I handed him a napkin and he wiped his hand and mouth, still chewing and laughing. I didn't know whether to be offended or not. I decided to go with not. I grinned at him.
"That tastes really good, though."
I leaned forward and looked around. I whispered, "That's the other reason he named it after me."
I'd managed to wait until he was taking a sip of his coke. This time there was no saving me from the spray. He looked like a breaching whale. I thought I might have seen a rainbow for a moment.
I sat there staring at him in disbelief, coke mist slowly coalescing into drops and running down my face. He didn't know if he should run or laugh more.
"I am so sorry. Oh, my Lady." He got up and ran to the counter. "Can I have a clean towel?"
"Smooth move, ex-lax," Marge said and handed him a clean, folded dishtowel from behind the counter.
He ran back over, offering it to me.
I chuckled as I took it from him. "Okay. That one was my fault."
He sighed in relief and sat back down. "I can't believe you said that."
"Sort of just popped out."
"Yeah, but now I'm trying to picture how Herb knows how you taste. I'm not feeling well."
I gasped and turned green. I'd missed that little bit of logic with my witty remark. We both looked up at each other at the same moment wearing the same expression. It was a good thing both of our mouths were empty. We lay back in the booth laughing together.
"See, isn't this better?" Marge started wiping drying coke off our table and putting down a stack of fresh napkins. "I'm kind of a genius sometimes. I scare myself."
"And Herb," Chief added, much to her dismay.
"Careful, Chief. I serve your food." She turned and walked away.
He sighed. "I just seem to piss all the women off in my life."
"Well, you can be an asshole sometimes."
"Sometimes?"
"Every once in a while, you're kinda sweet." I was being honest when I said it. "You're lucky you have a great ass."
He smiled at that and sat back up. He picked up his burger but didn't' take a bite. "I do owe you the biggest apology in the history of saying I'm sorry. I was way out of line yesterday, Dot. I hope you can forgive me. One day."
"Eat. I forgive you. Don't do it again."
"I won't. Or at least I'll try really hard not to. I promise."
"I may stab you next time. Let that be a deterrent."
"Don't need to. The look you gave me was deterrent enough."
I nodded. I could only imagine what I looked like.
"I had a long talk with Jason last night. He told me what it was like when Rebecca was high priestess. I didn't know. I'm sorry."
"It wasn't bad, just frustrating at times. I had all the responsibility and I got used to it. Then you came along, headstrong and adamant. It may take me a while to get used to that."
"But you still want to?"
"Want to what?"
"Get used to it," I said nervously, afraid to hear his answer. I wasn't lying to myself when I said I didn't want to end it. I was just worried he might…
"Very much so."
"Okay." I breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
He nodded, taking another bite of burger and shoving a french-fry in his mouth. I started nibbling on the other half of my food.
"What about us."
"I haven't forgiven you that much. Give me time to cool down. I'm still pretty pissed."
He nodded. "I understand and deserve it."
At least he understands. I may not want to end our relationship, but that doesn't mean everything is going to be shits and giggles right off the bat.
"Not to start an argument, were you just pissed and trying to make me angry, or did you really think I was putting them before the coven?"
"I thought about it all night. I don't trust them like you do. Call it what you want, but
they are what they are. However, with that said, what I should have yelled was that you were putting them before what I wanted. It didn't have anything to do with the coven. You weren't doing what I wanted and that freaked the fuck out of me and I'm disgusted by myself. Too used to getting my way."
He really was disgusted with himself. He pushed his food away. I could tell it took a lot of soul searching and everything he had to tell me that.
"Thank you for being honest."
"Thank you for making me be honest with myself."
I nodded. Anger was still swirling in me, but it had died down from a category five hurricane to a tropical storm. Hopefully the low-pressure system would move off the coast and we'd have clear skies ahead.
I tossed him an olive branch. I reached across the table and stroked his hand with my fingers. He didn't try to hold my hand, but he turned his palm up, offering me his. I set the check for lunch in it and gave him a grin.
He chuckled. "My pleasure."
"I was teasing. Give it back."
"No. It's the least I could do."
"No. The least you can do is come help me ward the new house I bought for our friends."
"The ones staying in your current house?"
I nodded.
"I like this plan."
"I figured you would. With the two coming tonight, there should be plenty of room for them. And they'll be on the outskirts of town. Giving them a bat-phone to get ahold of me in emergencies." I had a flash of brilliance. "I might need to get ahold of my mother, though."
"Why?"
"If they call for backup, it will take a minimum of five minutes to get there. We could shield and ward the shit out of that place but without someone on the inside to maintain the wards, the rogues will wear them down quickly. I want a volunteer to stay with them to be the battery."
"And you don't want to risk any of our people."
"No. It's not that. I don't want anyone to think I'm risking our people. Does that make sense?"
"You mean me…"
"Not just you. But, yes. You are included in that."
"Fair enough."
CHAPTER 13
We picked up Josie and Candace on the way. She had a few hours until she had to be at work and volunteered her services. Josie didn't look surprised when I showed up with Chief.
We headed toward the house, the girls in my SUV and Chief in his Jeep behind us. I got lost on the way and had to plug the address from my paperwork into my mundane GPS.
Josie finally got around to asking. "So, you forgave him, huh?"
I nodded. I really didn't want to talk about it, she was smug enough. "Mostly. I'm still pissed, but I no longer want to send his man bits to a taxidermist."
To stop the conversation from progressing further, I called my mother. For once in her life, she was the lesser of two evils.
"Hello, favorite daughter," she answered, her voice echoing over the car speakers.
"Hello, second favorite mother." Two could play that game.
"You amuse me to no end. What to you require now? Did you pick up a litter of lycanthropes?"
Candace was having giggle fits in the back seat. Josie shook her head at her, wide-eyed, making shushing faces.
"Who is that charming creature with the melodic laugh?"
"Candace, one of ours."
"Next visit, you shall have to introduce me to the rest of yours."
"You'll see them at Yule, Mother. You are still coming?"
"Perhaps the day after. Festivities shall be in full swing here."
"Meaning you'll be skyclad in a house full of hand-picked male members."
"Perhaps."
I sighed, fervently trying not to picture that. "I did call for a favor, though."
"I'm shocked. Usually you call just to chat."
The sarcasm is strong with this one today.
"I need a witch."
"You have some."
"I need more."
"Why?"
She doesn't beat around the bush. Maybe she does, but I don't want to picture that either…
"My protection offer to our new vampires has come with some…differs of opinion on the matter within the coven. I have established a sanctuary for them and the ones being sent by Mr. Abernathy. We're on our way to ward the place now, but one of our witches was attacked by the band of rogues. He's okay, but fought hard to maintain the wards against them. I need someone who is willing to share space with vampires and maintain the wards long enough for the cavalry to arrive…"
"And the Coven of the Black Well is used to vampires."
"Yes."
"This is just until the rogues move on or are destroyed? Or is this a recruitment offer, as well?"
"I won't lie. That is not my intent but would be welcome. If someone is willing to relocate with a more permanent intention… I would not say no. Our numbers are few."
"How many?"
"In our coven? We are down to ten."
"That's hardly a coven, but I was referring to recruits. Some are restless and news of your pioneer efforts and deeds are spreading like an infection. You might get more than you could handle."
That kind of surprised me. I loved Ashville. If it weren't for the goddess induced itch driving me away, I'd never have left. "You'd be surprised what I can handle, Mother."
"That sounded dirty, daughter. I shall put the word out as well as your phone number. You can interview and pick and choose for yourself. I won't let half the coven relocate, though."
"Fair enough. I thank you for your gracious offer, Mother."
The line clicked dead without a goodbye. I was still in shock. Josie looked almost apoplectic. "How the hell do you do that?"
"What?"
"Snap your fingers and get an army."
"A few witches is hardly an army."
"She was scary," Candace's voice peeped from the back seat.
"You don't know how right you are, baby. If Dot's not around, and you see her, run."
"Don't scare her! She's not that bad. Most of the time."
We pulled up to the new house. "Chief and I will be on warding duty. You two handle the house. No pink."
"What do you mean?"
"You'll see."
We got out of the car, waited for Chief, and I unlocked the door, pushing it out of the way so they could see the monstrosity I had bought.
"Why did you buy an art museum?" Chief made a face as he looked around the interior.
"That's putting it generously. Looked like a mortuary to me," I answered Chief.
"I don't understand. What's wrong with it?" Josie asked, confusedly.
Maybe I shouldn't have put her on redecorating detail.
Chief and I left them to it and created a perimeter ward around the edge of the property, using magic to create a hedgerow worthy of holding the spell. Windows were salted, protections cast, and we even put in a few traps and power sinks. By the time we were done I was exhausted but satisfied.
"You might not need that internal power supply…"
I looked up at Chief. It was cold out, but I was nearly out of breath and sweating. It had been almost pleasurable casting the wards with him. Our magic was very…compatible, for a lack of a better word. If they weren't, casting the spells would have been twice as hard and worked only half as well.
"Well, better safe than sorry. I called my mom on the way."
"How'd that go?"
"She's putting the offer out to the younger members of the coven. Especially to those who might consider making the move a little more permanent. We might be getting a few more members to our little coven."
"I don't know how to feel about that," he said thoughtfully.
"Bigger isn't always better, but we're in a position to hand pick who stays. Mother is setting up some phone interviews, but… I would like you to be with me when I do the personal ones. I'd like your input. How's that for fucking compromising?" I smiled to let him know I was teasing.
"I'm impressed. And I tha
nk you."
My smile got a little bigger. If he was willing to work with me, I could return the favor.
"Hey," he said.
"What?"
"Think your mother might be sending someone to spy on you?"
I laughed. I hadn't thought of it, but it was more than likely. "Probably."
"That doesn't make you mad?"
"No. I would expect nothing less."
"You and your mother ever go to therapy?"
"Once, and then she slept with him and he told me I was an awful person."
"Are you kidding me?"
"Yep."
"Dot?"
"Yes."
"I missed you," he said happily.
I nodded. "You do have entertainment value. I've had to take up knitting. Knitting, Bill."
He chuckled in the cool afternoon air. "Dot?"
"Yes?"
"Would you mind if I hugged you?"
I thought about it. Not going to lie, I really wanted that hug. "Okay, but no kissing."
He took the step forward, slipping his arms through the jacket I'd unzipped because I was hot. His arms wrapped around my back and pulled me close to him. My head settled instinctively against his chest.
"Didn't say you could feel me up, either."
"Are you complaining?"
"No."
His chest vibrated as he chuckled.
"Look at me," he whispered.
"No. I'm afraid."
"Of what?"
"Not being mad at you anymore."
"Would that be so bad?"
"No." I lifted my head.
His head lowered and I lifted myself on my toes, my lips meeting his halfway. My hands found his face, pulling him to me harder.
Anger is an overrated emotion, anyway.
My lips parted, and his tongue slipped into my mouth, intertwining with mine. We both whimpered as we let the kiss grow into something desperate, his hands sliding down onto my ass and then back up under my hoodie, cooling my skin but making me hotter.
I pulled back. Not because I wanted to stop, either. I just didn't want it to progress to a point where we wouldn't be able to stop. Not the best idea standing outside a house in the snow.
"Wow. I missed kissing you." He pulled me a little tighter, but just for a moment.
Second Blood: A Reverse Harem Tale (Lovin' the Coven Book 2) Page 11