Sean raised his head to meet Bryony’s gaze. The corner of his mouth tipped up, despite the bruise blossoming across his cheekbone already—a raging plum purple.
Bryony’s heart stutter-skipped. Why did he have to look at her like that? Like he…
Like he cared.
CHAPTER TWELVE
For the next hour, Sean remained in the small guestroom at the back of the house while Galen spelled his ribs together again. Outside the door of Sean’s room, a collection of Torres siblings had gathered, curly red heads tipped forward, eagerly listening to the muffled conversation on the other side of the door.
“Get away from there,” Naomi said, shooing them down the hall. “Leave the poor boy to rest. He doesn’t need you poking your noses in his business. He doesn’t feel well. Go. And be quiet about it. I don’t want to hear you stomping all over the house.”
Bryony lingered in the kitchen, putting together a tray of food for Sean—pumpkin pie, potato stew, and clove tea. It wasn’t an apology, she told herself. And it wasn’t out of gratitude either. Healing magic took a toll and he would need the strength to fly home.
So, she was simply making the meal in order to get him out of her hair faster.
Naomi sighed as she came down the hallway and entered the kitchen. She eased herself into a chair, one hand pressed to the small of her back.
“I still can’t believe that sweet boy took the fall for you,” she said.
Bryony made no reply and retrieved the jar of honey from the cabinet, spooning out a generous helping into the tea.
Naomi propped her elbow on the table and rested her chin in her hand.
“He seems very attentive to you these days,” she said. “You know, if the interest is mutual, we don’t have any rules about dating co-workers.”
Bryony groaned and let the spoon clatter into the teacup.
“Mom,” she said.
“What?” Naomi replied.
“It’s not like that. Trust me.”
Naomi shrugged. “There’s no harm in a little flirtation.”
“I don’t want a little flirtation.”
“Does Sean know that?”
Bryony turned to face her mother, leaning back against the counter.
“If he hasn’t figured it out by now, he’s thick-headed.”
“Bryony,” Naomi said in a chastising tone. “Don’t be harsh. He saved you today. Try not to be too hard on him. I know boys can be…difficult. Especially Sean. I remember the rocky history you two had in school.”
“Then you know there is no chance that we could ever like each other in the way you’re implying,” Bryony said. She set the teacup down on the tray with a bang that made the china rattle like teeth in fear.
Naomi held up a hand.
“Just make sure you thank him for what he did,” she said. “That’s all I’m saying.”
“I will,” Bryony replied.
She picked up the tray and carried it down the hall to the guestroom. She hesitated a moment, listening for any sounds of pain, but none came. Tentatively, she knocked.
“It’s open,” Sean replied.
Bryony eased the door open to find Sean sitting up in bed. The buttons of his shirt had been left undone, exposing his collarbones and a good portion of his chest. Galen sat in a chair beside him, tucking his wand into his jacket pocket.
“You’re good as new, Sean,” Galen said. “Shouldn’t even feel a pinch. But if you do, let me know and I’ll see to it right away.”
“Thank you, Mr. Torres.”
“After all you’ve done, please just call me Galen.”
Sean nodded and Galen rose from his chair, slipping past Bryony and closing the door behind him.
Bryony stood there, clutching the tray, and she looked at Sean. The bruises were gone. The pain that had pinched between his eyebrows and around his mouth had vanished. His eyes were bright once again with barely restrained mischief.
“I brought you dinner,” Bryony said, shoving the tray forward.
Sean reached out to take it and his hands came to within an inch of touching her fingers. Bryony abandoned the tray, practically throwing it into his lap.
“And Mom said I should…thank you,” she added, hooking her thumbs in her back pocket. “But you look okay now so I’ll just…go.”
She spun on her heel, hating how awkward and wobbly her voice sounded. What was wrong with her? Why was she suddenly on pins and needles around Sean?
“You could stay,” Sean said. “If you wanted.”
Bryony stopped, her fingers around on the door knob, ready to escape.
“Because I’m better now,” he continued. “I suppose you’ll go back to being mean to me again, right?”
Bryony whirled to face him, mouth open, protests burning hot on her tongue. Sean raised his eyebrows, chin tilted up. Waiting.
“I know why,” he said.
“What are you talking about?” Bryony said.
“The reason you’re mean to me.”
“If you say it’s because I like you, Saint Circe above, I will break your nose and I won’t get Dad to fix it this time. You can just live with the pain.”
Sean huffed a laugh and shook his head. He set the tray on the nightstand and swung his legs over the side of the bed.
“That’s not what I was going to say,” he said.
“Really?” Bryony said, skeptical.
He nodded. “You’re mean because you’re testing people.”
She squinted at him. “Excuse me?”
“Only the people who truly matter to you will see that half the things you say are just…” He shrugged. “Talk. Empty words to protect yourself. Anyone who can’t handle your sharp tongue walks right out of your life again and you don’t give them a second thought.”
“You haven’t been around for years, Sean. Just because we knew each other in school doesn’t mean you know me now.”
Sean made a thoughtful sound. “That’s a good point. I’ll have to remind you of that later when you think I’m making fun of you like I used to.”
Bryony’s mouth dropped open but any protest died on her lips.
He was right. Curse him.
Sean rose to his feet and came to stand in front of Bryony. But he didn’t touch her, didn’t attempt to reach out and grab for her hair when he was nine.
He kept his distance. He smelled like pine and moss and damp forest. She could feel the heat radiating off of him and her fingers itched with the absurd thought to trace that dip between his collar bones…
Bryony’s gaze darted up to Sean’s face as she swallowed hard.
“You look worried,” he whispered.
Bryony shook her head, her tongue glued to the roof of her mouth.
“I’m okay,” he said. “Everything’s been mended and I’m good as new again. But…” He paused and a wicked little glint came to life in his eyes. “If you’re really concerned, a kiss would make everything better.”
Bryony frowned. She reached over to the nightstand, picked up the bowl of potato stew and dumped it down the front of his shirt. She spun on her heel and stalked out of the room, leaving Sean standing there, dripping clumps of potato onto the floor.
“I’ll take that as a no then,” Sean said.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
At sunrise, Bryony slipped out of the house to visit Sky. After yesterday and everything that happened with Sean—from the moment he caught her in mid-air to that suggestive low tone of his voice.
…a kiss would make everything better.
Bryony needed time away from Pagan Posies.
Normally, she would spend hours in the gardens or the greenhouse to clear her head, especially so close to Samhain. But it seemed that Sean was wrapped up in every inch of the place and her usual haunts didn’t bring the comfort and peace that they had before.
So, she fled. Escaped to the tiny cottage of Sky’s tearoom. It was a small, squat building with one bedroom, a kitchen, and a sitting room. There were flower
boxes with gold and red chrysanthemums and a cherry tree that Bryony had planted as a house-warming gift sat tucked close to the house, dripping lush red cherries onto the roof and into the gutters.
Bryony knocked lightly on the door and stepped back on the porch, waiting, her hands tucked into the warmth of her coat pockets against the chilly morning. Leaves hissed and danced across the ground. The smell of oncoming frost—crisp and sharp—lingered in the air. It might even snow for Samhain.
The door opened to reveal Sky in a cloud-pink bathrobe. Her hair was twisted up in a messy bun, leaving a few stray wisps to curl down around her heart-shaped face. She scrubbed a hand over her cheek with a yawn. Then her eyes widened at the sight of Bryony.
“Bryony,” she said. “You’re…here? I wasn’t expecting you.”
“Can we talk?” Bryony said. “I know it’s early and if you’d rather do this another time, I understand.”
Sky shook her head and waved her inside. “Absolutely not. Come in. I’ll get some tea boiling.”
Bryony followed Sky into the house only to grind to a stop once she was past the threshold. Hanging on the coat rack was a heavy charcoal gray man’s coat. And tucked in the corner was a broomstick made of black walnut, nestled up close to Sky’s soft red cherrywood broomstick.
Sky noticed Byrony’s stare and her sudden silence. She tugged on Bryony’s sleeve.
“Those are just a few of Aiden’s things,” she said. “He’s not here at the moment. It’s only us.”
It was supposed to put Bryony at ease. She didn’t dislike Aiden. He was soft-spoken, gentle, and kind with an air of calmness about him that made it addictive to be in his presence. Aiden wasn’t the problem.
Bryony and Sky had always been close. It was Bryony’s spare coat on the rack. It was Bryony’s white oak broom piled in a heap at the door with Sky’s broom.
Now someone else had taken Bryony’s place and there was no room for her.
Sky gave another tug to Bryony’s sleeve and cocked her head.
“Is everything all right?” she said. “You look…upset.”
Bryony managed a small smile and kept her coat buttoned on tight, her broom tucked under one arm.
“Nothing,” she said.
It almost seemed as if Sky might argue that point but Sky wasn’t the argumentative type. That was Bryony’s trademark.
“Would you like to hang up your coat?” Sky said.
She’d never had to offer in the past and it showed. The words sounded awkward and strange in the stillness. Bryony always had a place in her home. But Bryony didn’t feel like trying to figure out where her place was now that Aiden had taken up residence in her best friend’s life.
“No, I’m fine,” Bryony said. “Tea would be good though.”
“Okay,” Sky said hesitantly.
Bryony trailed after Sky into the kitchen. As Sky set to filling the kettle and turning on the oven, Bryony swept aside a few bowls of dried herbs and tea bags before she took a seat at the table.
Sky’s house always smelled good. She made tea and read tea leaves for a living. The scents of sage, lavender, and honeysuckle swirled through the room as Sky measured out a blend of tea and took two cups with matching saucers down from the cabinet.
“What is it you wanted to talk about?” Sky ventured.
She kept her back to Bryony, allowing her time to compose herself and think before they came face to face again.
“Well, first, an apology is in order,” Bryony said.
Sky glanced over her shoulder with a soft look. “You know that’s not necessary.”
“Of course it is. I was rude to you the other day at The Eye of Newt. I was mean for no reason…”
She trailed off as Sean’s words echoed in her head.
You’re mean because you’re testing people.
Was she testing Sky? But even now, judging by the look Sky had leveled at her, Sky had already passed that test with flying colors.
Sky turned to the table and slid a cup of tea over to Bryony.
“I know Aiden’s presence in my life has brought a lot of changes with him,” she said. “And it’s hard to get used to that. I don’t blame you.”
Bryony curved her fingers around her cup.
“I’m scared,” she whispered.
The words hung in the air, trembling and small. She hadn’t even realized she was going to say that. She’d never been scared of anything in her life. But now that she had admitted it, she knew those words were right.
“Scared of what?” Sky said.
Bryony traced the lip of her cup and couldn’t meet Sky’s gaze.
“Scared you don’t need me anymore,” she said. “Scared that I’m losing my best friend to a wonderful man she deserves.”
“Oh, Bryony,” Sky said softly. She slid her chair around the table to sit beside Bryony and wrapped her arms around Bryony’s neck.
Bryony dipped her face into Sky’s shoulder, surrounded by the scent of green tea and honey that always clung to Sky’s clothes and hair.
“I know it’s stupid to feel that way,” she mumbled. “I know you’re not replacing me. I just…I can’t stop thinking it.”
Sky pulled back to look Bryony in the eye. She took Bryony’s hands in a solid grip.
“Is this because of Sean?” she said.
Bryony blinked. Sean? They were talking about Aiden and Sky. Not Sean. It seemed she couldn’t escape him no matter where she went.
“No, this isn’t because of him,” Bryony replied.
Sky raised an eyebrow with a tilt of her head as if to say, I don’t believe you.
“Hazel said you were having trouble at home,” she said. “With Sean working at Pagan Posies, it must be difficult to get used to having him around. I would understand if you were stressed about it.”
Bryony sank deeper into her chair. She hadn’t slept the night before, replaying the way she had tumbled off of her broom and how quickly Sean had taken a dive for her. She couldn’t forget the feel of his arm around her waist or his mouth so close to her ear. She couldn’t stop thinking about the way he’d curved his body around hers to form a protective shell, ensuring she didn’t receive one bruise from a fall that had broken bones on him.
It wasn’t the behavior of the Sean O’Hara she knew from school all those years ago. It was the behavior of a different Sean, a little more mature and considerate.
She hated that thought. It got under her skin and itched like crazy.
Because if she’d been wrong about him for so long, Sean would never let her live it down. It was easier to be angry with him than to trust him and be constantly looking over her shoulder, waiting for him to tease her, to mock her, to point at her and laugh like he used to.
“I think I have to move out,” Bryony blurted.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Sky blinked at Bryony, surprised.
“Wait,” she said. “I thought you loved it at home. Why the sudden change of heart?”
“Because there’s no room for me there anymore,” Bryony said. “Because Sean has stepped in and he’s…my family loves him.”
Sky frowned and shook her head. “I don’t understand. Isn’t that a good thing?”
Bryony shrugged and swirled her spoon in her tea.
“I guess so,” she said. “But everyone else is moving on, Sky. You have Aiden. Hazel has the school. With Mom’s twins on the way, space will be even more limited at home. And I’m…I’m still stuck in the past. I can’t let go of grudges like they’re my security blanket. Like I feel safe by being angry and resentful. Life is going ahead without me and I’m…not.”
Sky studied her for a moment, eyes soft with understanding. She squeezed Bryony’s hand.
“You could stay with me if you like,” she said.
Bryony shook her head. “I need to make my own way for a little while.”
Sky’s gaze dropped to the rose-patterned tablecloth. She traced from one flower to another with the tip of her finger.
<
br /> “Is this an excuse?” she said. “For finding new friends?”
Bryony didn’t hesitate. “No,” she replied. “This is me building my own life. Finding my own way. I’d like to remain in Wildemoor, I know that much. But I need my own space, Sky. You’ve lived alone for a few years by now. It’s different for you. I’ve never taken that chance before.”
“I thought you hated it when things were too quiet,” Sky countered. “Trust me, it’s quiet all the time when you live alone.”
Bryony shrugged. “Maybe I’d like it if I gave it a shot.”
“Do you know where you’ll go? There’s a cute little one room farm house by the lake that’s for sale.”
“Isn’t that place haunted?” Bryony said thoughtfully.
“Only by familiars who have passed on. Old cats and crows. That sort of thing. It wouldn’t be lonely but you’d still have the place to yourself.”
Bryony nodded thoughtfully. “I’ll take a look at it. I seem to remember a weeded-over kitchen garden beside the building that could use some attention. I’ve never had a garden of my own.”
“Would you still work at Pagan Posies?”
Bryony didn’t answer right away as she stared into the pale water of her tea. Her whole life had been nothing but Pagan Posies and her family. Apart from Hazel and Sky, she had remained in that one circle, going around and around, tending gardens, orchards, and greenhouses but she rarely ventured outside of that well-worn path of familiarity.
“I think I might take a break from it for a while,” Bryony said. “Just to try other things. Hazel said there’s always a permanent position for me at Windywings available if I want it. And I do love teaching the kids.”
And maybe, a voice in the back of her mind whispered, a little distance from Sean O’Hara might give her some perspective. She felt like she was too close to him, clouded by the past, confused by the present, until she had no idea what the future might hold. She wanted a clear head. She wanted to not think about him every minute of every day until he made her blood boil, even when he wasn’t around.
“I could bring you a few tea blends once you’re settled into your new place,” Sky said. “And we could bake cookies together. We haven’t done that in forever.”
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