No, probably not. She couldn’t settle down. She was afraid of having a child while her family was hunted. What option did she have but move on when Thanatos came for her?
Still, she wouldn’t betray Chatan the way Jenna had.
“I think he can decide for himself what he wants and needs.” She certainly didn’t know.
Chatan took her hand under the table and leaned over to whisper, “You, I want—I need you.”
Her eyes widened as she turned to him. How could he know that? Why would he claim it?
Jenna snorted. “She’s going to hurt you, Chatan. Worse than I ever did. She’s scared, and you always want more than anyone can give you.”
He glared at Jenna. “You don’t know me as well as you think, Jenna. Please, leave us alone. And if Mac isn’t here, we’ll go elsewhere for lunch.”
Jenna popped out of the booth. “Fine, I’ll get my father. Maybe he can talk some sense into you, Chatan.”
“Don’t listen to her,” Chatan murmured. “Mac knows I wasn’t meant for Jenna.”
Jacinda nodded. What was she supposed to say? She had to leave eventually. Taking him with her meant he’d die. Was exploring the growing connection worth the heartache?
“Why so quiet?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Sorry. Wasn’t expecting that.”
“Should we go elsewhere?”
Jacinda looked into his eyes. “No. I won’t let her rattle me.”
“You sure?” he asked softly. “On both counts?”
Jacinda nodded. “Yeah, her shitty attitude doesn’t change anything.” Except make her rethink her outlook on how far to go with Chatan.
If anything, she was more confused than ever. And maybe he was smart to want to wait for her to be ready. Maybe it would keep them from getting together. Maybe.
He held her hand tighter. “What do you want?” Chatan whispered.
She looked up and found Mac’s warm smile. She ordered the same as before, including the soup.
Mac held her gaze. “Don’t mind Jenna. She hasn’t learned that she isn’t the center of the universe. Hopefully, she’ll learn the lesson soon.”
“I can understand why she’s bitter. She threw love away and realized it was everything she wanted, but now she can’t get it back.”
He nodded. “So be careful with Chatan. He’s a good man and worthy of true love. Unfortunately, Jenna isn’t ready for that yet.”
“I’m sorry.”
He shook his head. “Don’t be. Not your fault.” Mac smiled. “I’ll have your soup in a moment.”
Chatan caught her chin and pulled her gaze to him. “Don’t listen to him. I don’t want you to feel pressured.”
“But you want more with me.” It wasn’t a question.
He nodded. “I’ll be honest, yes. Of course. I can’t deny the fact we’re like magnets.”
“We are, aren’t we?” She leaned closer, closing her eyes as his arm went around her. Jacinda didn’t stand a chance.
“Relax. I’m in no rush. The thing I want most is just to be near you.”
“You are. I’m not going anywhere.” Not yet.
Mac brought their soup, and Jenna kept herself busy with most of the other tables. At least she left them alone.
* * * *
Chatan shut Jacinda into the truck after lunch. Jenna left them alone after the first encounter. They would never make it out of the parking lot without her showing up.
Jacinda nodded behind him, and he already knew who’d be there. “I’ll be right back,” he mouthed.
She dipped her head.
He turned to Jenna.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Why would you bring her here, when you know I work here?”
“Jenna, I didn’t even think about you being here. I didn’t do it on purpose. And honestly, after all these years, after how you betrayed me, I don’t understand why you’re upset when we were simply sitting close. How many times did I find you making out in a public place with Mason when you cut my heart out?”
Her mouth dropped open. “You actually care for this girl. It’s so much worse.”
He squeezed his hands shut. “Jenna, for just a moment, consider the fact that you cut ties with me. You taught me my lesson. You didn’t love me enough to choose me.”
“I couldn’t have had that child,” she snarled.
He nodded. “That’s not why I can’t forgive you. Ultimately, I would have respected your choice, even if it broke my heart. It hurts that you didn’t even ask. No, you went through with it for him, and he threw you away like you threw me away. I’m sorry, Jenna, but that’s karma. You and I will never be together again.”
“We were good together!”
“Yeah, until you cheated on me. Look, I wish you well, but leave me alone. Leave Jacinda alone.” He turned and climbed into the truck. “Sorry.”
“No reason to be sorry. God, I’m getting tired of that word.” Jacinda pushed her hair over her shoulder.
He couldn’t help laughing. “All right. Then I won’t say it again. You don’t either. Now, let’s go to the lake. Taryn and Loval will meet us.”
“Should I be nervous?”
“No. Not at all. I think you’ll enjoy yourself.”
She sighed. “I have a question.”
“What’s that?”
“Why are you introducing me to all of your friends?”
“They’re family, and I want you to feel welcome, by not only me, but everyone here.”
“No one is ever liked by everyone, and that’s fine. I don’t need to be buddies with everyone in town. And really, I can’t imagine calling her a friend with the way she hurt you.”
He squeezed her hand. “Then let’s enjoy our day.”
“Sounds perfect.”
“I’m taking you home so you can change. I’ll run home and change and be back to pick you up.”
“Sounds good.”
* * * *
Chatan parked, and before he could stop her, Jacinda climbed out of the truck.
A young woman who looked a lot like Loretta greeted her with a giant hug. “Hey, I’m Taryn. My mom is Loretta, and this is Loval.” She stepped back to show the man with chin-length black hair.
Loval greeted her with a smile. “So, you’re the one who’s kept Chatan busy the last couple nights?”
“Um, days. We didn’t spend the night together,” she answered.
Taryn smacked Loval. “He just means that you were hanging out, when we normally would have hung with him.”
“Sorry.” Not really, but she wasn’t sure what else to say.
“Don’t you dare apologize,” Chatan teased. “I’d rather spend my evening with you than play third wheel to these two.”
“Now you don’t have to,” Taryn answered. “Both of you can hang with us. Unless you’d rather be alone.”
“Let’s see how dinner goes,” she offered tentatively.
Chatan’s hand wrapped around her waist. “Whatever you want to do, we’ll do,” Chatan murmured in her ear.
The blush came on immediately. There was nothing she could do to prevent it. “Let’s see how we get along.” She sounded more confident than she felt.
“If you’re as amazing as Chatan says, I don’t think that will be a problem,” Loval answered.
“I think it’s time to get in the water.” Taryn pulled her top off and kicked off her shorts before throwing her sandals in the car.
Jacinda had already kicked her shoes off in the truck, but pulled the dress over her head and tossed it in the back of the truck.
She started for the water and Taryn linked their arms.
Chatan called, “We’ll be right there.”
Jacinda smiled.
Taryn whispered, “You make him happier than I’ve seen him in a long time. Be careful with his heart. He’s a good guy.”
“I will,” she answered, knowing she’d still hurt him when she left. She didn’t see another way. And every time she con
sidered not spending more time with him, she couldn’t resist a little more.
Would she be able to leave at all?
That was a question for another day.
Chapter 15
Everything had gone better than Chatan could have hoped for. Taryn and Loval took her in and made her feel like she belonged.
Jacinda really seemed to enjoy herself. So sad that she hadn’t found that sense of comradery before. And yet, it might mean that wherever her travels took her, she’d feel most at home there, in Wanatoga.
She gave him a huge smile. “I’ll admit, that was a lot of fun. I wasn’t sure what to expect.”
“I’m glad I brought you out then.” As closed off as she’d started to get, she opened right back up with a little help from his friends.
Hopefully Loval and Taryn wouldn’t insist on them coming over. But if they did, and Jacinda chose to go, he wouldn’t argue.
A loud engine came up behind the truck. She spun in the seat to look, then ducked down. He saw who it was in the rear view. Mason, Butch, and some other assholes from Saint Morton, all puppets to that bitch Josephine.
Chatan looked over to find Jacinda simply gone. He could still feel her presence. “Tell me that spell is stable.”
“Yeah, just don’t try to reach down here. If you touch me, the spell will break. And there’s only one possible problem. The dress in the back. I should have tossed it in the cab, instead of back there.”
“Don’t worry about that. They may not notice. They’ll likely just yell at me. And if Taryn and Loval come back, it could get ugly.”
“Have to stop?”
“Yeah, better to get rid of them now. They’re going to cause an accident if we don’t. They’re just looking to rile some feathers and probably to ask about Wendy.”
“All the more reason I should leave town, so you don’t have to worry.”
“If it wasn’t you, they’d come to harass someone else.” Just maybe not with the whole gang. Not that she needed to know that. One or two at a time would come over to harass people when they got bored. Seemed to happen once or twice a week. Not usually a gang load in a truck, but Josephine had mindfucked half the males in Saint Morton.
Chatan pulled over. “Stay here, don’t make a sound.”
She didn’t answer, so he took the keys and stormed to the back of the truck where the asshole brigade had parked inches from his bumper.
Assholes.
“What do you want?” Chatan demanded.
Mason shouted, “Where’s Wendy? We know you’ve been hanging out with some redhead. Now you’re going to tell me where the fuck she is.”
“Don’t know a Wendy or a redhead. And you aren’t welcome here. Get the fuck out of Wanatoga.” He wanted to strangle Jenna. She was the only one stupid enough to give out information about where Jacinda might be.
“Maybe Wendy is an alias. Still, you know who we’re talking about. You were with her at the diner. So where is she now?” Mason demanded.
Chatan laughed. “You’re a fool. What made you believe she’s here?”
“Jenna. She called me because you refuse to give her what she craves. She’s stupid enough to hope I’ll give her some for being a good little girl.”
“You’re such an asshole. And Jenna’s just trying to make you jealous.”
“Of a redhead,” Mason snarled.
So tempting to shut the bastard up with a fist to the mouth. “No, of whoever you’re currently banging. She knows I’ll never take her back.”
Loval parked, and Taryn hopped out of the car. She hurried over as Butch picked up Jacinda’s dress out of the back of the truck. “Whose is this?”
Shit, there was no way that would fit Taryn. He didn’t see how it would be possible. Taryn was a fuller figured woman. Jacinda was slender.
Didn’t stop Taryn from snatching it out of Butch’s hand and pulling it over her wet bikini. “It’s mine, asshole. I tossed it in his truck because it was closer at the time.”
“Sleeping with your cousin now?” the asshole remarked.
Loval growled. “Nothing of the sort. Now get out of here. There are no strangers in Wanatoga. We haven’t seen who you’re looking for, so give it up already.”
Butch popped his head into the open passenger window of Chatan’s truck. “I smell something pretty.”
Chatan smirked. “Yeah, perfume. Took my aunt on a hike. The drive was long.”
“Never smelled this scent,” Butch snapped.
“She wouldn’t give you the time of day,” Chatan retorted.
Mason pushed past Chatan and stuck his head in the window. “A girl has been in here. Where is she?”
“Please, like I want you harassing my aunt. Now get the fuck out of Wanatoga.”
“Yeah, scram, before we start electrocuting you,” Taryn warned. Out of the three of them, she was the only one who could do anything like that.
Loval had speed and agility. He
could move the ground if he wanted to.
Chatan’s gift lay mostly with plants and making them grow. Which was pretty lame in comparison.
Then there was Taryn, a full-fledged shaman, more like his brother Tomahawk. She could manipulate the elements around her.
“Still think you’re hiding something,” Butch warned, reaching for the handle of the truck.
Chatan shoved Butch, and the bastard swung his fist, though Chatan dodged easily and shoved Butch again. This time the big guy went down on his ass. “Get going,” Chatan warned a second before sirens came blaring down the road.
He had to smile. Loval probably called Joe to make sure the assholes left town. Which meant they’d already harassed someone else. Most likely the people in the diner.
Chatan crossed his arms over his chest. “Now don’t you wish you’d left when you had the chance?”
“You assaulted me,” Butch shouted, jumping to his feet.
Joe hurried over, pushing Butch back. “Knock that shit off. You’re harassing Chatan, Loval, and Taryn. Get back in your car and go home.”
“He assaulted me!” Butch repeated.
Mason grabbed his arm. “Don’t bother. This fucker doesn’t ever see anything but what he wants to. Same as all these other losers.” Mason climbed back into the truck as the other assholes jumped into the back.
Joe muttered, “I should really give them a ticket for that bullshit.”
Chatan shook his head. “Wouldn’t do any good. They’d just fight it, and it wouldn’t ever go anywhere.”
“You okay? They find who they’re looking for?”
Chatan shook his head.
“Good. I need to talk to you later. Give me a call. And George may need you tonight, for a short bit.”
He sighed. “Of course.”
“That goes for you too, Loval,” Joe added.
“Figured that. See you then,” Loval answered.
Joe pulled Chatan aside and lowered his voice. “This young woman, is she with you?”
Chatan dipped his head slowly.
“I sense her. Tell her we’ll keep her safe.”
“Will do. If I can convince her to stick around. I imagine she’s nervous right now. Worried these assholes are going to track her down.”
“We won’t let them. Relax. Convince her it’s safer here until we can stop Josephine.”
“I’ll try.”
* * * *
Jacinda sat on the floor of the truck, shaking like a leaf. She’d managed to transmute the dress, making it bigger, and just big enough to fit Taryn.
And then the big guy scented her. Weird, because she never wore perfume or used scented soaps or anything. But Chatan said she smelled like flowers. She never noticed a scent. Maybe she needed to find a way to hide that.
Loval and Taryn drove away while Chatan spoke to the cop who came by.
If she thought she could sneak out and get to her car without notice, she’d leave now. But Chatan would likely track her down. And maybe she wanted to be caught.
<
br /> Chatan climbed into the driver seat. “You hear all that?”
“Yeah, and I should really go.”
“You’re safer here than anywhere else. At least until Josephine’s out of the way.” Chatan started up the truck.
“You keep saying that, but if they’re going to be causing a ton of problems, then you’re all better off without me.”
“Jace, I wouldn’t be better off without you.”
“You hardly know me,” she answered, too much feeling in her voice.
His hand touched her shoulder and the spell melted away, revealing her. “Just an illusion?”
She sighed, laying her head back against the door. “Hiding a person is much harder than an inanimate object. I never could keep the spell up if touched.”
“Good thing that fucker didn’t get the door opened.”
Jacinda nodded, then closed her eyes. “Look, I know you want to protect me, but I don’t need protection. The only reason I hid is because you told them I wasn’t here.”
“Just like everyone else. Well, Jenna must have opened her big mouth, but that doesn’t matter because not a single damned person is going to back her up.”
Shaking her head, she climbed into the seat and pulled on the seatbelt. “You can’t guarantee that, and I don’t need a whole town lying for me.”
“I’ve seen the leftover pieces from Josephine’s victims, Jace. Not much left. The remains reek of dark magic.”
“Why does she send a bunch of perfectly human men to pick up casters?” Jacinda countered. “Think this through a minute, Chatan. She’s not coming herself. I managed to get away from them. I could always leave and come back when she’s no longer an issue.”
“They’d only follow, find you, and drag you back. The cuffs they use block magic. Block it, Jacinda.”
Her eyes narrowed. “How much do you know about their methods?”
“I’ve helped try to stop them. Someone found a pair of the cuffs they dropped. The elders examined them. How did you get out of them?”
“How do you know I was in them?” she countered.
“Saw the marks on your wrists. Nothing else causes those marks.”
“Observant. Why didn’t you say so the first night?”
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