Spirit of the Witch (Witches of Keating Hollow Book 3)

by Deanna Chase

  Jacob added cream and sugar to his coffee then moved to stand next to Yvette. “We need to talk.”

  “No, we don’t. It’s fine. Your daughter is here. You should spend as much time as possible with her. I’ve got the bookstore covered.” She gave him a too bright smile and glanced away.

  “Yvette, I—”

  The door swung open, and Sienna walked in. She was wearing formfitting jeans, knee high stiletto boots and a low-cut sweater that showed off her impressive cleavage. Jacob had wondered where exactly she thought she was going when she’d emerged from her bedroom this morning. It was an outfit she was likely to wear to the morning talk shows her publicist arranged to promote Enchanted Bliss. “There you are. I just got off the phone with my assistant. She’s gotten our flights arranged for Friday morning at seven.”

  Yvette gaped at her then turned her gaze on Jacob. “You’re leaving?”

  A lump formed in Jacob’s throat when he saw the devastated look on Yvette’s face. This wasn’t at all how he’d wanted to tell her. “Like I said, we need to talk.”

  “Oh, you didn’t know?” Sienna asked with fake sincerity. “That’s too bad. I guess you’re pretty upset that Jacob won’t be around to turn that little bookstore of yours into a successful franchise. He’s really good at that sort of thing.”

  Yvette glared at her. “I think I’ll manage.”

  Sienna shrugged and walked over to the counter.

  “I guess this means you two are giving it another try?” Yvette asked Jacob while continuing to glare at Sienna.

  “What?” Jacob blinked then frowned. “No. No, not at all.” He glanced down at the little girl wiggling in her pack. “I’m going because of her.”

  Realization dawned in Yvette’s eyes, and everything about her softened. She gazed at Skye and very softly said, “I see.”

  “Do you have time to talk today?” he asked, his eyes pleading with her. “There are things to say.”

  Her eyes glistened with tears, but she held them back as she shook her head. “Listen, Jacob, it’s really okay. I understand. There’s no reason to—”

  “I have things to say,” he said stubbornly. “Just give me a half hour if for nothing other than to work out things with the bookstore.”

  She hesitated and opened her mouth, but then she closed it and nodded. “I’ll be at the store all day. Just come by before we close.”

  “I’ll be there in an hour.”

  “Yvette?” Hanna called. “Your latte is ready.”

  Jacob stared down at her intently, his insides churning with regret. He’d missed her the past five days. Living with Sienna hadn’t been any picnic, and it made him appreciate the kind creature in front of him even more than he had before. She was so real and open and loving. Before he’d moved to Keating Hollow, he hadn’t known what he wanted. He did now, and Yvette was the only one for him.

  “Come on, Jacob,” Sienna said, slipping her arm through his. “We need to get back if we’re going to keep that appointment with the realtor.”

  “Realtor?” Yvette asked, alarm flashing in her blue eyes. “You’re selling your house?”

  Jacob tried to swallow the lump in his throat as he nodded. “I’ll need the resources if I want to move to Aspen.”

  Yvette sat at her desk staring blankly at the computer screen. The moment she found out Jacob was leaving, her heart had broken in two. It hadn’t even been a month since she’d first met him, but she’d fallen so completely in love with him that she wasn’t sure she was ever going to be the same once he left town. Add in the fact that he was selling his house, and she was positive she’d never see him again. Sure, they owned the bookstore together, but the truth was she didn’t need him around to manage the day to day operations, and anything she required of him could be taken care of by email.

  The door cracked open and heavy footsteps sounded on her wood floors. She knew it was him, but she was afraid if she looked up and saw him she’d start to cry. Then she heard the sweet sound of a baby giggle.

  She was doomed. Yvette glanced up at Jacob’s handsome face and saw regret shining back at her. “No,” she said, shaking her head. “Don’t do that. I don’t think I can take it.”

  “Do what? Leave town? I don’t really have much of a choice,” he said, coming to a stop just on the other side of her desk.

  “No, I mean look at me like that.” She shifted her gaze to the sweet baby girl he was holding. She was waving her arms as she tried to reach for Yvette. Her heart melted into a big pile of goo. Yvette held her hands out toward the baby. “May I?”

  His expression softened as he handed his daughter to Yvette. “Of course.”

  The little girl had a fresh baby scent that made Yvette sigh with pleasure. “She’s perfect, Jacob.”

  He stuffed his hands in his pockets and nodded. “I can’t say I disagree with you.”

  Yvette sat back down in her chair and made faces at Skye. The baby giggled happily. Finally, Yvette glanced at Jacob. “Why didn’t you tell me about her?”

  Jacob took a seat and leaned forward. “Because I didn’t even know she existed until I went down to Los Angeles to meet with Sienna. She told me she thought Skye was Brian’s, but then a blood test proved she’s mine.” He glanced at his daughter, the love in his eyes palpable. When he glanced back up and met Yvette’s gaze, he added, “I was pretty messed up by the news. It took me a few days to figure out how to even deal with it, and that’s why I was distant when I got back.”

  She took a deep breath. “I can see how that came as quite the shock.”

  “That’s an understatement.” Jacob explained how Sienna was supposed to bring Skye up for the weekend for him to meet her and then decided Jacob needed more time with his daughter, so she extended the trip. “That’s why she’s still here. I’d already decided I would probably have to move so I could be near Skye, I just hadn’t made up my mind. After these past few days, there’s no question. I just have to, Yvette.”

  She eyed the sweet little girl and could only imagine what he must be feeling. His love for her was already a shining beacon every time he looked at her. The fact he’d fallen so hard and so fast only made Yvette love him more. “As much as I don’t want you to go, I completely understand.”

  He sat back in the chair and just gazed at her. “You do know that if it weren’t for Skye, absolutely nothing could drag me away from Keating Hollow, right?”

  “You did say you’ve always loved the town,” she said with a tiny shrug.

  “That’s not why.” He stood and rounded the desk. He leaned against the edge and reached out, caressing her cheek. “Before I went to L.A. the only thing I wanted to do was spend more time with you. And maybe it’s cruel to tell you this when I have no choice but to leave, but I was going to do everything in my power to make you fall for me, too.”

  “Too? Are you trying to tell me you wanted something more than just a few make out sessions?”

  He laughed. “Much, much more, Yvette. I think I’m always going to regret not finding out where this thing with us was going. You’ll be the one who got away… unless you come with me.”

  Her entire body stiffened. “Did you just ask me to move to Aspen with you?”

  This time his laugh was full of nervous energy. “I guess maybe I did. It’s way too soon, isn’t it?”

  “It’s… yes, way too soon,” she said sadly. “Even if we leave out the fact that I have a bookstore to run, I just got divorced, my family is here, and Keating Hollow is my home. And you…” She ran a light hand over Skye’s curls. “You need to figure out your place in this little one’s life without me getting in the way. Maybe someday in the future we’ll find our way back to each other, but right now I think it’s best for both of us to take a step back.”

  He was silent as an array of emotions flittered over his face, but when his gaze landed on his daughter again, he nodded. “You’re right. It’s about her now.”

  “She’s really lucky, you know. You’re
going to be the best dad she could ever ask for.”

  “I hope so.” He tugged Yvette out of her chair and stepped in close, holding her with one arm, his daughter still between them. “Tell me it isn’t just me. Tell me that you feel this, too.”

  Tears glittered in her eyes as she whispered, “I feel it, too.”

  “This isn’t the end of us, Yvette Townsend. Not if I have anything to say about it.” He leaned in and brushed his lips over hers.

  Yvette clutched at him, knowing that with time and distance his feelings were likely to change. But still, she clung to the hope that he was correct and someday they’d have their chance. Her throat started to ache with the tears she was holding at bay and she pulled back, handing Skye to him. “You should go before this gets any harder.”

  He took his daughter and said, “About the bookstore… since I won’t be here, I’ll become your silent partner. I’ll have Norm send over the new paperwork.”

  “What?” A cold dread washed over her. She’d accepted that he was leaving, but in the back of her mind she’d been counting on the fact that she’d still be in touch with him on a regular basis about the store. “You don’t have to do that. We can talk by phone or email.”

  “I know I don’t have to, but I don’t want you to feel like I’m second guessing your decisions. Of course, I’ll be available if you want to bounce anything off me. I was just trying to be fair to you.”

  She shook her head. “Absolutely not. I like your input, and we work well together. Leave everything the way it is.”

  “Okay, then.” He smiled at her and started to lean in again, but the door burst open and Sienna stumbled in.

  “Jacob, we have to go. Now!”

  Chapter 24

  Jacob jerked back from Yvette, still holding Skye close to him. “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s Brian. He’s here in Keating Hollow,” she said on a sob. “He’s been looking for you. You have to get out of here.”

  Jacob frowned at her. “Why is he looking for me? We don’t have anything to say to each other.”

  Sienna grabbed his hand and started tugging him toward the door. “He’s pissed about us living together. Come on. Hurry before he finds us and beats the crap out of you.”

  “First of all, I’m not afraid of Brian. Second, we’re not living together, and he has nothing to worry about where you and I are concerned,” Jacob said, planting his feet. “What did you tell him?”

  “The truth.” Tears started streaming down her face, and she kept glancing at the door as if she expected Brian to burst in at any moment.

  “Perhaps you two should be alone for this discussion?” Yvette said and slipped past Jacob, heading for the door.

  “Oh no you don’t, you evil witch.” Sienna grabbed Yvette’s arm and yanked her back. “I know you seduced my fiancé. Did you think I was going to just let that go?”

  Shocked by Sienna’s outburst, Jacob was momentarily speechless. But he quickly found his voice as Yvette turned accusing eyes on him. He said, “I don’t know what she’s talking about. Sienna is definitely not my fiancée.”

  “Maybe not technically,” Sienna said as she gazed up at him and batted her eyelashes. “But now that you know we share a daughter, I’m sure we will be engaged again soon enough.”

  Jacob frowned. “Have you lost your mind?”

  Yvette stared at Sienna’s hand clutching her arm, and in a low, barely controlled voice she said, “You should let go of me now before I make you.”

  Sienna tightened her grip on Yvette’s arm.

  “Sienna!” Jacob scolded. “What are you doing?”

  She jumped back as if startled he was still there. Then she ran up to him. “Please, let’s go.”

  “Maybe you should take her home,” Yvette said. “She seems… upset.”

  “That’s one way of putting it.” Jacob adjusted Skye, getting a better hold on her, and then he turned his attention back to Sienna. “Okay, let’s go and get out of Yvette’s way.”

  Sienna started to walk toward the door, but then she turned back and glared at Yvette. “He’s mine. Don’t even think about trying to seduce him again.”

  Anger burned through Jacob, and he wanted nothing more than to throttle Sienna. How had she even known he’d been with Yvette? He certainly hadn’t told her. “That’s enough, Sienna,” he warned. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, but it stops right now, got it?”

  “I’m not playing games, sweetheart,” she purred, stroking his arm. “I’m just trying to keep my family together.”

  “I’m not your family.” He cast Yvette a pained expression. His face burned with heat over Sienna’s freak show performance. He had no idea where this manic, crazed person had come from. For the past five days, she’d been normal enough. And while she’d been relatively self-absorbed, that wasn’t exactly new behavior. Whatever was going on now was a completely different thing.

  “But we are family, Jake,” Sienna said sweetly, using the nickname he’d always hated. “You’ll see. Once you get to Aspen and see the place I’ve chosen for us, you’ll see things my way.”

  “I highly doubt that,” he muttered. He glanced over his shoulder at Yvette and mouthed, I’ll call you later.

  She nodded once and sank back down in her chair, looking shell-shocked by hurricane Sienna. He couldn’t blame her. Sienna’s outbursts were enough to make him question her sanity.

  “Sienna!” a man called from the front of the bookshop in a voice Jacob would recognize anywhere.

  Brian.

  Jacob paused, wondering if Sienna hadn’t just been causing unnecessary drama when she’d warned him that Brian wanted a piece of him. He straightened his shoulders, tightened his hold on Skye and strode out into the bookstore with Sienna pleading for him to go out the back door.

  “Sienna!” he said harshly. “I’m not running away from Brian.”

  The moment Jacob spotted Brian, rage filtered through his entire body. His best friend, the one guy he’d considered his brother, had run off with his fiancée and never looked back. He felt himself tense, and he glanced back at Sienna. “Here, take Skye.”

  “No!” She waved her hands in front of her face and darted off to the side. “She’s your baby!”

  “What? You’re her mother. Stop this, Sienna. Take her so I can talk to Brian.”

  “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Brian said, staring at Sienna. “She’s not… stable.”

  “Here, I’ll take her,” Yvette said quietly from right behind him.

  Relieved she was there, he turned and handed her Skye. “Thank you.”

  “Sure.” Yvette carefully cradled the baby and moved over toward the café, probably trying to put as much distance between them as possible in case there actually was some sort of altercation.

  “What exactly do you mean by ‘not stable’?” Jacob asked Brian.

  His old friend sighed. “Have you really not noticed anything different about her?”

  Jacob studied Sienna, saw her wild eyes and her fidgety hands. He recalled her being a little off during the last five days, muttering to herself and hiding in the guest room while he took care of Skye, but he’d thought she was just stressed over the situation and was giving him time to get to know his daughter. But after the rantings she’d spewed in Yvette’s office, he couldn’t disagree with Brian’s assessment. She clearly wasn’t stable. “She seems to think you’re here to throw down with me or something. You’re not, are you?”

  “What do you think?” Brian strode over to Sienna who was now curled in one of the overstuffed chairs, sobbing about how she’d ruined her life and that no one would ever love her again.

  “No, I don’t think so,” Jacob said, watching in awe as Brian gently lifted Sienna out of the chair. He cradled her in his arms and whispered, “You’re okay now, Sienna. I’m here. I’m not going to let anything happen to you. Everything is going to be all right now.”

  Jacob’s insides went cold. When he’d said
she wasn’t stable, he wasn’t just referring to a temporary freak out. Sienna was sick and clearly needed help. He instantly felt like the biggest jackass who’d ever lived. “When did this start?”

  Brian glanced up. “Not long after she left you. Probably before that, but no one could see it yet. I didn’t, and neither did her mother.”

  Guilt ate away at Jacob’s gut. “I didn’t know.” He wanted to walk over to Sienna and lend a soothing hand, but she was curled up in Brian’s arms, resting her head on his shoulder. Clearly neither of them needed Jacob’s help.

  “I’m going to get her to the healer,” Brian said. “I’ll come by after and explain everything.”

  Jacob didn’t know what to do or say, so he just nodded. But as Brian started to move toward the front door, Jacob blurted out, “Is it true that Skye is my daughter, or was all of that a lie, too?”

  Brian glanced over at Yvette and Skye. Pain flashed in his tortured eyes for just a moment before his expression cleared. Then he looked Jacob right in the eye and said, “She’s definitely yours, brother.”

  As a rush of relief flooded Jacob’s body, he watched Brian stoically carry Sienna out of the store.

  “Jacob?” Yvette said quietly from behind him.

  “Yeah?” He was still staring at the door, completely gutted and not at all sure of how he was supposed to feel about what had just gone down.

  “Are you okay?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “No, not at all.”

  “That’s okay. Come on. Let’s get out of here.” She slipped one hand in his and started leading him out of the store.

  “Where are we going?” he asked, still stupefied by the day’s events.

  “Home.”

  Chapter 25

  Jacob sat in the passenger seat of Yvette’s Mustang and marveled at the woman beside him. She’d somehow gotten the baby seat out of Sienna’s rental, transferred it to her car, and secured Skye in the back. Then she’d coaxed him into the passenger seat, and he couldn’t even remember any of it. By the time he returned to the land of the living, they were winding their way up the side of the mountain to his house.