Sam may come over tomorrow night to help me unload some boxes that I stuck up in the attic when I moved in. Caleb came over when Kira left for work this morning and painted the third bedroom for me. The sage green is darker than I had wanted, but I like it. It will go well with Grandma Lily’s quilt and spindle bed. Once I get that room finished, I just have the family room in the back, the kitchen, and the downstairs bathrooms to do. Ick.
Guess I better get cleaned up. After messing with the asafetida, I smell like a big-city dump. There’s a reason that herb’s name contains the word fetid. It’s off to the shower with me.
3 P.M.
This is rapidly turning into a pretty good day. An hour after we gave him the potion, Mr. Gunther perked up and he was writing in his journal when I left.
If that man were fifty years younger, Sam would have some stiff competition. As it is, I’m goo-goo over him. Swear he’s worked some kind of magic on me, but he says he doesn’t have a magical bone in his body.
The sheik is worried about something and his thoughts keep popping into my head. My problem is I’m not sure if I’m tapping into him, or vice versa.
I know he needs me, not for protection, but to talk things out. I’ve tried to call but can’t get through. Sent him a mental message to contact me, but he has to be open to it to understand.
I have to stop thinking about Azir. Those big brown eyes and hot body will not pull me in again.
The truth is, I wonder if I’m looking for reasons to be with him, because this thing with Sam is so intense. I hope not. Maybe I’m imagining things. Either way, it’s not good.
Sent some protection mojo to Russia. Whatever is going on, maybe it will help. I need to concentrate on things closer to home for now.
Eighteen
Wednesday, 5 P.M.
Waning moon
Sweet, Texas
Happy witches: 12
M et Peggy and her gang for tea at Cinnamon’s Tea House yesterday. Can’t say the rest of the coven is as crazy about me as she is.
I remember in high school when there were kids at lunch no one would sit next to, but I looked for those people and always sat with them. Most of the time they were a lot more interesting than the people who sat at the jocks’ or cheerleaders’ tables.
I now know how those loner kids must have felt because at the tea no one would sit next to me. And I looked so darn cute.
Peggy had placed me at the opposite end of the table from her and as the other witches filed in, they chose to sit at least one space away. Each woman would come in and nod with a tight smile. Then they’d go sit as far away as possible.
That is until Ms. Helen walked in. She plopped herself down, and I poured her a cup of orange spice tea.
“You look adorable in that dress, Bronwyn. I’m pretty sure I had one just like it back in the sixties.” Helen smiled and grabbed one of the tiny cucumber sandwiches off of the platter.
I’d worn a red and white polka-dot shift with a white sweater. Added three-inch red pumps and a pearl necklace. Very Jackie O. Not my normal garb, but I’d had tea enough with my mother’s friends to know what was expected. Most of the other women were dressed the same.
“It might be your dress. I found it at a secondhand shop in Dallas.” I laughed and handed her the sugar.
“Well, it sure looks better on you than it ever did on me.” She took a sip and squeezed my hand. “How’s that young man of yours doing?”
When she said it I’m ashamed to say the sheik’s face popped into my head before Sam’s. Bad Bronwyn. Bad. Thought I’d been over that little matter. Move on, girl! Move on! The sheik’s a big fat no-no. Well, he’s not fat. In fact, those abs are enough to make a grown woman cry with joy.
I looked up to see Ms. Helen staring at me with a strange look in her eyes.
“Oh, um, Sam’s good. I saw him at the nursing home just now and everything’s great.”
I wondered if she could read minds. She cocked her head to the right as if to evaluate me in some way. Before I could think about it, Mavis Calright walked in.
Next to the words prim and proper in the dictionary is a picture of Mavis. Her hair is never out of place, she always wears gloves, and her dresses are couture. I’ve seen her tooling around town in a silver Mercedes.
She didn’t seem happy at all that the only seat left open in the room was the one to the right of me.
She stood for a moment looking perplexed. Peggy, who had been burning the ear of Leslie Clark, a beautiful blonde witch with curls down her back, gave Mavis a wicked stare and motioned her to the chair next to me.
Mavis shook her head tightly and refused to sit down.
Peggy pushed back her chair and walked toward the other woman. “Please, Mavis, sit down.” The words were said through terse lips and gritted teeth.
She shook her head again. “You know I can’t.”
“Yes, you will. Or you can leave.” Peggy’s sharp tone made the woman wince.
Mavis’s hands twittered around as if she were ready to take flight. “She’s a high witch and anyone who sits to her right might be seen as one who wishes to challenge her power.”
Mavis’s voice was little more than a whisper but it had been enough to cause a hush around the room.
What in the hell was she talking about? I’d never heard such nonsense. It must have been some coven thing.
“Mavis, you”—she looked around the room—“and the rest of you, need to read your books more carefully. It’s only seen as a challenge if the witch is a part of our happy little group, which she isn’t. And even if she were, there are several other things that have to happen before a challenge can be made.”
The relief made Mavis’s shoulders visibly drop. She turned her back on Peggy and reached out a hand to shake mine.
“My apologies, I’m sorry.” Her willowy fingers felt surprisingly firm against my own.
“It’s no problem really. Can I get you some tea?” I reached for the pot when she nodded yes, and poured her a cup.
“We’ve heard so many stories about you and your powers, and we’re all terribly frightened of you.” Her eyes widened in surprise. “Oh, no, I just said that out loud, didn’t I?”
I laughed and she put her head in her hands.
Ms. Helen reached across the table and patted the woman’s wrist. “There, there, Mavis. It’s okay. Bronwyn has a great sense of humor.”
The older woman turned to me. “You’ve got to forgive her. She’s had foot-in-mouth disease since the day she discovered her powers. She looks about as close to perfection as a woman can get, but she never says the right thing. Isn’t that so, dear?”
Mavis rolled her eyes and blew out a breath. “I’m afraid that’s true. Please forgive me. I’ll say the wrong thing at every turn through the entire lunch. By the end of the meal, you’ll want to knock me out with one of the teapots.”
“Oh, I’ve dined with worse, believe me.” I meant it. Through my years protecting various diplomats, I’d had to eat with some offensive and often ugly people. And I don’t mean scary looking. Just wicked on the inside. But Mavis wasn’t that way.
After that, she relaxed, as did most of the other women at the table. In all, eleven witches were there, and I talked with most of them.
A few of them continued to eye me with a wary look, but that’s something I’m used to when dealing with other magical folk. Tried to make it clear that I in no way wanted to harm anyone, but it didn’t help. Oh, well, never cared much about being the popular girl.
It was fun to sit and listen to some of the other women talk about their daily lives. The conversations centered on family, work, and children. Like any gathering of women, but it seemed strange since these women were all part of a powerful coven.
I believe that’s the secret to the success behind Sweet. People with power, and those in powerful positions in the town, want everything to be as normal as possible.
Some of the women invited me to their homes, and I may take
them up on it. I’ve never been part of a community like this and it’s important to me.
Have just enough time to change into my ugly clothes before Sam and his protectors get here. Guess he thought he couldn’t handle a night alone with me, so he begged Caleb and Kira to come over too.
“We’ll get done a lot faster with help,” he promised.
“Yeah, right,” I told him. But I knew the game.
They’re bringing Chinese for dinner. Hope they don’t forget the dim sum.
Nineteen
Thursday, 7 A.M.
Sweet, Texas
Witch’s friends who are boys: Too many
O h, what a tangled web…Not gonna go there. It’s not my fault the fates conspire against me in the love department. Okay, maybe it’s a little bit my fault, but please. Even I couldn’t have foretold what happened last night.
Sam, Caleb, and Kira arrived, in overalls, loaded down with Chinese food, pink frosted cookies from the bakery (almost threw up when I saw them), and two six-packs of Mexican beer.
We set up in the breakfast room where I’d put Grandma Erma’s breakfast table and chairs. It’s a cozy nook with a bay window that looks out over the conservatory. It’s one of my favorite places in the house and I painted it red, to match the dining room, which is off to the left.
“I thought Kira and I could work on your downstairs bathrooms.” Caleb smiled at the librarian and grabbed her hand. “She loves to use power tools, and can put up the new hardware after we paint. Then I can move on to the next one.”
“We figured with the four of us working for a couple of hours tonight we could get tons done,” Kira chimed in. “And what I learn from your house, I can turn around and do to my own place.”
“In case I forget to say it later, you guys are the best.” I raised my bottle of beer, as did the others. “Here’s to the best friends a girl could have.” We clinked bottles. “I’ll be forever grateful, and anytime you need anything I’ll be happy to help.”
Kira and Caleb glanced at each other with suspicious smiles.
“What are you two up to now?” I raised an eyebrow and gave them my best “You better tell Mother what you are doing” look.
“Well…” Kira blushed.
“We’re talking about getting a place together here in Sweet.” Caleb finished her sentence.
Honestly, I thought it was kind of quick. They’d only known each other a couple months. But they were happy, so who was I to judge.
Smiled and hugged them both. “That’s really great.” I tried to sound like I meant it.
“That is a surprise. Did you find a place yet?” Sam had a secretive look that made me wonder what he really thought. When he glanced at me I realized he thought the same thing I did: it was too soon.
“No, we’re just in the talking stages. We thought about my place, but it’s so small.” Kira twisted a blonde curl around her finger. “We’re curious about the house down the road from you, Bron. Would that bother you?”
“Don’t be silly. There’s a good ten acres on this place so it’s not like you’d be right next door, and even if you were, that would be great. Can’t imagine better neighbors.”
“From the outside it looks like a great house, but we haven’t been able to figure out who lives there. Harry, the real estate guy in town, says it isn’t occupied but it’s not listed either. He’s doing some research to find out who it belongs to.”
I’d noticed no one lived there but hadn’t thought much about it.
“What about the magazine in Dallas?” Sam interjected.
Caleb had freelanced for the last ten years and lived in New York most of that time. Last May he moved to Dallas to work on a business magazine that had gained national recognition. It was Caleb’s investigative reporting on corporate fraud that gave the magazine all the media attention.
“Talked to my editor and he doesn’t care where I live, as long as I turn my assignments in on time. I’ve got a friend who wants to lease my apartment and says I can use the spare room whenever I’m in town.”
“Well, it sounds like you’ve got it all figured out. I want you both to be happy.” I gathered up the dishes and Caleb put his hand on mine.
“I know it may seem too soon, but we want to be together. This is right for us.” Caleb cocked his head and lifted an eyebrow.
I turned to look at Kira, who wore a hopeful face with tears brimming. They need my reassurance. I’m still not sure why, but I wouldn’t be the one to rain down on their love with my usual pessimism.
“You guys, I really am happy for you. And I’m here if you need me.” I smiled, my most genuine smile.
We tossed the remainder of the food in the fridge and Sam and I headed to the attic. I moved the boxes to the edge of the opening and he carried them down the ladder and into the bedroom.
When it came time to move furniture down, Caleb helped get the dresser and side tables into the new space. I opened up boxes and pulled out the art I wanted to use in the room.
Several of the pieces had been painted by my family. Grandma Erma’s water-colored mums blended seamlessly with Aunt Patricia’s acrylic paintings of whimsical fairies dancing in a forest filled with golden light.
“How do you do that?” Sam opened another box with the cutter and looked at me with amazement.
“What?” I had no idea what he was talking about.
“I’ve watched you hang photos and paintings and not once did you measure anything. And the crazy thing is, it all works.”
I laughed. “I’ve never been much on measuring except when it comes to potions. My mom can do the same thing. We look at something and just know when it’s right.”
“You know those photographs in my office?”
“The black-and-white ones?”
“Yes. It took me almost a month to decide exactly where they went. Then I consulted a book on the proper placement for photos and measured for hours to get the exact spot. My house has bare walls because I bought too much art and have no idea where to put it all.”
He put his thumbs in the straps of his overalls and looked like a good ole boy ready to plow the farm. The sophisticated Dr. Sam in overalls. Sweet really did rub off on people.
“Maybe I could help you with that.”
“Sure, just let me know when you want to come over.”
I realized in all the times we’d been together, never once had he invited me to his house. Discovered that I was more than a little curious to see how he lived. I’d seen his office, which looked like something off of Madison Avenue. Would he have the same taste at home?
“You know, you look pretty damn adorable in those overalls.” I pointed to his dusty denims.
He looked down and laughed.
“Caleb loaned them to me. I had on jeans and a sweater and he told me that wasn’t appropriate for the kind of work we’d be doing. He grabbed these for me out of his truck and made me put them on. Actually, they’re kind of comfortable.”
“Well, Farmer Sam, I think this room is just about done. How do you feel about doing some painting?”
“I’m yours for the evening; use me as you please.”
“Oh, you know better than to say something like that to me. It conjures up some very sexy, albeit wicked thoughts.”
He grinned. “Can’t say I haven’t thought about christening your new bed in here. But you know…”
“Yes, yes. We’re taking things slow. Any idea when we can get back to the sex part of our relationship?”
“Soon.” His eyes turned a deeper blue and the look he gave me made my insides melt like butter on a hot cinnamon roll.
“Okay, long as you know patience isn’t one of my best virtues.” I smiled and left him to ponder that as I walked into the hallway.
Noticed it was suspiciously quiet downstairs. Found Kira and Caleb in the kitchen looking more than a little guilty.
“Are you two making out in my kitchen?” Crossed my arms and waited in the doorway.
�
�No,” Kira said with her mouth full. “We’re eating all of the cookies. These things are heaven with icing.”
I would have agreed, had I not eaten an entire box so recently. Shook my head and walked to the fridge to get another beer.
“You guys eat all those you want, just make sure you leave a couple for Sam.”
He came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. I could feel a certain part of him had grown excited, and it made me laugh. All through the evening he’d found excuses to touch me.
“Did I hear you mention my name?” He squeezed me tight.
I turned in his arms and planted a kiss on his lips. Just for good measure I pressed my pelvis bone into his hardness to show him that I knew exactly how he felt. Then I pulled away to find the paint for the kitchen.
“If you want a cookie, you better hurry up. Kira and Caleb have just about eaten the whole dozen.”
“Hey, you guys, no fair.” Sam pushed his way between them. “Those are my favorite.” He sounded like a little boy who hadn’t been picked to be on the winning team.
“You children play nice and give Sam his cookie. He’s going to need all this strength tonight.” He turned and looked at me with a raised eyebrow. “Well, this kitchen isn’t going to paint itself.”
That made him chuckle.
Caleb and Kira pushed themselves off the kitchen counter and grabbed two paint trays. “We’ll help. We’ve got to do some touch-up’s in the bathrooms and we have to wait for the paint to dry first.”
Three hours later my kitchen had taken on a Mediterranean look. Dark golden walls with hues of brown and red made it very old world. A few more coats of glaze and it would be perfect. I needed to strip and refinish the cabinets and put up a stainless steel backsplash and it would be done.
At midnight we threw some sheets on the furniture in the living room to protect it from the paint and flopped down for a rest.
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