“I’ll do anything to help Daisy. You really think the witch can reverse it?”
Violet shrugged. “Maybe. We won’t know until we find her.”
“I can put you in touch with someone who can help, but I’m not getting Mayanne in trouble.”
“I understand.” Violet nodded. “Point us in the right direction, and we’ll be fine.”
“Can I see your phone?” he asked.
“Yes.” Violet pulled out her phone and handed it to him.
Owen typed something in. “Call that number and say you got it from Owen. He’ll help you track her down.”
“Thanks. That’s perfect.” Violet beamed.
“Great. I’m taking Daisy out tonight.” Owen smiled at me. “We’re not going anywhere before I do that.”
“We?” Roland crossed his arms.
“Yes, I’m going anywhere Daisy goes.” Owen put his arm around my waist. “In case anyone was wondering, we’re together now.”
“I would have had no idea.” Hailey rolled her eyes.
“How about a compromise?” Violet fixed her smile on Owen. “Take her to lunch.”
“Lunch isn’t good enough. It has to be dinner.” Owen’s resistance to the appeal of an Allure definitely came in handy.
Violet sighed dramatically. “Fine. I suppose we can agree to that, but we need to leave tomorrow.”
“We’ll leave when Kalisa is found. There is no reason to leave—” Owen’s protest was drowned out by the sound of a truck on Owen’s dirt drive. It had us all turning, and thankfully seemed to calm everyone down.
“Damn it.” Owen sighed.
Hailey laughed. “Don’t tell me, is that Clyde?”
“Of course.”
I had no idea who Clyde was, but I wasn’t in the mood for any more company.
The truck stopped and a guy around my age wearing a cowboy hat stepped out. He gave us all a long look before walking over. “Hey, Owen. You didn’t tell me you were expecting so many guests.”
“It came as a surprise.” Owen tightened his arm around me.
“And who is this?” Violet asked sweetly. Oh no. What was she going to do?
“I’m Clyde.” He took off his hat. “And what’s your name?”
“Violet.” She held out her hand. “It isn’t often I get a chance to meet a real cowboy.”
Roland laughed.
Clyde grinned. “A cowboy? If that’s what you want to call me.” He winked before turning his attention to me. “How about you? Excited to meet a cowboy?”
“Uh, sure.”
“She’s with me, Clyde,” Owen warned.
“With you, with you? I had no idea you had a girl, man.”
“Yeah, it’s new.”
“Aren’t you going to say hello to me?” Hailey turned to him, saving us from the awkward conversation.
“Of course, Hailey.” Even as he spoke he was watching me and Violet. I had a feeling the beautiful red head wasn’t used to sharing attention.
“I came over to discuss some business with you, Owen, but if it’s a bad time, I can come back.”
“It’s a wonderful time.” Violet put a hand on Clyde’s arm. “Why don’t you and Owen go inside and chat? We’ll wait out here.”
“That sounds like a great idea.” Clyde grinned. “Smart and beautiful.”
“Isn’t she?” Hugh smirked.
“Daisy can join in on our discussion too.” Owen touched my arm lightly.
“I assure you I’m not going to whisk her away, Owen, but she and I need to talk.” Violet kept the smile plastered on her face, but her words were anything but light.
I tensed. Why was she being so combative with him? Wasn’t she the one who insisted we rush out to find him?
“Now isn’t the time to talk business, Clyde.” Owen’s tone was harsh, but I knew he wasn’t trying to direct it at Clyde.
“I understand. What are you up to today then?”
“Owen’s going to take Daisy out to lunch.”
“Dinner.” He glared at Violet.
If they weren’t arguing about me, it might have been comical.
“But I have absolutely nothing to do today. Any chance you could show me around town?” Violet bit her lip in a ridiculously exaggerated way.
“Of course. Want to go now?”
“I’d love to!”
“Violet, could I talk to you for a second?” I asked.
“Me?” Violet put her hand to her chest. “I thought you guys were too busy.”
“Violet.” I glared at her.
“Fine.” She smiled.
“Wait for me, Clyde.” She gave him another grin before following me inside.
“Don’t hurt that guy.”
“Why would I hurt him?” she asked innocently.
“What else would you be doing with him? You want to manipulate him.”
“No, I wanted to talk to you.”
“Wait? You were only doing that because you knew I’d do this?”
“I may not have known you long, Dais, but I know you well.”
I ignored her use of the nickname again. It was the least of my problems. “What is it then? What’s so important that we need to talk?”
“We can’t stay here. You knew this was only a short visit.”
“No I didn’t… besides things have changed.”
“What’s changed?”
“Owen… he feels the same way as I do.”
“And that changes what exactly?”
“I want to stay out here a bit. See what happens.” After all these years it was happening. I’d found Owen.
“You can’t.”
“Why not? Louie doesn’t have Kalisa yet. What’s the rush?”
“We should be there when he brings her in.”
“Why? Why does that part matter?”
“I’m beginning to think you don’t care about getting rid of the magic.”
“I do, but I also care about spending time with Owen.”
“Don’t get too attached to him. I warned you about that.”
I shook my head. “No you didn’t. You never told me that.”
“Then I’m telling you that now. Don’t get too attached.”
“Why?”
“Because most likely Kalisa won’t fix you, and if she doesn’t, then things are going to change with Owen.”
“No they won’t. He doesn’t care.”
“This isn’t about him.” She put her hands on my shoulders. “This is about you.”
“My feelings for him aren’t going to change.” Nothing could change them. I’d been crazy about him before, but everything had intensified now. Being with him was even more amazing than I’d imagined.
“That’s the thing, they are.” She dropped her hands. “You can have tonight, but that’s it. I refuse to stand by and watch you both get hurt.”
“Then don’t.” I had no idea what she was talking about, but I wasn’t in the mood to listen. After years of searching, I’d finally found him. I was giving us a chance.
“Don’t what?”
“Stand by and watch. I’ll return to Louie’s when he has Kalisa and is ready for me. We can split up for a while.”
“Split up? That’s not possible.”
“Of course it is. We’ll have both upheld our side of the bargain, and I’ll be magic free.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“You won’t. You don’t understand the changes happening in you. This is only the beginning. You need to be ready for it.”
“It’s going to be fine.” I brushed her off and walked outside. I refused to let her ruin my mood.
“It’s not going to be fine.”
“Daisy, you ok?” Owen met me out on the porch.
“I’m fine.” I took a deep breath. “Violet’s getting ready to go spend some time with Clyde.”
“Think about what I’m telling you, Daisy. Please.” She sent me a fleeting look before walking d
own the driveway.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine.” I tried to clear my head so I could focus on the important things, like my date with Owen.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Owen
I had absolutely no clue what I was doing. It had been so long since I’d dated anyone, but I needed to do something special for Daisy. We’d spent an amazing night together, and I refused to let that be the only one we shared. If something was going to come of our crazy connection, I needed to anchor our physical attraction into something real.
As soon as Daisy slipped off to take a shower—unfortunately without me—I started planning. I headed out onto the back porch, and Hailey followed.
“You can’t take her to the diner.” Hailey decided to but in even though I never asked for her opinion.
“Where else am I supposed to take her? The one nice place in town is closed on Mondays.”
“Be creative.” She pulled her hair back into a bun and secured it with the hair tie she always seemed to have around her wrist.
“Or, you could share the idea you obviously have. You know, actually help me for a change.”
“For a change? I brought the girl to you, didn’t I?”
“You did. Technically. I owe you.”
“Are you sure you want to owe me more?” She hopped up on the back porch railing.
“I already have one idea. I just need help to make that happen.”
“I’ll help if it’s good. I’m not helping with anything lame.” She swung her legs.
“I want to take her to the movies.”
“But there’s no movie theater in town. You told me that last time I was here.”
“There isn’t, but we could make one.”
“You don’t even have a TV.”
“Maybe not, but we have Cade’s jet. We could get anything and everything we want.”
“And that fits with my idea. We need to figure out her all-time favorite meal, and you need to cook it for her.”
“Cook it for her? You want me to cook?” Hailey was well aware of my ineptitude in the kitchen.
“I told you I’d help.”
“Actually you said I’d cook it for her.”
“For all intents and purposes, you’re cooking it. That’s the romantic part. Whether you get help or not is another story. So now all we need to do is find out her favorite movie and food.”
“Easier said than done if we want to surprise her.” I heard the shower shut off inside. “And we’re out of time.”
“Leave the snooping to me. I’ll get the details. You keep her busy while I get things ready.”
“I don’t mind keeping her busy.” I smiled thinking of the many ways I could do that.
“No. None of that. You’re the one who reminded me that your sex life was none of my business.”
“It isn’t your business, but it’s mine.”
She made a disgusted face. “I’ll go talk to her.”
“She just got out of the shower.”
“So? I’m a girl. It’s not going to bother her.” She hopped down off the railing.
“She doesn’t even know you.”
“She barely knows you, but she had no problem getting naked with you.” Hailey laughed.
“I liked you better when you were sulking.”
“I was never sulking.”
“Yes you were.”
“Whatever. Go find Cade and have him figure out your movie screen problem. I’ll text you all the details.” She started for the back door.
“Why are you helping me?”
“Because you’re my brother, and despite all your short comings I kind of love you.”
“You kind of love me?”
“That’s all I’m admitting to.” She walked inside.
I shook my head. Hailey was something else.
It didn’t take me long to find Cade holding court with his friends. Although I could tolerate him more the longer I knew him, his showmanship tendencies were annoying.
“Well, hello there. I didn’t expect to see you surface today.” Cade grinned.
“Oh yeah, because I was planning to sleep with Daisy while Hailey hung out with us.”
“I don’t know, Pterons are known to have done worse things.” Roland glared at me.
“Do you have a problem with me?” I didn’t like the way he looked at me—or Daisy. Was he into her or something?
“Yes, but it doesn’t matter. After tonight we won’t be seeing you anymore.”
“I agree. After tonight you won’t have to see me or Daisy again. I, however, will be seeing her plenty.”
“Why?” He stood up. “You never looked for her in years, yet now she shows up and you’re suddenly meant to be?”
“I don’t have to explain myself to you.”
“You don’t have to, but you could.” Roland crossed his arms. “If you’re so crazy about Daisy, explaining it shouldn’t be difficult.”
“I never looked for her because I didn’t think it was an option.” That was putting it mildly. I knew she didn’t want to be found by someone like me. I generally considered myself a confident man, but not when it came to humans. My ex-girlfriend had done a number on me.
Roland scowled. “You work for the king. You could have tracked her down.”
“I mean because it wasn’t an option to be with her.”
“Why not?” Roland asked. “She wasn’t good enough for you?”
“No, the opposite. I don’t have to explain myself to you. The only one I need to explain anything to is Daisy, and she gets it. There’s something between us. It was there two years ago, and it’s here now.” How could I begin to explain my fears, or the nightmares that had plagued me since that night?
“It doesn’t matter anyway. She’s leaving.”
Violet put her hands up between us. “Enough. Both of you. Roland, you need to settle down. Owen isn’t trying to hurt Daisy. Give him the benefit of the doubt. Owen, hopefully your information will lead us to Kalisa quickly.”
“The sooner we help Daisy, the better.” That was something I’d agree with them on.
“Exactly. Roland, let’s take a walk.” She linked her arm with Roland and headed for the woods. Hugh followed.
“Aren’t you supposed to be planning a date?” Cade immediately picked up the conversation as though the others hadn’t just walked off.
“Yes. That’s why I came out here. I need your help.”
“Oh?” He smiled. “This is going to be interesting.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Daisy
I needed air. I could have stayed glued to Owen all day, but I couldn’t say the same thing about the others. They all meant well in their own ways (at least I hope they did), but the tension and fighting was getting ridiculous. Violet and the guys wanted me to leave, Owen wanted me to stay, and Hailey and Cade wanted me to have more answers. Despite my euphoria at finding Owen, I found myself kind of missing my quiet life before I knew about vampires, witches, and winged superheroes.
I treated myself to a hot shower, staying in way longer than necessary. The hot water felt good, and it gave me some much needed peace and quiet. I was half convinced that if I closed my eyes without Owen around the Allures would have me tied down in the backseat of a car on my way back to Louie’s. They weren’t keen on waiting until he found Kalisa.
The only thing motivating me to get out of the shower was the thought of seeing Owen. Even fifteen minutes apart made me miss him.
I wrapped up in my towel and went back toward Owen’s room to get dressed. Violet had come back from her outing with Clyde with some fresh clothes at least. I didn’t need to ask her whether she’d actually paid for them. I was positive she hadn’t.
I’d just pulled on the cotton sun dress Violet had picked out for me when Hailey barged in. “Hey!”
“Hi…” I smoothed out the navy blue dress. “Did I take too long or something?”
“No, not at all. I
wanted to make sure you didn’t need anything.”
“Oh. Thanks. I’m good.”
“You sure? There’s no food you’re totally craving?”
“I probably should eat something.” I thought about how long it had been since I last ate. How was I even standing?
“What should we get?”
“Oh, whatever everyone else wants.”
“It’s your choice,” she pushed.
“Is this a test or something?”
“A test?”
“Like to see if I have similar taste to your brother or something?”
“No! Of course not. I’m only trying to be polite.”
“Does Owen have anything for sandwiches, or eggs or something?” I tried to come up with the simplest meal possible.
“Sandwiches? Eggs?” She threw her hands up. “You’re impossible.”
“Uh…”
She sat down on the end of the bed. “Sorry, I’m really bad at this.”
“Bad at what?”
“Inconspicuously getting information. I prefer just getting it, but I was trying to be tricky.”
“Why would you need to know what kind of food I like?”
“So Owen could surprise you.”
“Surprise me?” I couldn’t deny the excitement I felt at the thought of him wanting to go out of his way to surprise me. I knew what we had was more than physical attraction—but it was nice to have some proof.
“I don’t want to ruin the rest of the surprise, so just tell me your favorite food and favorite movie, and we can pretend this went down much better.”
I laughed. Hailey was really cool and quirky. She’d be a lot of fun to hang out with. “I love seafood and pretty much any film adaption of a Tennessee Williams play.”
“Interesting.”
“Why is that interesting?”
“Well, I took a seminar on Tennessee Williams last semester. I didn’t know anyone actually watched those movies for fun, but to each their own. Oh, and Owen loves seafood too.”
“Oh, cool.”
“Yeah. It is cool.” She stood up. “Ok, pretend this conversation never happened.” She disappeared out the door.
I shook my head. She was definitely a character.
***
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