His brother’s descriptions of what went on when two witches were a perfect mate came to mind. Fire and water in a magic ritual centuries old. He groaned, visualizing what he would do to her as they came together.
This has to stop. A shake of the head forced her out of his thoughts. He needed to find out who, if anyone, was messing with the weather, then hightail his ass back to Jersey. Busy himself in work. He’d already been gone long enough.
And even if he couldn’t forgive himself, it was damn time he fixed the rift between him and his family.
He tied his boat to the dock, climbed up the deck stairs, and opened the fridge for a cold Foster’s. After blasting the AC, he pulled out the yellow-lined paper he’d swiped while she’d been accosting him.
Holy shit.
Josh whistled through his teeth. The hour ride there and back wasn’t completely wasted after all. He already knew Dr. Alex Williams was a low-level wind witch. He’d felt it the moment she touched him. He also suspected she was hiding something. And the handwritten list of names proved it.
At the top, in perfect script, was the name Gregor Uragan, the leader of the depraved and highly volatile Russian wind clan.
He took a snapshot of the page with his phone, then texted it to his brother, Jack.
While the professor didn’t possess the power to create a major storm, if she was working with Gregor and his men, then anything was possible.
Time to put his former playboy skills to work. He fingered the business card Alex had given him and made the call.
“Alex. It’s Josh Fialko. Sorry I ran out on you the way I did. Poor kid has a crush on me. I thought I’d take you up on your offer.”
Chapter 8
Maya jogged down the stairs with her hair still in a towel. Her two brothers sat glued to the fifty-two inch screen, drinks in hand. The younger, Chance, walked over to the granite bar and asked, “What’s your poison?”
“Mmmm…Nothing yet. I should help mom in the kitchen.”
She crossed the pristine hardwood floor, through the long dining hall, and into the space filled with stainless steel, chrome, and soft yellow ceramic tile. She wrapped her arms around her mom’s waist, and kissed her on the cheek.
“What can I do to help?”
“You can set the table.” Her mom, dressed in a silky blue dress and matching heels, handed her some serving spoons. “Add an extra plate. Your dad invited one more.”
Maya smiled. Her dad was always inviting a guest to Sunday dinner. Usually it was one of the elderly clan members who didn’t have family of their own. “Who is it today, Mr. Williamson or Ms. Ellie?”
“Oh, I don’t know. He didn’t mention.” She opened the lower oven door and poked at two loaves within.
“Is everyone here today?”
“Yes. Isn’t that lovely? I can’t remember the last time that happened.” She pulled out two perfect loaves of bread and flipped them out onto a wire rack. Then, she brushed them both with a slab of butter.
Maya’s mouth watered as the sweet aroma hit her nostrils. She grabbed the china plates from the cupboard.
“About thirty minutes.” Her mother stared at her outfit and frowned. “Are you wearing that for dinner?”
Chin down, Maya regarded her torn, yet clean jeans, and a perfectly nice t-shirt. She took the towel off her head and grinned. “Better?”
Her mom sighed. “Get on with you. Set the table. Someday I’ll get you to dress up a little.”
“What’s the point?”
“You’re a pretty girl, Maya. It wouldn’t hurt you to wear something that doesn’t have holes in it.”
“What are we talking about?” Her dad came into the kitchen and wrapped his arms around his wife, kissing her on the cheek. “It smells delicious in here.”
Her mom laughed when he nuzzled against her neck. “I was saying, it would be nice if Maya wore something a little less casual to dinner.”
“Look at your old man. Even I’m wearing a tie.” He winked.
“You only dress up to impress mom.”
“Damn right.” Her dad grinned, then planted another hard kiss on his wife’s lips.
Maya rolled her eyes. She hoped for the same kind of relationship someday. But she doubted she’d ever be that lucky.
Why did she always, always fall for the wrong kind of guy?
In the dining room, she set the places. Her mom preferred the real silver for Sunday, so she opened the little brown chest, and placed the pieces with care. Pleased, she added the crystal water glasses.
Her mom would want the cloth napkins. She opened the sideboard, found it empty, and walked back into the kitchen.
Shit, shit and double shit. Sitting at their kitchen table. Smelling their bread. Josh, in a black t-shirt covered in a light sports jacket, looked good enough to eat. His bad boy look was enhanced with nicer clothes.
Her face heated and she groaned inwardly as she remembered their last encounter. Too late to run, she just stood there, mush for brain.
Dad, of course, noticed nothing, but her mom’s eyebrows shot up.
Josh just stared at her, all dark and haughty, and she thought for a moment her knees might give out on her.
Damn him. Why was he here?
Maya managed to stammer something that sounded like, “Be right back,” and beat it out of the kitchen about as graceful as a baby roo.
In her bedroom, she wanted to bang her head against the wall. The fact that he could make her entire body tremble with just a simple look annoyed the shit out of her. It wasn’t fair.
Josh Fialko was just a man. A sexy as hell one, but still, just a red-blooded Yank with the same on and off switches as all the rest. She could play the game.
Make him see what he was missing out on.
She opened her closet, not even remembering what nice clothes she had anymore. The hangers screeched in protest as she tore them all aside to find whatever hung in the back. One lime green bridesmaid gown worn at her friend’s wedding last summer. One leather mini skirt when she used to club. A yellow striped sundress from high school.
Crikey. This was hopeless.
She was about to invade her sisters’ closets when she spied the strapless white lace dress with the tight bodice that almost made it look like she had boobs. It would have to do.
Reluctantly, she shrugged off her comfortable clothes and pulled the new, itchy material over her head. She turned it around to get the zipper most of the way up, then struggled with hands back in an impossible contortion to get the final inch. The price tags came off with a tug.
Frowning, she considered her curly red mop in the mirror, then put a giant barrette in to hold most of it off her face. Not one for makeup, she added a touch of mascara to her red lashes and glossed her lips. She considered eyeliner, then remembered her last fiasco and decided against it.
With a glance at her pitiful attempt in the full-length mirror, she sighed. Why did she even care what the man thought of her? He was clearly not interested. Dressing up wasn’t going to change that.
For a moment, she considered throwing her jeans and t-shirt back on. But she’d already gone through all the trouble, and who said she couldn’t dress up for herself? She snorted. Who was she kidding? If she could live in flip-flops and cutoff jeans, she would.
With a heavy sigh, she plastered on a smile. She would just have to get through the next couple of hours as best she could.
When she started down the stairs, her dad, two brothers, and the bloke that screwed strangers looked up from the weather channel with mouths wide.
Her face flamed. Had she done something horribly wrong? She almost turned tail to run, but her dad rescued her, “You look lovely, Hun.”
Then, Chance and Brian grinned like idiots. There’d be no living this down.
At least Josh Fialko had the grace not to say anything.
She glared at her dad and willed him to do something, anything, to break the awkward silence. He merely shook his head and turned ba
ck to the screen.
“I need a drink,” she muttered, heading toward the bar, aware of Josh’s gaze as she crossed the room.
Self-consciously she poured two shots of Vodka over ice and took a deep sip. The heat was wonderful going down.
Suddenly, the telly volume went up, and all eyes glued to the screen.
“…a large, tropical storm is brewing just off the Australian coast…” The announcer finished and went to a commercial.
Maya plopped down on the bar stool, pulling on the hem of her dress, and asked nonchalantly, “Have you ever heard of a witch talent that could control storms?”
All heads turned in her direction.
Her dad narrowed his eyes. “Why do you ask?”
Josh sent her a scowl and she wrinkled her nose a mite. Screw him. This was her dad. Best the Yank understood that she was onto him.
“I overheard some stuff that made me wonder. That’s all. Nothing solid yet.”
Her dad’s usually unlined face went grave. “Make sure you’re sure before you say anything. I’d have to bring it to the Council. There’s almost nothing worse than messing with the climate.”
“Why’s that?” her brother Brian asked, now suddenly interested in their conversation.
Maya downed the last of her vodka and poured another shot, filling the rest of the glass with seltzer.
“A few years ago, we had a group of scientists look into it.” Her father stood and walked to the bar, placing his empty glass on the counter. “We’ve run over a billion simulations. Nothing we could possibly do would positively affect global warming. We could work out a short-term solution, but the long-term would be disastrous. That’s why we have forbidden even casual paranormal adjustment. For now, we’ll monitor the human approach and step in only if necessary.”
He went around back, poured a bourbon, and offered some to the others who had joined them at the bar.
“But what if the storms destroy our business? The reefs? Without them, the tourists won’t come. And who knows how that would change the environment.” Brian rubbed the back of his neck.
“We’re doing everything we can. Believe me, we have some great things in the works, we’re just not prepared to take the risk until all other options have been considered.”
“Can I see the reports?” Maya asked, frowning. “Maybe there’s something you’re missing.”
“When you take my place on the Clan Council, you’ll have access to all the data.”
“You’re next in line?” Josh’s eyebrows shot up.
“Yes.” She straightened her back and stuck out her chin, defying him to make a comment. Men were always in a competition. Their egos couldn’t take the fact that she was more powerful than them.
Her dad squeezed her shoulder and boasted proudly, “Maya’s talent is unparalleled. It’s been centuries since our clan has seen the powers she possesses.”
“Dad.” She gave him a warning look.
“Interesting,” Josh muttered, looking back at the telly.
Great. If he wasn’t already turned off by her, he was now.
“Time for dinner.” Her mother swept into the room, gesturing for everyone to go to the dining room. Her two younger sisters, Celia and Mari, came down the stairs, stopping short and giggling when their eyes landed on Josh.
Her family was big, loud, and obnoxious, and she worried how Josh would take to them all. But he seemed to fit in, sharing their jokes, and being quick to compliment her mom on every course.
Throughout the meal she could feel his eyes on her. Watching. Studying. She felt like crawling underneath the table by the end of the evening.
“It was a wonderful meal,” Josh said, taking her mom’s hands and kissing each of her cheeks. “Thank you again.”
“Our pleasure. And we hope you come back. Maya, why don’t you walk Mr. Fialko to the dock?”
She frowned, knowing what her mother was up to. Maya wondered what her family would say if they knew the truth.
There were a few chuckles from her siblings.
Humiliated, she followed Josh outside and down the long dock toward his boat.
She wobbled, having had one glass of wine too many. With cheeks warm and her vision slightly skewed, she made her way down the flagstone path.
Suddenly he stopped short and his eyes locked her in an intense dark gaze. His face was shadowed. The outside tiki torches were their only light.
“I’m sorry about the other day.”
Was he talking about the professor or the storm that he may or may not have something to do with? She figured his half-ass apology was about the woman. She doubted he’d fess up to his part in defying Council law.
“What you do in your personal life doesn’t matter to me.” She pointed her finger, and had to blink when she saw two of him. “But if you and that professor are messing around with the weather, I’ll find out.”
His face darkened. “What do you mean by that?”
“You know.” Poking at his chest, she immediately regretted the contact. Heat surged through her finger, up her arm, and coursed through her body.
His response rivaled hers. He backed away, inhaled sharply, then his brow furrowed.
“I’m not messing around with anybody or the weather. I was at the University trying to get at the same information as you.”
“Right.” She rolled her eyes and turned to walk away, but stumbled on a misaligned board.
As she went over, solid hands gripped her waist, righting her. His fiery energy zapped all the way through her body.
Damn, but his touch did all sorts of things to her.
“Let me go,” she said weakly, keeping her eyes closed so she didn’t have to see the rejection in his.
“I can’t do this.” His voice went all husky and dark. “Maya look at me.”
She opened her eyes. Every cell in her body vibrated with the intensity of the magic flowing between them.
His lips were within an inch of hers. “Listen to me. Nothing happened or will happen between me and Alex.”
He was on a first name basis with her now? She felt like crying.
“Like I said, I don’t care.”
He didn’t look convinced. “I’m not denying what’s between us, I’m–”
“You’re so arrogant.” With every ounce of strength left, she peeled his fingers from her waist. Insecurities warred with self-perseverance. “Do you see me falling all over myself trying to seduce you?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Look, mate. The only interest I have in you is getting you off my island and back across the ocean where you belong.”
He gripped her wrist when she started to walk away. “Hate to break it to you, but I just booked another week with your father. I’m staying until I figure out whether or not someone is messing with the weather.”
Shit.
“And as for Alex, I agree. She’s hiding something. That’s the extent of my interest in her.”
Was he telling the truth? She was too tipsy to know. And he was still touching her, which meant her brain cells were temporarily fried.
“Unless you want to be doused again, I suggest you release me.”
He let go and took a step back.
“Goodbye.” With as much dignity as she could muster, she turned and started back to the house. Behind her she could hear Josh muttering under his breath.
How the hell was she going to survive another week of him?
Chapter 9
With a raging headache that two Tylenol hadn’t touched, Maya darted across the sapphire ocean, hoping to set things straight with the Yank. Dark sunglasses protected her bloodshot eyes from the bright sunlight that played upon the crests of gentle waves. Seagulls squawked overhead, no doubt mocking her predicament, and followed.
If she remembered last night correctly, he said he was staying another week and she’d all but told him to bugger off. She supposed she might possibly owe him an explanation. He’d been a guest at her house an
d a friend of her father’s. If the bloke fancied the sexy doctor over her, it was none of her business.
When the dot of a speedboat raced by, she picked up her binoculars and put them to her eyes.
Sexy Josh, dressed in a crisp white shirt with a loose bow tie hanging around his neck, sped off in the opposite direction.
The breath she didn’t even know she was holding let go. Thank God. Her apology was put on hold.
After checking her watch, she turned her boat about, and headed in the direction of the speedboat. She had at least another hour before she had to start her shift at the front desk.
Willy barked excitedly, and hung out his tongue as the increasing speed blew back his ears.
Laughing, she ruffled the fur on his back. “Silly dog. He’ll hear you. Think I’m a bloomin’ stalker.”
With that thought, she slowed and followed at a safe distance. Where the hell was he headed dressed like that?
She idled at a distance in the ocean, while he slid into the dock in front of a hotel.
Bloody hell. Binoculars held tight to her face, she fumed. Dr. Alex Williams sauntered across the dock, her blonde hair swept back in an elegant up-do. She wore a black, lacey dress that dipped low in the front exposing her ample cleavage.
Josh kissed her on the cheek and helped her into the boat. All chummy, Alex put her claws around his neck, tied a perfect knot in his bow tie, and then helped him into his tux jacket.
So much for him not having anything to do with her. As anger simmered in her chest, the water around the boat became choppy.
Willy whined, jumped up, and licked her face.
“Shush.” She patted his head, and forced the ocean back to normal.
As if sensing her, Josh looked over his shoulder from where he helped the she-devil sit. Then he backed out of the shallow waters and sped northeast, creating a wake that rocked her small craft.
Following at a distance, she cursed Josh and the professor under her breath. She knew he was up to something, and she was going to find out what.
She picked up the boat’s satellite phone and called her sister, Cecilia. “I might be a little late.”
“How late?”
“Can you cover, please? I’ll owe you.”
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