Lucky Charm (Spellbound Paranormal Cozy Mystery Book 4)

by Annabel Chase

  “Oh.” His broad shoulders slumped. “That’s too bad. I wanted to be the one to tell you.”

  I blinked back tears. “How did this happen? I thought you’d sworn off the opposite sex.”

  “I know, but when I saw Elsa again, I remembered the good times we’d had together. And once we’re married, then I’ll be demonstrating commitment. True commitment.”

  “Do you love her?” The words burned my tongue.

  “What’s not to love?” he asked, and the answer was like a knife in my gut. “She’s beautiful, outspoken, smart.”

  “You said she was spoiled.”

  “I also said it was one of the qualities I liked about her.” He paused. “Are you angry?”

  “Why would I be angry?” I asked, too quickly.

  “Because I didn’t tell you first.”

  I wanted to grab his nonexistent halo and ring his neck with it. How could he not know the way I felt about him? Did I hide it that well? Other people seemed to know. Why was he so oblivious?

  “I admit that I’m surprised and disappointed…that you didn’t come to me sooner. That I heard from someone else.” I forced myself to look at him. “I thought we were better friends than that.”

  He placed his hand over mine. “We are and I’m sorry.”

  I knew he meant it, but it didn’t matter. He’d never be as sorry as I was.

  “You won’t tell her about me, will you?” I asked in a hushed tone. “My secret?” Now that Daniel’s loyalties were divided, the secret of my origin suddenly seemed vulnerable to discovery.

  “Never,” he said firmly. “I would never betray you, Emma. You should know that.”

  Although I nodded, my insides were screaming. As far as I was concerned, he already had.

  Chapter 20

  I was about to leave the house when I walked straight into a bouquet of flowers.

  “Oh,” I exclaimed, pulling a stray petal from my mouth.

  The flowers moved aside to reveal Markos in his human form. “Sorry about that. The bouquet was bigger than I realized. I couldn’t see past it.”

  “Are they for me?” I asked.

  “A sort of Welcome Back to Visibility and Thank You for Saving the Town gesture,” he said.

  I took the flowers and inhaled their wonderful scent. “These are lovely, Markos. Thank you. Listen, I’m sorry about missing your party.” A small but necessary lie.

  “Totally understandable.” He smiled, a bit unsure of himself. “I heard you were very brave, standing up to Felix.”

  “I was scared out of my mind,” I admitted.

  “And that’s what makes it brave,” he said. “If you weren’t scared, then you’d be stupid and I don’t date stupid women.” He cleared his throat. “Right. I’m getting ahead of myself. Emma, I came by to ask you on a date. That is, if you’re interested.”

  His earnest expression won me over. Those soft amber eyes alone were enough to transfix a girl.

  “That would be really nice,” I replied. “But maybe we could just call it a friendly outing or something? I feel like the word date has expectations attached to it and, to be honest, my life feels too complicated for expectations.”

  Markos sighed with relief. “That’s all it is then. Two strangers getting to know each other.”

  I pushed aside all thoughts of Daniel. If he didn’t consider me worthy of his affection, then I had no choice but to move forward.

  “Then count me in.”

  I watched Markos leave with a spring in his step, a far cry from the brooding angel’s languid walk. Hurriedly, I returned to the house to put the flowers in water.

  “Another admirer, eh?” Gareth asked.

  “Another new friend,” I corrected him. I pulled a vase from the cupboard and filled it with water. “You like Markos, right?”

  “Aye. He’s a fine chap. Smart, terrific personality, body to die for.” He sighed longingly. “Oh, to be alive again.”

  I set the vase on the windowsill in the kitchen. “You won’t be alive, but maybe you’ll be less ghostly once you spend enough time with Lyra.”

  “She’s trying to show me how to exert my will on objects,” he explained. “It seems my will is part of my consciousness that still exists, even without my physical body.”

  “Sounds complex. Let me know how it pans out.”

  I felt light pressure between my shoulder blades. “I can let you know right now,” he said.

  “Gareth, are you giving me an affectionate pat on the back?”

  “Trying to.”

  “That’s incredible,” I said. “Pretty soon you’ll be able to move pots and pans. It would be difficult, but you might even be able to persuade me to let you cook.” I gave him a big smile.

  He folded his arms. “I’ve come to quite enjoy watching you muck it up. It’s my daily dose of entertainment.”

  I scowled. “Go easy on me. I threw your deranged cat a pawty, remember?”

  He groaned. “Firstly, Magpie is not deranged. He’s just misunderstood. Secondly, if I ever hear you say the word ‘pawty’ again, there is every chance my affectionate pat may turn violent.”

  I laughed. “It’s hard to take you seriously when you’re practically transparent.”

  “Says the invisible girl.”

  The invisible girl. No, I refused to accept that role. I wanted to be a part of Spellbound. I wanted to have meaningful relationships with the other residents. To know them and care about them. I wanted to build bridges, not sequester myself on a metaphorical island.

  “No, Gareth. Not invisible,” I said. Invisibility was a sad and lonely place—a place I had no desire to be ever again. “I’m happy to report that Emma Hart is present and accounted for.”

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