“Everything,” Trish echoed. “We won’t cause trouble. We swear it.”
For some reason, I didn’t believe them.
3
Three
Galen was prompt, knocking on my door at exactly six. He was dressed in cargo shorts and a simple T-shirt, his black hair fresh from the shower and slicked back from his face as it dried. He took a long moment to study my cotton skirt and peasant blouse and offered a smile before extending his hand.
“You look nice. I like how the white top looks against your dark hair.”
As far as greetings go, it was an odd one. “I … thank you.”
Galen made a face. “That came out a little weirder than it sounded in my head.”
“Kind of like you were on America’s Next Top Model and gushing about my fabulous walk?”
“Pretty much.”
Even though I didn’t fancy myself much of a giggler I couldn’t stop myself. “Thank you for saying it, though.”
“I do like the way you look in the top.” Galen shook his hand, as if to remind me it was still extended between us. “Are you ready to head out?”
“Sure.” I was still getting used to the fact that Galen not only wanted to spend time with me but seemingly enjoyed showing me around the island. I took his hand and cast a glance over the living room, briefly wondering if May was around and watching us depart. “I’ll be back later,” I called out to no one in particular. “I … um … will see you then.”
I pulled the door shut and locked it before shoving my keys into my small bag and turning a set of expectant eyes to Galen. He looked amused, although I couldn’t exactly figure out why. “What?”
“This is Moonstone Bay. You don’t have to lock your door.”
“A week ago I was abducted and almost killed by a lawyer,” I reminded him. “Before that a crazy man with an ax broke in while I was sleeping.”
Galen’s smile slipped. “Don’t remind me. By the way, I’ve been in contact with Ned’s law firm. They want to hold onto the property he acquired – especially because he didn’t have any living relatives – but I’ve put them in contact with the DDA and told them to sort it out with those guys.”
The DDA remained the one mystical source of power I couldn’t quite understand in Moonstone Bay. Sure, you might think I’d be more upset to learn I was a witch – yeah, that’s totally true – or that Galen was a wolf shifter (totally true and kind of hot), but the fact that everyone in Moonstone Bay feared the DDA somehow twisted me up more.
“Exactly how much property did Ned Baxter manage to amass thanks to murdering little old ladies who lived by themselves?”
Galen shrugged. “First, I know you don’t know your grandmother very well, but she’s going to take that ‘little old lady’ comment as a direct insult. Second, he had a lot of deals in the works. The ones that weren’t finished will revert back to the seller, which happens to be most of them. There were two or three he managed to shove through, though, and that’s going to cause issues.”
“And this DDA that you’re so afraid of but I’ve never managed to see up close and personal, you think they’ll be able to fix everything so that it’s as if Ned never went on a killing spree?”
Galen was blasé as he fell into step next to me, keeping my hand in his as we headed toward the main drag. “I think that the DDA is better equipped to deal with the fallout than I am. No one knew what Ned was up to until it was too late. As for pretending Ned never went on a killing spree, that will never happen because you’re here and you’re only here because Ned killed May.”
He had a point. “Would you prefer May back or me here?” I asked the question before I thought better of it. Putting Galen on the spot seemed somehow unfair. How could he possibly answer that question?
“I would prefer not answering that,” Galen replied without hesitation. “Either way I’ll look like an ass. I loved May – she was a good woman – but I kind of like having you here. It’s a toss-up.”
I smirked. “I’m sorry. That was unfair to ask.”
“Not unfair, just … impossible to answer.” Galen squeezed my hand as the now-familiar lights from downtown filled the vista stretching in front of us. “So, this is your first Moonstone Bay festival. I think you’re in for some fun. What do you want to do first?”
The conversational shift threw me for a loop. “Oh, um … whatever you want is fine.”
Galen’s smile slipped. “You’re not one of those women who says, ‘I don’t care where we eat’ and then pitches a fit when I pick a location you don’t like, are you?”
I was offended. “No. If I’m in the mood for something to eat I’ll tell you. I wasn’t saying that to be a typical woman.”
“Fair enough. Why did you say it?”
I saw no reason to lie. “Because Aurora made it sound like the last place I would want to hang out was a Moonstone Bay festival.”
“When did you hang with Aurora?”
“She stopped by for coffee this morning after her naked swim.”
“Ah.” Galen didn’t seem particularly perturbed by the news. “I asked her not to disparage things like the festival in front of you. She must have forgotten.”
He wasn’t ashamed to admit it, so I saw no reason to ignore the potential conversational bedlam hanging over us. “And why did you tell her to watch what she said around me again?”
Galen held out his free hand to usher me onto the sidewalk in front of him and then matched my pace. “I didn’t ask her to watch what she said around you as much as I pleaded with her not to give you preconceived notions about Moonstone Bay as a whole. There’s a lot about this place you don’t yet understand.”
“Do you honestly think I don’t know that?” I wanted to laugh at his earnest expression. “I figured out Moonstone Bay was different the first time I saw Aurora swimming naked in the surf … and that was before I saw you turn into a wolf.”
Galen pursed his lips. “I don’t remember you taking that well. In fact, if I remember correctly there was a lot of screeching and whispered threats about me keeping that a secret that first night.”
“That’s not what happened.”
“It’s close to what happened.”
“Not really.” I moved to pull my hand away, but Galen didn’t release my fingers. “I don’t screech.”
Galen snorted. “Right. I must have imagined that. It doesn’t matter. Let’s talk about something else. Let’s talk about the festival.”
“Okay, let’s talk about the festival.” I was gung-ho to talk about whatever he wanted to talk about … as long as it wasn’t my perceived screeching. “What should I expect from this happy Moonstone Bay event?”
“Well, I guess that depends on your favorite festival food. How do you feel about cotton candy?”
“It’s okay but not a favorite.”
“Caramel apples?”
“Not a big fan.”
“Elephant ears?”
“I would roll around naked in the dough and eat them for dessert for the rest of my life.”
“I knew there was a reason I was attracted to you.” Galen’s grin was charming as he directed me toward the front gate of the festival. The closer we got, the more I could admire the rides and bright lights. “I’m a big fan of carnival food. I like kebabs … and hot dogs … and burgers. There’s even a food truck that serves fried green tomatoes if you’re interested in that type of thing.”
I perked up considerably. “Really? I love fried green tomato sandwiches.”
“That just goes to prove we’re even better matched than I originally thought.”
He was cute, but sometimes I got the distinct impression that he was trying too hard. “You don’t have to lay it on so thick,” I supplied. “I know you’re enjoying the dating thing we’re doing as much as me. It’s still new to both of us, though. You don’t need to constantly ply me with compliments to get me to keep dating you … at least not right now. That might change if you keep bringing up scree
ching that never happened.”
“Ha, ha.” Galen flicked my ear with his free hand. “I don’t mean to bury you in an avalanche of compliments. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about you from time to time, though. This place is new and you’re still getting used to things you might not be ready to understand.”
“And you’re fearful I’ll decide that it’s not for me and take off with no warning,” I mused. “I get it.”
“I don’t want you to take off,” Galen agreed. “You belong here. I don’t think you realize that yet, but given some time, I think that’s the one conclusion you won’t be able to ignore.”
“Well, I’m willing to look at it through open and accepting eyes if you promise to stop telling people how they should react around me. I mean, for the record, I’m not going to start hating festivals simply because Aurora tells me they’re a pain in the butt. I can form an opinion of my own.”
Galen smirked. “I’m more than aware of that. I apologize for telling people to keep their opinions to themselves. I simply didn’t want to overwhelm you.”
“A festival won’t overwhelm me.” I meant it. “In fact, I happen to love a good festival.”
Galen grinned as he tugged on my hand and directed me to the left. “Well, in that case, how do you feel about visiting the House of Mirrors first?”
“I could handle that. But I want some sugar first.”
Galen’s smile turned wolfish. “I like sugar, too.”
“Ugh. You’ve got a dirty mind.”
“That’s just one thing you’ll have to get used to.”
“I think I’m up to the task.”
“HERE YOU GO, honey. Don’t say I never gave you anything.”
I tried to hold my smugness to a tolerable level as I handed Galen a stuffed bear with minimal charisma and a lopsided smile an hour later. Galen took the animal, shaking his head as he studied the pathetic creature that was harder and lumpier than most plush toys should be.
“This did not work out as I thought it would,” Galen admitted after a beat, his expression unreadable as he studied the bear. “Most of the time, when it comes to a festival, I’m the one who wins a bear and wows my date. It doesn’t often happen in reverse. In fact, it’s never happened in reverse.”
I didn’t know what to make of the admission. “Just how many women have you tried to win stuffed animals for?”
Instead of being abashed, Galen shrugged. “A few. I like to think of myself as the athletic sort. If you must know, though, I haven’t won a stuffed animal for a woman in ages, so you have nothing to worry about.”
I knew it was unnecessary to poke him, yet I couldn’t stop myself. “That streak is technically still intact.”
Galen scowled, which only served to make him more appealing for some reason. “Yeah, well, I don’t understand why you couldn’t simply let me win the stuffed animal on my own.”
“You threw away twenty bucks without making any headway.”
“I would’ve won eventually.”
“Yes, well, I used to work for an indoor carnival outfit when I was in high school. I know all the tricks of the trade.”
Galen furrowed his brow. “What tricks? You throw darts at a balloon. There’s no trick involved with that.”
I patted the top of his head because I couldn’t resist his adorable expression. “You’re so cute.”
Galen caught my hand and snagged my gaze. “I’m serious. How can there be a trick to throwing darts?”
“How can you ask that after I won you a bear and you tossed away twenty bucks winning me nothing?”
Galen’s cheeks flushed, forcing me to bite my bottom lip to keep from laughing. He looked caught, as if he wanted to learn while at the same time holding on to his stereotypical manhood. I was curious which would win out. Ultimately, his curiosity couldn’t be denied.
“Okay, I’ll play. How do you win the dart game?”
I smiled in triumph … and also relief. Galen was a man, but he was one who wanted knowledge more than bragging rights. That was something I could work with. “Well, for starters, you need to arc up.” I gestured with my hands for emphasis. “The darts are dull for two reasons, one of which is that people can’t be trusted not to poke out their own eyes.”
“I can see that.”
“The other is that most people aim directly at the balloons,” I added. “You don’t work up enough velocity at that angle to pop the balloon. If you arc up, gravity helps and gives you enough force to pop it.”
Galen glanced back at the game, his lips curving down when a teenager with a puffed-out chest threw a dart directly at a balloon only to watch it bounce to the side and hit the ground behind the counter with a dull thud. “Huh. I think you might be right.”
“You’ll find sooner or later that I’m always right.”
Galen chuckled and shook his head as he lodged the bear under his arm and linked the fingers of his free hand with mine before turning me away from the game. “I’m always up for new adventures so I’m going to take this in stride.”
“Just think of it as a fond memory.”
“I’m always looking for fond memories.” Galen nodded his head at two young women who giggled and whispered to one another as we passed, pointing me toward the far tent in his efforts for us to escape the crowd. “Ladies.”
I waited until we were out of earshot to press the issue. “You have quite the effect on women, don’t you?”
“Those weren’t women. They were teenagers.”
“They looked old enough to drink.”
“They’re sixteen and seventeen. They’re the Hamblin sisters. They look older, but they’re not.”
“Oh.” I was understandably taken aback. “I guess that’s okay then. You probably have teenagers all over the place who develop crushes on you.”
“Both boys and girls. I find it flattering and creepy.”
I decided on a pragmatic tack. “Well … things could be worse. No one could find you attractive because of your pathetic dart-throwing skills.”
“Good point.” Galen pressed his hand to the small of my back and prodded me toward an empty picnic table between the fortune-teller’s tent and what looked to be some sort of weird beer tent. I couldn’t quite decide what was going on under the second tent, but I was intrigued. “Let’s take a load off for a little bit.”
“Okay.” I sat and watched as Galen rested the sad bear on the picnic table before sliding onto the bench beside me. It felt a little odd for us to be on the same side, yet I appreciated his closeness all the same. “You said earlier that you were going to tell me about some of the people in town. You’ve yet to do that.”
“I know, and I’ve been giving it some serious thought,” Galen said, causing a warm jolt of energy to course down my spine when he slipped a strand of hair behind my ear. “On one hand, I don’t want you feeling left out when those around you start gossiping. On the other, I kind of think you’ll miss out if you don’t meet everyone on your own. It’s quite the pickle.”
“I don’t know what to think about a guy who uses the word ‘pickle’ like that.”
“Duly noted.” Galen wasn’t bothered at my continuous poking. “Still, I think you might benefit from meeting people on your own timetable. If I introduce you, I’ll be influencing your opinion whether I want to or not. If you meet the townsfolk on your own, you’ll be able to form your own opinion.”
“And we’re back to this, huh?” I didn’t know whether to be amused or irritated. I settled on amused because I wasn’t in the mood for a fight. “I’m fine with meeting people on my own. I’m not going to pretend I don’t find it weird that you want to shield me from everyone else’s opinions, but I’ve decided to let it go.”
Galen’s eyes lit with amusement. “Good for you. That’s very magnanimous.”
I snorted. “I don’t know about that. I’m simply having too good of a time to let something so trite distract me. I reserve the right to fight over it again when it�
�s not so hot and I’m not so sweaty.”
Galen leaned closer, so close, in fact, that I could feel his breath on my exposed collarbone. “It’s always hot here. You should probably get used to being sweaty.”
His playful words caused the energy bolt to return. “Really? How did I know you would say something like that?”
“I think you’re getting to know me on a personal level.”
“I think so, too.”
“I can’t help being glad about that.” I could practically feel Galen’s heart beating through his skin as his arm touched mine. “I like you getting to know me.”
I swallowed hard as I tried to find my voice. “Well … .”
I thought he was going to finish leaning in and kiss me – something that both excited and terrified me – but instead he darted his eyes to the right and furrowed his brow. I was so lost in the moment it took me a moment to realize Galen was no longer looking at me. When that realization finally set in, I couldn’t help being disappointed.
“Did you find something more interesting?”
Galen carefully shook his head as he slowly stood. “I … don’t know.”
I tried not to be offended. “Well, I guess I won’t take that personally.”
“It’s not that,” Galen said. “It’s … that.”
I was confused. “What?”
“That.” Galen extended a finger and pointed toward the side of the tent.
I followed his finger with my eyes, taking a moment to allow my gaze to adjust to the gloom, and sucked in a breath when I realized what I was looking at. “Oh, my … are those feet?”
Galen nodded as he stalked in their direction. “Yeah, and I’m guessing there’s a body attached. Stay close, Hadley. I don’t like the looks of this at all.”
4
Four
Galen’s face was grave when he found me back at the picnic table twenty minutes later. I stayed with him after the initial discovery – long enough for him to confirm the individual on the ground was dead – and then I gave him room to work. He was the sheriff, after all. He had a job to do. I didn’t want him to feel as if I was crowding him.
Witch Out of Water Page 3