Soulmate

by Erin M. Leaf

  Gloria looked at Guy in dismay, and then she stared at Theo, a wrinkle of disgust curling her mouth.

  Theo glanced at Guy again, and then dropped his hand when it became obvious Gloria had no intention of shaking it. Guy wondered what Theo’s empathy was picking up from the older woman. Nothing good, he decided, eyeing Theo’s tight shoulders. The two women Guy had promised to help had moved back a little, but clearly, they had no problem waiting for Gloria to find her way out. They weren’t going to leave. Guy didn’t blame them. People who could Craft soulmate rings were astonishingly rare.

  “Thanks for stopping by, Gloria,” Guy added, glancing at the bag with Gloria’s wine holders. He needed to get her out of here, pronto, before he lost his temper. “I’ll have the other two finished in a few days,” he repeated, hoping she’d take the hint this time and just leave. If she didn’t, he’d have to see her out, and he’d prefer not to do that. I don’t need her son all up in my business this afternoon. Jimmy was a hothead. Guy would know. After living in this town for decades he’d crossed paths with the man enough times. Jimmy never came out on top, but that didn’t stop the man from trying. Repeatedly.

  Fortunately, Gloria grabbed her bag from the counter and headed across the shop. “I’ll be back on Monday, Guy. I hope by then you’ve come to your senses.” She paused at the door. “If not, I’ll have to let people know about your new friend.” She shook her head and headed out.

  “Jesus.” Guy rubbed his face, then sighed ruefully. Bigoted, much? Ugh. He turned to the two women. “Sorry about that.”

  “Not your fault,” Jeannie murmured. Her wife nodded.

  “Sorry about the bad timing,” Theo said, smiling wryly at Guy and the women. “If I’d known you had customers, I’d have waited a bit before coming in.”

  “No, you didn’t do anything wrong, Theo.” Guy looked down at the selection of wood chunks on his counter so he wouldn’t grab the younger man and kiss him. The look on Theo’s face when Gloria had flounced off… He smiled, putting the image of the old woman’s twisted expression firmly away. His Craft power tingled, and he knew he had to do something positive with the energy. “So, I might be able to help you,” he said to the young couple. He lifted a shoulder. “Then again, I might not. I can only try.”

  Wanda moved closer to the counter. “Trying is enough. We haven’t been able to find anyone who could Craft the rings. No one even wanted to attempt it.”

  “And we looked. All up and down the East Coast,” Jeannie added.

  Guy frowned. “I thought there was a woman down in Ocean City who could do it?”

  “She died,” Wanda said. “And there was a guy in Florida, but his wife passed away three months ago, and he said he couldn’t do it.” She shook her head. “I don’t think he’s going to last long without her. He didn’t look good.” She grimaced.

  Guy rubbed his chin. How well I understand that grief, he thought, but then again, maybe he didn’t. Pamela had been his wife, not his soulmate. He glanced at Theo to find the younger man staring at him sympathetically. “I didn’t realize,” Guy said to Wanda, heading off that train of thought.

  “Yeah, we gave up on it, actually,” Jeannie said. “And then we were visiting the shops here, and Wanda pointed to your shop and said, ‘Let’s go in there.’ I said okay, because when Wanda gets one of her feelings, I know by now to listen.” She grinned. “And then I felt your power the moment we walked in the door.”

  “Really?” Guy asked, surprised. “No one’s been able to do that before.”

  Jeannie shrugged. “I’ve never felt anything like it. I’m a teacher. I don’t have much Craft power at all—just enough to help me with languages. I’m not an Empath, where I can sense things, you know? That’s a rare power. Even rarer than WoodCrafting.” She glanced at her wife. “I’ve never met an Empath, have you?” Wanda shook her head. “I don’t know anyone who’s ever met one, either.”

  Guy looked at Theo. The younger man shook his head minutely, and Guy realized that he didn’t want Guy to say anything.

  “And I’m a baker,” Wanda said, showing her strong, capable hands. “I make cakes. I’m not a very strong Crafter either. Who is? Most of us born with some talent are just average, with a little bit of extra energy.” She looked at her wife. “We were so lucky we met each other. We were even luckier that we were able to bond, with what little power we had.”

  “Did you always know that you were gay?” Guy asked, then flushed. “I’m sorry. That was rude. You don’t have to answer that. I mean, you must know that same sex soulmates are basically nonexistent.”

  Jeannie laughed. “Yeah, we both always knew we were lesbians. I knew by the time I was ten. It’s kind of obvious, you know?”

  No, I don’t know, Guy thought, but he just nodded. No sense in burdening the nice ladies with his insecurities. He arranged the pieces of wood on the counter, spreading them out just a bit. “Come, have a look. Tell me if you like any of these.”

  Theo touched a finger to one of the chunks of wood. “If you can Craft soulmate rings, you won’t have to worry about any lost business, Guy.”

  Huh. That’s an interesting point, Guy thought, raising his eyebrows. “There isn’t a huge market for soulmate rings.”

  “That’s because no one’s making them anymore.” Theo shrugged in response. “You know I’m good at reading people. And that old woman is going to get nasty.”

  Guy had to laugh at that. “Gloria is a fixture in Silverleaf, but she’s not the only shop owner. I don’t think I have to worry.”

  Jeannie looked from Guy to Theo. “This is your soulmate?”

  Guy lifted a shoulder. “Maybe.”

  “Yes,” Theo said at the same time.

  Wanda chuckled. “You two just met, didn’t you?”

  Guy nodded.

  “Oh boy,” Jeannie murmured, eyes sparkling. “Wait, I recognize you,” she said, pointing at Theo. “You’re the East Coast Council Delegate, right? I voted for you after I read that article about what your family did to you.”

  Theo’s smile faded. “That’s not why I decided to represent Crafters on the Council. I want to help people, not become the poster child for messed up families.”

  Jeannie nodded. “I know, but it’s good to have someone on the Council who knows what it’s like to deal with discrimination from the inside out. Those old geezers don’t really know what it’s like to have to struggle with things.” She gestured to Wanda who nodded in agreement. “Plus, you’re smart.” Jeannie smiled impishly.

  Guy frowned. He had no idea what Theo’s family had done to him. I should’ve looked him up online, he thought, but then, he hadn’t wanted to act like a creepy stalker. He wanted Theo to tell him what he needed to know.

  Guy touched the blocks of wood. “Would you ladies like to take a look at these samples?”

  Wanda nodded, reaching out with a finger. “This one feels good.” She touched a chunk of mahogany. “I like the color.”

  “Or maybe this one.” Jeannie pointed to a piece of rosewood.

  “Where did you grow up?” Guy asked them. His energy made him reach out to a pretty piece of cherry. He pushed it closer to the women.

  “I grew up in Connecticut,” Jeannie said. “Wanda grew up in Massachusetts.”

  “You might like this one. It’s native to North America.” Guy waited.

  Wanda picked up the cherry, then grinned. “It feels warm!” She handed it to Jeannie, who gasped.

  “Whoa.” Jeannie turned the chunk over in her hands. “It’s beautiful.” She glanced at Wanda. “This one.”

  Wanda nodded.

  Guy took a deep breath. He had no idea what to do, but the energy pushing at him said to touch the wood and let it speak. I have officially entered woo-woo territory with this stuff, he thought, somewhat sardonically. He’d always been a very practical and pragmatic man, but the past week had upended every notion he’d ever had about himself. He exhaled, centering his power in his chest.

&
nbsp; “Are you all right?” Theo asked him.

  Guy nodded. “Okay. Both of you put your hands on the wood,” he told the two women. He closed his eyes, thinking of the rings he’d made for him and Theo. He hadn’t shown them to the younger man yet, and he was almost afraid to. He frowned, and then his energy spiked. He knew the moment both women touched the wood, because his power surrounded it. He sensed fresh air, and a sun-warmed meadow, and the taste of a big city. The wood heated up, and both women gasped. Guy rearranged their hands so that they cupped the wood together. He felt the shape of their fingers and bones, and then he concentrated, letting his power and his skill reshape the piece. When the last of the energy faded, he opened his eyes. Sitting on their palms were two perfectly formed soulmate rings, shimmering with power.

  “Wow,” Theo murmured.

  Guy glanced at his soulmate. Theo’s face was flushed, and he gave Guy a look that seared him down to his toes. His cock hardened, and he took a hasty step back before the women in front of him noticed his sudden arousal. “Try them on,” he said, voice rough.

  Wanda nodded, and then she helped Jeannie slide her ring onto her finger. “It’s a perfect fit,” she murmured, awe in her voice.

  Jeannie slid the other ring onto Wanda’s finger. “Perfect,” she whispered.

  “Whoa. It’s buzzing. It feels like electricity running through me,” Wanda exclaimed, obviously surprised. She stared at her hand, and then at Jeannie.

  Guy sensed the power in the wood and the power in the two women meshing. The rings took on an inner energy that any Crafter would sense as soon as they saw them.

  Jeannie nodded. “It feels good. Alive.” She smiled at her soulmate.

  “Witnessed and confirmed,” Theo said, touching the women’s hands lightly.

  They looked at him in shock.

  “Witnessing requires an Empath or a Healer to read the energy exchange,” Jeannie finally said. “And Empaths are impossible to find. Are you a Healer?”

  Wanda raised her eyebrows, looking at Theo. “What she said.”

  I guess he’s decided to come clean about his power, Guy thought, strangely pleased. He didn’t want Theo to feel like he had to hide who he was.

  “Empaths are rare, but not extinct.” Theo smiled. “I’m not a Healer. I’m an Empath. No one will question your status. If you give me your information, I can send you the documentation from the Council.”

  “Oh my God,” Jeannie said, looking from Theo to Guy. “You’re an Empath, and you’re a WoodCrafter.” She smiled from ear to ear. “You guys are going to be famous.”

  Guy cringed internally. He didn’t want to be famous. He thought of Pamela, and an unexpected frisson of grief hit him square in the chest. “I hope not,” he muttered, moving to put the wood away.

  Theo glanced at him, and then he shook his head. “We’ve only just met. It’s a little too soon to give us a Hollywood star.”

  Wanda shook her head. “Doesn’t matter. Once word gets out, you’ll probably have soulmated couples from all over clamoring to get rings from the two of you.”

  “There aren’t that many soulmated couples in the world.” Guy shut the cabinet, wishing he could ask them to keep the rings hidden, but he knew that was impossible. Soulmate rings were uncommon, and beautiful, and unmistakable. Even now he could see the glimmer of energy dancing through the wood on their fingers. And soulmate rings witnessed and confirmed by an Empath were not just uncommon, they were astonishingly rare.

  “We’ll figure it out,” Theo murmured to him, clearly sensing Guy’s disquiet. “What’s that?” He touched the soft bag in Guy’s hands.

  Guy flinched, looking down. He hadn’t even realized he’d grabbed the pouch with his and Theo’s rings. “Shit.” He looked at Theo. “It’s nothing. Just some scrap wood.”

  “What do we owe you?” Wanda asked, heading for the register.

  Guy shoved the soft bag into his pocket. He wasn’t at all ready to talk to Theo about the rings he’d made for them. “Uh, I don’t know. I’ve never made soulmate rings for a customer before.” He ran a hand over the back of his neck. “This is strange to me.”

  Jeannie laughed. “Well, don’t worry. We’re not going to rip you off.”

  “The guy in Florida used to charge five hundred for a set,” Wanda said.

  “Yeah, but these are Empath witnessed.” Jeannie held out her hand, admiring her ring.

  “A thousand,” Wanda said, nodding as she pulled out her credit card.

  “Oh no, no way,” Guy said, shaking his head in dismay. He walked over to the register. “That’s insane. I can’t ask for that much.” A thousand dollars for two rings?

  Theo touched his arm. “That’s not insane. It’s a good deal.” He laughed. “It’s less than a diamond engagement ring, and everyone buys those.”

  Guy frowned at the younger man. “I’m not in the habit of ripping off my customers.”

  “Are you kidding?” Jeannie said, holding up the hand with the ring. “You have no idea how valuable this is, do you?” She stroked the wood as if it were something precious.

  Which I guess it is, Guy thought, feeling the soft pouch he’d stuffed in his pocket like a brand against his thigh.

  “He doesn’t,” Theo said in agreement.

  “It’s not just the shaping of the rings, it’s the energy you put into it. They have to be created by a soulmated WoodCrafter, and then, to have an Empath witness them?” Jeannie took Wanda’s credit card and shoved it at Guy. “You could charge two thousand. You could charge five thousand, and it would still be a bargain.”

  “I could never do that.” Guy stared at the card in his hands, tempted to just give them the rings. They clearly meant a lot to the women, and it wasn’t in his nature to put a price on love. “Shit.”

  “Softy,” Theo said, eyes lit with affection. Guy stared at the younger man as Theo moved in and typed in the pertinent information in the register, adding a note about the witnessing in Guy’s POS system. Then he took Wanda’s card from Guy and swiped it. “Here you go,” he said, turning the card reader around so that Wanda could sign her name.

  “How do you even know how to do that?” Guy asked Theo. He didn’t know what to do with his hands. He still had an annoying persistent erection, and he didn’t want to call attention to it. The closer Theo got to him, the more he wanted to grab the man and kiss him until neither of them could breathe. He counted to ten in his head, relaxing a little as his cock finally eased up a bit.

  Theo laughed. “I used to work in a coffee shop. This place is serene in comparison.”

  “Money well spent,” Wanda murmured, signing the slip with a flourish. She looked at Guy. “I’ll be sure to tell people where we got these,” she said.

  Guy nodded automatically, his shopkeeper’s instincts taking over. “Thank you. I hope you enjoy them.” He walked back around to the front of the counter, at a loss. The rings in his pocket pushed on his hipbone, and he knew he wouldn’t be able to hide them from Theo. He wasn’t sure he wanted to hide them. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to do. He just knew he felt as though the entire world had tilted on its axis. Again. As if life hasn’t already been impossible since Pamela died. He touched his finger, where he used to wear his wedding band. What would it feel like to put on one of the soulmate rings he’d made?

  “Oh, we will. We certainly will enjoy them,” Wanda said to him, jolting him out of his reverie.

  The look of joy in her eyes made Guy glance at Theo. He wondered what it had felt like for him, an Empath, to witness the ring Crafting. Overwhelming? Is he overwhelmed? Or is that just me?

  “Thank you,” Jeannie said, and then she hugged Guy, shocking him into stillness. “Don’t let him get away,” she whispered in his ear, and then she let go.

  Still frozen, Guy watched the two women head for the door. What just happened? He looked at Theo. What do I do now?

  Chapter Six

  Theo could tell that Guy felt completely undone by the Crafting of th
e rings. He wasn’t surprised. Between the cranky old lady customer, the energy he’d needed to make the rings, and having to confront the truth of their connection, he expected Guy to be unsettled, at the very least. Although, I was hoping for a nice, low-key date, but no. Story of my life. He massaged the back of his neck, trying to unkink the muscles that had tightened up in the past half hour.

  “That was … different,” Guy murmured, staring at the door.

  “Time for lunch?” Theo offered. He very carefully didn’t mention the small pouch Guy had shoved in his pocket. He had an idea of what was in there, but he had no intention of pushing Guy into admitting the truth of their relationship before he was ready. His empathy still buzzed from witnessing Guy using his power to Craft soulmate rings, and from the love the two women felt for each other. Being an Empath could often be painful, but the joyous emotions more than made up for it. He was hungry, though. Using any kind of Craft power took energy. And if he was hungry, Guy was probably starving. Theo ran a hand down the front of his pants, wondering if Guy could tell he’d been half-hard from the moment he walked into the shop. Something about the scent of the wood and sawdust reminded him of Guy, and of what it had been like to be on the receiving end of Guy’s single-minded attention.

  “Lunch?” Guy asked slowly, and then he blinked and pushed a hand through his hair. “Oh, yeah. Lunch.” He rolled his shoulders.

  Theo glanced at Julio, who raised the paper bag he was holding. Theo nodded, and Julio strode over with it. “I brought us some crusty bread and olives, and some great cheese.” He smiled at Guy. “I hope you like Mediterranean food.”

  “Yeah.” Guy’s voice cracked, and he cleared his throat. “I mean, yes, I love it.”

  “Good,” Theo said, smiling. He turned to his bodyguard. “Thanks, Julio.”

  “I’ll be in the car,” Julio told him. “Don’t go outside.”

  “Of course.” Theo watched as Julio headed out, and then he turned back to Guy. “I like your shop.” He looked at the tidy shelves racked with wood, and the power tools neatly arranged along the back wall, behind the register counter and a long waist-high display case. The other walls held tall display cases. His gaze stopped on the knife stuck into the heavy log wall near the back door. Interesting, he thought, imagining Guy flinging it there out of frustration. When he looked back at Guy, the older man’s cheeks were slightly pink.