She angled her body to face him and reached up to trace a finger over his lips. In the candlelight, her eyes glowed like topaz. “I know it might sound hypocritical considering what I do for a living, but no. Helping others find love is my destiny and makes me happy beyond words, but when it comes to falling in love, I suspect it will happen for me the old fashioned way, when I’m not looking.”
“Gillian,” he murmured and caressed her cheek. In a different time and place, if he let himself, he could fall hard for her. Hell, any male would be a fool not to.
“Hey, with everything going on, I wanted to remind you about the Halloween festival tomorrow afternoon. You haven’t forgotten about it, have you?”
He’d been wrong when he listed her attributes. By far, her heart was what made her so beautiful. “I need to do a debriefing with Dubrosky and the other agents before the op, but don’t worry. That’s one place you’ll be safe. The park will be teeming with cops for the event. I’ll drop you off and meet you there after I’m done. Sebastian Beam has a ball to get to.”
Unsure of what would happen when he faced off with his enemy, Garrett chose to stay present and enjoy the wonderful woman in his arms.
Chapter 25
“You’re sure this is going to work?” Gillian whispered to Saje, who stood next to her at a long, wooden table. They’d set it up with a big, black cauldron filled with candy. Brochures and business cards from the shop were scattered over a fringed, purple tapestry, along with donation cups for her charity in honor of the festival.
The other girls from the coven stayed behind to man the store. They needed all hands on deck. Halloween was their busiest day of the year. She should be there to help, but this event meant too much for her to miss. Gillian’s stomach tightened into knots as she glanced up at the sky. By this evening the moon would be full, which meant time was running out for Brooke. They had to give her the potion tonight.
“I added all the ingredients and went back and rechecked the spell at least a dozen times. You’ve got the hard part, forcing Brooke to drink this sludge,” Saje said, breaking into her thoughts. She held her nose as she handed over the small glass vile. “It smells like rotten eggs.”
“As long as it does what it’s supposed to, I don’t care what it smells like.” All she could think about was seeing Brooke again and bringing her home. Gillian placed the potion vile in her purse and set it on a metal chair at their table.
To best represent Enchantments, and in the full spirit of Halloween, they both wore witch costumes. Clad in a layered, baby blue, taffeta dress with a crown and a sparkly wand, Gillian came as Glinda. Saje knocked it out of the park in a long, black dress, tall pointed hat, and a green face. She looked like the spitting image of Elphaba from Wicked.
Gillian turned her face up to the sky, basking in the warmth from the sun, a welcome reprieve from yesterday’s storm. But she wouldn’t dare complain. Last night was one of the best of her life.
An enormous pumpkin sat on a bed of hay off to the side of their table. Anyone who guessed the weight won the cash prize. All the proceeds went to her charity, Hope Club.
She turned to find Saje staring at her with a curious expression across her green face. “What?”
“You look different today. You're glowing.” Saje said with a smile. “My psychic sense tells me it has nothing to do with the glitter, and everything to do with the sex.”
Gillian’s whole face flushed. “Watch what you say, there could be children present.” She tried to play it off by straightening the brochures on the table. No use lying, Saje would find out eventually. She always did. Besides, they didn’t keep secrets from each other. “Okay fine, things might’ve taken a turn on the hot and steamy side. But let’s face it, where could this lead? I’ll grow old and wrinkled, while Garrett stays young and vibrant forever. I could never expect him to stick around.” Even if they found a way to be together, how long would their relationship last? His track record didn’t bode well for anything long term.
“Hey, all jokes aside, this isn’t just about sex,” Saje said in a softer tone and squeezed her arm. “I can tell by the way you say his name and the dreamy look in your eyes when you talk about Garrett that you’re in love.”
“What? Are you nuts?” Gillian’s heart began to pound in rhythm to Saje’s words. No, she couldn’t be in love. It was too soon. It was ridiculous. But when her mind drifted to Garrett, she got these warm tingles that pulsated throughout her whole body. Gillian could spend hours talking to him and never get bored. When he looked at her, she could see the tenderness in his eyes, and feel it in his touch.
And there was the sex—it was passionate and intense—simply out of this world. She knew deep down, no male could ever compare to him as a lover. Now after living with him, she could honestly say he was the first person she wanted to see in the morning and the last person before going to bed.
“How did this happen?” Gillian murmured, still in a daze from the sudden realization. The whole thing made no sense, but Goddess help her, it was true.
“I never thought I’d see the day, but oh, how the mighty have fallen. Head over peep-toe sandals it seems.”
“Yeah, well, it won’t last long.” Gillian shrugged and tried to play it off. She turned her head away, embarrassed.
“While I was making the potion for Brooke, I came across the spell to make a vampire human again using the water from Sybil’s Cave, along with a regimen of herbs. I can’t say whether or not it would work.” Saje tilted her head to the side. “The girls and I would have to do some more research first. The only way to know for sure would be to have Mulroney try it out.”
“I’m not sure he’d agree to be a guinea pig. He seemed pretty closeminded about the subject the last time I brought it up. He’s a total skeptic,” Gillian said, not able to keep the hurt from her voice.
“He's probably afraid because he has too much to lose if it doesn’t take. Talk to him, Gillian, what do you have to lose, except for a chance at happiness?”
The summation of the situation filled her with warmth. “I know it’s coming from a good place, but has anyone ever told that you’re a meddler?” Gillian asked with a smile.
Saje considered this and shrugged. “At least twenty times a day.”
“I appreciate all the trouble you went to. You’re the most amazing friend a girl could have. Thank you.” Gillian pulled her into a hug.
“Someone needs to give you both a good, swift kick in the ass. I figured if not me, then who else would?” Saje said in a voice thick with tears. She pulled away and sniffed the air. “No offense, but you smell like Eau de vampire. They will smell you from twenty paces away.” Saje tapped her foot. “Hold on.” She picked up a packet of herbs from the table and pulled off the gleaming, silver, heart-shaped amulet from around her neck. She opened it, sprinkled some herbs inside, and waved her hands over the locket. “This will mask your scent and your heartbeat.”
“Way to think on the fly. Thank you. I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t need to say anything, just go get our girl back.” She walked to the end of their table and stopped to chat with a group of women who wanted to buy raffle tickets.
Could Garrett be human again? The question reverberated inside her head like a mantra.
Once the parade got started, families with kids filled the park and gravitated toward their table. Shrieks and laughter rang through the air. The sweet smells of Carmel apples, funnel cake, and popcorn drifted closer, making her stomach rumble. Uniformed officers patrolled the area. Every now and then one would stop at the table to hand out stickers to the kids, and let her know they were keeping a close eye on her.
Gillian and Saje gave out packets of dried herbs from their garden and incense cones to the adults. The kids got candy and wooden wands. A donation can for Hope Club sat on the table. Children from the local hospital, many of them leukemia patients in remission, took part in the festivities and got the chance to march in the parade. T
his was a fundraiser to help pay for their treatments. When she tried to imagine the ordeal of having a sick child, and the astronomical medical expenses not covered by insurance, her heart squeezed.
A little girl who looked around six or seven, wearing a black and red witch costume, broke away from her mother and skipped toward Gillian. She stopped at the table, eyeing the candy in the cauldron before her big, green eyes darted to Gillian’s costume. “You’re Glinda, the pretty witch.”
“Well, thank you.” Gillian bent down so they were at eye level.
In the bright light of day, the girl’s pale skin and dark smears under her eyes became apparent. But her spirit shone through from her soul. No doubt about it—this kid was a fighter.
“You’re a pretty witch too. What’s your name?”
“Sienna. We both have on witch’s costumes.”
Gillian smiled. “Yes, and do you know what every witch needs? Some real magick.” Before Sienna could respond, Gillian waved her hand at the cauldron. It slid from the other side of the table and stopped in front of the little girl.
Her eyes widened. “You can do magic. You’re a real witch.” She reached toward the cauldron and pulled out a candy bar.
“Are you here with a parent, Sienna? We’d better ask first to make sure it’s okay.” Gillian gestured to the chocolate in her small hand.
Sienna turned her head and a tall woman with short, brown hair hurried over to the table to stand beside her. “Mom, can I have some candy? This is Gillian and she said I could.”
“Go ahead.” The woman smiled at Gillian. “Thank you. Hi, I’m Jacqui. I hope she’s not bothering you?”
“No, not at all. I’d like to sprinkle a little fairy dust on her if it’s okay. It’s great for making wishes.”
“Can I please have some fairy dust, Mommy?” Sienna jumped up and down with excitement. “Pretty please.”
Jacqui nodded. “Sure.”
Gillian picked up the pink sparkle dust from a cup on the table and poured some in her hand. “Can you take off your hat for a moment, honey? The dust works better if we place it on your forehead.”
When Sienna took off her hat, Gillian tried not to stare. All of her hair was gone, only peach fuzz remained. “My hair was brown before my chemo treatments, and when it grows back, I wish for it to be purple. My favorite color.”
Her mother touched her arm and pulled her close. “Sienna, your hair can’t grow back purple. Only hair dye can change the color. How about you wish for something else, sweetheart?”
“Okay, I wish for my hair to grow back again, no matter what color, so people stop asking if I’m a boy.”
Gillian tried her best not to cry, but tears clogged in the back of her throat. Sienna’s courage blew her away. When she gathered her composure, she whispered, “I think that’s a perfect wish.” She gently pressed the dust to Siannas’s forehead. “I want you to close your eyes and imagine the place where you keep all your dreams. Think of the wish in your mind over and over again until it becomes real to you. How about I add a spell for some extra magick?”
With her eyes squeezed shut, Sienna nodded her head.
May all good things come to thee.
Your beautiful hair will grow back for all to see.
And this is my will, so mote it be.
Sienna opened her eyes and smiled, revealing a missing front tooth. “Thanks for the fairy dust.”
“It was truly my pleasure.” Gillian wrapped her in a hug and held on tight, wishing with all her heart for Sienna’s health to be restored.
“Thank you,” Jacqui said with tears in her eyes. Smiling back at Gillian, she led Sienna over to the candy apple stand.
At that moment, Gillian’s heart filled with so much love, she thought it might burst. Maybe meeting this sweet, little girl was a sign from the powers that be of good things to come, to teach Gillian to embrace the future without expecting the other shoe to drop. If Sienna could hold onto hope after everything she’d been through, then Gillian could too. Maybe there was a chance at a future with Garrett after all.
Garrett stood outside the fence of the park with his mouth hanging open. He had been unable to keep from staring in stunned silence when the little girl took off her hat. He’d tuned into her conversation with Gillian, listening to every word and getting choked up.
Watching Gillian interact with Sienna made one thing clear—she was a natural with children, a born nurturer. He’d been standing there for several minutes, checking out the scene to make sure Gillian was okay. Turning his head, he glanced at the uniforms trolling the park. They should’ve made him feel safe, but they didn’t, not really. There was no way to know who Lawrence would send after her, especially now that they were closing in. The Council had the bank put a freeze on all affiliated assets and accounts linked to Malcom’s credit cards.
His eyes, of their own accord, flew back to Gillian, and his chest grew tight. No matter how much he wanted her, if he stuck around, he’d take her dream of a family away. He’d give anything to be human again, and be able to make all of those dreams come true. But it was only a fantasy. He’d heard the wives’ tales and myths about witches creating elixirs and spells to turn a vampire human again, but none had unlocked the mystery of a true cure. If they did, he’d know. There was only one thing he could do to save Gillian from heartache in the long run.
When he tried to take a step, it felt as though his shoes had been filled with lead. He glanced over at the kids marching in the parade, some hobbling on crutches, others in wheelchairs, with pallor complexions. Life had never seemed more unfair. He could only imagine what these families would do to find a cure for their child’s illness. What they wouldn’t give for a guarantee of more time with their loved ones, while he stayed cursed, frozen in immortality.
With a heavy sigh, he walked past the gate and into the festival area. Garrett approached Gillian’s table and whistled. He admired how the blue, flowing dress hugged her curves. The sight of her lightened his dark mood.
“Let me guess, there’s no place like home? You’re the most beautiful witch I’ve ever seen.”
“Garrett? When did you get here?” The way Gillian said his name, breathless and excited, warmed a part of his soul. She came around the table to brush a kiss on his cheek. “How was the debriefing? Is everything set for tonight?”
“We have a lot to go over, but we can discuss all the details and your role on the drive over. There’s one thing I need to tell you, and I know you’ll be happy about it. The MBI sent a drone to do surveillance of the house. We got footage of Brooke. She’s there and she’s all right, Gillian.”
“Thank God.” Gillian burst into tears. She wrapped her arms around his neck and crushed her face to his chest. Sobs of relief shook her body while he rubbed her back. “Thank you.”
“Hey, it’s okay. Let it all out, baby,” he whispered. When her sobs began to subside, she pulled away, and he handed her a handkerchief.
“I see you came prepared for the occasion.” She dried her eyes, rubbing off her smeared mascara.
“I’d rather see you smile, than cry.” He grabbed his wallet and pointed to the raffle tickets. “How many will these buy?” he asked, handing her three, crisp hundred dollar bills.
“All of them with some cash to spare. Thank you. It’s very generous of you.” She walked to the table and stuffed the money in the raffle can, picking up a few books of tickets and handing them to him. “Hold onto these. Who knows, you could get lucky,” she whispered in a breathy voice.
Hell, he could still taste her on his lips—hear the rush of her blood through her veins. He couldn’t make love to her again in good conscience, not when he planned to break things off. “On second thought, we should go,” he said, resisting the urge to return the quip.
He’d never been so connected to another woman in his life, not even with Lilly. But this time he wouldn’t be selfish. He’d wait until after tonight to end things. She would be reunited with Brooke and happy. It
would hurt less then. He refused to let anything get in the way of the op. He had to stay focused on saving Brooke and those women. In the end, he’d bring Lawrence down for good.
“There’s still a lot to discuss for tonight, and I’m not planning to stick around.” Such prophetic words were never spoken. Guilt twisted his gut, but it was misplaced. Breaking it off with her was the best thing he could do for her in the long run.
“We’re just finishing up here. Let’s wait for the raffle to be called, and then, we can head home.” The moment she said the words, she froze. “I meant your home of course, not mine.”
He could never give her the kind of home she wanted—one with a family. What kind of self-centered bastard would he be if tried to take her dream away from her? “I know what you meant.” He shot back in a voice laced with anger, not at her, but the situation.
“What’s wrong? There’s a strong, negative vibe coming off you all of a sudden.” She studied him like a puzzle piece that didn’t fit anywhere.
“It’s nothing.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I have a lot on my mind, and I just want to get out of here.”
Her gaze narrowed, looking him over. “Don’t say it’s nothing when clearly something’s bothering you. I can tell by your breathing and the change in your voice. I thought we got past this, Garrett, and we could be honest with each other. Did I freak you out when I said let’s go home? Is this part of your commitment phobia?”
His anger flared. “I thought you were a psychic, not a therapist.” He didn’t want to do this here.
Hurt flashed in her eyes and made him feel like something he wiped off the bottom of his shoe on the way over. “Can we go somewhere and talk about this in private?”
With a nod, he led her by the elbow to a quiet corner of the park, away from the crowd, but where officers patrolled the perimeter. Once he made sure they were alone, he exhaled. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean what I said. It was cruel and effusive of me.”
Midnight Temptation Page 24