Under Her Spell

by Isabella Ashe

  Bryony rolled her eyes, grinning. "You doctors are all alike. 'Take two aspirin and call me in the morning.' You spent four years in medical school for that?"

  "I'd be happy to operate," Vivien said. "How about a lobotomy? Or I could cut out that sharp tongue of yours."

  "Get out of here," Bryony said. "Go home to that handsome husband of yours before I throw you out."

  "Glad to. But first, I'll go downstairs and reassure a certain magazine publisher. He's pacing like an expectant father. From the way he sounded on the phone, I was sure you were on your deathbed. What's going on with you two, anyway?"

  Bryony bit her lip. It was a good question. They were lovers. Sometimes, in the past few days, she'd thought they might be friends. But essentially nothing had changed. Zach was still leaving on Sunday. He was still publisher of the Skeptical Observer and she was still the subject of his upcoming column. Zach was coolly rational and objective, while she liked to believe in the possibility of magic. He didn't think much of love, and she was a consummate romantic.

  "I'm not sure," Bryony said at last.

  Her sister must have seen the shadows pass over her face, because she didn't press for details. Instead, she reached for Bryony's hand and squeezed it. "I'm here when you're ready to talk about it," she said.

  "Thanks, Sis. You're the best." For the second time that night, she gave Vivien a quick hug.

  When Zach came in few minutes later, he looked relieved. He fetched her some tablets from the medicine cabinet and held the water glass to her lips while she swallowed them. She smiled at him, touched by his tenderness. He was so handsome in the lamplight, with a solemn expression on his face and concern shining in his dark eyes.

  "Vivien says you're to go right to sleep," he said, reaching to turn off the bedside lamp. "I'll leave you alone to rest."

  Bryony felt a surge of disappointment. "Are you sure you won't --"

  "It wouldn't disturb you if I slept here with you?"

  "I'd be hurt if you didn't," she said. "If you aren't afraid of catching my flu --"

  "I believe I'll risk it."

  When he slipped in beside her a few minutes later, she snuggled up to him under the velvet comforter. He wrapped one muscular arm around her and pulled her into the curve of his body. Bryony sighed with contentment and fell almost immediately into a deep, dreamless sleep.

  Zach lay awake much longer, thinking.

  In the pale moonlight streaming through the window, he gazed for a long time at the woman in his arms. His eyes lingered on the curve of her flushed cheek, the silky red-gold tumble of her hair. Her face in slumber was relaxed and innocent as a child's, utterly without guile. Her lips curved into a faint smile.

  He felt a fierce rush of protectiveness and something else, something he couldn't name. Seeing Bryony trapped on the promontory, with the waves crashing around her, he'd felt as if a vise had closed around his heart. He'd never felt so afraid as in that moment.

  Bryony murmured in her sleep and shifted in his arms, molding herself even closer to his body. Zach felt the familiar stirring in his groin. It had been a long time since he'd wanted a woman so much. Perhaps he never had. Surely he would tire of her eventually. He always did. And yet . . . somehow he wondered. His emotions were jumbled, confused.

  He looked down at Bryony again. Her gold-tipped eyelashes fluttered, and he thought for a moment she might wake up. But no, she was just a restless sleeper, turning a little until she could rest her cheek against his shoulder.

  She was so unlike anyone he'd ever met. So fanciful and whimsical, not at all the no-nonsense, logical-minded woman he might have imagined himself falling for. And yet, she was undeniably intelligent. She didn't take her beliefs and interests to extremes. He might find Heart's Desire's merchandise frivolous, but there was no denying Bryony's skill as a businesswoman.

  Zach sighed and pulled her closer, fitting her slender body to his. The situation was getting complicated. When he'd agreed to drink her love potion, he hadn't known what he was getting into. It was probably best that he leave Cypress Point in the next few days. The longer he stayed, the harder it would be to go home. Already, he'd stayed longer than he had intended. His magazine needed him.

  Besides, he had a column to write.

  CHAPTER NINE

  "Hey! Get back in bed this minute," Zach said. He folded his brawny arms in front of his chest, a menacing look on his face. Bryony, her feet halfway to the floor, started guiltily. She'd thought he was still downstairs.

  "I was just getting up for some juice," she said. "I'm thirsty."

  "I told you, I'm at your beck and call today. You're not to get up."

  "Yes, sir," Bryony replied, her green eyes sparkling with mischief.

  "Watch yourself, young lady," Zach said, but he was smiling. "Don't get sassy on me, now. I'll be right back."

  He reappeared a few minutes later with a glass of cold orange juice and his briefcase. "What's that for?" Bryony asked.

  "I thought I'd do some work up here," he said. "That way I can keep an eye on the patient."

  "I don't need anyone to keep an eye on me," Bryony said, "but you can keep me company if you like."

  "Fine." He grinned and settled down at her desk, pulling out a legal pad. Bryony set aside her novel and watched him write. She loved just looking at him. Today he wore a V-neck T-shirt that revealed a triangle of the dark hair on his chest. His form-fitting jeans rode his slim hips and showed the corded muscles of his thighs. He was so absorbed in his work that he didn't look up at all.

  "Wonderful company you've turning out to be," she said at last, her lower lip thrusting itself into a pout. "You're neglecting the patient."

  Zach looked up, flashing his strong white teeth at her. "Can I get you something? Aspirin? More juice?"

  "You could fluff my pillows."

  He laughed and strode over to the bed. "Your every wish is my command, dearest love."

  Her heart skipped a beat at the endearment. She would have died to hear him call her that again, softly, while looking into her eyes so she could see he meant it. Instead, his tone was light, and he was chuckling and shaking his head over her whims, tossing her pillows playfully into the air and catching them as they fell.

  He propped up the pillows behind her and set his large, masculine hands on her shoulders, pushing her gently back. His touch sparked a warm, happy glow all through her body. "How's that? Better?" he asked, brushing her hair from her face with such tenderness that Bryony wanted to cry.

  "Fine," she said, smiling up at him. "I guess I just wanted some attention."

  "Mmm. I'd love to give you some," he said, his eyes hungrily taking in her body underneath the thin sheet. "But you're still sick, and I have work to do."

  "Not that kind of attention," Bryony said, laughing.. "I just wanted to talk, or hold each other."

  Zach sat down on the edge of the bed, facing her. His face grew serious and a little grim. "What do you want to talk about?"

  She sighed at the dread in his voice. "Not what you think. Don't worry, I won't forget what we agreed yesterday." She fidgeted with the delicate lace edging the sheet, unable to meet his eyes. "I don't want you being sorry you made love to me."

  "I could never be sorry about that," Zach said.

  "I'm glad." Bryony impulsively reached out and put her arms around his shoulders, leaning her head against his broad chest. A contented smile spread across her face. "I suppose I just wanted you to reassure me that this was really happening. It reminds me of one of the fairy tales I like to read. I mean, we started out enemies and now we're lovers. I've never been swept off my feet before. I think I like it."

  Zach stroked her hair and grinned down at her. "It's really happening, sweetheart. I promise. But I wouldn't exactly call it a fairy tale."

  She let out another sigh, this one blissful. "I know, I know. No promise of a happy ending. Still, you are my Prince Charming. And I won't let you spoil our last few days together by reminding me about all
the cold, harsh, logical realities, Mr. Skeptic. So there."

  "I'll just hold you for a while, then, without saying a word. Will that do?"

  "That would be lovely," she said.

  Kasey dropped by later in the afternoon, bearing gifts of chicken soup. Zach ushered her into Bryony's room and left them to talk. As soon as he shut the door, Kasey pounced.

  "All right, what's going on with you two?" she asked, flopping down on the bed. "Vivien said you had the flu but Zach was taking good care of you. What I want to know is, exactly how well is he -- uh -- caring for you?" She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

  Bryony rolled her eyes. She was sitting up in bed, feeling much better. "Is there no privacy in this town?"

  Kasey clutched at her heart, pretending Bryony's remark had mortally wounded her. "I'm you best friend," she said, tossing her blond hair. "If I can't inquire about your health, who can?"

  "It's not my health you're wondering about," Bryony said. "Don't you think my relationship with Zach is a rather private matter?"

  "Of course. And you don't have to say a word." Kasey pursed her lips. "I'll understand. I wouldn't want to be nosy."

  Bryony burst out laughing at the utter untruthfulness of her friend's words. "Did Vivien put you up to this?" she asked.

  "No . . . well, maybe," Kasey said. "She just said she was worried and would I come check on you."

  "It's just a 24-hour flu bug," Bryony pointed out. "I'll be fine by tomorrow, and you won't even have to mind the shop for me."

  "It's not the flu we're worried about. It's that devastatingly handsome young publisher, and you know it. We're all afraid he'll break your heart."

  "Kasey! Who's 'we'? If it's anyone other than you and Viv, I'll kill the both of you."

  Kasey gulped and hung her head like a naughty puppy expecting a whipping. "Just, you know, me and Viv and a few of your friends. Umm . . . Kevin Barker's mother asked me if it was true that Zach was staying here with you, and then Mr. Betz mentioned he'd seen you with a young man . . . ."

  Bryony groaned and leaned weakly against her pillows. If Georgina Barker knew, the whole town would hear the gossip soon enough. Next time she went into town, everyone she met would press her for details. Who was this man, was it serious, when was the wedding -- she'd never hear the end of it.

  "That's it," she said. "I'm moving to New York City, and I'm never coming back."

  Kasey giggled. "You'd never do that. You love Cypress Point too much. Besides, no one means to intrude on your personal life. It's just that they care about you so much."

  "I know, but it's still annoying."

  "Tell me about it. Remember when we were in sophomores and I was taking antibiotics for an ear infection? And someone started the rumor that I was addicted to diet pills?" Kasey screwed up her face into an expression of disgust. "About twenty different adults pulled me aside that week for 'a little private chat'."

  Bryony laughed, sitting up straighter in her bed. "Right, and you finally grabbed the microphone from poor old Miss Orenstein at the assembly and thanked everyone for their concern, but you'd never used diet pills in your life, your earache was gone now, and would everyone just leave you alone."

  "So is that what you want me to do? Just leave you alone?"

  "No," Bryony said. "I'm glad to have such good friends, really. It's just that things are very complicated right now. They'll sort themselves out in the next few days, I think, but until then . . . ."

  Kasey nodded. "Fine. But I expect to hear all the gory details eventually. It's the least I can do, considering how hard I worked thinking up the plan to make Zach fall in love with you. Remember that?"

  "Of course," Bryony said. She hadn't thought about their silly plan in days, but she hadn't thrown it out, either. "It's in my desk drawer. Come to think of it, I did cook him dinner."

  "And did you try number eight? You know, seducing him?" Kasey's eyes sparkled.

  "Kasey!" Bryony shrieked. "That's absurd!"

  "You did, I know it! But I promised not to press for details." She sighed. "Remind me again of why I made that ridiculous promise."

  "Because I said I'd run away from home if you didn't."

  Kasey's face grew solemn as a thought occurred to her. "You might want to run away anyway when you hear the news."

  "What is it?" Bryony asked, alarmed. "Heart's Desire? Did something happen?"

  Kasey shook her head. "No, no. The shop is fine. It's about Kinney's Lagoon. I heard today that the Board of Supervisors have scheduled an emergency meeting. They're going to approve the Mandell Corporation's Environmental Impact Report."

  "An emergency meeting? When?"

  "Tuesday," Kasey said, her lips a straight line in her pretty face.

  "But why?" Bryony asked. "They weren't supposed to consider that report until their regular meeting next month."

  "I know, but the lobbyists are applying all sorts of pressure in Sacramento. I hear they've threatened to locate the resort near Half Moon Bay if their project here isn't approved by the end of June."

  "Good! Let them relocate," Bryony said. She was glowering as if a herd of lobbyists and lawyers had suddenly invaded the room.

  "It isn't so simple, Bryony. Lots of businesses around here would love to see Mandell build Seashore Estates. Besides, there's the Mancini family to consider."

  Bryony nodded glumly.

  It was a well-known fact around Cypress Point that Frank Mancini was deeply in debt. The cost of his wife's long, drawn-out death from cancer combined with the failure of his trucking business had left him destitute. No one blamed Frank for jumping at the chance to sell his family's land near the lagoon. Bryony knew Frank Mancini hated the idea of a resort, but he had no choice. The Mandell Corporation had made the only offer, and Frank had three young children to support.

  Bryony sighed again and stared helplessly at her hands. "We'll never be able to organize a real protest by Monday," she said. "I haven't even finished collecting signatures on my petition. That's what the Mandell Corporation is counting on, of course. If they speed up the process enough, they can steamroll this thing right through. They've got the money, the lawyers, and the organization. What have we got?"

  "Heart and determination," Kasey said, in an attempt at optimism, but it came out sounding weak. They smiled at each other anyway.

  "You're right," Bryony said. "It's not to late. I'll write a letter to the Cypress Point Gazette right away, so it's in the paper Monday. If we can get a decent turnout at the meeting, we'll have a fighting chance." She scanned Kasey's face, which had just fallen even further. "What is it now?"

  "That's the other thing," Kasey said. "There will be no Gazette on Monday."

  "What are you talking about? The paper comes out every Monday and Thursday."

  "Not any more, I'm afraid." Kasey studied a lock of her blond hair, located a split end, and gnawed at it nervously. "There was a fire yesterday in the Gazette offices. I was there typesetting the classifieds when it happened. It didn't do much damage, and the assistant editor put it out before it spread, but the whole building filled with smoke."

  "How did it start?" Bryony asked.

  "Faulty electrical wiring, we think. The fire inspector said the whole building would have to be rewired."

  "So?"

  "So, Mary Dornan decided that was the last straw. The paper hasn't turned a profit in years, not since she took over from her father as editor and publisher. Unless she can find a buyer -- which isn't likely, since she'd been trying to sell the Gazette for a year and a half -- Thursday's issue was the last."

  Bryony rubbed her eyes with the back of her palms. This was a genuine disaster. What was a town without a local newspaper? And worse, her best friend was out of a job. "I can give you more hours at Heart's Desire," she began.

  "That's all right. I'll manage," Kasey said. "I know you can't afford to support a full-time employee, no matter how well the shop has done lately. No, I've had another job offer already. I'm going to wo
rk as a teacher's aide up at the elementary school."

  "That's terrific," Bryony said. "I know how much you like kids." She tried to show some enthusiasm, for her friend's sake.

  "Yeah, it'll be great. Look, I have to go now before your goon of a houseguest throws me out. He warned me not to tire you out, and he'll kill me when he finds out I came in here and gave you all sorts of bad news."

  They said goodbye, and Bryony promised to call if she didn't feel up to working the next day. As soon as Kasey was gone, Bryony laid back and closed her eyes. In the past few days, she'd been so caught up in her romance with Zach that she'd forgotten about the town's affairs.

  She almost felt it was her fault that so many things were going wrong. If only she'd been paying attention, maybe everything would be different. She cursed herself for being so self-centered, so blind to the things that really mattered. After all, Zach would be gone in two more days. Cypress Point would be her home forever. Her forehead creased with worry and self-blame, and she chewed her lip distractedly.

  "All right, what did that flighty blond tell you to get you all riled up?"

  Bryony's eyes flew open at the sound of Zach's gruff voice. He had tried for a joking tone, but his eyes flashed with real anger.

  She sat up and pushed back her covers, clasping her arms around her pajama-clad knees. "The battle for the lagoon's all but lost, and the local newspaper is closing down," she said. "It feels like the whole town is falling apart."

  He stretched out next to her and tenderly cupped her still-fevered cheek in his palm. "You're not responsible for everything that goes on in Cypress Point," he said.

  Bryony gazed into his black eyes, wondering how she ever could have thought them cold and calculating. Now they were so warm and sympathetic that she wanted to crawl into them and pull their darkness comfortingly around her shoulders.

  She flashed a quick, shy smile up at him and was rewarded by a gentle brush of his lips on hers. Despite the lingering weakness she felt after a high fever and a day in bed, hot pleasure suffused her body at the touch of his mouth. She kissed him back so eagerly that when he pulled away at last, it was only with great effort.