Sigils and spells, p.52
Sigils & Spells, page 52
She snorted. “You just got one.”
“I want another.”
“Let’s see how dinner goes.”
He nodded and held out his hand to her again. “Fair enough.”
She looked at his hand dubiously.
“I promise to be good.”
He winked, and she wasn’t sure she fully believed him, but she took his hand anyway. Again a tiny zap zipped through her hand.
Aegeus opened her door for her, and she slid into the car that was so low to the ground that she felt like she was almost sitting on the road itself.
He jogged over to his side and climbed in. Pushing a button, the car purred to life. As her short legs scrunched up in the small space, she decided she definitely preferred her Jeep.
She looked over at Aegeus as they pulled from the curb.
“I have no clue how you can drive this thing.”
He glanced at her. “What do you mean? Because it’s a gas guzzler?”
“I couldn’t care less about that. My Jeep is a gas hog too. I mean, because it’s so cramped in here, and your legs are, what, two miles long?”
He smiled. “I make it work. But it’s not the most comfortable vehicle, that’s for sure.”
“Then why did you get it?”
“It’s not mine. I’m just borrowing it from a friend.”
“A friend in Napa Valley?”
He smiled at her. “No. A friend from home.”
She thought for a minute. “So why exactly are you checking out Napa? I get that you wanted to see it, but there has to be something more.”
“I’m on business.”
“But, why would you check out a place you don’t live in a car that is neither comfortable nor gas efficient? Are you trying to impress someone?”
He looked over at her and smiled. “Maybe.”
Something about the look he gave made the hairs on her neck tingle.
Neve, you’re being stupid. He didn’t even know you, so why in the world would he be trying to impress you?
They drove the five minutes into town in silence, and when they pulled up to the valet at the restaurant, Aegeus insisted on opening the door for her himself.
Neve stepped out, and again he took her hand and led her to the entrance. Something about how he kept taking her hand both endeared and unsettled her. Like he was trying to be a gentleman but also claim her at the same time. It was a strange sensation.
Stop overthinking it!
They walked into the restaurant, and Neve’s stomach growled as the scents of garlic and tomatoes hit her. Man, when was the last time she’d had a decent meal? Probably three months ago, when Gran had come to visit.
They were shown to their table, and the waitress handed them two menus. “Would you like to start with some wine?” she asked, eyes on Aegeus.
Neve couldn’t stop the small trickle of annoyance that ran through her as the waitress stared at him like she was screwing him in her head.
“Uh, whatever you recommend.” He smiled at her politely and then looked at Neve. “Wait, aren’t we supposed to pick the wine based on the meal or something? Sorry, I don’t drink wine, so I have no clue.”
Neve smiled. “I’m not much of a drinker myself. Of wine, that is. I prefer a good beer or a soda, to be honest.”
Aegeus looked at the waitress again. “Forget the wine. Bring us two beers, please.”
The waitress looked between them like Aegeus had spoken in gibberish, and then she nodded. “Uh, sure.”
“And breadsticks, please,” said Neve.
The waitress nodded and then walked away, looking completely perplexed.
“Why do I get the feeling I just broke her brain?” Aegeus joked.
Neve snorted. “It did kind of look that way.”
“So you don’t know anything about wines?” he asked. “How is that possible if you grew up in Napa Valley?”
She shrugged. “Never really saw the use for it. I mean, to me, they all pretty much taste the same. To be honest, I prefer an amazing grape juice to wine. Or a ginger ale and cranberry juice.”
“So you like sweet things?” he mused.
“I guess I do.”
He nodded.
The waitress brought them two bottles of local pale ale and set them on the table next to two frosted mugs. She placed a basket of breadsticks in front of Neve. “Are you ready to order?”
“I’ll have the chicken parmesan with extra spaghetti on the side with two meatballs, please.”
The waitress nodded and looked at Aegeus.
“Same.”
“And for a salad?” she asked Neve.
Neve shook her head. “I try not to eat my friends. I’ll have the soup.”
The waitress looked at her perplexed again, and when Aegeus ordered the same, the woman left.
“We have to stop doing that,” said Aegeus. “Or she might run screaming from the building.”
Neve took a swig of her beer. It wasn’t bad. She made a mental note of the brand.
“How did you get us in here?” she asked.
He shrugged. “Apparently, they had a sudden cancellation.”
“Huh.” Neve doubted very highly someone canceled at the last minute. Moreover, she got the feeling Aegeus either persuaded them to give him a table or threw some money their way. He obviously wasn’t hurting in that area.
“So,” said Aegeus. “You told me you were going to tell me your name.”
“Did I?”
“You did. As a matter of fact, you said you would tell me when I picked you up.”
Neve nodded. “Busted. My name is Neve.”
“Neve. Means snow. I like it.”
“Well, thank you. If you didn’t, that would just be too bad because I’m not changing it.”
He smiled and twirled his beer bottle. They stared at each other for a minute, and Neve’s heartbeat quickened.
“So,” she finally said. “What kind of business are you in?”
Aegeus shrugged. “This and that.”
“Ah.”
He cocked his head slightly to the side. “What do you mean? Ah?”
“It just means that I understand.”
“You understand what?” His eyebrows scrunched together.
“Your answer means one of three things.”
“What three things?”
“Either, a, you have so much money that you don’t have a real job and can afford to play around with your life. Or, b, you don’t want to tell me what you do because you don’t know or trust me. Or, c, you are in the mafia or are a spy, and if you told me what you really did, you’d have to kill me afterward.”
Aegeus laughed heartily and then picked up his beer and swigged. He set it back on the table and wiped his mouth with his cloth napkin.
“I like you, Neve.” He smiled. “You’re…”
“Annoying?”
He thought for a moment. “Different. I like different.”
“Are you tired of dating vapid fake women who are content to be arm candy?”
“Is that the kind of woman you think I would enjoy spending time with?” His expression grew serious.
She studied him briefly and what she knew about him so far. “No,” she finally said. “I think you prefer women with a brain and a backbone.”
He nodded and lifted his beer, tipping it to her. “I thank you for the compliment, and you are correct.”
“If that’s the kind of woman you like, how am I different?”
He swigged his beer. “Maybe different wasn’t the correct word. I think what I meant was you are a breath of fresh air. You are smart, witty, an open book, and completely, utterly, unabashedly yourself.”
“And the women you know aren’t?”
He snorted. “No. The women I know are smart and cunning, but they all put on a show. A mask, if you will. They always have something up their sleeve. An agenda. And they will do whatever they can to achieve it. But you… You’re just… you.”
“Yup… I sure am.” She peeled the label of her bottle, imagining him at Meta Galas and celebrity parties. That was so not her scene. She picked up a breadstick and began chewing it when the hairs on her neck prickled again, and her throat dried. The restaurant door opened, and a tall man with dark hair and eyes wearing a black suit walked in. She almost choked and had to take several swallows of her beer to get the breadstick down.
What the hell was he doing there? What were the odds? Had Crystal or Bethany told him where she lived? Even if they had, how would he have known she would be in that restaurant? She remembered the sensation of being watched from earlier, and her anger flared.
He scanned the restaurant, and his gaze landed directly on her. Neve turned away and gulped the rest of her beer.
“Are you okay?” asked Aegeus.
Crap. Crap. Crap. What did she do?
Neve tried to figure out what to say when suddenly she felt him beside her. She looked up into Callum’s face. An angry expression crossed his features as his eyes flashed.
“Neve.”
She gave a weak smile. “Hello.”
Aegeus looked between them. “You two know each other?”
“We were together a few nights ago,” said Callum.
Neve’s skin heated at the memory of their passionate kisses, and then she looked at Callum. “I think you mean we met a few nights ago. Not that we spent the night together.”
“We did spend the night together.”
Neve’s skin heated further, and she looked at Aegeus. “It’s not like he is making it sound. Yes, we met and spent talked at a bar in San Francisco. That’s all.”
Callum cocked an eyebrow. “That’s all?”
“What are you doing here?” she asked. “How did you find me? Did someone set this up too?”
“Yes,” said Aegeus. “How did you find us, Callum? I am most interested to know.”
“The same way I’m sure you found her, Aegeus.”
Neve opened her mouth but paused as the two men stared each other down. “Hold the phone. You two know each other?”
Aegeus nodded. “Callum is my cousin.”
“Third cousin,” Callum corrected.
Aegeus shrugged. “Blood is blood, Cousin.”
Neve’s heart hammered. This couldn’t be happening. What were the odds? No. Something wasn’t right. She should have known it from the start. Two good-looking guys wanting to get to know her in one week? That hadn’t happened to her in all of her twenty-six years.
Neve stood. “You know what? I’ve lost my appetite. Callum, feel free to take my place, and you two can… compare notes about whatever it is you are both doing here.”
Neve grabbed her purse, and Aegeus jumped to his feet.
“Neve, wait. Where are you going?”
“I’ve already been mortified once by Callum. That was more than enough. I have no clue what is going on here. All I know is that I don’t do not want any part of it.”
“Part of what?” Aegeus asked.
Callum stepped closer to her. “Neve, I went after you and tried to explain. If you would just listen-”
She held up her hands. “Look. I don’t know what game you are playing, either of you, but leave me out of it.” Neve headed for the door.
She’d just gotten outside when someone lightly touched her hand, and electricity flowed up her arm.
She spun around to see Callum right behind her. Over his should her, she caught sight of Aegeus talking to the waitress, who was holding a tray of food. He pulled out his wallet.
“Neve-”
“Don’t.” She pulled away from him. “I don’t want to hear it. I just want you both to leave me the hell alone. You know what hurts the worst, Callum? I knew from the moment you sat at my table that you were too good to be true, but I gave you a chance anyway.”
She stomped away from the entrance of the restaurant and down the street. Callum caught up with her and stepped in her path. She sidestepped him, but he blocked her again. She tried stepping the other way, and again he got in her way.
“Will you get out of my way?” she yelled.
“I can’t,” he said. “Believe me, I wish I could, but I can’t.”
“There are other girls you can screw with. Go find one of them.”
“I’m not screwing with you,” he protested. “I swear.”
Callum looked over her shoulder, and in his moment of distraction, she raced around him and headed down the street.
“Neve!” Callum called.
Damn. Déjà vu much?
She ducked into a crowd of tourists looking up at one of the historical buildings and stepped in front of a man twice her size so she couldn’t be seen from behind. She heard two sets of footsteps running down the sidewalk, and when the group moved on, she moved with them for a moment and then ducked into a small yarn shop and closed the door quickly behind herself.
She peered out the window, looking for Callum and Aegeus. She couldn’t stay long in the shop. She was sure that if she did, they would find her eventually.
“Neve?”
She turned to see the shop owner coming out of the back room. Gladys was a thin older woman in her seventies, the size of a hobbit who had been a friend of Neve’s mother.
“Hello, Gladys. How are you?” she said, out of breath.
Gladys smiled, revealing dimples on her pixie-like crinkly face. “I’m good, dear. How are you?”
Neve looked out the window again. “I’m doing okay.”
Gladys looked her up and down and then looked out the window. “Are you on a date?”
Neve sighed. “I thought I was. But it turns out I am just some joke between two cousins.”
Gladys nodded and looked out the window again. “Do those two cousins happen to be blond and tall and dark and handsome?”
Neve opened her mouth to say something just as Gladys shoved her harder than Neve thought her capable of. Neve went down into a gigantic basket of yarn with an oomph just as Gladys locked the front door and flipped the closed sign.
A knock sounded on the glass of the door.
“Did you see a girl in a green dress?” Aegeus’ voice floated through the door.
Neve stayed planted in the basket, on the floor.
Gladys pointed to her ear and waved at Aegeus.
“A girl,” said Callum. “Short. Wild red hair. Green dress with little flowers?”
He’d noticed the little flowers on her dress? That was strange. They’d barely seen each other for more than a couple of minutes.
Again Gladys pointed to her ear and smiled. “Sorry, we’re closed. I can’t hear you.”
“A girl,” Aegeus yelled. “Red hair. Green dress. Short.”
Gladys nodded. “Yes. Yes. We’ll be open again tomorrow at ten a.m. unless my arthritis starts acting up again. Then it might be a bit later. But I close for lunch usually, so if it’s too close to lunchtime, I might not open until one. Of course, sometimes-”
“Thank you,” Callum yelled through the door. “Have a good night.”
“No. I didn’t see the fight,” said Gladys. “I’m not much of a boxing fan. I prefer hockey. Sometimes I watch soccer, but only if there’s nothing else on.”
A moment passed, and then another, and finally, Gladys pulled down the shade at the front door and over the large front window.
When she finished, she walked to Neve and looked down. “Now. Don’t you think you should tell me why you are hiding in my wool heavyweight skeins instead of being out on a hot date with one of those two fine specimens?”
Neve blew out a breath. “Honestly,” she said. “I am not entirely sure.”
CHAPTER 5
“You jackass!” Aegeus pushed Callum in the chest. “You ruined everything.”
Callum sniffed. “You think I’m gonna let you and your coven have her? You’re crazy.”
“Better than you and your sadistic brother.”
Callum’s anger flared, and so did his magic as sparks tingled his fingertips. He stepped closer to Aegeus. “Say that again.”
Aegeus stared at him for a moment and then backed down. “You know it’s the truth. And you know you and I are both just pawns in our family’s games. You with Reagan and me with my father.”
Callum’s anger continued to soar. He couldn’t understand why Neve affected him the way she did. He’d spent days watching her, following her, unable to get her out of his head. And when he’d seen Aegeus go into the nursery, he’d almost exploded the car he’d been driving. Instead, he’d waited and watched until Aegeus had left. He’d thought that was the end of it, but he should have known better. Seeing Neve in the simple yet sexy dress and watching her enter Aegeus’ car had caused him to almost lose it. But then he’d watched them through the window. Neve had looked so happy. So free. Expressions she hadn’t had when he’d been with her just days before. Knowing that Aegeus had been able to give her that and he hadn’t made him want to punch Aegeus in the face more than he had when they were thirteen, and Aegeus had convinced him to go skinny dipping at the lake and then had taken off with his clothes as an entire group of teen witches from the Sisterhood of the Silver Flame had showed up to also go swimming.
He noticed several couples had stopped to watch the exchange between him and Aegeus.
He relaxed his shoulders and shook out his hands, flicking off the magic that had accumulated on them. The last thing they needed was a video of them going at each other showing up on the Internet.
Aegeus looked over Callum’s shoulder and then smiled and clapped Callum on the shoulder before laughing.
The concerned citizens continued on their way.
“Look,” said Aegeus. “We both blew it with her. But I have more of a chance of making amends than you do at this point. Give it a day, and then I’ll go in, tail between my legs, and try and win her back.”
Callum rolled Aegeus’ hand off his shoulder. “And why would I let you do that?”
“What choice do we have at this point? I only assume you are here for the same reason I am. Your coven found out about her, and Reagan wants to get her to your side before her grandmother loses her powers, and she becomes the next Supreme of Ravencroft.”
Callum crossed his arms over his chest. “Reagan doesn’t just want her on his side. He wants her at his side.”
