A Wicked Good Witches Paranormal Romance Books 1-7 (Wicked Good Witches Seasons) (28 page)

Wicked Good Witches

Book Three
, Bye Bye, Bloodsucker

Starla Silver

CHAPTER ONE

Melinda Howard blew out an exhausted breath and plunked down into an open chair on the sidewalk, just outside of the Wicked Muddy Café. Her friend, Emily Morgan, plunked down in the empty chair next to her.

“Look at all these bags!” Emily exclaimed. “I don’t remember the last time I did so much shopping.”

“And it’s only nine in the morning,” said Melinda.

“Just a couple hours until your date with Riley,” her friend squealed. Melinda didn’t know who was more excited, her or Emily.

“Maybe I should get decaf today. I got no sleep last night, but my nerves are shot and adding caffeine to the mix…”

“Too excited to sleep?”

“Excited. Nervous.
Confused.
”

“Confused?”

Melinda let out another exasperated breath. “Emily, if I tell you something, do you promise not to tell anyone, even Michael?”

Emily’s look turned quite serious. “Of course. You can tell me anything.”

Melinda shook her head in dismay, unsure how to start the conversation. It took her a moment to work up the courage to say, “It’s William.”

“What about him?”

“Well, I’ve sort of always had this crush on him.”

“I can see that happening. William is a major catch. There’s just no denying that fact. I can’t imagine living under the same roof and not having a thing for him... don’t tell Michael I said that.”

Melinda bit her lip trying not to laugh. “Yeah, let’s not kill his ego. Anyway, until a couple months ago, the William thing was just a crush. And then I started having these dreams. All this began before I met Riley,” she made sure to point out. “But the dreams were...” Melinda paused at a loss for words.

“Steamy,” guessed Emily. 

“Super steamy. I keep telling myself to just forget about it. And then I met Riley and I really am totally crazy about him... but last night... this
thing
happened.”

“With William?”

“Yes. And I’m probably reading too much into it, but we had this moment. An intense, intimate moment, but after it happened he just vanished. Did his super-speedy vampire thing and hightailed it out of the house. I got up early this morning, since I wasn’t sleeping anyway, because I wanted to clear the air but he still wasn’t home.”

“Is William aware you’re dating someone?”

“I don’t even know if I am dating someone! I’ve only known Riley just over a day. He’s so…” she blew out a breath.
Hot. Incredible. Easy to be with. Fits me like he was built for me…
“No one knows except you, Emily. At least I don’t think anyone knows.”

“Well, you can’t date William. He’s off limits.” She scrunched her nose. “Isn’t he?”

“I think he is. I mean, I thought he was…”

“Until last night,” Emily understood.

“I keep telling myself last night didn’t change anything. He is still off limits. Even so, is this all fair to Riley? When I can’t seem to get William out of my head. If I was given a choice right now between the two of them, I don’t know which one I’d pick. I am totally excited about seeing Riley. But… well…” Melinda trailed off. 

“What?”

“What if my dream about William wasn’t
just
a dream?”

“You think it was a prophetic dream?”

“How can I be sure? Sometimes it’s really clear. But these dreams could go either way. People have steamy dreams all the time. But I can’t say for certain, one way or another on these dreams. What if it’s not
just
a dream? Should I ignore it? Can I ignore it?”

“Geez, this is a conundrum. It’s too bad you couldn’t talk to your brothers about this.”

“That’s so not going to happen.”

“That would be a bad idea,” agreed Emily. “Like you said though, what happened last night with William didn’t change how you feel about Riley.”

“No. It didn’t. Maybe it’s just that I don’t want to hurt William. I do love him. Regardless of what kind of love it can be. Or can’t be.” She shrugged, unsure if she was making sense, but Emily understood.

“Perhaps that’s why he left. He needed a little space to think. I’m sure he loves you too, in some way. But if William is off limits, and Riley is not…”

“You know, Em, it’s weird, but I think I can be anybody I want to be when I’m with Riley. Like I’m starting fresh. Not that I can’t be with William. It’s just been a bit awkward around him lately.”

“There’s nothing wrong with how Riley makes you feel as long as you’re being yourself.”

“And I am. It’s more like, the self I want to be. The self I’ve forgotten about. I hardly know him, but I swear I could be whatever I want, and he’d accept me, no matter what.”

“Melinda,” started Emily, “it sounds to me like Riley is perfect for you. I don’t think you should question that at all.”

Melinda let out a nervous laugh in reply. 

“So are you going to tell your brothers that you’re dating someone?”

“Not for a little while. I want Riley to be absolutely head over heels crazy about me before I do. So much so, that any amount of drilling by Charlie or Michael won’t scare him away.”

Emily tossed Melinda a hopeful smile before saying, “Why don’t I grab…” she trailed off as Grace, the owner and operator of the Wicked Muddy Café, sauntered out of the front door, two steaming mugs in her hands.

“Saw you two with all those packages, decided to deliver your coffees myself this mornin’.”

“This is so nice of you,” Emily said, cautiously taking hold of her mug.

“Hope I got your cream right, Melinda.” Grace tossed her wink.

“Thank you, Grace.” Melinda grabbed her mug and took a sip. She looked up, amazed. “I don't know how you did it, but the cream is perfect.”

The café owner nodded as if she already knew this. 

Melinda and Emily tossed each other a questioning look, after seeing Grace eyeing the passersby, suspiciously. They followed her gazes, but all they saw was the usual mix of locals and tourists bustling up and down the cobblestone streets. 

“Looking for someone in particular Grace?” Emily prodded.

Grace surprised them by taking a seat at the table. She leaned in close. “Did ya’ hear?” She kept her volume at a gruff whisper.

“Hear what?” Melinda questioned.

“Clearly you haven’t, or
you’d
know what I’m talkin’ ‘bout.”

Melinda looked at Grace as if to say,
What on earth
are
you talking about?

Grace took one more glance to make sure no one would overhear. She leaned in even closer, speaking in a subdued, but ominous, tone. “The Deanes have returned to The Demon Isle.”

Melinda dropped her mug, spilling the coffee. The mug bounced off the edge of the table, but Grace caught it before it crashed against the sidewalk.

“Oh sorry, Dearie,” Grace apologized. “I should have warned you this was a put
your coffee down first
kind of reveal.” She used a towel hanging off her belt to wipe up the spill.

Melinda just stared, unable to speak.

Even Emily understood this was not a good thing.

“How?” Melinda finally uttered. “How dare they come back here? It’s been over seventy years, and why come back now? A lot of innocent people died because of them. Howards died because of them. Are they even permitted to come back here?” Her thoughts streamed out in a gust of bewilderment.

“I know. I know,” Grace agreed. “But they still legally own property on the Isle. Someone saw lights up at the old house last night.”

“Did some tourists rent the place?” Emily questioned.

“That was my first thought too until two of ‘em came into the café this morning. Not sure how many there are all together.”

“There were Deanes... in your café?” Melinda clarified, gulping hard as she spoke.

“Sure enough. And to be honest, they seemed nice. Normal actually. Nothing to indicate they were still dabbling in the dark magic.”

“Still. Deanes…” Melinda wasn’t sure how to feel other than wary. “I should go tell Charlie, Michael, and William. They need to know about this.”

“One other thing,” Grace stopped her. “I couldn’t
help
but overhear them.”

Melinda held back a smirk, understanding that Grace overheard them on purpose.

“They mentioned you guys.”

“They spoke the Howard name?” For some reason this infuriated Melinda.

“Yup. They were talking about walking right up to your house and introducing themselves.”

“Well that doesn’t seem like a bad thing,” Emily thought aloud.

Melinda huffed, distrustfully. “A Deane is a Deane! They cannot be trusted. Dark magic is in their blood!”

Grace grabbed their mugs. “I’m sure you guys'll do what’s best.” She disappeared back inside the cafe.

“C’mon,” said Melinda to Emily. They hoisted their shopping bags and headed toward the Howard Mansion.

“Are you going to cancel your date?” asked Emily as they walked.

“I don’t see what good that would do. If anyone can get my mind off the sudden return of the Deanes…” Melinda smiled knowingly, not finishing.

A few minutes later, they stepped up the stone staircase and walked through the doors of the mansion. Emily made her way into the kitchen while Melinda headed upstairs, throwing her shopping bags onto her bedroom floor. She turned to leave and found the doorway blocked.

“William,” her voice dropped. “You’re home.” She wanted to speak with him, but had no idea where to start. 

“Yes. I am home, Melinda. I was hoping we could speak for a moment.”

“I was actually hoping that too.”

He stepped inside and closed the door behind him, waiting patiently for her to continue. She’d hoped he would go first as she still struggled to find the right words.

“I think maybe I did something wrong last night.” Her skin flushed, and she couldn’t stop the flutter pounding in her chest.

She didn’t notice William’s pained wince as her flutter flew out at him, like his own personal calling card. He had to say his piece quickly before he lost his nerve.

“You did nothing wrong, Melinda. The fault was mine. But you should know, though I care for you deeply, I
cannot
return any feelings you might have for me.”

She swallowed a bundle of nerves, holding back a shocked exhale. He was blunt and right to the point.
Like I should have expected anything less.

His bluntness didn’t make it any easier.

And when he said, ‘care for you deeply,’ what did that mean? Like a good friend. Like the mentor and confidant he’d always been to her, and her family. Or on a more personal level? She didn’t have the guts to ask him.

She shrugged, tugging at her lip. “I do understand, William. You’ve made it abundantly clear you don’t date humans. It’s just... God, this whole thing started over a stupid dream.” She sucked in, disbelieving it slipped out of her mouth.

“A dream?” His brow furrowed, his emerald eyes darkened with uncertainty. “Was it… was it a prophetic dream?” It was the first time Melinda ever heard the slightest stammer when he spoke. 

“Um,” she stalled, petrified to answer him. “I don’t
think
so.” It came out more like a question, and not a definite no-way-in-hell, which was the answer she was certain William prayed to hear.
Meaning, he must not have any personal feelings for you and is put off by the thought, so get over it.

His mouth opened to speak, but closed. His tongue befuddled.

Melinda’s face burned hot. Blood rushed, turning her cheeks a deep shade of red.

“I don’t think it was prophetic, William. But I can’t honestly say I’m totally sure about that.”

A slight note of relief returned to the vampire’s gaze.

“Sorry, William. I can’t help what I dream. More than anything, it got me thinking about you
differently
. I’m sorry it even happened. I’ve put it out of my mind.”
Well, not really, but I’m trying like hell…
It wasn’t the first time in the previous months she’d thought of him as more than a school girl crush. But she wasn’t ready to admit that to him, just yet. This conversation was awkward enough already. 

William was at a loss for words.

He realized that the glimpse of what he’d seen in her mind had not been her thoughts or desires, but an actual dream. One minute he’d been in the kitchen of the Howard Mansion, his arms embracing her naked flesh, fingers diving into her secrets, fangs drawing against her skin. And in a flash, they were floating on a bed of white across a vast sea that went on for miles. Just the two of them. Skin against skin. The taste of her lips. The sounds… the movements.

He wished he could go back and tell himself not to drop his guard, not to enter her mind. Now, there was no way to get these visions, these dreams, out of his thoughts. The more the memories drummed through his head, the fact it was a dream made the situation worse. Much worse. What if Melinda did have a prophetic dream? His gaze froze on the vein pulsing blood into her cheeks.