Charmed & Dangerous (11 page)

Brought my knee up to his groin with as much force as I could muster and tried to shove his balls up through his throat.

Angry, the giant fell off of me, clutching his crotch and moaning. I caught his mind in mine. Before I could even think about it, the pungent smell of sizzled flesh permeated the air. His nards were the least of his problems now.

He shouldn’t have knocked me into the snow.

He screamed in pain as the fire leaped out of his body and consumed him. Aruth stood still, watching his compatriot burn.

The hatred in his eyes left me no options. I’d have to kill him.

“Please, nooooo!” Lesha screamed from behind me. I had no idea if she yelled for me or for her brother, but it didn’t matter.

“Stay away, Lesha. I must kill the witch.” Her brother’s face contorted into an angry snarl.

“Aruth, I love you. Please don’t do this. I’m begging you. She’ll spare your life if you’ll come with me.”

His black eyes burned. “I have tasted the darkness. I cannot come back. I am damned, as are those who go against me.”

This time he directed the fireball at his sister. The look of shock on her face was quickly replaced by anger. She tossed it back at him and then spewed a spell.

Bind his arms

And his legs

Take his mind

For me to see;

So mote it be.

Aruth fell forward, paralyzed. Eyes open, he tried to speak but nothing came out. A large van pulled up in the snow and a group of men and women came out and picked him up.

“What’s going on?” I wiped the snow from my hair and hands. The stench from the ashes of the burning warlock turned my stomach.

“My family will take him to our home in Brussels.”

“You can’t convince someone to give up dark magic if he doesn’t want to.” I walked toward her.

“No, but I can keep him from harming others. Maybe with time, we can teach him to be whole again.” She stood shaking in the snow, the shock of her brother trying to kill her still evident on her face.

“You could have killed him in the beginning.” She said it as a statement, not as a question.

“Yes, but I was trying not to.”

“Thank you. From my heart and my family, we are most grateful.”

She climbed into the van with the others. The smell of burned flesh hung in my nostrils and I headed for the front door of the house. Looked up and saw three heads in the window. The sheik, the PM, and Miles waved at me.

I laughed at my little gang and then remembered the trouble I’d sensed from home. Time to make some more phone calls.

Tuesday, 10
A.M
.

Somewhere over the Atlantic

On-the-road-again witches: 1

Possibly lost boyfriends: 1

A
s I pass through time zones I hope my temper calms down. It’s a good thing I don’t have to pilot the jet because I’d probably be up there playing destruction derby with the airplane. I want to hit something really bad.

After fighting the warlocks I ran into the house to get warm. Changed clothes and then plopped my butt in front of the big fireplace in my room. Tried to breathe and cleanse my system, but the adrenaline coursed through my veins and I couldn’t ease my nerves.

My cell phone rang and Simone was on the other end. Her news is the reason I’m heading back home at a time when the sheik and the PM need me the most.

Seems a demon showed up in Sweet and everyone blames Simone. Not only do they want to kick her out of town, but they also want me to move. The nerve. Just because some nasty Nako demon shows up, that doesn’t mean Simone had anything to do with it.

“The sheriff claims they haven’t had a demon intrusion in more than five years,” Simone yelled over the static in the line. I moved around the room to get better reception.

“That doesn’t mean it’s your fault one showed up!”

“I know, but this town you moved to has a lot of rules. Like all of the witches are supposed to meet with the coven within one month of moving into town—”

Oops. I’d known that but had been in New York when they met that first month. Then Oslo when they convened again. “Okay, so I’m a bad witch for not registering, or whatever it is they want.”

“Well, that’s only one of the many things the sheriff ranted about for hours. You’re only part of the problem.”

“Why don’t you just give it to me.”

“They’re angriest about the fact I killed the demon in front of Lulu’s and I wasn’t discreet about it. How can you be discreet when killing a Nako?” Her voice rose higher as she continued her story.

“Didn’t seem to matter that he was getting ready to eat a little kid who was walking out of the diner with his mom.”

“What?”

“Yep. I’d been in town with Dr. Sam picking up groceries and I heard a scream. Turned and saw the eight-foot scaly Nako with his big yellow teeth ready to bite down on the kid.

“Ordered the Nako to put him down nice and calm-like. The demon gnashed his teeth, and Sam and I walked closer.”

There’s something wrong with me because right in the big middle of this story about a demon eating a little kid, I’m getting pissed off because Simone and Sam are shopping together. Argh! All I really want to know is if they are together.

I could hear the water running as she poured a glass of water from the tap and wondered whose house she was calling from.

“He just stood there in the door with the kid dangling in his big mitts. I didn’t have a knife, arrow, gun, or anything else to use. I whispered to Sam to follow my lead and we took off. I rammed the demon with everything I had. The giant jerk only moved a foot or so but it was enough to knock the kid out of his hands. Sam caught the boy and ran him a safe distance away.

“Demon didn’t take kindly to me knocking the food out of his hands and he chased me to the center square. We fought hand to claw for what seemed like forever, but Sam said maybe five minutes.

“Then I hear some woman yelling, ‘Young lady, young lady…to kill a Nako you have to take his heart.’ No shit. I didn’t say that, though. I was polite and told her that I needed a weapon.

“By now I can’t tell if the blood all over me is mine or the demon’s. Sam yelled for someone named Ms. Helen to throw him a blade. He tossed it over the demon’s shoulder and I plowed it into his chest. Ripped out his tiny piece of a heart. Man, that big gaping hole smelled. Think rotten eggs mixed with bad hamburger. But you gotta admit Sam and I make a great team.”

No comment from me on that subject. “Well, from your story, sounds to me like Sweet should make you a hero.”

“You’d think. The kid’s mom was so thankful and when she and Ms. Helen heard about the sheriff tearing me down that they gave him an earful. I never did find out who Ms. Helen was.”

“She’s one of the women who runs Lulu’s,” I told her.

“Oh, well, I’m pretty sure she’s the one who told me to rip out the heart. And she’s a hoot. She had that sheriff by the ear. Well, not really, but she reminded me of a television mom when she grabs the kid by the ear for doing something bad.

“Unfortunately, she didn’t help my case much. He relented and gave me till the end of the week but he really wants me gone. And, um, they’re seriously reconsidering your welcome to Sweet. But I swear to you, Bronwyn, I just did what I had to do. Nobody wanted to see that kid get eaten. You would have done the same.”

“Don’t worry, you’re right. I would have. Make sure you treat any wounds the Nako gave you with that potion I left in the fridge. The one in the blue bottle. The demon’s blood may be toxic.”

“Oh, Sam’s already taken care of me.” With a hint of admiration in her voice.

Why was I not surprised?

“When can you come home? I really think you need to meet with these people and sort all of this out.”

Sweet had been the first place I felt safe in the last five years. I needed to go home and fix this, even though I’d have to leave the sheik sooner than expected. I couldn’t risk losing my safe haven.

“Oh, and Dr. Sam’s in trouble because someone found out he’s a warlock, and he didn’t register either. I think he could use your help.”

Great. Sam hadn’t wanted anyone in town to know, because of the bad rap warlocks get. I wondered if the news would hamper his practice. That is, if the town coven let him stay there.

We hung up and I called for the sheik. He came to my room and I explained that I needed to take care of some business in the States.

“We must travel to Moscow for a few days, so I see no reason why you shouldn’t go home.” He patted my shoulder. “You are a brave woman and I feared for your life when you fought those warlocks.”

“It’s my job to fight the bad guys. This time they were after me, not you, which is the only good news I have tonight.”

“When I’m finished in Moscow I will return here. Can you meet me in two weeks?”

“Yes, I don’t see why not.” Provided I didn’t have to move everything I owned to a new location.

“I’ve bought this home and I hoped that you would use it whenever you wish.” He stepped closer to me and I could feel his breath.

“You bought it? Why?”

“You told me you liked it and that it felt like home.” He put his hand on my shoulder again.

“I can’t believe you spent that kind of money just because I said I liked something. This place had to cost a fortune.”

“You are worth it. And I could think of no better reason to purchase a home.”

Then he kissed me. Not a light peck on the lips, an I-think-you’re-a-great-witch kind of kiss. No, this was a deep, invading your mouth, I-think-you’re-hot kind of kiss. And I let him do it. It felt good. His lips pressed against mine, his tongue probing and tasting. Everywhere he touched me, I burned, in a good way, and wanted more.

That snapped me out of it. Crap, I kissed a client. Technically, he kissed me, but I didn’t stop him. Geez! I took a step back and he smiled.

“Sheik Azir, um, you’re a client and I can’t, um…”

“And you are my friend and confidant. If I choose to buy a house because you like it, that’s my business. And you should know that I’m not one to follow rules any more than you are. Especially silly ones where a client can’t kiss a witch he finds most attractive.”

I swear in that moment his chocolate brown eyes peered into my soul. Couldn’t explain it in a thousand years, but I really wanted this man.

“That’s the one rule I’ve never broken. I can’t date you.”

“It wouldn’t be dating, Bronwyn. When we touch, our bodies speak to one another. Can you deny it?” He pulled me to the window and we gazed out into the night.

“No.” The fire seemed terribly warm. My breath caught, and my brain filled with confusion. The sheik totally wants me. Ahhhh! Bodies speaking. The guy could write erotic greeting cards.

I just wish it wasn’t true. The connection between us is so intense. But different from what I felt with Dr. Sam.

Sam. Yes, that was the douse of cold water I needed. I was angry that Sam had fallen for Simone, but I also realized in that moment that I wanted to fight for him. Azir and I had chemistry, but I’d experienced something more with Sam and I wanted it again.

I grabbed Azir’s hand and dragged him toward the door. “I’ve got to pack.” He let me shove him out and he smiled, that disarming magnetism oozing out.

“Don’t forget to carry the charms I made you at all times. And watch your back. There are bad guys everywhere. Even in Russia.”

He pulled the handmade ornaments out of his pocket to show me he carried them. Then he reached down to kiss my cheek. “Take care, witch. I’ll see you soon.”

He laughed as he walked down the hallway and I slammed the door. Then I sat down on the bed. My cheek felt warm and wonderful from his kiss.

Wizards’ dicks, what am I going to do?

Wednesday, 7
P.M
.

Waxing moon

Sweet, Texas

Happy witches: 1 (Unfortunately it’s not me)

W
hy do I ever leave this place? Sat in my living room and watched Casper chase an imaginary bird across the yard. Hard to believe it’s March and spring’s a few weeks away. I’ve got to get busy with the garden soon.

It’s so peaceful right now that it’s difficult to imagine the chaos of the last few days, even though I only caught the tail end of it.

Simone became a local hero as of yesterday, when Walter Kiesewetter, the editor of the
Sweet Weekly News
, ran an editorial about her bravery. He lambasted the sheriff and the local coven for stirring up trouble and treating Simone “abysmally.” It’s my guess Walter doesn’t get to use the word
abysmally
much so he made the most of it. It’s got to be tough running a town newspaper in a place where newsworthy happenings are few and far between.

Before Simone, the most violent story I’d ever seen in the paper was about a coyote that ate a chicken on one of the local ranches. In that story Walter had taken the side of the coyote.

This demon thing probably made Walter’s year.

Finally met with the head honcho of the local coven last night. She came out to the house and brought food and drinks along. It wasn’t at all what I expected.

Peggy, the sheriff’s mother and leader of the coven, seemed to understand when I explained that I’d been halfway around the world protecting innocents.

“I in no way disrespect what you guys have done here.” I cleared my throat. She made me a little nervous. “The people in Sweet have treated me so well and I think this town is the greatest. I wouldn’t want to do anything to jeopardize that. It’s just that every time you’ve met, I’ve been out of town.”

For a good five minutes I rambled on and she didn’t say a word.

Peggy sat on the sofa in a long flowing skirt and black sweater. Then she noticed a picture on the side table and picked it up.

She gave a little yelp and then pulled a small tissue out to dab a tear from her eye. It didn’t take us long to discover we knew someone in common—my mother.

Small world.

“When we were at Berkeley your mother turned every head on campus, male and female. If she hadn’t been such a sweetheart it would have been easy to hate her.” As she pushed a graying lock of long brown hair behind her ear she smiled sweetly. She took a deep breath and smiled. “I lost touch with her after she married your father. They moved to Houston for him to do his residency and I ended up here with my beloved Joshua on his ranch. Tell me about your mom. What’s she doing now?”

“She and my dad are in Hawaii at some conference but should be headed back to New York in a few days. She took this semester off but she’s been lecturing at NYU. I can give you her number. I know she’d love to hear from you.” I grabbed a pen and paper from the side table and wrote down the info.

“Yes, oh, that’s wonderful. I can’t wait to talk to her. And I’m sure she’ll be happy to know that her old friend is here looking out for her little girl.”

Stifled a laugh about that one. It’s been a long, long time since anyone referred to me as a little girl.

“That last year of school she talked about turning away from the craft. What happened?” Peggy put the picture back on the table and stuffed the tissue into her skirt pocket.

“She doesn’t practice anymore, but she’s guided me in one way or another my whole life. She and my dad let me make my own decision about whether or not I wanted to be a witch. When I chose the path of magic she supported me.”

“Well, she’s raised a very powerful young witch, and I’m so happy that you landed in Sweet. What a coincidence.”

Since I seemed to find myself in her good graces I decided to push ahead with my mission to absolve Simone and Sam of their supposed sins.

“Peggy, I’m glad you understand about my work, and it’s wild that you know my mom. But there’s the matter of my friends, Simone and Dr. Sam.” I took a deep breath to prepare for the onslaught.

“Oh, darling, absolute water under the bridge. We needn’t worry about any of it. That young friend of yours is a hero. They even said it in the paper. I don’t necessarily approve of her methods but she saved that child’s life.

“And we all adore Dr. Sam. Now he needs to do the same as you, and tell us his intentions, but I see no future problems.” She stood and walked around, picking up my trinkets from around the world.

“We like to know what’s going on with the magical folk in town. Helps us keep the peace. We don’t need to know your every move and you don’t have to join us or sign anything. It’s all very relaxed. You tell us the type of magic you do and what you plan to do with it, and that’s about it.”

“That sounds fair, but I wondered if you could talk to the sheriff and straighten things out with him. He doesn’t seem to share your relaxed attitude.”

“Goodness, girl, my son won’t give you any more trouble.” She waved a hand at me and shook her head. “He does what I tell him to, but he’s very protective of this town. We all are. Not to make excuses, but he’s only been sheriff for three years and we’ve never had any trouble like your friend’s demon.”

Wanted to correct that fact, remind her that Simone had nothing to do with the demon, but didn’t want to push my luck.

She looked at the paper with my mother’s number. “Oh, I just can’t wait to call and find out how she’s doing. And tell her how happy I am to have you here in our town.”

Damn. She’ll be filling my mom in on the details of my life. I love my parents, but there’s a reason we live so far apart. Argh.

Thursday, noon

I’ve been home forty-eight hours and haven’t heard a peep out of Sam. Maybe he has his hands full trying to explain himself to the local coven. Although, I thought I cleared all that up with Peggy on Tuesday. One thing’s for sure. I’m not going to sit around and wait for him to call.

How dorky is that? But you’d think I would have seen him in town at the grocery, or when Simone and I ate at Lulu’s for breakfast this morning. I wonder what he’s doing?

7
P.M
.

Simone leaves tomorrow morning. Caleb and Kira plan to drive her into Dallas to catch her plane. She decided if she had to fight demons, she’d just as soon do it on her own turf. So it’s back to Los Angeles.

Wish I didn’t feel so happy that she’s headed home. Honestly, I’m mixed up about it all, especially now that I know she and Dr. Sam didn’t do the mattress dance.

“Why haven’t you called him since you got back?” she asked me while she packed up her stuff in the guest room.

“I’ve been busy.” I sat on her bed and picked at the tiny fringe on the ivory-colored chenille. “And when I was in Dubai things got weird.”

“Weird how?” She pulled out her lingerie and some of it scared me. Black lacy things with slits in the crotch. Leather underwear that laced up the back. I like sexy stuff as much as the next girl, but that doesn’t seem very comfortable.

“The guy’s totally in love with you. All he ever talks about is Bronwyn this and Bronwyn that.”

News to me.

“I’ve never seen a guy so loopy over a woman.” She snapped her suitcase closed and tossed her makeup into a large zippered backpack.

Loopy? A week ago the guy said he needed a break, and we didn’t even have anything to break from. He was about as far from being loopy about me as a man can get.

When I didn’t say anything, she turned to glare at me. “Listen, Bronwyn, I don’t know what’s going on in that goofy head of yours but don’t fuck this up. This guy is head over heels for you. I know because I flirted with him unmercifully.”

What a surprise.

“Oh, don’t give me that look; I did it for you.”

“Me?” Do I really need friends like this?

“I didn’t need a man so bad that I would steal one from my best friend, Bron. I decided if he was really the one for you then he’d be able to resist my charms. And I gave it to him full force. If he couldn’t resist me, then he wasn’t good enough for
you
. And guess what?”

I shrugged.

“He turned me down flat, you idiot. And I didn’t make it easy for him. I had to see if he was for real, and he is. So whatever tension is between you, it’s time to suck it up and fix it.”

If only it were that easy. “You know how I am with relationships, Simone. And it’s not just about Dr. Sam. I have feelings for—” Geez what was I thinking? I couldn’t say those words out loud.

It’s ludicrous to even imagine that I might care for Azir. I mean he’s a friggin’ sheik and lives on the other side of creation. He’s got a total God complex and wants to save the world. He’s richer than any person has a right to be.

And he’s beautiful.

“Bron, if you tell me that you’re in love or lust with someone else I’m going to knock the crap out of you.” Simone stood with her hands on her hips, giving me the evil stare.

She had it right. I had no business being in love or lust with anyone, especially the sheik. And I do have feelings for Dr. Sam. If he loves me, as Simone seems to think, then I definitely need to at least try to sort things out.

She put her hands on my shoulders.

“Hey, I’m just kidding about the violence, but you do need to set things straight. If you’re into something with someone else you have to let Sam down easy. The guy’s total for you.”

Let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. Had to put the sheik out of my mind. He’d be an impractical choice for a lover. “No, I’m not in love with anyone else. You’d think a high witch would know how to deal with relationships, but that’s the one area I’m totally deficient in.”

“Don’t take it too hard, Bron. It’s tough for all of us. Love hurts, but it’s usually worth every minute you spend in it.”

Simone can be positively brilliant sometimes. Yes, love sucks.

Friday, 9
A.M
.

Figures. I call Sam and he’s out of town for a long weekend. That’s just not allowed. If I get brave enough to call a man, he should be there waiting for me.

Stupid man.

I hope he’s not out with another woman. Then he’d be a really stupid man and I might have to kill him.

Not that I have a right to kill him. Maybe I should have returned his calls and e-mail. I just had to do this my way and now it’s probably over. Didn’t even give him a chance.

Stop. Breathe.

Garden. I need to go get dirty. Oh, great, now I remember the dream in the conservatory with his arms wrapped around me. Nooo! Dirt, hands planting herbs. That’s what I’ll do. Then I’ll till the flower garden. Hard work—the answer to everything.

Noon

Okay, so the gardening thing didn’t work. It’s going to be a very long weekend if I just sit around wondering what Sam’s doing.

Oh, yippee! Phone’s ringing. Please let it be someone who can save me from this psychotic behavior.

2
P.M
.

The call didn’t help. It was the sheik’s assistant at Duban Industries. I’ve got another week here at home before I have to take off for Brussels. I’m meeting the sheik and the PM there for more meetings. At least we aren’t going back to frozen Oslo.

I wonder why the sheik didn’t call me himself. Probably just busy with something important. I mean, the guy’s a billionaire. He doesn’t have to make his own phone calls.

But he acted like he had the hots for me in Oslo. Wouldn’t he find some excuse to make contact? Am I the only woman in the world who doesn’t understand men? And why the hell do I care so much about two men I hardly know?

I need to go back to the old Bronwyn ways. Men are for sex only. Ride them hard and then let ’em go. Can’t have sex with the sheik, but if I treat this whole thing with Sam like that, I might just survive. Of course it doesn’t help that the man has my heart hostage, and I don’t have any idea how to get it back.