Cover Spell (27 page)

When I walked through the revolving doors, the Hotel François was still hopping with the post-Emmy victory celebration. The lobby lights were dim except those coming from the bar in the corner.

“Ivy, Ivy, come on over. Let me get you a drink.” Dan from the electrical crew and one of the other partiers I remembered from Easy Eddie’s were waving me over to the bar.

I wasn’t in the mood for a celebration. Finn and I said we weren’t going to say good-bye, but that’s what it was. He was gone, and I felt clear and good about it. Heartbroken, but I knew it was the only way. If we ever had a chance, or ever will, he had to finish the Shadow Quest.

I didn’t want to be rude, so I walked over to the party crowd. Dan patted the open barstool next to him and was already shoving a glass of white wine in my hand. I really wanted chocolate cake and a pint of chocolate ice cream, but I wasn’t about to tell the crew I had sent the man I loved away to search the world for quest answers. That sounded crazy. I smiled at Dan and took a big sip. I let the wine work its magic. Ok, maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea.

“Bartender!” I heard the slow Texas drawl over the rest of the bubbling crowd. Even in my heartbroken state, I had to admit that was a sexy voice. “Get this girl a Shiner Bock.”

The crowd parted enough for me to see Evan flash a big smile in my direction. He walked over with a beer in his hand.

“Thanks.” I handed him my wine glass and took the bottle of beer from him.

“You alone?” He looked at me quizzically. “Detective Delano still around?” He jokingly peeked over my shoulder and pretended to look in my bag.

“No, he’s gone.” It felt strange to joke about Finn, but Evan’s warm energy felt comforting.

I knew he was. I nodded at Evan over a big sip of beer.

“Well, let’s get this party going on, y’all!” Evan yelled out over the group.

The bartender cranked up the music on a stereo under the counter, and the crew started dancing around the hotel restaurant. I thought I recognized some of that much-adored Texas country music Evan talked about so much.

I smiled, watching the happy dancers circle around the tables and chairs. I really felt like I had come full circle in the past few days. I was back to getting over a broken heart in New Orleans with Evan Carlson and a cold beer.

New Orleans, Six Months Later

T
HERE WASN’T
much time. The car was supposed to pick me up in ten minutes. The red carpet event had already started, but every round of arrivals was scheduled to maximize photo-ops with each celebrity. I couldn’t be late to the premiere of
Masquerade
. After everything that had happened, it was a miracle the movie made it to the big screen. It was more than a miracle; it was pure magic.

Filming resumed a week after Emmy Harper’s horrible kidnapping ordeal. The real kidnapper was never identified. Since I knew he turned into a mushy pile on the warehouse floor, I wasn’t about to share that secret. The police had pinned the entire abduction on the gang of guards Finn and I had knocked out. They willingly confessed to their part in the crime, but police had an open investigation for the mastermind behind the abduction plot.

In Detective Delano’s debrief, he explained he responded to an anonymous tip that he thought was bogus. His report appeased any would-be skeptics, and the police appeared uninterested in tracking down Finn’s unnamed accomplice. Emmy seemed unfazed by the events. My guess was Finn spent a few minutes working his
Charm Spell
on her before turning her over to the police. After a day of questioning and a day of rest, she was ready to get back to work on the set.

Of course, the paparazzi were going to have a field day when she and Evan showed up together at the premiere tonight. This movie didn’t need additional publicity. It had its share with the kidnapping story, but still I had my doubts as to whether Evan and Emmy were a real couple. Their relationship had the markings of one Kelly Saint-James, publicity guru extraordinaire, all over it. I had spotted a few Evan and Emmy pictures in my magazines on the flight to New Orleans. His arm was casually slung over her shoulder while they window-shopped in L.A.

I giggled, thinking about the few dates Evan and I had stumbled through. My heart was never truly in it the way it was before Finn showed up. He was fun and I had a good time with him, but it wasn’t quite the same between us after the kidnapping. I had to fly back to Sullen’s Grove when the script changes were made, and he moved on to Acapulco to finish filming the movie. Long distance phone calls, texts, and botched travel plans were all part of our downfall. One too many tabloid stories later, and we decided to call it quits. It was a nice, amicable split. I was proud we had remained friends.

I was looking forward to seeing him tonight. I bet he would look extra cute in his tuxedo. Maybe I could pull him aside and ask him what in the hell was going on with this Emmy Harper story. Chances were good he had requested his favorite beer at the after party. It would be nice to sit and talk with him over a beer. That is, if Emmy was ok with it.

I glanced at my reflection in the mirror. The stylist had straightened my hair in smooth layers. It glistened in the lights of the vanity mirror. I twirled around to check the back of my dress. I was absolutely in love with the gown Holly and I had chosen for the event. I wanted something that would really stand out on the red carpet, but that I would still feel comfortable wearing. The deep red satin, off-the-shoulder dress was perfect. A triangle-shaped panel was cut out from the side, just above my waist. A touch of skin, but not too scandalous. I knew my parents would be looking for the premiere pictures, and I would have to face them at the Grace family brunch on Sunday. Holly and I decided on sexy, but not family disgraceful when we oohed and aahed over the high slit on the side and the pools of silky fabric.

I reached for my clutch. I needed one last touch-up of matching red lipstick. Just as I was puckering for the last dabs of gloss, my phone vibrated repeatedly. Who would call me now? I looked at the phone. Of course, it was Gina. I read her eleventh-hour text.

Change of plans. There’s a date with your car.

Date? What was she talking about? I was positive Evan was going to the premiere with Emmy. The press loved it when he and I were seen out together eating tacos, grabbing a beer, or sneaking into a movie, but everyone knew we had broken up. I tapped out a quick response.

Date? Who?

I waited for Gina to shoot back a message, but the phone was silent. It was time to head downstairs. One last mirror check and I was out the door. Butterflies flitted around my stomach, making it hard to stand still in my five-inch heels as I descended to the lobby. I was so excited about seeing the movie tonight.

The elevator doors retracted, and I walked into the lobby. The front desk clerk nodded at me and gave me a smile. I was having images of Julia Roberts in
Pretty Woman
as I lifted my chin, pulled back my shoulders, and carried myself through the elegant boutique hotel. Only, I was missing Richard Gere and the private jet to the opera. Speaking of, where were Gina and the answer to my text? I wasn’t sure I liked the idea of her springing a surprise date on me at the last minute. I was nervous enough.

I had opted to stay somewhere other than Hotel François on this trip. There were too many memories there. I didn’t think I’d be able to step through that revolving door without remembering all of the worried hours I spent waiting for Emmy, or the nights I spent wrapped up with Finn. That was six months ago and this was a happy trip, a fun trip. I wanted to make new memories in a new place. I hadn’t bumped into anyone from the movie crew here, and it was a relief to have slivers of anonymity wherever I could find them.

If the
Masquerade
premiere was going to be anything like the
Vegas Star
premiere, I knew I was in for a night of Hollywood glitz, glamour, and razzle-dazzle. The doorman nodded, and held open the oversize glass and brass door. The sun was starting to set and cast an orange hue over New Orleans. I squinted a bit to catch my bearings as I walked into the late afternoon air.

My cocktail bag was loaded with powder, lip gloss, touch-up mascara, and my phone. I clutched it under my arm. The fall air was a little chilly, and I was regretting not bringing a wrap. Holly adamantly pleaded with me not to cover up any part of the dress for my red carpet walk.

“Holly, I’m not even part of the star lineup. You realize that, right?” I had tried to give her the lowdown on how this would play out. I was slightly seasoned at this.

“Girl, stop being modest. It doesn’t matter if you are Emmy Harper or not, this is your night. It’s your movie, your words.” She lowered her voice. “And your
Time Spell.
”

Where was my cousin now when the breezy winds were picking up off the river? Hmmm… and where was my car? I was sure I was going to be late.

Just as I was about to retrieve my phone so I could call Gina, the long, black stretch limousine pulled up to the curb. Finally! I need to get to the theater, and we still had to make it through the downtown streets.

I waited for the driver to exit and open the back passenger door for me, but he sat in the car with his hands locked on the steering wheel at ten and two. Well, I would have to open the door myself. I started to make my way to the end of the limousine when I heard the latch of the car rattle from the inside. Slowly, the car door opened. I saw a man’s shoe hit the pavement. Then I saw him standing on the sidewalk, holding the door open for me.

“Hi. Need a ride?” His dark chestnut eyes smiled at me. Looking in them felt like home. I stopped in awe, drinking in his tall, broad frame in a perfectly starched tux. I could tell he had just shaved; there was no trace of the five o’clock shadow that usually gave him that rugged, oh-so-sexy, outdoorsy look.

“Jack? What are you doing here?” I had to hold myself back from the utter joy I felt when I saw him.

Those butterflies in my stomach might actually take flight and create lift off. I wanted nothing more than to run straight into his arms, but that could be an embarrassing scene for both of us. In sharp succession, the butterflies’ wings were clipped when I remembered the nightmares and the Foresight that had kept me from having moments like this with Jack. For a second, I let the smile drop from my lips.

“Sorry if I’m crashing your big night.” He paused. “Maybe this wasn’t the best idea without talking to you first.” I saw the little worry crinkles form on the sides of his eyes. “Gina mentioned it, and I kind of volunteered and now I’m thinking…”

“No! I mean, no.” I quieted my snappy response. “It’s the perfect surprise.”

I was overreacting. It had been months since the last bad dream awakened me in a cold sweat. This wasn’t sharing my magic, or inviting him to hunt Proxies or evil beings. Maybe it was more than our casual office exchange, but he was here because of Gina, because of work. I wasn’t breaking any rules tonight.

I worried my outburst would cause him to disappear into the limousine and dart back to Sullen’s Grove. But he stood, planted firmly by the car, watching my every movement. He wasn’t leaving.

How many times had I stopped myself from playing walk-down-memory-lane with Jack? Standing this close to him, glimpsing bits of his feelings for me and knowing our attraction to each other, made the distance I had been keeping from him seem that much farther. In Las Vegas, he had opened up about how he had felt about me since the first time we met. I knew all of this time he was hiding behind his professional relationship wall. Maybe he was ready to emerge on his own without my witchy prodding.
Way overthinking this, Ivy.
He looks hot, and he flew all the way from Sullen’s Grove. Just have fun for the night.