To Wrangle A Witch (Southern Sanctuary Book 3) (19 page)

But
if he didn’t fight for Serena, just what would that leave him with?  A
woman like Kirsten?  Sure on paper she was just his type, he studied her
out of the corner of his eye. She was a successful professional woman who
clearly enjoyed the cut-throat legal world.  And there was no denying she
was beautiful in that sleek high powered business woman way he’d always
gravitated too in the past.  Her blunt, shoulder length dark blonde haircut,
positively shouted overpriced French salon.  Her makeup was perfectly
applied, not too much and not too little, with those sexy blood red lips that
had always turned him on in the past.  Except now that he looked at
Kirsten he found those lips kind of a turn off, she’d positively slathered on
the lipstick.  He couldn’t help but compare them to Serena’s rose pink bee
stung lips, the memory of them swollen with passion and tasting like honey and
spices forced him to bite back a groan of desire.  To distract himself he
drained his cup, grateful as his mother leaned across Kirsten to pour him
another.

Goddess
was Kirsten still blathering on about her high flying job?  What was there
to say?  She was a lawyer, the majority of her work was confidential, and
the entirety of it was boring.  Yet that didn’t appear to stop the woman
from droning on ad-nauseam about her day to day life. Locke shot his mother a
quick look, inwardly wincing at the hopeful dreamy expression on her face as
she looked first at him, then at Kirsten.  It didn’t take a university
degree to know his mother was already picturing the two of them wed, bound and
tied to a life of corporate domesticity, interspersed with the occasional
popping out of a rug rat.

Alma
cleared her throat delicately, bringing Kirsten’s recitation of her daily
schedule to a thankful halt.  “Kirsten dear, don’t you think Locke’s home
is just lovely?”

Kirsten
took a breath, reluctantly changing topic.  “Yes, very lovely.”  Her
beautiful dark hazel eyes scoped the living room, kitchen and dining
room.  “Elegant and spacious, I can definitely see your taste reflected in
the interior.”  Kirsten eyes flickered down approvingly over Locke, though
it was hard to tell which she admired more, his expensive bespoke suit or the
lean physique under the clothes. 

Red
mist was clouding Serena’s vision as she slammed her cup down onto her saucer
with a loud clink.  “And the garden Kirsten?”
 
Serena enquired with a sweet smile on her
face though her eyes were fizzing blue and purple sparks of fire.

Kirsten
contemplated her immediate surroundings, her lips a slash of disapproving
red.  “It’s a little… busy for my tastes.”

“Really.” 
Serena’s eyes narrowed.  “What would you change about it?”

Kirsten
cast a critical eye over the grass, the masses of hibiscus, the clumps of ferns
and the looming palm tree.  “Well I would probably aim for something a bit
more moderate… classical, Italian courtyard with marble or sandstone maybe and
cut back on the overabundance of plant life.”

“Oh.” 
Lucy for the first time look vaguely disappointed with Kirsten.  “I think
the garden’s gorgeous, welcoming and not too…”

“Prissy?” 
Locke recalled the word Hadleigh had used to describe the look of his courtyard
before Serena had swept into his life.  Funny how that word kind of
perfectly described Kirsten and all the other glossy professional girlfriends
in his past. 

Goddess
if he had the choice now, would he want his monastic courtyard back?  No,
because this was Serena’s Eden, her bliss and what made her happy made him
happy.  Serena’s garden wasn’t made for such polite happenings as tea
parties.
 
It was wild and exotic like
her.  There should be raucous picnics… naked.  Late night suppers…
naked.  Dancing under the stars… naked.   Just the two of them…
naked.  Goddess he shifted sideways in his seat, rearranging his jacket to
cover his suddenly rock hard cock.

Serena
choked down the last of her tea.  Her eyes narrowing, if she didn’t know
better she’d say Locke was turned on right at this moment, as he shifted a
little closer to Lawyer Barbie.
 
Earth
and all the Stars she needed to get away from this greek tragedy before she did
or said something she’d regret.  Okay so she loathed Kirsten bitch-berg
with a blistering cold passion but it couldn’t be denied that she was perfect
Mrs Locke Valhalla material. Of course she was, the woman had the certified
approval of the family match maker, why else would Alma be present except to
start the two lovebirds on the road to marital bliss and sanctuary grid
mandatory supernova sex-athons. 

Even
now she noted Locke was staring at Kirsten with heated eyes, his fingers were
actually twitching as if he couldn’t wait to get his hands on the woman.
 
Wasn’t that just lovely.  By tomorrow he’d
probably barely remember he’d had a house guest let alone recall her
name.  And by the sounds of it his new wife wouldn’t be keeping the 30
foot palm tree around as a reminder.  Earth, she was in for years of
torment and regret, only the memories of their night together to keep her warm
and Locke was starting on a new life with boring business Barbie. 

She
wanted to hurt somebody, in particular the ice Princess sitting across the
table from her.
 
She wanted to pull out
all of Kirsten’s hair and zap her until she was just a smouldering ruin.
Kirsten might have taken one look at Locke, with his expensive suit and
gorgeous home and decided he was the perfect man for her but he wasn’t, Serena
knew it.
 
Locke was smart, witty and
whilst he didn’t like to play in the dirt, he sure as hell knew how to fight
dirty.
 
He was heat and passion, not cool
and restrained like Kirsten ice-burg.
 
Earth and all the Stars, she’d fallen in love with Locke Valhalla and
what was the man in question doing whilst she came to this stunning
revelation?
 
He was just sitting there
dazed and love-struck, staring at the woman next to him with intense dark blue
eyes.
 
It made her want to scream in
frustration.
 

Of
all days for his perfect match to appear.
 
Well she wouldn’t stand in the way of his
happiness; in fact it was just one more reason to run as fast and as far as she
possibly could when this whole debacle with the vamps was over.  With that
in mind she shot to her feet, giving everyone at the table a strained
smile.  “It was so nice to meet you all.  Unfortunately I need to go
get ready now… big plans for tonight.”  Swivelling on bare feet she walked
as quickly as she could inside, refusing to acknowledge the water that began
dripping down her cheeks as tears.  She did not cry over men.  And
she certainly wouldn’t cry over a tightly buttoned up, suit wearing, arrogant,
stubborn, always thinks he’s right, superior man like Locke Valhalla.

Locke
shot to his feet to go after her but Alma with a surprisingly strong grip for
someone her age grabbed him by the wrist.  “Locke, no need for you to
disappear as well.  We have a guest, you must stay and get better
acquainted.”

“Aunt
I really…”

“I
insist.”  Alma shot him a sweet smile, all the time her brown eyes
twinkling with little gold sparkles of light that were surprisingly
intimidating. 

Against
his will Locke sat back down as his mother passed over a plate of finger
sandwiches and offered him more tea.  He shook his head to both. 
Okay so he was an official hostage in a match making tea party themed
nightmare.  Fine, rather than just sit there silently contemplating
throttling Ms hyper-critical Vanderburg with his bare hands, he’d sit there
silently and work up the best cannot be refuted argument as to why Serena
should not risk her gorgeous ass as vamp bait.
 
Once he got rid of the ladies he’d present his argument to Serena, she’d
immediately cave to his request and seek comfort and reassurance in his strong
masculine arms.

Of
course the Goddess moves in mysterious ways and there was nothing more
frustrating to him than the tea party that would never end.  His mother
kept giving him meaningful looks between smiles trying to force him to
participate in the conversation.  Not that Kirsten needed anyone else to
speak it seems, she was more than happy to listen to her own droning soliloquy
on international law and the European union mining regulations. 

Aunt
Alma for all her insistence that he stay spent her time texting away on her
mobile, a smug little smile tugging at the corner of her mouth ever so
occasionally.  The rumours he’d heard that his aunt could be dictatorial
and scary were greatly impressed upon him today.  He couldn’t say much for
her match making skills however, if she thought he had the slightest interest
in Kirsten ‘if I’m talking, I’m boring’ Vanderburg. 

Still
it came as a shock to him just how late it had gotten when Hadleigh sauntered
ever so casually out into the courtyard, a long shiny sword held loosely by her
side.  She looked intimidating and kind of blood thirsty in her all black
fatigue ensemble, shit kicker boots and a cross bow strapped across her
back. 

“Hadleigh.” 
Lucy Valhalla shot to her feet at the sight of her youngest child, a welcoming
smile on her face.

“Hey
Mum, Aunt Alma.”  Hadleigh gave her aunt a wary but respectful nod of
greeting before she focused on the stranger in their midst. 

Locke
shot up from the table and rounded it to rest a casual arm around his sister’s
waist.  Looking up at her, he gave her a furtive wink.  “Kirsten, I’d
like you to meet my sister Hadleigh.  Hadleigh, this is Kirsten
Vanderburg.”

Hadleigh
loomed across the table, extending her hand out that didn’t currently hold a
deadly weapon.  “Of the Dutch Vanderburgs?”  Hadleigh asked, giving
the dark blonde her coldest ‘I’m thinking of how many whacks it will take to
behead you with my shiny sharp toy’ look.

“Err,
yes.”  Kirsten stared up at Hadleigh, at 6.6ft she was one intimidating
woman, especially when she was in balls out warrior mode.  “Sister?” 
A pale faced Kirsten looked to Locke.

As
Hadleigh straightened Locke snuggled in once more to her side, looking up
beaming in pride.  “Baby sister.  Unfortunately I didn’t get the
height the rest of the family did, but don’t worry I’m told it sometimes skips
a generation, with the Goddess’s blessing any future children of mine will
inherit the Valhalla sturdy warrior frame.”

“Locke.” 
Lucy gasped out in surprised shock, whilst Alma seemed to be hiding her
amusement behind a small coughing fit.

If
possible Kirsten paled even further.

Hadleigh
patted Locke affectionately on the head.  “Ah, pipsqueak, you know we all
still love your tiny scrawny butt.” 

Locke
tilted his head back even further to look up at Hadleigh, giving her an adoring
smile.  “Thanks sis.”

“Locke! 
Hadleigh!  I don’t know what you two are saying.”  Lucy Valhalla gave
her children a look of dismay as Kirsten instantly bolted to her feet,
clutching her briefcase.

“I
have to go.”

Lucy
made an attempt to stop her.  “Honestly Kirsten, the children were just
making a silly joke.”

Kirsten
forced a weak smile, warily eyeing Hadleigh and Locke, wavering as to whether
to believe Lucy or not.  That was the moment Vaughn chose to stride
outside to join them, casting a long shadow at 7.3ft.

“Ah,
here comes one of my brother’s now.”  Crowed Locke jovially.

Kirsten
immediately bolted, with Lucy close on her heels, pleading for her to calm down
and stay.

“Something
I said?”  Vaughn came to a stop by Hadleigh, elbowing Locke out of the way
so he could wrap a large arm around his gorgeous wife’s waist, one of his huge
hands coming to rest on her shapely butt.

“Not
at all, thank the Goddess she left, otherwise we’d be having an awkward
conversation right now about just how close a family we are.”  He stared
pointedly at Vaughn’s hand squeezing Hadleigh’s rear.

Hadleigh
and Locke both burst out laughing; even Alma bit back a chuckle as Vaughn
stared hard at Locke trying to work out what exactly was going on.

“It’s
okay Viking.”  Hadleigh patted Vaughn on the arm.  “You just helped
scare away a potential baby momma for Locke.”

“Excellent.” 
Vaughn grinned.  “That will wipe out my debt to you for saving Serena.”

“Hold
on there Magic Mike, you didn’t do anything more than walk outside.”

“And
that is beauty of me.”  Vaughn leaned down to peck an adoring kiss on his
beautiful wife’s lips.  Hadleigh shifted uncomfortably, glancing Alma’s
way.

“Oh
don’t mind me you two.” Alma got to her feet, gathering her belongings. 
“There’s nothing I like more than seeing my magic at work.  I’m off then,
have fun with the blood suckers tonight.”

“How
did she know about the vamps?”  Locke frowned as Alma sauntered away, not
bothering to hide the pleased smile on her face. 

Hadleigh
shrugged.  “Who knows how the meddlesome old biddy knows half of what she
does.  If you’re really that curious ask her next time.”

“No
way, after seeing her idea of who she thinks my perfect match is, I’ll be
avoiding Alma and her tricky ways from now on in.”