WILLEM (The Witches of Wimberley Book 1) (20 page)

“Wait. What’s her name?”

“Rave.”

“Rave. Short for Raven. Lovely. Talk soon.”

I set the phone down. “So you’re the real deal.”

She raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow. “And I’m your live-in girlfriend?”

“What should I have told my mother? That I’m under contract for a year?”

“Good point. Live-in girlfriend is close enough.”

She rose from the chair and stretched her body out, something I could watch again and again without getting tired of it.

“I spent my whole life hoping for proof that the supernatural is real. And here you are.”

“Here I am. Rock you like a hurricane.”

“What?”

“You didn’t ask me what kind of music I like. And considering how much
you
like music, I find that odd.”

“You’re right. That’s probably the first question I should have asked. So what’s the answer?”

“I like most American music. Not a huge fan of country. I like bands more than karaoke-style pop singers. I guess I’m a rock chick at heart.”

“The era is passing.”

“I know.” She sighed. “But that’s what recorded music is for, right? And there’s some surprisingly good new music even if it’s harder to find than it used to be.”

“Damn Spotify and find-the-singer shows.”

“Hear. Hear.”

“Have you heard Alabama Shakes?”

“No, but I like the name.” I smiled.

“Let’s get out of here. I’m getting claustrophobic.”

She punched in the code and the door opened with a hiss.

“Is that the house you grew up in?”

“Yeah.”

“Nice. Homey.”

“Well, we could tear this thing down. Build two thousand square feet of nice hominess.”

“Would you like that?”

“No, Rave. I’m teasing. Your house is the second best part of this arrangement.”

“I’m thirsty. I always come back thirsty.”

“That can be fixed.”

We got wine coolers and decided to settle in the study. I walked around looking at the books on the shelves while she watched and sipped her drink.

“Tell me about some of the other special talents. So far I know about predicting stock market trends and astral projection.”

“After tonight.”

“Why after tonight?”

“Before you learn any more incriminating stuff, I need to know you’re committed. To me. To our secrets.”

“For a year.”

As soon as I saw the look on her face, I felt a pang of regret for restating the condition, but I needed to make it crystal clear up front. I was committing to a year. No more.

“Yes. For a year,” she repeated.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Harmony arrived at Rave’s, I mean…
our
house, a few minutes before I was to leave for the boys-only dinner because it was at Raider’s house. Supposedly no witches allowed. Rave told me to take the Spyder and gave directions how to get there. Turn left from the drive, circle around the hill, take the second left and climb until I could see redwood timber and stone.

Raider’s house couldn’t have been more different from the two houses I’d been in so far. It looked like a northwest pacific lodge with an A-roofline in the center where the front door was prominent and wings jutting out on either side. My first thought was that it suited Raider perfectly.

I followed the circular drive and pulled up to the front where I could see two valet parkers waiting.

“Good evening, Mr. Draiocht.”

I was sure I’d never get used to being called by name by strangers, much less being called ‘Mr. Draiocht’.

“Hey. This is the place, huh?”

“You’re in the right place, sir. We’ll take good care of your car.”

Leaving the key in the ignition, I said, “Thank you,” got out and walked to the door.

Someone who appeared to be staff opened the door as I approached.

“Good evening, Mr. Draiocht. Follow this hallway to the end and take a right. Everyone is outside. You’ll hear the music.”

“Thank you,” I said, thinking ‘follow the yellow brick road’.

By the time I was halfway down the hall I could hear the thump of metal bass. The terrace was covered with terrazzo stone in a pinkish reddish color that matched the feel of the house. And it was immense. I suspected there were fifty guys there, but it would have accommodated two hundred.

There were three very long tables set for dinner, arranged parallel to each other and perpendicular to the head table. Off to the side, at the very edge of the terrace were two huge built-in grills that formed the center part of a luxurious outdoor kitchen. Two guys in chef gear were grilling steaks. There’s no way to adequately convey the aroma, but if you’ve ever been in the vicinity of steaks being grilled to perfection out of doors, you know what I’m talking about.

I heard Kellan’s voice before I saw him. “Man of the hour!”

Everybody stopped and turned to raise their drinks to me. I raised my chin and smiled, a little embarrassed to be the center of attention. Strange reaction for a would-be actor, right?

Raider came over and slapped me on the shoulder almost hard enough to knock me over. “How you doin’, hero?”

I suspected that would always get a smile out of me. “I was pretty good before you tried to start a fight.”

He guffawed at that. “Willem, you’re one of a kind.”

“Call me Will.”

“Will it is then.” Kellan strolled up. “You’ve met Kellan.”

“I have.” Kellan and I were shaking hands in greeting when a waiter showed up by my side to ask about a drink. After a double take, I said, “Roque! Roque Quintanilla!”

The man looked both proud and pleased that I remembered him. “Yes, Mr. Draiocht. What will it be my pleasure to bring you? Margarita? On the rocks, no salt, Jose Reposado?”

I laughed. “You have an incredible memory.”

“As do you, sir.”

“Hmmm. Well, tonight I’ve got the nerves of a virgin groom. I’m going with whiskey neat.”

“Very good, sir. We have…”

I held up my hand. “I trust you, Roque. Bring me what you think I’d like.”

After a smile and a head nod, he disappeared.

“Nerves of a virgin groom,” Raider repeated with a belly laugh. “I suspect whiskey will help out with that.”

“So who have you met?” Kellan asked.

“Just the two of you and Simon.”

“Simon?!?” They both asked it at the same time and then shared a glance.

“Is there something wrong with Simon?”

“Uh, no,” said Raider. “He’s alright, but he’s not what you’d call…”

“…
outgoing.” Kellan finished the sentence. “Keeps to himself.”

“Is he here tonight?”

“No. He doesn’t usually come to these things.”

“What exactly is this? Ravish said it’s kind of like a bachelor party, but not.”

“It’s a chance to introduce you around. Don’t worry about not remembering everybody’s names. That’ll come in time,” Kellan said.

“So, if Simon isn’t here, that means there are probably others who aren’t here?”

He nodded. “There are about twenty or so others. Mostly old guys. They’ll be at the ceremony, of course, but going out twice in one day is too much for some people.”

“Save me from that day,” Raider said.

“No worries. You’ll never make it to fifty,” Kellan told Raider.

“Good. Just as well,” he said. “I’m going to supervise dinner. I have a lot of experience with cooking meat outdoors.” I didn’t doubt that for an instant. “Catch up with you later.”

“Raider!” He stopped and turned around. “Really nice house.”

He gave a cautious smile, like he wasn’t accustomed to being complimented on his house, and a chin dip before resuming his mission to ‘supervise’ the cooking.

“Come on,” Kellan said. “Get ready to press some flesh.”

He wasn’t kidding about shaking hands with a lot of dudes. He also wasn’t kidding about the fact that I had no hope of remembering their names. It wasn’t just the aroma of steaks grilling to perfection that had me grateful when Raider shouted, “Dinner!”

“This way,” Kellan said.

I followed him to the head table. Three guys were already seated. I assumed one of them was the other inductee. Kellan gestured to the chair that was in the middle of the remaining three. Kellan sat down to my right. Raider appeared from nowhere and sat to my left.

It was beginning to get dark so the gathering was lit with tiki torches and an extremely generous distribution of candles on the tables.

Like the barbeque, we each had two iced carafes of sweet tea and water. The waiters began making their way down the rows, delivering plates. What was on my plate was an extra large filet mignon, butterflied, and cooked medium well, more well than medium. Just the way I like it.

I turned to Kellan. “This is my favorite.”

His blue eyes twinkled with amusement. “By the time you get this far, they know everything about you, Will.”

“I don’t know whether to be flattered or creeped out.”

“This time next week I’ll remind you that you said that. We’ll see how you feel by then.”

My plate also held an enormous Idaho potato wrapped in foil. A waiter appeared on my left, grabbed my potato and smushed several times using a pristine white towel. He then opened the foil, cut it down the middle, and asked what I would like from the variety of goodies on his two-tiered condiment server.

“Butter.” He gave me two spoonfuls. “More,” I said and he added another spoonful. “Bacon bits. Cheddar cheese. Little bit of sour cream. Not much. Perfect.”

When he turned away, another waiter took his place. “Green beans almondine, sir?”

“Yeah. Sure.” He scooped them up with tongs and laid them on the platter so that they were photograph-ready.

I was offered several more vegetables, but decided there was enough in front of me already even though my girlfriend could keep me from gaining weight. Yeah. It sounded funny to say that even in my head, but even though that was a perk beyond compare, she couldn’t keep me from being uncomfortable as the result of obscene eating, otherwise known as gluttony.

The men seemed to be chatting amiably over dinner.

“So I’m the guest of honor?” I said to Kellan.

“Indeed you are one of two as you will be again at the end of the year.”

“So what do I need to know about community politics?”

“What do you mean?”

“It hasn’t escaped my notice that you’re more or less in charge.”

Kellan laughed. “Well, I wouldn’t call that politics exactly. Glory and I both like entertaining. I get along with people. They get along with me. It just kind of happened naturally.”

“Naturally.” I repeated. “You just ended up with that castle naturally?” He laughed again. “I know there’s a chance that could have sounded like envy. Believe me, it’s nothing of the sort. I’m wandering around in Rave’s house as it is.”

“Rave?”

“Uh, yeah. That’s what I call her.”

He smiled as he took a bite of his New York strip. “Okay.”

“Anyway I don’t want your house, but I’m curious as to how things work.”

“In a cooperative like this one, things have a way of working out the way they should. People take on tasks according to their own talents and, mysterious as it may seem, everybody ends up liking their role, the way they fit in.”

“Very Utopian.”