A Little Street Magic (14 page)

If they both thought that was a possibility, who was I to naysay it? Shifters had better noses. Yet, the New Me felt we shouldn’t leave any stones unturned. “Right, but I think I’d like to test whether or not you guys can smell or sense the magic from one of those charms.”

“Sure thing. Want me to call David, and ask him if he’ll whip up one for us?”

“Please. Tell him we’ll come by tomorrow morning.” I needed to call Alleryn, not having had a chance to do so yet. For some reason, my phone always managed to find its way to the very bottom of my purse. I dug it out and made the call.

Though thrilled with the news that the guys had again stopped a vision in its tracks, the elf scolded me. “I told you to be careful because we don’t know what sort of long-term effects repeated physical manifestations may cause.”

“I know, but it’s not like I know if one will happen in advance.”

Alleryn snorted. “Really? Touching objects involved in brutal murders? I’d think the possibility would be obvious.”

“Yes, okay, you’re right. But I have to, sometimes.” Was I whining? Yes, and Adult Cordi shouldn’t be whining like a kid told she had to finish her homework before going outside to play. “I’ll try to avoid doing it unless absolutely necessary from now on.”

“I suppose that’s the best I can hope for. I do recommend that you rest well after an episode.”

My reply made Logan chuckle. “I’ll go to bed early, Dad.”

“Don’t get snarky with me, young woman. I’m your doctor,” Alleryn shot back. “And your friend.”

I tried to sound contrite. “Sorry...Dad.”

The elf laughed. “Go home, eat well, and sleep. Doctor Dad’s orders.”

I ended the call and put my phone away. “I think that’s it for our To Do list today.”

“Great. We’ll have the evening to ourselves.” Logan was smiling. “With the dogs.”

“
G
ot it!
” Rufus leaped and caught the ball Logan had thrown. Having skipped my morning jog, I’d decided to kill two birds with one stone: getting some exercise and spending time with my pack. We’d taken a walk first.

The activity was keeping my mind mostly off after-dinner possibilities. My drugged babbling had resulted in a ton of weight lifting off my shoulders, at least in regard to Logan. There was no longer any doubt in my mind that we were serious. It wasn’t a rebound thing, and two important items had now been discussed.

Officially, we hadn’t been dating long at all, but at least we’d known each other for several months. I still didn’t want to rush anything, but the L word
had
come out of both of our mouths this morning. Even with “I think” attached, it was kind of significant.

“Good catch, Diablo.” I patted his head when the black pit brought back the ball I’d thrown. “You’re getting really good at this.”

Tail wagging, he let me take the ball. “
It’s fun
.”

Boy, it was awesome to see how far out of his defensive shell Diablo had come. “Ready for another?”

“
Throw it!
” He pranced backward, keeping his eyes on the ball. Laughing, I threw it for him, watching as he turned and raced after it.

Speck clumsily trotted up, his little jaws straining to keep hold of a mini-tennis ball. He dropped it at my feet, looking up with bright eyes. A bit of orange fuzz was stuck to his top lip. “
I carried it
.”

“Just like a big boy.” I bent to pet him and picked up the ball. “Want me to throw it for you?”

“
Yes, please
.” His thin tail was a blur.

I tossed it underhanded, in a different direction. The Tinies had the misfortune to be regularly trampled by the larger dogs during games of Fetch. “Go get it.”

As Speck bounced off in pursuit of his ball, an argument broke out between Bone and Rufus over whose turn it was to fetch. I took a step toward them, but Logan intervened by pushing between them. “If we can’t play nice, fun time is over. It’s Bone’s turn.”

Rufus obediently stepped back and sat down to wait. Logan threw the ball, and after Bone took off, he scratched the Rottweiler behind one ear. “Good boy.”

Due to his tail being docked, he couldn’t thump like the other dogs, but Rufus wiggled at the praise, his stump wagging. Satisfied the situation was resolved, I looked around for Squishy, who was barking.

Leglin was keeping her occupied by holding a tug o’ war rope, the end dangling low enough for her to reach. As I watched, she grabbed it and shook her head then let go to bark again. Rinse, and repeat. Diablo loped back, and I had to get busy throwing balls again.

Roughly an hour passed before I called a halt to the festivities. “I need to start some dinner if we want to eat tonight.” A chorus of doggy protests filled the air. “Sorry, but it’s getting dark, too, and I’m cold.”

“
Wuss
,” Bone mumbled around the ball.

I pointed at him. “So nice of you to volunteer to pick up the toys tonight.”

“
Not fair!
”

“
I’ll help
,” Rufus said. “
We put them in the basket?
”

Bone dropped the ball to lick the Rottie’s face. “
Yeah. Thanks
.”

“They’ll pick up,” I told Logan, happy the two were over their fussing, and that Rufus was so eager to fit in. “I’m going in to wash up.”

“Okay, I’ll bring in the basket when they’re done, and make sure everyone comes inside.”

“Thanks.” I stopped in passing to kiss him, resulting in that weird little tingling, and went inside, wondering what exactly caused it.

T
hat infrequent, unexplained tingling occupied my thoughts as I washed my hands and scouted the fridge and pantry for dinner possibilities. Pickings were slim, reminding me that I needed to hit the grocery store soon, but I figured something out.

Tingles didn’t strike every single time Logan and I touched, and they hadn’t happened just with him. I’d felt them a few times in contact with Thorandryll, and didn’t that beat all?

I’d never felt them with Nick, or when in contact with any other shifter or elf. This wasn’t the first time I’d puzzled over them, and I had previously decided they weren’t sexual in nature, because they didn’t last very long.

However, the real question was whether or not they were important, and it wasn’t a question I could answer alone. “I should ask Logan if he feels them. Maybe we can figure out what’s causing them together.”

Together
. A goofy feeling smile spread across my face as I cut up boneless chicken breasts and put them on to boil in broth. Based on our morning talk, we were on the same page, and would be doing a lot of things together from now on.

I chopped up a handful of carrots, dumping them and a cup of frozen peas into the pot. Next up: mixing the ingredients for the dumplings. The front door opened then, a stream of dogs preceding Logan. I counted heads, and everyone was present.

He left the basket by the coatrack, and hung up his jacket before coming to the kitchen. “What are we having?”

“Chicken and dumplings.”

“Do you need any help?”

“Nope, I’ve got it under control, but if you wouldn’t mind feeding them?” I jerked my chin at the furry puddle at the end of the breakfast bar.

“No problem.” He went to the pantry. Everyone knew where the dog food and bowls were kept, if they’d hung out with me for longer than a day.

“I have a question.”

“Shoot.”

“Have you ever,” I paused to check my milk measuring. “Felt a shock or tingling when we touch?”

“There was that one time, but I think that was a socks and carpet thing.”

I threw a potholder at him. Logan caught it without looking up from doling out dogfood into bowls.

“Come on, it’s a serious question.”

“All right.” He tossed the potholder on the breakfast bar’s counter. “I certainly feel things when we touch, but a shock hasn’t been one of them.”

The urge to go off-track was strong, in order to explore exactly what kind of things he felt. But only for a second. We could discuss that later, maybe after dinner. “How about tingling?”

A slow smile appeared on his face as Logan put the dogfood away. “Occasionally, yes.” He began placing the bowls on the floor, stretching them out from the end of the kitchen into the hallway. “But I’m not sure if we’re talking the same kind.”

We were definitely going to discuss that later, and in depth, too. “Can I show you what I mean?”

“Sure, give me a sec.” He finished his task, and went to the sink to wash his hands. “Okay.”

Dumplings mixed, I recalled every instance that I could of feeling those particular tingles before holding out my right hand. He took hold with his, as though we were about to shake hands. Establishing a telepathic link with him had never been difficult, almost as though one were always present between us.

Watching his face, I transferred those remembered instances to him. He blinked, his forehead furrowing. “Okay, not the same type of tingles.”

Ooh. “All righty then. Now, don’t be offended, please, but I should tell you that I never felt those with Nick. On the other hand,” I sent him the few instances the tingles had occurred while I was in contact with Thorandryll.

“Huh,” was his first reaction, and his second was, “Why would that offend me?”

“I don’t know.” Silly me, forgetting he didn’t have a fragile ego. “It’s weird, right?”

He nodded, his thumb caressing the back of my hand. I think he meant it to be reassuring, but instead, the gesture caused tingles of an entirely different variety from the ones we were discussing. “A little strange, yeah. No idea what they may mean?”

“Nope. I need to check on the chicken.”

Logan released my hand, moving to lean against the counter so we could still see each other while talking. “Maybe we should run some tests.”

“What kind of tests?”

“Fun ones.” He waggled his eyebrows, following up with a big grin.

“I will throw another potholder at you.” A smile ruined my threat. “You’ve been flirty today, mister.”

“I didn’t tell you everything you said last night. Or for that matter, everything you did.”

Oh, great. It sucked not knowing what he was talking about, and I could only imagine what drugged, blabbermouth Cordi may have done after our morning discussion. “Please tell me that I didn’t...”

“Do your best to sweet talk me out of my pants?” Logan gave a single nod, crossing his arms and trying to look stern. “Oh, but you did. You were really determined. I barely escaped with my virtue intact.”

Oh, God. Was he teasing me again? I studied his expression. Nope, he was serious. “I hope I only talked.”

“You mostly talked.” When I cringed, he relented, beginning to smile. “I’m exaggerating a little. You didn’t cross any lines.”

His lines, or mine? No meant no, and it sounded like I’d tried to wheedle a yes out of him. I owed him an apology. “I am so sorry for being such a jerk last night.”

Logan’s smile faded. “You weren’t a jerk. Even under the influence, you were still you. Not some stranger. Okay, yeah, the rap part was kind of out there on the fringes, and surprised me.”

It was time to begin adding the dumplings. I retrieved the bowl and started dropping spoonsfull of dough into the bubbling pot. “I’ll tell you a secret.”

Uncrossing his arms, Logan half-turned and dramatically braced on the countertop. “I’m ready.”

“Ginger and I used to have cussing contests. I think when we were about eleven.”

“Based on last night, I’m going to guess you usually won those contests.” He relaxed, leaning his hip against the counter.

“Yep, and you can thank my mom for that.”

Logan’s chin dipped, his eyes widening. “Sunny? No way.”

“Yes way. You’ve never seen her truly pissed off, and when she totally loses the ‘peace and love’ vibe. It’s a sight to behold, and I promise, your ears burn for days afterward.”

He was still laughing when I finished adding the dumplings.