Chick with a Charm (30 page)

“In a way it is. I want to know how you’ve handled being with Anica, when she’s a . . .”

“She’s a witch, Griffin,” Jasper said quietly. “And so is Lily. Simone is, too, and Lionel’s a wizard. For all four of them it’s an essential part of their being, and you have to be okay with that or you’d do well to bow out now.”

Griffin decided not to reveal that he didn’t have that option at the moment. “I’m . . . very attached to Lily.” That much was true. “But obviously I’m feeling out of my depth. I’d appreciate any words of advice.”

“I have two suggestions. One is to enjoy the hell out of the magical aspect, because, as I’m sure I don’t have to tell you, these two women are hot.”

Griffin heaved a sigh. “Yeah.”

“But there are bound to be issues regarding the magic. Turns out you’re in luck, because Dorcas and Ambrose Lowell are coming to this party.”

“And they are?”

“A matchmaking witch and wizard.”

Griffin’s gut clenched. “I’m really not sure that’s the sort of thing I—”

“Hold on. Yes, they’re matchmakers, but they’re also experts in the field of magic, and they helped Anica and me work through a very difficult situation. I don’t know where we would have been without them. They’re completely discreet, and they know a hell of a lot. I’d lay it all out for them, if I were you.”

“I can’t believe I’m going to a witch and wizard for advice.”

Jasper smiled. “I know the whole idea of magic takes some getting used to. Believe me, I understand what you’re going through. I’ll introduce you to Dorcas and Ambrose. If they can’t straighten out your problems, then nobody can.”

“Thanks.” Griffin offered his hand, which Jasper took in a firm grip. “We’d better get back in there. I’m sure Lily knows why I dragged you out here.”

“You’re allowed to have some backup,” Jasper said.

“After all, she has Anica.” Clapping Griffin on the shoulder, he followed him back inside the bar.

Once they were inside, Griffin glanced around for Lily. She was up on the ladder, stringing paper streamers. She looked over at him, her gaze knowing. She understood what he was up to.

He was going to break the spell. She had to know he would try everything. Dorcas and Ambrose, if they were as powerful as Jasper had said, should be able to tell him how to do it. What would happen after that was anybody’s guess, but Lily looked worried—very worried. He was sorry about that, but as he’d told her last night, she couldn’t be in charge forever.

He was so caught up in Lily and her reaction to his trip outside with Jasper that at first he missed the most amazing thing in the room. Hanging from the ceiling, in perfect condition, was a large, multifaceted, mirrored ball.

After the decorating was finished, Lily’s parents took everybody out for lunch. Her mom and dad seemed in their element, obviously delighted with Jasper, their future son-in-law, and Griffin, who seemed very interested in Lily. They made it clear they would welcome Griffin into the family with the same enthusiasm they’d shown Jasper.

But Lily knew Griffin was testing the bars of his cage and gathering information that would help him escape. She couldn’t blame him for talking to Jasper. In his shoes, she would have done the same thing.

After lunch, while everyone stood out on the sidewalk prior to heading home to get ready for the party, Lily took Anica aside. “I don’t know if you saw, but when we were at the bar Griffin managed to get Jasper alone for a conversation.” She kept her voice low.

“Actually, I do know. It was pretty clever the way he did it, too. He’s a smart man, Lily.”

“I know. He’s figured out that I gave him some sort of potion and that’s why he’s so tied to me.”

Anica nodded. “I thought so. He made a pointed reference to the great Harvey Wallbanger you mix, and I decided that must have been the delivery system.”

“It was, and with a little help from his friends Miles and Kevin, he’s trying to break the spell.”

“Oh yeah?” Anica’s eyebrows lifted. “How’s he doing that?”

“Salt around the bed for starters, and now he’s carrying a piece of jet around in his pocket.”

Anica looked impressed. “Not bad.”

“I can’t blame him for trying, but I’d like to stay one step ahead of him, so that I won’t end up in some embarrassing situation, especially in front of Mom and Dad. If you can subtly find out what Jasper told him, I’d be eternally grateful.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Thanks, An. I’ve been driving myself crazy wondering what they talked about. You don’t suppose Jasper would tell him the cat story, do you?”

“Absolutely not.” Anica glanced over at her fiancé, who was joking around with their father while their mother talked quietly with Griffin. “Jasper doesn’t want that story going
anywhere
. I suspect you and I may be the only two people who will ever know about his days as a cat.”

“And your former neighbor Julie, the one who’s convinced her calling is to become a witch.”

“Right, Julie. She won’t tell, either. I’m her connection to the world of magic, and she’s not going to screw that up by broadcasting my secrets.”

Lily lowered her voice. “Okay, you can tell me. Your future in-laws are awful, aren’t they?”

Anica glanced over at her fiancé again. “I wouldn’t say that. . . . At least not to anyone but you.” She grinned.

“Yeah, they’re awful.”

“I had a feeling they were when you made sure they didn’t come down to help decorate.”

Anica groaned and covered her face with both hands. “That would have been a nightmare. They’re convinced the big city is full of germs waiting to give them some terminal disease, and muggers intent on stealing their money.”

“Lovely.”

“I know. I’ve never seen two people more afraid to live their lives. Mom and Dad go off to primitive villages in Peru where they can run into all sorts of unexpected dangerous situations, while these people are afraid to leave their sanitized and heavily patrolled gated community.”

Lily put an arm around her sister. “I’m sorry, An. Are you sure you want me to do magic tonight? I don’t want them to run screaming out of the Bubbling Cauldron.”

“Oh, I do.” Anica’s smile became uncharacteristically devilish. “I would pay to see that.”

“Except that wouldn’t sit well with your sweetie pie, now, would it?”

“I suppose not.” Anica sighed. “And I doubt they’ll run screaming out of the building because you perform a few illusions. As we’ve said, they’ll think it’s a trick.”

“Then we’ll continue as planned, but if you find out anything about that conversation between Jasper and Griffin, call me on my cell. I don’t want to be caught with my pants down.”

Anica began to laugh.

“Bad choice of words,” Lily mumbled.

“Oh, no.” Anica wiped at her eyes. “I think it was the perfect choice of words.”

Lily had reason to think of that word choice once she and Griffin arrived back at her apartment. He’d held her hand during the entire bus ride home, and once they’d closed the apartment door and properly greeted Daisy, he drew her into his arms.

He gazed at her with frank appreciation in his hazel eyes. “I told Anica you wanted to be more like her.”

“Now, there’s a news flash.” She wound her arms around his neck, loving the feel of him, the scent of him. “She knows.”

“And she thinks that’s crazy.” He massaged the small of her back slowly, seductively. “She told me you’re far more creative than she is and she admires your sense of style.”

His touch created predictable results—she wanted him, even if having sex would counter the work of the stone in his pocket. But his words had an even greater effect on her than his touch. They filled a place in her heart she hadn’t realized was so empty.

“That’s nice to hear,” she said.

“I guess Devon shot down your idea of creating signature drinks for the bar.” His hands slid lower, cupping her and bringing her into alignment with his growing erection.

“Uh-huh.”

“You should suggest it again.” He pulled her tight against him and heat shot through her. “You have loyal customers now, and you have more power than you think. If you threaten to walk, he’ll let you create those drinks.”

“Could be.”

“I want you to make one called The Lily.” He ground his hips gently against hers.

“Is that so?” In no time she was wet and ready for him.

He leaned down and ran his tongue over her lower lip. “It should be one of those flaming drinks, the kind made with a-hundred-and-fifty-proof rum and topped with cinnamon.”

Her heart pounded with anticipation. “Sounds potent.”

“With a name like that, it needs to be.” He kissed her with easy deliberation and left her breathing hard. “I’m going to make love to you, Lily.”

She had no doubt. As he led her into the bedroom and carefully undressed her, she sensed a difference in his touch, a difference in his eyes. She dared to hope that the emotions driving him came from somewhere deeper than the elixir could reach.

They came together as lovers who knew each other very well, as if they’d spent years learning the exact way to kiss, to stroke, to please. The beauty of it brought tears to her eyes, and at the moment when he entered her, the tears slid unchecked down her cheeks.

As he moved surely and steadily within her, he kissed her tears away. “Don’t cry,” he murmured.

“I’m . . . afraid.”
Afraid I’m going to lose you.

His smile was tender. “Me, too.” And then he took her to a climax so filled with wonder and love that she sobbed in reaction, knowing he’d given her all he could for now, knowing he’d made no promises. She could expect none.

 

As Griffin was dressing for the party in gray slacks and a black silk shirt, Daisy lay in a corner of the bedroom, her head between her paws. Griffin found it interesting that she’d chosen to stay here even though Lily had left the room to answer a phone call. Daisy seemed to be getting attached to him, which felt good, but might not be wonderful for the dog if Griffin didn’t stick around.

Griffin had recognized Anica’s ring tone, so he knew Lily was talking to her sister, probably about some new glitch with the party. They’d have a little more trouble fixing it with magic during the event, when someone—like Jasper’s parents, for instance—might notice something fishy going on.

Thinking about magic, Griffin remembered the jet stone in his jeans pocket and decided to transfer it to his slacks. He reached in to get it and discovered it had cracked neatly in two.

“Huh, that’s weird.”

Daisy lifted her head and thumped her tail on the carpet.

“I wonder if that’s because it was working so hard, it cracked.”

Daisy began panting and gave him a doggie smile.

“I swear you understand every word I say.” Griffin crouched down and rubbed behind Daisy’s ears as he continued to study the two pieces of polished stone. He’d suspected that sex made the spell stronger, and the cracked stone might be evidence of that. He’d put a strain on its healing power by taking her to bed.

And yet he didn’t regret giving in to that urge, in spite of the cost. Yes, he had to break this spell, but he couldn’t shake the thought that something was happening that had nothing to do with her potion. As he’d learned more about Lily, he’d come to admire who she was.

That didn’t erase what she’d done, of course. Giving him a potion to make him want her was an extremely self-centered thing to do, but hanging out with her accomplished family made him understand why she might think she had to create a facade. She’d done it at his expense, but he’d enjoyed some great sex as a result, so it wasn’t all bad.

He’d also expanded his knowledge of the possible. Until this past week he would have sworn that magic was only in the movies or what kids wanted to believe. He’d thought a witch and wizard were Halloween costume choices.

Now he knew that people who looked exactly like anybody else on the street could possibly possess magic powers. One of those people had put him under a spell, and while it hadn’t been a malicious thing to do, it had affected his ability to choose for himself.

That had to end ASAP. He was reasonably sure Lily sensed his resolve, too. She’d told him in the midst of their lovemaking that she was afraid.

So was he. He wasn’t sure what sort of side effects he was looking at, and he didn’t know how he’d feel about Lily once the potion was no longer working. He might get very angry—probably would get very angry. After all, she’d messed with his life, big-time. If Kevin and Miles hadn’t stepped in, his career could have been put on the line. He’d still have to make amends with Biddle for missing that lunch on Friday.

Daisy nudged his hand with her nose.

“Want to take a look?” Griffin held the broken stone in the palm of his hand and allowed Daisy to move it around with her nose. She snuffled a few times, her warm doggie breath tickling his palm.

“Sorry, it’s not food. It’s only . . .” He stared in fascination as Daisy nudged the two pieces of the stone so they touched along the break line. Had to be coincidence. She thought if she moved the stones around enough, they’d magically transform into dog cookies. For all Griffin knew, Lily could change rocks into dog cookies and had done that for Daisy.

“I’m not magic,” Griffin said. “I can’t turn these into treats for you. Sorry.”

Daisy glanced up at him with an expression that clearly labeled him a moron. It was so obvious he had to laugh. Then she began licking the two pieces of stone.

“You just don’t give up, do you? After all this work, you deserve a real dog treat. Let’s go in the kitchen and see what we can find.” Griffin ruffled her fur and closed his fingers over the stone as they both got to their feet. Then he stood very still and opened his hand.

The stone was whole again.