Page 68 of Big Bad Wolf

“No. Theo fucks whoever he wants and still calls Phoebe a friend.” An uncomfortable thought slithered into his gut. “Why? You interested?”

Ruby laughed. “Why? Are you jealous?”

Rafe ground his back teeth together. “No. But you should know he’s an asshole.”

“But is he an asshole who’s good in bed?”

Rafe nearly drove the truck off the damn road. His hands were clenched so tight around the steering wheel his knuckles had gone completely white. The idea of his brother fucking Ruby was enough to make him want to…

Ruby’s hand slid onto his thigh, and his thoughts skidded to a halt. “I’m just kidding.” She gave a little squeeze and his cock jumped at the proximity. “Stop looking so murder-y,” she added with a laugh.

He tried to let out a breath, but his lungs were tight and hot. “This is just my face,” he said.

She leaned across the center console and brushed her lips against his cheek. “I like your face,” she whispered before sitting back down.

He could still feel the heat of her mouth when they pulled into the driveway. He secretly hoped her lipstick had left a mark.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

“I can’t believe you were just a few towns over this whole time,” Ruby said as Callie let them into her grandmother’s home. Now that Ruby knew about the family’s … tendencies, the house made perfect sense. The overgrown garden in the front, vines and leaves stretching out over the path to the door, the old apple tree with its gnarled branches, the brightly painted door and wooden shutters. The fact that it was far off the beaten path, essentially in the woods. It was a witch’s house.

It always had been.

Ruby remembered many visits to Eloise’s house with Callie over the years. The woman always had something baking or brewing. Dried herbs and flowers were strung up in the kitchen and there was always a cat or two sleeping next to the hearth.

Ruby had felt like the little house was straight out of a story book. If only she’d known how close to the truth that was.

“I was tempted to come back to town so many times.” Callie brushed her braid over shoulder. “But I was scared I would hurt someone.”

Ruby glanced at Rafe as he hovered in the doorway. He had the same problem. Maybe he needed to spend some time with Callie’s grandma to sort his shit out too.

“Well, come on in. Grandma’s in Arizona for the winter, but she’s going to video chat with us. And I thought she might have some helpful books here at the house.”

“Grandma Eloise knows how to video chat?” Ruby asked. She’d spent plenty of time with Callie’s grandmother over the years. She could embroider a pillow like no one else, and her homemade pies were the best, but Ruby had a hard time believing that video chatting was in her wheelhouse.

Callie laughed. “She’s pretty good with it now. I taught her the last time I was out there.”

“I can’t believe she moved to Arizona.”

“Only half moved.”

“But it’s so hot there.”

“She likes the dry heat.”

They walked into the kitchen chatting like old times while Rafe followed along behind them. He looked too big for the house, stooping to get through each doorway.

“Hey, guys,” Sawyer greeted them in the kitchen. He had a stack of old books piled in front of him and was flipping through the top one.

“Hey, Sawyer.” Ruby couldn’t help her smile at seeing him here. If only he knew how many times she and Callie had giggled over him in this very kitchen while Eloise served up freshly baked cookies. Had they known about Eloise’s talents, she was sure they would have asked her to cook up a love spell.

But judging by the way Sawyer’s face lit up when Callie walked in the room, no magic was required.

The wind rattled the old windowpanes, drawing Ruby’s attention back to the damp, cold day.

The weather made Ruby think of another question.

“Does your grandma do weather magic too?”