Page 43 of Sight of Fate

Teague snorts. “Just be glad you didn’t have to see her at the foot of the stairs with blood dripping down her face.” His hand clenches, as if the memory bothers him.

“Don’t remind me,” Macklin mutters. He steps closer and stares down at me, nostrils flaring.

Only inches away, I skim his muscular, sweaty body, fighting the urge to run my finger down the grooves of his massive, and very sculpted, biceps. I clench my thighs together.

Macklin draws in a deep breath. “Teague, why don’t you go get us some coffee?”

Teague murmurs. “Does that mean you’re tired of waiting?”

Waiting for what?

Macklin closes his eyes and pivots toward the railing. “No, damn it. I’m going to grab a shower and call Maureen.”

“I think you’re making up excuses,” Teague tells him. “What are you afraid of?”

Macklin stiffens. “Always pushing, aren’t you? Leave it alone.”

Teague links my hand with his and pulls me to the door. “Come on. Let’s go figure out how to make you the best Campfire coffee.”

I glance over my shoulder and see Macklin staring at me, a faint glow in his intense deep blue eyes.

Teague calls out softly, “Still want that coffee?”

I swivel my head around and blush, embarrassed to be caught staring at Macklin. “Absolutely.”

An hour later, I’ve come to one conclusion. Teague’s a bad teacher. He hates to read instructions. And if it weren’t for my desperate need for coffee, he would have given up in the first ten minutes. Once I threatened to go to the coffee shop and get my own, he settled down and watched a video, then made me the coffee I’m currently sipping.

I blow on the steaming liquid, then take a tentative sip. Surprised, I look up. “It’s good. Might even be better than the coffee shop.” I hold the cup out to him, and he takes a drink.

“That is good,” he admits with a sheepish grin. “I did mention I’m impatient, right?”

I blink. “Guess you’re not perfect after all.”

His smile slips. “Far from it. Don’t put me on a pedestal. Believe me, I don’t deserve it.” He looks away as if he doesn’t want me to see his flaws.

“No pedestal. Got it. Although you did make me a perfect cup of coffee,” I tease. “And I wrote down the steps so I can make it too. Mmm. Coffee in my pajamas.”

He tilts his head and studies me with a speculative gleam. “How about dinner? Tonight? You and me.”

I freeze, staring at him like a deer in the headlights. Seconds tick by. I want to. I do. Why does it feel like I’m going to throw up?

Clearing his throat, he smiles. “If you’re not ready, I’ll wait. Why don’t I go grab a shower and see if Macklin got a hold of Maureen.”

“I’ve never been on a date,” I blurt, and immediately want to smack myself in the face. In college I mostly hung out with the group. At his incredulous look, I drop my gaze to the frothy milk topping my coffee.

He reaches out a single finger and lifts my chin. “Is it wrong for me to be so fucking happy to be the first?”

“You don’t mind?” I ask, searching his eyes for the truth. I’m sure he’s been out with a lot of stunning women.

“Mind? To know some asshole hasn’t stared into your stunning green eyes and held your hand over a candlelit dinner? Or stolen kisses in a dark movie theatre? Or watched the stars from a rooftop? Hell no.”

My lips curve. “Then it’s a date.”

He dips his head and places a tender kiss on my cheek. “Pick you up at seven.”

Macklin texts to let me know that Maureen wants to meet, and he’ll pick me up in an hour. I rush into my bedroom and stare at the meager pile of clothes. What do you wear to meet a witch? Not leggings. And I’m kind of sick of my work pants. That leaves me with jeans or a pair of khaki pants. Worried the jeans might be too casual, I grab the khakis along with a blue long-sleeved T-shirt.

I head into the bathroom and grimace. Going to bed with wet hair is always a bad idea. After plugging in my flat iron, I peer into my make-up bag, trying to figure out if I have anything to hide the bruises starting to appear on my forehead. Tinted moisturizer isn’t going to cut it. I dig through the motley pile and pull out an old compact with a scrap of powder in it. This will have to do.