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Donovan and Violet made dinner together every Saturday night. They were both foodies and loved to experiment in the kitchen. It was a standing date that neither of them had broken since Donovan came back to the island a year ago, with the exception of the nights when she was dead on her feet after helping her parents with their shop all day. And even then, he’d usually make something on his own and bring it by for her to make sure she had something to eat.
“Yep.” Violet’s plump lips smacked together, and she waved one of the waitresses over to order another round, even though she’d barely taken a drink from this one. “I know my gills freaked him out, but it’s not like he’s the one who had to feel them open on the side of his neck.”
“Maybe he was more freaked out by his raging boner,” I said.
“I’m sorry.” Brooke held up a hand. “Did you say gills?”
“There is so much we need to tell you.” I filled her in on everything she’d missed over the last few days. My dinner date with Wes that had gone horribly wrong, Violet’s sudden powers—and her inability to use them because Donovan was being a giant man-baby—and Wes’s theory about the earthquake, including who really released magic on the island.
“So let me get this straight, you’re saying I have magic too?” Brooke stared at her hands in wonder. “What do you think I can do?”
“I don’t know.” A small smile passed between me and Violet. “Why don’t you go touch Cole Latham and find out?”
“No, thank you.” Brooke grimaced. “He’s so mean. Aren’t there any other Capricorns on the island I can make magic with?”
“I’m afraid that’s not how it works,” I said. “It has to be a descendant.”
I had no idea what fate was thinking with that pairing. Even though I understood the basics of physics when it came to opposites and the way positive and negative energy attracted, I just could not see the two of them working together. Brooke was sunshine and light, breezy and creative, and Cole was… not any of those things. He was gruff, impatient, way too serious, and probably starched his asshole to keep it nice and stiff. The only magic I could see the two of them producing would be the knives they’d want to stick in each other’s backs.
“I’m sorry.” Violet patted her hand in sympathy.
“You’ll have to practice with him eventually,” I said. “If you can get him to admit he felt the earthquake in the first place. But maybe it won’t be all bad. He could be a softy underneath that grouchy exterior.” Deep, deep underneath.
Brooke buried her face in her hands. “I’d rather not find out.”
We spent the next hour trashing the Latham men, because they deserved it, while I switched from shots to water. Venting to my friends was a much better balm than whiskey, and I didn’t want to get too tipsy. I still needed to open my shop at nine tomorrow.
Brooke had just finished telling us the process of cross-breeding two flower species, which was apparently more complicated than just locking them in a room with some bees so they could get busy, when Finn approached.
He moved like a panther. All lean muscle and total confidence, with just a hint of something dangerous. The two women at the next table eyed him with interest. He gave them the kind of grin that belonged to someone with a peg leg and a ship flying the Jolly Roger. They practically melted to the floor, and I shook my head. As much as I liked Finn, he’d always been a little too smooth. Not my type at all.
He stopped in front of our table. “Come dance with me, Audrey.”
I narrowed my eyes. Finn was an A-plus flirt, but he was also Wes’s best friend, and I had no doubt he had some kind of agenda. “You’re up to something.”
“Of course I am.” He held out his hand. “Won’t it be fun finding out what, though?”
God, he was ridiculous, but I smiled despite myself. He had that kind of effect on people. Violet nudged me in the back, practically shoving me out of my chair. I did say I wanted to dance with easy men tonight. They didn’t come much easier than Finn. Sighing, I took his hand and let him lead me out to the dance floor, where the upbeat music had trailed off to a slow and soft love song. Finn pulled me against him, swaying to the beat. While he was certainly attractive, he wasn’t Wes, and everything about being in his arms felt wrong.
“You can loosen up,” he said. “I’m not trying to make a pass at you.”
“I know. I still don’t like this.”
“I’ll try not to take that personally.” He smooshed my head against his chest. “Just keep dancing. This will be over soon.”
I leaned back and frowned. “What are you talking about?”
He dipped me low enough for my hair skim the floor before lifting me up again. “See, my good buddy Wes has been in a foul mood these last few days. I’ve been trying to get him out of the house, even though he’s shitty company right now.”
“Uh-huh. And what are you going to do with me? Lead me over to a bucket of blood, Carrie-style, as some kind of payback for his current mood?”
He let out a nervous chuckle. “That’s a little too dark for my taste.”
“What are you planning then? If it’s any kind of humiliation at my expense, I should warn you that you’re probably wasting your time. Not only do I not shame easily, but I will hunt you down and make you regret it until the end of your days.”
“Down, kitty.” He gripped my hand and tapped on the ends of each of my fingers like he was pushing my claws back in. “I have no desire to make an enemy out of you. I already know how brutal your grudges can be.”
My expression soured. “Very funny.”
