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He swallows hard and nods, clearly fighting emotion.
“I know things are weird, and I don’t know what’s going to happen, but there’s never been anyone else. Never. So, there’s no need to be jealous or to get all worked up over some nerdy professor named Brian, who, although nice, thought that everything I taught was a bunch of woo-woo nonsense.”
“Got it.” He nods and meets my gaze. “Thanks for explaining.”
“You’re welcome. What are you up to today?”
“I have some business to see to, so I’ll be doing paperwork. How about you?”
“Well, I’ve given my cousins enough space and time to give me the silent treatment. I’m going to get them together, apologize, say a bunch of words that will hopefully help because I miss them, and then we can all get on with our lives.”
“Good. You need to do that. For many reasons.”
“I know.” I finish my coffee and set the empty mug in the sink. Suddenly, Xander is behind me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders and hugging me to his rock-hard chest.
“I’m sorry,” he says again. “And, for the record, there’s never been anyone else for me, either.”
“I know.” I brace my hands on his arms but don’t move to turn around and face him. There is nothing in the world like being in Xander’s arms—never has been. “I would have felt it if there had been someone. And so would you. So, there’s nothing to wonder about.”
“I know that, too,” he says softly. “But when I saw the note, instinct kicked in. And I won’t apologize for that.”
“Understood.”
He kisses my head, rests his lips in my hair, and breathes me in.
Goddess, I want him. If he asked me, here and now, to go to the bedroom and spend the day with him, I’d willingly go.
I can’t resist him. I never could.
Maybe that’s why my walls were so damn high for as long as they were when it came to this man. Because as soon as I lower them, even just a little, I’m a complete goner.
“Say hi to Breena and Lucy for me.” He steps back, and I feel the loss of him all the way to my bones. “And would you do me a favor and just let me know when you get there? After the accident, I don’t want to take any chances.”
“No need,” I inform him as I turn around and smile at him. “Breena’s picking me up. They might be mad, but they’re not taking any chances, either.”
“Even better. I’ll be at my house for the day. Jonas is going to join me there so we can do some reading and thinking together.”
“Okay. I’ll be in touch.” Before I walk away, I quickly hug him, pat his back, and then head for the door. “See you.”
I hear him mutter, “Yes, you will.”
“Thanks for the ride.” I buckle my seat belt and then turn to look at my sweet cousin. “I love you. I need to say that first and foremost.”
“You know I love you, too,” she says and reaches over to take my hand as she pulls down my drive, headed toward Lucy’s house. “Loving doesn’t mean we don’t get mad or hurt. Sometimes, I think when you love someone so much, that’s when you get hurt and mad the most.”
“You’re probably right.” With her hand still in mine, I watch Salem pass by. Now that we’re firmly into October, even if it is early October, the townspeople have begun decorating their homes for Halloween, much to the delight of the tourists. “They’ll close most of the streets downtown off to traffic in another week or so.”
“Thursday,” Breena confirms. “Walking traffic only. It’s already almost too busy to drive through most of downtown now. Giles has been walking to work.”
“I don’t love that.” I turn to look at her. “He’s more vulnerable that way.”
“There are so many people around when he’s walking, it’s unlikely it will go for him then.”
I don’t want to scare Breena, so I don’t argue, but I think it has balls and doesn’t give a shit about having an audience.
I’ll ask Xander what he thinks about Giles walking to work and get his take on it later.
Breena parks in front of the Blood Moon Apothecary, and we both hop out of the car and walk around the building to the gardens in the back. Lucy gave us a heads-up that we should meet outside, away from customers and listening ears.
We’ve always loved being outside together.
Lucy has already spread our quilt on the grass, the one we made together as kids, and she’s in the middle of what looks to be harvesting sweet peas.
“I thought sweet peas were a spring flower,” I say as we approach.
Lucy looks up and grins. “They usually are, but I can get some to bloom in the fall when it’s cooler.”
