Something Witchy This Way Comes (28 page)

“She’s my grandbaby, isn’t she? You too. Maybe somehow I can make up for not being there for Zoe.” Her chin quivered. “You must do whatever you have to do. Your survival depends on it. Bree’s too.”

“Yeah.” I nodded, my stomach twisting.

“Do you know about Hayden?” she asked. Grandma, the Detector. Of course she’d know.

“That he’s like us? Yes, but not because I detected it. I saw him do something. You’ve met him?”

Grandma smiled.

“Similar to how you met Bree?”

“If you mean by being sneaky, yes. When I heard about the kidnapping and how he rescued you, I wondered why the tranquillizer didn’t knock him out longer. So I arranged to accidentally meet him.”

“How? You didn’t even know what he looked like?”

She laughed softly. “I asked a friend for a favor, found out Hayden’s class schedule and that sometimes you met with the principal while he went to
PE
. I wormed my way into that class and I gave everyone a ten-minute speech on teamwork. It was very inspiring.” Grandma chuckled. “Then I talked to him about football scholarships for about sixty seconds before he had to take off and meet you.”

“If you figured out he’s a sorcerer, maybe someone else did too.” Not that it was a big deal anymore. They’d find out soon enough. But I liked being prepared. “Do you think anyone else knows?”

“Probably not. From what I gathered, they assumed that his body metabolized the drug at an accelerated rate because he’s strong and physically fit.”

“That works, I suppose.”

She grew serious and held my shoulders firmly. “You can’t tell anyone you saw me. I can’t do what needs to be done if they know about me.”

“Of course, Grandma.”

“I have to go. I’ve already risked too much.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a cell phone. “This is untraceable. If you need me, call. But only if absolutely necessary.” She gave me one last squeeze and rose to leave.

“Grandma, wait.” I clutched her hand and stood. “I’m scared.”

“I know, baby.” She pulled me close, stroking my hair again. “Don’t choose a side.”

“That’s only good for the next month. What then?”

“Hold them off as long as possible. If it becomes life or death, stay as far away from Frank and Lila as you can. In the meantime, never give them the idea that you’d choose any side but theirs. You realize how dangerous they are, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“You haven’t even begun to tap into what you can do. Trust your instinct. Let it guide you.” She glanced around the room. “You must have a piece of paper around here.”

I opened a drawer, snagged a pen while I was there and held them out to her.

She shook her head. “Write down your bank information, so I can wire you money. And I want you to quit your job. It’s silly to have Bree neglected and you struggling when I can help so easily.”

* * * *

Lying on my bed in the dark, I stared up at the almost-black ceiling, unable to think about anything but my grandmother. After seeing her, everything else was a total letdown. Seeing Hayden wouldn’t be though. I wanted to share my grandmother with him. He was the only one I could trust with what I’d learned. And talking about her visit would enable me, in some small way, to relive it. Besides, being with another person at that moment didn’t sound like such a bad idea.

Oh, hell, I just wanted to see him — for
any
reason.

Thankfully, Hayden had texted me with Skyler’s address while I’d been talking with Grandma. I switched on a light, then changed into a mini skirt, a pair of knee-high boots and a low-cut spaghetti strap top. After a slight adjustment to my hair, I headed out.

Chapter Twenty-four

Hayden

The
DJ
played one of my favorite songs, the kind that made me want to move. I liked to think I was one of the few guys that didn’t look like a dork when they danced. The girls never objected, so I probably did okay.

I wondered if Tessa was as good at dancing as everything else she did. But since it was getting late, she probably wouldn’t show. It was for the best. The longer our time apart, the more chance I had to get through the withdrawals. Now, if only I could go more than a few minutes without thinking of her.

“Hayden,” Lisa slithered up against me, drink in hand. “You said you’d dance with me again.”

That had been the plan — dance with Lisa or any other pretty girl and get my mind off the stunning blonde stuck forever in my thoughts.

When I’d first arrived, Lisa had spotted me right away. She had dragged me to the center of the living room and gyrated against me. Tessa should have been ejected from my head, all attention focused on the eager-to-please girl painted all over me. But no such luck. I’d learned the hard way that Tessa was in my head to stay.

“Dude,” Brad nudged me, speaking into my ear and facing away from Lisa. “What’s the problem? She’s begging for it. Go. I’ll hold your drink, so you can get to it.”

I moved my drink out of his reach and laughed it off. “She’s drunk enough, she’d even do
you
. Here, I’ll hold
your
drink.” I snagged it from him and jerked my head toward Lisa who hung one arm around my neck. “Lisa, Bra
d needs to talk to you. It’s important.”

“What’s wrong?” she slurred, then staggered off with him without a glance back. A few steps later, she entwined her arm with his and looked at him adoringly.

I scanned the room for Tessa. By the time I made a full circle, Brad and Lisa were making out in the corner.

The front door opened and Tessa stepped
over the threshold, eyes searching the room. I tensed. Her gaze met mine and she made a beeline for me.

On her left, a guy attempted to intercept, but backed off when he spotted me.

She stopped in front of me and grinned. I loved her smile. “Party looks like it’s in full swing.”

“I didn’t think you’d show.” But she did. My arms had never felt so useless, dangling at my sides.

“Wasn’t planning on it.”

I’d never had a problem talking to girls. I started a conversation
about them
, said something nice without sounding like a pervert and the girl did the rest. This time, being charming didn’t come easy. I was too overcome being so close to her again. “You look great.”

“Thank you.” She smoothed her skirt and gave me a shy smile.

“What made you change your mind?”

“Cabin fever.” She nodded and scanned the room.

My tongue had been paralyzed somehow — along with my brain. When I didn’t say anything else, her eyes wandered the room.

“Let’s dance.” She reached for my hand.

“No. You don’t want to dance with me.” Didn’t she realize that I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off her?

“True.” She nodded thoughtfully. “But no one will ask me while you’re around. So you’re it. C’mon.” She laid her palm on my arm, then led me to the center of the living room. Only two others were dancing and they were wasted. Come to think of it, everyone was wasted. I went along with Tessa, not because it was smart, but because I wanted to be near her.

Tessa seemed oblivious to how she should’ve been dancing to the old disco remake. Instead, she swirled in deliberate and seductive circles, lids half closed as she tilted her head to the side. Although the song was much too quick for her movements, it all worked. And it was unbelievably sexy.

The tempo pounded away at my senses. Keeping my distance, I mimicked her movements. Not a good idea to watch her do things with her body that I wished involved me — things that weren’t going to happen. If only I could see other girls the way I saw her, it would be so much easier. I hoped the dancing bored her soon. I didn’t know how much longer I could hold out.

The music slowed and so did she, which made her moves even hotter. I stepped forward and pressed my hands to her hips. Her eyes opened as if I’d startled her. Not wanting her to bolt, I held her firmly.

She placed one hand on my bicep, the other on my shoulder and boldly watched me, hypnotizing me. I couldn’t read her expression and wondered what she thought. She’d reminded me over and over that my morals weren’t up to her standards, but those thoughts weren’t what I saw in her eyes when I touched her.

What did she smell like tonight? Roses or wild flowers? If I moved a little closer, I might find out. Taking my time, I slid a hand to her lower back, inching her toward me. She didn’t resist, but I figured that was only temporary. In a moment, she’d realize what was happening and disappear.

 I wanted to kiss her. But how much could I push before she either gave in to me or freaked and fled? As I contemplated my next move, her hand slid around my neck.

Her eyes still hadn’t left mine.

My hand on her hip made its way up her side, stopping under her arm with my fingers splayed under her shoulder blade. Hers glided over my shoulder and behind my neck. I pulled her even closer, not breaking eye contact until her forehead brushed my cheek.

Wild flowers.

 Turning my face into her hair, I inhaled again. Tessa reached her arms higher, her face almost touching mine as she lifted her chin. My body simmered like water on the verge of boiling, our lips so close. It would be too easy to kiss her now and I had the feeling she might be into it. Hell, she looked like she wanted a kiss as much as I did. I moved enough to cut the rest of the distance between us, but the song ended and a fast one took its place.

Tessa dropped her arms and so did I, officially killing the moment. If I’d acted faster, we’d be making out now. Exactly what I’d hoped to avoid. Exactly what I burned for.

“I have to go to the ladies’ room.” She dashed off and I shadowed her, waiting outside the door. Four minutes passed and I wondered what was up. Had someone been waiting and dragged her through the bathroom window?

My hand shot out for the doorknob.

Chapter Twenty-five

Tessa

I leaned over the sink trying to gather my wits. When Hayden’s hands were on me, all his crimes were forgotten. I’d almost kissed him.

“Almost done,” I yelled when someone rattled the doorknob.

“Tessa, what’s going on?” Hayden yelled from the other side.

Just as my fingers wrapped around the knob, he blazed through the door, almost knocking me aside. “Everything okay?” He pulled the shower curtain open as if looking for someone.

I nodded, shocked at his urgency. The noise filtering into the hallway must have drowned out my earlier reply.

“You were in here a long time. Thought you’d been kidnapped or something.” His eyes darted to the closed window.

What was it about Hayden? I didn’t go for bad boys. They were bad. Nothing but trouble. I wanted a secure and peaceful future, maybe eventually get married and have kids. That wouldn’t happen with a guy like Hayden. Oh, but he was beyond sexy. I wanted him, bad or not.

“Hey,” he said softly, closing the space between us. He brushed a few strands of hair out of my face, then skimmed a thumb along my temple. Instead of withdrawing, his palm rested at my shoulder as if to support me. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Yep. I’d fallen for the worst guy imaginable. I’d probably never be okay again. Then there was the arrival of my dead grandmother. But now wasn’t the time to go into what happened with my visitor or the fact that I’d used up all my resistance to Hayden.

Maybe he was right and if we gave in, we could work the inferno of desire out of our systems. Maybe next time he kissed me, it would be different and I’d see I wasn’t missing anything after all. Then I could move on. I tilted up my chin and focused on his charcoal eyes.

He shuffled his feet and drew closer. “You want me to take you home?”

“Not yet,” I whispered, still watching him. “My car’s here. Don’t want to leave it.”

He seemed unsure what to do as his eyes searched my face. Then he shifted closer, our bodies nearly touching. Pulling me into his arms, he rested his chin on the top of my head. “We can stay here until you’re ready to go back out there. Or until you want to leave.”

I pressed my cheek against his chest, grateful not to see his face. Surely, I’d kiss him.

“What happened?” he asked.

My grandma news could wait. And the last thing I wanted to tell him was how lonely my house had been without him. Besides, he’d had his chance to kiss me on the dance floor and again a moment ago, but he hadn’t done it. I couldn’t imagine Hayden taking the higher road. More likely, he was no longer attracted to me.

What had I been thinking? I pushed against his chest. “I’m fine now.”

His arms dropped and he backed up.

I couldn’t be alone with him any longer, but didn’t want to leave him yet either. “I’ll stay a while. I just got here.” Tomorrow I’d be rested and would see things more clearly. Slim chance I’d be less attracted to him — but I could hope. No doubt though, soon enough he’d once again become the jackass he was born to be.

“Hey.” He stared at me like he needed to say something.

“Yes?”

He rested his palms lightly at my hips. “Let’s try.”

“Try what?” Staying focused was difficult with his hands on me.

“The boyfriend-girlfriend thing.”

For an instant, I stood there, mouth parted. “What? You mean you want to be my boyfriend, like officially?”

“Yes.”

Breathing became more difficult than it should have been and I already anticipated his lips on mine. Maybe he had a different definition for boyfriend than I did. For all I knew, he meant that he’d dump me tomorrow. “But with no strings attached?”

“Not if you don’t want strings.” His fingertips skimmed along my neck. “But when I said boyfriend-girlfriend, I meant
with
strings. That’s usually the way it’s done, right?”

He’d probably never had a girlfriend before and didn’t understand all the ramifications of what he was suggesting. “If there were strings, then on Monday everyone at school would know you’re off the market. You’re okay with that?”

“Whatever it takes.” Hayden’s eyes smoldered.

“So…” Hayden was inviting me into a real relationship? If I gave in and we made it public, would I be ridiculed by his friends and possibly the rest of the school once it was over?

I couldn’t agree to his offer. It would only end badly. But was I capable of rejecting him at this point? “Whatever terms I want?”

His fingertips brushed my cheek. “We’ll play it however you say.”

“You have to agree to exclusivity,” I said.

Hayden’s brows furrowed.

“Meaning you won’t be with anyone else,” I said.

He looked into my eyes, both hands cupping my face. “Easy. What else?”

A huge part of me needed to say no, to protect myself, but who knew how long I could keep that up? Better to fall into a relationship when I was in control than to slip into it accidentally and lose my advantage. “That’s my only condition — for now.” I grinned.

A smile teased his lips before they met mine, softly as though it were a test. Hayden released me abruptly and bolted for the door. I’d agreed to be his girlfriend and he was leaving? I should’ve known better.

When he reached the doorknob, he turned the button, locking it. He spun, his gaze fixing on me, and headed back. Grabbing my waist, he lifted me onto the sink.

I closed my eyes and let him take over, allowing the sensation and emotion to be the victor until my insides ached for him. My knees rested against Hayden’s hips; my hands at his waist brought him closer, so I could take the kiss deeper.

He leaped away. “Jesus, Tessa.”

“What?”

Hayden backed against the wall, running his hands through his hair.

“What did I do wrong?” Had I screwed up already?

“Maybe you should be a little less… uh… cooperative.”

“You mean
easy
?” I squinted, praying that’s not what he meant.

“No.” In a flash, he positioned himself where he’d left off. “I’m having a hard time holding back. So unless you want to be mauled, try not to be so…”

“Easy?” I suggested again.

He chuckled. “Incredibly persuasive.” He lifted me off the sink and set me on the tile floor. “Let’s get out of here before you’re compromised.”

I followed him out the side door where the noise intruded a little less.

“It might not be such a good idea to sleep in the same house.” Even though I wanted him nearby. The withdrawals would be awful, as I’d already discovered earlier that evening. I pressed the button on my clicker and the lights came on in my car across the street. “I… I don’t work that way, Hayden.”

“What way?” He stepped off the curb with me.

“It’s hard for me to… you know.” I realized how that might sound and quickly pushed on. “I mean, I’m not frigid or anything.”

“You’re anything but frigid,” he said firmly, stopping in front of my car.

Leaning an arm on the driver’s side rearview mirror, I stared at my toes. “If we slept together too soon, I might freak. Of course, that wouldn’t matter if you were done with me anyway—”

“It’s not like that, Tessa.”

Hayden hadn’t thought this through. Otherwise he wouldn’t give up other girls for me. It wasn’t his way.

“It doesn’t seem like that to you right now.” I took a deep breath, knowing I was about to give him a way out. I didn’t want him to take it. Still, he needed to know it was there.

“It isn’t as simple as giving in to each other, then breaking up later,” I said. “Hayden, they’ll figure out what you are and when they do, you’ll have to make a decision. And what if we choose opposite sides? Until then, we’ll have to work together and we can’t let ourselves get so screwed up over each other that we mess up somewhere. One stupid mistake could get either of us killed.”

He tipped my chin up and looked into my eyes. “I realize that.”

 I nodded and sagged against the car door in relief.

“What’s your plan? Any idea yet which side you’ll choose?” he asked.

“First, I want to find out who killed my sister. I also need to find out why there’s more than one witch in my family. Then I have to figure out a way to raise Bree without putting her in danger. Somehow, I need to be the exception and not have to choose sides.”

“Choose Frank and Lila and you’ll be safe. Simple.”

“And if I learned that one of them killed Zoe?”

Hayden’s jaw tightened. “Then don’t poke around.”

“Can’t do that.” I shook my head. “If something’s wrong, I can’t sit on it and do nothing. I’m not made that way.”

He nodded. “As much as I hate that about you right now, it’s the thing I like most about you. I’m in. But I didn’t hear you mention an actual plan. Do you have one?”

“No. All I know is that you can’t distract me, so we need to keep things light. Which means you can’t spend the night.”

Hayden took a deep breath, shoving his hands in his pockets. “I hate to admit it, but you might be right. We need to concentrate on staying alive.”

“So we sleep at our own houses from now on?” I said, not quite believing he’d agree to it. Hoping he’d shoot down my plan.

“Nope. Because I won’t sleep if I’m somewhere else worrying about you. Nothing has changed. You’ve still got sorcerers with questionable intentions watching you.”

“Do you really think they’d hurt me? They have no reason to do anything until I choose sides.” As the words came out, my stomach clenched. Everyone had assumed that Zoe had been killed for choosing wrongly. Maybe there was some other reason we weren’t aware of. If I didn’t have all the facts, I could make the same mistake and die too.

“Is it really worth the chance that someone like Rena might decide to get rid of you?”

“No.” I grasped the handle of my car door.

“I’ll follow you home.”