Something Witchy This Way Comes (7 page)

“I’ll pick you up and we can drive over together. You’d be safer,” he said as though my objections meant little.

I didn’t have to wait long to see his thoughts. A flash of us making out assaulted me. Not just kissing — he was lifting me up on a table, my legs wrapped around his hips. My stomach came alive with giant agitated butterflies.

It wasn’t as if I was all revved up to get married or anything. But the idea of finding a nice guy
now
who would want that
someday
didn’t sound horrible. Hayden was not that guy, nor did he want to be that guy. No matter how well he behaved or how hot he was, I could never ever let myself give into the temptation. No matter how powerful his pull on me.

He’d drawn me in when he kept his promise and watched over me. He wasn’t all bad — but bad enough that maintaining my distance was crucial. “Safer with
you
?” I asked. “Are you kidding?”

Hayden lifted one shoulder. “I thought since we’re studying together, things might be easier on you if everyone thinks I’m interested in more than a hit and ditch.”

“You mean easier for
you
.” Because he’d get to act out his fantasies. If I hadn’t seen the inner workings of his mind, I might’ve bought that he was only thinking of me. Of course, just because he
wanted
to do things didn’t mean he’d do them. Maybe he’d behave like a saint at the party and my hesitation would’ve been for nothing. But satisfying that question would probably land me in trouble.

“I don’t think hanging out is a good idea. I have plans anyway.” Plans to stay the hell away from him.

He shrugged. “Think about it. I’ll let her know you might be coming.”

Chapter Seven

Hayden

From my car, I watched Tessa drive safely through the school gate and onto the street. A moment later, a silver sedan left the curb and followed. Some days a red Porsche tailed her, other days a black Hummer. I always wondered who sat behind the tinted glass. Good guys or bad?

Something wasn’t right about that whole thing but I couldn’t put my finger on it. Mr. Linton came on the scene and suddenly Tessa was mysteriously in danger. Coincidence? And I doubted Agent Phillips was really FBI. I had a feeling that when Tessa left the school grounds, she was as safe as a turkey before Thanksgiving.

I didn’t know where the attack would come from — possibly the agent… or our principal? Or was there someone else I needed to watch for? At least between tutoring, the Halloween party and teaching her how to fight on weekends, I’d have plenty of opportunity to observe anyone suspicious.

My car would easily keep up with a sedan. I jumped in and took off after it. My yellow Viper wasn’t exactly low profile, so I kept a safe distance without losing them.

With little else to occupy it, my mind wandered to Tessa.

Christina would be pissed that I invited an outsider to her party. But if I hung out with Tessa, at least a little bit, she’d gain social acceptance which translated into the guys not harassing me as much over talking to her now and then. Their joking and ribbing had grown old.

Mostly, it annoyed me that they had so little respect for her… or girls in general. Not that I’d been a saint, but at least with me, the girls always knew where they stood. I didn’t talk about them to the guys and they wouldn’t wait by the phone for me to call. I always made it my policy to lay that out for them ahead of time.

That kind of honesty would get me nowhere with Tessa — and I wanted to get
everywhere
with her. Even so, I refused to resort to deception to get what I wanted from a girl.

Just because I wanted her didn’t mean that acting on it was a good idea. My spontaneous invitation to the party had been a stupid thing to do and I hoped she’d think better of taking me up on it.

On the other hand, if she made the wrong choice, I’d have an opportunity to get her out of my system. I didn’t think it would take much — a taste would be enough.

* * * *

Thursday morning, I arrived at school earlier than usual, hoping to get a glimpse of the drivers that shadowed Tessa. But I had as much luck as the night before. None at all.

I leaned my foot against the bumper of my car and waited for Tessa. She parked close by and exited the Scion. Her golden hair was pinned up. Thin wisps escaped whatever she used to secure it and fell around her face. She wore a white sundress that revealed more skin than I was used to seeing on her and the skirt swished around her thighs as she walked.

“Hey.” She smiled in a way that told me she suspected I might have scales under my clothes instead of skin. Good. I had nothing to offer a girl like her who would want the old-fashioned everything.

“Hi.” I stared into her green eyes, searching for something more to say.

“What’s up?”

“Nothing.” I shoved my hands in my pockets. “Just thought I should be here when you arrive.”

“Oh.” She averted her gaze.  “You usually avoid talking to me in public.”

I scanned the parking lot. “There’s hardly anyone here yet.”

She narrowed her eyes. “But if you don’t have anything to say, why bother?”

“Just making sure you’re safe and that we’re still meeting in the library after school.” I knew we were since we hadn’t agreed otherwise, but I wanted to keep talking to her.

“Yeah, sure. Why would that change?”

Right… time to switch the subject. “Meeting with Agent Phillips later?”

“No. Not today.” Her gaze wandered past me. “I need to go to my locker.”

I felt myself being pulled to her like gravity. This had to stop. “Go ahead. I’ll catch up.”

She smiled, relief evident by the renewed spark in her eyes. I squashed the welling disappointment and determined, yet again, to keep my distance. Damn. I needed a good hard make-out session with her, so I could get on with my regularly scheduled life.

Chapter Eight

Tessa

“Hayden asked me if I was going with you to Christina’s party tomorrow.” Nadia’s tray banged as she laid it on the lunch table. “What the hell’s that all about?”

“He asked me too.” Corinne used her index finger to push her eyeglasses further up the bridge of her nose. “Why didn’t you tell us he invited you?”

I groaned and popped a French fry in my mouth, hoping neither of them would be interested in going to the party.

“Why do you think he’s telling us about this party? Is it mentor-a-riff-raff week?” Nadia wore her eye makeup so dark today, the rest of her face all but disappeared. Combined with her black hair, she looked every inch the goth she’d aimed for. “Or are they playing some cruel joke on us?”

“I don’t know. Maybe Hayden’s trying to be nice. You know, pay me back for tutoring him.” I froze, wishing those words hadn’t slipped out. If I made the party seem safe and enticing, they’d try to drag me there. I didn’t want anything to do with that kind of party.

“We should all go.” Nadia grinned, a mischievous glint in her eye. “That’ll teach him to invite you anywhere — unless he means it.”

When one of those two got a plan in their head for something new to do, it was hard to dissuade them. Since the three of us were a team and went everywhere together, they’d nag me until I gave in. Nadia would have better sense. I hoped.

“Oh, I think he means it. And by the way he watches you, Tessa, I suspect his reasons are less than noble.” Corinne giggled.

 “All the more reason to avoid him.” I snuck a peek at Hayden and found him watching me.

 “You should seize the moment. He’s so yummy.” Nadia fanned herself with her hand. “If I went as Goth Girl, I wouldn’t need a costume.”

“It’s a costume party?” Corinne practically bounced in her seat as she swiveled to face Nadia. “I think I’ll go as a slutty angel. With your black hair, you’d make a great devil’s helper.”

Nadia pointed a black painted fingernail at me. “I’ve got the perfect thing for you.”

If they were thinking about costumes, they wanted to go. I slumped on the lunch bench and covered my face with my hands. “You guys, no.” Why hadn’t my boss at Delia’s Deli put me on the schedule for Friday instead of Saturday? It would’ve been the perfect excuse to get out of the party.

“We’ll be at your house at eight sharp.” Nadia looked pleased with herself. “We’ll arrive dressed then get you ready, since you’re practically a hostile witness.”

“You sure nothing’s going on with you and Hayden?” Corinne’s eyes narrowed.

“Nothing. I swear. He’s too full of himself.” I raised my right hand as if a bible were present then remembered the first day Hayden and I worked together. “Oh, wait. Once, he suggested we make out instead of study.”

“And you said
no
?” Corinne dropped her jaw.

Clearly, my friends would be no help. I said a quick goodbye when the warning bell rang then bolted for my locker.

As I reached for my combination lock two students flew past me. One slammed against the locker next to mine. My body jolted into the flight side of fight-or-flight mode but my breathing steadied when I saw it was Hayden and not a stranger.

 “What do you want with her?” Hayden growled, readjusting Bryce by the collar so his feet dangled higher off the ground.

“Wh-what?” the captive replied.

“You were tearing down the hallway straight for her. What were you going to do?” Hayden pressed Bryce firmly into the hard metal wall.

I pushed at Hayden’s arm, trying to unlock his steely grasp. “Hayden. He wasn’t going to hurt me. It’s Bryce. You had to have seen him sitting at our table. C’mon.”

Hayden glanced at me, then slowly eased his grip on Bryce. “Sorry. He was moving toward you pretty fast. I went on automatic and didn’t take the time to identify him. I didn’t realize…”

The guy could move when he needed to, that was for sure. At that moment, I had one word to describe Hayden — intense.

He lowered Bryce to the floor, then turned him in a new direction. Away.

Bryce scurried off. He looked a little shaken but I was pretty sure he’d be fine. I stared at Hayden in disbelief. And awe. Though I felt badly for Bryce, Hayden’s display of testosterone — on my behalf — made him sexier than ever.

Chapter Nine

Hayden

Tessa gaped at me like I was a monster. “How could you think Bryce would hurt me?”

Girls generally didn’t want to cozy up with scary guys, so there went any hope of getting her to warm up to me any time soon. Again, I told myself it was for the best. “I didn’t
think
anything. It was reflex. I only knew that if I didn’t act quickly, anything could happen.”

“Well, thanks for looking out for me.” Tessa glanced away, gnawing her lower lip nervously. Then she moved closer and whispered, “Everyone’s staring.”

A scan of the corridor revealed a gawking crowd. Students. Teachers. Even the janitor.

“We’d better get to class.” At that, she walked away. I followed, maintaining my distance, so I didn’t spook her again.

* * * *

After last class, she darted into the hallway before I had a chance to gather my books. By the time I caught up, Brad had cornered her. “What are you doing Saturday night?” he asked.

“Why?” She stepped back, baffled.

“Yeah, why do you want to know?” I moved next to Tessa and eyed Brad.

“Thinking she and I could go out.” He grinned and that pissed me off a little. I stared back and his smile faltered.

“Actually, I have to work that night. But apparently, my presence is required at Christina’s party tomorrow.” She glared at me. “I guess I’ll see you both there.”

Tessa planned to go. My immense relief at that news alarmed me. If I were smart, I’d skip the party and not put myself at her mercy. But I knew I’d go. She’d become an obsession and the more time I had with her, the more I wanted.

“We should get started. I’m scheduled for work tonight and, as it is, we have to quit early so I can get there on time.” Tessa spun around and headed toward the library.

“Sure.” I scowled at Brad, then caught up with Tessa. “Where do you work?”

“Delia’s Deli. But it’s not only deli stuff. They have other things too, like cappuccinos, espressos. I mostly do those. Flavio makes the food. Not sure why I’m babbling,” she muttered.

“Yeah, I’ve been to Delia’s. It’s the only thing open around here after ten. Great sandwiches,” I said. “You haven’t been working there long or you would’ve seen us come in.” There, I’d paved the way so when I showed up with my friends — that was inevitable — I could ogle her without her taking it personally and I wouldn’t look creepy.