To Wrangle A Witch (Southern Sanctuary Book 3) (8 page)

Chapter
Ten

The
next two days passed without incident.

Locke
holed up in his office, working online non-stop with his team based worldwide
to finalise the merger contract details.  Considering there was eighty
million dollars changing hands nothing could be left to chance, as he, and the
opposition attorneys reviewed the proposed final document, every word, every
apostrophe, had to be checked and double checked.
 
Goddess, the binding requirements for the document
alone had required a three hour discussion.  Locke’s patience was
definitely beginning to wear thin.

Perhaps
the only thing more maddening was the amount of rigid self-control it took for
him to stay away from the glass wall of his office, the one that over looked
the courtyard.  Too often he found himself restlessly pacing the room
distracted, his hand seemingly of its own accord reaching out to part the
curtains.  In an attempt to control the habit he allowed himself to check
on Serena every two hours, just to confirm her health and well-being of
course. 

So
instead of wandering to the window every five minutes he now found his
attention fixated on the passing minutes counted off by the clock.  And if
it wasn’t bad enough that his wanton wiccan houseguest ruined his concentration
during daylight hours, he spent his nights tossing and turning.
 
Plagued by disturbing dreams of her covered
in nothing but flower petals, a saucy smile on her face as she danced for him…
but always just out of reach.

Serena
for her part seemed to understand that his work had reached a critical point
and from the glimpses he had caught from afar was focusing all her energies on
restoring her magic back to optimal levels.  This seemed to require her to
spend every waking moment in the courtyard garden. 

Even
the change in weather the morning after Nell came to dinner failed to faze
her.  Instead she happily skipped through the increasingly muddy garden as
the rain fell, intermittent showers the first day and a steady relentless drum
the next. 

The
sight of her soaked to the skin, t-shirt clinging wetly, her hair plastered
down and that Goddess darn sexy smile that lingered on her lips as she all too
often raised her face to the sky and sipped at the raindrops as if they were
the equivalent of French champagne sent from the heavens was slowly,
irrevocably, driving him insane. 

When
Hadleigh rang on the third morning he pounced on the phone in record time,
barking a hello.

“Problem?” 
His sister’s voice sounded faint over the never ending rain pounding on the
roof, would it ever cease? 

“Everything’s
fine.  Works a little hectic though, why are you calling?  Did
something happen?”

“Maybe.”

“Cryptic
much Kitten?  What’s going on?”

“We
had a breach… or so Marcus tells us.  They came in through the air vents.”

“I’m
extrapolating from your lack of details that you didn’t kill them.”

“No.” 
Hadleigh’s voice was tight with tension and frustration.  “We’re not even
sure what they were after.  They didn’t come near the trap.”

“You
think they were after something else?”

“Unless
it was a scouting party.  We’re still looking into it.  How’s the
witch doing?”

“Serena?” 
He strode over to the window, yanking back the curtains.  Into the third
day of rain the courtyard was a drenched muddy mess, the foliage dipping and
swaying frantically under the continuous heavy downfall.  She should have
been out there frolicking through the soggy jungle nightmare but she was
nowhere in sight. 

A
man’s home is his castle… truer words had never been spoken, so he tuned into
his gut and went with what it was telling him.
 
“She’s fine.” 

“Okay,
keep her that way.
 
I’ll call if there
are any updates.”

Locke
disconnected the call.  Hmmm, the empty courtyard bothered him for some
reason. Time to find out what was up with his witch.

He
found her in the living room, scrunched up in a ball on the couch facing the
TV, the remote clutched tightly in her hand.  Every ten seconds she
muttered a soft dissatisfied hiss and stabbed at a button.  Her hair was
back in haphazard bun, more down than up, her face pale, eyes dull and she was
wearing honest to Goddess pink flannel pyjamas decorated with lollipops. 
She was a mess.  And still… still, Goddess help him, he thought she was
the most delectable woman he’d ever seen.  For a brief futile second he
considered retreating back to his office, barring the door, and curling up in a
ball of his own. 

Serena
glanced up as Locke came to stand in front of her. “You’re blocking the
TV.”  She groused.

“From
what I can tell you’re not exactly watching anything.  Is this your
exercise for today… channel surfing?”

“Hah,
funny.”  She leaned slightly to the left, trying to watch around
him.  How dare he interrupt her blue funk.  She was perfectly happy
minding her own business, stewing in her own depression.  Then he had to
come along looking all esquire front cover gorgeous and smelling like chocolate
two weeks into a sugar free diet.

“You
want to tell me what’s bothering you?”

“Nope.” 
She leaned even further to the left, angling the remote around him.

He
dared to huff an amused laugh.  Serena swore that she would ignore
him.  If she didn’t react or respond he’d get bored and go away. 
That was easier said than done.  In the next five minutes Locke bustled
around her like a mother hen.  He covered her with a gorgeous silk
raspberry pink throw, even pausing to tuck the comforter under her bare
feet.  Then he placed a steaming mug of tea on the side table next to her,
the smell of orange and cinnamon rising from it to tease her nostrils. 
Next he planted himself on the sofa next to her, snatching the remote from her
hands.

“Hey!”

He
ignored her feeble protests, proceeding to press a rapid number of
buttons.  Seconds later a movie began to play. 

“I’m
not in the mood to watch a movie.”

Locke
ignored her, his own eyes fixed on the screen.  “Give it a minute.”

“Go.
Away.”  She hissed out the words sulkily between gritted teeth.

“My
house… my TV, my rules.”  Locke never took his eyes off the screen. 

Issuing
a frustrated sigh Serena followed his gaze, her eyes opening wide in
surprise.  “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers?”

Locke
shrugged, his eyes never leaving the screen.  “Singing. 
Dancing.  The barn raising fight.  Better than medicine.”

“I’m
really not in the mood…”

“Ssshhhh.” 
Locke hushed her out the side of his mouth.  “You’re ruining it.”

So
just like that Serena found herself snuggled up next to Locke on the couch
watching an old musical as the rain outside continued to sheet down.

“That
was sneaky.”  Serena eyed Locke ruefully two hours later as the credits
began to roll.

“And
yet from the colour in your cheeks and the sparkle in your eye I’m pretty sure
it was exactly what you needed.”  Locke muted the TV, turning slightly on
the sofa to face her.

“Smug
much?”  She accused.

He
grinned at her, making her tummy flip. 

“It’s
my burden to be right all the time.  So you want to tell me what had you
kicking the doldrum bucket this morning?”

Serena
sighed, reaching up to adjust her hair. Urgh she must look a nightmare. 
Would it be too obvious to race off to her bedroom brush her hair and change
into something more flattering than her lollipop pyjamas?  Probably.

“Have
you looked outside today?”  She gestured towards the courtyard.

“So?” 

Serena
rolled her eyes, men could be so dense. “Slow moving low pressure, high
humidity, incessant rainfall, soaked earth.”

“Are
you saying you’re being affected by the weather?  But it rained yesterday
and the day before.”

Serena
shrugged.  “Some rain is good… a lot of rain, not so much.  The earth
can only drink in a certain volume then you have run off.  Local flora and
fauna begin to be adversely affected.”

“And
you feel all that?”

“Sort
of.”   Serena shrugged.  “Normally I’d go for a run, increase my
adrenalin levels to fight off the blues so to speak.  But I haven’t
exercised in six months, I’d be lucky if I made it half a block.  So I
decided to curl up and wait for it to stop raining.”

“But
you feel better now?”

“Sure.” 
The word sounded weak even to her own ears.

“Right.” 
Locke got up.  “Time to instigate phase two of my evil plan to bring
sunshine into your cloudy day.   Tomato or pumpkin soup?”

“What?”

“You
heard me, tomato or pumpkin?”

“But
it’s hot outside.”

“And
you’re wearing flannel pyjamas. It’s definitely a day for indulging.”

“Pumpkin.” 
She requested finally.

“Good.” 
I’ll be back in a bit.  How do you feel about Gene Kelly?  I’m
thinking nothing could be more apropos than Singing in the Rain for an
afternoon matinee.”

Serena
watched him disappear in the direction of the kitchen.  Stupid know it all
idiot.  How dare he act all concerned and sweet when she needed him to be
all corporate lawyer cool and standoffish, much easier to keep her hands to herself
that way.  If he kept this up she’d be throwing herself at him in no time,
chewing the buttons off his waistcoat with her teeth.  Mother Earth give
her strength.

Chapter
Eleven 

The
afternoon spent together had been fun.
 
They’d watched two more musicals before Locke was interrupted by the
persistent ringing of his cell phone.  Whilst he’d disappeared back to his
office Serena had seized the opportunity to run to her room for a shower and to
change into something more appropriate than flannel sleepwear.  Surveying
the contents of the bag she’d had Nate pack for her she decided on an old
favourite, a dark purple summer dress with bright red flowers ringing the
hem. 

She’d
foregone the urge to do anything else other than run a brush through her hair,
leaving it unbound and adding nothing more than a slick of lip gloss.
 What would be the point except for vanity’s sake?  She’d
inadvertently eavesdropped on Locke and Nell’s goodbye conversation the other
night.  Nell admitting to him that she couldn’t sleep alone.  Locke
assuring her oh so sweetly that it would all be over soon. 

Yeah,
as soon as he could off load his unwanted house guest he and Nell could resume
their perfect lives.  And Nell was so nice and obviously the perfect
companion for Locke.  Okay so she hadn’t sensed any full blown knee
melting heat between the two but there was definitely a comfortable familiarity
that spoke of friendship and affection.  

Earth,
Serena knew if she’d met Nell under any other circumstances they’d end up being
good friends.  And didn’t that make her feel a hundred times
guiltier.  She’d danced skyclad in front of him for Star’s sake. 
Thrice!  Teased him.  Flirted with him.  Earth, and what about
all the inappropriate naughty thoughts she’d indulged in, all starring Locke
Valhalla.  Well they had to end now. 

She
would not be a home wrecker.  She would not hurt the lovely Nell. 
She would not indulge in a selfish hot brief affair with Locke Valhalla to
scratch an itch for an entirely inappropriate tightly buttoned up lawyer
man.  She swore by the Earth and the Moon that she’d behave… or at the
very least work more diligently on fighting the attraction she felt for a man
who could never be anything more than an indulgent white hot fling.

*
                                    
*
                                            
*

It
was like a replay of their first and only dinner together.  Locke manned
the kitchen, sans jacket, his shirt sleeves rolled up whilst Serena sat across
the kitchen bench, drinking wine and staying out of his way.  She enjoyed
watching Locke move about so confidently in his kitchen, absently answering her
questions about his work as he chopped, mixed and sautéed a wonderfully
smelling meal for them. 

By
the time they were seated at the dining room table her mouth was practically
watering as he placed a bowl of spicy peanut chicken and vegetables in front of
her.

“Rain’s
backing off.”  He noted, taking the seat across from her. 

“Hmmm,
this is fantastic Locke.  Where did you learn to cook?”

“One
of my uncles is Thai.”

“He
taught you?”

Locke
nodded confirmation. “His sons and all the male cousins.  Said learning to
cook was right up there with learning to fight, an essential skill.  
And it’s true, more deals are brokered over meals than they are on the
battlefield.”

“Are
all your cousins as good as you?”

Locke
laughed, reaching for his wine.  “Too many of them had… fire control
issues back then.  It became a running joke that everything tastes better
barbequed.”

“You
sound close to your family.  But no one ever comes by?”

“I
learnt to set boundaries a long time ago.  We grew up practically in one
another’s pockets thanks to proximity.  We went to school together, played
sport, surfed, hung out, all the normal things kids do.  With the added
bonus of going through the teenage trials and tribulations of discovering what
our powers were and learning to control them.”

“It
must have been nice not to have to go through that alone.”

“Sounds
like you weren’t as lucky?”

“Only
child.”  Serena acknowledged.  “I learnt very young that I was
different from the other kids, that it was important that I keep my distance.”

“Sounds
lonely.”

Serena
shrugged.  “I had my Mum and my Grandmother lived right next door.
 
They spent a lot of time with me, taught me
everything they know.”

“What
about your Dad?”

“He
was away a lot, with the army.  I take after him when it comes to the
itchy feet department.  He’s retired now. What about your parents, do they
live locally?”

“Yes.”

“You
don’t get along?”

“Not
at all, love them dearly, but they’re parents, you know?  My Father is
kind of… set in his ways whilst my Mum has a tendency to smother… with the best
of intentions of course.  Except lately she’s gone a little nuts on
wanting grandkids.  She thinks my brothers and I should step up to the
plate.”

“You
have brothers?  I thought it was just you and Hadleigh.”

“I’m
the eldest, then comes Erik, he’s a sculpture, then Fen, he’s a fireman and
you’ve met the baby of the family.”

“She’s
one very tall baby.”

“Tell
me about it.  It’s very strange when you’re twenty-one to have your
fourteen year old little sister match and then surpass you in height.”

“Why
did you go into corporate law?”

“As
opposed to?”

“Putting
bad guys in prison I suppose, being a criminal lawyer?”

“When
I first started studying law I was pretty idealistic.  I thought I’d tear
up the justice system, punish the guilty, save the innocent.  The problem
for me became the truth in the law.  I might know when someone is lying
but I couldn’t compel them to tell the truth, that would be tampering with a
witness.  And what about those cases where the truth is irrefutable but
the judge must omit the damning evidence thanks to some legal technicality?”

“That
would have driven you mad.  To know… and not be able to do anything to
change the outcome because you’re hampered by the same rules that grant you
your powers in the first place.”

“Exactly.” 
He reached over refilling both their glasses.

“Okay,
but then why not environmental law?”

“Because
it’s a field already bloated with do-gooder lawyer types battling the nameless
faceless corporate bad guys.”

Serena
smiled, then laughed huskily.  “You’re undercover working for those
nameless, faceless corporations aren’t you?”

“I
specialise in finding small to medium technical, medical and agricultural
companies with products that have the potential to change the world.  All
the majority of them need is an influx of cash, that’s where I step in.”

“But
how do you know the corporate giant won’t squander the acquisition?  Or
change the focus so that only a few will benefit from the end product rather
than the masses?”

“Numbers…
it all comes down to projected profits.  A corporate giant will sign
anything, commit to anything if they think there’s a buck in it.  A year…
ten years down the track, if they try to back out or change tacks… kabam,
lawsuit city.  And you should see the penalty fines I build into these
contracts.  No one does the math, they’re too busy patting themselves on
the back thinking I’ve gone lenient on them in other areas.”

“And
the trap springs shut.”  Serena raised her glass in acknowledgment. 
“I would offer to help clean up...”

“I’ve
got it.”  Locke was up out of his chair before she could finish
speaking.  With swift economical movements he had the dirty dishes stowed,
the place settings cleared and the kitchen counters gleaming.

“That’s
almost magic in itself.”  Serena couldn’t help but comment slightly
bemused at his efficiency.  Standing up, she walked over to lean against
the kitchen bench.

“No
good can come of mess.’  Locke straightened his tie absently.  “Night
cap?”

Serena
looked over her shoulder.  The glass wall was pushed back and the humid
night air drifted over her like a balm.  The sound of dripping water could
still be heard but the rain had stopped.

“I...” 
She looked back at Locke.

“Go.” 
He waved a hand.

“But…”

Locke
huffed an amused laughed.  “Just go.” 

He
watched as she raced outside, bare feet mud splattered after only two
steps.  His intention was to pour himself a brandy and head back to his
office and get some more work done.  Instead he found himself standing at
the open glass doors of the living room, brandy in hand, watching Serena dance
through the mud.  The garden dark and glossy around her, clinging
raindrops glittering like fallen stars. 

She
kept her dress on, but after only a few minutes of brushing up against wet
foliage it was clinging to her like a second skin.  His gut tightened at
the sight.  What would it be like to call her over, take her in his arms,
run his fingers through that glorious mane of hair, and peel that dress off
her? 

Clenching
his jaw he pushed those thoughts away.  Serena was his guest, she was
alone, vulnerable emotionally and still recovering her strength after months in
hell.  He’d have to be a complete asshole to take advantage of her right
now. 

Besides
she’d be leaving soon, complicating the situation with sex would just be
insane. And it wasn’t like she knew the score like his usual hook ups; the
glossy professional women that he dated and bedded, who enjoyed his company,
the five star restaurants, and the expensive parting gift he gave them when
their brief fling came to its inevitable conclusion, before either party could
become too attached.  

On
the other hand Serena was quite literally a rolling stone.  Magician’s
assistant on the high seas one moment, reality TV - barely there shorts wearing
- starlet the next.  Restless by nature, subjected to the whims and pull
of the tides and the winds.
 
So a brief,
hot - and it would be, he knew it down to his very bones - fling with him would
be just the type of thing she might very well be up for. 

Goddess
Valhalla, check your libido for pity sake man.  Remember… guest in his
home, witch, woman who likes to roll around in dirt, all things that should be carefully
considered before making any rash moves.  Of course trying to be rational
and analytical was asking a bit much as he stood there visually feasting on the
sight of Serena dancing under the moonlight.  His cock was all for tossing
good sense and noble intentions out the door, his internal truth detector
though was dinging a loud insistent alarm bell. 

Instinctively
he knew that if he took that step, wrangled with a wanton wicked witch then
Serena’s impact on his life wouldn’t just stop at the jungle now residing in
his formerly spartan courtyard.  And Goddess damn it, above all else he
loathed and hated change.  That’s why schedules and timetables were
invented.  That’s why he lived his life by them.  That’s why he dated
women who worshipped them as well.  Just watching Serena twirl, dip and
sway like a frenzied garden sprite amongst the ferns he could tell she’d never
take a schedule seriously or rigorously commit to a timetable.  Of course
even acknowledging all that his body still craved the white gold haired nymph.

Perhaps
he was overthinking, over analysing the situation, he had a tendency to do
that.  Perhaps he should just simply kiss the girl.  Of course every
particle of his being whole heartedly approved of that plan.  Which
instantly made him wary… just what kind of magic did an Earth Witch
wield? 

With
their tendency to run around skyclad perhaps luring in men was part of the
deal.  Like black widow spiders.  Okay now he was just being
fanciful, Serena with her wide blue-purple eyes, husky laugh and teasing smile
was not a black widow spider.  But still, this attraction he felt for her,
it wasn’t natural, was it? For Goddess sake he wasn’t even that upset about his
courtyard, of course her dancing naked in it had helped lessen the blow. 
See!  That was what he was talking about, she had to be using magic on
him… but if that were the case, why wasn’t his internal lie detector twitching?

*
                                    
*
                                 
*

Serena
flung her head back, her arms wide as if to embrace the night sky, watching the
grey rain clouds rapidly disperse.   Moonlight flooded through where
it could, gaining a bigger foothold as the clouds melted away on the night
breeze. 

Her
legs and feet itched where mud and grass began to dry against her skin, but it
was a good kind of itch.  The earth beneath her was sluggish but happy as
it sucked in the last of the available moisture.  Moving through some
ferns she let her fingertips trail across the tips of their delicate fronds,
brushing aside a salvia bush, its dark purple flowers gifting her bare legs
with a series of small wet kisses, making her laugh.  The night rhythms of
the garden soothed her soul, eliminating all remnants of her earlier
funk.