Willow: June (4 page)

She dodged him and rushed into the living room, scanning the page as she went. “Oh, my god.” She looked up to see Cedric braced in the doorway between the kitchen and living room with a grimace on his face. Her heart dropped into her stomach. Nausea making it tumble uncomfortably. “Oh, my god, I’m so stupid.” She closed her eyes so she didn’t have to look at him. “It was all a ploy, wasn’t it? Coming over here and playing nice. Telling me you volunteered to help and distracting me with kisses. You knew about this, didn’t you?”

“It isn’t what you think, Wills.” He stepped toward her.

“Oh, sure it isn’t. It isn’t Cedric the Great lowering himself to flirt with poor pathetic Willow so she’ll approve an event where he’s the door prize for a bunch of horny witches. That must have been a dream come true. Did,” she looked at the paper to see who submitted the idea. Of course, it would be someone who had tormented her growing up. “Did Gemma tell you that was her plan, or did the two of you come up with it together?”

“Come on, babe,” he pleaded.

“No. Stop calling me babe! I’m not one of your floosies that you don’t have to bother learning their name because they’ll be out of your life before they know it.” Her breath came in rapid bursts, and not for the reason it had before. No, she was so damn angry with herself for falling for his bullshit. For allowing a moment of weakness to seep through, and succumbing to the gentle, loving brush of his lips against hers. The paper in her hand burst into flames. She rushed to the fireplace and tossed it in. “You need to leave,” she said, her voice tight. Pointing at the door, it popped open with a little help from her powers.

Cedric stopped in his tracks. “Willow, you need to let me explain.”

“No, I don’t need to do anything, except be grateful you were by yourself this time. Wasn’t my humiliation a couple of weeks ago enough to tide you over? Is your life so dull that I’m your only entertainment?” The heat of embarrassment flushed her cheeks. Her ears felt like they were on fire. And the hot press of tears threatened to spill. She held on though. She wouldn’t let him see her broken heart—again.

What a fool she had been for those few blissful moments. He was using her as a means to an end…as usual.

Cedric frowned and shook his head. “I can see you aren’t going to listen to me, or even believe what I say. This,” he motioned between them, “isn’t done by a long shot. I had nothing to do with that proposal, and I stuffed it in my pocket so you wouldn’t see it. I knew you’d react this way. I want nothing to do with Gemma and
everything
to do with you. There’s something between us, Willow, and I won’t let you ruin it.” He went to the door and stopped, throwing a frustrated, lust-filled gaze her way. “I’m in love with you damn it, and I’ll prove it to you, even if it takes my last dying breath.”

W
illow sipped
her tea and stared out into her back yard. She had just finished telling Celeste, who had dropped by unexpectedly, what happened with Cedric, and waited for her reaction. Celeste knew about everything that happened between her and Cedric. She was one of the few people outside the witch community she could talk to about him without people singing his praises.

Cedric’s visit still didn’t make sense to her. The weird out-of-the blue arrival. His volunteering to help her out.
Fat lot of good he’s been at that
. His outburst, claiming he loved her before storming from her house. What man tells a woman he loves them then storms off like a three-year-old throwing a tantrum?

She had been embarrassed and pissed off thinking he had been trying to take advantage of her, but she wasn’t any longer. She was straight up confused by his behavior now.

That had been five days ago, and she hadn’t heard a word from him since. No texts. No calls. No popping in unannounced. Complete and absolute radio silence, so the speak. She was beginning to wonder if it had been a figment of her overactive imagination.

In the time he’d been gone, she had finished going through the proposals and filled in the calendar for the celebration. A tentative schedule for each day had been started, and the arrangements for the final bonfire were falling into place.

“His last dying breath?” Celeste asked, sipping her tea. She rubbed her hand absently over her lower stomach.

Willow was dying to ask if her friend were pregnant, but figured she would offer up her own gossip first. “That’s what he said. It’s absolutely
not
how I imagined a man telling me he loved me for the first time would be. I haven’t heard from him since.”

“That’s so weird.”

“I know. I don’t even know what to do about it. I’m not mad now that I have some distance from the situation. He seemed genuinely upset about the proposal, and I know he hasn’t had anything to do with Gemma in a long time. I would have heard about it from that cow’s mouth if they were together.”

“Gemma is that girl from high school, right? The bitchy one that used to make fun of you because of your frizzy hair and crooked teeth?”

“Yep.”

“That bitch,” Celeste said under her breath. “I hate girls like that. Queen Sheba’s who think they’re entitled to everything just because they got breasts before the rest of the female population in school.”

Willow tilted her head and looked at her friend. “You had one of those too?”

“Patience, and she was a royal pain in my ass, sticking her boobs in everyone’s faces.”

They laughed, and Willow felt some of her tension ease. She finished her tea and set the mug down.

“Maybe he dropped dead when he got home,” Celeste offered, apparently thinking about the Cedric thing still.

Wouldn’t that make things easier?
Probably not
. Willow snorted. “That would certainly explain his absence.”

The both chuckled and fell into silence. Celeste sighed, and Willow figured it was as good a time as any to see what was up with her friend. “Are you ready to tell me why you stopped by unannounced? Not that I have a problem with it,” she hurried to say. “I’m always up for a visit from you.”

Celeste blushed. “Am I that obvious?”

“Just a little. You have a new man in your life, and you’re sitting with me drinking tea, which I know isn’t your favorite. I figured you two would still be shacked up having lots of hot faerie sex. I’m going to guess it has something to do with you rubbing your belly.”

Celeste looked down, her hand stopped moving. When she looked back up, she had a goofy grin on her face. “I’m pregnant.”

“I figured as much.” She leaned over and hugged her. “I’m so happy for you.” And she was, along with a wee bit of jealousy.

“Thank you.” Celeste beamed, and a couple sparks of faerie magic popped into the air. She chuckled softly as they danced around. “It’s the hormones. I don’t remember my mom having this problem. Though it could be because Owen is an elf and my dad is a human.”

“It’s cute.”

“Yeah. Owen thought so too. At least until they turned red, and I flipped out on him for some dumb reason that I can’t even remember.”

“I’m sure he learned his lesson.”

Celeste giggled. “Oh yeah.”

Edward took that moment to hop up on the table and bat at the soft flickering lights floating in the air. He caught one on his paw and ate it. His fur shimmered, and a delighted purr rumbled from his throat. He pounced after the others, batting one into Willow’s face.

She brushed it away with a flick of her hand. “Silly cat,” Willow said. She turned her attention back to Celeste, who was smiling at Edward, her affection for the furball easy to see. “How did Owen take it? You two haven’t been together very long.”

“Oh, he’s thrilled. I got the impression he was trying to knock me up. The condoms would magically disappear.”

“Seriously?”

Celeste nodded, a silly smile on her face.

“Now what? Are you two getting married?” For the second time that day, Willow had to push her jealousy aside. The way things were going for her, she wouldn’t be getting married. She had been wearing the blessed moonstone for almost a week, and the only man to show up was Cedric. She doubted he would be interested in a long-term relationship that resulted in white picket fences and babies.

“In time. We still have to tell my parents about the pregnancy. As it is, Mom is pushing for us to get married…sooner rather than later. Owen told his parents right after we found out this morning. But they want us to hold off for a little bit, like until
after
the baby is born. They want us to get to know each other a little better.”

“Wow, that’s—awkward. I’d say you two know each other pretty well. It sounds to me like you’re made for each other.”

“Yeah, I think we are. He wants to get married now, but I told him I want to wait until after the Summer Solstice at least. I’d like my friend to be able to come.” Celeste reached out and squeezed Willow’s hand.

“Thanks.”

“And hey, maybe by then you’ll have your own hunky man to bring with you.” A teasing light shone from Celeste’s eyes.

Willow snorted. “Unless he dropped dead, which given the circumstance, might not be a bad thing.”

“Oh? Why do you say that?”

“Life with Cedric would have been…challenging. I have a hard time believing he’s serious as it is. He’s tormented me for so long that I can’t help but think this is another way for him to annoy me.”

“Oh, come on, Willow, you like a challenge. How else do you explain teaching flighty faeries how to harness their magic? Besides, maybe Cedric flirts with you like a five-year-old on the playground. He pulls your pigtails and waits to see what happens.”

“Well, the last time he pulled my pigtails, we
were
five and I punched him in the face. His tactics have changed but I don’t think they’ve improved.”

They both laughed, and any further talk was interrupted by a knock at the front door.

“I wonder who that is?” Willow mused, pushing away from the table.

Celeste followed behind her. “Could be Owen, but I told him I would meet him at home before we went to my parents for dinner. We’re going to tell them tonight.”

“Oh, to be a fly on that wall.”

“Right? I expect screaming of two varieties: overjoyed and raging denial.”

“Let me guess. Your mom and Avery, in that order.”

“Yep.”

Willow shook her head. Celeste’s youngest sister would be a trial on anyone’s nerves. Pampered and with a feeling of entitlement, the girl insisted Owen was her man regardless of what he said. “Your sister needs boot camp for wayward Mystics.”

“I might suggest it.”

“What about your dad? What do you think he’ll do?”

Celeste pursed her lips. “Pass out. It should be our most exciting Sunday dinner yet.”

A hard knock came from the door again.

“He’s insistent,” Celeste commented.

“Must be your man then. The people who come to see me knock, wait for a second, then knock again even louder.” Willow opened the door, fully expecting to see Owen, but instead had all the breath knocked from her. Cedric stood on her front porch in a drool-worthy tight shirt that clung to his broad shoulders, and a pair of black slacks that hugged his thighs nicely. Shiny black dress shoes adorned his feet, completing the panty-melting look.

Willow stood unmoving. Her mouth opened and closed, and not a single thought flitted around in her head. He looked, and was, stunning.

Celeste cleared her throat and stepped up beside her. “Hi. I’m Celeste. Willow’s friend.”

Cedric grinned politely and held out his hand. “Cedric Stone.”

“Oh, I know who you are.”

A grin lit Cedric’s face and Willow blushed, her cheeks heating painfully. She wanted to slap her hands on them to hide the affect he had on her but figured it would add fuel to his fire.

Celeste snapped her fingers in front of Willow’s face. Willow turned her head, her brows furrowed.

“I guess he didn’t drop dead,” Celeste said, a bit of mischief in her voice. She hugged her and left. “Call me with details,” she hollered as she walked out to her SUV parked at the curb.

C
edric soaked
in the sight of a stunned Willow. She was as gorgeous as ever, but definitely not dressed for dinner out. The worn jeans and loose T-shirt were cute and looked comfortable as hell, but weren’t the right attire for where they were going.

Without waiting for an invitation, he stepped into the house. He grabbed her by the hand and shut the door behind him. “Bedroom,” he grunted and pulled her along with him. He stepped toward the stairs, but she yanked him back

“No,” she said, tugging her hand to no avail.

“Don’t bother. I’m not letting go. You and I are going out to eat, and we don’t have a lot of time to get there. Reservations are at five.”

“I don’t remember agreeing to go out with you.”

“I didn’t ask.” He had a feeling she would have said no if he had. That was why he went with the element of surprise.

Her dark eyes narrowed and lips tightened. “What the hell is going on, Cedric?”

He turned so they were face-to-face. “You refused to listen to me on Tuesday.”

“And? It isn’t the first time I’ve tried to tune you out. Probably won’t be the last either.”

“Woman, you try my patience.”

“Ha! I won’t even tell you what you do to mine.”

Cedric closed his eyes for a moment. This wasn’t going how he’d planned. He wanted to come over and ask her out to dinner. She would say yes, she would be delighted to go. They would head to his favorite place where he could impress her a little. He could apologize for his actions on Tuesday, and say he should have just tossed it on the discard pile. In hindsight, stuffing it in his pocket made him look guilty. She would tell him she overreacted, and they could kiss and make up.

He
really
wanted to make up.

But before he had a chance to asker her, her friend made that remark about him not being dead. No idea what that was about, but it meant she talked about him. Showed he was on her mind. It eased the knot that had been in his chest since he left earlier in the week and his plan fell to the wayside.

He opened his eyes and took a calming breath. “Willow, would you do me the honor and go to dinner with me? I made reservations at new restaurant for us at five o’clock. I’d love the chance to sit down over an excellent meal and talk. Nothing more. Nothing less. I want to clear the air, as well as talk about the progress for the Summer Solstice. I made a promise to help, and I aim to keep my word.”

Willow turned her head slightly, her eyes narrowed as she studied him. He could see her turn what he said over in her mind. Preying on her commitment to the coven and the upcoming event was a little underhanded, but he needed leverage to get her to say yes. He let go of her hand, figuring dragging her kicking and screaming wasn’t the best way to approach with her.

She bit her lower lip and looked him up and down. He willed his body not to react to her perusal, but it was damn hard.
Hard. Fuck!
Hard made him think of his dick, which was in a constant state of arousal since he’d left. It stirred in his pants the longer she stared at him, and he was sure she could see the effect she had on him.

She nodded her head slowly. “Okay, but only because we need to talk about work. I’m going to assume by the way you’re dressed I need to change.”

He let out a relieved breath. “Yes.”

“A nice outfit?”

“Yes.”

“I’m not sure I have one,” she warned.

Hope sprang in his chest. She was giving his invitation serious thought. “Let me help you choose. You know, so you don’t feel over or under dressed.”

“Okay,” she said, caution lacing her voice. “But only because I don’t know where we’re going. Unless, of course, you’d like to tell me.”

“And miss helping you out? No.”

“Figures. You know High Priestess Nevaeh chastised me when I gave her my update, and she discovered we haven’t been working together. I don’t know how you managed to get her wrapped around your finger, but I shouldn’t have been surprised.”