Witch Weigh (A Paranormal Romantic Comedy) (10 page)

“Don’t be so serious, Liam,” Tessa said. “I have an idea. We’ll go to Europe together.” She laughed as if she’d just put the last piece of her happiness puzzle into place. “What do you think?”

“I don’t want to talk about Europe. You’re beautiful and I want you. Here. Now.”

“Oh, no,” she held up her hand and took a step backward, as if she could read his mind. “Don’t even think about it until we get where we’re going.” Her smile was playful, teasing, happy. “You do want to go away with me, don’t you?”

Now was the time to say no. To stop her from making plans for the two of them. To tell her the truth. He took a deep breath. “Where and when is all I need to know.” Damn, that wasn’t what he meant to say.

In answer she winked, and then turned and whistled for Jinx. She jumped back when the dog came bounding up to them. “Oh, you little beast. You’re filthy.” He was more than half brown with caked sand. She leaned down and attached Jinx’s leash to his collar. “That settles it, we need to go somewhere with snow, not sand.”

Liam took her free hand in his and they started back. “Maybe we should talk about this Europe thing.” He didn’t want to ruin his chance with her, but he had to do the right thing.

“No, you were right. We can talk about it later. Right now we have plans to make. I’m thinking of a snowy mountain cabin, someplace secluded. A fireplace with a rug in front of it, and the wine cellar should be well stocked.” She glanced up at him. “Oh, well, beer too I suppose.”

“Sounds great.” He gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

“And hot chocolate with little marshmallows,” Tessa said. “You don’t think it sounds too mortal, do you?”

“Don’t you worry about that,” Liam dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “It sounds magical.”

And it would be, he had no doubt. Their time together would be playful, passionate, perfect even. Right up until the moment Tessa learned the truth and it all blew up in his face.

Chapter Thirteen

Tessa crammed what few clothes still fit into her duffel bag. She’d arrived with nothing but the clothes on her back and a chip on her shoulder. She was leaving with a hell of a lot more, or less, depending on how you looked at it. All that mattered was that she was happy, actually happy, and there wasn’t a thing that could go wrong now.

She looked around the small room to see if she’d forgotten anything. Confident that she hadn’t, she went in search of Marcus. She couldn’t leave without ensuring that things had worked out for him just the way she wanted them to.

“You look happy about something,” she said when she finally tracked him down in the weight room.

In answer, Marcus dropped his hand weights, picked her up and twirled her around. “Tessa, baby, am I happy to see you.”

Tessa wasn’t able to keep a grin off of her face so she gave up trying. “What’s got you looking so thrilled?” she demanded as soon as he set her down.

His eyes sparkled. Marcus looked altogether different from the despondent, self-loathing young man she’d first encountered several weeks ago.

“Come on.” He dragged her out of the weight room. “You gotta hear what happened to me.”

They went through the basketball court and out the side patio doors. Marcus pulled a chair out for her and then scooted one over for himself. He sat facing her.

“Spill, Marcus, you look like you’re about to burst,” Tessa prompted him.

“Man, you’re not going to believe me.”

“Try me.”

He grinned. “A sports agent who wanted to offer me a deal showed up here today.”

“What kind of deal?” Tessa felt a warm glow of happiness surround her heart. Was this what Christmas felt like? If so, she could finally understand what all the fuss was about.

Marcus shook his head as if he was having trouble believing his good fortune. “Some brilliant mind on the White Sox management team decided that they needed to find an out of shape, overweight baseball player so they could start a media campaign on the dangers of obesity, you know, like a youth education and prevention program. One that focuses on the dangers of weight gain and type two diabetes.”

“And you’re the overweight, out of shape baseball player?”

“Not for long.” Marcus leaned back in his chair, his hands behind his head. “You’re looking at the new star of an as yet un-titled reality show that will follow me from here to my new digs in Chicago. They got me a couple of kickass personal trainers, a sweet set up with a gym and I’ll be hanging out with the Sox team. Beat that.”

Tessa laughed. “I can’t. That’s a dream deal.”

“Don’t you know it.” He shook his head. “The White Sox? Yeah, pure magic isn’t it?” He leaned forward. “I mean, it’s a blinding deal for me but even better is the whole idea that I’ll be some sort of role model for kids. It’s massively cool, ya know?”

“Oh, Marcus, I am so happy for you.” And she was, right down to the bottom of her newly joyous heart. “They couldn’t have picked a better person for their campaign.” She patted his leg and laughed. “And to think I knew you when.” When he was so miserable he didn’t want to live, when he was filled with self-loathing, when he lied to himself that he didn’t matter, but it was now behind him. His transformation was complete.

And so was hers. Whether Aunt Trudy would agree, Tessa didn’t know. But she felt different. She was different. For the first time in her life she’d realized that giving to others didn’t take anything from herself, quite the opposite. Her newfound knowledge freed her like nothing else could, not even the return of her magical powers.

“Don’t look so serious, Tessa girl.” Marcus stood and pulled her to her feet. “Come visit me when you’re out of here. Hey, don’t wait. Fly out to Chicago with me now. I could use a friend in my camp.”

A friend. Tears pricked the back of Tessa’s eyes. She was someone’s friend, and it felt really, really good.

“I can’t,” she told him. “Not right away. I’m going away with--” she bit her lip to stop the words “my fairy godfather” from tripping off her tongue.

His eyes grew wide. “You and Coach Kennedy are taking off? Get out!” He clapped his hands. “I knew somethin’ was sizzling between the two of you.”

“How did you know?”

He laughed. “I recognize chemistry when I see it. Now, are you coming to visit me after you’ve had your fun?”

“I’ll come to Chicago as soon as I can,” Tessa told him. “I’ll definitely come before I head to Europe.”

“What’s this about Europe?” Claudia, with Bethany in tow, joined them on the patio. They were wearing swimsuit cover-ups and both had towels draped over their arms. “If it’s a shopping trip you’re planning, count me in.”

Marcus spoke first. “Tessa’s off on a romantic adventure.” He nudged her. “Go on, tell ‘em.”

Tessa hesitated, unsure just how to share her plans with them. Being with Liam was what she wanted more than anything else in the world, and planning to go away with him while they were down on the beach had seemed a perfect choice. But a small part of her, okay a huge part of her, didn’t want to alienate Claudia and Bethany with the news.

Connection, there was another C word that had always baffled her. Aunt Trudy and the coven had preached courtesy and compassion but it was the sense of connection to other people, to friends, that Tessa wanted to cling to. It was new and it felt wonderful. She didn’t want to lose it.

“Where are you going, Tessa?” Bethany asked.

“Who’s the lucky stud is the real question,” Claudia chimed in. “Tell us before we torture it out of you.”

“I’m the lucky man.” Liam appeared behind the two women, draping an arm over Claudia and Bethany’s shoulders. “The beautiful Contessa has agreed to run away with me.”

“Ooohhh…you lucky girl,” Claudia crooned. Bethany giggled.

Tessa anxiously studied their expressions but neither woman looked upset. In fact, they looked downright happy for her. She cast a sideways glance at Marcus. He looked on top of the world. She felt right there next to him.

She’d been so wrong to discount the gift of friendship. All of the wasted time she’d spent alone and angry hit her hard. She’d been so very, very foolish.

She looked at Liam. The tenderness in his expression was unmistakable; it was as if his love and acceptance for her unlocked the last chain she’d wrapped around her heart.

Suddenly they were alone.

Tessa blinked in surprise. “Where did they go?”

Liam reached out for her and pulled her into his arms. “I want to be alone with you.”

“So you just made them disappear?”

“You’ll see them again. Don’t pretend you haven’t done worse.” He lifted her chin and kissed her. “We both know you can be ever so naughty.”

“Would you like a personal demonstration?” Tessa reached up and threaded her fingers together behind his neck. She leaned into him. She never wanted him to let her go. “Because it can be arranged.”

The tip-tap of high heels on the patio interrupted the moment. Tessa rested her head on Liam’s chest. They seriously needed to get out of Dodge if they were going to have a moment alone. And she didn’t want just one uninterrupted moment with Liam. She wanted days, and nights, strung together with passion, laughter and plenty of solitude.

“I see your heart to heart conversation went along according to plan.”

It was Fiona. Of course. The sound of her Jimmy Choo shoes and her rotten sense of timing should have been Tessa’s first clues. Tessa looked up at Liam. “Can’t you make her disappear? Banish her into a flurry of gold sparkles or something? Please?”

Fiona ignored her. “Liam, there are details we have to go over before you leave.”

“Later, Fiona.” Liam’s voice sounded unusually terse.

Surprised, Tessa drew back to look at him. “What’s going on? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” He let go of her, his attention now solely focused on his assistant.

“You haven’t told her?” Fiona raised her eyebrows.

The air crackled with unspoken tension. Tessa looked between the two. What the hell was going on? What plan was Fiona talking about?

“Told me what?” she asked Liam.

“It’s nothing,” he said again.

“And nothing has you this upset?” She tugged on his arm but he wouldn’t look at her. His eyes were locked on Fiona’s. An uneasy sensation stirred within Tessa but she pushed it aside. Fiona must be jealous. That would explain her confrontational behavior.

“Don’t do this, Fiona,” Liam said.

“Someone has to tell her, Boss.” Fiona shook her head. “If you don’t, I will.”

Tessa couldn’t keep quiet any longer. “Liam and I are together, Fiona. I’m sorry if that upsets you but you’re going to have to get used to it.” She slipped her arm around Liam’s waist and leaned into him. “We’re taking a few days away and I’m asking you to respect our privacy.”

Fiona shook her head. She looked from Tessa to Liam. “You’re setting her up and it’s not fair.”

“Liam, what is she talking about?”

He looked down at her, reaching over to tuck a stray wisp of hair behind her ear. “I need to talk to you about something, Tessa.”

She pulled back. A cold feeling washed over her, dousing out the warmth that had settled in around her heart.

Liam reached out for her but she stepped back and out of his reach.

“Just tell me,” Tessa demanded.

“It’s about the job in Europe.” He took a deep, steadying breath. “The United Paranormal Council offered me a position.” His eyes held a pleading look, as if he was seeking her forgiveness.

“What position?” Tessa forced herself to ask. It was a struggle to breathe, a thousand pound weight felt as if it had settled on her chest. She didn’t take her eyes off of Liam. “What did they offer you?”

“Tessa, let me explain--”

“Just tell me, Liam. Tell me what she’s talking about,” she demanded, her voice shaking.

Liam shot an angry look at Fiona.

Was this about her job? That couldn’t be right. She had to have it all wrong. “They offered you my job, didn’t they?”

He nodded.

Tessa wanted nothing more than to use her magic to put a million miles between herself and Liam Kennedy but she stood her ground. She didn’t want to know, but she had to. “And what did you tell them?”

“Don’t do this, Tessa. Let’s calm down and talk this out.” Liam’s voice was low, soothing. He reached for her but she stepped back. “You know I would never--”

Betrayal and anger brewed within her. “You accepted their offer, didn’t you?”

Liam nodded. “I did.”

Chapter Fourteen

Tessa glanced in her rear view mirror.  A white mustang ripped up the road behind her. She swung her Mercedes onto the side of the road and watched as the sports car flew past her, throwing a cloud of dust against her windshield.

Where in the world was the driver going in such a hurry? Not that she cared. About anything. She directed her car back on the road and set off again. She was on her way to her Aunt Trudy’s house for an Upper Hallows Council meeting but she wasn’t in a particular hurry. She’d spent a week in Chicago with Marcus, curled up alone on the sofa in his new apartment, eating quart after quart of Ben & Jerry’s gourmet ice cream while he worked out at the gym. The sensation of the cold ice cream in her mouth was about the only thing she’d felt all week.

Her shock at Liam’s admission had been followed by a rage such as she’d never experienced. But that had been tame compared to the despair she’d felt once the truth of his betrayal had settled in. Despair led her straight to a pit of sadness that she’d pitched head first into, and that, mixed with enough ice cream to induce a near carb coma, left her numb.

She’d felt guilty for being a dark cloud hovering over her friend’s new life. Despite his protests, she’d called her aunt and asked if she could come home. Aunt Trudy agreed immediately but they hadn’t spoken about anything else. Tessa knew that this was only a temporary reprieve. Now it was time to pay the piper, a coven full of them no less, to explain how she’d blown the opportunity of a lifetime.