I’ve never felt special.
I also want to ask questions about Trace. I have a deep curiosity about everything about him. Why he has no girlfriend. Why he’s so good-looking. Ha. Why he seems so irked at having to train me. But I keep my lips zipped on all subjects Trace.
“Would you like another glass of wine?” I offer, rising.
“Sit down.” Felise waves a hand at me. She points at our glasses and twirls her finger and… they’re full.
I blink. Whoa. Now that’s a handy skill.
We share stories about our lives growing up and drink more wine, and then my sisters—it’s still weird to think that—declare it time to leave. We exchange hugs at my door.
“I’m so glad we found you,” Felise says. She’s always forthcoming about her feelings. She tilts her head. “It’s so weird that I had a feeling I needed to do that DNA test.”
“You really didn’t have a reason?”
“No.” Her gaze drifts over my shoulder. “Just that feeling.”
“We’ll see you Sunday,” Magan says.
“I can’t wait.”
I close the door behind them, lean against it, and stare across my condo. I took the step. Made the leap. I might be leaping off a cliff into complete darkness. I don’t know what I’m getting into. But so far… it’s been pretty good.
Now I just have to deal with Trace.
11
Trace
I can’t say no to Joe. Even though I’d rather take out my own tonsils.
When he asked me to be Romy’s mentor and help her prepare for her WED, we had a short, terse discussion. He told me I need to do some kind of good if I ever want to become a supreme wizard. I told him the last thing I want is to become a supreme wizard. He said, “Trace. It’s in your blood.”
I grind my back molars. Joe seems to think it’s my destiny. Maybe it was, but not anymore.
I know what he’s doing. He’s trying to draw me back into the coven. And magic. Well, it won’t work.
On top of all that, I’m not a teacher. And clearly Romy’s not even sure she wants to be taught. She still thinks we’re all nuts. So I don’t know how this is going to go.
Also, there’s the issue of her only being half witch. This rarely happens, and to be honest I don’t know how this affects her powers.
And… there’s the little matter of my being insanely attracted to her. Like, I can’t stop thinking about her. I can’t stop remembering how she tastes, how she felt in my arms. I can’t stop seeing her smile.
She feels it too. When we were with the family, she kept looking at me. Like I was her lodestone, keeping her grounded. There’s a magnetic connection between us that makes this whole thing really fucking awkward.
Cassie’s shrewd, and I caught her watching me and Romy. Joe, not so much. I mean, he’s smart about a lot of things, but when it comes to sensing people’s feelings, he’s usually oblivious. What would he think if he knew I wanted to fuck his daughter senseless? Somehow I don’t think he’d be impressed.
He trusts me with her, and I have to live up to that. Even though the lessons I most want to teach her are in bed. Or on the floor. Maybe in her shower.
But I can’t say no to Joe, because he fucking saved my life after I destroyed it. So I arrive at Romy’s place at one o’clock Saturday afternoon, ready to do my duty.
When she opens the door, she eyes the stack of old books I’m carrying. “What the…?”
“A little light reading material.” I walk in and set them down on her kitchen counter.
“Yikes.”
I turn to face her. Aw hell, she looks amazing. Those long bangs really emphasize her gorgeous eyes. I guess I should have recognized her eyes, that unique sparkling sapphire shade Joe and both his daughters possess. Romy’s eyes are big and framed with long, dark eyelashes. Her small mouth is pinched, a flush staining her high cheekbones. She’s dressed in ripped jeans and a gray T-shirt that says idk google it.
“Don’t worry, I’ll give you ample time to do your homework.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“Where should we work?” I look around. “Nice condo, by the way.” I study the high ceilings, woodwork, the tile of the fireplace, which is nicely done. The floors are a really nice dark-finished oak. The kitchen appears to be recently renovated, with stainless appliances and dark granite countertops.
“Thanks. I have an office. We can go in there.”