Suddenly Sorceress (21 page)

My awareness extended to those encircling me as well. Their thoughts, their fears, their hopes rested like distinct flavors along my tongue, merging into a cohesive whole, intoxicating me.

I even felt Karma’s disjointed but human thoughts, as if he had placed them directly into my brain. He seemed to be obsessed with my mother rubbing his belly.

And Matt’s unmistakable voice. I didn’t know how I’d been unable to hear it before. The image of his face that had been lurking on the edge of the shadows for days appeared as a glistening picture in my mind, as if he were standing before me as a man rather than a dog.

The entire room belonged to me, pulled into my center, yet nothing had moved even a millimeter.

It was time.

After drawing in a slow, deep breath, I let the words roll out.

“
There, there, my fiancé fair;

This banishment was yours to bear.

From skunk to rat to snake to dog;

You’ve traveled through a magic fog.

From waning moon the spell was cast,

Your punishment for deeds of past.

Now as the darkened moon is nigh,

Above us in an autumn sky.

I lift your curse and set you free

To be as you were meant to be.
”

A long moment passed—a cosmic pause. Then a gust of wind ruffled my hair, and a quick change in light—as if a huge candle had blown out then relit—startled me.

In the blink of an eye, the Great Dane vanished and in its place stood Matt. His dark hair, missing his signature highlights, had gained a streak of white at his temple. He looked a little disheveled, a little confused, and a whole lot naked.

“What the hell… Ivie!”

Twenty-Eight

“I
thought you were wiping his
memory?” Jack whispered.

I grabbed the paper where I’d scribbled the spell and groaned, pointing to the last line.
These past three days in sacred haste/Henceforth have all since been erased.
“I forgot to say that part.”

“So he remembers everything?”

“I, um, I’m not sure.”

“Oh, I remember enough,” Matt said. “My kitchen, Ivie? Really? That counter is Carrera marble. Do you know how porous that is? How expensive?”

Jack smirked. “Yeah, he remembers.”

Mom shook a finger at Matt. “I suggest you behave yourself, Matthew Green. I won’t hesitate to have my daughter change you right back into a woodland creature if you keep up with this nonsense.”

Matt flinched, cupping his hands over his… manly bits.

“It’s okay, Mom. I deserve it. I had no right to turn him into an animal. Even if he did
behave like a dog, I shouldn’t have turned him into one.” I turned to Matt. “But I didn’t deserve the way you treated me, and I’m not someone you want to mess with anymore.”

“Can someone toss a blanket over Dr. Doolittle?” Chloe shielded her eyes with her hand. “I could have gone the rest of my life without seeing his… Scooby Snacks.”

“No one said you had to look,” Matt snapped.

Chloe waved her free hand in his direction. “It’s not like I could have missed it. If you were anyone else, I might be impressed.”

“It isn’t
that
impressive,” Jon mumbled in a sour tone.

Jack handed Matt a sheet, and he wrapped it around his waist.

A crash echoed up from the floor below. I spun toward the closed bedroom door, the others mirroring my stance.

“What the hell was that?” Jack asked, pushing me behind him.

Footsteps thundered up the stairs just before the door swung open with a bang. At least a hundred—okay, maybe six—uniformed S.W.A.T. officers pushed into the room, guns pointed directly at us.

“Ivie McKie,” one of the men bellowed and I recoiled, my hand going up in response to my name. “You’re under arrest for the disappearance of Dr. Matthew Green. You have the right to rem—”

“Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa…” Jack interrupted, blanching as the policeman yanked me out of Jack’s grip and whirled me around to handcuff me. “Dr. Green is standing right here, safe and sound.”

My mouth fell open as my brain struggled to come up with words. “I-he-it was never missing.” My wrists screamed in protest as the cold steel slapped around them.

Not at all like I’d imagined it.

“Officers, please, I think there’s been a terrible misunderstanding. Matt’s standing right here. Tell them, Matthew.” Mom crossed her arms and gave Matt the evil eye.

The S.W.A.T. team continued to detain my little coven, but the lead officer—a tall man who appeared to be in his late forties—paused to look in Matt’s direction.

Matt tugged the sheet tighter around himself, shrinking somewhat under my mother’s stare. “Uh, that’s right. I’m Dr. Green. Is, uh, there a problem, officer?”

“Your fiancée reported you missing.” He glanced at me. “Your
other
fiancée. She filed a missing person report a few days ago, adamant that you’d been the victim of foul play. We found your car abandoned in the woods, your house appeared to have been ransacked, and you neither showed up to work nor could be reached for comment. When Miss McKie changed her appearance and fled the state, we had to assume the worst.”

“Yes, well, I’ve been… unavailable, I’ll admit. I wasn’t feeling like myself. I took a short trip.”

“To Vegas, baby,” Jon interjected with a wide smile, slapping Matt’s back. “He came to see my show.”

Another officer—a dead ringer for Robocop—stepped up to Matt. “Do you have any identification?”

Matt glanced down at his sheet. “Do I look like I’m carrying identification?”

“That’s definitely him, Stanley.” The third officer, a short, stocky guy with a really big gun, holstered his weapon. “A little worse for the wear, if his pictures are any indication. Looks like we may have walked in on something interesting, but I’m not convinced it’s anything criminal.” He snickered.

Someone snorted and a gale of laughter went around the room.

Jack’s eyes flashed with fury. “I’m glad you find this so amusing, but someone needs to uncuff my—Miss McKie.”

“Um, I can speak for myself.” I nudged the man holding my wrists, giving my hands a little jiggle. “Could you… maybe…?”

“Let her go,” the leader said, shaking his head. “Sir, you really should have checked in days ago. It would have cleared up a lot of this confusion before it got out of hand.”

As soon as my wrists were free, I rubbed the red marks the cuffs had left.

“I, um, I’m sorry for your trouble, officers,” Matt said.

“You should probably check in with your”—he glanced at me again—“fiancée before she calls the National Guard. And for God’s sake, can someone please tell me why the crazy lady next door has called nonstop for days, convinced that Miss McKie is a witch who’d turned you into an animal?”

A burst of laughter bubbled past my lips, but I said nothing.

Jon gave the universal sign for
tossin’ back the brews
then shrugged. “I’m just sayin’.”

“I’ll be sure to talk to her,” Matt said with a deep scowl directed toward me. “She’s probably off her meds again.” Then he nodded toward the bedroom door and escorted the officers out.

I glanced around the room. What a disaster. But it wasn’t my problem anymore. Aside from Karma, nothing I’d brought to Matt’s house would leave with me. Time to leave that badly written chapter of my life behind. I glanced at Jack.

Far behind.

“Chloe.” I rested my hand on my best friend’s shoulder and leaned in to whisper in her ear. “I’m gonna sneak out. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

Her eyes locked with mine. “You okay?”

“I will be.” I forced a smile at Jon as he wrapped an arm around Chloe’s shoulder. “I guess I’ll see you on TV.”

Jon flashed his cheesy smile. “If you ever get back to Vegas, don’t forget to sneak into my show dressed like a hooker.”

“You’ve got it.” I laughed. “Take care, you guys.” I turned to grab my mom and Karma and get the hell out of Dodge.

“Ivie…” Jack said my name as if it pained him. “This may be the last chance I have, so I need you to listen to me. Please. I put my life on hold for you for the past several days, I think—hope—I’ve earned a few minutes of your time.”

I caught Chloe’s face out of the corner of my eye. Her eyes opened wide, her head inclined in Jack’s direction, and she mouthed,
Say yes
.

I glanced at Jon then my mother, both of whom nodded. I had no idea what to do. Anxious energy—not to mention a healthy dose of Post Magical Syndrome—pulsed through me, making my instincts unreliable. Taking advantage of my momentary indecision, Mom, Chloe, and Jon left the room and closed the door, leaving me alone with Jack.

I pulled off the scratchy wig and tossed it aside. “If you want me to listen to anything you say, you need to take that off.” I pointed to his head.

“Right.” Jack removed his Shaggy hair and twisted it in his hands. “You seem to be under the wrong impression about our relationship.”

“It’s fine, Jack, I get it.” I held my ground, pulling myself to my full height.

“No, I don’t think you do.” He dropped the wig and took my hands. “I just wanted to tell you that over the past several days, I’ve come to care about you very deeply.”

I cleared my throat, prepared to interrupt, but a determined expression settled over his features. I backed down like a coward, putting a little distance between us. What harm could listening do? So what if I’d already said everything I had to say? We were over. So why did my entire being scream at me to change my mind?

He flashed me a shaky smile. “We found ourselves in this completely insane situation, and even before I dragged you out to the woods to have my way with you…” He choked out a laugh. “I felt something in here.” Jack pressed my palm against his chest. “I didn’t understand it, I didn’t know what it was, but I knew I had to do anything I could to hold on to you. It was crazy because it was the second time in a week I’d felt that way about someone.”

I wrenched my hands from his. “So your brother was right? There is someone else?”

“Please, let me finish.” He frowned, and I nodded. “Jon
was
right, but it’s not what you think. The day before I met you, I saw this gorgeous brunette and found myself completely captivated. I was on a routine visit for work, minding my own business, and there she was.”

My lips parted, but Jack held up his hand to stop me.

“Unfortunately for me, there was a little accident, and in the commotion, I lost her. I tried to reach out to her but never heard back.”

My eyes brimmed over with tears, and I turned my back on him to wipe them away. “I don’t understand why you’re telling me this. If you were interested in this other woman, why would you start something with me?”

“You really don’t get it, do you?” Jack wrapped his arms around me, pulled my back against his chest, and nuzzled my hair. “When I heard Chloe talking about how you were flirting with a veterinarian on your field trip, it took me all of thirty seconds to realize what you meant to me.”

“You’re not making any sense at all. Are you saying you were jealous of the hot vet?”

“No, Ivie, I was never jealous of the vet. I was jealous of the goat.” Jack leaned in to whisper against my ear. “Do you have any idea how badly I wished it was me that day, wrapping my limbs around you in the mud, and not the goat?”

With a gasp, I spun around in his arms. “Jack?”

“I thought I’d lost you. I thought I’d never see you again, and somehow magic brought you right to my doorstep.” His fingers curled under my chin, and he tipped my face up to his. “Do you think it was a coincidence? Do you think these things just happen? That a mild-mannered veterinarian and a shy kindergarten teacher would have a magical moment across a field only to meet again as a cocky magician and a feisty witch?”

“That was you?” My voice cracked. I thought back to that day at the farm, to the mysterious man hidden behind a hat and dark glasses. Was that really Jack? “Have you known all along?”

He shook his head. “Not until the plane, when I overheard Chloe talking about the goat.”

“But…”

“But nothing. I love you,” he blurted. “I’m not exactly sure how or when it happened, but somewhere between that muddy pasture and the bright lights of Las Vegas, I fell in love. I needed to tell you that before you walked out the door and I never saw you again.”

I felt the color drain from my face. Every drop of blood in my body had rushed to my heart, setting it off at a pace like furiously beating wings trying to fly out of my chest. “I love you too, Jack. I do. I don’t know when or how, but I love you so much.”

Jack’s mouth crashed against mine. Our noses smashed and our teeth clacked as we struggled to inhale each other.

Our kissing slowed until it was just light pecks.

“I’m going to make love to you until the sun comes up,” he said.

“I’d like that.” I smiled against his lips. “But maybe not here.”

He took my hands and kissed each one reverently before lacing our fingers together. He led me into the hallway.

The whispers stopped when we stepped out of the room, and Jack shared a smile with my mother and his brother.

“Finally!” Jon said. “I thought you’d never work things out. Hey, no offense, I’ve had a blast, but I’m ready to get the hell out of this place and head back to the sunshine.”

Chloe studied the stains in the beige carpet. I wanted to say something but was at a loss for words. I couldn’t imagine how she would deal with Jon leaving, as close as they’d gotten over such a short time. I couldn’t imagine Jack walking away from me.

Jon tipped Chloe’s chin up to look into her eyes. “You coming?”

Her mouth gaped open. “What?”

“There’s this little chapel just off the Strip—best damn Elvis impersonators ordained by God and the State of Nevada. You get the choice between skinny Elvis or fat Elvis, though Chubby owes me a favor. I thought maybe we could, you know, get hitched before my next show?” His cheeks pinked.

“Really?” Chloe’s eyes widened, and I was sure she would burst out of her skin. “Yes. Yes. Yes.” Her arms wrapped around Jon’s neck, and he spun her around, dropping her in front of me.

I let out an ear-piercing squeal. “Oh. My. God!”
And the crazy keeps on coming.
Who was I kidding?
I was the mayor of Crazytown.

Chloe grabbed my sweater, pulled me into a tight hug, and whispered, “A magical purse would make the perfect wedding gift.”

Jon draped his arm over her shoulder. “Well, now that that’s settled, I guess it’s time we got out of here, wouldn’t you say, brother?” When Jack nodded, Jon clapped his back a few times. “Wild couple of days, huh?”

Jack laughed. “Definitely wild.”

“Ivie!”
Matt’s voice barked up the stairs.

I tore myself away from the excitement and tiptoed to the landing. I met Matt’s steely gaze and saw the now-tattered sheet wrapped around him. “Yes?”

“Would you please get your miserable, flea-bitten, sheet-destroying cat out of my house and take the rest of your ragged band of miscreants with you? If I never set eyes on any of you again, it’ll be too soon.”

I cringed. “Sure. No problem. Come here, Karma.” I scooped the cat into my arms. “Jack?”

“Yes?” Jack poked his head out with a bright smile. Jon, Chloe, and my mom were right behind him.

“Can we get out of here?”

“You got it, sweetheart.”

“Here, let me take the cat,” Mom said, reaching for Karma. “You and your magician deserve some time alone, don’t you think?”

Jack winked at me. “I think that’s a fabulous idea.”

“Is everyone riding with me?” Mom asked as we hit the sidewalk.

“Nah, I already called a cab.” Jon laid a loud, smacking kiss on Chloe’s lips. “Jet’s fueled and waiting at the airport.”

“Have a safe trip, and take care of my girl,” I said.

He smiled. “You know it.”

“I’ll call you,” Chloe shouted as Jon scooped her up, tossed her over his shoulder, and made a run for the cab pulling up to the curb.

“Love you!” I called, waving as they slammed the doors and sped away.

“Well, it’s just us,” Mom said, crossing to the driver’s side of her car.

“Hey, I can finally drive my car!” I remembered, nodding toward the powder-blue Volkswagen Beetle in the open garage.

“You’ll need these,” Matt yelled, tossing me my keys from the doorway.

For the first time since he’d broken up with me, I flashed Matt a genuine smile. “Thanks.” I grabbed Jack’s hand. “Oh, hey, I almost forgot.” I tugged the antique engagement ring from my right hand and held it out to Matt. “This is yours. I’m sure Candy will be delighted to have it.”

He nodded and took the ring. “Well, I guess that’s that.”

“Yep. It’s been”—I was going to say nice but changed my mind—“interesting.”

Matt hung his head. “Take care of yourself.”

“You too.”

Mom pulled me in for a quick hug. “Well, I’ll talk to you later. I’m proud of you, dear.”