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“
It's
beautiful, Jack, thank you.”

He kissed her
hand before looking up at her. “May I have this dance?”

“
Yes, of
course,” she whispered, ignoring the fact that she hated
dancing.

He shook off
the suit jacket, revealing a thin white shirt that highlighted his
toned, lean body. Cora audibly swallowed as Jack held her hand and
pulled her into a slow dance, holding her close to him. She let him
lead as they swayed around the flowing pink curtains, their lips
touching softly as they moved. He rested his brow against hers as
they continued to glide effortlessly around the
curtains.

“
I love you,”
he murmured, his lips brushing her ear.

Her heart
literally burst out of her chest. Cora breathed deeply, meeting his
eyes and appreciating the moment. “I love you too.”

He kissed her
again. She felt his hand at the base of her back pull her closer
still. She melted into him letting the music and the moment engulf
her.

15

PROPOSITIONS

Cora woke up
with a huge grin on her face. She sighed, realising for the first
time that she didn’t feel guilty about the little bit of happiness
she felt. Her mother would be happy for her and Jack.

The door
opened, the squeak of the hinges giving it away. She turned in the
bed to see Jack walking in holding a tray loaded with food.
“Morning, gorgeous,” he greeted her.

Cora shuffled
up in the bed and smiled. “Morning.” She saw the pink rose on the
tray which brought back happy memories from last night. She picked
it up and sniffed it and then looked at the plate to see scrambled
eggs and toast.

“
How did you
sleep,” he asked as he bounced down on to the bed next to
her.

“
Like a
baby.”
For the first time in a long
time
, she thought. She bit into the toast
and scooped up the eggs. “Thank you for breakfast.”

“
You’re very
welcome.”

“
Happy
Valentine’s Day,” she whispered.

“
I think I can
manage something better than that.” Jack moved into her, brushing
his lips across her mouth, her cheek, her ear. “I love you,” he
murmured.

“
Hmmm...” she
sighed almost choking on the toast in her mouth. “You want your
present, don’t you?”

“
No,” he said
with a shrug.

“
Your present
is in the wardrobe,” she said, pointing to the wardrobe and
laughing as he flew off the bed and opened the doors revealing a
large blue parcel.

Laughing at
her appalling wrapping, he lifted the box and put it on the bed. He
attacked the paper, ripping it to shreds. She thought of her mum
who would wince if she’d watched him open it. At that thought, the
little ache in her heart intensified. Cora gently moved it aside,
allowing her own happiness to bloom at seeing Jack’s face when he
opened his present.

Jack hollered
with joy when he realised what his present was. Cora had secretly
been in contact with Eli, and they’d figured out how to make any
game on Jack’s console come alive. Eli makes fantastic goggles that
will ensure the images from the game will appear around him. They
look like really cool sunglasses. Cora had tried them on a game and
she swore it felt like the game was real. Whilst playing she’d even
bumped into a desk as she walked into a room and felt the sting in
her leg.

Not only had
Eli made the goggles, but he’d also made a belt that holds the many
weapons needed in those games. None of them were real, but they
would work in the game. There were also small sensor points that
would be placed on Jack’s body so the game could sense and move
with his motions. It was pretty amazing what Eli could do with
electronics. Cora couldn’t understand why Eli wasn’t a millionaire,
but then again, if he was in the limelight like that, they would
notice he didn’t age. Witches couldn’t deal with that.

“
Can I?” Jack
asked, almost jumping around on the spot.

She laughed
and chomped on her piece of toast. “Yes, go on.”

He leapt out
of the room leaving her to finish her breakfast.

Cora brought
the empty tray out of the bedroom and dumped the contents in the
dishwasher. Turning, she watched Jack, oblivious to the world
around him, jump, kick, curse and run around the room. Clearly, he
was engrossed in his game. She grinned because he looked stupid,
and that made her heart dance. She didn’t bother saying bye to him,
he wouldn’t hear her anyway. She headed down to the shop to help
Tabitha open up.

*

Cora was
helping Mrs Rogers when the delivery van pulled up outside the
shop. Her hands were full anyway. They were held out in front of
her with products piled up high. Red candles, pink rose petals,
several spell scrolls and red lotion were strategically placed in
the limited space. Cora really didn’t want to know what Mrs Rogers
had planned for the lotion. She couldn’t think about it. Cora
wasn’t prepared for a delivery, but then again, sometimes Tabitha
failed to let her know if a delivery was due.

Cora followed
Mrs Rogers as the elderly lady walked around the shop picking out
items and placing them on the ever growing mountain. Cora stopped
and gawped at the door. Blue trousers, this was the only part of
the person Cora could see, walked in heaving a huge bouquet of
flowers. Tabitha stepped out of the room at the back of the till
and smiled at her. Cora felt her insides dance. Jack had really
outdone himself, a romantic meal, a bracelet and now
flowers.

Cora watched
as Tabitha signed for the delivery and opened the little card. The
smile quickly vanished off Tabitha’s face as her leaf green eyes
looked over at her. Cora couldn’t figure out the look, but it made
the hairs on her arms stand to attention.

“
Mrs Rogers,
I’m going to put these behind the counter for when you are ready to
pay,” Cora said, smiling as she walked towards Tabitha.

Tabitha’s lips
were pulled in a tight line. Without asking Tabitha what was wrong,
Cora took the card and read it.

Looking
forward to our first date,

Tommy

X

Cora’s first
thought was that he’d put a kiss on the note. Jack would hate that.
Why had that been her first thought? Plus, the flowers were so
elaborate. It was quite obvious that Tommy wanted to make a point.
Christ. She needed to hide them from Jack.

“
Tabitha, we
need to get rid of these,” Cora hissed.

Tabitha pulled
herself from her thoughts and grabbed the flowers. “I will dispose
of them, you deal with the customers.”

Cora swallowed
to try and push down the nervous lump in her throat. It wasn’t easy
when her mouth was dry. Unease was swirling around in her chest
making it difficult to breathe. So it had begun.

Cora took a
seat on the stool behind the counter because her legs suddenly
feeling quite unsteady, and then she nearly leapt off it when Jack
came bounding into the shop.

“
That present
is fantastic! I can really get into the...what’s wrong?”

Cora saw the
way his face changed. The smile dropped the second his eyes filled
with concern and then a fierce protectiveness as he searched the
shop. Was her face so easy to read?

“
Nothing.” Her
lie was miserable.

“
You don’t
look good, you’re sweating.” He lifted his hand to her face and
moved it across her forehead. “Are you coming down with
something?”

She needed to
think on her feet. “No, I feel fine... well,” she whispered, trying
to keep her tone light. “I’m dealing with Mrs Rogers and she’s
bought some body lotion, so it made me a little ill to think about
it.” She attempted an easy smile.

Jack snorted
and pushed some of her hair behind her ear. “Well, that would make
anyone queasy.”

She moved into
him allowing his arms to move fluidly around her.
H
e played with her ponytail whilst she
concentrated on making her stomach calm down. Jack kissed
h
er head as Mrs Rogers came to the till and
dropped a few more items on the counter.

“
Young
love...how I miss it,” Mrs Rogers crooned. Her eyes glistened with
what Cora could only assume were memories of her time with her
latest husband. Cora had since found out that Mrs Rogers was quite
fond of men, and that was putting it lightly. The elderly woman had
had six husbands over the course of her life, and she was currently
on number seven.

“
Those were
beautiful flowers you bought your little miss.”

Cora jerked
like she’d been slapped. Why hadn’t she thought of that? She’d
gotten rid of the evidence but hadn’t done anything about Mrs
Rogers.
Damn it.

Jack shot her
a quizzical look before turning to Mrs Rogers.

“
I’m sorry,
Mrs Rogers, I’m not sure I understand. What flowers?”

Cora’s hands
were shaking as she scanned the items. She didn’t dare look at
Jack.

“
The ones that
were delivered only five minutes ago, dear, huge beautiful bouquet
it was.”Mrs Rogers silver grey curls bopped with her nodding head,
eyes a pale green, smiled at them like she hadn’t said the worst
thing ever.

Cora could see
Jack was trying to get her attention. It was at that moment Tabitha
chose to walk in to the shop. Jack looked at Tabitha, then Mrs
Rogers and at her. Cora dropped her eyes and continued
scanning.

“
Cora, what
flowers?”

Cora stopped
scanning and looked at Tabitha, then at Mrs Rogers who was watching
this scene with intense fascination. Cora looked back at Tabitha in
horror, realising that she would have to face the music.

“
Why don’t I
continue your order? Jack, you can go into the back room with
Cora.”

Cora walked
into the back room and pulled her fingernail into her
mouth.

“
Stop chewing
your nails,” Jack said, his voice was cold, calculating.

He knew
something was wrong by how she was acting. How was she going to
explain this?

“
What flowers,
Cora?”

“
Okay, don’t
get mad,” she begged. “The flowers came from a coven member who
is....” She didn’t know how to say it. How could you tell your
boyfriend they were from someone who wanted to date you? A person
who wanted to ruin what they had? What did you call that someone? A
home wrecker?

“
A member that
wishes to date my girlfriend. You’re joking! They sent you bloody
flowers! Bloody cheek of ‘em!” he snapped.

“
I’ve thrown
them away. I didn’t want them.” Cora grabbed his hands, pleading
with him. “Please don’t let this spoil everything. Please,
Jack.”

He sighed and
let his brow drop to hers. “It couldn’t spoil things. It just
sticks in my gut that another man is sending you flowers with the
intention of dating you. Actually, it pisses me off!”

“
They don’t
mean anything to me.” Cora fingered the bracelet he’d given her. “I
love my bracelet. This means more to me than flowers ever could.
You think of me, you know me. I love you, they couldn’t change
that.”

“
I love you
too.”

Cora stepped
into his arms and breathed in deep. They could get through
this.

“
Who sent
them?” Jack asked.

Her heart
jumped around in her chest. “It shouldn’t matter. They are in the
bin now.”

“
I want to
know anyway, we don’t know who put themselves forward.”

“
Tommy.”

The jolt in
his body made the nerves fly around in her chest. She sensed he
knew Tommy would be one of them. Had she missed something at the
meeting? Tommy had grabbed her, stopped her from attacking
Alastair. This still annoyed her. However his actions weren’t a way
to win someone over. Not that she wanted to be won over, but still.
Then again, what was romantic about all of this?

If the roles
were reversed and Jack was sent flowers, Cora would be seriously
kicking some woman’s ass. The door opened and Tabitha’s leaf green
eyes were fierce. “There’s been another delivery.”

Before Cora
could hold Jack back, he ripped himself from her grip and stomped
into the shop. She quickly followed him.

The present,
or the homewrecker gifts as she was now going to call them, was
wrapped in baby pink paper and was sat on top of the counter. She
didn’t even like pink as a colour and felt it was typically male to
think it. The flowers weren’t as elaborate as Tommy's but she could
still hear Jack grind his teeth.

“
Open it,” he
muttered.

Tabitha
stepped aside as Cora opened a gift from another man in front of
her boyfriend.

Inside the box
was another smaller box, she pulled it out and opened it. Two small
crystal earrings blinked at her. She clicked the box shut and
looked at Jack. His eyes were hard, his jaw tight.