Dreams of Seduction (7 page)

Maggie was glad she didn’t have a mouthful of coffee or muffin or she’d have spewed it everywhere.

Jed Bearson, hunk extraordinaire, subject of her sexual fantasies and star of her erotic dreams the past few nights, was asking her out. Maggie shook her head. She had to have misheard.

He was sexy as all get out and could probably have any single woman in town, and some of the married ones too if he wanted them. And he was asking her out. Her. Maggie O’Neill, who was perpetually about twenty pounds overweight, was too tall, had flaming red hair and, at the moment, a blotchy red face as well. She was wearing her oldest jeans, a red fleece, which would nicely match her red face, and she wasn’t wearing a lick of makeup.

Was this some kind of a joke? Or was it magick?

Her mind was spinning. This couldn’t have anything to do with the spell she’d cast alongside Rhiannon and Esther. It couldn’t. Maggie didn’t believe in magick. But what other explanation could there be?

Her mouth fell open and she tried to speak, but nothing would come out. She closed her mouth, swallowed hard and tried again. “You want to go out with me?” Maybe she’d misheard him.

“Yes.” He covered her hand with his. It was a simple touch, yet it seemed intimate. They were sitting in a coffee shop surrounded by at least six other people, yet it was as if they were the only two people in the room. It was a cliché, but it was true nonetheless. “Go out with me.”

“I’ll make dinner.” Ohmigod! What had she said? She’d meant to say no, but “I’ll make dinner” had popped out instead.

Jed’s smile deepened. “I’d like that.” His fingers squeezed hers. “A lot.”

Maggie was surprised that she was still sitting in her chair and hadn’t sunk through the floor of the shop. It was as if she was under some kind of spell she couldn’t break. Magick? No, she refused to believe it.

“What time and when?”

Her mind whirled. Since she couldn’t rescind her offer, it was probably better to get it over with quickly. “How about tonight around half past six or so?”

“That’s perfect.” He released her hand and stood. Maggie tried to ignore how much she missed the touch of his hand against hers.

“I’ll see you then.” She was proud of the even tone of her voice, like it was no big deal and she had men over to supper every night of the week.

“You certainly will.” He grabbed his paper cup and sauntered out of the shop. Maggie watched him leave, unable to keep from admiring his mouthwatering butt.

Reality descended with a resounding thud when the door closed behind him. What had she done? She hadn’t had a date in too long to talk about. Certainly not since she’d broken up with her ex.

And she’d promised to cook dinner too. What was she going to cook? She needed to grocery shop.

Heck, she needed to figure out what to wear.

What had possessed her to offer him an invitation to dinner?

She needed to talk to Rhiannon and she needed to do it now. Grabbing the pen and paper off the table, she shoved them back into her purse. She pushed back her chair and gave her uneaten muffin a final glance.

It looked delicious, but her appetite had totally disappeared. Grabbing her large coffee, she hooked her purse over her shoulder and headed out the door. The muffin she could leave, but her coffee she needed.

Maggie glanced at her watch as she stepped out onto the sidewalk. It was just past ten. Rhiannon would be just opening her store, A Touch of Magick. She started down the sidewalk at a fast clip. What had she gotten herself into?

Chapter Six

The bell tinkled merrily as Maggie pushed open the door and entered A Touch of Magick.

“I’ll be right with you,” a voice called out from the back. She sighed with relief. Rhiannon was here.

It had only occurred to her on the way here that this might be her friend’s day off from work.

If she hadn’t been here, her next stop would have been Rhiannon’s house. Maggie was beginning to wish she hadn’t walked this morning. She’d already been halfway around town and still had to hit the grocery store before she walked home. On the plus side, at least she was getting a lot of exercise.

“Maggie, what are you doing here this morning?” Rhiannon strode across the store with her arms wide open. “We didn’t have a coffee date, did we?”

Maggie was always shocked by how tiny Rhiannon was each time she saw her. An inch or two over five feet in height, her friend projected a much larger image. Her short pixie haircut suited her delicate features and made her violet-blue eyes appear even larger. With her long, flowing gypsy skirt, her arm load of bangles and the trio of hoops winking in both ears, Rhiannon looked like the witch she purported herself to be.

Maggie still wasn’t certain how she felt about the whole witch thing, but what she did know was that regardless of what Rhiannon was, she was a loyal friend with a huge heart. Maggie found herself enveloped in a hug before she had a chance to reply.

That was another thing about Rhiannon. She was a physical person, always hugging and giving little touches. Maggie envied her, wishing she found it as easy to be as demonstrative. But she was getting better at it and returned her friend’s embrace.

“No, we didn’t have a coffee date or you wouldn’t be carrying a cup from Clancy’s.” Rhiannon released her and stepped back as she answered her own question. “But something is on your mind.”

Maggie sighed and pushed her braid over her shoulder. “You could say that.” She looked around and was grateful that she was the only customer at the moment, although Rhiannon’s assistant, Amy, was probably around somewhere. “It’s about the other night.” In spite of the fact they seemed to be alone, Maggie found herself whispering.

Rhiannon frowned. “What about it?”

“You know.” Maggie nibbled at her bottom lip. “The candle thing.”

“You mean the spell we cast to bring us a lover?” Rhiannon replied matter-of-fact.

She nodded. “Yes, that. Did it work?” A brilliant smile flashed across her friend’s face, giving Maggie pause. Now that she thought about it, Rhiannon looked different. Happier. “What happened?”

Rhiannon burst out laughing, her bangles jingling as she covered her mouth. Tapping her foot impatiently, Maggie waited for her friend to get control of herself. “Don’t just stand there laughing like a loon. I need details.”

Waving her toward the coffee bar tucked away in a nook off the main shop, Rhiannon just smiled but didn’t offer anything more. Amy, Rhiannon’s assistant, was just finishing setting out the baked goods in the display case and smiled her greeting. “Good morning, Maggie.”

“Hi, Amy.” She liked Amy, really she did, but this morning she wished the younger woman was somewhere else. Anywhere else.

“I’ll watch the coffee counter for now, Amy. Can you keep an eye on the store?” Rhiannon went behind the counter and poured herself a cup of coffee.

“Sure thing, boss.” Dusting her hands on a towel, Amy removed her apron and laid it aside before heading out to the main part of the store.

Maggie sipped her coffee and made a face. It was cold. Rhiannon laughed and placed a fresh cup on the table in front of her, along with a warm apple turnover. “You look like you could use something extra this morning.”

“You have no idea.” Maggie didn’t even know where to begin, so she focused on her friend. “So what happened?”

“Ryland came over last night.”

“And?”

Rhiannon practically glowed with happiness. “We talked.”

She wasn’t buying it. “You obviously did more than that.”

That set Rhiannon off again and she threw back her head and laughed. Maggie took a bite of apple turnover while she waited for her friend to gain some control. Honestly, if she didn’t like Rhiannon so much she’d be jealous of her happiness.

“I’m sorry, Maggie. Really.” She dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a napkin so as to not smudge her mascara. Rhiannon always looked so put together, so stylish. It reminded Maggie of what she was wearing and she slumped slightly in her chair.

Rhiannon frowned. “But you didn’t come here this morning to hear about Ryland and me making up.”

Maggie’s head was spinning. Things had certainly happened fast between those two. They’d gone from meeting to having sex to fighting to making up again. She couldn’t keep it all straight.

“Do you think it’s the spell that attracted him to you?” She needed to know. Especially now.

Rhiannon shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. Not now.”

“Of course it matters.” Maggie could hear the strain in her voice.

Her friend frowned. “What’s wrong, Maggie? You were upset when you got here.”

“I’ll tell you what’s wrong.” She wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly feeling chilled to the bone. “I’ve been having erotic dreams for the past few nights and the star of them just asked me out. And what did I do? I didn’t say no. Instead, I told him I’d cook dinner.”

“That’s wonderful.” Rhiannon nibbled on her bottom lip. “Isn’t it?”

“No.” She shook her head vehemently. “Not if it’s the result of magick. But why else would he ask me out?” She was talking more to herself, but Rhiannon answered her.

“Maybe because you’re a beautiful, generous woman and any man would be lucky to go out with you.”

“Oh, Rhiannon,” she sighed. “I’m not like you. You’re petite and gorgeous and always look great. I’m a tall redhead with pale skin, freckles and wide curves. I’d rather be alone than with people, present company excluded of course.”

“Of course.” Her friend’s lips twitched, but she didn’t smile.

“I’m just…” Maggie let out a long breath. “I don’t know what I am. Anxious, scared, excited.”

“What about the dreams? And who is it?”

“Jed Bearson. And the dreams…” Maggie grabbed a napkin from the table and started fanning herself.

“Let’s just say that they’re very realistic and leave it at that.”

Rhiannon shook her head and reached across the table. Her hand covered Maggie’s. “Magick can’t make someone love you or ask you out. It can only clear the pathway and allow it to happen. Do you see the difference? There is always free will. If Jed didn’t want to ask you out, he wouldn’t. It’s that simple.

Doing the spell was your way of telling the universe you were ready if a man did want to ask you.” She paused. “Besides, you don’t believe in magick, so why are you worried?”

Maggie didn’t want to hurt her friend. “It’s not that I don’t believe,” she began. And that was the truth. She was beginning to believe. How could she not?

“It’s okay.” Rhiannon released her hand and sat back. “You don’t have to. It just is.” She grinned.

“Jed Bearson, you say? I met him the other morning when he and Ryland investigated the vandalism on the store. I’ve seen him around town plenty of times. He’s quite handsome if you go for the tall, quiet type.”

Maggie guessed she did, because just the mere mention of his name had her body reacting. Images flowed through her brain like a motion picture—their bodies entwined as they made love, again and again, their bodies coming together in a tangle of heat, passion and limbs.

“Maggie?” Rhiannon was waving her hand in front of Maggie’s face. “Earth to Maggie.”

She blinked and the images disappeared, for now. They were never far from the surface these past few days. Maybe she just needed to have sex for real instead of just in her dreams. Maybe that would make the dreams disappear.

Pushing back her chair, she jumped up from the table. “I have to go.”

Rhiannon looked slightly worried. “Are you sure you don’t want to talk some more about this?”

“Yes. No.” She grabbed her purse and looked regretfully at her second cup of coffee, which only had a mouthful gone from it. “I have to go grocery shopping and figure out what I’m going to cook. Then I have to clean the house and decide what I’m going to wear. I haven’t been on a date in so long, I’m not quite sure what to do anymore.”

Rhiannon eased out of her chair, her face wreathed in concern. “Call me if you need anything. I’ll be at the store all day.”

On impulse, Maggie wrapped her arms around Rhiannon and hugged her tight. “I will. And thanks.

For everything.”

“You’re welcome.”

“What about you and Ryland? Is it serious?” It suddenly occurred to Maggie that she didn’t know.

She’d gone on and on about her own problems without finding out more details.

Rhiannon tugged at one of the hoops in her ear and nodded. “It’s serious. It’s very serious.” She smiled and her entire face seemed to light from within. “He’s the one.”

“How does he feel about…” She broke off, not quite knowing how to phrase it.

“Me being a witch? Does he accept that I’m different? Yes, he does.” Rhiannon’s smile faded and her manner became serious. “I am what I am and he is what he is. That’s what love is all about. Accepting the other person for who they are, not what you’d like them to be.”

A lump formed in Maggie’s throat. She envied her friend. “I’m happy for you.”

“Me too.” Walking to the counter, Rhiannon grabbed a paper cup and filled it with coffee before snapping a lid on top. “Here take this. You look as if you could use it.”

Maggie took the coffee, her fingers clinging tightly to the warm cup. “Thanks.”

“Remember, if you need anything just call.”

“I will.” She walked to the door in a daze. Rhiannon’s life had changed drastically in the past few days. Maggie didn’t expect to find a lasting relationship, but maybe that was okay. Her last relationship hadn’t worked out so well.

This time she’d just enjoy herself. She was a grown woman. If she wanted to have a purely sexual affair with a single, handsome man, that was her business.

Butterflies beat at her stomach. That was fine in theory, but she still had to figure out what to make for dinner. And she had no idea what she was going to wear.

Hours later, Maggie was still wondering what the heck she’d gotten herself into. A garden salad sat in the refrigerator waiting to be served. Fresh multigrain rolls were wrapped in foil waiting to be heated and a pot of homemade vegetable beef stew sat on the stovetop. Dinner was ready, but she wasn’t.

Staring at her closet for the tenth time, she debated what to wear. A dress was too dressy. She didn’t want to come across as too needy. Jeans too casual. Slacks made her feel like she was going to work. She pulled out a calf-length linen skirt in a deep chocolate brown. Sighing, she shoved it back in the closet.