The Professor Woos The Witch (Nocturne Falls Book 4) (14 page)

Cole went back to making sandwiches. Maybe he wasn’t going to win any Father of the Year awards, but he’d bet good money she’d forget all about Jack not being there once they got to dinner.

Pandora arrived at Cole’s promptly at six thirty, dressed a little nicer than usual for Saturday-night family dinner. She’d started to put on her usual jeans and cute tee, then realized Cole had seen her mostly in ratty tank tops and gym shorts. That had been impetus enough to slip into white ankle pants and a turquoise wrap top that showed off her assets and made her skin glow.

Pumpkin had given her the side eye for white pants after Labor Day, but what did cats know about fashion? Plus, states below the Mason-Dixon Line weren’t under the same rules when it came to wearing white. Heat and humidity had a way of negating those things.

She parked her sedan and walked to the front door, the click of her strappy high-heeled sandals accompanying her. She knocked and stood back to wait, but Cole answered quickly.

He looked…dreamy. He wore dark jeans with a pale blue and white checked shirt rolled up to show off his hard forearms. His hair was neatly combed, and his face was freshly shaved, revealing the chiseled line of his jaw.

She was definitely hot for teacher.

He stepped outside and shut the door behind him, but not before she heard laughter from inside. “I’m really sorry.”

“About?”

“Kaley’s in a mood. I thought she would have shaken it by now, but she’s holding a grudge. Hard.”

“Really? Because I could have sworn I heard her laughing just now. What happened? You didn’t try to convince her witches aren’t real again, did you?”

“No, I’m past that, I promise.” He glanced back at the house as he adjusted his glasses. “It’s just…my father is here, and he tried to invite himself to dinner tonight, but I told him no. Now Kaley thinks I’m being mean.”

“You kind of are.”

“What?”

She shrugged. “Bring him. It’s no big deal. These dinners are very fluid. We’re constantly bringing friends at the last minute.”

“But you don’t even know him. In fact, your family doesn’t know us.”

“But I know you and Kaley, and after tonight that’ll all be moot anyway.”

He sighed.

“Okay, seriously, what’s up? Do you not like your dad or something?” Her eyes widened a bit. “Did you have a big fight over your parents not telling you about your true nature?”

“No. Not exactly.” Cole closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again. “I’m worried he’s going to cause problems with your family. And you. He’s convinced you’re after me only for what I can do for you.”

“You mean because you’re a familiar.”

Cole nodded. “He’s also convinced you’re going to lure me to bed to bond with me as fast as you can.”

“Yes, I’m a regular seductress.” Pandora rolled her lips in, but snorted in laughter anyway. “As if.”

One of Cole’s inky brows lifted over the rim of his glasses. “Have you seen yourself in this outfit?” His gaze traveled down to her cleavage and lingered. “It’s pretty seductive from where I’m standing.”

She crossed her arms, realized that only hefted her chest higher, and then uncrossed them. “I was trying to look nice.”

“Nice?” He raked a hand through his hair. “You look”—he swallowed—”edible.”

Heat swept through her, leaving her dizzy and on the verge of bad decisions. “You shouldn’t say things like that unless you mean them.”

He stared her down, his dark gaze taking on the feral look she’d seen before. “You tempt me, Pandora.”

Without thinking, she licked her bottom lip.

He made a growly sound, and the next thing she knew, his mouth was on hers. For several long seconds, all she could do was feel. The pressure of his mouth, the grip of his hands on her shoulders, the intoxicating scent of a man fresh from the shower. He
became
the heat coursing through her, then a soft breeze seemed to lift her off the ground. She was floating. Or they were floating.

Or they were
flying
.

In a moment of panic, she pushed a stabilizing spell at him.

Then a throat cleared.

They broke apart. A man stood in the open door behind Cole. He was an older version of Cole, hair more salt and pepper than pitch black, stockier, maybe an inch shorter and wearing different glasses.

Pandora felt a new kind of heat rise up in her. The kind that came from sheer embarrassment. Cole’s dad had just caught them kissing, except kissing didn’t really encompass what they’d just been doing. Making out like horny teenagers was probably more on point.

He cleared his throat again and looked at Cole expectantly. “Are you going to introduce us?”

Cole showed no signs of mortification. Pandora wished the same was true for her, but she knew her face had to be the same color as her hair. Cole rested his hand lightly on her back. “Dad, this is Pandora Williams. Pandora, this is my father, Jack Van Zant.”

She stuck her hand out, pleased that it wasn’t shaking. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Van Zant. Cole’s spoken highly of you.”

Jack shook her hand, his grip a tiny bit tighter than comfortable. “I’m not sure that’s true.”

She didn’t know what to say to that.

Jack released her hand. “You’re the witch who’s going to teach my granddaughter the craft, are you?”

Cole spoke before she could answer. “She’s the witch who’s going to help her, and speaking of Kaley, would you let her know it’s time for us to go?”

Jack gave his son an unreadable look. “Ah yes, the dinner that I’m not invited to.” He turned his gaze back to Pandora. It held a clear challenge.

For a moment, she felt completely intimidated. Then she decided she wasn’t going to let him make her feel that way. If he thought she was up to something despicable, how better to show him that she wasn’t? She straightened her spine and put on her best realtor smile. “Actually, we’d love to have you.”

It was enough to erase the judgmental look right off his face. “You would?” He glanced at Cole. “Did my son put you up to this?”

Honesty was always the best policy. “Nope. He actually told me not to invite you, but it’s my family and I can invite whomever I please.”

Jack smiled broadly at Cole as if to say,
So there
. He gave Pandora a little nod. “That’s very kind of you.”

“You know how we witches love familiars.” She widened her smile, knowing that was a bit of a jab but unable to help herself. “You are a familiar too, aren’t you?”

“Yes.” He gave her a strange look. “I’ll go get Kaley.”

“We’ll be right here.”

He disappeared back into the house.

“Why did you invite him?” Cole hissed. “And don’t think I missed that crack about witches loving familiars.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t have said that, but I couldn’t help it. And I invited him so he can see I’m not after you for
naughty
reasons.” Although after that kiss, she had a lot of naughty reasons to think about. “If you and I are going to work together on this house and your daughter, the last thing you need is for your dad to be on your back.”

He shook his head. “You’re something else, you know that? That was very kind and completely unnecessary. I just hope this doesn’t come back to bite you. My father can be a real handful.”

She laughed. “You haven’t met my mother or my sisters yet. Which reminds me, I should send my mom a heads up to put out an extra place setting.” She pointed at her car. “My phone is in my purse.”

“Go ahead. Hey—I got a bottle of wine. I hope red is good.”

She started for the car. “It’s perfect.”

“Good. I’ll grab it, collect the stragglers and lock up the house.”

Ten minutes later, they were pulling into Corette’s driveway. Stanhill’s Bentley was already there.

“Nice car,” Jack called out from the backseat. “Your mother must do pretty well.”

“That’s her beau’s car.” Although her mother did own a gorgeous white Mercedes, which never left the garage unless she was driving it.

“Is he a familiar too?”

Pandora shot Cole a look as she parked. “No, he’s a rook.”

Kaley leaned up between the two front seats. “What’s a rook and a familiar?”

Cole opened his mouth, but the look on his face said he didn’t know how to answer.

Pandora twisted to face her. “A familiar is usually an animal but is sometimes a person who forms a deep bond with a witch in a way that strengthens the witch’s magic. A rook is a like a vampire’s assistant.”

Kaley’s eyes rounded. “Whoa. There are vampires? Like, for real? Is there going to be one here tonight?”

Pandora looked at Cole. “I feel like we should have talked about this sooner.”

He nodded. “I see that now.”

Pandora smiled at Kaley. “Yes, there are vampires for real, but there won’t be any here this evening. There are several who live here in town, so at some point, you’ll meet them. All kinds of fun supernaturals reside in Nocturne Falls. Stanhill, the rook, is my mother’s boyfriend. You’re in absolutely no danger from him, though, okay?”

“Okay.” Kaley sat back and scooted closer to her grandfather.

Cole put his hand on Pandora’s thigh. “This is sort of news to me too. What kind of fun supernaturals are you talking about?”

She tried to hold onto her train of thought while the heat from Cole’s touch warmed the skin several inches above her knee. Holy goddess. What was the question? Something about supernaturals, right? She swallowed and checked her answers off on her fingers, mostly to give herself something to do. “Uh, vampires, werewolves—and other kinds of shifters. Witches, obviously. Fae and fae-adjacent creatures, gargoyles, valkyrie, ghosts, mer-people. You name it, we probably have it.”

Cole nodded. “I see.” But he looked a little overwhelmed.

And clearly unaware that he’d just set parts of her on fire. She cleared her throat as he finally moved his hand. “Hey, listen up, all three of you. They’re all friendly. They live here because that’s the benefit of this town. The whole thing of celebrating Halloween every day means we can live in peace and pretty much out in the open about who we really are, and no one suspects anything.”

Jack made a noise. “You’re telling me you’ve never had a tourist figure out the truth?”

“No.” Pandora made eye contact with him in the rearview mirror. “The spring that feeds the falls and supplies the town’s water was enchanted years ago by the witch who helped establish the town. It prevents humans from grasping the truth about this place.”

“Pretty clever.” He snorted. “Remind me not to drink the water.”

“That’s not something you have to worry about.”

He frowned. “Why not?”

“Because it only affects
humans
, Mr. Van Zant.” She gave him a wink and got out of the car. Let him explain that to Kaley.

Cole got out at the same time, shutting his door in sync with hers. “Hey, Kaley doesn’t know about me yet.”

“Well, you’d better explain that to her. It’s going to come up in conversation. She’s a witch, Cole. She’s going to learn this stuff sooner or later. Don’t you want her to hear it from you?”

“Yes. You’re right. Give us a few minutes? I’m probably not going to tell her about the animal-shifting part. Not yet.”

“Whatever you think she’s ready for. Let me just grab the wine I brought out of the trunk, then I’ll go in and see what I can help my mom with. Come in when you’re ready.”

“Thanks.”

Jack and Kaley got out. Cole turned toward his daughter. “You, me and Grandpa are going to have a little talk before we go in.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’ll be on my best behavior, I swear.”

“It’s not about that.”

Pandora grabbed the wine and gave the trio a wave. “See you inside.” Then she left them to talk.

The house smelled of garlic and herbs and roasting meat. “What are you cooking? It smells crazy good in here.” She walked into the kitchen to see her mother and Stanhill smooching on the other side of the island. A big pot of red sauce bubbled away on the center stove. “Okay, that’s enough of that.”

They stopped kissing, but not embracing. Stanhill tipped his head at her, his wry smile challenging her to disagree. “I’ll kiss your mother whenever I bloody well please, thank you.”