Sassy Ever After: A Witchingly Sassy Seduction (Kindle Worlds Novella) (4 page)

Chapter 5

“Yes, can you take me back into town—Blue Creek, that is? I don’t know how far out I am, but need to get back to my car there,” Celia asked the pretty young woman in the late model sedan.

It was a miracle the woman had come along so fast. She’d only been walking for a few minutes from the wolf-shifter’s home out here, when the woman had stopped to offer her a ride. Getting into the car and fastening her seat belt, Celia let out a breath of relief.

The young woman was very pretty and none ax murderer-looking—thank God. Celia couldn’t be sure, she looked like she might be Hispanic or of Mediterranean heritage. The woman took a quick moment to look over at Celia and extended the hand closest to her in a handshake of greeting, as she said, “Hi there. I’m Mandy Campos. And you are?”

Celia noticed the tattoo on her wrist. It was delicate, and one of those in loving memory ones with a semicolon made into a butterfly. The only difference was that it had bold lettering that said REMEMBER in all caps, above it. If she wasn’t trying to get back to her car so fast, she’d make mention of the artistry of it. Not knowing if it was for this woman or a loved one, she decided the mention of it would be off limits.

Mandy’s hopeful lift at the end of that introduction, illustrated her expectation that Celia offer up her full name too. What was it with everyone here, giving out so much unsolicited information and expecting the same from her?

Plastering on her best smile, Celia feigned shyness and said, “That’s a beautiful name. I’m Celia.” Hoping the compliment would keep the other woman busy processing it, she quickly followed up with, “So, are you from around here?” That should keep her talking. Celia would keep the conversation centered on the woman. It must be a small town thing, but these folks had no problem vomiting up all sorts of information.

Guess they’ve never been hacked or been an identity theft victim. That would get anyone with half a brain to shout the hell up about their personal details.

“Oh me? No, I just got here last year. I’m new to the area. Came here for a new teaching position at the middle school.”

Time to make chitchat and act as normal as possible.

“That’s wonderful. I think school teachers are unsung heroes. What grade do you teach?”

“I have seventh graders—you know—freshly minted teenagers. It’s funny how many are going through voice changes, first bouts of embarrassing acne and awkward growth spurts. It’s still hard being a thirteen year-old, no matter how hard you try to be cool about it.”

“Tell me about it. I think I’m still trying to get over some of my unfortunate memories and traumas from middle school.”

“Aren’t we all?” Mandy said, laughing.

It was something about the way she laughed that grated on Celia’s nerves, ever so slightly. But she wasn’t going to nitpick this kind lady’s laugh. She was nice and had given her a ride back to town, after all.

They continued to make small talk all the way back. Celia was happy Mandy was content doing most of the talking about herself.

“Over here,” Celia said, directing Mandy to her beat up old car.

She’d left it in the parking lot of a grocery store, next to a copse of trees in the outer part of the lot. That way, the trees would offer shading and distraction from the fact that a car had been there overnight. The look of the car made it seem like it might have been abandoned or broken down, more than simply parked there. Celia was secretly happy it hadn’t been towed.

“Um, are you sure you’re going to be all right?” She could hear the hesitation in the other woman’s voice of leaving her here with what must look like a dilapidated trap. “You know; you never did say want you were doing out there on that back road all alone.”

Time to ditch this one.

This was a goody two shoes moment in the making. Celia could feel it. And just like that, Mandy said, “Look, I have a spare bedroom that I would be happy to let you stay in—you know—until you can get on your feet and figure out some things.”

“I’m fine.” Celia had to remember to not say the next part through clenched teeth. “I know my car doesn’t look that reliable, but she’s been good to me. I was just passing through, on my way to see relatives.”

“Oh yeah, where do they live? I hope it’s not too far from here.”

“No, not too far.”

“Are you sure I can’t at least give you a ride to your family? I can only imagine how much they must be worried sick about you being on the road all by yourself.”

Was she for real? Celia knew there had to be a limit to this woman’s capacity for hospitality. She wanted to reach it now.

“Yes, they know where I am. Talked with them this morning.” First that nosey wolf-shifter and now this chick—these folks were like fly paper. Once they stuck onto you, it was the devil getting free. “I promise, I’m good. Thanks again for giving me a lift back here. What do I owe you?”

Mandy put a well-manicured hand against her chest. If there were pearls, Celia was sure she’d be clutching them.

“Owe me? Well, of course nothing. You dear, sweet thing, that is such a lovely offer, but I just want to make sure you’re safe. Here…” the woman said, looking down into her expensive purse for something. Celia watched as she took out a monogramed pad and wrote down a quick note. Tearing it off, she passed it through the window to Celia. “Here, take this and… this.” Another quick rummage through her wallet and she pulled out some crisp twenty dollar bills.

Celia was too stunned to come back with anything quick. She continued to stoop over into the passenger side window of the woman’s car, trying hard to gather her emotions and offer the money back. The woman would have none of it. The heavy stock of the notepaper in her hand coupled with at least a hundred dollars was too much. She might cry, for all the kindness she’d been shown in this little town. And here she was starting to get an attitude with the woman. All she’d been trying to do was help her.

Celia didn’t like how hard and untrusting she’d become over the last few months of being on the road. This was an example of how much her discernment must be off. She hadn’t liked this woman for anything more than Mandy’s need to help. A right bitch she’d been. She felt shame for her paranoia. Tears grew plump, hovering on her waterline, as she opened the note to read.

Celia looked down through moist eyes to see Mandy’s dainty, feminine handwriting. Maybe it was the tears that threatened to spill, but the words stood out more than usual as she began to read what it said. They almost looked like they moved and swirled on the page. Celia had to blink a few times to clear the crazy vision from her mind. Yes, as soon as she could put some distance between herself and here, she’d find a place to crash and rest for a day or two. Now her eyes were playing tricks on her.

The note read:
You will call me if you need ANYTHING. This is my number, use it.

Mandy continued to smile at her as she pointed a slim fingernail in the direction of the note. Read that back to me… please. I mean what I say on there.”

Celia hesitated. She was too choked up with emotion to do anything but, nod.

Finally, when she got some composure back, she managed to squeak out, “I read it. Thank you again. I mean it. You are too kind.” She pushed back from the car and turned toward her own.

Mandy looked a little disappointed, but managed to hide it quickly. She shouted through the still open passenger seat window of her own car after Celia, with what sounded like a hint of disappointment that Celia was leaving. “I meant every word on there. You call me if you need anything or get into any trouble. I’m here for you.” Mandy wiggled a finger toward Celia’s car and added, “I don’t know about that car. I hope it’s as reliable as you say. Please at least send me a text message to let me know when you get there. And don’t hesitate to let me know if you should have any car troubles along the way.”

Awe, Mandy was so sweet.

She actually cared about what happened to her. This had been so rare of late, Celia didn’t know how to handle the intensity of emotions swirling within. Instead of showing her clumsiness in receiving kindness, she chose to remain silent and offer up the warmest smile she could muster.

Celia could only manage a wave goodbye; as the weight of the good fortune she’d run into weighed on her. She watched Mandy drive off, still waving a hand so she could see her. When the other woman was gone, she rummaged through her belongings on the back seat to find the burner phone she’d gotten right before coming here. She’d use a fake account to look up directions for a town just south of here where it was rumored she could hide out.

Celia needed anonymity more than ever. Between the wolf-shifter giving up his bed and making breakfast for her and now this lady giving her a ride, money and even offering to let her stay with her; Celia wasn’t sure she’d be able to keep off the radar if she stayed here. Her presence might bring more harm than good to this town. From what she could tell, in another lifetime, this would be a great place to settle down in and raise a family.

The idea of having a family of her own tried once again to take root and implant itself in her heart, before she had the good sense to brush it aside. What she couldn’t brush aside was the lingering thought of what might have been with that gorgeous wolf, if she’d stayed.

Chapter 6

“Are you freaking kidding me?”

Her palms, aggravated by extreme frustration and weariness, slammed against the padded middle of the steering wheel. She wasn’t a good mile outside of Blue Creek. She’d made it onto the highway leaving town when her precious, until now, very reliable car started coughing up smoke, sputtering and wobbling. When she’d finally wrestled it to the shoulder of the road, Celia got out to discover that not only was there a profoundly flat back tire, but she also had what must be an overheated engine.

“Holly, Holly… I just gassed you up and this is how you repay me?” she said to the car. “You never give me a moment’s trouble. Where you saving up, to give me a heart attack with all the shit you’ve got going on here?”

Celia was beside herself. She was fussing at her car—her Holly. The only saving grace she had was that it was in between seasons and the weather was mild. Else, she’d be sitting here, roasting in a hot car. It just didn’t make any sense. She’d had everything checked and serviced before she’d left. Holly had new belts, radiator and all the other gobbly-wompas parts a car needed to drive. One of her uncles had seen to it, before she hit the road. Thinking of her uncle, she allowed a rare break to think about her parents and relatives, she’d left back in Chicago.

Hot tears welled up, spilling down her cheeks as she remembered how loved and cherished she’d been. Content to live at home forever, Celia never thought her mouth would ever write a check her ass couldn’t cash. That was until her run in with Deidra Amos and her “coven” as the crazy bitch liked to call her personal pack of psychotic, ass wipe, bitches. There was no way she could ever allow them to come around talking trash about her family—especially her mom and aunts. That right there, was justified in her mind, to do what she’d done.

Refusing to replay the already traumatic course of events that had brought her to this very spot, Celia allowed herself this one opportunity to cry like she wanted to, so many times before. She was alone for the first time, away from her loving family—and it was all her fault. Her mind told her it was the right thing to do, to save them from the craziness of her actions. So, she had to buck up and be a woman.

The wail of pain that oozed out of her said it all. She wanted a redo. If she could take it all back, she would. Pain and regret now drove her. If she could, Celia would go back to the way things had been before she’d publicly humiliated one of the most powerful business women in the Midwest. She sat here in a broke down car wondering if Deidra had anything to do with it.

“Some might call this poetic justice, I just call it karma,” said the deep, achingly familiar male voice.

“Oh God no, please don’t let it be,” she prayed, refusing to lift her head in the direction of the voice coming through the passenger side window of Holly. “Not you again. Why can’t you take a hint? I want to be left alone.”

“Looks like you just missed your goal by this much.”

Celia looked up in time to see his forefinger and thumb measuring a little space between them. Instinct wanted to match his gesture with an obscener one, but she did have her home training to consider. Instead she decided to remain silent.

She saw the softening of his expression upon seeing her most likely puffy face from all the crying she’d done. It didn’t matter. He kept on, “I’d say being left alone should involve leaving the city limits before your car conks out, wouldn’t you? And let’s not mention how rude it was for you to leave my home the way you did this morning.”

She couldn’t take it. He was working on that last dried up nerve she’d preserved for use in emergencies. “Why are you here?”

“I’m here because I would stop if anyone with car trouble was on the side of the road.”

“Who says I need your help?”

“Darling, that would be your car. She’s smoking like a grease fire and that flat tire is shredded. I’d say either you’re waiting on Triple A, or you need help.”

Oh yeah, she could use the Triple A excuse. Hadn’t remembered that one. She couldn’t think straight when he was around and she needed a clear head. Something didn’t feel right about the way her car had broken down.

“You guessed it. I’m waiting on Triple A.”

“Good, I’m here then.”

“What? But you’re not the Triple A guy.”

“Who says I’m not?”

She stole a quick glance backward to see a white work truck, that was clearly NOT from Triple A.

“Your truck says you’re not from Triple A, that’s who.” Two could play the “your car” card.

“Here you go, darling,” he said pulling out an official-looking plastic card that said he was a representative contractor for Triple A. “Town is too small to warrant a fancy company car full time.”

“Great. This is fantastic. You’re the Triple A Guy too.”

“That I am. So how about we get you fixed up here,” he said, starting to walk to the back of her trunk. “Pop the trunk so I can get the spare tire out.”

“Please and thank you.”

“Huh?”

“I said, you need to say please and thank you,” Celia said, noticing how he’d managed to capture her gaze with his through the back window.

With a slow deliberateness that spoke of pure, primal power, he said, “I’m going to remember that when it’s your turn. I’m going to make you beg for it.”

Shivers of uncomfortable attraction to him, raced through her. He spoke promises that bypassed her mind and went straight to deeper layers of her, layers she didn’t quite know how to access herself.

Using all her mental capacity to break this spell he held over her, she turned her head back around to look directly in front of her. Celia would remain quiet and get this over with as fast as possible.

“Celia, Celia darling… could you come back here for a minute?”

“What now?” she said, complaining under her breath.

When she’d reached the trunk where he stood, she couldn’t believe her eyes. The new tire from the junk yard, her uncle had put in as a spare was… shredded too.

“That, that can’t be.” She couldn’t believe it. “I saw him put in an almost new tire he got from the junk yard before I left.”

“Who did? Think for me darling. Has anyone had access to your car? Did you leave it out somewhere, unattended?”

Before he could finish the question, her mind locked on the fact that she’d left her baby out in the open overnight for the last few days at that grocery store. The car was old and anyone with knowledge and a crowbar might be able to pop the lock and change tires.

Feeling stupid in clear hindsight, she had to fess up. “Yes, I left the car in the parking lot of the grocery store in town.”

“And that’s the only place you’ve left the car recently?”

“Yes, why?”

“Because that’s usually the safest place you could leave your car. All the seniors leave their cars there when they go on those gambling trips on the bus. It’s also used for car washes and to showcase and sell cars by the towns folk. We’ve never had a problem with car theft there.”

“Well it looks like there’s a first for everything.”

“I guess,” he said, scratching the start of a five o’clock shadow. It was just below the skin, but as dark as the jet black hair on his head.

Beautiful
.

Shaking her head to come back to earth from her personal planet Deliria, Celia had to figure out what to do next.

“What about the engine? Is there anything you can do to see if it will get me to a garage?”

“Yep, I’m waiting for it to cool down before I tackle that one.” He looked at her with those damn seductive eyes again and said, “I’m still not done with what happened to this tire. This isn’t normal. How did your tire end up shredded like this—hell, both of them? That makes no sense.”

Celia fought back the instinct to think magic might be involved. She didn’t believe it was real, but how could she explain what had happened to poor Holly’s tires?