Men Love Witches Read online

  The vampire shook her head. “Matthias and Nathaniel are going to keep watch the rest of tonight. Our meeting had reached something of an impasse anyway.” Her expression tensed and I thought back to what Harmony had said when she woke me up. The vampires were at odds about something, though I hadn’t the slightest clue as to what it was about.

  “Harmony, are you heading back to the haven?” I asked.

  My apprentice slid a tentative glance toward Lacey. “Um, I think so.”

  Adam picked up on my unspoken concern and straightened. “Come on then,” he said, already heading for the door, “I’ll walk you to the portal.”

  With a nod, Harmony went to the cupboard beside the stove and grabbed a battered textbook from the row of cookbooks and potions journals we kept there. Holding it up, she smiled. “All set. See you tomorrow?” she asked, turning back toward me and Evangeline. “Dress shopping, right?”

  “I’ll text you the address in the morning,” I replied.

  With that, she said good night and scampered to follow after Adam.

  “Doesn’t she live here too?” Lacey asked once they’d gone.

  Exhaling, I went to the stove and put on the kettle. “She does.”

  “Her sister lives in the Seattle Haven,” Evangeline explained.

  Something about the look on Lacey’s face told me she knew the real reason Harmony wasn’t keen on sticking around. But then that made sense, seeing as how vampires could smell fear. At least, that’s what the legends said. I’d never actually asked one if it were true or not.

  “I think I’ll try to get back to sleep,” Evangeline said, heading toward the door. “Unless you need me for anything?”

  I shook my head. “We’ve got it under control. Thanks, though. Sleep tight.”

  Evangeline said good night and slipped from the kitchen. Her soft footsteps sounded on the stairs a moment later. I checked on the kettle and then shifted my attention toward Lacey. “Did you find anything out there?”

  “No.” Her lips pursed together. “Whoever it was, they were long gone by the time we got out there.”

  My guilt wriggled my stomach into a tighter knot. “I’m really sorry, Lacey. I should have set up wards around the entire perimeter. I don’t have any excuses and completely understand if you want to cancel the rest of your stay. We can offer a refund.”

  I swallowed hard, hoping she wouldn’t ask for the money back. Between the wedding and paying back Adam’s parents for the loan they’d given us when we bought the inn, we’d earmarked the leftovers to replenish our anemic savings account. Refunding her wouldn’t crush us, but it would set us back quite a bit.

  “That’s not necessary,” she replied.

  The knot loosened ever so slightly.

  “We can’t uproot the talks now,” she continued, as her expression hardened with frustration. “I knew this whole thing was going to be a balancing act, but I didn’t expect quite this amount of resistance.”

  The kettle whistled and I pulled a mug down from the cabinet. With any other guest I would have offered to make a second cup, but I knew Lacey wasn’t interested in tea. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

  Lacey’s icy eyes flitted to the window over the sink. She stared for a long moment and I took the opportunity to scoop some tea into the metal steeper Adam had bought me for my last birthday. It was shaped like a cat’s head. I plunked the steeper into the mug of hot water and then glanced over to Lacey. “Where is everyone else?”

  Without looking at me, she answered, “Upstairs, I imagine.” Scoffing, she turned away from the window. “Maybe an early night is what we needed to clear our heads.”

  Her hand went to the pendant at her throat.

  “Adam should be back soon,” I said. “Should we go wait in the study?”

  It took her a long moment to raise her gaze to mine. “Holly, there’s something I should tell you—”

  Lacey straightened as the kitchen door opened. Craning around, I expected to see Adam, back from ferrying Harmony to the portal, but instead found the wide brown eyes of Jupiter. “Sorry to interrupt,” she said, “but Lacey, your father is on the phone.”

  Lacey swore as she pushed away from the kitchen counter. “What does he want now?” Snarling under her breath, she stalked across the kitchen. She paused at the door as Jupiter held it open and looked back at me. “Sorry, Holly. We’ll have to talk tomorrow.”

  She vanished from the room, leaving me with my tea and about a dozen unasked questions.

  Chapter Seven

  “Are you getting nervous?” Cassie asked as we waited outside the bridal boutique the following afternoon. Harmony and Evangeline were on the way but running a few minutes late. “Six weeks before my wedding, I was a nervous wreck!”

  Turning toward her, I laughed. “That’s not how I remember it. You were cool as a cucumber.”

  Cassie smiled to herself. “Maybe I just have a better poker face than I thought I did.”

  “I’m not nervous,” I told her, shaking my hair off my shoulders before slicking it into a ponytail. It was a warm day, and I wanted the extra weight off my neck. I didn’t want to go into a fancy boutique and try on pricey gowns with a trail of sweat down my back. “I’m more nervous about tonight.”

  Cassie lifted a brow. “What’s happening tonight?”

  Sighing, I dropped my arms back to my sides after securing the ponytail with a thin elastic band. “I’m having dinner with Adam and his parents.”

  “Ah.” Cassie flashed a grin. “In-law trouble already? Have you even met them before now?”

  I had, but I couldn’t explain the circumstances to Cassie. She was a human and had no idea that one of her best friends was a one-time supernatural delinquent with a rap sheet. The first time I’d met Adam’s parents, I’d just been placed under arrest and was being dragged out of the manor in a pair of magic cuffs.

  “We’ve met,” I replied after a moment, still cringing at the memory. “And they helped us when we took out the loan for the manor, so it’s not all bad blood or anything, but I kind of get the feeling they don’t like me very much.”

  Cassie exhaled a surprised laugh. “Why not? You’re the best thing to ever happen to Adam!”

  Smiling, I bumped my shoulder against hers. “Thanks.”

  “I mean, look at everything you two have accomplished together,” she continued, her tone still endearingly defensive. “You each have your own businesses and now you’ve bought a beautiful home together and started another enterprise. Not to mention, you’re fixtures in the community, helping around town and volunteering with different committees.”

  I hitched one shoulder. “I guess that’s true.”

  “Maybe if they came to town more often, they would see all the good you’re doing,” Cassie insisted.

  “Well, let’s not get carried away,” I replied with a soft laugh. “I’m not sure I want them here more.”

  Cassie pushed her bangs off her forehead. “Should we wait inside? I’m starting to sweat.”

  I checked my phone. No updated ETA from either Harmony or Evangeline. Stuffing it back into my purse, I jerked my chin toward the frosted glass doors of the boutique. “Sure.”

  We stepped inside the blessedly air-conditioned shop and were immediately approached by a saleswoman in a smart pantsuit. She introduced herself as Pria Montgomery and asked if we needed any assistance. Cassie explained the situation and I thought the poor woman might have had a slight heart attack when she mentioned the part about only having six weeks until the big day. After she recovered from shock, she shepherded us toward a section of off-the-rack gowns before showing us a selection of dresses that she explained could be rush-ordered.

  “Okay, so remind me, what are we looking for here?” Cassie asked when Pria scurried away. She reached into the rack of dresses and pulled out a strapless number with intricate beading all down the bodice. “Glittery? Simple? Lace? What?”

  With a sigh, I flipped through the rack of gown
s. “I don’t know. It’s a backyard wedding, so I feel like something flashy would be out of place, but then again, I do kind of like the idea of a little glamour.”

  The bell on the shop’s doors chimed and we turned to see Harmony and Evangeline bustle into the shop. Harmony clutched a paper wrapper in one hand, the contents of which appeared to be half a soft pretzel. She waved with her free hand. Evangeline held two paper shopping bags and wore a pair of sunglasses with rose-gold frames.

  Frowning, I planted one fist on my hip. “That’s why you’re late? You were shopping?”

  “We would have been on time, except someone had to get a snack,” Evangeline said, shooting Harmony a sidelong glance as she lifted her sunglasses off her face.

  Harmony hoisted her pretzel. “A girl’s gotta eat.”

  Cassie cringed as she glanced toward the back of the shop. “I’m not sure you’re allowed to have food in here,” she whispered.

  Harmony took a huge bite, nearly swallowing it whole. I frowned at her. “Nice, Harmony. Is that your python impression?”

  Evangeline sighed heavily and dropped her shopping bags in a plushy wingback chair to one side of the shop. “Okay. We’re here now, so catch us up. Any prospects?”

  Pria appeared just as Harmony wolfed down the last bits of pretzel and gave the four of us an apprehensive look—not that I could really blame her. We made quite the quartet. Cassie and I were dressed in linen capri-length pants and tank tops, while Evangeline wore a floral white-and-pink sundress with a large hat and looked like she’d just left the set of a photo shoot. Then there was Harmony. Standing off to the side in her torn denim shorts with a slouchy rock band tank top layered over a hot-pink sports bra, licking salt and butter from her fingertips.

  “Finding everything all right, ladies?” Pria asked, forcing a polite smile.

  “Would you mind starting a room for us?” Evangeline asked, popping out from behind a rack with two hangers in hand. “And what are the odds you have some chilled champagne on hand? I’m feeling a little parched.”

  I tucked my bottom lip between my teeth to keep from giggling. Every now and again, Evangeline’s past life as a supernatural TV star popped out. Usually while shopping.

  Pria blinked, surprised by the sudden shift, but she quickly snapped out of it and went to start a fitting room.

  “I didn’t even get to see the dresses you picked,” I complained to Evangeline once Pria was gone.

  Evangeline shrugged, still perusing the racks. “You don’t have to try them all on, if you don’t want to.”

  It didn’t take long for the three of them to pick out a dozen dresses for me and with the last batch passed off to Pria, I was thrust into the fitting room to put on my own one-witch fashion show for the trio while they sipped champagne and rated each look on a scale of one to ten. On the tenth gown—an ivory silk number that Evangeline had described as “curve-hugging” but felt more like rib-crushing—I pled for mercy. “Guys, please, how many more do I have to try on?”

  Harmony smiled as she topped off her flute of champagne.

  “At least four more,” Evangeline answered with a definitive nod. “You haven’t even gotten to the one with the tulle skirt I picked out!”

  Harmony’s nose wrinkled and she lifted one hand to pantomime a slashing motion across her throat before dropping her head to one side, letting her tongue loll out. Evangeline shot her a look and Cassie giggled.

  “This whole thing would be easier if you knew what you were looking for,” Evangeline told me, ignoring Harmony and Cassie’s whispers. “What was wrong with the lacy one with the mermaid cut? We all liked that one!”

  “I don’t know,” I replied, chewing on the inside of my cheek. The lace dress had been beautiful. Had I seen it in a bridal magazine I would have likely tagged it with one of the Post-It notes Evangeline had bought for me. And perhaps more importantly, that one hadn’t threatened to cut off my oxygen supply. It would need a few minor alterations, but nothing that couldn’t be done before the big day. Still … something nagged at me.

  “Maybe you should trade places,” Harmony suggested, elbowing Evangeline playfully. “Technically we have two brides.”

  Pria—likely perking at the possibility of two commissions—scrambled in with another round of champagne refills. “Congratulations! I didn’t realize you were a couple! Would you like me to start a second fitting room?”

  I glanced over my shoulder. “Oh. No, no. We’re not getting married to each other. We just both happen to be engaged at the same time.”

  Pria blinked. “Oh, I’m sorry. My mistake.”

  Evangeline waved it off. “It’s not a problem. But no, this is Holly’s day. I’m not going to horn in and make it about me. Besides, Teddy and I haven’t even set a date yet.”

  “Are you having the wedding here, too?” Cassie asked, before correcting herself to add, “In Beechwood, I mean.”

  Evangeline tucked her chin and considered her engagement ring for a long moment. “No decisions have been made yet.”

  “Please, Evangeline,” I said. “If you want to try some dresses on, go ahead. We’re all here, after all.”

  “Okay, okay!” She giggled and launched off the sofa. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to look for a few minutes.”

  She scampered off and Cassie excused herself to the ladies’ room after informing us that baby Lincoln had apparently started using her bladder as a trampoline for his tiny little legs. I extracted myself from the silk gown and changed back into my regular clothes. With Evangeline distracted, I figured I could escape trying on the final stragglers hanging in my fitting room—I’d intentionally skipped those ones in the line-up anyway.

  Heaving a sigh, I flopped on the couch beside Harmony and she handed me my own flute of champagne.

  “Anastasia is mad at you, you know,” she said, smiling a little as she plucked at a tulle veil. “She was set on getting you one of Aurelia’s custom designs.”

  I sighed. “I know.”

  Aurelia was a fashion designer based out of the Seattle Haven, though her client roster fanned out over the globe. She was in huge demand with a mile-long waiting list, but Anastasia assured me she could get me bumped to the top—but not when I only gave her a few months’ notice. Anastasia had begged me to reconsider moving the wedding to the following fall, promising me she could plan something much more elaborate and over the top with more time, but I’d gently let her down. Adam and I were set on September. We’d waited long enough. Besides, with a mix of humans and supernaturals in the audience, Aurelia’s magic effects would have to be snuffed out anyway. Her talent with magical fashion design would be lost on a gown made for a human-world wedding.

  “She’ll forgive me eventually,” I told Harmony. “If nothing else, I can bribe her with beauty products.”

  Harmony snorted. “There is that. She’s already asked me for the new anti-aging eye serum about a dozen times already.”

  I clucked my tongue. “I’m pretty sure I asked you not to give out samples until we brewed another batch.”

  “What can I say, she’s pushy,” Harmony replied with a shrug. “What are you going to do about the dress situation? Not to sound like Evie, but you are kind of running out of time.”

  I groaned. “Not you, too.”

  She laughed. “Okay, let me say it this way instead: is there anything I can do to help?”

  Smiling up at her, I held out my hands as I shrugged. “Hard to say. I don’t know why I can’t just make up my mind.”

  “You’re not getting cold feet, are you?”

  “No! I mean, not about marrying Adam,” I replied, dropping my hands back to the sofa with a soft plop. “But maybe about this whole wedding thing. It’s a lot of pressure. More than I thought it would be. I guess this is one of those times where I miss my mom the most.”

  Harmony’s expression went serious. “I’m sorry, Holly. I didn’t even think about that.”

  I sniffed, trying to banish the burning sensa
tion in my nose. “We were making the guest list and filling out the invitations and it just kind of hit me that I didn’t have any family members on the list. My parents are gone, grandparents too. The only living relative I know about is my Aunt Bethany and she cut ties with me after I got roped into that mess with Gabriel, my ex.”

  “But you didn’t have anything to do with all that!” Harmony replied, her tone scathing.

  “I know, but I can’t say I’ve been an absolute angel either,” I said, keeping my own voice low and measured. A rueful smile worked its way across my lips. “I did run an illegal potions business on the low-low for a few years there.”

  Harmony flapped a hand and made a dismissive hissing noise. “You were selling feel-good draughts to old guys so they could play on the floor with their grandkids and energy tonics to exhausted single moms. You make it sound like you were smuggling poison to the mob, or something.”

  I laughed. “Yeah, well try telling that to my Aunt Bethany. She’s a stickler for the rules and her latest husband is firmly ensconced in the haven hierarchy. He works for the SPA and last I heard he was running for a seat on the New York Haven council.”

  “When was the last time you talked to her?”

  “It’s been years.” A tear slipped free and I quickly swiped it away. “Goodness, maybe the champagne was a bad idea. It’s going to my head and making me all sappy.”

  “Should have had a pretzel, like me,” Harmony teased.

  I laughed and handed her my flute. She set it aside and leaned in a little closer, nudging my arm with hers. “For what it’s worth, Holly, I think anyone would be lucky to have you in their life, so it’s your aunt’s loss.”

  “Thanks, Harmony.” I sniffled again and nudged her arm back. “Now, all we have to do is survive another four days of royal vampire drama, find a wedding dress, and send the final deposit to the caterer and I’ll be all set. That is, assuming I survive dinner with Adam’s parents.”