“I get it. I do. Why do you think I’m choosing to be single for now? I’m not ready to deal with heartbreak again. I just can’t. Besides, I’m loving the fact that I can just live my life and not have to worry about what some guy wants me to do or who he expects me to be.
“I don’t want to have to work and wait on another man or cook every damn meal for the rest of my life. I like being me. That being said … you, Annie, Clara, all of you are ready for love again, and there is nothing wrong with that. I may get there again someday. That day is not here for me yet. But I have to ask, why do you feel bad about using that spell? What bothers you about it?” Maggie asked.
“It just seems wrong. Like I’ve somehow messed with his free will. Like I took his choice away by doing this stupid spell.” And that was the crux of the problem. Gina didn’t want to feel like the only reason that Nick had moved to Misfit Bay or had any desire to be with her was because of the spell. “What if he finds out I used some spell to make him move here and fall for me?”
“What made you think the spell didn’t work at first?” Maggie asked.
“Well, the words and verses didn’t make much sense. It was a mess. Honestly, even though I did everything the spell required, nothing happened. No lights flickered. Not even a single candle flamed higher or anything. I guess I just expected something. Anything. It was all very anticlimactic.”
“Hmm. Usually, there’s something to indicate the spell worked. Maybe you were right, and it didn’t work. It could be that Nick has some magic of his own, and that’s why he turned up here in Misfit Bay.”
“What do you mean?” Gina asked.
“Well, you know that Clint, Dennis, and Rick are shifters, right?”
“I had a feeling they were. I’ve met shifters before, and they all kind of fit the bill for what I know about their kind.” The news didn’t surprise her, but what she did find to be surprising was the number of paranormal people gathered in Misfit Bay. Shifters, witches. What else?
“I’m just saying that Nick could have some of his own magic that drew him here. Him moving to Misfit Bay may not have had anything to do with your spell,” Maggie explained.
“I’d like to think that if he had magic in him, he would have told me before we slept together. It would actually be really fucked up if he didn’t disclose that info.”
“Yes and no. He could have a situation like yours where he really didn’t know what he had was magic.”
“True.” Gina thought about it for a second. “I guess it wouldn’t be so bad to find out that Nick has some magic of his own. I would’ve liked to have known beforehand, though. Assuming he does have some sort of magic.”
“He might not. It’s all just speculation right now. We’re also just guessing about your spell. I’m sure we could do some forensic magic to see if it actually worked, but I wouldn’t really worry about it. Anyway, it’s past my bedtime. I’m about to turn into a pumpkin. So, I’ll say goodnight.” Maggie stood and gave Gina a hug. “Hang in there, kid. You have a bright future ahead of you. Try not to get weighed down on things that don’t really matter to the big picture.”
“Goodnight,” Gina said, returning the hug that felt so damn good. “Thanks for listening.”
“Anytime.”
Gina finished her tea and headed straight for the shower. Her heart felt a bit lighter than it had. At least she no longer had to worry about the repercussions of her snooping around the café.
ChapterThirteen
Nick stopped fighting his beast and welcomed him to take control of their physical form. Bone after bone snapped into place. A luscious brown fur covered his skin. He felt the power coursing through his muscles as the transformation completed. He shook away the lingering magic and took off at a fast clip, wanting to check in on his mate as quickly as possible.
Nick found himself behind Gina’s house within a few minutes of leaving the hotel. He sniffed the air, making sure there were no immediate threats lurking nearby. When he was satisfied that he was the only shifter in the area, Nick lumbered over to the edge of the woods, which was less than ten yards from her back door, to keep an eye on the house.
He had no idea how much time had passed. It could have been hours or minutes. Hell, it could have been days for all he knew when he heard the back door creak open. He jumped to his feet, wanting to dash back into the woods before anyone saw him, but it was too late.
“Ack! A fucking bear!” Maggie shouted before grabbing something out of her purse.
“Fuck!”he said to his bear. The last thing he wanted was a face full of pepper spray.
“What! What do you mean a bear?” Gina stammered.
The second his mate’s voice reached his ears, he turned to face her. Gods, she was even more beautiful than he had remembered from last night. Her long auburn hair was pulled up into a messy bun with whisps of loose hair framing her heart-shaped face and highlighting her alarming sapphire eyes.
Before he could take off, the woman with Gina leveled a wand at him and whispered something he couldn’t hear. The smell of magic filled his nostrils, and before he knew it, he was standing on two feet instead of four, and he was buck-ass naked.
“Witch!”he shouted in his mind.
“What the …” Maggie bellowed.
“Nick!” Gina’s voice echoed in his mind.
She was a fucking witch. So was her friend. Did magic have something to do with the reason he was so damn attracted to her? Maybe she wasn’t really his mate after all. He never fell for women as fast and as hard as he had with Gina. It had to be because of magic.