Rest For The Wicked(46)
“Hey.” He leaned in and kissed her. The touch of his lips left her tingling. “Another busy day?”
“Insane. I’m wiped out.” She grabbed his hand. “Come and sit. My feet are killing me.”
Annie led him to the reading table in the back, left Marcus to close out the register. She sank into the padded chair, slipped off her shoes and let out a sigh. Eric lifted her legs and settled both feet in his lap, fingers massaging her aching arch. She leaned back in the chair.
“Oh, that feels fantastic. I love you.”
His hands paused, then kept massaging. “Right back at you, blondie.”
Her heart stuttered, then hit fast forward. She pulled out of his grip, swung her legs to the floor.
“Do you mean that?”
He met her gaze. “I don’t say anything I don’t mean. You should know that by now.”
“And you don’t care—” She forced herself to continue, because she had to say it. He had to hear it. “That I’m a witch?”
Eric cradled her cheek. “I’m thinking it will just make my life more interesting.”
Tears stung her eyes. “Oh, damn. How did I get so lucky?” She crawled into his lap, buried her face in his shoulder. “Can you say—”
“I love you, Annie.”
Letting out a sigh, she tightened her grip on him. “Great way to say goodbye.”
He kissed the top of her head. “You know I would stay, but I need time—”
“Eric.” She lifted her head, framed his face. “We’ve been through something that would break down a strong person. I’d be worried if you didn’t need the time. God knows I’ll miss you, but I understand, and I’ll try not to embarrass myself when we say goodbye.”
“I’m going to miss you, more than I expected to.”
Annie smiled. “Good.”
She kissed him, like they had all the time in the world, forgetting Marcus, forgetting everything but the feel of his lips, his tongue, the warmth of his breath. When they came up for air, a discreet cough turned her head around.
Marcus leaned against the counter, arms crossed.
“What?” she said.
“It is time.”
“Right.” She kissed Eric one last time, slid off his lap. “You’re all packed?”
“Bags are already in his car.”
“Okay.” She took his hand. And held her other hand out to Marcus. “Come here.” He obeyed without asking why. Annie looked at each one of them, managed a smile. “I want us to make a promise, right here. No matter what happens, we stay connected. Wherever we happen to be.” Her gaze moved to Eric, and tears filled her eyes. “We will always—”
“Promise,” Eric said, pulling her into his side. He let go of her hand, wrapped his arm around her waist, kissed her cheek. “What about you, old man?”
Marcus bent over her hand and kissed it. “You have my word.”
“I think Claire would approve—not of you running her store,” she said to Marcus. “Though she may hate it less than she thinks. And there I go again, talking about her like she’s in the next room.” Annie took in a shaky breath, tugged Marcus forward. “She’d be happy, knowing we aren’t alone. Okay.” She let go of Marcus’ hand, swallowed past the tears lodged in her throat. “Get out of here.”
Eric turned her in his arms, slid both hands in her hair, and kissed her until she couldn’t think straight.
“I’ll call you when I get there,” he said, his breath warm against her still healing ear. Then he kissed that ear, making her shudder. “God, I’ll miss you.”
He pulled away and walked to the back of the store, glancing over his shoulder before he stepped through the door. Annie let out a sigh, turned away. Marcus pulled her into a quick, welcome embrace.
“I will be back soon. Dinner?”
“Sure. I’ll wait here for you.”
She watched them get into Marcus’ Jaguar, the engine purring like a big cat before it roared out of sight. Rubbing her eyes, she dropped into the chair and rested her forehead on her crossed arms.
She almost told them, wanted to tell them so badly. But she wasn’t sure how to put into words what she knew in her heart. What the dreams that woke her in a cold sweat kept telling her.
Claire was alive.
~*~