Page 10 of Bewitchingly Hers (Witches of Pleasant Grove #3)

CHAPTER SEVEN

eryne

I didn’t know why I was filled with so much apprehension as Barrett followed me home in his car. Maybe it was because he didn’t have to stick around anymore, despite saying he would.

Still, I let out a breath of relief when he pulled into my driveway, parking his car next to mine.

He wasn’t leaving. At least, not yet.

Though I was still holding my breath as he climbed out of his car, trying not to appreciate the view. He looked good in the clothes I found for him—stylish, even. Like those things had always been meant to go together.

“Why do you look so surprised?” Barrett asked, throwing his bags over his shoulder. “I told you I wasn’t going anywhere. I’m going to help you find out what happened.”

I gnawed on my lip. “I know. It’s just… I was worried, I guess.”

He was healed, but I could still tell that he was limping a little from the gait of his walk. He was favoring his left side—the one that hadn’t been mauled as badly—and there wasn’t much I could do for him at this point. The only thing he needed was time.

After following me inside, he dropped his bags on the floor, and then looked at the couch. “I’ll sleep here tonight,” he announced.

I leaned against the wall. “You’re barely going to fit on that, Barrett.” His eyes flared as I said his name, and it made me want to say it again and again. “Even when you were a wolf, it’s not that big of a couch.”

He crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m going to protect you. And that means I can’t let you out of my sight. So, I’m staying here.”

I frowned. “Am I in danger or something?”

He avoided my gaze. “You might be.”

“I think I can take my chances.”

Barrett let out a small growl, and then cleared his throat. “Sorry. Like I said, my wolf likes you. He, uh… doesn’t want to be apart from you.” He grimaced. “I’m sorry if this makes you uncomfortable.”

It didn’t. And I couldn’t quite explain that out loud. “Barrett?” My voice was soft.

“Yes?” His head perked up—just like it did when he was a wolf.

“You can share my bed, if you want to. I only have the one, but we can both fit on it.” Part of me knew what I was offering.

After this morning, it felt insane not to acknowledge that this was crazy.

But I couldn’t help it. He’d told me his wolf liked me, so maybe it didn’t hurt to admit this.

Maybe I was a little attached, too. “I don’t think I can sleep without your wolf anymore. He’s like my own heater.”

Maybe that was the wrong call. Maybe asking him to share my bed was just temptation after this morning. But I really did only have one bed in my house, and the idea of forcing him onto the couch when he was still a little banged up didn’t sit right with me.

There was a rumbling sound that seemed to come from his chest, and he rubbed over the spot, like he didn’t understand it himself. “Okay,” he finally said. He picked up his bags once again. “After you, sugar.”

Sugar. That was new. I was glad to be in front, because at least he couldn’t see the blush on my cheeks. There was something about Barrett as a human that unsettled me—though maybe that wasn’t the right word.

The man was a mystery, and I wanted to unravel him.

I wanted to understand what had brought him here, to Pleasant Grove.

To me.

After setting his bags down at the end of my bed, he looked around my room, like he was seeing it with a whole different set of eyes for the first time.

I was trying not to think about this morning, when I’d been all pressed up against his body. Was it wrong to ask him to do that again, just for science?

“I have to go to work,” I blurted out. “I normally close.” Even though I didn’t need to. The café could operate just fine without me.

“Okay.” He nodded his head, once, like that was totally fine.

“You’ll be okay here?” I asked, hesitantly.

He furrowed his eyebrows. “No.”

“No?”

“I’m coming with you.”

My jaw dropped. “ What ?”

Barrett crossed his arms over his chest. “I’ve been stuck in this house for days. Besides this morning and getting my car, I’ve hardly even set foot outside.”

“But…” I frowned.

He stepped closer to me, my entire body practically buzzing from the close proximity. I could feel his body heat, and it was hard to focus on anything else.

“Let me come with you, Eryne. Please. I need to see the town, too. Get a feel for what’s going on.”

“ Fine ,” I relented, letting out a sigh. “But you can’t get in my way.”

He raised his hand. “Scouts honor. I’ll just bring my laptop and stay at a table in the corner.”

“Were you actually a Boy Scout?” I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms over my chest.

The man just hummed. “We had our own version in Walnut Ridge. Wolves only.” He winked. For some reason, I could picture little Barrett, dressed up in a uniform, running around with the other kids on a camping trip, and the thought made me smile.

“So… that’s where you’re from? Walnut Ridge?” I asked, wanting to know more about the mysterious man in front of me. I’d never heard of it before.

Barrett nodded. “Yeah. It’s up in Vermont. Just a few hours away from here, actually.”

Vermont. My heart sank. I knew he wasn’t from here, but something about knowing he was so far away just drove home the fact that at some point, he would leave.

It wasn’t like I really expected him to be my knight in shining armor, here to sweep me off my feet, but I guess I’d just hoped that somehow…

I shook the thought away. Not the time, Eryne, I reminded myself.

“That’s great,” I said, turning my back to him as I grabbed my work bag from the spot I always left it. If I looked at him now, well… my face would betray my feelings.

And considering I hadn’t even known the man before this morning, it made no sense.

He’d been a wolf, for goddess’s sake. A wolf I’d been taking care of, who had been sharing my bed and letting me snuggle with him, because I’d thought he was an animal.

Maybe I still hadn’t fully processed that yet.

He’d been stuck inside all along. A man who looked like he could bench my weight or run a four minute mile didn’t need to be treated like…

well, a dog. Heat crept into my cheeks, thinking of the way I’d babied him, telling him how he was a good boy, plus of all the conversations I’d had with myself.

There were some things you just didn’t need a guy like that to know. Gods, I’d changed in front of him. What was wrong with me?

“Ready?” I asked, turning back to him. My broom was in the corner of my room, though on a day like today—the fog had burned off with the afternoon sun—I was perfectly content to walk to the shop.

He slung his bag over his shoulder. “Yeah. Let’s go.”

Barrett was sitting in the corner, just like he’d promised, though I noticed he seemed to be doing more staring at me than actually working. Though I wasn’t exactly sure what he was working on.

I drummed my fingers against the countertop, aware that I was guilty of the same thing.

What was his job? Was he some sort of paranormal investigator ? I didn’t know why he had even been nearby, or what he was searching for by staying in town. I assumed he had a plan, but he hadn’t shared it with me.

I made another coffee order—a shaken espresso for one of our regulars, Olivia—and then turned back to the counter, finding a familiar looking man standing in front of me. The problem with living in such a small town—with such an involved community—is everyone knew everyone.

“Hi, Eryne.” He pushed his glasses up his nose as he stepped up to the counter.

“Hey, Simon.” I gave him a warm smile. “How’s it going?”

We’d gone to high school together, and he was harmless, but also a shameless flirt with the girls. Though I’d never really paid much attention to guys when I was younger.

Now… I looked over at Barrett.

There was a scowl on his face, those amber eyes locked on mine.

I turned back to Simon, who was prattling on about his day and what had happened to him. Poor guy had definitely been hit with a bad luck hex, and I suspected I knew exactly who had done it, though I couldn’t exactly prove it was Cait.

Still, she was the master of hexes, better than anyone else in her coven—or in Pleasant Grove in general.

“That sounds awful,” I told him. “I hope you can get it figured out.” I really meant that—but I also wasn’t going to sell Cait out when I had no idea if she was the culprit.

“Thanks. You going to come out to the Enchanted Cauldron one of these nights?”

I hesitated. When was the last time I’d gone out? The last two weeks, I’d been so busy taking care of the wolf—of Barrett, I corrected myself—that all I’d done was work, eat, sleep, and check on him. There had been no time for a moment to myself.

“Maybe,” I offered. Ghoul’s Night was Friday, and it wouldn’t be hard to convince my friends to go out with me. But… what about Barrett? Would he want to go? I worried my lower lip into my mouth. “We’ll see.”

He smiled, like he knew that was the most he was going to get. “Hope to see you around.”

My phone lit up with a text on the counter next to me after he walked away, sitting at a table as he waited for his order.

***

Who is he?

I frowned, looking up, only to find Barrett typing on his phone.

Eryne

Barrett?

Yes.

When did you get my phone number?

When you were in the shower.

… You did what now?

Scowling at him from across the room, I changed his name in my contacts as I waited for another text to come in.

Barrett

Listen. Be mad at me later. Now, who is he?

Just an old friend. We went to high school together. Relax.

I don’t like the way he was talking to you.

I could practically hear the growl rumbling in his chest from here.

Good thing I didn’t ask.

Shoving my phone into my pocket, I ignored him as I continued working, taking orders, making drinks, and grabbing pastries from the case.

What did it matter what he thought? We weren’t together. He didn’t get to feel possessive over me. I’d only just met the guy! He could fuck off, as far as I was concerned. Maybe I should tell him to sleep on the couch tonight.

My phone buzzed a few more times, but I ignored it until I slipped into the back room.

Barrett

I’m sorry.

I told you, my wolf is attached. He’s a little possessive.

A little?

I rolled my eyes.

I have to work. Tell him to chill. It’s none of his business who asks me out.

There were other unread texts on my phone, too—a few texts from Rina and Wendy, and I quickly opened those next. Goddess knows they were like flies to honey.

Wendy

Eryne, we need an update.

Rina

How’s it going with your wolf man??? I need answers!!

Eryne

I’m at work now.

Wendy

And… you left him at home?

No, he came with me. He insisted.

Rina

So, has he peed on you yet? Marked his territory?

I blushed, because they weren’t too far off.

Eryne

No. Gross.

…but he did almost growl at Simon who was just in here getting a coffee.

Rina

Oh he *likes you* likes you.

It’s just his wolf. He says he’s attached.

Honestly, I think I might like the wolf better than the man. He’s just confusing.

Wendy

Hmmm…

Rina

Are you thinking what I’m thinking, Wends?

Wendy

I could use a cookie, if that’s what you’re thinking.

Rina

Perfect. Meet you there.

Sighing, I stashed my phone away, grabbing another tray of sugar cookies and carrying them out to the case.

There was no stopping those two once they had an idea in their heads, something I knew too well.

Ever since they were little, they’d been best friends, always getting into trouble wherever they went.

It wasn’t surprising to me that they were still single—even if we were all passing the mid-twenties point.

Neither of them seemed interested in meeting someone or settling down.

They didn’t waste any time, and a few minutes later, I saw them both peeking in the front window, past a pair of paper bats I’d hung in the beginning of the month.

I rolled my eyes, surprised it had taken this long for them to ask me about Barrett.

This morning felt like a week ago, so much had happened today, but there was something about him meeting my friends that had me anxious in a whole different way. What if he was a jerk to them? I didn’t know how I’d handle that.

My friends had never met a boyfriend before. Not that he was my boyfriend. Far, far from it. But it felt like we were more than just friends, too. Maybe it was my hormones. I was all jittery, and I’d only had one cup of coffee at breakfast.

“Is that him?” Wendy whispered, leaning across the counter after they’d finally come inside. Barrett was using his laptop, focused on the screen in front of him.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I glared at them. “Yes. Now, if you’re done gawking, I have to get back to the actual paying customers.” They both rolled their eyes at me. “Also, don’t you have, I don’t know… jobs to do?”

“Oh, shut up,” Rina said, fanning herself with her hand. “He’s hot. You should definitely go for it.” She gave me a thumbs up. “Get that wolf man D, girl.” She’d pulled up her long, brunette hair into a ponytail on the top of her head, wearing a tight black top and a pair of jeans.

“I…” I blushed, glancing over at him. He had an eyebrow raised as he stared at us, and I wondered how good his hearing was. Could he hear what we were saying from across the room? I hoped not. Goddess, that would be mortifying .

“Rina,” Wendy scolded, adjusting the slouchy white sweater dress on her shoulder. She’d also tied a red ribbon in her hair as a headband. It was her signature color, and it was rare to see her not wearing it.

Rina, on the other hand, stuck to dark colors and edgier patterns.

Meanwhile, I just liked whatever was cute and comfy, though I did own a dozen different pairs of boots.

“What?” My friend shrugged. “It’s true.”

Wendy let out a sigh of exasperation. “I’m not denying it’s true. But have a little tact.”

Rina narrowed her eyes. “You agreed with me. You think she should fuck him too.”

“Guys,” I hissed. “Why are you talking about my sex life like I’m not even here?” Yep, mortifying.

A throat cleared, and I looked up into a pair of amber eyes.

“Do you think he heard us?” Rina whispered to Wendy. The two of them looked so comical that I had to hold in a laugh.

Wendy tugged on her arm. “Yeah, I think so.” She looked back at me. “We should go.”

“Uh-huh.” I watched them turn and run out of the shop and resisted rolling my eyes as they left. When I looked back at the man at my side, he had an amused look on his face.

“So, those are your friends, hm?”

I grimaced. “How much of that did you hear?”

He chuckled, and the sound went straight between my thighs. He leaned closer, so close that I could feel his breath ghost over my neck. “All of it.”

A squeak slipped from my lips.

Yeah, I was so fucked.