Page 7 of Elemental Love (Warlocks #1)

Chapter four

D ominic Castine straightened his slim frame and rubbed his lower back with a groan.

Much as he loved his gardening business, sometimes it could be backbreaking work.

It certainly kept him fit—he had no need of an expensive gym membership—but sometimes the aches built up enough that there was certainly some appeal in the thought of a sauna or steam room.

“I’ll just have to make do with a hot bath,” he muttered.

He took a step back and ran a muddy hand through sweat-dampened hair, taking a critical look at the herb bed he had been planting.

“It looks perfect, Dominic.”

Agatha’s voice at Dominic’s shoulder made him jump.

He would never get used to the fact that she could sneak up on him so silently but he turned and smiled down at her diminutive frame.

He stood almost a foot taller than her stooped five feet nothing but she still managed to make him feel like a little boy, eager to please.

“Thanks, Aggie. There are one or two plants that I haven’t managed to get hold of yet but I should have them by the end of the week.

It’s coming together nicely, though. Should keep you well stocked with herbs for your medicines once everything takes hold.

The ground here is so fertile I’m sure everything will thrive. ”

“The earth works hard for your green fingers,” Aggie said. “The light will be going soon. Why don’t you come inside and have something to drink. I’ve also got some balm that you can take home with you to rub on your back.”

“How did you…? Never mind.” Dominic was sure Agatha hadn’t been there when he’d first stood up so how did she know his back was sore?

She always seemed to know about his aches and pains, how he was feeling or if something was bothering him.

He had decided long ago not to question her intuition.

He suspected that she practiced some form of witchcraft, but whatever she did it was certainly benign and he’d never had cause to think that she meant him any harm. Quite the opposite in fact.

He followed her back toward the kitchen, stopping on the way to use cold water from the outside tap to wash some of the sweat and grime from his face and hands.

He removed his heavy work boots, left them under the porch where they wouldn’t get wet if it rained, then went inside.

In his thick woolen socks, he padded across to the kitchen area of the open plan room and sat in his usual spot at the table.

A small bouquet of wildflowers nestled in a jelly jar was positioned in the center of the table.

He recognized autumn crocuses and hebe among the blooms. The scent rose to tickle his nostrils.

The warmth of the room wrapped around him like a hug.

“Something smells good, Aggie. What are you cooking?” Savory aromas drifted from the range, overwhelming the sweeter scent of the flowers.

“Vegetable stew, with some of your herbs of course. It does smell good.” She rubbed her stomach and grinned. “It’ll be ready in half an hour or so. There’s plenty if you want to stay.”

She didn’t push the invitation, and Dominic was grateful.

Agatha never pressured him into anything or made him feel guilty for preferring his own company on occasion.

He disliked making decisions unless it concerned where to plant a particular shrub or when to cut back a fruit tree.

People were complicated. Dominic preferred clear instructions and loved the sense of satisfaction he got from meeting expectations.

Social situations were a challenge even with someone as easygoing as Agatha.

He never charged Agatha for the work he did on her large garden.

In exchange for his hard labor, she taught him about the many uses for herbs and plants.

Her knowledge was extensive and she was a mine of information about natural pest control and the best way to encourage plants to flourish in difficult conditions.

It was an arrangement that suited them both, and Dominic genuinely enjoyed her company.

Cupping his mug with fingers engrained with mud despite his attempts to clean them, Dominic listened intently to Agatha’s latest lecture on the medicinal properties of sage.

“Let’s see if you’ve been paying attention, shall we?” She sounded like a particularly stern junior high-school teacher Dominic had once been taught by. “Which herb family does sage come from?”

“The mint family. I don’t know the Latin name,” Dominic said.

“And which other herbs come from that family?”

“Oregano, lavender, rosemary, thyme and basil,” he recited, happy that he remembered.

“Very good. Now, can you describe sage for me?”

“Gray-green leaves and blue or purple flowers?” He thought he recalled other varieties.

“Yes, the flowers can be white or pink as well, though. What about some uses?”

“There are quite a lot. It has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties and it’s supposed to be good for digestive problems.”

“Very good. There’s also been some research into it improving memory and, though this won’t be of much interest to you, it’s good for controlling hot flushes in women of a certain age.”

Dominic chuckled.

“It also tastes damn good in stew!” Agatha got up to stir the pot on the stove.

Dominic relaxed in his chair and gazed around the cozy kitchen.

Aggie’s cabin had become a second home to him in recent months.

There was something about the old building that felt safe.

Crazy really because Aggie rarely locked her doors.

The décor was a mishmash of colors and styles that suited Aggie perfectly.

Most of the furniture was reclaimed or gifted from people who’d benefited from Aggie’s home remedies.

The walls were adorned with tapestry work, delicate watercolors and detailed oils that glowed with jewel-like colors.

Bunches of drying herbs hung from hooks above the window.

“I wonder why they ran electricity out here, it’s pretty remote.” Dominic eyed the expensive coffee maker on the kitchen counter. He’d never seen Aggie drink coffee the whole time he’d known her. She was strictly a herbal tea girl.

“My powers of persuasion are world-renowned. Forty years ago there were state grants to connect more remote properties to the grid if you knew where to go. I have a few connections. I like my home comforts. What would I do without my nature documentaries and current affairs programs?”

“You mean soap operas and thrillers, don’t you?” Dominic knew full well that Agatha was addicted to some daily shows. He’d been forced to sit through a couple of them.

Aggie cackled. “You know me too well.”

“I’ve also detected a theme of gratuitous shirtlessness.”

“I’m old, not dead. Besides, I didn’t see you looking away.”

Dominic’s cheeks heated. He hoped the blushing could be put down to the warmth of the open fire.

The light had faded completely and Dominic had started to think about the walk back to his truck.

It was far enough to be unpleasant in the cold, and if it rained, it would be downright miserable.

He was warm and comfortable so he wasn’t in any rush to venture out.

A sharp knocking interrupted his procrastination.

The door swung inward with some violence, banging against the wall.

A stunning young man, not much older than Dominic, lugging two large paper sacks of groceries, collapsed through the door.

Dominic stared in shock. He realized the newcomer must be Aggie’s grandson, Evrain.

She’d talked about him a lot and Dominic almost felt like he knew him already, even though they had never met.

Her description didn’t do Evrain justice—he was absolutely gorgeous.

Dominic’s temperature rose even further.

The fact that his cock was swelling rapidly didn’t help.

He clamped his gaping mouth shut but couldn’t look away.

“Some help would be nice, or are you just going to sit there and stare?” Evrain snapped.

It took Dominic a few seconds to realize that Evrain had directed the comment at him, and was now glaring at him with the most beautiful dark green eyes Dominic had ever seen.

Evrain elbowed the door shut behind him.

Belatedly, Dominic pushed his chair back, crossed the kitchen with rapid strides and held out his arms for the bags.

Evrain shoved them both into Dominic’s grasp with a sigh of relief.

“That fucking lane gets longer every time I walk down it.” Evrain shrugged off his jacket, slung it around the back of Dominic’s recently vacated seat then sat heavily, claiming the spot for himself.

“Language, Evrain.” Agatha handed him a mug of tea, then bent to receive a kiss on her cheek. “If you want coffee instead, you can grapple with that demonic machine yourself.” She gestured at the shiny chrome coffee maker.

Evrain sipped from his mug. “This is fine, thanks. It’s a chilly evening. I need warming up.” He looked directly at Dominic as he spoke.

“Dominic, allow me to introduce you to my impudent grandson, Evrain Brookes.”

Dominic swallowed. He was dealing with the thoughts of what warming up Evrain might entail. He pushed the bulging shopping bags onto the kitchen counter.

“Nice to meet you.” Dominic didn’t look at Evrain, just muttered the greeting under his breath and edged toward the door.

In the presence of this charismatic man, Dominic’s fight or flight instincts lurched toward escape with the subtlety of a stampeding herd of wildebeest. There was no doubt in his mind that Evrain was a predator on the hunt.

“Going so soon?” Evrain smirked and raised a dark eyebrow.

“I should… I mean… I don’t…”

“You’re very welcome to stay for some supper,” Aggie said, rescuing him from his tongue-tied misery and renewing her invitation. “There’s plenty to go round.”