Page 6 of Untraced Magic
“Your sister? I haven’t seen her since we were kids.”
I shook my head. “Yeah, time flies.”
Wes walked past me, heading next door to extend the invitation no doubt. He had a natural way with women, and I’d never met one able to refuse his charm.
Good luck to her.
Morgan
Laterthatevening,achill had set upon Cutters Cove. Not that there had been an ounce of warmth in the day, but dusk had swallowed daylight, leaving a newfound bitterness in its wake.
A shiver staked its claim over my body, and I was about to seek refuge in the warmth indoors when the padding of footsteps had me glance over my shoulder.
A guy in a black hoodie with eyes a bright tint of green leaned over the crooked fence separating our properties, his lower half hidden from view.
“I thought I’d come over and introduce myself. You must be our new neighbor. I’m Wesley.”
He pulled back his hood, revealing a square jaw and thick dark hair that fell loosely over his forehead. I waved awkwardly from my front steps.
“Hi. I’m Morgan,” I said, offering him a polite smile.
He looked at me with intrigue, his head cocked to the side, in thought it seemed. When he spoke again, his demeanor changed, and a cheeky grin filled his features.
“We’re having a small gathering here tomorrow if you wanted to come and meet a few people in town.”
A question that sounded oddly like an order.
His eyes took a dive to my feet then slid back up to meet mine again.
I inwardly groaned.
Flirt.
No wonder Betty was getting all giggly talking about theboysnext door. Wesley was not a boy. He was all man. I guessed in his late 20s and a good-looking one, too.
Except he knew it.
I knew all too well how these guys worked, thanks to my ex.
Gripping the handle of my broom tighter, I swept the last of the season’s bronze dusting my front porch off the side. The leaves floated over the edge and onto the ground. I wanted a day for myself to get settled in, but knew I should at leasttryand do the neighborly thing.
“Thanks, I’d like that,” I lied. “What can I bring?”
He waved me off. “Don’t worry about that. Just come over around five-ish and leave the rest to us.” Then he winked before turning back towards his house.
I watched him until he disappeared back inside.
Luckily, guys like him were no longer my type.
***
After waking the next morning, I shoved my feet into my runners, tugging a knitted beanie over my ears. Morning air was the one thing I could count on to help clear my mind, but sea air was intoxicating.
Borderline addictive, even.
There was just somethingfreshabout it, like the salt on my lips could cleanse me in some way. Every breath like a brand-new day.
I set off towards the bus stop until I stood before the town map I’d seen yesterday, skimming over the labyrinth of trails I could follow. There seemed to be a track that looped around the perimeter of the town which would take me past the forest, so I opted for that.
