Page 23 of Witch Upon a Star
I shook my head, smirking. “Touché.”
“Can I ask you questions now?”
I was surprised she’d want to know anything about me. My life certainly wasn’t exciting in comparison. “Ask me anything.”
“Are you happy here, in Mount Grove?”
That wasn’t what I’d expected her to ask, but then again, I was coming to realize that Calliope was anything butpredictable. I supposed I should get used to expecting the unexpected with her. Witch, beekeeper, siren… There wasn’t anythingnormalabout this woman, and I was her willing captive.
“I am,” I answered. “I found my people again. My club is my home and my family.”
“I’m glad.” She rolled a screw between her fingers for a moment before saying, “I have to confess: I’ve seen your videos.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Hate to break it to you, Winnie, but that’s not a surprise.”
The screw in her hands went flying across the room as her hand jerked. “What did you call me?”
“‘Winnie’,” I repeated. “Too corny? I thought it appropriate because you love honey so much, but I can change it if you prefer something else…”
She shook her head as my voice trailed off. “No.” She seemed to need to catch her breath for a moment. “No, it’s fine. It’s…” She turned her head, as if seeking the wayward screw. “It’s fine.”
Calliope scampered to her feet, chasing after the screw she’d accidentally thrown. I didn’t understand why my nickname for her flustered her so, and damn, I was kicking myself for using it. I should have just stuck with her name.
When she came back, kneeling down, I reached over and took the screw from her hand. She was practically shaking. I leaned in. Unable to stop myself, I pressed my lips to her temple. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders, pulling her against me. There was nothing in that moment that I wanted more than to offer her my comfort, but if she asked me for the moon, I’d havegiven it.
I ridiculously realized that I wasn’t a metamorphosing caterpillar, but a falling Star. Quite literally, in fact. Why couldn’t today be tomorrow?
“What is this?” I asked softly.
She gripped my arm with both her hands, leaning heavily into me. I barely heard her words as she said, “The start of us.”
Fuck, I should not have found that so alluring. I should not be terrified of letting go of this woman and never being able to hold her again. I should be running from this place, not gripping her tighter.
I dipped my head, nuzzling my nose into her hair. She smelled sweet, like honey. “I’m going to say something crazy, but will you go out with me tonight? Will you let me take you on a proper date?”
She turned her face slightly, and I wished I could see her expression. “No.”
My heart sank. At that single world, it turned to stone and dropped into the open abyss that was my broken soul.
Calliope sat up, shifting to face me. Our knees were touching as we stared at one another. “You can’t tonight,” she told me. “You have a previous engagement, remember?”
It took me a solid five seconds to figure out just what the hell she was talking about. “Oh shit.” The heist to get back the shell casing with Ranger. I’d completely forgotten. “Wait, you know about that?”
Did it count as breaking club bylaws if I hadn’ttoldher club business and she’d psychically known it anyway?
She shook her head. “Not specifics, but I know you’re doing something dangerous tonight.”
“It’snot dangerous.”
Her brown eyes bore into mine. “It is,” she insisted. “I don’t know what you’re doing and I don’t want to know. I just need you safe.Please.”
I ran my fingers through her long hair. “I promise.” Ranger and I were both professionals. We knew what we were doing.
She put her hand to my chest. “But my answer still stands, Quinten. I can’t go out with you.”
5
CALLIOPE
