Page 6 of Enchanted Kisses
“Dr. Eve. She’s nice. Her style is a little out there, colorful, but her techniques seem to work, with only a few drawbacks.”
“Like?”
“My dad forgets details from his past, but he can function and he’s happy, so it’s worth the loss. Do you want to dance? I feel like twirling.”
“I have a better idea.” He stood. “How about you call Caiden for me.”
“You know Caiden? Are you meeting him here, too?”
The guy studied me for a moment, a wicked grin curving his lips. “I can’t decide if it’s sweet or pathetic that you believe that text was from him.”
“What?” I frowned and stopped swaying, the melody fading from my mind. “What do you mean?”
“He didn’t text you.”
“Yes, he did. It came from his number.”
“I know. I made sure of that.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You don’t need to understand. You only need to help me. Now, be a good pet and call for him.” He blew in my face, sending a blast of cloves my way.
My body responded with a deep inhale, and an intense need to shout Caiden’s name built inside me.
“Do it,” the guy urged, his eyes aglow with silver flecks. “Picture him standing before you in your mind and call his name like your life depends on it.”
Confusion warred with my desire to obey.
He blew in my face again.
I swayed, entranced by his scent, and my eyes closed. I imagined my former best friend. The exchange student who asked me to help him find his class during the spring of our senior year of high school. The guy who ended up having all the same classes as me, except for one. The guy who listened to me ramble about the nursery and my favorite flowers. The guy who helped me close the business at night when my father left early, fearing a hallucination. Who treated my dad like a normal person, even had dinner with us twice a week. Who loved mythical tales he learned when he was a child and shared the stories with me while we laid side-by-side in my backyard, staring up at the stars. Who had the confidence of the star quarterback but the puny physique of the water boy.
I pictured his face, his hair, his eyes—and the way he stared at me like I was the most fascinating person in the world.
God, I miss him. My heart ached at the memories and tears burned behind my closed lids. Why did he leave me when we were at our best and becoming more? Anger, desperation, sadness, and hurt collided inside me. With a clear image of Caiden in my mind, I cupped my mouth and shouted his name, as if screaming it loud enough would force him to appear.
Emotions clogged my throat and my voice shook, but I kept calling for him, kept yelling his name until tears soaked my cheeks and my lungs had no air.
Exhausted, I slumped with my eyes still closed and worked to catch my breath. On my third inhale, I smelled him—oak and nutmeg.
What if it was another hallucination and he wasn’t really here? Cautious, I lifted my head in search of Caiden.
My gaze fell upon the car-filled parking lot. My Volkswagen. The creepy stranger. But Caiden was nowhere in sight.
Pain filled my head with the onset of a migraine. I winced and rubbed my temples.
“Here, let me, pet.” The guy stepped closer and touched my head.
Too weary and confused, I didn’t resist. Warmth flowed from his fingers to my skin, lessening the pain.
“You served me well. You did as I asked and delivered.” He smirked, but he wasn’t looking at me. He spoke over my head. “I had a feeling you wouldn’t refuse her call. Nice glamour, by the way. It has a geek-meets-grunge air about it. Makes me even more curious about the game you’re playing. Tell me, brother,” the guy’s night eyes shifted to mine, “what’s so special about her?”
Who was he talking to?
The guy’s hands lowered from my head, the pain gone.
Again, I caught a whiff of Caiden’s unique scent. I turned, and my jaw dropped.
