Page 43 of Charmed

It had to be the thrill of the chase magnifying their chemistry. Once they finally came together, they were either going to solve the world energy crisis or lay there afterward in a I-shaved-my-legs-for-this disappointed heap. Passion like the type they created didn't truly exist.

Whatever. She blinked innocently to goad him. "Oh, did we make plans?"

His chuckle misfired every nerve in her body. "Pretend all you like. You'll be forgetting your name by the time I'm done with you." He glanced around again, his voice conversational once more. "Are you about done here?"

"Yes, but I thought Brady and Kaida were picking me up."

"Apparently, two nights away from one another was too much distance. They're on the mainland having some—" he lifted his hands for air quotes "—private time. Tristan rode the ferry with them. Something about business. Ceara's at your house with Mara." A frown line wrinkled his brows. "They group texted. Didn't you get the update?"

"Hmm. Tourist season. We were busy." With just the shop manager Violet and herself manning things, Fiona barely had time to breathe. She picked up her cell and swiped the screen. Alas, there were the messages. "Must've missed the alert."

He smirked. "We have the mansion to ourselves."

Which was probably how he preferred it. He hadn't offered any public displays in front of their siblings, making her suspect his attraction was an embarrassment to him. Did his brothers even know they'd gotten involved? It wasn't as if any of them were friends until a couple months ago and, if not for the curse, they wouldn't have made an effort to so much as compromise. Right?

She'd never been someone's dirty little secret before, and she was pretty sure she didn't care for it. If that was even the case. Maybe she was reading too much into nothing.

A shrug, and she wove around the counter. "Good thing. Your place is such a hovel. We'd never have privacy."

The sarcasm died on her tongue when a wave of discomfort rolled through her. Twice this afternoon it had happened, too. A churn in her belly. A tightening in her throat. The edges of her vision grayed, and she pressed a palm to her forehead.

Immediately, his affable chagrin evaporated. He closed the distance between them and cupped her shoulders. "What's happening?"

She didn't know. "I have the strangest sense something is wrong."

His frown deepened. "Is it a premonition?"

"No. My visions are of the past and I have to be in a meditative state to conjure one."

Ceara could summon the future at will if she focused hard enough. Pieces, anyway. Kaida's premonitions grounded her in the present, usually during a dream. Sometimes they hit her out of nowhere while awake, though. Maybe she was having one and Fiona was merely tuned into her sister's mood?

The wave passed, and she shook her head. "It's nothing. We can go."

"Are you sure? Perhaps we should call the others."

She nodded, chalking the whole thing up to stress. "I'm sure."

He held her a second more, studying her features like he was searching for a chink in her story's armor. A swallow, and he skimmed his hands down her arms, seemingly satisfied. "Okay, Fi."

"Grab that garbage, would you?" She jerked her chin at the bag on the floor and snatched her purse from the table.

Without a word, they exited through the front. After locking up, they made their way to the alley between storefronts where the bins were located.

He tossed the bag in and faced her, giving her outfit a hesitant perusal. "We might have a problem. I brought the bike today."

Bike? "As in, a Schwinn? Does it have a pink basket and a bell?"

Tongue in cheek, he narrowed his eyes. "It's a Ducati Monster 797 Dark Stealth, thank you very much."

"You have a motorcycle?" That was so, so sexy. Other than his playful personality, he didn't seem the type. Her girly parts got excited.

"Yeah, but I wasn't thinking about your distinctive wardrobe. It was a nice day and I figured I'd take her out."

She looked at her strapless, ankle-length, fitted green dress. "I'll make do." Hold on. "Her? Your bike is a girl?"

He grinned. "I call her baby."

Interesting. He tended to call Fiona "babe." Coincidence?

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