Lucas Buck is finding himself infatuated by the Yankee newcomer. She seems different but he can't exactly say why. He doesn't know if she is telling the truth about being descended from the Salem witches, but he can't deny that she has a presence and he is finding himself attracted to her.
They stood, looking at each other, then she broke the silence, saying, "Let me change, it won't take long. I've been wearing these clothes all day."
She didn't wait for his answer, but disappeared into the bedroom and closed the door. Five minutes she emerged wearing a sleeveless navy-blue dress printed with yellow flowers and sandals that wrapped around her ankles.
The dress was a pleasant surprise. She had transformed herself from an enigma into an ordinary girl. "Do I look all right?" she asked.
His answer was to remove the clip that held her hair back so it fell around her shoulders. He spread it out with his long hands. "Better than all right," he said. He put his hand on the small of her back as he guided her into his car. He got behind the wheel and looked at her. "Do they have barbeque in Boston?" he asked.
"Yes, and it's the real thing, we have a large African-American population. I'm very fond of ribs and potato salad, but I don't care for beer."
"Then I'll make sure they have something else for you." Something bothered him, but he did not know what. Gail was beautiful but his desire for Elizabeth Bates went far beyond the ordinary. Her brown hair fell nearly to her waist and the dark tresses complimented her violet eyes. Behind her serene expression was an electric energy. He wanted to touch her and see if he could raise sparks.
"Sheriff, we have your table ready for you," the proprietor was a short man, balding with a few strings of hair combed over the bald spot. His greasy apron was covered with stains, but the smell of barbeque was fragrant in the air. "Will you be having your usual sir?"
"Yes, please Fred, and ribs and potato salad with iced tea for the lady."
"Yes sir," the owner said, and rubbed his hands together, and led them to a table set apart from the others.
They sat, the owner pulling Elizabeth's chair out for her. She watched as he disappeared into his kitchen; then accidentally knocked a glass of water off the table. The glass shattered and he was about to call for someone to clean it up when she bent down and picked up an unbroken glass filled with water.
"How did you do that?" he grabbed her wrist.
"Do what?" she asked, and he felt his hand grow hot, unbearably hot and he released her.
What are you, he wondered? He looked at her, "I heard that glass break."
"You must have been mistaken," she held up the glass, "See, not even a crack."
"I know what I saw..." but she stopped him, "You didn't see anything."
"What I heard then...oh hell, forget it." He paused and took a pull on his beer, "Is there really an abusive ex?"
"Yes, he almost broke my wrist and I was in the hospital for a week with a concussion. He thought I'd be afraid to press charges, men like him count on intimidation, I did press charges but ultimately, it didn't do any good—his family hired a very good, very expensive lawyer. The most I got out of it was an order of protection which is essentially worthless. He began stalking me, then stalking turned to threats."
"Sounds like those witch ancestors of yours weren't any help."
"But they were, he was trying to kill me but didn't succeed."
"Well, you get an order of protection in this town you can be sure you'll be protected. I'd guarantee it personally." But why would a woman who could reassemble a broken glass be afraid?
He put his arm around her shoulders as they left the barbeque joint, half because he wanted to and perhaps to see what she would do. She slipped a slender arm around his waist and he could feel a current running between them.
"I want you," he told her and she replied, "Why?"
He stopped walking then looked into her eyes. "Maybe I've never met a witch before and I'd like to know what it's like. Damn it, woman, what are you?"
"Don't you know, Lucas? I could be your dream come true or your worst nightmare, it's up to you. I'm the real thing, I promise you, but I might be more than you can handle."
A breeze came up and blew her hair around her like a halo. Her eyes glowed in the dark, and he wondered if he should maybe be afraid that she'd cast a spell on him but he wasn't willing to let her go—yet.
"Let me show you my house," he said but she shook her head.
"No, let's go back to my place," she said and he shrugged his shoulders.
They got into his car and she seemed to have become an ordinary girl again. When they reached her place she led him to the front door and it opened on its own. She held out her hand and led him in.
They passed over the threshold and to show his powers, or maybe to just show off, he shut the door behind them.
She smiled, "Impressive, I was beginning to wonder if you were going to disappoint me. I have to make the bed, there's a bottle of bourbon on the kitchen counter and clean glasses—help yourself, it won't take long."
He poured a glass and went to the living room and sat on her sofa. There were no curtains for the windows but the street was not well lit and only the occasional light from a house broke through the dark shadowy street.
He heard meowing coming from behind a door and opened it. Two cats ran out, one coal-black, one snow white with baleful green eyes, then stopped to look at him. He was going to close the door, then he got a glimpse of something. He stepped into the room and saw the trunk sitting there.
He knelt in front of it, trying to find a way to open it, even trying his powers, but it was no use.
"It's closed by a spell, I'm the only one who can open it. Nice try, though." She stood behind him, looking bemused, "I didn't know if you'd try or not. It's just things I need, you know, a little witchy-woo. I can give you a peek, but it's better if you don't look."
He stood up and put his hands on her slender waist. "You are full of surprises, aren't you?"
"And the biggest surprise of all—I don't want anything from you Lucas and I don't want you to want anything from me. You want in my bed, you're welcome."
"What if I decide I want something more?"
"You can't always get what you want. I'll never be a small-town southern girl and eventually, my ex might find me. I want to go back to Salem when it's safe, that's my home."
He found the zipper in the back of her dress and opened it. The dress fell in a pool at her feet and he was pleased to find that she wore nothing under it. He slid his hands down her slender body, cupping her buttocks in his hands and put his lips on hers, and kissed her.
"If your ex finds you here, I'll take care of him, that's something I'm very good at, didn't I tell you." He scooped her up in his arms and carried her into the bedroom, and the door shut behind them.