Chapter 1
CHAPTER ONE
CHLOE
I stare out the window of my bedroom, watching the autumn leaves fall from the trees, leaving them bare just in time for winter. Everything looks dreary for now. That is, at least until the first snow falls and then we will have a winter wonderland, which could be any day now.
A sigh escapes me as I continue to stare out and watch people pass by my apartment building with their little dogs as they go home. Part of me wonders what it would be like to have a pet.
You see, I’m a witch and though I have been around animals all my life, I have never owned one for myself. It’s not that I don’t like them, either. It’s quite the opposite. I love all the little critters, but living in the city in an apartment building wasn’t the life I’d want for them.
The good news about all of this is that I’m moving to the outskirts and getting a house because it’s time to move.
This means I can finally get a little partner to spend time with while I’m at home.
A soft sigh escapes my lips as I continue to stare out the window and imagine what my life will be like here soon. Everything is at my fingertips and I can’t wait.
I turn, glancing over at the moving boxes and the fact my house is in a state of disarray. Tomorrow morning I will be at the house and have to spend the day moving in, then I can go to the rescue’s pet adoption day the day after. It’s going to be great.
I walk over to my bed and sink into the plush purple covers. “If I want to do all the things, then I probably need to sleep.”
My eyelids are heavier than I thought and I easily glide into a peaceful sleep.
The next thing I know, I hear banging on my front door, which is probably the movers. Of course, I forgot to set the alarm to wake me earlier due to all the excitement of my thoughts last night before I crashed.
“Oops.”
I rise from bed and hurry through the apartment to reach the door, uncaring of my unkempt state. My hair is probably a matted mess and I’m still in my pink pajamas that have little dogs on them.
As soon as I reach the door, I swing it open and prepare a statement of apologies to them, only to be met by a gorgeous, tall man who looks quite amused at my appearance. His black hair hangs in his face and is rather shaggy, but I’m mostly pulled in by his dark brown eyes.
“Apologies for waking you up,” he says in a deep voice that makes me weak in the knees.
I lean against the door and try to smile, though I’m regretting how I look now. “Oh, it’s no problem. I accidentally overslept and should have been ready hours ago.”
He nods, silently asking if he can come inside. I push the door open wider and move aside.
“We will start moving what you have in here if you’d like to lock yourself up in the bathroom and clean up.”
He turns and picks up another box to stack on the first, but he notices out of the corner of his eye that I haven’t moved yet. Slowly, with the biggest smirk on his face, he turns and looks over at me.
I flinch, but try to brush it off as I almost fell. Anything is better than him knowing that I have been ogling his behind.
“Don’t worry. You can get ready. We will just work in your living room and kitchen first.”
“It’s fine. I was just wondering if there is going to be more than just you moving me. It seems like a big job for just one person.”
He chuckles and smiles again, revealing two perfect rows of teeth. Oddly, I notice the way his top teeth almost look like fangs and stare again.
The man notices and stops smiling. “My partner is down on the first floor and on his way. There are three of us altogether and we’ll have all this done by the time you are cleaned up. Then we can grab your bedroom and bathroom.”
“Great,” I say as a flood of warmth eases into my cheeks.
As I turn to head back to my room, I leave the front door open. If his partner is on the way, there is no point in shutting it, anyway. Once I’m in my room, I turn and grab the edge of the door to shut it.
Instead, I find myself staring at him again because he is still watching me with that same amused smirk as when I opened the door. I slowly close the door, but we never break eye contact until the door is closed.
“What kind of mover have they sent me?”
I shake my head and dismiss all the rampant thoughts. Now is not the time to lose my wits. I have a huge day today and then tomorrow will be the adoption fair hosted by the rescue.
“Come on, Chloe. Keep yourself together and get this done. He’s just moving you to your house and then you’ll never see him again.”
I walk through my room, gathering up the last set of clothes that haven’t been packed up, and head to the bathroom to lock myself in.
Getting ready doesn’t take long at all and once I’m back in the bedroom, I notice that my door is still shut and nothing has been touched.
There’s a soft knock and a grunt on the other side of the door.
“Are you ready for us to take care of your bedroom and bathroom? The kitchen and living room are completely done and in the truck.”
I head to the bedroom window and take a peek outside, only to see the man from before down there with the truck. It looks like he’s putting a box in the back and then he turns, only to look up at my window.
I back away and pretend that I wasn’t just snooping on him. “Yes, that’s fine. I’m almost ready. Give me one more second.”
I look in the floor-length mirror and check my outfit. It’s a simple pair of jeans with a soft blue sweater that has a cat on it. My hair is long and straight. I didn’t really bother fixing it because it’s going to get messed up with the move, more than likely.
With one last check in the mirror done, I saunter to the door and open it. The man before me is just as gorgeous, though I don’t feel the same pull as the other one.
“My name is Chris. I wasn’t up here yet when you met Bastian. He’s on his way back and will help me with anything you have here.”
“Thank you both for all your help,” I say with a warm smile. “Let me fold up the covers and put them in the vacuum seal bag, then you all can have the bed. The bathroom isn’t much, only a few things I showered with. I’ll put those in my travel bag.”
He nods and takes a look at the room. “It appears you have everything in boxes except for the bed, which we’ll just wrap and move. All good, then.”
The man he called Bastian comes back into the room. I hear his heavy footsteps before I see him.
Once again, our eyes meet and something unsaid passes between us. Then his friend Chris notices.
Oh, great. I can’t believe he noticed that. How embarrassing.
“So, I will leave you both to it. Let me go fold those covers and get the stuff out of the bathroom.”
I quickly turn and head straight for the bed. As soon as my hands land on the covers, I hear them talking, but dismiss whatever it is they are saying.
After I have pulled all the covers off, I fold them all and stuff them in the open bag. I look around, but can’t find the vacuum. It’s then I realize my mistake.
I left it in the living room.
“It’s fine,” says Bastian. “I can carry it.”
He reaches between my hands and finishes sealing it before taking it. I stand there gawking for a moment before I snap myself back to reality.
I walk into the bathroom before I get too swept up and pull all the bottles from the edge of the tub. One last look is all that is needed. My gaze moves across the bare room, noting that everything has been removed. It looks just like when I moved into it ten years ago.
I give a nod as I finally come to terms with the move. It’s bittersweet to leave the place you first moved into after reaching adulthood.
As I turn, I catch sight of them lifting the bed. The way they move, I swear they aren’t human, but I don’t question it. There are plenty of paranormal creatures living amongst the humans without a clue.
They’re probably one of them.
They see me as I leave the bathroom and stop to let me go through the door first with the shower tote clenched tightly in my hands.
“Go on to your new house. We’ll be right behind you.”
I take their advice and leave without saying a word once I have my purse. If I stand there too much longer, I’ll just stare at him some more and make things awkward.
As soon as I reach my vehicle, I get inside on the driver’s side and just sit there to catch my breath. My small shower tote and purse are in the passenger seat.
Right as I pull out onto the road, they come out the door with my bed. I give them a wave and start my journey to the new house, which is on the other side of the town.
It doesn’t take long to get there, maybe twenty minutes with traffic. Once I arrive, I pull into the driveway and take a step outside without grabbing anything from the car.
The house itself is a two story home with white siding and gray shutters. There is a wrap-around porch, which looks perfect for sitting on with my morning coffee. The yard is small in the front, but I know the back is bigger and has room for a dog to roam around, or maybe a cat.
I stand there with my hands resting on my hips as I look back toward the road. There is a small white fence with an opening for the driveway. It looks like the fence is well built, with the part in the back being closed by a small gate. From here, I can see the silver latch glistening.
“This is perfect.”
Right as I lean back into the car, I hear the moving truck pulling up. Today is the start of the next part of my adventure and I can’t wait.