Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
BASTIAN
A s we move Chloe in, I can’t help the way our eyes randomly meet as if the attraction is mutual. She’s cute, with fiery red hair and bright blue eyes that remind me of the sky on a clear day. Honestly, I don’t know what to do with my gaze because it keeps finding her.
When we finish dropping off the last of the boxes, I climb back into the truck with a huff. Chris looks over at me with a smirk. He knows there is something going on instantly.
“You find her attractive, don’t you?”
“Well, yes. She is a beautiful woman and there’s just something about her that is enthralling.”
He only laughs and starts the truck. “She’s a witch, you know?”
“How did you find that out?” I ask, wondering what gave him that impression.
“One of her boxes opened, and I looked inside to ensure nothing was broken. There was a book with her family history. I taped the box back up, but I’d know that book anywhere,” he says as he looks in the mirrors to back out of her driveway.
“Plenty of people have family history books. That doesn’t make her a witch.”
“Oh, but it does when it’s that kind of book,” he says with a cheeky smile. “The outside cover is what gave it away. You forget that my sister married one and her husband has the same cover for his.”
“Nothing wrong with that,” I whisper under my breath. “It’s not like I’m entirely human, either.”
I allow my hand to shift between a clawed lizard paw to a dog’s paw. Chris loves to aggravate me because I can turn into anything I want at any time, while he can only shift into one animal.
“Stop showing off. Do you want her to know what you are?”
I look ahead and notice she’s standing on the porch, giving us a soft smile and wave as she yells thank you.
We both wave and then turn to look at each other.
“Get us out of here before I climb out to go talk to her.”
Chris cuts me a glance as he finishes backing out of the driveway and gets on the road. “Why? I thought you said there’s nothing wrong with it. Neither one of you is entirely human, so what’s the big deal?”
“Nothing. I just need to focus on work and everything else.”
As we drive back into the main part of town, I see a sign for the local rescue’s adoption fair and something crosses my mind. “Hey Chris, are you going to the pet fair tomorrow? It looks like it’ll be in the park in the center of town.”
“My wife has three dogs and two cats, all of whom get on my nerves at times. I love them, but she doesn’t need any more animals.”
I laugh because he is part animal himself. “What is it about them that drives you insane? Is it the human part or the fact you can shift into a coyote?”
He lets out a low growl as his eyes glow yellow. “It’s definitely the coyote part of me. He thinks he should be the only animal in our house and in our bed.”
I stop laughing, but only so I don’t tick him off further. Honestly, it’s funny because it seems like he’s just jealous that his wife has to divide her attention between them. For a few moments, I can’t help but think about a certain joke, but I know if I say it out loud, he’s going to be mad.
“What is it, Bastian? I know you have a comment. You’re never this quiet unless you’re holding something back.”
“Does she not have enough treats to give you during dinner time? Do you sit with the other dogs and wait for her to hand you one?” The laughter I’ve held back spills out and tears pour down my face.
“I do not sit and beg for treats like a dog, but I bet you would if Chloe were giving the treats.”
That makes me stop laughing and I turn to look at him with a glare. “You don’t know what you are talking about.”
“It’s easy to see by the look on your face,” he says as he comes to a stop at a red light. “You know what? Let’s go to the pet fair thing tomorrow. Hopefully, my wife won’t come home with fifteen animals, but I think I saw a sign that said they’d have food.”
“All free food is good food, right?”
He only laughs and turns down the street to drop me off. Today has been a very long day, and it’s already getting dark.
The sky is a swirl of purples and pinks right now as the sun sets over the horizon. In a few minutes, we will be in complete darkness.
“Be safe going home,” I say as he finally arrives at my building and I open the door to climb down to the sidewalk.
“Have fun dreaming of her tonight. I wonder if you’ll see her again. But you could also go by her house. I don’t think she’d mind if you showed up at her door.”
I slam the door between us before he can say anything else. This man is crazy and really needs to give me a break. Then again, we never go easy on each other. It’s too much fun to tease.
I lean toward the truck and give the door a pat to let him know I’m clear before I head up the steps. This building is old, but it’s home. I walk up the steps right off the side of the foyer and head to the third floor.
Once I’m in my apartment, I breathe in a sigh and shut the door. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll see her again.
“Momma always said whatever is meant to be will be, so I have to believe that if she’s going to be mine, it will happen.” My gaze roams over the room until it lands on the picture of my parents.
They are off enjoying their retirement and are currently on a boat to an island for a second honeymoon. What I wouldn’t give for a love like theirs.