Chapter 79
GOLDIE
“I’m not answering it,” Maggie says, the cup of tea shaking in her iron grip.
“Why? Is it Jasper?”
She puts her quivering cup down. Struggling up from her chair, she sits down again to catch her breath, then tries again, lurching over to the picture window to peek at the visitor.
“Yes, it’s him. I’m not speaking to him.” She stands looking down at him, her fists clenched.
I push my tea away. “Don’t be silly. I’ll go to the door.”
Before Maggie can stop me, I hurry back down the stairs. I pluck an envelope off the doormat before I pull open the door. And come face-to-face with a man who looks like he’s descended from Viking warriors. He’s breathtaking—large and muscular with long, blond-streaked brown hair.
There’s something unhurried about the way he holds himself. No aggression in his stance. Just a man entirely comfortable taking up space, which on someone his size ought to be intimidating and somehow isn’t. His hands are large, I notice. The hands of someone who actually works.
“Hello,” I greet him, trying not to drool.
He rubs a large hand over his bearded chin, his sea-green eyes holding a question as he looks at me. “Oh, hi, uh, I’m Jasper Cole. I was hoping to catch Maggie.”
“Does she know you’re coming?”
His green eyes bore into mine. “Not exactly, but she’ll know why I’m here.”
I drop the envelope. Pick it up again. My hands are shaking, and my face is hot. “Uh, you’d better come in.”
What are you doing? Maggie doesn’t want to see him. She hates him. He’s on her shit list cushion!
While all that is true, my curiosity wins. I want to know what’s going on.
I fumble to open the door wider so he can fit his large body inside. I’m hyperaware of his proximity, his heat, his eyes burning into my back as he follows me up the stairs.
Maggie is standing in the middle of the room, holding a bunch of sage. She flinches, her face paling as soon as she sees Jasper.
What has this guy done to earn such a reaction?
Jasper looks ill at ease as Maggie glares at him. She doesn’t invite him to sit down, moving to stand beside her shelves of valuables, her shoulders back like a soldier on parade as she guards her possessions.
“I just wanted to talk,” Jasper says, holding up his hands.
“I told you before, you’re not getting your hands on my shop or my home.”
“What’s this all about?” I ask, examining him more closely.
His tight jeans cling to his powerful thighs, and his shirt stretches over a wide chest and bulging biceps.
I wonder if he has a girlfriend?
I push the thought aside before it can take root—along with the pang of jealousy.
“I’m trying to help Maggie,” Jasper says earnestly, turning to face me. “This house is a lot for her to maintain. I’m offering a fair price, enough that she could live comfortably for the rest of her days.”
“Helping? Ha! That’s a lie,” Maggie snaps. “You want to take my property away from me and pay me nothing. I know your type.”
Jasper sighs and rubs a hand over his face. “You know that’s not true, Maggie. I’m offering you a decent price. I wrote it down for you. Have you even looked at it?”
Maggie huffs as she moves to her chair and sinks down in it. Onyx leaps onto her lap, her ever-faithful protector.
“Maggie’s not interested,” I say, moving toward him, intending to show him out. “You need to leave.”
Jasper turns the full force of those green eyes on me. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know your name.”
“You don’t need to know her name,” Maggie barks.
“My name is Goldie.” My knees soften as he smiles, and I force myself to ignore the heat pooling in my core. “I’ll show you out.”
Maggie grumbles to herself as I indicate he should precede me down the stairs, half wishing I didn’t have to escort him out.
Jasper turns as we reach the front door. “I’m not trying to swindle her. There’s more to this than she’s told you. If you knew the full story, you’d understand. Would you meet me at the Hex & Hearth tonight? Let me explain?”
I study him thoughtfully, unsure what to do. Betraying Maggie is the last thing I want to do.
Which is why I’m surprised to hear myself say, “What time?”
“Seven?” His eyes kindle with a strange heat as they meet mine.
That’s only an hour from now.
I nod. “I’ll see you at seven.”
“Thank you.”
Jasper gives me one last lingering look before he turns and leaves, his movements fluid and unhurried.
What has he done to me? My face is hot, my thoughts scattered. I feel as though I’ve been through a washing machine cycle.
When I return upstairs, Maggie has disappeared. I spot a note on the dining room table.
Gone to lie down for an hour.
Her magic book has gone. She must have taken it with her. Why would she do that?
Still, at least I don’t have to explain why I’ve agreed to meet up with her “sworn enemy.”
Which is just as well because I can’t explain it to myself.