Chapter Twenty-Three #2
Trey took the stool beside Sonya as Cleo whisked eggs in the bowl.
“You went down to the gym.”
“Right. Yoga, stretch out yesterday. It felt great. The instructor—the blonde, ponytail, flowing white outfit.”
“Yeah.” Cleo nodded as she poured eggs into the melted butter in a skillet. “She’s got a voice like warm cream.”
“Exactly, and I was sort of floating on that, into the Warrior poses. Then that voice said I wasn’t a warrior. I was weak and pathetic. That I was nothing, had nothing.”
She took them through it while the coffee warmed her inside and out.
“I was scared, really scared, when I realized I’d left my phone right here.
When I couldn’t get the door open. And I don’t think I’ll ever use exercise bands again in this lifetime.
All I could think was Trey would go on to work, and Cleo wouldn’t be up for at least two hours.
And I’d be alone in the dark with her, with that hissing.
“Then Clover. She took my hand.” Sonya looked down at her hand as Cleo set a plate of eggs and toast in front of her.
“She said Dobbs lies. That I wasn’t alone, and I was stronger than Dobbs. I had to be stronger. So I turned around, and I just started spewing insults.
“God, these eggs are good. I’m starving.”
Cleo set a plate in front of Trey, then brought her own to sit on Sonya’s other side.
“I said things like, ‘Is this the best you’ve got?’ Did she think I was afraid of the dark, of her?
Of some crazy, dead, half-assed witch who’d had to drug a man to get him to fuck her?
I let my crude flag fly. She thinks I’ll jump off the wall because she wants me to?
Oh, hell no, because I get off watching her jump night after night.
Gives me a thrill almost better than sex.
Which I can have when I want, no drugs or spells required. ”
She shoveled in more eggs. “Then I dared her. Jesus, I was wound up. I dared her to turn on the light, face me.” Sonya balled her fists.
“I was ready to punch her in the face, kick her in the crotch. Give her a goddamn beatdown. ‘Turn on the lights, you fucking coward, and we’ll settle right here, right now, who’s mistress of Poole Manor. ’”
Revved, she bit into toast. “And I heard Clover laugh, but more …
I think they were all down there with me.
I heard them laugh. I heard them laugh, and it was mockery extreme.
It was the whole damn room, full of laughter.
Maybe, I think maybe, not just the brides, but more.
Like the manor and everyone in it was making her a joke.
“Then the lights came on and I was ready, God, so ready, to take her on. But she wasn’t there. I think I said, really snotty, ‘Yeah, that’s what I thought.’ Then I opened the door. And you were right there,” she said to Trey. “You were right there.”
He gave her a long look, his deep blue eyes full of everything a woman in love needed to see. He flicked a glance at Cleo, said, “Me first.”
He rose, then plucked Sonya from the stool. He wrapped around her, and with her feet inches from the floor, kissed her as if both their lives depended on it.
Head swimming, Sonya gave Trey a dreamy smile. “Maybe you should reschedule after all. For several hours.”
“What you did? It was ill-advised, risky, and not just a little crazy. And I love you. I love everything about you. I freaking adore the ill-advised, risk-taking, a-little-bit-crazy woman.”
He kissed her again, then set her on her feet.
“Your turn, Cleo.”
“Well, I can’t match that, but.” She rose, hugged Sonya hard, and held on, swaying. “You, Sonya MacTavish, are an . You’re a goddess. You’re an evil-dead-witch destroyer. You’re a motherfucking woman.”
“I really wanted to punch her. I’ve never punched anybody in my life. I wanted her to be my first.”
Clover hit it with the Queen of Soul and “Respect.”
“I don’t know how long I’d have trembled down there if Clover hadn’t given me that boost. If they all hadn’t. But there’s more.”
She gripped Cleo’s hand, then Trey’s. “If she could kill me—just take me out—she would have. She needs me to do it myself, and not a chance there. I’m not saying she can’t hurt me, or any of us, but what we tossed around as a solid theory I see as a one-hundred-percent-solid fact now.”
“She said the same thing to you she said to Owen about you,” Trey pointed out. “No true Poole.”
“Because my father wasn’t chosen, because he became, and he was, a MacTavish. So am I. But that doesn’t change bloodline, or DNA.”
“She fears that,” Cleo added. “She fears you. If she didn’t before, I guarantee after your demonstration, she does now.”
“Makes her more dangerous. But then?” Trey lifted a hand to Sonya’s cheek. “So are you. A dangerous woman. People who are afraid, angry, lash out. Don’t leave your phone on the counter.”
Sonya picked it up, pushed it into the slash pocket of her yoga pants. “That’s a promise. But you can go to work knowing Cleo and I aren’t alone. We’ve got a whole tribe standing with us. And we stand with them.”
“Damn right we do. Son, we’re going to get those rings back.”
“Count on it. I just hope I can punch her in the face first.” She gave Trey’s hand a squeeze. “Go to work.”
When he hesitated, she let go of Cleo’s hand to take both of his.
“I’m not just fine, I’m seriously gloating.
Feels good. And if you postpone your meeting, it takes just a little shine off the win.
You were there just at the right moment, and I know you will be again.
That’s only one reason I love everything about you. ”
“You’ll call if there’s trouble.”
“Solid promise. But I’m pretty sure we’re clear for a while. She pulled out a lot of stops, and she lost. She’ll need to regroup.”
Because he felt the same, it eased his mind.
“And I’m going to make a celebration dinner.”
He looked at Cleo. “I was going to suggest we take you out to celebrate.”
“Not tonight. Let’s just rub it in her face. The four of us,” Cleo said, “and all the rest of us, celebrating in-house. Hell, I might just bake a cake.”
“Talked me into it.” He leaned down to kiss Sonya again. “Dangerous women all around. I’m going to get some coffee to go and leave you to it.”
When he had, Sonya turned to Cleo. “It matters that he can do that.”
“It does. It matters he believes in you enough to trust you’ll handle what comes. Add that to the way he carried you downstairs, like you were so precious to him. Oh, my, my.
“Now, what the hell am I going to make for dinner?”
“Whatever it is, I’ll help. And, Cleo, I’m sorry about the early-for-you wake-up call.”
“I’m not. After the jolt, the rest just gave a lift to my day. Telling her she had to drug a man to get laid. I think that’s my favorite.”
“I really went off. Once I got started … I’m pretty sure I used the c word, and I don’t mean crazy. I hate that word, but I’m pretty sure I used it.”
“If the dildo fits.”
Sonya snorted out a surprised laugh. “Cleo.”
“Can’t let you get ahead of me on the crude scale. I think lasagna. And we’ve got some tomatoes ripe, so I’ll do something with them. And you know what? I’m going to try my hand at making Italian bread.”
“From flour?”
“Yes, I am. And I’m baking a cake, too.”
“I’ll help, but that’s a lot.”
“I’m in the mood. Plus, Jesus, it’s not even nine o’clock. Go, get your shower, get to work. I’m going to look over this bread recipe before I do the same.”
“Send up a flare when you need a chopper/stirrer/fetcher.”
“I’ll do that.”
Sonya let Pye and Yoda in. The cat leaped onto a chair to wash. Yoda followed Sonya upstairs.
Alone, Cleo laid a hand on the kitchen tablet. “Thank you. You were there for her when she was afraid. You were there before we could be. You were there to remind her how strong she is.”
Clover answered with Selena Gomez’s “Me & My Girls.”
Sonya worked through the morning until she felt the Bayside Lotions and Potions website was ready to go live. Hogan, she thought with a smile, had ideas, and in the end, his mother and aunt let him take the lead.
He’d taken the photos himself, and done a damn good job of it, in her opinion. He’d wanted the addition of a Lotions and Potions crew drop-down, with headshots and bios. She’d tightened up the text a bit, but again, damn good job.
She’d consulted with him throughout the building, and thought, if her business continued to grow, she’d offer him an internship the next summer.
But since he’d be in school at this time of day, she contacted his mother. By phone, as texts and emails didn’t always get a prompt response.
Patiently, Sonya guided Carrie to the website, explained the drop-downs, the online product ordering, and the rest.
“Take all the time you need, look it over, play with it. It’s only live for you. If you see anything you want changed, added, taken off, just let me know.”
“I’ll do all that, but, ah, maybe let Hogan take a good look when he gets home from school.”
“That’s just fine. He can text me if it’s a go, or if he wants to discuss anything first.”
“I’m going to say, it looks really pretty. And professional. And I can see it just didn’t before.”
“I think you’ll find it functions well, too.
Not only for you, but for customers and potential customers.
And venues like Gigi’s can order, at their price, directly from the site, from the wholesale area.
And no,” she added, though she’d explained it before, “regular retail customers can’t access that area.
It requires a special log-in you approve. ”
“I don’t understand all that, but Hogan does. It really looks— Oh my goodness! I clicked on something, and there’s the family. Look at us!”
“You should be proud, of your family, and what you make together.”
“I am. I really am. This is wonderful. I’m actually tearing up. Thanks for helping talk me into this. Hogan’s going to be so excited.”
“Tell him I’m ready to go live when he is.”
“I will. I will. Oh, just look at this! Thank you, Sonya.”
“You’re welcome.”