Page 73 of Cursed Touch
“Will you have time to help me now? I mean, when is Dad due home?”
Daphyne twisted her wrist and nodded. “He’ll be back in an hour. I’ll leave him a note saying I went for a walk. It’s best to take you back to the spring anyhow.”
“Carter, can you pick me up later?” Vanessa asked.
“Oh, I can drop you off at home, honey. It’s no problem.”
Vanessa cleared her throat. “I—um… I’ve been staying with Carter. You know, since this whole mess.”
Daphyne’s brow raised. “I’m sure you have…”
A blush heated Carter’s face. With his mother passing when he was very young, he had avoided all embarrassing sex talks. His father had kept things brief, emphasizing sex with the right woman would be magical. He’d strategically left out any mention of their witch lineage.
Carter pushed to his feet and offered Vanessa a hand. “I’ll come back. Just let me know when.”
She rose to her tiptoes and brushed her lips against his softly. He wanted to deepen it but managed to hold back in front of her mother.
Vanessa caught his eyes with her own and smiled. “I love you.”
Carter brushed her hair from her face as he filled with complete joy. “I love you too,” he whispered back before addressing them both. “I will see myself out. Have fun, ladies.”
He went out the way they had come in and stopped by his car. The house was like all the others on the street, a normal middle-class home, welcome garden flags, and decorative gnomes in the flower beds. Nothing screamed magic or nymph to a passerby.
He unlocked the car, slid into the seat, and headed to Serena’s. He was eager to learn what other powers the water had unlocked. Carter made a mental note to leave out the spring and the beautiful forest they’d visited.
He trusted Serena, but the others who worked or shopped there weren’t family. Carter would do everything to keep Daphyne’s secret contained, as it also protected Vanessa.
Later, the bell chimed as he pushed open the door, and the now-familiar smell of sage filled his lungs.
“Carter?” Brandy called from Serena’s side.
Both women took him in with curious stares.
“Hi, ladies,” he said and wove his way around tables to the counter where they were gathered.
Serena kissed his cheek, and Brandy asked, “Is Vanessa okay?”
After Carter hugged Brandy, he peered around the shop. “Yeah, she’s okay. I didn’t expect to find you here, Bran.”
“Yeah, I came for a visit before going to pick up Gia. Why’dyouswing by?”
“Are we alone?” he asked Serena.
The three of them looked around and she nodded. “Need me to close?”
He nodded, and the lock on the door sounded. Carter glanced at the closed sign swaying in the window and grinned.
“Let’s go upstairs so you can share what this is all about,” Serena commanded, and with a swish of her long skirt, she hurried toward the curtain.
Carter put his arm around his sister’s shoulders, and they followed the high priestess side by side, until the narrow stairs forced him to usher her ahead.
As per her usual routine, Serena asked for their tea preference and prepared it as Brandy and he moved to the couch. He took the time to ask about the café, Gia, and Ryan, anything to root him to the normal lives they lived.
The tea kettle whistled, and they returned to the small kitchen. Serena passed each of them a mug as a noise came from the stairs. He looked at the women, who only shrugged. When he turned, he found Ethan with Ryan at his heels.
“Really?” Carter asked, eyeing the two women.
Ethan stepped toward Carter for a brotherly hug. “Don’t get on them. Rye was already with me, and you weren’t answering your phone.”
