“I’m way lost,” Breena adds.
“She met a guy,” Lorelei says.
“What?” Breena gasps. “We don’t keep those kinds of secrets, Luciana—or any secrets.”
“Stop calling me that,” I say in irritation and then deflate when I see them both smiling at me. “You jerks. Okay, I wasn’t going to keep it a secret; we were just busy with other things.”
“Not busy now,” Breena says. “Spill your guts.”
So, I tell them about seeing Jonas in the woods and then at my shop.
“Jonas.” Breena frowns. “Do we know a Jonas?”
“I don’t,” Lorelei says. “What does he look like?”
I blow a strand of hair out of my eyes. “Tall. Dark hair. Bright blue eyes. He’s…handsome.”
“I think that’s code for hot,” Breena says to Lorelei.
“Okay, he’s hot.” I shrug. “But that’s not all the attraction. It’s like I’m physically pulled to him. Like if he’d kissed me in that garden, I would have not only let him but maybe jumped him. It’s as though I know him. But before last night, I’d never seen him before. And he said he’s not from Salem.”
“Maybe you were together in your most recent life,” Breena suggests.
“Could be,” Lorelei agrees.
“Maybe.” I purse my lips, thinking it over. “He has magic. Whether he knows it or not, I’m not sure, but the power fairly pulses around him. If he’s unaware, I’m not in the market to take on a new witch. I just don’t have time. I don’t care how hot he is.”
“I mean, you’ve only just met him, and he’s not from around here, so it’s not like there are wedding bells in the air,” Lorelei reminds me. “He said he wants to see you tonight?”
“Yeah. I told him he’d find me around. I like being a little mysterious, especially after I practically wrapped myself around him.”
“Stuff like that never happens to me,” Breena says thoughtfully. “No soul mate in the coven like Lorelei, no handsome stranger who can’t stay away from me. Am I that boring?”
“We know who’s meant for you,” Lorelei reminds her. “You’re just too stubborn to admit it.”
“He’s never so much as noticed me,” Breena says. “Besides, he’s boring. I don’t want that. I want passion.”
“Nothing says a jeweler has to be dull,” I point out to her. “Besides, we have to go see him now for Lorelei’s crystals.”
“What kind of a jeweler has precious stones in his shop and crystals for witches?” Breena demands. “I mean, pick one. It’s just weird.”
“Or, you know…cool,” Lorelei says. “Come on, this place is as clean as we’re going to get it for now, and I want to buy some rocks.”
Giles Corey, who happens to be a direct descendant of the Giles Corey, the farmer accused of witchcraft in 1692, owns Gems on Essex Street, a popular tourist destination. Giles is also a member of our coven through heritage.
His mother is a powerful witch in her own right.
We walk through the front door, and the bell sounds above us. Giles looks up from behind the counter, a loupe against one eye.
“Hi there,” he says with a smile. “Welcome home, Lorelei.”
“Thanks,” she says and picks up a basket to begin filling with her finds. “I need some stuff.”
“I have plenty,” he says. “I got a new shipment of the most beautiful sunstone towers I’ve ever seen. I just put them out this morning.”
“Do you have some blue lace agate, lapis, moonstone, and selenite?”
“Always the sea witch,” Giles says with a grin. “Yeah, I have everything you need. How are you, Breena?”
He turns blue eyes on my cousin, but I see nothing in his gaze besides friendship and kindness.
“Fine, thanks,” Breena replies. I can hear the resignation in her voice, and it makes me sad for her. “How have you been?”
“Great.” Giles clears his throat. He may be a rock nerd, but he’s kind of a sexy one, with messy, dark blond hair and a square jaw. I know she likely doesn’t mean for me to, but I notice that Breena swallows hard when Giles replaces his loupe with his black-rimmed glasses.
I browse through the moss agate and choose a few tumbles for myself. It’s my favorite. I also choose some black tourmaline and tiger’s eye.
My intuition tells me that I need a little extra protection.
The others ooh and ahh over the amethyst geodes and Giles’s stock of super seven. I set my finds on the counter and walk to the window to stare out at Essex Street.
Tourist season is in full swing, with plenty of people milling about. As we get closer to Samhain, the town will swell to bursting, and I won’t have time to leave the shop because I’ll be packed with customers.
I know that my business thrives because of visitors to our city, but I savor these quiet moments when those of us who call Salem home can fully enjoy it.
By the time we’re all done shopping and have left a hefty amount of money in Giles’s pocket, it’s almost time for dinner.
“Pizza?” Breena suggests.
Before I can agree, I get goose bumps up and down my body, and the same awareness that moved through me earlier today when Jonas walked into my shop settles over me.
“I don’t think I can join you,” I say slowly. “I’d better head home to Nera.”
“And maybe Jonas?” Lorelei asks and smiles knowingly. “Go get ‘em, honey. Breena and I will just have to eat all the pizza ourselves.”
“I’ll see you guys later,” I reply and set off for home. It’s not far, and I don’t mind the walk.
The trees lining the streets are starting to turn color. In just a week or so, it will likely look like everything’s on fire with the riot of yellow, orange, and red leaves. This is my favorite time of year.
When I reach the house, I see that my one employee, Delia, has already closed up for the day. She comes in three times a week to take over in the afternoons for me.
I adore her.
Nera rushes over to greet me, and after I rub him down and kiss his head, I reach for my basket to gather flowers in the garden.
Maybe the feeling I had earlier was wrong.
But when I step outside, I see that it wasn’t. Jonas is standing at the garden gate, his hands in his pockets, waiting.
When I step outside, his eyes light up, and his lips tip into a half smile.
“You don’t have to wait out there,” I inform as I walk toward him, feeling that same pull to him that I did earlier.
“I do, at least until you invite me in,” he says.
“Are you a vampire?” I pause in opening the gate, waiting for his reply.
“No. Do you believe in such things?”
“Of course.”
“Well, I’ve never met a vampire, outside of a psychic one, and I’m certainly not one myself. I just believe in manners is all.”
I smile at that and then open the gate to invite Jonas in.
“I was about to make dinner,” I say, taken aback once again by the pull I feel to him. “You’re welcome to join me.”