Witchy Woes Book 2: Candace Read online

"You're just bitter because Candace got what you've been lusting after for years.” Becky grabbed her tray and began to load it.

  "That might be true, but I'm also very grateful she's here. I can stay in the kitchen now."

  Paula laughed. “Ain't that the truth! He loves hiding in here more than he wants a piece of Brody."

  "Enough picking on me, already. Candace and Becky, let's go.” Brody slipped his apron on and tied it with swift, harsh movements.

  Candace grinned and pulled on her apron. “This went over better than I expected."

  "Yeah, well don't think you can sleep in every morning and miss coming in to start up,” Shawn snapped.

  "Who was sleeping?” Candace gasped as Brody's head snapped around. The heat in his gaze let her know he was remembering their earlier love session fondly.

  Before she could get into deeper trouble, Candace grabbed the notepad and hurried out into the front of the bakery. This is going to be a long day.

  * * * *

  "Are you sure you want to come?” Candace looked over at Brody as she tugged on a T-shirt and jeans. She already had her ritual robe in its bag and ready to go, along with her magical items.

  "Yes. When we're done with this get together with your friends we can go out to the movies, or maybe out to eat."

  "I know how you feel about magic."

  "What are you talking about?"

  "You know Sandra wants me over to do a spell."

  "No I didn't know. I thought you gave all that up. Damn it, Candace. You've been playing me a fool for weeks, haven't you?"

  Candace fought back tears at the anger in his voice. Instead she summoned her own anger. “What are you talking about? I have not played you for a fool."

  "You promised to give up magic and come work for me. You promised!"

  "What?"

  "I offered you a job in exchange for giving up magic."

  "I really don't remember that, Brody. I wouldn't lie to you. I can't give up magic. It's who and what I am. I can't believe you think I promised to give it up. When was this?"

  "That night on the beach. When I drove you home I said that if you gave up the magic you could work for me."

  "I'm sorry, Brody. I really only remember you offering me a job. I didn't realize there was a string attached.” Candace couldn't even look at him as she hardened her heart. There was no room in her life for people who would put restrictions on her. No matter how much she cared for Brody, no matter how much she desired him, no one could ask her to stop being who she was. A witch.

  "Candace?"

  She shook her head. “No, Brody. I'm sorry if you think I agreed to that stupid idea. Just get your jacket and get out of my apartment. I want nothing more to do with you. Go. I'll find another job, one I'm just as good at. You'll see. I don't need you and ultimatums."

  "Aren't you overreacting just a bit? We can keep everything like it is. Hell, I was even going to ask you to move in with me."

  Candace snorted. “I don't think so. Go on. Get your shit and go. I don't know you, Brody. I doubt I ever did."

  "But what about what we have together? Can you throw that all away for magic?"

  "What we have?” She snorted again. Unladylike or not, she couldn't help it. “What we had was a good business relationship with the added bonus of great sex. I'm sure you can find someone more than willing to take my place in your bed. Becky for one."

  "Fine. If you are just going to throw me and what we have away for your stupid magic, then I'm better off without you. Dabbling in black arts is only going to get you killed anyway."

  Candace shook with barely controlled rage. Pictures on her bedroom walls rattled from the force of her anger, but she kept her magic under control. Barely.

  Brody looked around in alarm. “What is that? An earthquake? Here in Maryland?” He ran to the door. “I have to get back to the bakery and make sure everything is okay."

  "Good idea, Brody. And while you're there you can put up the help wanted sign. I won't be back."

  "If I had the time I'd continue this discussion, but I can't. I have obligations, Candace. Real ones."

  Her retort never got a chance to be heard because Brody closed the door. He was probably halfway down the stairs by the time she crumpled on her bed in tears.

  It wasn't until she heard her phone ringing that she realized she'd fallen asleep.

  "Hello?” If her voice was shaky then so be it. She didn't have the energy to pretend everything was okay.

  "Candace?"

  She sighed. It was Sandra. With a groan, she realized she was late. Again.

  "Are you okay?"

  "I'm sorry. I'll be right there. I just had ... to finish something.” Her voice cracked as she held back more tears.

  "Oh, Sweetie. We don't need you tonight. It's okay if you'd rather stay home."

  "No. I'll be there. Wait for me. Please."

  Sandra didn't say anything for a heartbeat. Then she sighed and answered, “Okay. Drive safely. We'll be waiting."

  Candace hung up the phone and ran into the bathroom to scrub her face. A quick application of makeup and a brush through her hair, and she was ready to go.

  * * * *

  Brody stared at Candace's apartment. He'd gone back to the bakery and everything had been fine. In fact, no one else he'd talked to had felt anything. Even the news station told him there'd been no earthquake.

  Maybe a train or something had caused it. It didn't matter. He was going to follow Candace and make sure she didn't get into any deeper trouble. Even though he'd acted like he'd washed his hands of her, he really did love her and didn't want to see her end up dead. Like someone else he'd once loved.

  She came out of the building and marched over to her car without even looking around. She could have been mugged or raped and killed. Doesn't she have any common sense?

  "Look around a dark area before you go into it! Especially a parking lot.” Shame she couldn't hear his lecture. Once she calmed down he'd try a more subtle approach to make her see reason.

  Candace drove carefully to a quiet suburban neighborhood. She followed a bunch of long winding roads and drove up to a stretch of houses that were spaced far apart and had a large forest behind the ones on the left side of the street.

  He parked a few meters past where she had, almost at the next house. He sat and waited until she vanished in the house, carrying her things. Brody got out of the car and jogged back up the street. Without worrying about being caught, he slipped around the side of the house, and peered through a lacy curtain. He recognized all of the women, and Dante, too. They'd all been in to the bakery often to visit Candace. And all were dressed in white robes.

  Candace hugged each of them, and set her stuff down. She started crying, and he wondered what was going on. What are they doing to her? Before he could head for the door, Sandra put her arms around Candace and looked in his direction as if she could see him.

  After a few heart-stopping minutes, Sandra turned around and picked up Candace's bag, ushering her out of the room and following. He didn't know what to do, so he sat there and waited while the others talked.

  It wasn't long before Candace came down in a white robe. When she did, they all turned and followed Sandra out of the room. Brody snuck along the side of the house and peeked in the next window. This one was the kitchen. Modern appliances and roomy space. By the time he finished admiring her stove and pot rack he realized they were walking out another door. He crept further, then froze and ducked back. They were going into the backyard. Great. This makes it easier to spy on them. Um, keep an eye on Candace.

  But they didn't stop in the yard, they continued into the forest behind the house. Brody followed as close as he dared, ducking behind a tree and squatting down when they stopped. A well-worn path in the ground suggested this was their circle. A place where they most likely practiced their magic.

  They stood together chatting as Sandra opened her bag and started to pull out various items he didn't recognize. At least
there were no small animals for them to sacrifice.

  One of the ladies produced a funny looking broom. It appeared to be made of twigs, and was half the size of a regular broom. Even so, Sandra swept around the circular path. No one interrupted her and no one stepped outside of the circle. In fact, it looked like they'd taken up positions around it.

  Once Sandra finished sweeping, she put the broom away and stood in the center of the group. Candace lifted her hands up to the sky, eyes closed, and looking sexy as hell. Is she naked under the robe?

  "I call upon light and earth at the north to illuminate and strengthen the circle.” Her voice was sure and strong, and brought his dick to instant attention. As she finished speaking, the earth moved under his feet.

  Another earthquake. What the hell is going on?

  Candace turned and looked at the girl on her left. Allison, the one who liked puff pastries.

  "I call upon light and air at the east to illuminate and enliven the circle,” Allison said.

  A strong wind blew around the circle, he could see it moving their clothes, but he felt nothing from here. How odd.

  Allison turned to Tamara and Dante. The lovers. He hoped they'd come to him for their wedding cake and desserts.

  "We call upon light and fire at the south to illuminate and warm the circle.” They lifted joined hands toward the sky as a flash that looked like fire whipped through the circle and vanished.

  Brody stumbled back on his ass and stared at them as he rubbed his eyes. Something was playing tricks on him. The moon through the trees, or something.

  Tamara and Dante turned to another woman and waited. What would happen now?

  "I call upon light and water at the west to illuminate and cleanse the circle,” Macy, the one who liked Danish, said.

  The sound of a wave crashing filled his ears, but was gone as fast as it had come. Before he could figure out where the noise came from, Sandra held up a long knife. She stopped in front of the altar. He had trouble hearing her, so he inched forward to a closer hiding spot.

  "I draw this circle in the presence of the Lady and the Lord, that They may aid and bless us in our work.” As Sandra walked around the circle, the others closed their eyes and lifted their heads up.

  Things were starting to really unnerve him.

  When Sandra finished, the ground shifted slightly and settled, but no one acted like they noticed. What is with all the tremors? Is there a new crack in the earth's crust or something?

  Continuing as if nothing happened, Sandra chanted words he couldn't understand. He wasn't even sure what language she was speaking. When she stopped talking, she went back to her altar and picked up something that looked like sugar. Or salt. Don't witches use salt?

  Sandra moved mumbled something to the salt and held it up. Then she sprinkled it in a circle around them.

  Again, they went around the circle, starting with Candace. “I call upon you, Guardians of the North, Element Earth, to guard this circle. By the body and strength that is ours, we ask you to attend this rite.” Before she finished speaking, a loud rumble sounded underneath them.

  God damn it! They must be right over a fault line.

  "I call upon you, Guardians of the East, Element Air, to guard this circle. By our breath and thoughts we ask you to attend this rite.” Another strong gust of wind whirled around the circle, only this time he felt it, too. Allison grinned and turned to Tamara and Dante.

  "We call upon you, Guardians of the South, Element Fire, to guard this circle. By our energy and consumption of life we ask you to attend this rite.” As they finished, flames leapt up surrounding the circle, reaching high and wide, like a protective shield.

  "Shit!” He dropped back on his ass and backpedaled. That was some salt Sandra had put out. Probably gunpowder or something. One of them must have dropped a match to it.

  "I call upon you, Guardians of the West, Element Water, to guard this circle. By our emotions and blood in our veins, we ask you to attend this rite,” Macy said.

  A light rain drizzled down upon them, then ceased as Sandra lifted her arms up in the air, holding her knife up again. “Hail to the elements! Welcome to the Lady and Lord! We stand between the worlds surrounded by light, love and power."

  Brody tried to figure out how it could just start raining and stop as suddenly as the wind had done. Yeah something is going on. And it isn't good. He prayed this wouldn't be a repeat of the incident at the beach.

  They bowed their heads, and Sandra spoke again. “Lady, we are gathered here to give thanks for the new member of our Coven. Not only has Dante joined our coven, our family, but he has become integral in all of our lives.” She nodded at Dante and he walked over to Candace.

  Candace took his hands in hers and smiled at him. Smiled in a way that made Brody's stomach churn. How dare she look at another man like that!

  "I give thanks for Dante and all that he has brought, not only to our circle but to me. Goddess ... Lord and Lady, thank you for Dante, whom I love dearly. He's the best thing to happen—"

  Whatever else she had to say was lost in the night as a bird cawed near him. Anger clawed at his gut. Love? Best thing to happen to what? To her? Before he could figure out what was happening, she'd cupped Dante's face and kissed him. Not a peck on the cheek, either. It was a lingering kiss on the lips. Then she wrapped her arms around Dante and pulled him close. Dante's hands wrapped around her, and he kissed her forehead as he pulled away and smiled down at her.

  Then Dante moved to Tamara. He heard her speaking, but was too upset to focus on her words. He stared at Candace even though she had no idea he was here. Rage and fury beat at him like the wings of a bat. Jealousy reared its ugly green head as her words and actions replayed in his mind.

  He'd known she was no virgin, but the thought of her being that free with her body made him absolutely furious. That she could cheapen herself that much. That she could be with these people in this coven and practice evil magic.

  He'd known Sandra for a while, and while it was hard to imagine her mixed up with evil, he knew from tonight, that she wasn't as white of a witch as he'd thought.

  When he realized Dante was in front of Sandra, he strained to listen. “The love that Dante and Tamara shares has strengthened not only her and her powers, but our circle as a whole.” Then Sandra kissed him on the lips, much the same way Candace had. Shit! Now he didn't know whether to be jealous of Dante for having so many lovers at his command, or kick his ass for touching Candace.

  Dante walked back over to Tamara and wrapped his arm around her. Everyone bowed their heads again. Brody wondered what they were doing, but didn't have to wait long. One by one they looked up.

  Candace raised her arms to the sky and the ground shook under him. They went around the circle. Next a rush of air knocked him on his ass, then fire burst up in a huge hot flame, and rain poured down, putting out the fire.

  Damn. What the hell is going on? I've never seen magic like this. It has to be black magic.

  As the night wore on, there were more incidents he had no rational explanation for. The only thing that made sense was that they did indeed have magic.

  Maybe Candace was in deeper than he thought. How could he compete with the lure of this kind of power? How could he hope to save her? To spare her from the death he hadn't been able save his sister from?

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  Chapter 5

  Candace woke and stretched. Today marked the first day of her new job search. Her heart clenched at the thought of losing Brody when she'd just found him, but reality was a harsh reminder. He couldn't accept her as she was, so there was no room in her life for him.

  The knock on her door startled her. No one ever bothered her this early in the morning, and only the girls knew she'd quit her job and would be home.

  After tugging on a robe, she hurried to the door and opened it.

  "Don't you look first?"

  She stepped back in shock as Brody pushed his way inside and clos
ed the door.

  "You should look to see who is there before you open the door."

  "How do you know I didn't?” she asked, pulling her robe tighter.

  "You wouldn't have opened it.” He had a point, so she nodded.

  "What do you want?"

  "You."

  Candace snorted and shook her head. “I don't accept your terms."

  "Then accept my apology. It was wrong of me to bribe you. To make you pick me over your magic. To force you to pick one or the other. I hope you can accept my apology, and let me back into your life."

  Shock rattled through her body. Just like that, he'd realized he was wrong and apologized? She'd experienced too much in life to accept his statement that easily.

  But what other reason would he be here for then? It's not like she was that good of a waitress and cashier at the bakery.

  Relief quickly followed the shock. She didn't have to give up her magic. He was willing to accept her as she was.

  "Just like that?” she asked. She had to. It seemed too simple.

  "Yes. Just like that.” He reached for her, and she melted into his arms.

  Brody kissed her, but it wasn't like before. This kiss was hard and demanding. Possessive. He must really have missed me. His hands tightened on her upper arms.

  She hungrily returned his kiss. Brody growled and tugged her closer when she slid her hands around his waist.

  "Is there any other man in your life right now? Anyone who will object to our relationship?"

  "No. If there was I never would have slept with you that night. And yesterday.” A shiver raced through her at his heated gaze.

  "What about Dante? I've seen the way you two hug and kiss."

  "He's Tamara's fiancé. You should know me better than that. I'd never mess around with someone who's already taken."

  "I was hoping you'd say that,” he whispered. He pushed her robe off her shoulders, his eyes lighting on her breasts as the material pooled on the floor. He cupped her breasts and massaged them.

  Candace moaned and grabbed onto him as her knees weakened. Moisture trickled down her thighs. Why he affected her this strongly, she didn't know and didn't care. Only with him did she experience this burning desire. Desire so strong she was willing to do anything, try anything to please him.