A Wicked Good Witches Paranormal Romance Books 1-7 (Wicked Good Witches Seasons) (42 page)

CHAPTER 2

Melinda sat up in her bed leaving her toes covered by the sheets piled near the end of her mattress. She had her window open and a cool breeze wafted inside, carrying in the scents of recent rain. It had finally stopped, but it had been raining off and on for three days.

She was wearing the same tank top and shorts as when the rain had started. She had barely eaten, or drank anything (other than too many glasses of wine). And she hadn’t left her bedroom once.

William and her brothers had tried, repeatedly, to ask her why she was suddenly in hiding. But she could not tell them. She could not utter the words. She could barely admit it to herself.

She had dated a Deane. Worse, she had fallen hard for and slept with a Deane.

Riley, her molasses eyed motorcycle man, had turned out to be Riley Deane… Deane’s being longtime enemies of both the Howard Witches and The Demon Isle.

A long time ago the Deanes had warred with the Howards over control of the Isle, and lost. But not without killing a few Howards first.

They had only discovered the Deanes had returned to the Isle just a few days prior, but Melinda had never dreamed that the new love of her life, Riley, was one of them.

It seemed so obvious now. He had just arrived. He was new the Isle. Locals had tossed her dirty looks when they saw the two of them together. How she and her family had missed who they were, she wasn’t sure. Although they had been busy fighting bloodsuckers, dealing with the alpha werewolf-shapeshifter, and reeling over the possibility that their father, Jack, was still alive. Missing. Very likely held prisoner, but they hoped alive.

These things were not valid excuses to Melinda. She should have guessed. Should have figured it out. She should not have allowed this to happen.

Perhaps if they hadn’t all been so stubborn about it and had walked right up to the Deane Manor and introduced themselves, reminding them that they, the Howards, protected this Isle, she would have known then and there, rather than after it was already too late.

“No. That’s not true,” she muttered. “I didn’t find out the Deanes were back until after I’d already had sex with him at the quarry… unprotected sex…” she groaned. “Why am I such an idiot?”

She’d been waiting for Riley to arrive at the Wicked Muddy Café, three nights ago. She had planned on spending the night with him. Or at least a good portion of it. Was it really just three days? It seemed more like weeks, not days. Grace had been sitting with her when it happened. When Melinda had discovered her Riley was a Deane.

She had just stared in shock, unable to speak as he approached the café. Once she had finally spoken and confirmed his name, Riley still didn’t comprehend what was happening. He kept asking her what was wrong, confused by her sudden inability to speak to him.

Grace caught on though. The look on her face said it all –
a Howard and a Deane, dating! Hot damn! I’d never thought I’d see the day
…

Melinda fled. Just ran away from him without explanation. 

Riley followed at first, begging for her to talk to him. She stopped and faced him, but no words came out. Only tears. She turned away, ignoring his pleas and headed straight home.

Riley returned to the café and plunked down in a chair.

“Oh, sonny,” professed Grace, the owner of the café. “Ya don’t realize, do ya?” Her voice held true compassion for what she was about to reveal.

“What don’t I realize?” he asked her, pleading to understand.

“That there young lady you’ve been dating… is Melinda
Howard
.” 

Riley bounded out of the seat and almost tripped, her words pummeling him with the terrible truth. “Melinda…
Howard?
”

Grace silently confirmed.

Riley’s thoughts spun wildly, trying to process this information.

This can’t be happening…

She can’t be a… a Howard.

Shit…

My brother is going to kill me.

His stomach revolted at the thought of having to tell his brother what he’d done. And how the rest of the Howard family would react once they found out.

He spun around just in time to catch Melinda’s frame vanish around a corner. Why? Of all the women? How did he not discover this sooner?

I wasn’t thinking with my head is why.

How did I do all those things with her, and not even know her last name?

I let myself get carried away. Again. I’m such an idiot.

I should have known it was all too good to be true. She couldn’t be so perfect…

Of all the women I could have met… shit.

This is not going to end well…

End?

It’s over.

And it shouldn’t have ever started!

So why was it the
feeling
he got sometimes, the one that told him there was someplace he needed to be… why did it lead him to her? So they could fall head over heels in love only to have it stripped from them? So his heart could get broken again? What was the fucking point of it all? His
feeling
had never let him down so badly before.

Melinda was the most incredible and unexpected thing that had ever happened to him. Especially after begrudgingly coming to live on the Isle with his brother. The thought of being here with
her
, made it survivable.

And now…

He turned his ashen face away, saddling his motorcycle. He’d fallen for the one forbidden thing he could not have. He just hoped things didn’t get ugly, or even dangerous, once his brother, and her brothers found out. He hoped it didn’t start a new war between their families.

Melinda didn’t stop running away until she’d gotten home and into her room. She had thrown herself onto her bed and wept, all night long.

How could she have been so blind?

Could she be anything but blind?

Not only had she missed that William
did
have feelings for her (though he had yet to admit it), and had crushed him, but now she had dated… no, not dated. Fucked. Gotten felt up by… and totally fell in love with, Riley Deane.

Did falling in love with Riley make her a bad person? Or at the very least, a terrible judge of character? All these thoughts kept her in tears the entire night. She locked her door, refusing to let anyone come in until morning.

Even then, she refused to leave her room or speak about what was keeping her in there. Melinda dreaded their disapproving looks upon finding out what she’d done. The
how could you be so naïve
scowls…

She had finally ventured into the world and her first big move was to sleep with a member of the Deane family. And now it was day three of her newly self-inflicted prison sentence. It wasn’t possible to stay locked away forever, but she wasn’t ready to face the situation, or Riley, yet.

There was a soft wrapping at her bedroom door. She hurriedly wiped her eyes with her bed sheets and sniffled out a, “Come in.”

William entered with a tray of food and a hot pot of tea. Upon seeing her face, his perfectly placed smile dropped. “I brought you lunch. You need to eat.” He set the tray atop her dresser.

“I’m not really hungry, William.”

He sat at the foot of her bed, eyeing her. “You realize how much you’re worrying your brothers right now, don’t you?”
And me,
he left out.

Melinda sighed. “Yes, I know. I’m sorry, William. I just… I just…” she stopped. The words were on the tip of her tongue but would not come out. She could not say I met a guy, he is the most amazing guy I’ve ever met, and he’s a Deane… our sworn enemy. She especially could not say this to William. It was too uncomfortable to discuss the guy she liked, with the vampire she loved. 

“Melinda?” wondered William. “Where are you right now?”

She knew he didn’t mean literally, but she did not reply, just shrugged. She wanted so badly to tell him but the words refused to escape her lips. 

He debated slipping into her mind. He’d done it before, and once the connection was made it became easier to do. It was also an invasion of her privacy, and something he did not want to do, unless it proved necessary; they were precariously close to
necessary
. He wouldn’t allow her to spiral backwards, losing herself in another breakdown. But he also didn’t want to subject himself to more of her dreams. He already struggled with the ones he’d seen.

He sighed. “Melinda, I’ve told you this a thousand times, but I will remind you again that you can tell me anything. I am a judgment free zone. You will not disappoint me. I will not be angry with you. I will even keep it from your brothers if you prefer.”

She let out a whimper. Which was worse, telling William, or her brothers? She reached out and touched his pale, chilled hand. “I just can’t. Not yet.” Her facial expression begged him to understand.

He pulled his hand away, clearing his throat. “I know the last week has not been… normal… between us. I hope this hasn’t made you uncomfortable, or made you feel you cannot tell me what’s going on, Melinda.”

She could attempt denial, but the lies were piling too high.

William knew that his moment of weakness, and her dreams of him, had changed the dynamic of their relationship. He had hoped with a little time it would return to normal. Now, he feared the change was irreparable.

William continued, seeing she wasn’t going to divulge her secret.

“I just want you to know that I’m always here for you. As always. Whenever you’re ready. That will never change, Melinda.”

His personal calling card fluttered just inside her chest. That heart rhythm that was utterly impossible to ignore. And belonged only to him.
Mine…
his brain rattled with a silent groan. This was a dangerous way to be thinking.

Melinda heard the jeep screeching out of the driveway and turned her head to the window.

“Your brother’s presence has been requested. The Mack line,” William explained.

“What happened?”

“It appears that Eva Jordan’s father is missing, and they are assisting in the search to find him.”

Melinda nodded, more guilt piling on top of the mountain already threatening to crush her. She should be helping too. Doing her job. Like her brothers.

William stood at the entrance of her bedroom as if to leave, but stopped.

He needed to ask her a question. An uncomfortable question, but it might just answer why she was locked in this room. William suspected he was the last person she wanted to discuss her predicament with because it had to do with the man she was seeing. And she feared this would make
him
uncomfortable. Which it would, but he needed to know regardless.

He stepped closer. “Melinda, please tell me truthfully… does this have anything to do with that young man you’re seeing?”

She cast her glance away attempting to hide her reaction. But she didn’t fool William.

In a flash he was on his knees at the side of her bed, his arms grasping her shoulders gently. His voice came out in strained control. “Did he hurt you?”

“No-no,” she stammered. “It’s not like that, William. I swear.” Which was mostly truth, seeing as Riley had not known who she was, and therefore had not intentionally caused her heart to shatter into pieces.

William stared into her eyes. He didn’t appear satisfied with her answer, but after a minute he stood and backed away. The glint of dark intent that flittered through his eyes caught her breath.

She opened her mouth to try to explain, but the words just would not form. She lowered her head, disgusted with herself.

William struggled to remain calm and controlled. But this pathetic excuse for a man had done
something
to her, whether she’d admitted it or not. He worked hard to contain the inevitable fury forging into his veins at the thought of someone hurting Melinda, in any manner.

Outwardly, he gave her a tight nod that he understood, but said no more and turned to leave. If he ever found this man…

“William,” Melinda called out.

“Yes.” He turned, giving her his full attention. Perhaps she would reveal her secret.

“Be careful today. Please tell Michael and Charlie, too.”

He sighed disappointedly, but nodded and left the room at vampire speed.

She put her head in between her hands and let out a frustrated sigh.

“I gotta get with it! I should be out there helping.”

She dragged herself off the bed and into the shower. Once washed up, dried off and dressed, she stood at the entrance of her bedroom. She reached out her hand to open the door but stopped.

“What if I run into Riley?” Her heart ached at the thought of seeing him.

How would she react? What would she say? Or do? She panicked that she could not trust her body or her heart to do the right thing. That even after finding out he was a Deane and knowing how her family would react… she still wanted him. She wanted to pretend that nothing had changed, that everything was perfect. To let her hands run all over him. To disappear in those lips and molasses eyes.