No Shoes, No Shirt, No Spells (Mystic Cafe Series) (14 page)

“
Sometimes trouble has a way of tracking you down, I guess.” Mary Jane wrapped her arm around me squeezed my shoulders.

Yes, sometimes trouble did have a way of finding me.

I poured a cup of coffee for the man who’d just sat down. With his slumped shoulders and the dark circles under his eyes, he seemed as if he could use a little perking up. I’d make sure to give him a little magic in whatever food he ordered. Simple magic spells was the only thing for me. Nothing complex like fixing screw-ups.

Chapter Twenty

I crossed my arms in front of my chest. I didn’t know what else to do with myself. If only I’d had a chance to comb my hair before he showed up looking gorgeous. Rory’s jeans and T-shirt hugged every muscle. It was a nice look for him. He looked darn good in a tight pair of Levi’s, but he probably looked delicious in everything he put on…and didn’t put on, too.
Oh my, the question popped into my head: boxers or briefs? No, I had to clear my mind.

Silence hung in the air. What else was there to say? I studied the cute little scar above Rory’s right eyebrow and wondered how he’d gotten it. What I wanted to know most though, was who Rory was. What he liked and disliked. What he did for fun and how his lips tasted.

“
Can I get you a slice of pie?” Small talk was not one of my better skills. But I was almost giddy with the knowledge that soon the spell might be reversed. All Rory needed to do was enjoy one little slice of pie.

Then I remembered what Mr. Wibble said. Rory eating the pie wasn’t enough. Was there a chance Mr. Wibble could be wrong? What if the pie was enough? Though if it were that simple, wouldn’t Tom have told me to do that in the first place? In spite of not wanting to know Rory’s feelings for Kim, I had to follow my orders. Find out if he wanted Kim. Truly wanted her.

“
I hate to say this…but no.” Rory moved closer.

“
Oh, not in the mood for flaky-crusted cherry goodness?” Butterflies frolicked in my stomach.

He shook his head. “No, no pie for me.”

I studied the imperfections in the hardwood floor and shuffled my foot. “So, if you’re not here for pie, what other reason is there?”

To tell me he was leaving with Kim and that I’d never see him again? No, he barely knew me. He wouldn’t bother telling me something as personal as that.

Rory’s cheeks turned red and heat rushed to mine. “I think you know why I’m here.”

He knew about the magic? My heart thumped until I thought it would pop out of my chest. “Not for the pie? Maybe a flying cheeseburger?” My voice faltered and I chuckled, trying to cover my nervousness. He didn’t return the sentiment.

Rory stared straight at me. “I don’t really know how to say this, so I guess I’ll just come right out and say it. Elly, will you come on a date with me tonight?”

“
Yes!” Mary Jane yelled from a table a few feet away.

I shook my head and Rory frowned. “No, you won’t go out with me?”

“
What!” Mary Jane stomped toward us.

“
No. I was shaking my head at my crazy best friend.” I gestured her way.

“
Never mind me, I’m invisible.” Mary Jane walked backwards away from the counter.

His smile made my heart rate spike every time he flashed his pearly whites. I needed Mary Jane to come back over to make sure I didn’t say anything stupid. A poke in the side from her every time nonsense slipped out of my mouth might work, but there was no time for that now. She needed to help me before I did something I might regret. Like plaster a big kiss on Rory. I wasn't sure, but the way he was looking at me, I thought he wouldn’t mind if I did, though.

His gaze remained focused on my face. I licked my lips; there was no stopping my involuntary reaction to his stare. Had someone turned off the air conditioner? Heat gathered in my cheeks and my legs shook. I glanced down, but lost my balance. When I looked up, it was too late to avoid the chair in front of me.

I stumbled forward and Rory grabbed my arm. “Whoa. Easy does it.”

“
Thanks.” My cheeks tingled again, but that wasn’t all that tingled. His touch made my whole body quiver like Grandma Imelda’s
Jell-O
.

He leaned against the counter, waiting for my answer. If I didn’t answer him soon, Mary Jane would probably have a heart attack. I fiddled with my apron, buying myself time to allow the redness to disappear from my cheeks.

“
Mary Jane told me she’d cover for you tonight. You know, do all of the cleanup here at the café.” He studied me for a reaction.

A big piece of duct tape had Mary Jane’s name written all over it. That would shut her up.

“
Did she now?” I shot an evil glare her way. She didn’t look up, but I knew she felt it.

“
What can I do to get you to say yes? I’ll do anything. I’ll let you spray me with whipped cream again. You can knock another burger out of my hands.” One side of his mouth hitched up, then the other as his taunting grin burst into a wide smile. “Come on, we’ll have fun.”

I bit my lip to stop from laughing. I wanted to say yes. But should I? There were many reasons to say no, but many to say yes. No woman in her right mind could say no to that smile.

Rory gave me a long, appreciative look. Blood rushed to my cheeks. His masculine voice drifted across the room, knocking thoughts of my magical ineptness out of my head. “What do you say? Tonight’s the first night of the county fair. Or we could go for a walk? Maybe get some ice cream?”

If I didn’t answer him soon, he’d think I was brain-dead and retract his invitation.

From behind Rory’s back, Mary Jane scolded me silently by waving her index finger so hard I figured she’d need a trip to Urgent Care.

When I thought she’d almost burst from frustration, I said, “I’d love to.”

Chapter
Twenty-One

Darkness had settled over Mystic Hollow. The sounds from the Ferris wheel, Tilt-A-Whirl and other rides echoed across the night air. My arms ached from pushing the mop over the dirty café floor and my feet hurt from standing for so long. That mop grew heavier every night—and it had only been a couple. In spite of that, I was anxiously awaiting Rory’s arrival.

Traffic had slowed to only a few passing cars. Fireflies flickered in the nearby tree and a cricket sounded from somewhere beside me. While I waited for Rory, I contemplated walking to the fairgrounds and meeting him there. It was a short walk, but my dogs were barking so loud, and anyway the thought of strolling to the fairgrounds with Rory by my side was more appealing than going alone.

My cell phone rang, startling me from my reverie.

“
Hello?” Mary Jane yelled. Her voice was barely audible over the roar of the crowd and the rides. Well…what constituted a crowd in Mystic Hollow.

“
You’re already at the fair? I didn’t know you were going.” I shouted into the phone.

“
I decided why not go, what have I got to lose? Are you with him?” I might as well have asked Mary Jane to come along on the date. Was it a date? Either way, she’d want a play-by-play.

“
Not yet. You’re not at the fair to spy on us, are you? I don’t think we need a chaperone.” I sat on the bench in front of the café to rest my feet.

“
If you’re lucky, you will.” She giggled.

“
Well, in that case, I guess I’ll see you there.” I laughed. “I’m assuming you’re applying for the job?”

“
I have no intentions of being the third wheel. You probably won’t even see me.”

“
Now that I think of it, I might need you. How much of a third wheel can you be in a couple of hours? Come on, what will I talk about?” I gulped.
“And t
hey have the candy apples you love
,” I said, suddenly desperate to persuade her to be there. “Just think of the gooey, nut-covered yumminess.”

“
Darn you, you know I can’t resist caramel and nuts. But why do you need me?”

“
So I don’t say anything completely brainless and embarrass myself.”

“
Honey, you snatched food out of his hand and drenched him with whipped cream. There’s nothing left to be embarrassed about.”

“
You make a valid point. Nonetheless, I’ll see you there,” I chimed.

I hung up and stuffed the phone back into my pocket. Before Rory arrived, I dabbed on a little lip-gloss, not bothering to use the compact mirror in my purse to apply it. Staring at my reflection and realizing what a mess I looked wouldn’t help my nerves. It was almost pointless to wear makeup with this kind of heat, anyway. The sticky air made breathing difficult. Fighting the humid temperature for a little cotton candy and gooey apples wasn’t worth the effort, but seeing Rory sure was.

Something didn’t seem right, though. Being happy didn’t seem appropriate.

For all I knew, I only liked Rory because of a stupid magic spell—along with every other woman in town. Not to mention, he practically had a wife following every move he made. Okay, she wasn’t his wife, but in her mind, she’d probably already sent out the invitations.

“
Am I late?” The voice startled me and I spun around. My heart thumped wildly, as if I’d run several sprints.

“
No. The café was slow tonight, so I closed a few minutes early. Mary Jane didn’t need to cover for me, after all. I was just sitting here enjoying the night sky.” I shifted on the bench.

Rory took a seat next to me on the old bench, stretching his long legs out in front of him. His thighs bulged under the restraint of his jeans. His blue shirt was buttoned up except for the first two buttons; the sleeves were rolled up exposing his tanned muscular forearms.

“
It is beautiful. So, are you ready to go to the fair?” He ran his fingers through his hair, making it even more mussed. Just the way I liked it.

“
I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

The light from the café sign lit his gorgeous face, showcasing the strong cheekbones, blond hair, and dreamy eyes. Rory looked out of place in Mystic Hollow, unless he was modeling for a magazine. But I was positive a photo shoot would never be held in Mystic Hollow, much less right outside my front door.

The lip-gloss didn’t seem like such a stupid idea now. I peered down at my clothing. Remnants of flour and chocolate remained on my jeans. I hadn’t had time to change. Rory took me by the elbow and helped me up from the bench. His masculine scent circled me again, making the butterflies return, not that they’d completely disappeared since he’d showed up in the café that first day.

I surreptitiously wiped at the flour on my jeans, hoping he wouldn’t notice. Was he thinking about what it would be like to ride the Ferris wheel with me? Not that I’d go. Heights and me don’t mix. Maybe Rory was daydreaming about sharing a cotton candy? Or about winning me a stuffed animal? Or was he thinking of something even better, like a kiss?

Twinkling lights filled the night sky with not a cloud in sight.
The fairgrounds sat a few blocks away from the café in an open field. We set out down the sidewalk through town, our bodies so close that we almost touched. I tried not to look back and check out his butt. He’d had enough ogling for the day.

As we strolled along, I said, “I’m sorry about the way I look tonight. I didn’t have time to go home. If I’d known we were going out, I would have brought a change of clothes.”

“
Don’t apologize. I should have given you more notice.” He brushed at my nose with his finger. “You had a bit of flour on your nose.”

His unexpected touch made my knees wobble, and my stomach flip-flopped against my will. “Oh, sorry.” I let out a nervous chuckle. Why hadn’t I checked my face? The magic and running the café had me befuddled, not to mention the thoughts of spending time with Rory that had filled my brain since he’d asked me out.

“
I didn’t think. I just really wanted to spend some time with you. And I think you look sexy, flour residue and all.”

When I realized my mouth hung open, I snapped it shut and let out a chuckle. Thirteen-year-old girls were less giddy than me. But in my defense, this gorgeous man had called me sexy, and I was now in need of a cold shower, or possibly a ventilator.

To the left of the field was a wooded area, full of tall, thick pines. Too spooky to walk past by myself. I was glad I had waited. We turned down the isolated road toward the sound of the screams from the rides and the rickety roller coaster making its ascent echoing through the night air. It reminded me of my childhood when my parents took me to the fair every year. My dad always won me the biggest stuffed animal in the place—one of his hidden talents. I missed him; we had lost my father
several years before.

Remembering the taste of corn dogs with an overload of mustard made my mouth water. But this was far different from my childhood memories. So far, the night was nothing short of romantic…magical.

The first person I spotted when we entered the gate was Mary Jane. Had she been waiting for us? I told her I’d see her there, but I didn’t think she’d patrol the entrance waiting for us.

The smile on her face reached from ear to ear.

“
I didn’t expect to see you here,” I said. Rory probably saw past our charade and knew the meeting was planned.

Mary Jane winked. “Yeah, I finally got my boss to let me get away from the café for a night. I came for the candy apples,” she offered, looking at Rory as if he’d asked.