The next day, a part of me wondered if I’d imagined the entire thing with Marius. After all, the timing was incredibly strange. My love life had been as bland as an empty tea bag. Then Marius appeared after I’d gone out with Austin? That seemed to be an odd coincidence.
But I knew I wasn’t dreaming. Marius was alive and looking far too well.
I’d kept myself busy and away from home as much as possible that day, as I was still wrestling with deep-buried emotions. Much of the afternoon was spent walking along the beach in Gloucester. Although it was fall, it wasn’t yet cold and breezy enough to keep me away.
What gnawed at me was my past with Marius. Could I have done something differently to save Marius when we were young. It wasn’t the first time I’d dwelled on it, especially since I thought he was dead. One dose of a broken heart and two pinches of shame and guilt had brewed into a toxic potion over the years that had pervaded my soul. I’d avoided serious relationships since our broken engagement. Why risk such tremendous heartache again?
Since last night, I’d been grappling with some intense emotions. He was my first love. Losing him had hit me hard. Although it had been years since I’d seen him, being around him again resurrected those intense emotions. Despite how cool I’d tried to play it last night, he got under my skin. Was my heart reacting like it had muscle memory? Or did some feelings never truly die?
Although those thoughts churned within my brain, the sea air did me good, and I was able to return home somewhat less disturbed.
By the time I returned to the Network on Monday morning, I felt marginally better. After I parked in the lot, I walked toward the dark green Victorian where my office was. The September day had a cool breeze but few clouds in the sunny sky.
When I saw a man also headed toward the buildings where the Network was housed, I paused. “Austin?”
He turned toward my voice and then smiled. “Pandora, what are you doing here?”
“Iworkhere.” Narrowing my eyes, I asked, “I should be asking you that same question.”
“I have a meeting to talk about a job. Know of anyone hiring?”
Oh, right. What was wrong with me for suspecting Austin was here to see me, like he was a stalker or something equally nefarious? Seeing Marius still left me rattled.
As for a job, the Network was always in search of good talent. Supernaturals came and went. But I already had Austin living next door, so I wouldn’t dare suggest that he work for the same organization. Besides, I didn’t know his skills or work ethic or talents.
“I’m afraid not. What are you interested in? I can keep an eye out.”
He exhaled from his nostrils. “Good question.” I waited for him to elaborate but he didn’t for several seconds. “I’ve done a little of this and that over the years. Worked in restaurants. Landscaping. I prefer to be outdoors, if possible.” He ran his hands with a self-deprecating gesture through his hair. “My stint working in an office didn’t last two weeks.”
“If I hear of anything, I’ll let you know.”
“Thanks, Pandora.” His gaze lingered on me a bit longer than normal for a casual acquaintance.
I attempted to ignore the way my body heated and reminded myself why my reaction was inappropriate. He was too young for me. I didn’t want to be in a relationship. Marius’s arrival was a definite reminder of all the reasons why. Getting involved with someone next door would be detrimental to my independence.
“Once again, I want to say how sorry I am about the other night,” he added with a sheepish expression.
“Don’t worry about it.”
He opened his mouth as if about to say something else but then shut it.
“Hope you find something. Good luck.” While I walked toward my office, I felt his gaze still on me. A shiver of delight rippled within, but I resisted the urge to turn and look back at him.
Once inside, I brewed tea with chamomile and lavender to calm my frayed nerves and caught up on messages in my office. Twenty minutes later, Cassandra strolled in. Her blond curls were pulled up into a messy bun held together by blue chopsticks.
“How was your weekend?” she asked and sat in the chair opposite mine on the other side of my desk.
The excited gleam in her eye indicated what she clearly wanted to know about—how dinner was with Austin. She’d texted me while I was strolling the beach yesterday, and I’d responded that I’d fill her in today. That also gave me more time to process what had happened with Marius.
“Dinner was—” I pursed my lips, searching for the right word “—disastrous.”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
“It started out fine. We had plenty to talk about, and he’s a nice guy. But then, I think he got nervous. He knocked over his beer, which tumbled on my lap. When searching for napkins, he bumped into a server carrying a tray of desserts and, well, you can figure out the messy outcome.”
She pulled her mouth into an oval. “Oof.”
“And then, on the way home, he tried to avoid hitting a rabbit. That caused the woman behind to rear-end us. Everyone is okay, though.”
