Did I mention Corbin was sitting in my living room? With myfeetin hislap.
The man was gorgeous. There was absolutely no other word to describe him. He had the most beautiful long, dark hair that made me want to run my fingers through it. His features were so distinctive—his lips looked totally nibble worthy, and his scruff was sexy as hell. He was wearing a fitted t-shirt, and his tattoos were visible on his arms and peaking out around the neckline. The man gave a new meaning to “fit.” Then again, all the Smith brothers were ridiculously hot and muscly.
His thumb rubbed into the arch of my foot, and I barely managed to suppress a groan. The man was good with his hands, and if I didn’t stop thinking about that, then I was going to embarrass myself.
I tried to rein in my thoughts. We were talking about my weird-ass incident and people dying, and those were not sexy thoughts. (Although I didn’t blame myself for getting derailed. I couldn’t remember the last time someone had rubbed my feet.)
“So, um, are you comfortable with death because of the witch thing? Wiccan thing?” I corrected, hoping I wasn’t being offensive.
Corbin smiled. “Wicca is a relatively new term. My ancestors referred to themselves as healers or diviners. Witch is a term that came later and had a lot of negative associations, but in using it we choose to reclaim it. But yes, I suppose that’s part of why I’m comfortable with death. There is a cycle to all life, and death isn’t an ending, it’s only a different beginning.”
“I like that. I tell my patients that all the time. It’s the next great adventure.” I smiled, thinking about Mr. Russell.
For a moment, I considered telling Corbin about my dreams. I didn’t think he’d find me weird. Maybe he’d have some sort of insight or explanation or something.
“What does it mean? To be a witch? If you don’t mind talking about it,” I said.
“I don’t mind talking about anything with you, Sebbie.”
Talk about warm fuzzies. Gah, he was so freaking sweet.
“I guess a big part of it is being more in tune to the natural world,” Corbin continued. “The elements are an important part of my practice. I meditate, and I like to be in nature and work with my hands.”
His expertise with his hands was evident with my foot rub.
“What kind of work do you do?” I asked. I realized I actually didn’t know what most of the Smith brothers did. I knew Liam did computer stuff, but beyond that, I wasn’t really sure.
“I’ve done a lot of different things over the years. I grow herbs and plants to make tonics, salves, and lotions. I love working with stone and wood, and I’ve done carvings and madejewelry. I’ve sold a fair number of pieces, and I enjoy the work. I’ve worked with pottery as well, although I don’t have a kiln here yet.”
“That’s awesome. I took a pottery class with Toby when he was thinking of putting it in a book, and it was a lot of fun.”
Corbin smiled fondly. “How did that go for Toby?”
I laughed. “About as good as you would expect. I made pottery, and Toby tried to make pottery, but he had a million questions, got distracted, and somehow cut himself.” I shook my head. I loved Toby, but only he could injure himself with wet clay.
“Sounds about right,” Corbin laughed. “What about you? I know you’re a nurse. Do you enjoy it?”
“I love my work. I work mostly in hospice right now, which I know sounds really depressing, but it’s nice to be able to be there for people, and I actually get to spend a fair amount of time with the patients, which I like. And it’s like you said—death isn’t an ending.” I shrugged my shoulders.
That made me think about what’d happened that day. Another dead body in my vicinity. Of course.
“What is it?” Corbin asked. “What’s worrying you? You can talk to me.”
I sighed. “It’s not that I don’t want to tell you. It’s just that it’s all kind of fuzzy.”
“That’s okay. Maybe talking it through will help. And I won’t judge, no matter what you say,” Corbin reassured me.
I closed my eyes, thinking back to what had happened. “I was in the shop with Dexter and Toby. I think that’s when I started feeling… I don’t know, a little odd? I was looking at the shelves, and there was this deck of cards. I picked it up, and the card I saw was called Death.”
I heard a deep inhale, and I looked over at him, but his face looked calm. He squeezed my foot.
I closed my eyes again, trying to remember how it had all happened. “It’s sort of like a dream. Isn’t that weird? Like something that happened but didn’t happen, and the further away from it I get, the hazier it seems.”
Corbin hummed in agreement, gently rubbing my lower legs.
“I was looking at the card, and I heard a noise, I think. I remember looking over to make sure that Dexter and Toby were okay, but they were fine. It sounded sort of like someone in pain, and I guess my nurse instinct just sort of kicked in?”
I tried to think back, but itwashazy. “I walked then, following the sound, and I ended up at that house.”
