“I know what you mean. When I can’t give a reader a great experience, it really weighs on me. Even though it may seem so small and simple, it’s funny how I take it personally.”
He sighs. “It’s like that with my inventions. Not everything I create will be for everyone. But for those whom I have madesomething for, I want the invention to touch them deeply, affect them, change them from the inside out.”
“So profound.”
“Thank you.”
The music stops. Abruptly I might add. There really should have been more of a fading-out sort of thing instead of a quick halt.
I take a step back from Grayson, and he does the same. “I’ll be here for the week,” he explains.
“The week?”
He smiles shyly and pushes away a few strands of hair that have fallen into his eyes. They really are a gorgeous shade. “There are outings. That’s what I was told.”
Outings? Now is not the time to act like I have no idea what’s going on. “Wonderful. I look forward to seeing you, then.”
Without warning he takes my hand and bows, pressing his lips to my flesh while tipping up his gaze to me. “The pleasure,” he growls, “is all mine.”
A bolt of lightning sweeps down my back, nearly knocking me to the floor.
Holy cow.
I manage a smile as he releases my hand. With a nod and my heart thundering against my chest, I walk back into the throng of guests, searching for Chelsea.
Oh my gods! I can’t believe what Storm Grayson said to me!
I’m floating on a cloud. He wants to see more of me this week! He’s interested! Woo-hoo!
And best of all, he doesn’t know anything about me. He doesn’t know that I’m a magical?—
“Think you got yourself a man, don’t you,freak?”
I stop and spin around.
There stands Chatty Cathy with Sadie and Cherie. This ismyball. Mine.Other witches are invited, of course. It would be rude not to have them come. But the event is held in my honor.
Unfortunately that’s not how the other witches always see it.
Cathy’s blonde hair is pinned up, and her face is pinched like she’s experiencing constipation pains.
“What did you say to me?” I snarl.
She jerks her head back toward the floor. “I said, good luck with Storm Grayson. Try not to influence him into falling in love with you, like you did with Devlin. It would be a shame if Storm found out about your little ability too soon.”
I am not going to be intimidated by this little tool. With my shoulders back and my spine straight, I cross over to her. The look of surprise in her eyes is almost soothing.
“If you tell Storm Grayson about me, do you know what he will think of you?”
“What?”
“That you’re a scheming gossip, and no man likes a gossip.”
She frowns. “Ilike a gossip.”
What an idiot. “Then go ahead and tell him what I can do.”No, don’t! Don’t really tell him.“But if you do, he won’t be interested in you.”
She thinks about that. I can practically see her brain working behind her eyes. Cathy seems to decide that I might actually be right. “Fine. I won’t tell him…for now. But just so you know, I want him for myself.”
