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She left Ivy’s, the lavender box stored securely in a carry-all on the back of the stroller. Judge seemed happy to be outside again. So did Mia, who chattered and gurgled as they walked back toward home. What to make for dinner? What would Silas like? After Mia’s nap they’d walk to the grocery store and hope inspiration struck. She couldn’t go wrong with meat and potatoes.

As she approached her street a tingle worked up Gabi’s spine. She glanced back, half expecting to find someone watching her. No one was on the sidewalk, or in the street. Still, she was doubly glad to have Judge walking beside her, as her gaze flitted to the woods at the end of the street for a moment, and she realized how deep and dark the woods that surrounded Mystic Springs could be.

* * *

Silas took his dogs for a run, fed and watered them, then jogged to the springs to see if there had been any activity in the past couple of days. All was quiet, which was unusual for this time of year. In a couple of weeks, that would change. As the earth celebrated life with new growth animals of all kinds, birds and insects, would celebrate as well.

He usually showered right before bed, but today he got a shower hours earlier than usual. Maybe he’d decided not to play Jenna’s game, but she didn’t know that. He wouldn’t step back and let her assign someone else the job. Besides, he wanted to see Gabi. Was he a complete fool to be optimistic about where “dinner” might lead?

He’d made the mistake of being optimistic about Samantha, another Non-Springer who’d found her way to Mystic Springs. She’d been beautiful, and naive, and blindly ignorant of the magic that was so evident all around her. He’d been younger then, young enough to be swept away by a pretty face and great sex. When he’d shown Samantha what he could do, when he’d revealed his abilities to her knowing there was no way forward without that revelation, she’d been horrified. He’d never forget the expression on her face. She’d been afraid. Of him.

Other Springers had made lives with people from outside the community, why couldn’t he? He wasn’t looking for a great romance, a destined love, his other half. For a long time he’d planned to live his life alone and unmarried. What else could a man who liked animals better than people ask for? Lately he’d had the occasional stray thought about having a family. One not as dysfunctional as his own had been. One that might endure. Otherwise who would he pass his gift to?

It was just a coincidence that these thoughts had come to him after he’d kissed Gabi Lawson.

If he was smart he’d call off this dinner right now, before things went any further. But apparently he wasn’t smart. When it came to women he wasn’t smart at all. What the hell was he thinking? Gabi wouldn’t be here long. If he didn’t run her out of town someone else would. If he ever did settle down it would have to be with one of the Springers who’d be trapped here with him. Maybe that teacher who was psychic. Her name was Nelia, she was a cousin to the Franklin twins, and none of her students could get away with anything. Then there was the witch who’d started helping Eve at the café. Her name was Ruby or Rosie or something like that. She was a distant relation to the Milhouses, but he didn’t think she turned, like the men did. If she did, she kept it a secret.

Not that either of them did anything for him, even though they were both pretty and seemed nice enough. No, he would be better off with his original plan. Alone, always.

It wouldn’t be, couldn’t be, Gabi. Jenna was determined to get her out of Mystic Springs before the isolation spell went down.

Unless he decided to stop her. He hadn’t gotten there yet, but maybe…

If Jenna got her way, Gabi would be run out of town one way or another. Once she was gone and the spell was cast, she’d forget him. She’d forget everything and everyone connected to Mystic Springs. That should make him happy, but instead a knot settled in his gut.

He walked to town, taking the trail he and his dogs normally ran, going over his options for the days to come while at the same time wondering if he’d end up in Gabi’s bed tonight. Damian had a cot in the office, and he’d stay the night if Silas didn’t come in to relieve him. Most of the dogs would be fine on their own overnight, but some were still antsy, still stirred up and confused from the spring water they’d consumed. A few of the dogs might need reassurance in the night, especially once the Milhouses started howling.

Three nights out of the month, the Milhouse werewolves shifted and roamed the woods surrounding Mystic Springs. They usually weren’t particularly violent, at least they hadn’t been lately, but they made a lot of noise. Their howls terrified most domesticated animals.

Silas was glad he didn’t run into anyone as he made his way to Gabi’s house. How many of them might know what he was up to? How many might want to stop him? Or help. Mystic Springs was home to more than its share of matchmakers. Every old witch in town thought if the right families were merged and the happy couples reproduced, their children could be the saviors of the dying town. Then there was Marnie, whose only reason for setting him up with Gabi in the first place had been to ensure that everyone was as happy as she and Clint were.

Even though Gabi was his focus tonight, at some point in the evening he’d get his hands on the kid. Even if she’d gone to bed early, he’d find a way. If Mia was a Springer, through her unknown father’s blood, he had to know. It might help him make his decision about what to do next.

Before he approached the door he slipped under the carport to check out the license plate of the car that had been backed into the space. The Florida plate had been smeared with mud, which from a distance would disguise the fact that it was long-expired. He wasn’t surprised.

Silas didn’t ring the doorbell, since there was a dog and a baby inside and he didn’t want to set either of them off. He knocked. That was enough to make Judge bark once. Gabi opened the door within a minute or so, smiled, and invited him in.

“Something smells good,” he said as he stepped inside.

That wasn’t a lie. He smelled dinner, lavender, laundry, baby, and dog. It was the scent of a home unlike any he’d ever known.

He couldn’t afford to like it so much.

* * *

Silas seemed to like her beef stew and the homemade cornbread. The meal they ate in the small dining room was simple, but tasty and filling. Gabi could hardly eat herself, wondering where the evening would end.

She’d fed Mia and Judge before Silas arrived, but they stayed close. It was nice. Their presence, as they crawled under the table and wove around his legs and hers, relaxed her. It made this homey meal something less than a date. And at the same time, something more. Silas fit in here. Too fast and too strongly, he’d become one of them.

She wanted him, but was she brave enough to take what she wanted? Brave wasn’t a word that had ever been used to describe her. She wanted to be fearless, to take life in both hands and cherish it. That had never been her way, so why was she craving what she shouldn’t take now?

For the past year she’d been safe. Mia had been safe. But she hadn’t been fearless, she had not been brave. Looking back, she had to admit she’d never been either of those things. Did she want to be? If she’d been brave, she would’ve left Blake the first time he’d shown his true face to her. If she’d been fearless, she would’ve fought back.

But that was in the past, and she had enough to handle in this moment. Could she have both safety and companionship? Love was impossible, she didn’t dare to hope for love, but why couldn’t she have the joys of pleasure as a part of her secluded life? Why couldn’t she be brave enough to feel again?

Memories of the past and questions about the future clouded her thoughts as they ate the dinner she’d prepared.

Silas ate half a lemon bar for dessert. Gabi couldn’t swallow even a bite, she was so nervous. Even now, no one would ever describe her as being brave.