Deliberate Intent Page 2

  “That would be lovely. Until then, I bid you adieu.” Her French was rusty. Still, the use of it entertained her Cajun shadow walker. She turned clamping her hands on the wheel with a steely grip. “Oh, and by the way, I do not want you to mention any of this to Logan. Do I make myself clear?”

  Pilot arched a rusty brow. “Of course, whatever you wish.”

  With Pilot gone, Aubrie yanked the car into gear before merging back onto the road. No netherworld demon like Nybbas was going to drop back into her world to mess around. Sure, he could blame Logan for the destruction of his small kingdom as well as the retreat of his minion army. The fact didn’t give him the right to bother them. Aubrie let out a breath. The air around her grew heavy. Vowing never to return to the Netherworld, she wondered how she could draw Nybbas to their side of the veil.

  ***

  The banging grew insistent. Logan frowned at the door. “Wait a minute.” Grabbing his jeans, he slid them on, zipping as he walked. Through the peephole, his brother stood. The urge to disappear out the back reared its ugly head. He managed to shake off the cowardly idea before opening the door. “Want coffee?”

  “Yeah,” Gus said as he followed Logan into the kitchen. Seated, he managed to refrain from telling Logan to get his ass in gear.

  Sometimes, being a warlock held irritating talents, like knowing what his brother was going to say before he had a chance to open his mouth. Logan recognized the degree of weight such a talent held for his lover, Aubrie as well. Being an empath set you apart from others. Made people hesitate to get close. Thinking of her gave the tension in his neck a reason to squeeze a bit tighter.

  With his sight, Logan saw a lecture on the horizon, so he did what any thinking warlock would do. He focused on filling the carafe. No reason to get defensive. This was his problem. Opening the coffee, Logan waited.

  “You been up long?”

  Logan smiled slyly. His brother’s talent at fishing for information always began with small talk. “I’ve been awake. Aubrie left for work a little while ago.”

  “Yeah, she stopped by and got gas on her way to yoga class. Said she was running late.”

  “She say anything else?” Deciding he’d take the bull by the horns, Logan turned, giving his brother an arched brow.

  “She said you were in a mood this morning. Sounded like something you needed to get off your chest but wouldn’t tell her.”

  Turning, Logan saddled up to the breakfast bar before straddling the stool across from Gus. “Big brother to the rescue.” With no intentional malice, he smiled.

  Gus studied him in silence.

  One thing about Gus, he could wait you out until you gladly spilled the beans rather than suffer through his style of interrogation, which reminded Logan of Chinese water torture. Minutes passed as each of them listened to the coffee gurgling in the pot.

  “Okay. You’re obviously not going to let it go until I tell you, so here’s the lowdown. I’ve had a couple of things happen. The dreams are back. I don’t know how it’s happening except our friend, Nybbas is back.” Raking a hand through his hair, Logan shook his head. “I should have known better than to think I’d get rid of him so easily the first time.” Huffing out a laugh, he shoved off the stool to go for the coffee. “Sugar?”

  “Yeah. How do you suppose that is the case? We blew him to bits over eight months ago.” Scowling, Gus leaned on the Formica.

  The laugh came out brittle, on the verge of caustic. Logan’s insides wanted to heave. “Yeah, I know, right?” Handing Gus his cup, Logan settled on the stool once more. “There’s where it gets fuckin’ freaky.” He locked eyes with Gus. “My dreams are coming to life.”

  “What?” Pushing back, Gus straightened. “That’s impossible. Isn’t it?”

  “Reality says so, but Nybbas has other plans.”

  Gus eyed his brother coolly. “Are you telling me he’s back? Now he has the power to create reality out of his mind manipulating games? Please tell me that’s not what you’re saying.”

  “Yeah, that’s what I’m saying.” Unable to sit, Logan left the bar to stride to the opposite side of the room. When he turned, his jaw tightened over the things he needed to tell Gus. “You aren’t going to believe me when I say this, but there’s some really messed up shit going on in my head.” He shoved his hands in his pockets before garnering Gus’ attention once more. “A few weeks ago, I had a dream about Luke. It started out about Luke. From there it got all screwed up. In the dream, I went out to his place. You know, like to be close to his spirit, I guess. Found myself driving up to the house. Heck, Mojo, his Australian Shepherd, even met me and escorted me to the front door. On the porch stood Connie. I asked how she was doing. She didn’t have much to say - seemed low. Offered me some tea, so I figured I’d go in. Maybe see if I could talk her out of the mood. Both of us had Luke on our minds. I could see it in her face.” Logan turned to stare out the window. “God, Gus, one thing led to another. She started crying. I pulled her into a hug. It shouldn’t have happened. The next thing I remember is kissing her. I could feel her pain. It was palatable. I guess I understood because I carried the same misery around with me. Long story short, we had sex right there on the kitchen table.”

  “You said it was a dream, Logan. Dreams are a kind of release. No harm.”

  “I wish. God's blood, Gus, Connie came by the other day to tell me she was pregnant and the baby was mine.” Getting the whole thing out in one breath left him drained to the bottom of his soul.

  “What?” Gus stood up. “What are you saying, bro?”

  Logan shook his head. “I’m saying’s somehow the dream became a reality.” Sick to his stomach, he shifted trying for calm. “You believe that shit?” Without waiting for an answer, he stared out the window. “It was just a fuckin’ dream,” he continued. “How did this happen, other than Nybbas interfering somehow? What a mind fuck!”

  “Are you sure Connie’s not messing with you? She never has gotten over having a thing for you.”

  “Yeah, I considered it. That shit’s possible but what are the odds of a coincident like this one occurring? Nybbas is behind this mess. Logan struck his chest with his finger. “I feel it in here.” Walking to the back door, Logan gazed out at the deck and the valley beyond. The pain of longing for Aubrie’s arms welled up unbidden. “He’s bent on revenge. That’s clear. It’s all about the timing. He knows about the wedding. The fact Aubrie and I are planning to marry. This is his way of destroying what happiness we could have. It’s payback.”

  Gus stood. Walking over, he gave Logan’s shoulder a good squeeze. “You can’t go off half-cocked on this one. Let’s go back to the shop. The apartment’s vacant.”

  Logan glanced back. His questioning look must have shown through.

  Gus shrugged. “I kept it that way just in case.” Giving his sibling a firm swat, he stepped back into a boxing stance. With a brotherly one-two punch to Logan’s midsection, he grinned. “Time to get to work, bro. Come on. Let’s go kick some demon ass.”

  Chapter 2

  Packing up her yoga mat and bag, Aubrie said goodbye to her yoga class. She dabbed at the perspiration with a towel. Girly irritation rippled along her shoulders at the need to wipe perspiration after a friggin’ yoga class. Go figure.

  “Hey, woman. You going to leave without even saying so long?” Katie Tibideaux saddled up beside Aubrie giving her an impish grin.

  “Oh. Hi, Katie. What’s up?” Listlessness warred with polite conversation. Aubrie didn’t have much energy for socializing. “Got a lot to do today. Better get going.” With a bumping hug for Katie, she headed for the car.

  “Wait just a minute. Where do you think you’re going?” With her hands on her hips, Katie stared after Aubrie. “You don’t get off so easy, Sugar.” Aubrie’s best friend pouted. Her mouth settling in a flat line.

  The reference hit Aubrie square in the chest. “Sugar” happened to be Logan’s pet name for her. The tears shoved past her restraint. “I must be ti
red,” she mumbled, swatting at the moisture rolling down her temple.

  Katie followed her to the car and leaned a hip against the driver’s door. When Aubrie tried for the handle, she pounced.

  “Oh, no, you don’t.”

  Aubrie dropped her bag before slashing the air with her hand. “Fine then.”

  One look at Aubrie had Katie pulling her into her arms. “Chere, what’s wrong? You don’t cry. Hardly ever. Tell me what’s up. Okay?”

  Aubrie sniffed and wiped her eyes. “Would you drive? I can’t seem to manage the skill and breakdown too.”

  “Sure, give me the keys. Where to?”

  Aubrie slowed. Logan’s face flashed in front of her eyes. Those steely green eyes gleamed in the sunlight. Long wisps of dark hair shifted on a warm breeze. “Anywhere but home, please.” Silently grateful for the chance to ride shotgun with her thoughts, Aubrie sank into the passenger seat.

  Katie managed to remain quiet for the first few miles. In the silence, though, she cut concerned eyes at Aubrie about every minute on the dot.

  “If you’re going to analyze from the psychiatrist chair, you might as well get on with it. Crap. I can’t even sort through the stuff in my head because your glares are so blessed loud.” Hunching deeper in the seat, Aubrie, with her chin on her knuckles, focused on the trees racing past.

  Huffing out a breath, Katie squirmed. “You sure are testy today. May I ask why?”

  The proper grammar in Katie’s question irritated Aubrie on a couple of levels. “Momma Katie, is it? You would do better to remember who you’re talking to, sister.” Satisfied she’d hit a nerve, Aubrie went back to gazing at the passing scenery.

  Katie fumed for a few more miles before pulling into a Sonic in Farmerville. Shutting off the engine, she turned to Aubrie. “Spill it, sister.”

  Aubrie blinked. Unable to remember even crossing the bridge which spanned Lake Darbonne before cruising into Farmerville, she glanced at her chauffeur. Maybe the lack of food made her regret snapping at Katie or maybe the fact they had been best friends for over thirteen years had finally surfaced. At any rate, the guilt weighed her down. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on reining in her depressed attitude with a promise to speak to her friend, her best friend in Cheniere Station. “I’m not sure of anything at this point.” The quiver to her voice made her stop. Moisture surfaced once more in her eyes. “What’s wrong with me?” She thumped her fist against the seat and sighed. “Katie, I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve the foul mood I’m in right now. I can’t get a grip on why Logan won’t talk to me. Something’s up. I can’t put a finger on the problem, but he’s been distant and edgy the last several days. My insecurity is playing havoc with the fact he’s hiding something from me. I’ve decided he wants out.”

  Katie’s mouth opened briefly before she shut it. “Talk about jumping to conclusions. Why do you think whatever is bothering him is because he wants to call it quits?”

  The carhop mike blurted out a welcome. “May I help you?”

  Katie turned. “Yeah, give us a minute, will you?”

  “No problem. Just buzz back when you’re ready.”

  “Thanks,” Katie flipped her blonde hair away from her perfect oval face. “Now, tell me how you came to this crazy hypostasis.”

  Frowning at Katie, Aubrie heard the disbelief in her friend’s words. “Logan had a visitor last Friday.” The lump in her throat threatened to choke her.

  To Katie’s credit, she didn’t rush Aubrie. Sitting quietly, she waited. Her focus never wavering from Aubrie’s words.

  “Connie Calder dropped by.” The name felt like poison on her tongue. Logan’s former girlfriend. Didn’t matter. “He went outside to talk to her. They walked down the driveway.” Aubrie shook her head. “He gave the house several glances like he worried I would overhear her. She appeared agitated as if something could be wrong. I never saw the look on Logan’s face like the one he wore when he came back inside. She told him something he didn’t appreciate at all. But, more than that, Katie, he looked bewildered or maybe unsure of himself. Like he’d been sucker punched or… I don’t know. He wasn’t the same after she left. He stopped touching me.” She sniffed. “We haven’t made love since then either. He’s there, but he isn’t. You know what I mean?”

  “Have you tried seeing what’s going on in his head?”

  Aubrie shook her head. “No. Besides, he’d know. Even if I slipped in without him being conscious. No, I can’t risk it.” Huffing out a breath, she twisted her fingers together. “I suppose it’s what I deserve for falling for a warlock. He can see right through my skill as a seer. He has the same skill, so he’d know immediately.”

  Katie leaned over giving her friend’s shoulder a comforting rub. “Logan doesn’t see you that way. Remember, this is the man you love. He loves you. You just gotta sit him down and talk it out. Even if he gives you the runaround. He’ll come around, Aubrie. You’ll see.” Smiling, Katie gave her cheek a little tweak. “Want to order?”

  Nodding, Aubrie mulled over the encouragement. She had thought of a talk. The idea of hearing what she feared most terrified her. She’d imagined him sitting her down on the sofa. He’d sit in front of her while he held her hand. Something bad always happened when someone sat you down and held your hand. Glancing down at her hands, Aubrie sucked in air. Out the window, she watched as a mother chased down a toddler before snatching him up in her arms and swinging him around and around the plaza between the cars. Freedom came with a price. You guarded your heart while praying the freedom never returned because if the love you shared ever died, so would you.

  Their hamburgers arrived. Had Katie ordered? The muddled minded sensation returned. Eating as Katie rattled off her progress with the search for flowers to deck the church with, Aubrie figured she had a fifty-fifty chance of getting the love thing right eventually. Moreover, she prayed this was the last time she had to worry about a wedding in her lifetime. There were so many things to schedule, choose, and rehearse. How did a person know if they were doing it right or not?

  Maybe the maid of honor handled those things. Katie had already proved a lifesaver. Aubrie hoped the gloom of her uncertainty didn’t get in the way of Katie’s plans. A weak grin slipped out as she watched how animated Katie became with her description of mission ‘Latimar wedding.' Her friend was a pro at amateur wedding planning. Vaguely conscious of Katie’s agenda, Aubrie realized even if the wedding did not work out, she had friends. They were real, and they loved her. Gratitude filled her chest. Looking down, she found she’d eaten the whole hamburger plus most of her fries. At this rate, she wouldn’t fit into her wedding dress. Just one more thing to worry about, she sighed. “Hey. How about coming to dinner tonight? You can see for yourself what I’m talking about.”

  “Okay,” Katie said as she stuffed in another French fry.

  ***

  “The burgers are ready.” Aubrie stuck her head around the corner of the kitchen door. Logan stood with Gus next to the grill. Their male stances indicating a shared link. Appearing for all purposes as if discussing something serious, both held tense jaws and frowns. Aubrie bit her lip. The urge to open to their thoughts had her darting back into the safety of the kitchen. She would not start a scene with questions. Promising Katie, she’d be on her best behavior tonight meant not medaling or creating something out of nothing to quote her friend. No need in stirring the gumbo, Katie had said.

  “I brought the potato salad like you asked.” Holding up a brightly painted bowl, Katie stepped into the kitchen before bussing Aubrie on the cheek. “How’s it going?”

  The loaded question came with arched eyebrows and pursed lips. “Fine.”

  Katie smiled aware of her part in the little charade. “How can I help?”

  “Got it under control. Just need to count heads before the buns go on the grill. Pilot should be here any minute.” Aubrie reached into the refrigerator. “See what I made.” Grinning she pulled out a cheesecake she’d baked earlier.

/>   “Oh wow. That looks divine. Do you have Cabernet to go with it?”

  “Of course, I do.” With the cake on the counter, Aubrie got out the buns. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Got to heat these up.” She held up the bread indicating her plan. “If Pilot gets here, show him in. He has trouble with doors. Wants to walk through. Still can’t quite complete the materialization.”

  Katie laughed out loud. “Sure thing.”

  The brothers hushed as Aubrie approached. Committed to the evening, she vowed not to blurt out any stray questions meant to interrogate either of them. Wondering how much Gus knew about Logan’s secret, she smiled at them both. “Here are the buns.” Setting them down on the sideboard, Aubrie glanced at each in turn. From the look on their faces, she could tell something was up.

  Logan gave her kiss on the cheek. A quick peck for appearances, she mused. A slow simmer swirled in her stomach despite the promises. “You have something we can deposit the hamburgers on? They are ready.”

  “As am I,” Gus stated. “I’ll get something, Aubrie. You just stay right where you are.” Bustling toward the door, Gus resembled a large bear on the prowl.

  “This was a good idea. When did you decide to have a cookout?”

  Aubrie supposed Logan’s inquiry was benign. “This morning on the way to work. I just realized it had been a while since we’d entertained everyone, so I did something behind your back.”

  His eyebrows winged up. Sensing the spike in his blood pressure, Aubrie measured her words carefully. “Haven’t you ever wanted to surprise me? Secrets are hard to keep anyway.”

  Logan jabbed at the burger in front of him. Grease sizzled in the coals below the rack. “Yeah, secrets are tricky sometimes.” His meaning could have been anything. She gritted her teeth. Not going to blow this, seer. Back off. Her hackles were itching to appear. Bad idea! The little voice tap-danced to the queasiness jelling in her tummy. “I’ll see to the fixins’.”