Page 56 of Clearly Charmed

Clo continued with her chatter, but there was an uneasiness to her voice. Like she understood Bryce had dug in. Was committed to learning all he could about us and our connection to Harvest Moon.

We could study and try to apply Sun Tzu’s lessons, but Bryce had shown us he was also adept at battle tactics. I wasn’t giving up, though. Tonight had taught me that when the McGuire women were together, we could hold the line, and, with strength and ingenuity, eventually win the war.

Chapter Eighteen

Put on a Brave Face

Gravel crunched beneath my tennis shoes as I walked Bryce to his car. Clouds moved across the night sky, revealing a waxing gibbous moon. A whisper of wind shook the branches in the towering ponderosa trees surrounding the house.

There wouldn’t be many more warm, quiet nights like this one. Once fall descended, and the first snow arrived, all the beauty of nature would head into hibernation. It wouldn’t be until many months later that a warm spring sun would coax the gems of the forest back to life.

‘Again with this sky.’ He tilted his head to the deep indigo blanket covered in too many twinkling stars to count.

‘There’s very little light pollution here. It makes it easier to see the constellations. Count them out one by one.’

‘That’d take some time.’ He smirked. ‘But I’d like to try.’

His gaze stayed focused on the sky, and I waited for him to move. Say something about the way my family had grilled him for the last two hours. To explain how he knew about Ambrosia and Sylvia.

‘I’d better head inside. Lia gets surly if I don’t help with the dishes.’

‘Stay for a minute.’ The slow drag of his voice was hypnotic, and I stepped closer, feeling that tether tightening between us.

‘Any hints at what you learned tonight? Might use in your article?’

That grin was back. ‘I feel like I got pretty good insight into how the McGuire women work together. Fight together.’ His smile faltered. ‘Love and support each other.’

He scrubbed a hand over the stubble on his chin, and I had to resist the temptation to reach out and drag my thumb over the reddish whiskers. Ignore the memory of how they’d brushed against my bare thighs in the truck.

Like he could read my mind, see where my stare was focused, that smile widened. He slid a hand around my waist and nudged me into the hard lines of his body.

‘It did make me wish for a sibling until—’

I chuckled not expecting that response. ‘Lia can get a little salty sometimes.’

His face sobered. ‘That’s not what I was going to say.’

‘Go on then. I’m curious about what’s whirling around inside that brain of yours.’

He leaned in so those whiskers brushed against my cheeks. ‘That cobbler.’ The low rumble of his voice sent warmth through my core. ‘If I had siblings, I’d never want to share.’

A full belly laugh burst from my lips this time. ‘That’s true. We often fight over the last bite.’

‘See.’ Now both of his hands were around my waist. ‘I get complicated family dynamics.’

This time his attention didn’t return to the sky. Instead, he brushed his hand gently over the planes of my cheeks. ‘I do have one question for you, though.’

I should have moved, worried that my sisters would know what was happening out here under the moonlight, but that subtle tug between us was stronger than ever.

‘Were you ever going to tell me about Ambrosia and Sylvia, or were you going to hide the journal forever?’ The corners of his mouth twitched. ‘I have to hand it to you, knocking those books off the table was a good diversion.’

I didn’t move. Give any hint that I knew what he was talking about.

‘It’s all right.’ His voice brushed over the cuff of my ear. ‘I can wait until you’re ready to share it. But it doesn’t mean I won’t find out what’s inside anyway.’

Like that link between us was sliced straight in half, I stumbled away from him. ‘You must be imagining things, because I don’t have any journal. Maybe the high altitude is rattling your brain.’

‘I know what I saw. What I’ve been told. I can be patient, Dandelion, but I have no plans to give up.’