The Scarlett Legacy (Woodland Creek)(9)

“I’m fine. Thanks for asking.”

“Crazy that he just died in his holding cell. From a freaking spider bite! How does that even happen?”

Evie shrugged.

You’d be surprised what could happen when you’re on my family’s bad side.

Quinn adjusted her red-rimmed glasses as she gazed at the gray sky. “It’s about to storm.”

Evie smoothed her wavy black hair down. “Well, let’s hurry over to Geek Beans.”

“Sure. I can’t stay out late tonight. I have to study for my Physics test.”

“Okay. I can’t stay late either,” Evie said as they made their way down Albrecht Street.

Quinn shook her head with an annoyed grunt. “You’re so lucky you chose English instead of biology. My physics class is killing me.”

“You’re right. I’m a writer. I’ll stick to the words.”

“How about you write me an excuse from my exam,” Quinn said with a sigh.

“I wish I could.”

Another wind brushed her hair across her face. A cool droplet of rain splashed on her nose. “Let’s hurry. I just felt a drop!”

Evie was glad she wore her ankle boots as they ran the rest of the way. A man held the door to Geek Beans open for them, and they hurried inside.

“Thanks,” Quinn said as she pulled her blonde hair back into a ponytail. A loud crash of thunder made her jump. “Whew. Close one.”

Evie’s eyes scanned the coffee shop for a seat somewhere discreet.

Geek Beans was one of the coolest places in town. Inside it felt like they weren’t in Woodland Creek. Appropriately named, all of her fellow geeks could hang out in a judgment free zone. With colorful tables that didn’t quite match, hanging plants, colorful artwork, and everyone with their tablets and laptops, it felt as if they were in a quaint coffee shop in Soho or something.

One day Evie would see Soho. She’d see the world and would forget this small town.

“What are you wearing to the Halloween party?”

Evie shrugged. “I haven’t thought about it yet. What about you?”

She breathed in the room’s delightful scent of roasted coffee beans, cinnamon, and apples. The low hum of chatter mixed with the sound of a guitar playing.

“Naughty nurse. Get it? Since I’m going to be a registered nurse,” Quinn said, nudging her.

Evie nodding, only half listening. She turned to see who was playing. Her eyes locked with the musician the moment she found him. It was as if he’d been watching her.

“Whoa,” Evie said under her breath. She couldn’t look away.

Something about him left her frozen in place. He had a familiar face, but she couldn’t place where she’d seen him before.

This was Woodland Creek, Indiana, where everyone knew everyone.

He strummed the guitar strings with grace. His voice made the hairs on her skin rise as he sang along to the guitar. She couldn’t look away. It was as if he held her captive in a spell.

With striking green eyes, tanned skin, and hair cut low on both sides and long on the top he looked like a model from a magazine. Within seconds, she imagined herself running her hands through his rich red colored hair while they kissed in the rain.

Evie felt her cheeks flush and turned away.

Where did that come from?

She’d never even dream about cheating on Parker.

Warnings flashed in her mind. Her skin started to feel hot. Her palms started to sweat.

Her eyelids flickered closed for a quick second, long enough for her to get a read on the stranger.

Nothing.

She opened her eyes to see him looking at her.

That’s odd, she thought.

She could always read others, with minimal effort… or magic.

Something was definitely up with the stranger.

She grabbed Quinn by the forearms. “Get me a mocha latte. I need to run to the bathroom.”

Quinn nodded, a thinly arched blonde brow raised. “Sure. You all right?”

“I’m fine,” she said before retreating to the bathroom at the back of the coffee shop.

She made it a point to avoid looking at the handsome musician that she’d never seen before. He was definitely new, which meant soon every single girl in town would be batting her eyelashes at him.

Evie shook her head.

No. No. No.

Her mind recalled the stranger’s tattoos. An eagle stretched across his neck. She now knew where she’d seen him before.

Inside the bathroom, she went to the mirror. She checked her reflection. Her cheeks were still pink. She grabbed a paper towel and wet it under cold water. After patting her cheeks, she dug into her satchel for her lip balm. She dabbed it on her lips and looked at herself one more time.

Someone knocked on the door, breaking her from her thoughts.

“Okay,” she whispered to her reflection. “Just keep calm.”

She turned and opened the door to leave.

She audibly sucked in a breath.

There he was. He stood before her and smiled, leaving her unable to speak or move. He was taller than she’d remembered from her dream, and smelled as if he’d just eaten apple pie.

Silence passed between them as she stared into his eyes.

What do I do? What do I say?

“Hi,” she squeaked.

“Hello,” he replied. He looked over her shoulder. “Are you done?”