Easy Magic (Boudreaux #5)

I cringe, then smile. “I was teasing you. There’s a difference.”


He sets the phone down, then pounces on me, making me yelp and giggle at the same time.

“I had no idea you were this protective.”

“Of course I am,” he says. “I’m the oldest of six siblings. You just saved some poor dude from being killed by Ben. And maybe me and Eli too.”

“Right.”

“No one wants to fuck with Ben, sugar. He’s a Krav Maga master, and a general badass.”

I smirk. “You were pretty badass there for a minute, too.”

“I can be a badass when I need to be,” he says and kisses me. “Are you going to tell me where you’re really going?”

“We’re doing a séance at Gabby’s inn.”

He pulls back, almost as surprised as he was about the strip club comment. “Really?”

“Really.”

He frowns. “Is that safe for you?”

Oh, Beau, be careful. I could fall in love with you.

“I haven’t done it in a very long time,” I concede. “In fact, after Grandmamma died, I was adamant that I wouldn’t ever use my psychic abilities. But they’re part of me, and I can’t ignore them. I tried. I’ve learned how to protect myself over the years. To brace myself for certain emotions, and to cope with what I see. I’ve been working on being able to shut the door entirely, so I can control what and when I see things.”

“You haven’t been able to do that?”

“No, and it’s a pain in the ass. Lena can. I think I’m getting better at it.”

I hope.

“Be careful tonight. Call me if you need me. In fact, I can come with you and be there on site, just in case.”

I smile and cup his cheek again, which seems to soothe him. “I’ll be fine. I’ll have all of your girls with me, and they’re a strong bunch of women.”

“That they are.” He smiles and kisses my palm. “Just keep this girl safe, please.”

“I will.”

***

“This is so fun,” Gabby says as she sets more candles on the dining room table. “Lena, I’m so happy that you were able to come with Mallory.”

Lena smiles and nods at me. I like these people.

Me, too.

“I’m happy to be here,” Lena says. “I’ve heard so much about all of you.”

“I bet that drove you batty,” Charly says. “It would me, if my best friend was suddenly friends with someone new.”

“Well, I admit I can be protective,” Lena says. “Mal is practically my sister, and sometimes people can be—”

“Horrible,” Gabby finishes for her. “But you are welcome here anytime.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t have any guests staying tonight,” Kate says and rubs her belly. Kate is about half way through her pregnancy. I pat her shoulder, just so I can take a peek and make sure that everything is still okay. She’s nervous, given some problems she’s had in the past, but this pregnancy is strong. Both she and the baby are healthy as can be.

“Well, it’s the middle of the week in the off season, so tonight was all clear. Rhys took the kids to dinner and the movies, so we have at least three hours to ourselves.”

“Perfect,” Van replies and sips her tea. I like Savannah very much. I like them all, truth be told, but Van is the one that calls to me. The first time I touched her, I wanted to lie down and sob, and then I wanted to gut the animal that hurt her from crotch to throat.

And I’m not a violent woman.

But what happened to her was horrific. And yet, here she is, smiling and sipping tea, excited at the idea of hearing from the spirits that are a part of the heritage of her family.

And the spirits are here. There’s no denying that. I’ve already seen two and heard from a third.

The girls won’t be disappointed tonight.

“How are things with Beau?” Charly asks me with a smug smile.

“Yes, we want to hear everything,” Van says, also smiling widely.

“Well, not everything,” Gabby adds with a shudder, “because ew, but most of everything else, please.”

“He’s not my brother,” Callie says with a laugh. “I’ll take the everything, please.”

I sit at the head of the table and smile at these five women who have so quickly become my friends. Lena sits next to me and takes my hand. She’s going to be my anchor tonight. I haven’t done anything like this in so many years, that I wanted her here to make sure that if something goes wrong, she can bring me out of it.

“Things with Beau are good,” I reply.

“And?” Callie asks.

“And I don’t know what else to say.” I laugh and shrug.

“I know, it’s new,” Van says. “Would you say you’re dating?”

“Yes.”

“Would you say you’ve kissed him?” Gabby asks.

“Yes.”

Lena smiles over at me. Really like them.

“Would you say he’s rocked your world between the sheets?” Callie asks with mischievous blue eyes.

“Affirmative,” I reply and press my lips together so I don’t bust out with laughter.

“What?” Lena asks, eyes wide. “You didn’t tell me that!”

“It just happened this morning,” I reply.

“Wow.” Lena sits back, staring at me. “And?”

I glance around again, at all six of them staring at me in rapture and all I can do is bust out laughing.

“I’ve never had so many people interested in my love life.”

“Come on, it’s new sex,” Lena says, looking to the others for support.

“Exactly,” Charly says. “Does he make you happy? Is he a jackass?”

“Beau can be a jackass,” Gabby confirms.

“He’s not a jackass to me,” I reply. “And yes, he makes me happy.”

My phone buzzes with a call.

“And that’s him now. Hello?”

“How’s it going?”

“We haven’t started the séance yet, but so far things are fun.”

“So you haven’t seen my Aunt Millie?”

“No, no sign of your Aunt Millie, but your Uncle Cyrus wants to know why you haven’t wound his grandfather clock in two years. He says you’re going to ruin it.”

“Oh my God,” Van gasps, and I look up to see everyone staring at me in shock.

And Beau hasn’t said anything at all.

“Beau?”

“Wow. Okay. Well, tell Uncle Cyrus I’ll get on that. Be careful tonight. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Okay. Bye.” I hang up and look over at Lena. “I think shit just got real for Beau.”

“I think shit just got real for all of us,” Kate says.

“So, you told Beau,” Charly says with a smile.

“Yeah, we had a visit from Miss Louisa last night at his place, so I had to talk to him about it all earlier than I’d planned.”

“Charly filled us in, Mal,” Van says. “I hope that’s okay.”

“Well, we’re here for a séance, so it’s totally okay.”

“Shall we get started?” Lena asks.

“Yes.” I take a deep breath and let it out slowly, closing my eyes and opening my mind wide open. “Wow.”