Part 29 (1/2)
”We'll see. Listen, I can probably get away from work tonight if you need any help when Dorcas and Ambrose show up.”
”Thanks, Lil.” Anica was touched that she'd offer. ”But Dorcas said it has to be just the four of us. And I . . . I need to put off that dance lesson. I want to have a clear head when they arrive.”
”We don't have to drink margaritas, you know.”
Anica laughed. ”I do. Hey, we'll have another lesson, I promise. You got me hooked. I just need to get through this weekend.”
”Okay. So what if I started writing a thriller?”
Anica thought she could get whiplash trying to follow Lily's train of thought. ”Why?”
”Lots of lawyers write thrillers and put all this legal stuff in. I could start writing one, which would make me look more interesting and intellectual, and . . . bonus! I'd have to interview Griffin for my research.”
”Lily, you hate to write.”
”I know.” She sighed mightily. ”Hera's hickeys, what can I do that will convince him I'm a good prospect?”
”I don't know.”
”I'll figure something out. Call me when Dorcas and Ambrose leave, okay? I'll have my cell handy at work tonight.”
”Keep your fingers crossed that this works out. If so, we'll come down and have a drink to celebrate.”
”Hold that thought. I could fix you each a martini that'll pickle your tonsils.”
”I hope that's how it turns out.” Did she ever. Walking into the Bubbling Cauldron with Jasper, knowing he wouldn't be changing into a cat again, would be like every birthday present she'd every received rolled into one. Finally she could antic.i.p.ate the joy of spending time with Jasper, both in and out of bed. At last they'd have a real shot at happiness.
Ambrose slipped a CD into the car's sound system and Frankie Avalon began to croon ”Venus.”
Dorcas reached over and punched the EJECT b.u.t.ton.
”Hey! We need Frankie tonight. This is like a super-duper matchmaking a.s.signment. You know how Frankie inspires me.”
”And you know how Frankie makes me break out in hives. You wouldn't want me to go crazy and leap out of this car while you're driving sixty miles an hour, would you?”
He glanced at her. ”You wouldn't do that, and you know it.”
”It sounded exciting, though, didn't it?”
”I don't see why you get so upset about Frankie.” Ambrose looked at her with a sad puppy-dog expression.
”Oh, let me think. Maybe because you've played that blasted CD a thousand times? Could that be it?”
”If I've played it a thousand times, why not once more? I'll keep it low.”
Dorcas heaved a martyred sigh. ”If you must.”
”I must.” Ambrose reinserted the CD and as the bouncy little tune began, he tapped out the rhythm on the steering wheel.
Dorcas did her best to shut out the music.
”How much does Anica know about lifting the spell?” Ambrose asked.
”Nothing.”
”You didn't tell her about the contracts she and Jasper would have to sign, so she could get used to the idea?”
”That's not something you say over the phone, Ambrose. You don't get used to something like that. She would have freaked out.”
”You're probably right. I sure hope this works.”
”So do I. I looked through every resource, and even though this is the recommended cure, I couldn't find a single instance where it was employed successfully. But it's all we have.”
Chapter 26.
At about five thirty, Jasper started watching the clock. He wasn't going to get his hopes up this time the way he had last night, but at least he'd finally meet Dorcas and Ambrose, the witch and wizard who held all the cards. They weren't infallible, though, which meant he might get transformed tonight and he might not. At this point it was a total c.r.a.pshoot.
A quick stroll into the bedroom rea.s.sured him that Anica had laid out his clothes. His s.h.i.+rt no longer reeked of chicken noodle soup, so she must have washed it. Earlier in the afternoon he'd smelled heated fabric, so she must have pressed both his s.h.i.+rt and slacks, since they had no time for dry cleaning. He'd been so tired he hadn't hung anything up, and then he'd turned into a cat who couldn't hang anything up.
Anica bustled around the apartment dusting and fluffing pillows and generally looking nervous as a . . . well, as a cat. That made two of them. He'd given up on his nap and was pacing, since there wasn't much in the way of activity for him.
Anica had lit a few more of her beeswax candles, and the scent reminded him of the great s.e.x he'd had with her in her candlelit bedroom. A bottle of red wine and four gla.s.ses sat on the kitchen counter. Jasper a.s.sumed that was in preparation for toasting a successful outcome. He hoped they'd use those gla.s.ses.
At five fifty-five, Jasper went into the bedroom. Anica could have followed him but she didn't. She'd obviously picked up on his reluctance to be observed during his change. He could only imagine how traumatic that would be. Once implanted, certain scenes could never be erased from a person's mind.
Lying on the bed he waited for the familiar dizziness to come over him. Maybe this would be the last time. He wouldn't want to give up the past five days. He'd learned a lot about himself and the world around him. And he'd come to love Anica with a fierceness that scared him a little.
But he couldn't be what she needed until he became a man twenty-four/seven. As the dizziness began he said a little prayer that the spell would be lifted tonight.
At six, Anica felt a pulse of energy move through the apartment. She must be attuned to Jasper's change because she could almost feel it in her own body. When she heard him rustling around in the bedroom, she knew he was getting dressed.
He appeared wearing the same s.h.i.+rt and slacks he'd worn for a week. It had become something of a uniform.
”Once this is over, you'll probably burn that outfit,” she said.
He glanced down at his clothes. ”Or keep it forever as a reminder.”
”You'll want to be reminded?”
”Of course.” He walked toward her and laid his hands gently on her shoulders. ”It's been the most memorable week of my life.”
She stepped closer and wound her arms around his neck. ”I'll bet. Memorable doesn't always mean 'good.' ”
”In this case it does.” He looked into her eyes. ”a.s.suming I don't have to stay half cat, half man forever, I wouldn't trade this week with you for anything.”
”I wouldn't trade it, either, although I have to admit I'll be glad to get my magic back. I never realized how much I depend on it. It's more a part of me than I thought.”