Spirits, Stilettos, and a Silver Bustier Read online

  In no time, the large claw-foot tub was full of steamy water and citrus-scented bubbles. I slipped out of my clothes and climbed in. Sighing, I closed my eyes and let the warmth ease the tension of the day from my muscles.

  “Pyper?” Julius’s voice called from the other room.

  My eyes popped open and I sat up, the chill of the air making me shiver. Or was that from the anticipation from seeing him again? Hard to tell. I slid back into the water, the suds from the bubble bath covering me. “Julius? I’m in here.”

  He appeared in the doorway, a sheepish smile on his face, but he didn’t avert his eyes. “I wanted to apologize for the way I left earlier. That wasn’t—”

  “Pyper?” Kane called, and the front door slammed closed.

  Julius glanced over his shoulder and into my bedroom. “I’ll be back,” he said as he stepped through the wall.

  “Goddammit,” I mumbled and glanced down at myself to be sure the bubbles were still doing their job. “I’m in the bath.”

  “Jade sent me.” I heard him walk into my bedroom. His footsteps stopped just outside the bathroom. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. And it’s safe to come in. I’m mostly decent.”

  He poked his head around the corner. “What’s going on?”

  “Well, my nosy friend, I’m soaking in the tub and I was just about to get busy with Mr. Happy.” I waved my hand underwater as if I might have some sort of sex toy at the ready.

  One eyebrow rose in skepticism. “Really? Mr. Happy? I thought his name was Jack.”

  I laughed and brought my empty hands out of the water. He was referring to a conversation we’d had about a gift for Jade’s wedding shower. I’d told him to keep her satisfied or I’d get her a vibrator named the jackrabbit. “You’re right. Mr. Happy is so two thousand and four.”

  He leaned against the sink. “Seriously, you want to tell me why you called sounding freaked out and then wouldn’t answer her calls?”

  “I wasn’t freaked,” I insisted. “I didn’t mean to wake her up, and I figured I’d just talk to her in the morning. Then I dropped my phone and it died.”

  He just stared at me like I had two heads.

  “Stop it. I sent her an e-mail.”

  He pursed his lips as his brow furrowed. “There’s something going on. I can tell. What is it?”

  I sighed. “Yeah, there is. Go wait for me in the living room. I’ll be out in a minute.”

  “Should I make coffee?”

  “If you want.”

  With a nod, he moved toward the door. Then he paused and turned back, his lips twitching. “Tell Mr. Happy he’ll have to wait. I don’t want to be sitting in the other room while you take care of business.”

  “Shut up.” I swiped my arm across the top of the bath, splashing enough water to soak through his shirt.

  He glanced over his shoulder at the water stain down his back. “I don’t think I was the one who needed to cool down.” Chuckling, he slipped out of my bathroom, closing the door behind him.

  “Julius?” I whispered. Since he’d walked through a wall, I wasn’t sure he’d actually left.

  No answer.

  A wave of equal parts relief and disappointment fluttered through me. I still had questions for him, but if I were honest, that wasn’t the main reason I wanted to see him. The fact was I felt safer having him around. Even when I was taking a bath.

  Without hesitation or fear of being seen, I stepped out of the tub, toweled off, and got dressed. I had to fill my best friend in on the latest bad news.

  Chapter 7

  I stumbled into the kitchen of the café at five minutes after six the next morning. Kane hadn’t left until well after one a.m. the night before. And even then I’d had to push him out the door. After I’d filled him in on the warning Grace had sent, he’d been dead set on staying the entire night, insisting he’d sleep in the guest room. But I wasn’t having it. Jade was at home waiting for him.

  He’d finally relented but had left his phone just in case I needed either one of them. By the time I’d gotten to sleep, I only had four hours before I needed to be up. Too bad I’d overslept an entire hour.

  “Good morning, sunshine,” Jade called from the doorway that led to the front of house.

  I peered at her, bleary-eyed. “Why are you so chipper?”

  “I might have had a perk me up.”

  “Oh, God. The last thing I need is a mental image of you and your ugly husband making the beast with two backs.”

  Jade rolled her eyes and then chuckled. “Seriously? Beast with two backs?”

  I shrugged, a smile pulling at my lips. “It’s early. I’ll come up with something more creative when I’m more awake.”

  “Please don’t.” She handed me the coffee cup she was holding. “Besides, that’s not what I was referring to. I spiked the coffee with an energy potion from the Herbal Connection. I figured after your late night, you might need it.”

  “Oh, well in that case…” I took a large sip of the coffee and let out a satisfied moan. “Damn, this is good.”

  “Just give it a minute or two. You’ll feel like your old self in no time.”

  I eyed her. “Did Kane fill you in?”

  Her smile faltered, and I realized then her morning cheer had been forced. I had to give her credit for trying to put me at ease. “Yes. Briefly, last night. So later I’m going to want the full details, and then we’ll come up with a plan. No one goes after the people I love and gets away with it.”

  I stared at my feet, overwhelmed by the feeling in her tone. Kane was like a brother to me and had been for years. Now Jade was the sister I’d never had. And after growing up an only child with an absentee father and a mother who’d worked herself to death, I was used to fending for myself. It was always a shock to realize I wasn’t really alone. “I can do that. Thanks.”

  She smiled and disappeared back into the café to help a few morning regulars.

  I downed the rest of my coffee and got to work. A zap of energy shocked my system and my fatigue melted away. Dang—that pick-me-up herb, whatever it was, really did the trick. I felt fresh and ready for anything. Well, except for maybe a sacrificial ritual, but no one was ever ready for that.

  The thought threatened to depress me. But I put my worries out of my mind as I filled my double ovens with pre-prepped cupcakes and then bustled around the small kitchen area, making sure we were ready for the day.

  It wasn’t long before I was standing at the cash register taking orders while Jade filled them. Mardi Gras was just a few short weeks away, and the tourists were already in full swing. Even at seven in the morning. So when the timer went off for the ovens, I was busy prepping the two coffee machines for fresh batches between waves of customers.

  “I’ll get it,” Jade said and hurried into the back.

  The bell chimed on the door, and without looking up, I called, “Be right with you.”

  “I’m sure you’re worth the wait.”

  Tyler. I stiffened, remembering the unease I’d felt the day before. I was going to have to tell him I couldn’t go on that date. Guh. Awkward. I turned slowly and gave him what I hoped was a friendly smile. “You’re in early today.”

  The sparkle was back in his eyes. “I sort of couldn’t wait to see this pretty brunette I know.”

  Crap. He was flirting with me. And even though he was full of cheese, it was sort of endearing. No creepiness within a mile radius. Had I been wrong? Maybe the feeling I’d gotten hadn’t been about him.

  I felt a genuine smile take over as I worked on his double-shot espresso. “Really? And why is that? Would it be because she enables your addiction?”

  “Exactly. And she has the best pastries outside of Café du Monde.”

  “Well, who can compete with deep-fried dough smothered in two pounds of powdered sugar?�
�� I asked as two college-aged girls wandered in.

  Both of them had glazed, bloodshot eyes. They were still dressed in their barely there outfits, appearing to have just stumbled out of one of the many bars on Bourbon Street. Neither of us acknowledged them.

  His expression shifted to that of a starving man as he gazed at me. “I’m sure if you put your mind to it, you could make something that would render those beignets a distant memory.”

  There was an easiness to him that was really inviting, and instead of canceling our date, I found myself chuckling. “I do bake a mean cupcake.”

  Jade burst through the swinging door, a tray of said cupcakes in her hands and chocolate smeared on her lips. “Holy cripes. These are amazing.”

  “Looks like it,” Tyler said, eyeing her with amusement.

  Laughing, I shook my head. “Get a grip on yourself, Jade. You look like you just dipped your head in the chocolate river.”

  She set the tray down and wiped the back of her hand across her lips, smearing the mess further. “Better?”

  “Oh dear.” I shook my head and pointed her toward the restroom. “You might want a mirror to clean up that mess.”

  “That certainly was a fine endorsement,” Tyler said. “Add a couple of those to my order.”

  “Sure thing.” I passed him two cupcakes and his espresso. After ringing him up, I turned to the partygoers. “What can I get for you?”

  The taller one squinted up at the menu. “Um, just a regular coffee. Hairy-nut blend.” She stared me dead in the eye, her body shaking with silent laughter as her companion burst into a fit of giggles.

  “Excuse me?” I asked, not amused. It was way too early for twelve-year-old humor.

  She pointed to the chalkboard on the wall. “I want to try the hairy-nut blend.” She couldn’t help her sputter of laughter and bent over, clutching her middle.

  I turned to look at what she was pointing at. “Oh, son of a biscuit.” The word hazel had been crossed out and replaced with hairy. I spun around and called, “Ida May!”

  Tyler glanced around the shop while the two girls continued to giggle.

  “Who’s Ida May?” Tyler asked.

  I am! she said merrily as she appeared right next to him and placed her small hands on his biceps.

  I glared at her but said nothing. I’d look like a complete loon speaking to someone no one but me could see or hear.

  Oh, lighten up, Pyper. It’s a joke. She ran both hands down Tyler’s arm. He’s yummy isn’t he?

  Tyler shifted and rubbed his arm where she’d touched him. Then he caught my look and glanced behind him. When he saw no one, he asked, “What are you glaring at?”

  I didn’t shift my gaze from Ida May. She knew I was pissed. She also knew there was nothing I could do about her at this very minute. “Nothing. Sorry. I thought I saw something outside.” I turned to the girls. “Sorry about that. It appears I have a prankster employee. Did you want hazelnut or something else?”

  The giggling had died down and both were back to swaying on their feet. “Two caramel mochas with extra whip. The largest you have,” the taller one said. She slapped a twenty down on the counter and then helped the other girl to a round table near the window.

  Jade reemerged from the bathroom, her face once again presentable.

  “Oh, good. You got some cupcakes,” she said to Tyler, who was still standing at the bar. Then she reached behind the counter and retrieved a paper bag. As she stuffed the cupcakes inside, she added, “Here, you’re going to love them.”

  “I’m sure I will.” He winked at me, thanked Jade, and strode out the front door.

  Jade stood there for a second, then she gasped and let out a small giggle when she noticed the sign. “Since when did we start serving hairy-nut blend coffee?”

  “Since this morning, I suppose. Ida May decided it was something we should try.” I slipped from behind the counter and delivered the two caramel mocha lattes with extra whip.

  As soon as the first girl took a sip, she turned positively green.

  “Oh, no you don’t,” I said, pulling her up by her arm and pointing to the street. “No drunken retching in the café. Go find your hotel and sleep it off.”

  The two girls stumbled outside, leaving me alone with Jade. Even Ida May had disappeared.

  I rejoined Jade behind the register and slumped against the counter.

  “Cheer up.” Jade handed me a cupcake. “At least we caught it early this time.” She waved to the chalkboard. “Last time she did something like this, we didn’t see it until the end of the day.”

  Without saying a word, I pulled out the stepladder and climbed up to fix the inappropriate signage. When I was done, I called out, “Ida May, if you do anything like that again, I’ll get the entire New Orleans coven in here to perform the biggest cleansing you’ve ever imagined. Sage everywhere. Got it?”

  Chuckling, Jade shook her head. “That would be a shame. Ida May is always good for a laugh.”

  “Why do you find this so entertaining?” I grabbed one of the cupcakes and tore it in two.

  “Because it’s funny.”

  I had to admit that on any other day, I probably would’ve agreed with her. Today, my patience had left the building. And frustration wasn’t a good look on me.

  “What is it? Tyler?” Jade was peering at me the way she did when she read people.

  “No. And stop it. I’m just in a mood.”

  “Sorry.” A sheepish look settled over her features. “I didn’t mean to invade your energy. I’m worried about you is all. But you have to know, I’m not going to let anything happen to you. I’ll send that murdering asshole to hell before I let him get to you.”

  Warmth spread through my chest, and some of the tension drained from my shoulders. She’d do it, too. “I know. And I love you for it.”

  I expected her to smile and say something sappy back. That was her MO. But she joined me in leaning against the counter and said, “I think you should go out with Tyler.”

  “What?” Where had that come from?

  “You haven’t broken off the date yet, right?”

  “No. But I need to. I told you about the vibe I got from him at the shop.”

  “Yeah, you did, except here’s the thing… he has really bright energy. It’s rare and pure, and I have a really hard time believing he’s some sort of creeper.” She patted my arm. “I think you should reconsider calling it off. My gut tells me he’s one of the good guys.”

  Her shoes squeaked against the tile as she strolled into the back again.

  I gaped after her. Then I shoved a cupcake into my mouth. What the hell? I liked him. And if Jade said he was worth it, then there wasn’t much more I needed to hear. She was the empath after all. If anyone had a good read on a person, it was her.

  The only problem was every time I imagined us at dinner, I didn’t see Tyler sitting across from me. I saw Julius.

  Chapter 8

  A crowd of conference attendees jostled me as I stood in front of the Grind talking to Jade. We’d turned the shop over to my assistant Holly for the closing shift. “I have a couple of models booked that I need to paint, and then Maze is going to do a photo shoot. It’s the last one before the opening. I’m supposed to be there in about twenty minutes.”

  Jade checked the time on her phone. “When do you think you’ll be done?”

  I shrugged. These things didn’t run on a time limit. “Eight? Nine maybe? It depends on how smoothly it goes.”

  She pursed her lips. “All right. Meet me at Lucien’s after you’re done. I wanted to see if he can dig anything up on Julius’s case. The Witches’ Council should have something they can give us.”

  I’d walked Jade through everything Julius had told me, and now she was determined to help me get to the bottom of whatever was going on ASAP. Lucien was part of
her coven and well-versed in research.

  “Sure. But I’ll need his address.”

  Jade tapped a message into her phone and then hit Send. “You should have it now.”

  The new phone I’d picked up on my lunch break vibrated, and after I glanced at it, I nodded. “Got it.”

  “Great.” She tucked her phone into her purse and then leaned in, hugging me. “Afterward I want you to stay with us until we can be sure you’re safe.”

  My gut reaction was to say no, even though I didn’t normally mind staying at her house. She and Kane had a lovely shotgun double with a dedicated guest room and second bathroom. And I felt completely at home there usually. So why the reluctance?

  You know why, I told myself. Julius. I wanted to see him, talk to him, touch him even. But I wasn’t sure he’d show up at Jade’s. The only place I knew to find him was at the hotel or in my apartment. Something told me that as long as I was at home, he’d find a way to be there too.

  “Pyper?” Jade touched my arm. “Did you hear me?”

  “Hmm? Oh, yes. Sure. After we’re done at Lucien’s, I’ll come to your house.”

  She smiled and squeezed my wrist. “See you later.”

  I watched as she weaved through the growing afternoon crowd. I was about to turn and head for my car when there was a commotion and her limbs flailed. Her strawberry-blond head disappeared as she went down, taking two people with her. The contents of her purse spilled out onto the asphalt.

  “Holy cowbells,” I said under my breath, hurrying toward her. But by the time I reached her side, she’d already hastily repacked her bag and was pushing herself to her feet. “You okay?”

  She wiped at her knees and scowled. “Yes. Someone tripped me and now my pants are torn.”

  I glanced down at her jeans. Her knee looked a little angry, but honestly, the jeans looked better with the tear. They’d been too perfect before. “Don’t worry about it. Just think of it as being fashionable.”

  She rolled her big green eyes. “Right.”