“I didn’t do it, I swear,” she cried. “I’m human. I’m not a witch.” She looked up at him, wanting to find comfort. Wanting to find something in them that confirmed her innocence. But that wasn’t what she found in their stormy, ocean-colored depths. A pit in her stomach formed, and she dropped her arms to the sides. “You think I did this.”
“Sabrina—”
He didn’t have to say it; she saw it in his eyes. “How could you think that?” She pushed him away and wrapped her arms around herself as a shiver went through her. “I would never kill an innocent creature.”
“I know, Sabrina.” A hand came down on her shoulder, and it took all her might not to shrug it away. “I know you didn’t mean to.”
“What?” Her head snapped up to meet his gaze.
“Sabrina … you didn’t mean to kill the horse. And you can still reverse this.”
Her eyes widened. “Reverse? What are you saying?” Her hands, her voice, her whole body shook as a pounding began in the base of her skull.
“You just have to remember, Sabrina.” He took a step forward and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Remember, Sabrina, you can do it. You did it before.”
The thumping on her nape spread, becoming a full-blown headache that made her vision blur.
And she began to remember.
Three years ago …
Dinner went much better than Sabrina had imagined. Cross picked her up at home, and then they made their way to The Metro Union, a private club she and her father belonged to located on the Upper East Side. She had always loved coming here, because since she became a member herself, they would always dine here once a month, no matter how busy he was. It was their special father–daughter time, and for him to invite Cross was a big thing. Though he’d met most of her previous boyfriends, he’d never invited any of them here. Jonathan always said he had a good instinct when it came to people, so she hoped he could tell that Cross was a wonderful person.
They all met up at the reception area and then headed to the dining room, where they were led to their usual table. During the dinner, Jonathan had been amiable and inquisitive, asking Cross questions about himself, normal things one would ask if they were trying to get to know someone. Sabrina had to admit there were some things about Cross even she didn’t know, but then again, they’d hadn’t known each other very long or spent a lot of time talking about themselves.
Cross was polite and answered all his questions, and the rest of their conversational topics ranged from sports, to art, and world news. Her father would catch her eye sometimes and give her a knowing smile and wink. Cross, too, would look at her warmly and squeeze her hand under the table. All in all, the evening was a success, and suffice to say, she was on a happiness high by the time they all walked out of the restaurant.
“How about a nightcap?” Jonathan offered. “I have a seventeen-year-old whiskey from Japan that I’ve been saving up for a special occasion. It just so happens I have it in my limo. Maybe we can have it at your place, sweetheart?”
Sabrina suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. This was obviously a ploy to prevent them from being alone. “Dad, it’s getting late. Maybe we should call it a night.”
“Are you sure you don’t want any whiskey, Cross?” Jonathan asked. “Just one drink.”
He glanced at Sabrina, who shrugged. “Sure. One drink would be good.”
“Excellent. Let me call my driver, and I’ll meet you outside.” Jonathan took his phone out of his pocket and began to walk toward the door.
“You don’t have to have that drink, you know,” Sabrina said. “I think he’s trying to prevent us from being alone. So, you know … we won’t …”
“Won’t, what?” he asked, but the corners of his mouth were curling up. “It’s all right, Sabrina. I enjoyed talking to your dad.”
She sighed. “He still thinks that I’m a kid.” Or a virgin, she added silently. “I want to be alone with you,” she confessed in a low voice.
His eyes darkened, and he placed a hand on her shoulder. “Me too.”
“But my dad …” She blew out an impatient breath. “I hate to say it, but he’s kind of a cockblock.”
He laughed. “You’re his daughter. In his mind, you’ll always be his baby girl. It’s just one drink. If it makes you feel better, I can follow him out and then I can come back after he leaves.” A thumb brushed her collarbone, and she shivered. “We’ll have all the time then.”
“Let’s play it by ear, okay?” She’d waited this long, she figured she could wait another couple of hours.
They walked out of the club, and Jonathan’s driver was already waiting there, so they climbed into the vehicle. The limo drove them back downtown and dropped them outside Sabrina’s building, and they took the elevator to her top floor loft.
“I’ll get the glasses,” she said as they entered. “Go ahead and get comfy.”
Her father and Cross walked toward the couches as she went to the kitchen area. She was about to reach for the glasses in her cupboard when her phone rang. Huh. It was late for anyone to be calling. Who could it be? Grabbing her purse, she fished her phone out and read the name on the screen. “Barbara?” she read aloud. With a shrug, she picked up the call. “Hey, Barbara, what’s up?”
“Sabrina, doll!” Barbara’s nasal Brooklyn accent burst through the speaker, making her wince. The agent was boisterous and loud, but still, she loved the woman’s sass and confidence. “Are you sitting down?”
“What?”
“I said, are you sitting down?”
There wasn’t really anywhere to sit in her kitchen, so she leaned against the island. “Uh, sit down? Why?”
“Doll! I have the best news. I’m here in LA, right? And I’m
