“Based on one woman’s opinion?” I asked.
Ian studied me. “Sometimes, that’s all it takes.”
His comment led me to believe he spoke from personal experience. “Something I should know?” I asked.
He smiled and stroked my cheek. “Yes, but not just yet. I haven’t finished your tour.” He led me toward the turret, which was filled with a circular plank staircase. Thick, braided rope served as a balustrade. “The magic happens on the next level,” he said. “There are bedrooms on the two levels above that.”
A workroom similar to mine appeared as we rounded the curving staircase on the next level—another small room with niches built into the walls for a rough-hewn bookcase and a cabinet with glass doors, which displayed what I assumed to be store-bought product based on the labels. A rectangular wooden table took the place of honor in the center of the room, with two bar stools beside it. A bowl of individually wrapped LifeSavers like the ones Ian had pulled from his pocket sat on the corner of the table. Pedestal shelving was nestled beneath either end of the table, each with an assortment of apothecary bottles.
“This is where I do my chemistry currently,” Ian said. “I’m guessing you have a similar space at your home?”
“I do.”
The magic shone in his eyes. “I look forward to a day when we can work side by side.” He kissed my hand. “Soon. Would you like to see more?” His voice, low and seductive, sent ripples of heat through my body. “Only one of the castle bedrooms is livable. I’m still working on the second.”
Sensory overload.
I drew a slow breath to steady myself. “Everything looks so well-kept. What are you renovating?”
“The dungeon is a mess.” He shrugged. “The appliances are rusty. The exterior needs tuckpointing. Weather-related damage. I’ve considered expanding the castle footprint, but I also need to address keeping the wildlife out. I’ve seen more mice inside than I’d care to.”
“I have a cat, you know. I can lend her to you.”
“Maybe your cat would enjoy living in a castle. Assuming I can talk you into staying with me.”
A tempting thought. “You mentioned something about a bedroom?”
He grinned and we continued up the turret staircase to yet another small, octagonal room. A queen size bed dominated the center, covered by a thick white duvet pulled back to show white sheets. Fresh flowers sat in a vase on the nightstand. French doors opened to a balcony over the river behind the folly.
As if he’d staged all this for me.
“In case you wanted to see the folly first. I can’t seem to stop myself from wanting you,” Ian said, as if he’d read my mind. He slid his arms around my waist. “Do you like it?”
“I do.”
He nipped at my neck. “Will you be the queen of my castle?”
I wasn’t entirely sure what he was proposing, and I wasn’t sure I cared. When Ian wrapped his arms around me, I felt as if I’d found where I belonged.
Sometime later, nestled into the bed, I rested my head against his chest and listened to the steady beat of his heart. I envied him growing up knowing about his gift, learning from his uncle from a young age. “Did your parents understand about your gifts?”
“Not my mother, no,” he said. “My uncle was my father’s brother, so my father knew, even if he didn’t quite understand how it all works. When Uncle Edgar first invited me to visit, my mother didn’t want me to go, but my father eventually won out. He told her it would be good for me to learn new skills without telling her what those skills might be. What about you?”
Melancholy rushed to fill the endorphin void. The bracelet was all I had left of my mother. I told Ian how my parents had died, how I’d gone to live with my aunt and uncle who’d concealed Aunt Nora’s existence from me.
“You said something about casting your first spell at thirteen, and that it had frightened you away from your talents,” he said. “What happened?”
I rolled onto my back and Ian rolled beside me, lying on his side and settling his gaze on my face.
“Unintended consequences,” I said. “I made a wish involving a friend. It turned out differently than I’d thought. I kept to myself pretty much after that. It’s difficult to talk about.”
“You don’t have to tell me now, but one day, I’d like to know more.” He toyed with my hair. “I can’t imagine—not having someone to talk things through with. Especially at that age.”
He shot me a veiled glance. “You had the foresight to ask if I had a girlfriend during our dreamwalk. I never thought to ask you if you were involved with someone.” He stroked my arm. “Something that is very important to me in this moment. Please tell me you’re not involved with someone.”
I cringed, that poke of guilt still with me. I sat on the edge of the bed and Ian stroked my back. “I was supposed to have gotten married in May, but we called it off.”
“Sometimes things happen the way they were meant to. If you’d have married him, you might not be here now.”
I chuckled. “I definitely wouldn’t be here now.” Or would I? The pull between Ian and me was hard to resist. Even now I ached for more of what we’d shared.
“I’m glad to hear you say that,” he said. “I was nearly engaged once, myself, until I discovered I wasn’t the only man in her life.” He scooted across the bed and kissed my shoulder. His voice deepened. “I don’t like to share.” To emphasize his point, he took possession of me once more, and I basked in his attentions.
We spent the next several hours, when we weren’t wrapped around each other, talking. I reluctantly left Ian’s bed sometime after midnight with an invitation for him to visit me in Hillendale the following night.
Forty-five minutes later, I curled into my own bed with Ash beside
