The back door of the shop opened, and Wyatt walked in, making Marigold pause her work. “Is Leah safe? Tell me Leah’s safe.”
“She is. Little bump on the head but probably fine. Deputy Blythe is taking her to the ER for a checkup all the same.” He closed the door behind him. “Mathers is probably already in a holding cell.”
“Do you think that’s the end of it then?”
He sighed. “I’m not going to lie to you. No, I don’t think it is. Whoever hired those parking lot guys, whether it was Suzanne or Mathers, they could still have bad intentions. And someone undoubtedly still wants to get their hands on that pendant. But I’m not going to leave you alone. I will do my best to protect you.”
“I appreciate that.”
“And I will get to the bottom of this. I’ve already texted Suzanne that we need to talk.”
“Good.”
Wyatt strode toward her with unmistakable purpose.
“What’s going—”
His hands threaded through her hair, and his mouth covered hers with a boldness that almost knocked her off her chair. The rose in her hand fell to the table.
She stood, the bolt of surprise pushing her to her feet.
He kissed her long and hard and made her joints melt and her spine tingle, and every single worry that had been buzzing around her flew away. His kiss became the focus of her world. Pleasure blossomed inside her as tendrils of heat and joy curled around her bones, strengthening the weak spots.
She sighed, and his arms wrapped around her. She leaned into him, loving the warmth of his body against her, the strength of it, the thrum of living, breathing male that pulsed into her from that simple connection.
Wyatt held on to her with a kind of possessive determination she’d never felt before. As if having her in his arms was something worth fighting for.
She almost wept with the overwhelming emotion of it all. Happy tears, of course, but then she reminded herself that she was probably extra sensitive because of the crazy, exhausting day she’d had.
She put her hands on his chest and gently pressed away from him enough that she could see his eyes. “That was some kiss.”
“I owe you my life, Marigold. That’s why I’m about to say what I’m about to say.” He cleared his throat. “I’m a little nervous. That’s not something I’m used to feeling. I’m feeling a lot of things I’m not used to feeling.”
He laughed awkwardly. “Okay, so apparently I’m not the least bit suave when I’m about to lay my heart on the line.”
She blinked extra hard. What on earth was he going to say? But she felt for him. She knew some men weren’t great at expressing themselves. She imagined it was nearly impossibly hard for a man who’d grown up in foster care with no one to model that behavior for him. She took his hand. “Don’t be nervous. Just tell me what you want to tell me.”
He held on to her hand and used it as a focus point. “I didn’t really understand what you’ve done for me. That by giving me your magic, you were also giving it up. I thought you were just sharing it with me. Or something.”
He licked his lips. “I know better now. I know what you sacrificed for me. I don’t feel worthy of it.”
She shook her head. “But you saved my life at the auction house. You don’t know what those men might have done to me.”
“They weren’t going to kill you. All they wanted were the candlesticks. I just ran them off. What you did for me is in a whole different arena. I want you to know that the debt I feel…it’s going to take me a long time to repay you. If I even can.”
“I didn’t do it because I wanted you to owe me anything.”
“I know that. You did it because you are an amazing, kind, generous, wonderful woman who is as beautiful on the inside as you are on the outside.” He took a breath. “I am falling in love with you, Marigold.”
Her lips parted, but no sound came out.
“I know it’s early days for me to say a thing like that, but I had a real epiphany today. About…life. And what I want out of it. And what I want is not to try a long-distance relationship.”
“It’s not?” She wasn’t sure if this was about to get better or worse.
“No.” He blew out a breath this time and started looking a little flushed. “I’m going to move to Nocturne Falls. I want an up-close relationship. I want to be the person in your life you count on. The person you call when you need something. The person who, maybe someday, you might consider your other half.”
Once again, she was left speechless.
“I know I have your magic. I don’t feel like I should have it. I sure don’t know what to do with it. And I know it was a very important part of who you are and how you made this business.” He suddenly took on a very resolute expression. “If you’ll teach me, I want to work here with you and use the magic you gave me to keep your business going the way it was.”
There was so much to unpack. She just stared at him, trying to figure out what to respond to first.
“That’s pretty much it,” he said. “That’s all I wanted to say.”
“That was…a lot.” She smiled. “I liked all of it. I’m just…processing.”
He started looking a little determined. “Are you okay with me moving here?”
“Yes, totally yes. And if you want to work here—wait. You can’t really want to work here. You’re, like, a total guy. You were a homicide detective. Now you want to arrange flowers?”
He picked up the rose she’d dropped from where it lay on the worktable. “I think I like flowers now.”
She laughed. “That’s my magic influencing you. And we should probably stop calling it my magic. It’s yours now.”
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I like calling it your magic.” He twisted the rose by its stem, twirling it slowly, but his eyes were on her again. “I like thinking that there’s a piece of you in me. That maybe that piece of you is enough to keep you around.”
She blinked. “Wyatt. Look.”
“What?”
“The rose. It bloomed while you were talking.”
“It did?” He stared at it. “Did I do that?”
“Yes.” She sucked in a breath, trying not to get overwhelmed by the feelings that were bubbling up inside her. “Do you really want to work here? Because I will teach you everything. I will turn you into the best green wizard who ever walked the streets of Nocturne Falls.”
“I guess that means you’re okay with me moving here? And going headfirst into this relationship?”
She gave it one more second of thought. “Yes.”
He grinned, an enormous smile that had its own magic. “What do we do next?”
She glanced at the wall clock. “We get ready for the rehearsal dinner, because it’s in an hour.”
“I should take my clothes and head to the hotel, then. Can you text me the directions?”
“Sure. I’ll see you there, then?”
“Yes.” He smiled. “You’ll see me there. Is your daughter going to be there?”
“She will be. She’s one of the junior bridesmaids.”
“I hope she likes me.”
“I think she will.” How could Saffie not like him? He was amazing.
“I’ll do my best to be likable. Afterward, we’ll come back here and finish everything that still needs doing.”
She laughed. “You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into.”
His brows lifted. “Probably not. But I like a challenge. See you in an hour.”
Fifty-three minutes later, she was walking into Guillermo’s, the best Italian restaurant in Nocturne Falls, and suffering from the kind of jitters that were more appropriate for a first date. She knew Wyatt. There was no reason to feel like they were meeting for the first time.
But this was different, and she knew it.
This was the first time he’d be meeting Saffron. And the first time they were going public as a couple. And all at her sister’s rehearsal dinner. She bit the inside of her cheek and peered out the front window of the restaurant. Most of the guests, including Saffie, who’d come from the wedding rehearsal with Corette, were already in the private dining room.
“You okay?”
At the sound of her mother’s voice, Marigold turned to see Corette and Saffie behind her. “I’m fine.” She reached out a hand to her daughter. “Hey, baby. I heard you did great at rehearsal.”
Saffron took Marigold’s hand. “I’m like a natural bridesmaid.”
“I bet you are.” She looked out the window. “Mimi said you’re waiting on your boyfriend.”
“Oh, is that what Mimi said?” Marigold shot her mother a look.
Corette pursed her mouth. “Saffron’s about to meet him. She should know who he is to you.”
“Right, but—”
“It’s okay, Mom. I like that you have a boyfriend.”
Marigold raised her brows. “You do?”
Saffie nodded. “And if he makes you happy, then maybe you can get married someday too, like Aunt Pandy. And I can be your bridesmaid.”
“Oh, honey, you sure can.” Marigold hugged her daughter, her heart full with how good this kid was.
Her mother put a hand on Saffie’s arm. “We should go back to the dining room.”
Marigold straightened. “No, Saffie can stay with me.”
Corette nodded. “Then I’ll see you two inside.”
She left, and Marigold peered out the window again.
“He’ll be here, Mom.”
“I know.” Marigold smiled as best she could. “I’m just nervous. Do you like my dress?”
“You look like a movie star. Don’t tell Aunt Pandy, but your new dress is prettier. Not prettier than her wedding dress, but the one she has on now.”
Marigold laughed. “Now you’re just saying that. You know this dress isn’t new.” She’d actually bought the little red-flowered sundress at a thrift shop for this very occasion, so it was new to her. It was a good brand. Probably a discard from one of the many wealthy women in town. And the strappy cork wedges she’d had for ages.
“Mom.” Saffie rolled her eyes. “Stop doubting yourself. If this guy really likes you, he won’t care if you’re wearing a garbage bag. Right?”
“Right. How’d you get so smart?”
“I watch a lot of YouTube.”
Marigold snorted as Saffie’s gaze shifted beyond Marigold to something outside, and she pointed. “Is that him?”
Marigold turned. Wyatt was coming across the street. She smiled. “Yes, it is. And he looks really good in a sport coat.”
“Yeah, he’s not bad for an old guy.”
Wyatt walked through the front door, took a look at Marigold, then went one step back. “You look fantastic.”
She had to be blushing. “You like?”
“I was actually talking to the cutie beside you.” He winked at Marigold.
She laughed softly. “This is my daughter, Saffron. Saffron, this is Mr. West.”
Saffron stuck her hand out. “Nice to meet you, Mr. West.”
“Nice to meet you too. You can call me Wyatt, if that’s okay with your mom.” Wyatt shook her hand, as he looked at Marigold.
She nodded. “It’s okay.”
“Wyatt it is then.” He pulled a wrapped box from under his arm. “This is for you.”
Saffie took the box. “A gift for me?”
“Let’s be straight,” Wyatt said. “It’s a bribe, plain and simple.”
Saffie looked at her mom. “You can keep him.”
“Saffie!”
She giggled. “Thank you, Mr. West. Wyatt.” With a huge smile, she ran off to the dining room.
Wyatt watched her go. “Cute kid. I like her.”
“I’d say she already likes you. The gift was a nice touch, though.”
“I like to hedge my bets.” He took another look at her, then blew out a breath. “Man. You really do look fantastic.”
“Likewise.”
He stretched out his arms. “You think so? I’m not great at this dressing-up stuff.”
“You look very handsome.” She gave him a slow up and down. “You clean up really well.”
“I have Dexter Guildman to thank for it. All I did was shower.” He glanced toward the back of the restaurant. “Should we go in? This is your gig. Tell me what to do.”
She nodded. “We should go in.”
“Can I hold your hand? Or no PDA in front of family?”
She held her hand out.
He took it and smiled. “Good. I’ll do my level best not to embarrass you.”
“Wyatt, you’re not going to embarrass me. Why would you think that?”
He sighed. “I don’t have a lot of experience with family functions. I got invited to stuff when I was on the force, but this is…different.”
“I don’t think it’s that different. A family gathering is a family gathering.”
His brows pulled together, and he laughed nervously as he moved closer to her. “I wasn’t hoping any of those families liked me because I was crazy about one of them in particular and wanted to keep seeing her with an eye on the future.”
“Oh.” She bit her bottom lip. “The future, huh?”
He nodded. “I’m nuts about you, Marigold. Scared of putting so much of myself out there, but being scared is a part of life, right? I’m sure you were scared of being without your powers.”
His eyes suddenly filled with concern. “I’m sure you still are.” He took hold of her arms. “Hey, are you okay? I’ve been so caught up in everything going on I haven’t really asked how you’re doing.”
She smiled. He was such a good man. Maybe a little bit of a work in progress, but he was making all the right efforts. “I am scared. But I’m hopeful and optimistic. Especially since you’ve offered to stay in Nocturne Falls and help me. If nothing else, it’ll give me some time to ease into life without my gifts.”
She hooked her arm through his. “Now, come on. It’s time to face the firing squad.”
“Well, since you put it that way.” He rolled his eyes and laughed.
“I should tell you before we go in that everyone in there is a supernatural. It would be a little odd to introduce them with their name and type, but I’ll let you know who’s what when we have some alone time.”
“Maybe I’ll be able to guess.”
“Maybe. But let’s not play twenty questions within earshot.”
He snorted. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”