Rain glided under the archway at the entrance to Louis Armstrong park and passed the life-size bronze marching band statues on her way to her favorite bench. Settling onto the seat, she gazed out over the man-made lake, admiring the fountain flowing in the center of the water. The sound of the spray and the splash of the drops as they hit the surface caused a familiar ache inside her chest. As much as the sound brought comfort to her ears, it also reminded her of how much she’d lost.

A couple strolled along the brick path, pausing on the footbridge to steal a kiss before continuing on their way, and a woman spread a blanket beneath a massive oak while three small children played tag on the lawn behind her.

The early autumn sun warmed Rain’s skin, and she closed her eyes for a moment, basking in the peaceful serenity of the scene. She smiled as she unwrapped her sandwich and took a bite. Not only had she won the werewolf wedding, but the pack’s sexy second-in-command had been tasked to handle the cake.

Her knee bounced in anticipation at the thought of seeing Chase again. Him asking her to dinner had come as such a shock that she hadn’t been able to form a proper sentence. Her first instinct had been to say yes. To go to dinner with him and hope he intended to have her for dessert. Thankfully, her brain had taken over before her mouth could react, and she’d said no. With her luck, he’d only asked her because he was suspicious about her lack of magic.

In fact, the more she thought about it, the more that seemed to be the case. He’d probably been assigned to watch her. To make sure she didn’t pose a threat to the pack. The flitting elation at seeing him again that she’d felt a moment ago fizzled out like a can of soda left open overnight. Either she’d imagined the smoldering way he’d looked at her yesterday or he’d been faking the attraction.

Either way, it didn’t matter. Her curse made getting close to people impossible. She wouldn’t risk hurting anyone else. And with what happened the last time she fell for a man—whether she’d fallen on her own or had been pushed—getting anywhere near love was out of the question.

She’d go along with whatever charade he had planned. Build a friendship like Snow suggested. With the blue moon a few weeks away, she didn’t have much time to earn his trust.

She sighed and took another bite of her sandwich. The cool cucumbers crunched between her teeth as she watched the colorful auras of the people in the park. Even humans had life energy that created a muted tone surrounding their bodies. Usually pale blue or green, it didn’t sparkle with magic like that of a witch or werewolf.

Across the pond, stretched out on a blanket, a woman with a deep-orange werewolf aura lay next to a human. The man glided his fingers up her bare arm before leaning in and kissing her. Did the man know he was dating a supernatural creature? Most humans didn’t know they existed.

Another orange aura caught Rain’s eye, and she nearly choked on a cucumber as Chase came into view. A small girl, around six or seven years old, squealed in delight as she clutched his arm with both hands and he lifted her from the ground, setting her on her feet in front of him.

“Do it again,” the little girl cried, and Chase beamed a smile, lifting her into the air once more.

Rain’s mouth hung open, so she forced it shut. If Chase hadn’t been scrumptious enough before, seeing him playing with a child—and enjoying it—made him mouth-watering. There was no pretense to his smile, no ulterior motive behind the sparkle in his eyes. He was simply happy, and the beauty of it whisked the air from Rain’s lungs.

He caught her gaze and waved, and she swallowed the bite of sandwich she’d been grinding between her teeth since he came into view. She lifted her hand to return the wave, hoping to act aloof. He was just a client, after all. But her lips betrayed her, curving into a smile she couldn’t have fought if she’d tried. If he had been sent to keep tabs on her, at least she could enjoy the view.

The girl had dark hair like Chase, and as he tugged her closer, Rain could see she also had his hazel eyes. He handed the child a pink plastic bottle and pointed to a group of children playing beneath an oak tree. She ran toward the kids, and Chase sat next to Rain.

“Coincidence seeing you here.” He grinned and ran a hand through his hair. Did she detect a bit of nervousness in his movements? Surely not.

“Is it a coincidence? Or did my sister send you?”

He cleared his throat and glanced at the girl. “She might have mentioned you’d be here.”

She’d have to have words with Snow later. Although…she did have a smokin’ hot werewolf grinning at her, so maybe she should thank her sister. No. He’s here because his alpha ordered him to keep tabs on me. She needed to remember that. “Is that your daughter?”

The same genuine smile she’d seen earlier returned to his lips as he glanced at the little girl again. “She’s my niece, Emma.”

“She’s adorable.” A flush of what she wanted to call relief washed through her body. Was she relieved? If the girl had been his daughter, then he might have been… “Are you married?” Damn it! Why did she ask that out loud?

He cast a sideways glance. “No, I’m not.”

Oh, goddess, is that a good thing or a bad thing?

“Have you ever been?” She squeezed her lips together. The next question dancing through her brain involved whether or not he liked chocolate and from which part of her body he’d like to lick it, and she would not allow herself to speak that one aloud…no matter how curious she was for the answer.

He gave her his full attention, pinning her with his heated gaze. “I have never been married.” He chuckled. “And I thought I’d be the one doing the interrogation.”

“I’m not sure I like the sound of that.” Unless it involved handcuffs and his detailed exploration of her body. Stop it, Rain…

Stretching his arm across the back of the bench, he shifted toward her. His position gave him view of both Rain and Emma playing in the grass behind her, and that was obviously why he moved, but when his knee brushed her thigh, her stomach clenched as if the touch had been intimate. She tried to hide her reaction, but his sly glance down at her leg and the crooked grin curving his lips said he knew exactly the kind of effect he had on her.

“Snow said you’re from Miami.”

“We moved here six months ago.” She shoved her half-eaten sandwich into its wrapper and tossed it into her bag. “What about you? Have you always lived in New Orleans?”

“Since I was a teenager. Are there any other Miami witches here?”

That didn’t sound like a getting-to-know-you question. She narrowed her eyes in suspicion. “None that I’m aware of, but I don’t pretend to know every witch in this city. Do you know every werewolf?”

He straightened. “Of course I do. It’s my job.”

“Uncle Chase!” Emma pranced toward them, swirling a plastic wand in her pink bottle. “Watch this.” Pulling the wand from the soapy solution, she blew on it softly, creating a bubble nearly as big as her face. “Toby taught me if you’re gentle, you can make it grow big without breaking it.”

Emma waved the wand, and the bubble detached to float in front of them. Rain reached out a hand, and the bubble landed on her fingertips. “And if you’re really gentle, you can catch them.”

“Wow! How’d you do that?” Emma reached for the bubble, cupping her hands around the soapy sphere.

“Careful.” Rain smiled as the girl tried to grasp the bubble, giggling as it popped in her hands. “My sister can make them freeze. She turns them into ice bubbles.”

Emma’s eyes widened. “Really?”

“Mm-hmm.” She leaned closer and whispered, “She’s a witch.”

“Cool! I’m going to be a werewolf when I grow up, like Uncle Chase. My mom says I might not, but I know I am. Werewolves are the best.”

“Witches are cool too.” Chase said it to his niece, but his gaze locked with Rain’s before lowering to her lips. She was definitely not imagining the attraction now.

She forced herself to look at Emma. “Maybe your uncle will bring you by my bakery sometime, and she can show you.”

“Can we, Uncle Chase? Please?” She blinked at him expectantly.

Chase rubbed his beard as his gaze danced between Rain and Emma. “Sure, squirt. Anything for you.”

“Cool!” She trotted off to play with the other kids.

Chase cast her an unbelieving look. “Snow can freeze things? Did she change her name after she came into her powers or is it a coincidence?”

“Nothing is coincidence. Our mother knew what her powers would be when she was pregnant. It’s one of her gifts.” A gift that had landed her mom a seat on the national council as foreign ambassador. She could read anyone’s magic, tell exactly what they were capable of and whether or not they posed a threat.

Rain had been her protégé, and she’d learned the importance of power from her mother. Her chest tightened at the disappointment and embarrassment she’d caused her family. If she’d introduced her mom to her last boyfriend sooner, all the trouble might never have happened. She looked at Chase, and her heart raced. Could he be the answer to her prayers?

He arched an eyebrow, and the piercing glinted in the sunlight. “And what are your gifts, Rain? Controlling the weather?”

“I told you; I’m a dud.” She should get up and walk away. If he continued to pry, she might slip up and tell him too much. Then she’d lose her one chance at paying the bills and lifting the curse. No matter how slim that chance might have been, she couldn’t let it slip away. “Why does Emma’s mom say she might not be a werewolf?”

His gaze hardened. “Because her dad’s not. If both parents aren’t weres, there’s a fifty-fifty chance their kids won’t be either.”

“She idolizes you.”

He gazed at the little girl. “I’m the only father-figure she has in her life. She and my sister live with me.”

“It’s nice that you’re there for them.” Her stomach fluttered. Oh, goddess, what was she getting herself into? The more she learned about this man, the more delectable he became. Helping raise his sister’s child. Giving them a place to live. Second in command of an entire pack. He was powerful and kind. A provider. A protector.

“We take care of our own.” Though he stated it as a fact, Rain couldn’t ignore the jab to her heart, reminding her she wasn’t one of them. She didn’t belong.

She couldn’t quell her curiosity. “It’s acceptable for werewolves to date people outside their species?”

He glanced at his niece, keeping a close watch on her, before focusing on Rain again. “We can date anyone we want.”

“What about marriage…or I think you call it mating, right? Can you mate with someone who isn’t a werewolf?”

“We can mate and marry whomever we choose.” The heat returned to his gaze, and his lips tugged into his signature cocky grin. “Are you in the market for a mate?”

She blinked, heat flushing her cheeks, as she realized how her question must have sounded. “No, absolutely not.” Why couldn’t she think before she spoke? She focused on the couple across the lake. “Take those two for example. Does that guy know he’s dating a werewolf? You seem so secretive; I would assume he doesn’t.”

Chase followed her gaze to the couple on the blanket. “If the relationship becomes serious…if she decides to take him as her mate, she’ll have to bring him into the pack. He’ll be sworn to secrecy. We have rules in place.”

“Interesting.” The fluttering sensation returned to her stomach, as if the idea that she could potentially become his mate appealed to her. Did it appeal to her?

His gaze lingered on the couple across the pond for a moment before he shifted in his seat, his knee brushing hers again. “What’s interesting to me is how you knew she was a werewolf from all the way across the lake.”

What was it about this man that had her body reacting this way? One little brush of the knee shouldn’t have sent her heart sprinting, but she couldn’t deny the incessant palpitations she endured whenever he was near. “I can see her aura. It’s part of my curse.”

He leaned in closer. “Your curse?”

Her heart made a quick dip into her stomach before lodging itself in her throat. Oh, goddess, what had she done?

He took her hand, holding it between both of his. “Is that why I can’t feel your magic? You’re cursed?”

“What? No!” She pulled from his grasp and clutched her hands in her lap. She couldn’t let the werewolves find out about her curse. It would ruin her.

And Chase…any chance she had at getting to know him better would crumble like a day-old, dried-out muffin. “I mean…I call it a curse…not having any powers. I guess my gift is that I can see other people’s powers. I can see magic, but I don’t have any of my own.”

He leaned back on the bench and eyed her skeptically. “You can tell by looking at me that I’m a werewolf?”

She nodded.

“How?”

“Your aura is deep-orange, and it glows with magic. The stronger the magic, the more saturated the color.” She was about to explain how deeply his aura glowed, but Chase scooted closer, the length of his muscular thigh resting against hers, making it hard for her to breathe.

It had been too long since she’d been this close to a man, and his warm, musky scent made her want to lean into his side. She felt herself drifting toward him, so she straightened.

“What about Emma?” He nodded toward his niece. “What do you see when you look at her?”

“I see a child who hasn’t come into her powers yet. Her aura is pale blue like a human’s. It could change as she matures.” Or it could stay the same if her father was human, but the disappointment in his eyes stopped her from saying the last part out loud.

“Damn.”

“I’m sorry.”

Chase looked at her, his gaze dancing around her face, curiosity in his eyes. “You are a fascinating woman, Rain Connolly.”

If he didn’t quit looking at her mouth, she might not be able to stop herself from leaning over and kissing him. “You’re pretty interesting, yourself.”

A slow smile curved his full lips, and he gazed into her eyes for a moment before looking at her mouth again. Damn it, she liked him way more than she’d planned to. If he hadn’t shown up in the park with his niece and acted all kind and fatherly, she could have continued admiring the package, assuming the inside was all testosterone and sarcasm.

Now she wanted to know him, and she wanted to start by finding out what those luscious lips tasted like. “If you want to kiss me, you—”

“Uncle Chase!” Emma climbed into his lap, breaking the trance he’d put on her and saving her from finishing the sentence that never should have left her lips. “Can we see the frozen bubbles now?”

He wrapped his arms around the little girl and kissed the top of her head. “We sure can, squirt. I need to talk to Miss Rain some more, anyway.”

Emma took both their hands and tugged them from the bench. “Let’s go.”

Rain hesitated, her heart and her stomach tangling in a dizzying dance. Had they almost kissed? If he had tried to take her mouth with his, she’d have given it to him willingly. What happened to befriending him so he could help her break the curse? She needed to keep her priorities straight. Getting her magic back was her number one goal, but she couldn’t deny the strange feelings stirring in her core.

“Do you mind if we walk you back to the bakery?” Chase asked.

She smiled at him before looking at Emma. “I’m sure my sister will be thrilled to meet you.”

They strolled four blocks to the bakery in a line, Emma between them holding their hands. The adults remained quiet as the little girl babbled on about Toby from the park, occasionally hanging back and running forward for them to lift her in the air by the hands.

The whole scene felt surreal, walking hand-in-hand with this child, Chase by her side, glancing at her from time to time, a strange smile lighting on his lips. They must have looked like a family to passersby.

She’d better enjoy it now because this was the closest she’d ever get to having her own family, unless she could lift this curse.

As they crossed Bourbon Street, two boys with flattened soda cans attached to their sneakers performed a tap dance on the corner. The rhythmic beat of metal striking pavement created a percussive melody that drew a crowd of onlookers. The smaller boy rose onto the tips of his toes and spun, waving his arms in a windmill motion and ending the routine in a flourish.

“Cool!” Emma shouted, and she tugged Rain toward Chase, placing her hand in his and leaving them to run toward the boys.

Chase didn’t jerk away. Instead, he tightened his grip, yanking her to his body and wrapping his arms around her, saving her from being flattened by a taxi. The driver blared the horn and shook his fist out the window, shouting a string of profanities at the people on the street.

“Best to keep to the sidewalks during the day, even on Bourbon Street.” Chase’s chest rumbled as he spoke, and with her face pressed against him, she couldn’t help but notice the firm muscles beneath his shirt.

“You okay?” His chin brushed the top of her head, and…was that his nose? Did he smell her hair? The tingling, bubbly sensation shooting through her insides could have been an adrenaline rush from being nearly run over by a car, but the man holding her in a tight embrace was more likely the reason.

She peered up at him, and he didn’t let her go. “I’m fine.” This close to his lips, she could almost taste them on her tongue. Cinnamon, probably. Warm and slightly sweet. “Thank you for not letting me get run over. That was kind of you.”

He smiled. “My pleasure.”

Oh, goddess no. He’d shown her kindness. In keeping her from being struck by the taxi, he’d unwittingly set himself up for his own tragedy. How could she have let this happen? She’d rather be lying bruised and bloody on the blacktop than for Chase to endure some disaster for helping her. Crap!

Jerking from his embrace, she smoothed her shirt down her stomach and scurried away. “I need to get back to the bakery. Stop by when Emma’s done playing and give me the deposit.” She rushed across the street.

“Rain, stop.”

She glanced behind her as Chase snatched Emma around the waist and threw her onto his shoulder before following her through the intersection.

His niece giggled as he caught up and set her on her feet. “That was fun! Do it again!”

He mussed her hair. “In a minute, squirt. Wait up, Rain. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” She continued her trek to the bakery, yanked open the door, and glared at her sister as she marched behind the counter. She needed to get herself under control. Change the subject before he pressed her for answers she couldn’t give.

Chase caught the door and ushered his niece through. The girl ran to the nearest display case and stared, wide-eyed, at the treats inside. “Can I have a cookie?” She glanced at Chase before focusing on the desserts.

“Sure.” He sauntered toward the counter, casting Rain a quizzical look, and opened his mouth to speak.

She cut him off. “Emma, this is my sister, Snow. Why don’t you show her your bubbles?”

Emma’s face brightened. “Give me my bubbles, Uncle Chase.”

“I don’t have them.” His gaze lingered on Rain before he looked at his niece. “You must’ve left them in the park.”

“Aw.” Her entire body deflated.

Snow cut her gaze between Rain and Chase and grinned. “That’s okay. We can make some in the kitchen with dish soap and a cookie cutter.”

The little girl bounced on her toes. “And Rain said you can make them freeze.”

Snow laughed. “I sure can. Come back to the kitchen with me.”

Chase stiffened. “That’s not a good idea, Emma. You need to stay out here where I can see you.”

Rain crossed her arms, torn between swooning at his protective instincts and being offended that he didn’t trust her sister.

“The sink is right here by the doorway,” Snow said. “You’ll be able to see her the whole time.”

“Please, Uncle Chase?” Emma batted her lashes, her hazel eyes imploring him until he crumbled.

“Okay. But stay where you can see me. If you can’t see me, that means I can’t see you either, and then I’ll have to hunt for you.”

Emma curled her fingers into claws and growled at Chase before scurrying around the counter to the kitchen.

He kept his gaze trained on his niece until he appeared satisfied Snow wasn’t going to kidnap her. Then he turned his green-gold eyes to Rain and took her hand.

She slipped from his grasp. “Witches don’t eat children outside of fairy tales, you know. Emma is safe here.”

He blinked. “I know. I’m not worried.”

She scoffed. “You could’ve fooled me.”

“Did I do something to offend you? I thought saving you from a head-on collision with a taxi was rather chivalrous of me, but it seems to have upset you.”

She let out an exasperated sigh. “I said thank you. What more do you want from me?”

Leaning an elbow on the counter, he slipped his tongue out to moisten his lips before speaking. “I want you to finish what you were saying at the park. You said if I wanted to kiss you, I should…”

Emma giggled as a frozen bubble shattered on the floor. Chase glanced in her direction before focusing on Rain again. He really wasn’t going to let this go.

Did she want to kiss him? Goddess yes, she did. She wanted to do a whole lot more than kiss the sexy werewolf, who had managed to inch his way around the counter to stand next to her, but she couldn’t. She’d already put him and his adorable little niece at risk by spending the past hour with them. This had to end. Right here, right now.

“I was going to say that if you want to kiss me, you should reconsider. I’m not interested.” Lifting a shoulder, she turned her back to him and rummaged through a drawer to make herself look busy. Even if she wasn’t cursed, he either had a grudge against her or witches in general, so things would never work out between them. Relationships had to be built on trust, and he hadn’t shown her an ounce of it.

His sigh was audible, though she couldn’t tell if it was from disappointment or frustration. “How much is the deposit?”

She straightened and slammed the drawer shut. “Three hundred dollars will reserve the date. I’ll need half of the remainder one month in advance of the wedding. The second half will be billed after delivery.”

He handed her a credit card. “It’s got Luke’s name on it, but I’m authorized to sign for it.”

If this had been a human wedding, she’d have refused the card. With so much credit fraud going on these days, she didn’t like to take chances. She had no doubts about Chase, though. If he’d stolen the alpha’s credit card, he’d have to buy a lot more than wedding cake to make the punishment he’d likely endure worthwhile.

She swiped the card and handed him the ticket to sign. “That’s all I need from you then, unless you’re picking out the design as well.”

He cringed. “God, I hope I’m not.”

“Please let Luke and Macey know I’ll need their design decisions in three weeks. It’s been nice doing business with you.” She inclined her chin hoping to end the conversation.

He didn’t take the hint. “Listen, Rain…” He let out a heavy sigh and shook his head. “Are you sure you don’t know of any other Miami witches in the area? No friends or family came to visit you or your sister this week?”

No one she knew wanted to be within one hundred miles of her and her curse. “No one; I’m sure of it. Why do you ask?”

“There’s a body in the morgue.”

That’s what this was about? He’d stalked her in the park because someone was dead and he thought she was involved? She stacked the papers and jammed them into the stapler. “I’m sure there are lots of bodies in the morgue.”

He laid his hands flat on the counter. “She’s a witch…from Miami.”

Her heart thrummed. “How do you know that?”

“She has a coven tattoo on her chest. The high priestess identified it as Miami.”

Her throat thickened. If he’d talked to Calista, she might have told him about her curse. But surely, if he knew, the alpha wouldn’t want her at his wedding. He wouldn’t have paid the deposit… “I didn’t know werewolves and witches worked so closely.”

“We don’t, unless our secrecy is threatened. She appears to have died from supernatural causes. Do you think you could identify her?”

Goddess, she hoped not. “Miami is a big city, and there are far more witches than werewolves. The chances of me knowing her are slim.”

“Maybe you can identify the type of magic that killed her. You can see magic, right?”

She shook her head. “I can, but only in a living person. I don’t think I can do much for you in this case.”

He laced his fingers together. “Please? I could really use your help. I promise I’ll leave you alone after this.”

Her breath hitched. Leave her alone? That was the last thing she wanted, though it would be best for him…and for her since he’d apparently been acting interested so she would help him identify a body. Of course, her initial reason for befriending him wasn’t exactly virtuous either. Maybe they were both feeling things they hadn’t planned to feel.

Her curse specifically stated witches would be punished for showing her kindness, but she didn’t want to take any chances with Chase. He was a supernatural being, so the curse might affect him.

Then again, she was supposed to be leading a selfless life, and he needed her help. She owed it to him for saving her life. “Okay. I don’t know how much help I’ll be, but I’ll give it a shot.”

He smiled. “Great. I’ll talk to Macey and see when she can get us into the morgue.”

“The alpha’s mate?”

“She’s a detective.” He picked up a business card from the counter. “Is this the best number to reach you at?”

“Let me give you my cell. I don’t answer that number after hours.” She took the card and scribbled her personal number on the back before handing it to him.

“Thank you. I’ll be in touch.” He ambled behind the counter to the kitchen, taking his time as if he didn’t want to leave yet. “Time to go, squirt.”

“Can I take them home?” Emma scooped up an armful of frozen bubbles. “They’re so pretty.”

He laughed. “They’ll melt by the time we get them to the house.”

“I gave them an extra-hard freeze,” Snow said. “They should be good for at least an hour.”

“I guess so, then.” With his hand on Emma’s shoulder, he guided her to the storefront.

Rain handed him two chocolate chip cookies in a white paper bag. “Here’s that cookie you promised her. There’s one for you too.”

He eyed the bag skeptically. “These didn’t come from that shelf, did they?” He nodded toward the clarity cookies.

Irritation grated in her chest like sandpaper against her sternum. What would it take for him to trust her? “They’re completely mundane. I’ll take a bite myself to prove it to you if you want.”

The look in his eyes said he was considering her offer. Luckily, he shook his head instead. “I’ll take your word for it. Thanks.”

He opened the door and nodded for Emma to pass.

“Call me,” Rain said as he stepped through the threshold. She grimaced. Why the hell did I say that?

He paused and grinned. “I will.”

As the door clicked shut behind him, Snow giggled. “Call me,” she sang in a mocking tone.

Rain closed her eyes for a long blink, trying not to direct her irritation at her sister. “I did not mean to say that out loud.”

“What did you mean to say?”

“Go away. I never want to see you again.” Those cookies would be tossed into the first trashcan he saw, and the fact that he distrusted her that much when she’d done nothing wrong gnawed in her gut.

Snow laughed. “That’s the fattest lie I’ve ever heard come out of your mouth. You want him.”

“So?” She rolled her eyes. How could she be attracted to a man who emanated so much distrust?

“So…the bad boy werewolf turned out to be a family man. How hot is that?”

Then again, he was protecting his niece. She sank onto a stool and slouched her shoulders. “Extremely.”

Snow climbed onto the stool next to her, excitement dancing in her eyes. “What are you going to do about it?”

She took a deep breath and drummed her nails on the counter. “I’m going to look at a dead body.”