Tanner and Ally both spun around at the sound of the voice. When Tanner spotted a shadow in the dark corner of the doorway, he hooked his arm around Ally’s waist and positioned her behind him. A moment later a beautiful woman stepped into the room. He vaguely recognized the girl with the long black hair and shimmering sapphire eyes. A knot tightened in his gut as he stared at her. There was something about her eyes. Something hauntingly familiar. Something…hypnotizing.
She stepped closer and slowly walked over to the table that held the used sex toys. The light from the flickering candle cast shadows across her porcelain profile. She twisted around to face them and pouted.
“Seems I’m a little late for the party.”
Tanner heard a small gasp escape from Ally. She grabbed him by the shoulder and whispered in his ear. “I need my pants.”
He quickly scooped Ally’s clothes off the floor and handed them to her. She hurried into her pants and pulled on her T-shirt. Tanner shrugged on his own shirt and climbed into his jeans.
“Do I know you?” he asked, widening his stance as though prepared for battle.
As soon as the girl smiled, it hit him. She was the one who had captured him. The last thing he remembered before Ally had come to his rescue was having a conversation about the Belhaven high-school reunion.
Tanner blinked his eyes and shook his head, trying to remember what had happened before he’d woken up bound to the web. He broke out in a cold, uncomfortable sweat. “What did you do to me?” he growled. He listened with half an ear to Ally’s low whispered chant behind him. What in the hell was she doing?
The dark-haired girl emitted a deep, sultry laugh from the depths of her throat. “Well, it seems I didn’t get a chance to do anything to you. It looks like my lovely cousin got to you first.”
Tanner spun around and glared at Ally. “Cousin? You were in on this?”
Ally shook her head then glared at the dark-haired witch. “Selina’s responsible for this, not me.”
Tanner stepped back and shook his head. “Would somebody please tell me what’s going on here?”
They ignored him and glared at each other.
“Selina, what are you doing? Why are you back in town? And why would you do this to Tanner?” Ally asked, her voice rising with each question.
Selina folded her arms across her chest and grinned. “Now what kind of greeting is that, little cousin?”
“How did you get here?”
Selina’s grin widened. “Bad always prevails over good, Ally. Haven’t you learned that by now? I managed to find a way around your ancient banishment spell.” She rolled her eyes. “As you know, I had many years to work on it.”
Banishment spell. Tanner wrestled with half forgotten memories. They were witches? Ally slipped her hand into the front pocket of her jeans. “What do you want with Tanner?”
Selina’s eyes darkened to black coals. Her jaw twitched. “Why do you care? He never loved you. If he had, he wouldn’t have made love to me on prom night before he deserted you and joined the military.”
Tanner watched Ally’s shoulders stiffen. She shook her head in disbelief. “You were with me on prom night, Selina,” she countered.
“Before that, cousin. While you stood on your porch and waited for Tanner, he was making love to me.”
Face red with anger, Ally took a step toward Selina, but Tanner held her back. “He never would have done that,” Ally bit out.
“If you don’t believe me, ask him yourself.”
Ally’s mouth twisted as though she’d just sucked on a lemon. “I can’t. It seems he’s lost all recollection of that night. All recollection of me and the love we shared.”
Tanner’s head bobbed back and forth as he tried to follow the conversation. Tried to put together the pieces of the puzzle.
A mischievous grin curled Selina’s lips.
Ally let out a humorless laugh and shook her head in disgust. “I can’t believe you’re responsible for this. Why, Selina? Why would you delete Tanner’s memories? Why would you do this to him? To me?” she asked in a low, deceptively calm voice.
Like a bow stretched to the limit, Selina’s composure snapped. She took a step forward and reached for something in her pocket. Tanner fisted his hands and waited. He wasn’t about to let anything happen to Ally.
“He would have wanted me if you hadn’t come along. Little Miss Perfect with a sweeter than sugar smile. The little tomboy who grew into a gorgeous cheerleader with all the popular friends. While I sat at home alone with no one.”
Ally’s eyes softened. “But you had me. And I thought we had each other.”
Selina huffed. “We had each other? Are you forgetting you banished me to the netherworld?”
“Only for your own good, Selina. What you were doing to the townsfolk was wrong, and you know it. If they had gotten their hands on you before I sent you away, it could have been a lot worse. I was protecting you.”
“I didn’t need or want your protection, little miss good witch. Didn’t you ever think I would tire of being in your perfect shadow?” Selina waved her hand through the air and snarled. “But I fixed you, all the women of Belhaven who preferred your friendship over mine, and all men who never gave me the time of day. I made everybody in this town pay for overlooking me.”
Ally stepped forward. “The townsfolk will pay no more for your imagined insults,” she assured her.
In a motion so fast it took Tanner off guard, Ally pulled a packet out of her pocket and sprinkled the contents over Selina. Keeping a wide berth, Ally circled her cousin and began chanting a spell.
Selina laughed. “Oh please, little cousin. Your magic has grown weak from lack of use.” Reaching into her own pocket, Selina pulled out a vial. “Now it’s time for you to go visit the netherworld. And you won’t be coming back.” Selina glanced at Tanner. “But don’t worry, Ally. I promise to take extra special care of him.”
Ally twisted around and glanced at Tanner. “Get out of here now, while you still can.”
“I’m not going anywhere without you, Ally. Ever again.”
A movement at the door drew their attention. Tanner turned and spotted the sheriff.
Selina’s eyes widened in delight. “Sheriff,” she purred. “How nice of you to join us. Don’t worry, I have something extra-special planned for you. No one turns me down without paying for it.”
The sheriff drew his gun. Selina threw her head back and laughed. In that split second, Tanner lunged for her and knocked her off balance.
The vial flew into the air. Before it hit the floor and smashed, Ally grabbed it. She pulled the rubber stopper free. “Tanner, move!”
As soon as Tanner distanced himself, Ally threw the potion on Selina and once again recited the spell.
A thick fog covering her, Selina cried out and lunged for Ally, but before she could grab hold, her body turned translucent. “I’ll be back, Ally. Wait and see…”
“Not this time, you won’t.” Ally brushed her palms together. “You were wrong, dear cousin. Good always prevails over evil.” She turned to the sheriff.
He scratched his head and gave her a genuine smile. “Thank you, Ally.” Taking his notebook from his pocket, he turned. “This place gives me the creeps. I’ll meet you both outside.” His boots pounded the floor as he hurried outside.
Suddenly, as though he’d been struck by a wrecking ball, Tanner flew backwards and hit the wall. He cracked his head and winced in pain. When he opened his eyes and looked up, Ally was standing over him. Her eyes were full of worry. She knelt down and brushed his hair off his forehead.
“Tanner, are you okay?” Her voice trembled. “Please be okay, my heart couldn’t take losing you again.”
Tanner looked deep into Ally’s eyes as old memories flooded him. “Ally Cat,” he said softly and pulled her down onto the floor with him.
Her relief was obvious. “Oh my God, Tanner, you remember.” Her voice caught on a sob as tears pooled on her lashes.
He shook his head and smiled. “Your spell must have broken the one Selina had over me.” He pulled her into his arms and she molded herself against him. Every forgotten emotion he’d ever had for her filled his heart. His insides ached with the love that overcame him. “I never slept with her, Ally. She tried to lure me into her bed, but I turned her down. That must be why she cast a spell over me and erased you from my memory.”
“It’s okay, Tanner. I believe you.”
He cupped her chin and lifted her face until her eyes met his. “Baby, we’ve lost so much time together. I’m so sorry this happened.”
“I know. Me too.” The sadness in her heart was apparent.
He brushed her tears from her cheeks. “I love you, Ally Cat.”
She closed her hand over his and sniffed. “I love you too, Tanner,” she echoed. “I’ve never stopped.”
He pulled her impossibly closer and she melted against him. “I always felt like there was something missing from my life, and now I know what it is. I want to make love to you every day for the rest of our lives to make up for all the lost time.” He tilted his head to kiss her.
She inched her head back and looked at him. “One question.” A sudden gleam sparkled in her eyes.
“What is it?” he asked, nuzzling her neck, inhaling her rich female scent.
“When do we start?”