The Last Witch Hunter (Witch Hunters) by Thayer King Read Free Book Online Page B

got late. She’s tall. She’s been after me for a while and she caught me at a weak moment.”
    “Hey, you don’t have to explain. You don’t owe me anything.” She turned to head to the next table which featured brownies and blondies.
    Ronan grabbed her elbow. “The hell I don’t.”
    He didn’t but she didn’t want to argue about it and she didn’t want to dwell on the fact that that hussy had her lips on Ronan. “She left her mark,” she commented casually before moving on to picking out the perfect candy apple leaving Ronan scrubbing at the bright red lipstick on his cheek.
     
    ***
     
    Ronan sipped on a cup of apple cider as he watched Nikita make her way to the restroom. His height gave him the ability to see over other people’s heads and he was able to watch her disappear through the doors on the far side of the room. Maybe bringing her here was a mistake. She seemed determined not to enjoy herself. He completely was out of his depth. He’d never had to convince a woman she was his soul mate. He supposed he was spoiled. Women generally liked him. Nikita didn’t like anything or anyone. She was sassy and mean. And, damn, if she didn’t turn him on.
    He finished off the cider, crumpled the paper cup and tossed it into a large gray trash bin.
    “Nice piece of ass, Big Red. On the small side for someone of your size. If we were fishing, you’d have to throw that one back.”
    Ronan glanced down at his cousin out of the corner of his eye. Brian was a few inches shorter than him. He wore a thick flannel plaid shirt and jeans. His dirty blonde hair was close cropped but there was no hiding the fact that it was already thinning at the top. Brian wasn’t aging well. Though he and Ronan were born within a few months of each other, Brian looked at least ten years older. He was unshaven and had the general appearance of someone who had lived a hard life. It had been months since Ronan had last seen Brian and suddenly he had the misfortune to run into him twice within a week. Declining to discuss Nikita with his cousin, instead he asked, “What are you doing here? This doesn’t seem like your type of event.”
    Brian slapped at a bunch of leaves decorating the edge of a table. “No, shit. The wife got free tickets at work. It was either bring Natalie and the kids or listen to her nagging until my ears fall off. They’re around here somewhere.”
    “How old are Lindsay and Logan?”
    “Four and five,” Brian snapped. “What do you care? Who’s the girl?”
    “A friend. Listen, it was a surprise to see you at Uncle Hugh’s.” Ronan couldn’t forget how upset his uncle had seemed after talking to Brian.
    “Why? He’s my father. I have as much right to visit as you do.”
    “I wasn’t objecting. It’s just that you’ve never shown much interest since-”
    “Shit changes. So she’s a fuck friend or just a friend?”
    Ronan gritted his teeth . It was a small town. He’d heard rumors that his cousin wasn’t faithful to his wife. But it was pointless for him to set his sights on Nikita. She was his and Ronan would make sure he knew it. “She’s my one.”
    Brian’s mouth twisted as though he had a bitter taste in his mouth. “Well, isn’t that grand? The world just keeps on giving to you, doesn’t it?”
    Ronan frowned. “What are you talking about?”
    “Let’s see.” Brian stepped close to him so that their chests were practically touching. “You got two parents who think you walk on water. As if that weren’t enough, my own father treats you more like a son than he does me. I’m a dud, married to a nagging slut who got knocked up our first night together. But you, you’re a wizard who finds his perfect woman. Doesn’t sound fair, does it? What have y ou ever done, what have I ever done, to deserve this?”
    To discover that Brian was jealous of him was a surprise. While he made a decent living, he wasn’t rich. He had a nice house, a big truck, and a flat-screened television