Chapter 78

Ann got off the elevator. She felt like a schoolgirl, giddy because she was going to get to see Wes again. Last night hadn’t gone at all like she’d thought, but that was a good thing. The way Wes had been with her made her feel better than she had in a long, long time. She’d spent longer on her hair and makeup this morning than she had in her whole adult life.

“Woah.” Kat came around the corner and stopped and grinned at her. “You look like a billion dollars.”

Ann smiled. “Thank you.”

Kat followed her to the kitchen.

“Why? Why do you look like that?”

Ann set her bag on the table and went over and got her cup out of the cupboard. “I just felt good this morning.”

Kat came over and leaned on the counter so she could look at her face. “Oh yeah? Any reason why?” Her smile was teasing.

“Does a woman need a reason to feel good?”

Kat popped a bubble and then shook her head. “No. Can I ask you a question?”

Ann nodded and flipped the kettle on.

“Are you wearing your best sexy underwear today?”

Ann turned and busied herself with selecting a tea. “What kind of question is that?” She felt her cheeks flush.

“What question?” Teegan came in.

Kat spun around. “Ann felt good this morning and looks like a million bucks, so I asked if she was wearing her best, sexy underwear today.”

“Oh.” Teegan smiled and looked at Ann. “Are you?”

Ann gave her a blank look. “What does that have to do with…”

“Because if you are, then a man is involved.” Kat bobbed her head, making her curls bounce. “And the only man you were near last night was boss man.” Her grin was huge.

Ann turned the kettle off and poured the water into the cup. “We went back to his house, and I fell in love with his library.” She smiled. “It’s a real library.”

“I see.” Teegan went around Kat and got a cup out. “So, what happened?” She was grinning at Ann now too.

Ann knew her cheeks flushed again, but she didn’t care. “Nothing.” She had the urge to giggle but made sure that was left unrealized. “It was perfect.” She bit her lip. “We’re having dinner tonight at his house.”

“Finally.” Kat started wiggling around like she’d just scored a touchdown. “The two of you have been eyeing each other forever.”

Ann rolled her eyes. “Things were…”

“You didn’t want to pass on magic.” Teegan poured water into her cup.

“Yes.” Ann nodded. “Now, it’s too late.” She scoffed. “I’m not saying we’re going to have a dozen offspring, but I wouldn’t mind getting to know him better.” She bit her lip again.

Kat turned to look at Teegan. “We should do the outside thing earlier, and then they can have their dinner without having to rush through it.” She popped another bubble.

Teegan smiled. “I agree. I also wouldn’t mind spending time with Lee when it’s still early enough we’re not exhausted.”

“Yes. Booyah.” Kat nodded and then spun on her heel. “I’m going to track down Mitch and tell him the plan. Laters.” She walked out of the room with her usual hurried steps.

“I think it’s great.” Teegan glanced at her while she made her tea. “That you and Wes can finally spend some time together.”

Ann picked up her cup. “I feel like a schoolgirl.” She grinned again. She’d never smiled this much about a man in her life.

Teegan picked up her cup. “Let’s go find the men and tell them it’s an early practice tonight.” She started for the door.

Ann grabbed her bag and followed her.

They reached the bullpen and found Kat standing in the doorway.

“Kat?” Teegan gave her a long look. “Are you all right?”

Kat glanced at them, a hard look on her face. “I don’t think I am.” She looked back at the desks and then pointed. “Who is that?”

Ann moved to stand beside her and looked into the room. Leland, Wes, and Mitch were standing in the center of the room, talking to a woman. She tilted her head and really looked at them. They were doing more than talking. They were all grinning and laughing.

Kat leaned closer to her. “Do we like her?”

Ann shook her head. “No. We don’t.”

“Wes didn’t say anything about hiring anyone else,” Teegan said softly.

“They know her,” Kat said in a low tone. “Look at how they’re acting.”

Ann looked back at them. The woman was young, with long strawberry-blonde hair. She wasn’t ugly, unfortunately, she thought. “Kat’s right. Wes is always friendly, but Leland? He’s smiling.”

“I see that.” Teegan cleared her throat. “I’m going to go find out what’s going on.”

“Yes.” Kat touched Ann’s elbow. “We’ll be in Ann’s office. Come tell us as soon as you know.”

“Mmhm.” Teegan started to weave between the desks.

“I don’t like this.” Kat sighed. “It just feels…”

“Feels.” Ann looked at her. “Can you sense any magic? Maybe she’s working with Celia.”

Kat’s mouth rounded. “Ohh, I didn’t think of that.” Her eyes narrowed. “Okay, let's go over there—” She pointed to the other exit that led to the hall with Ann’s office. “—and wait for Teeg to talk to them.”

“Yes.” Ann nodded, and they both rushed to go there, making sure to steer around the desks and stay out of their line of sight.

Once there, they both stood there watching Teegan talk to the men. As soon as she turned around and headed in their direction, Ann knew something wasn’t right. Teegan’s expression went from confusion to furious in a second.

“This is bad.” Kat touched Ann’s shoulder. “Let’s go to your office. Teegan will follow.”

Ann glanced once more to see Wes throw his head back and laugh. She nodded and then turned around.

She tossed her bag in the direction of her desk and then spun around and waited for Teegan to come in. “What happened?”

“I was dismissed,” Teegan said and then scrunched up her face.

“Excuse me?” Kat hopped up on the counter where Ann usually spread out the layouts to double-check them. At least this time, it was empty.

Teegan set her cup down slowly and then backed away from it like she wanted to throw it. “Wes reminded me about a deadline and dismissed me.”

“What did Leland say?” Ann put her cup down as well.

“He didn’t even acknowledge I was there,” Teegan whispered.

Kat jumped off the counter. “Ann thinks it’s magic.” Kat narrowed her eyes and looked at Teegan. “Did you feel magic?”

Teegan opened her mouth and then shook her head. “I didn’t think to check for that.” She sighed. “I’m not sure I could. I was so shocked.”

“Crap.” Kat spun around and looked at Ann. “You go check.”

Ann’s brows shot up. “I don’t know how to check. I just feel it.”

“You found us at the park.”

Ann held up her hand. “I followed the link with the scar.”

“Oh.” Kat looked at Teegan and then back to her. “How did you do that? Can you do that now?”

Ann blinked. “I-I—” She turned around and looked around her space. “I don’t know.” She spotted the candles sitting on the shelf. Going over, she grabbed one. “Candle.” She looked around. “Salt, we need salt and a map of the office.” She nodded.

“Salt.” Kat nodded. “On it.” She practically ran out of the room.

“I have an office layout in my desk.”

Ann pointed to the door. “Go get it.” She set the candle on her desk and then picked up her bag. What would she look for? Magic being used? How? She wasn’t connected to the men like she was to Kat and Teegan. She looked at the door. They were connected to Leland and Mitch. She blew out a breath. It might work. Now, she just had to figure out what to say. She opened her bag and pulled out the small pouch that she carried oils in. Sometimes, you just needed a good whiff of something to cleanse your mind. If she dug to the bottom, she might find a crystal or two. Setting the oils down, she got her journal out. Vaguely, she remembered her aunt talking about checking for others with power. That might be easier to check for. She knew there were six of them here that held magic. If seven showed up, they’d know that the woman did.

“Got it.” Kat ran back in carrying the saltshaker from the kitchen.

Ann nodded. “Good. Teegan went to get the office layout blueprints.” She took the salt and set it with the candle. “What were the men doing when you went by them?”

Kat scowled. “They weren’t there in the bullpen.”

Ann didn’t like that at all. She bit her lip. “If this woman is working with Celia, one of us will have to go to the warehouse and lock it or spell it or something.”

“I can do that.” Teegan came back in. “Lee taught me a very strong warding spell.” She held out a rolled-up blueprint.

“Lock the door.” Ann picked up everything, went around the desk, and then knelt on the floor.