Finding the Magic Read Free Page B

persons’ database to check for further disappearances. There had been one new entry, a twenty-three-year-old woman, and listed under identifying characteristics was a very familiar birthmark. It had only taken him seconds to discover that she wasn’t the first. In fact, two other women bearing the cat’s paw birthmark had been reported missing in the last three months. It appeared that whoever else was targeting shapeshifters had decided to include the marked. Fear and anger had filled him as he realized that Jayne might be in danger.
    So now here he was, pacing like a caged lion, trying to figure out how to protect her without taking her. Joining her mind and soul to his was what his every instinct screamed he should do. He knew she was alone, her parents were gone, both killed in car accidents. She was single and everything he had been able to find out told him she had few close friends. Cam had plenty of contacts so it would be easy to find someone to guard her, but he couldn’t bring himself to pick up the phone. It was like some great, big cosmic joke. The very thought of another man laying his hands on her in any way was intolerable. It left him with only one other option, to go himself. He just hoped his willpower was up to the challenge.
    * * * * *
    Jayne turned the last page with a sigh of pleasure. She always had mixed emotions on finishing a really good book. Sadness that the story was over and satisfaction that the characters had gotten their happy ending. She leaned back into the plump pillows of the sofa and basked for a moment in the warmth of the sun shining through the windows. She wished she could make this feeling last forever. If she closed her eyes, she could almost believe it was summertime. Unfortunately, she had to go to work this afternoon. That meant she would have to leave the illusion behind her and face the cold winter’s day that it actually was. It had been snowing overnight but not heavily enough to defeat the salty air of a seaside town for long. On top of that, the sun had come out this morning and, as a result, the snow had turned to a muddy slush. Jayne grimaced at the thought of walking through it.
    The jangling of her doorbell interrupted her reverie. Jayne sighed and, for an instant, considered ignoring it, but she couldn’t do it. She was too curious. She brushed her long straight hair over her shoulders and back from her face and went to answer it. It could only be a salesperson, she couldn’t think of anyone else who would be at her door. Her brows pulled down in a frown. Now that was sad. How had she managed to cut herself off so completely? It hadn’t been intentional, it had just sort of happened.
    She had been on the right track the other night at the reception. It was time to take back her life. Kissing a man in a moonlit garden had been a good start. The memory of that kiss had occupied her thoughts for a good portion of the last few days. Even now she shivered with remembered sensations. She needed a man. Bob, her vibrating friend, just wasn’t doing it for her anymore. She could almost hear Megan cheering from here. She was lifting her hand to unlock the door when the bell sounded again. Whoever it was wasn’t the patient sort.
    “Whatever you’re selling, I’m not…” her voice trailed off, fingers tightening on the handle of the door. She blinked in astonishment at the man standing in her doorway. He was dressed casually in a dark sweater, faded blue jeans and a brown suede jacket. His jaw bristled with stubble and golden hair fell in disarray to his shoulders. She felt instantly frumpy in her jogging pants, bulky sweater and stocking feet.
    “Cameron?”
    He scowled at her and, fleetingly, she wondered if it was because she’d used his first name. She dismissed the thought as ridiculous. Mr. Murray was a little too formal for someone who had had his tongue in your mouth. Scowling just seemed to be his default expression, he did it a lot.
    “What are you