Must Be Magic (Spellbound) by Sydney Somers Page A

feet.
    Alex limped over with half the effort he’d used earlier. “Nicely done.”
    “Thanks.” Bryce didn’t take his eyes off her when he answered.
    Feeling like she was still the center of attention, she finally stood, and Bryce instantly retreated a step.
    “I’ll talk to you two later.” With a nod, Bryce walked away.
    She turned in the same direction, half wondering if she should follow him.
    Alex shook his head. “He could use a few minutes alone.”
    “Does he know you’re tapping into what he’s feeling?”
    “Tapping in? It’s more like trying to avoid being sucked into the vortex with the crazy vibes you two are throwing off tonight. Believe me, I’d hit the Mute button if I could.” He knocked on his cast.
    She knew his broken leg affected his magic, but she hadn’t thought about how it might interfere with his usual telepathic gifts that were part of the Tribunal package.
    “It comes and goes. One minute I can barely pick up on anyone’s thoughts if I’m trying and the next it’s like someone duct-taped a pair of headphones to my head and cranked the stereo volume to max.”
    “Did I… Did you…” Exactly what images had she unknowingly projected?
    “You were upset, but that’s all I got. Even when I’m plugged in, I don’t go digging around trying to find stuff.”
    She arched a brow.
    “Okay, so a time or two I’ve wondered if any of you Calder girls ever had a wild college moment with another chick, but I’ve never actually peeked.”
    “If that’s all you want to know, you should just ask.” Riley grinned as she joined them, holding up her phone. “I’m going to need your help later uploading the video to YouTube.”
    “Video?” Darby cringed. “You did not.”
    Riley blinked. “Would it make you feel better if I lied?”
     
     
    It took Darby nearly half an hour to work her way across the room, laughing along with anyone who stopped her to comment on the garter show. By the time she reached the ballroom’s back door, Finn and Bree were slow dancing in the middle of the dance floor and the size of the crowd had shrunk to at least half its original number.
    Having caught sight of Thomas Lancaster saying good night to Bree a short time ago, Darby knew she didn’t have to worry about running into him for what was left of the night.
    Leaving the patio, she dropped her sandals and flowers near the stairs and wandered down to the edge of the beach, well away from the party. The cool water washed over her toes and the gorgeous sight of the moon hanging over the water gave her the first peaceful moment she’d felt since arriving in St. Lucia.
    Peaceful, if she didn’t count the fact that everything she believed about Bryce was all wrong. Wasn’t it? He hadn’t known about the baby. Hadn’t knowingly left her to deal with the unexpected pregnancy on her own.
    She’d told herself it was all in the past whenever they had to be civil or even work together, but beneath the forced pleasantries she hadn’t let go of the hurt and the anger—especially the anger.
    And now she wasn’t sure he’d deserved it.
    She waded past her ankles and closed her eyes. Music and laughter carried from the party, mixing with the sound of the ocean rolling up to shore.
    “I’ve been advised to stay out of the water.”
    She whirled at the sound of Bryce’s voice, but didn’t immediately spot him in a deep plunge of shadows until he raised up on his elbows from where he lay on the beach.
    “So you decided to take a nap instead?” She ventured a little closer, but kept to the water’s edge. She didn’t have a clue what to say to him after he’d left the reception so abruptly.
    “Seemed like the safer alternative.”
    “Compared to what?”
    He sat up, dusting the sand off his arms. “Being chopped up into little bits.”
    “Have you been arguing with Dante again?”
    The sound of his laugh drew her toward him. “Not yet, but the night isn’t over.”
    Not until she sank down