Beauty In Her Madness (Winterland Tale Book 3) Read online

  I fell into her hug. “I know, but I just needed to see you. I’ve missed you so much.”

  “I’ve missed you too.” Her arms wrapped around me tighter, and for the first time in a long time, I felt myself sigh as if for one moment, everything was okay.

  I was sane.

  Chapter 6

  “Now I get the lines outside.” I chuckled into the most delicious hot cocoa I’d ever had—creamy, rich, making me groan in ecstasy every time I took a sip. The cup had the phrase “drink me” scrolled on the side, making me want to do just that.

  “What?” Alice sat across from me, sipping on her own, a few eatables to share between us on a plate that had in the same writing “eat me” on it.

  My eyes flicked over to the man behind the counter in an apron, which somehow made him even sexier, helping the four employees trying to keep up with the unrelenting demand.

  Alice’s gaze also slid to the man working the bakery counter, and the moment she did, his piercing blue eyes met hers, as if he could sense her through time and space. A smoldering, sexy grin tugged at his mouth, his eyebrows going up; hunger filled the space between them. Palpable. Heavy. The dead would be able to feel it. It was like the whole world disappeared except for the two of them. I heard enough to know their sex life was extremely passionate. But even a look from that man and every person here, regardless of sex, was orgasming.

  “They love the baked goods.” She turned back to me, her cheeks flushed, her eyes glinting with utter joy.

  I snorted. “Think the muffins these women next to me want to squeeze are not in the bakery case, but the ones standing behind it.”

  “Can’t blame them.” She shrugged, peering back at Matt again, his eyes finding hers instantly through the throng of customers. He winked playfully.

  They were so going to bone on the counter tonight.

  “Jesus. You two,” I huffed, taking another drink. “I feel myself disappearing into the background as we speak.”

  “What?” Alice’s brows narrowed as she fully faced me now. “What does that mean?”

  “It’s not a bad thing.” I sighed, setting down my cup. “You two have this force, this deep connection. It’s like nothing else exists when you look at each other. It’s just…intense. Rare.”

  Alice’s head tipped to the side. “What’s going on, Dinah?”

  I stirred in my seat, now wishing I hadn’t come. My sister could always see through me, know when something was wrong, even more than I could with her.

  “Nothing.” I picked at the half-eaten scone in front of me.

  “Pulling the bullshit card?” She leaned forward, putting her arms on the table. “I know you too well. You are not the kind to spontaneously visit, though I’m glad you did, but I can tell something is bothering you.”

  Nothing about this was comfortable for me. Until recently, I was the one who always had everything in order. I was the responsible, reliable one, and I couldn’t say this shift in our roles felt good. I wasn’t used to being the lost one.

  “I’m going to get Matt to fill your cocoa with something stronger to get you to talk.”

  “I might let him.” My attention drifted to the side, taking in the quaint bakery. I couldn’t describe what it was about the shops, but both stores had this allure. Sexy, magnetic, but also whimsical and beautiful. The bakery was painted in a cornflower blue, and teapots hung as lights above the white tables and chairs. Black frames lined the walls, each filled with crazy prints of tea parties and characters. Christmas lights and decorations were already up, giving it even a more magical feeling.

  “This place is amazing, Alice. I’m so proud of you.” I cuffed hair behind my ear.

  “Thank you, but we’re talking about you right now.” She didn’t relent.

  I blew noisily out of my lips, sitting back. “When you were going through…that time.”

  “You mean my breakdown.” Her lips quirked. “You can say it. It’s okay.”

  “Funny, Mom and Dad can’t even get near the topic, and you seem so fine with it.”

  “Because I am.”

  “It doesn’t scare you at all?” My dark eyes met her matching ones. The older we got, the more I saw similarities between us. “That it might return…it could happen again?”

  She pinched her lips, a peculiar humor almost twitching them. “Sometimes, Dinah, we have to go a little mad to find our way.”

  “What?” Her response pushed at my lungs, trepidation pouring over me, stilling me in my chair. Her sentiment sounded so much like the vision in my dream.

  “The quicker you go mad, the saner you will be.”

  “Everyone may think I went insane, but to me it was the exact opposite.”

  “Sense, you will come to see as the other one did, is all relative. What is sense if something is only sense to one, but not others? Is your sense the same as mine?” Frosty’s words wound down the back of my neck, prickling me with how close they sounded.

  “I found myself. Found my passion, my family, and I found Scr—Matt.” She cleared her throat, turning once again to look at her boyfriend. Even to me that title seemed silly for him. They went beyond the term of boyfriend/girlfriend. Even if he were her husband, it still wouldn’t seem enough.

  A sadness lumped in my throat because I knew I didn’t have what they had. I loved Scott. I planned to marry and grow old with him, but I couldn’t say our love transcended through time and space like Alice and Matt. Lately, it didn’t even transcend to the bedroom. But it was unfair to compare. Scott and I were different from them.

  “So, no, I’m not afraid.” She cupped her hands over mine, her warm touch making my eyes water. “Sometimes things aren’t what they seem, and once you let go of how you think things should be, you can see clearly.”

  Each word she spoke struck like arrows in my gut, stirring me more in my seat.

  “What’s going on, Dinah?”

  “It’s nothing.” I licked my lips, pulling my hands away from her, shaking my head. “I’m just overworked, stressed, and not sleeping well.”

  “It’s more than that. Talk to me.”

  “Think I’m sleepwalking again and having some strange dreams.”

  “Hey,” a deep voice rumbled, and I snapped my head to the man behind Alice, palms on the table, his arms on either side of her, leaning over her. “Good to see you, Dinah. Surprised, though.” I was definitely not a girl who fawned over sexy movie star-type men, but Matt made even my stomach flutter and cheeks heat.

  “Hey, Matt. Yeah, it was an impulse visit.

  “Impulse visit?” He lifted his eyebrow, his blue eyes pinning me to the floor. He was intense, and I could barely sit under his scrutiny. “You?”

  “What do you need?” Alice rubbed his arm, peering up at him with a grin.

  “What do I need?” He scoffed, his mouth twitching.

  “Besides that.” She shook her head, loving every second.

  “Only that,” he growled, his mouth brushing over hers quickly.

  “Later.”

  “Better believe I will be holding you to it.” He kissed her nose. Another slice of envy flicked my gaze away. “New batch is waiting and need to go through and help.”

  “Okay, I’ll stay here and jump in if they need me.”

  He nodded, not moving, looking at my sister as though she were his entire world. One he wanted to strip and fuck in front of everyone.

  “Be careful. Dee is on the warpath already,” she said softly to him.

  “‘Tis the season.” His mouth took hers hungrily. It was fast, but every person in the small café either sighed in longing or fanned themselves. And embarrassingly, I was one of them.

  “Be back soon.” He stood up, looking at me. “You staying with us tonight?”

  “Oh, no. I have a double tomorrow. Just a day trip.”

  “It was good to see you, and tell Scott hi.” His hand drifted over Alice like he needed to touch her again before turning and stalking out of the room.
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  All eyes in the café were on his tight ass as he walked out. A woman in the corner practically fell out of her chair watching him leave.

  “Jingle my bells…that man.” Alice sighed, slouching back in her chair.

  “Sounds like he does…frequently.”

  She rolled her eyes, but the blushing grin on her face told me I was right on the nose.

  “Sorry.” She waved her hand. “Back to you.”

  “No.” I wagged my head, reaching for my bag. “Like I said, it’s no big deal.”

  “Dinah.”

  “I need to go. It’s over three hours back.”

  Alice frowned. “You just got here. That’s a long way to say hi.”

  “I know, but I have to work early tomorrow.” Now I couldn’t seem to get away from her quick enough as her eyes tore through my walls, seeing what I was not ready to say.

  “I wish you could stay. I feel as if I never get to see or talk to you anymore.”

  “Your life is the crazy one.” I stood up. “Mine is the same.”

  “Dinah.” Her voice grew louder with exasperation, her words following me out. “What the hell is going on with you?”

  I exhaled, dropping my shoulders. “Nothing. I’m fine. I wanted to see you.”

  Emotion fluttered over her expression. “Well, let me send you home with some goodies.”

  “Oh god, like Scott or I need them. He’s gained at least ten pounds in a month.” Though I didn’t stop following her to the counter as she grabbed a box, filling it with my favorites. “Since I have connections, when do I get to meet this mythical baker?”

  Her head snapped to me. “Mythical?”

  “No one knows who he is. I’m your sister; shouldn’t I get the inside scoop? Remember, I have some serious blackmail on you…like the time you snuck out to Jimmy Finkle’s party and came back so drunk you threw up in the potted plant and blamed it on the dog.”

  “You promised to take what happened to the grave.” She glowered at me.

  Being eight years younger than Alice, I got to watch her teenage debauchery while I was still playing with toys. We were close now, but as kids, the age gap was worlds away. I spent a lot of time by myself playing make-believe while she was off with friends shopping at malls and flirting with boys.

  “I also remember finding Harrison Brooks hiding in your closet with no pants…and the time you threw a party when our parents were gone for a weekend. Didn’t Mom’s priceless vase get broken?”

  Her mouth pinched together, glaring at me. “Guess someone doesn’t want fresh-from-the-oven chocolate, hazelnut, and caramel tarts.”

  “I was totally kidding. To the grave.” I crossed my heart and held up my hand in surrender. Those tarts were to die for…one of my favorites.

  “Thought so.” She closed the box, handing it to me.

  “Damn, you are cruel. Playing dirty there.”

  “That’s what siblings are good for.” She walked with me to the door, her teasing dropping away, a serious tone taking its place. “I’m here, Dinah. Always. If you need to talk.”

  “Thank you.” I hugged her. “I’m just being weird. Probably need a vacation.”

  “Vacation? You?” Her eyebrow curved up. “Now I know something is up.”

  I wrapped my scarf around my neck, pulling my heavy jacket back on. I could feel her eyes on me, peeling at the layers I was trying to keep up.

  “Come back before Christmas so we can spend the day in the city together.” She fluffed my hair. “Just you and I.”

  “Yeah.” I nodded. “Sounds good.”

  “I love you.” She gave me another hug.

  “Love you too.” I squeezed back before heading for the door, my bag tossed over my shoulder, full of goodies, similar to Santa Claus. Scott was going to think it was Christmas morning.

  “Dinah?” She called my name as I was stepping out the door, turning me back to her. “Are you remembering?”

  “What?” My forehead wrinkled under my beanie.

  “Nothing.” She wagged her head. “Have a safe trip home.”

  I dipped my head, still perplexed at her question. I stepped out into the early evening air, darkness already consuming the sky, letting the Christmas lights cause the sidewalks to glow in warmth.

  Waving to Alice, I started down the street, heading back to the train station. Sucking in the cold air to the point it hurt, I let my shoulders relax. That was all I needed. A little time with my sister. I was overreacting and letting my imagination get away from me.

  I burrowed into my jacket, turning down a quieter neighborhood street, heading to the metro to Penn station, feeling lighter. Halfway down the block, a prickling snapped at my easy mood, a wisp of wind blowing up my hair.

  “Dinah.” My name clawed up the back of my neck, whipping me around. The voice was feminine and raspy.

  My heart slammed into my chest. My eyes searched around, seeing nothing. You were never alone in New York, but of course, not a single person was on the street right now, leaving an even more spooky sensation tingling my skin. I twisted back around, my feet rushing me down the street, feeling eyes on me.

  “It’s time, Dinah.” The woman’s voice grew stronger, nipping at the back of my ear. A cry pelted out of my mouth, and I whirled to fight off the person, but nothing was behind me.

  “Stop fighting it, Dinah.”

  “Stop!” I screamed into the void. “Who are you? Why are you bothering me? Leave me alone!”

  Silence.

  My head snapped around. I felt like I was in some horror movie and was about to be killed. I stepped backward, my eyes still searching, about ready to turn around and bolt.

  Seeing movement by a tree across the street, my body and breath stilled. The outline took a step around the shadows, clinging to it like a security blanket. A streetlamp shone eerily down on the figure, but all I could make out was cruel blue eyes staring back at me. Gray-blue, the color of an impending storm, familiar, but terrifying, sending a chill up my spine.

  “She is calling to you,” the voice carried over the wind.

  Fright shot down my veins, and instinct kicked in. I didn’t even think; I took off running, something in my gut telling me to get away as fast as I could. I didn’t know if I were running from real monsters or just ones in my head.

  There didn’t seem to be a difference between the two now.

  Chapter 7

  “Santa Claus is com-ing to town…” The jingle looped around me like a noose. I was all for holiday tunes, but after the tenth hour of my shift, the same songs on repeat, I was starting to get cranky.

  Okay, I had been cranky all day. Lack of sleep did that to me. My mind spiraled all night with excuses and theories until I couldn’t take it and went for a five a.m. run. Now, after spending the day and evening with hordes of sticky, loud kids and perverted fathers, I was ready for some wine, a bath, and sound sleep.

  “I’m out.” Lei, the other elf on a double with me today, strolled out of the break room, her arms holding her belongings. “I’m so exhausted.”

  “Yeah.” I rolled my head around, my muscles screaming for a massage. “You on tomorrow night?”

  “Yeah.” She rolled her dark brown eyes, brushing back her black hair. She was probably the closest person here I could call a friend. I never had a lot, always too focused on my goals, only getting along with other overachievers, which Lei Okada was. She was first-generation, her parents coming from Japan. They were nice, but they put a lot on her to be the best. Anything below an A was not acceptable. She was studying to be a doctor, but on her breaks, she doodled and drew amazing graphic art. “Working most of the week.”

  “Me too.” I picked up a child’s sweater from the floor, tossing it in the lost-and-found box.

  “You want help cleaning up?”

  “No, I got it. Will give it a quick vacuum and head out.” I was “lead” elf, which meant I had the responsibility of an assistant manager, opening and closing, at a whole whopping do
llar more an hour.

  Gabe had the day off, and our other Santa, who already left, was a sweet, retired, older man who lost his wife and needed to get out of the house.

  “Okay, girl. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Lei blew me a kiss and walked out.

  The music buzzed around me, and I headed to the closet, pulling out the vacuum, trying to ignore the sudden anxiety of being alone. Normally I loved it. Had never bothered me.

  Humming to the music, trying to keep my mind from landing on anything, I rolled the vacuum over the rug. Movement out the window pulled my attention. Narrowing my gaze. I spotted two children skipping and playing across the field in the forest, wearing what looked like green board shorts.

  Christmas dumplings. Why were they wearing shorts? The forecast said it was going to snow tonight.

  I pressed up to the window, trying to spot their parents standing somewhere around. The tree lot was closed, the night mode already dimming it in spotted shadows. Shit. Were they lost? Where were their parents? They were going to freeze to death dressed like they were.

  I didn’t even think as I ran out into the night.

  “Hey!” I called to the boys. From afar, I could tell one was short and round with brown hair, the other one taller, skinny, and blond. “Hey, stop.”

  The two turned around to me, then looked at each other, their eyes going wide in shock.

  Was I seeing things, or did they both have pointy ears?

  “Where are you two going? Where are your parents?” I moved quickly across the terrain. The closer I got, the more the boys’ features felt odd. Childlike, but strangely adult-looking too, almost cartoonish.

  “Duuuuddeee.” The tall one gaped at his friend, sounding an awful lot like some cliché surfer. “She can see us.”

  “Gnarly, man,” the rounder one responded, his tone in the same slow speech. Then in a blink, they took off. Every few feet, they rammed into each other, bouncing, making them giggle and fall to the ground. In a flash, they’d pop back up and do it again.

  Were they high? These kids couldn’t be more than first graders.