A Healer's Touch Read online

  During her drive to work, her mind was still obsessing over the fact Fabian came to her rescue. He was so good-looking, cultured, and so out of her league. Why would someone like him be interested in someone like me?

  Seeing bright cheerful Christmas lights lining the streets reminded her, she needed to give Simon a good holiday. His father was way behind on her child support and the man had never purchased a single gift for his son, so she knew better than to count on anything she couldn’t pay for.

  Pulling up to Margie’s she was surprised, it much busier than the typical Sunday in December. Then she remembered Jana telling her about having hired some live music. Sighing, she had been hoping to take it a little easier, but she did need the money and a crowd like this one, meant tips.

  ****

  When Fabian had asked around about Phoebe Penn, the reaction seemed mixed. Anger, pride, fear, protectiveness, he saw it all in the eyes, words, and actions of the townspeople he spoke to. Stories of how she helped the sick or dying came from the majority of the people who talked about her, but a few people told him she was bad to the core because her ancestress, a witch who had reportedly cursed them all centuries ago. Older folks seemed to think all the bad they’d seen over a lifetime in Willow Lake was her family’s fault and as she was the last adult in her family line, the blame lay at her feet. Fabian did not buy it; there was no darkness in her. When he learned she’d went from foster home to foster home, and the boy’s father was worthless and his family was among those who thought she was evil; his heart went out to her. Anyone else would have let all the pain and darkness make them dark, but not his blonde angel. His thought stopped him in his tracks, when had he started to think of her as his?

  Fabian knew he wanted to see her again, just to make sure she’d recovered. A woman working at the little grocery store told him Phoebe worked at Margie’s Diner.

  ****

  Phoebe’s head was pounding. She wanted to go home, but she had to make the money. Putting on her game face, she drew from her inner strength and did her best to hide her weakness. Judging from her excellent tips, she was doing a good job of hiding her agony.

  Jana knew something was wrong, but Phoebe just smiled and shrugged off her employer’s concern. Everything was moving along nicely until she heard a commotion from the back of the room. Looking through the crowd, she saw two women fighting. A tall brunette threw the first punch. Phoebe looked around desperately for Jana and when she saw her, it was clear she was busy and hadn’t seen the women. Another punch flew as the situation escalated. Phoebe was small, but she was fierce when she wanted to be.

  Rushing into the fray, she put her arms up and screamed. “Not tonight ladies, take it outside.”

  Her words had no effect as the women pulled hair and slapped out at each other. Phoebe was trying to control it before it wrecked a very profitable evening. She really needed those tips. Grabbing onto the shorter redhead and pulling her off the brunette, she thought she had it under control until the brunette launched herself at Phoebe. Stars twinkled in front of her eyes as the woman smacked her in the head with her hand, hard.

  ****

  Fabian saw the large crowd and wondered if it was a mistake to try to talk to Phoebe here. When he walked in, he noticed several animated groups by the door stopped talking and just stood gaping at him. He was very out of place in his tailored suit it hadn’t occurred to him he should’ve dressed more casually. Nervously, he smoothed his tie. Seeing Phoebe, he watched her as she turned and took off quickly towards the back of the bar. Traveling after her, through the crowd, he suddenly realized where she’d gone. Two women were physically fighting and he could see his tiny angel making a beeline for them. What was she planning to do? To his horror, he realized what she was going to do, too late. She began to pull the smaller one away until the bigger one turned on her, attacking her.

  He saw her holding her face feeling blinded by rage as he picked up his pace towards the wild women and the little witch.

  Just before the big brunette could slap out at her again, he grabbed her arm and she gave him an angry look. Fabian worked out often and his tailored suit hid the strength beneath. Realizing that he was not as weak as the waitress was, the brunette backed off. The redhead fled as well. Fabian went over to his angel. She’d definitely have a black eye in the morning.

  “What’re you doing here? You should be in bed.” His voice held a note of exasperation.

  Fabian tried to lead her outside, she resisted.

  “I have to finish my shift. As you can see, it is busy and I can’t just run off, this place pays your rent payment.” She spoke with anger and stubbornness. “Just go back to whatever brought you here, Mr. Sterling. Oh, and thanks for helping me again, you have to stop that, I’m losing my street cred around here.” Then she smiled brightly and he watched her weave back through the crowd to take an order from an impatient looking man without missing a beat. He grumbled with annoyance, but had to admit to himself, he was impressed.

  What kind of a job was this for someone like her? She should be a nurse, or a doctor. With her gift, she could just travel the country selling her audience with the ill. Why did it matter to him? He decided he couldn’t just rush off or the local gossip would really get going so he sat down at the bar and ordered a beer. He was not really a down-home beer kind of guy, but as he stood there taking in the lively room he realized it was a good place to see the real people of Willow Lake in their natural habitat.

  ****

  Knowing Fabian watched her was making her twitchy. What was he even doing here? She was sure he’d not come in before. In his expensive suit, he looked a touch over dressed and seeing the looks he received made her smile. He seemed oblivious to what an impact he was having. Jana walked past her muttering about how he was bring down the property value of her bar stools and it was true, as busy as the place was it was usually impossible to get a bar stool unless you arrived early. Jana kept giving him deadly looks. Fabian had two stools on either side of him vacant. Phoebe’s heart hurt for him for a moment, he was just as much an outcast in the town as she was. And for the exact same reason, heritage.

  As the night began to wind down, she noticed Fabian was still there. What was he playing at? He had been talking with several locals and it seemed people were no longer cringing in his presence, even if he did hold the majority of their mortgages and jobs in the palm of his hand. With the rush, she had never taken her break. Her eye hurt, her body ached, and she felt relief her shift would be over in a few hours. Putting the tray of empty beer bottles on the counter for the bus boy she turned and her eyes caught his, just at the moment the band started to play a slow traditional Christmas song. He stood and walked over to her.

  “Will you dance with me, Phoebe?”

  “No one else is dancing.” She felt the heat in her cheeks.

  “I don’t care; will you dance with me, Phoebe?” He didn’t look a bit concerned. She wished she had his kind of confidence.

  “We’ll look ridiculous, this isn’t even a dancing song, and it’s a Christmas carol.”

  “I don’t care; will you dance with me Phoebe?”

  Sighing she felt a bit trapped, but she let him lead her to the dance floor.

  Standing in his arms, she smelled his aftershave and the masculine scent seemed very distinctly his. When he pulled her close, she stood stiffly. He felt strong and she noticed his body belied his sedentary desk job when she felt the muscles beneath his clothing. Blushing, she hoped he had no idea what she was thinking. When she looked up into his face, she saw the dark intensity in his eyes. Fabian Sterling was a dangerous man. He made her long for things she’d sworn off years ago. He made her wet just dancing in his arms. They were still dancing when the music had stopped, neither of them noticed until a drunken man stumbled over to them and said, “You don’t have to go home but you can’t stay here.”

  Horrified she realized it was closing time. Had they really been out there looking at each other for tw
o hours?

  Embarrassed, she said a hasty goodbye and fled to the safety of the kitchen. Jana told her to head out because she didn’t get a real break.

  “But I danced for hours?” Phoebe had taken too much of a break.

  “Oh Honey, that was part of the entertainment. The gossips will be coming in here for sure to see if they can spot you and Sterling again. You too smoldered so hot I was glad I have fire insurance.”

  Phoebe’s face burned hot with embarrassment. Grabbing her coat, she left. Near tears over her confused feelings and humiliation, she almost didn’t see Fabian standing out in the cold snow. Cheerful Christmas lights blinked illuminating his face and what she saw made her breath stop. With her gift, she could feel his aura, and she felt his deep true feelings. Fabian Sterling was not just looking for an easy roll in the hay with a local girl, there was definitely more to it than sex. Nervous and unsure if she should entrust her heart to him, she wanted to just run to her car and drive off, but she wasn’t cowardly enough to take the easy way out.

  Stepping up to him, she was prepared to talk but not for his next actions. Fabian pulled her to his arms and kissed her deeply. She let him swirl his tongue into her mouth and she sighed and returned the kiss. Usually she was not very excited about that type of kiss, but Fabian tasted exotic and he was very good at what he was doing. She completely gave into the sensation and it wasn’t until the dumpster lid rattled that she realized how public their kissing was.

  She was just about to tell him she needed to be going when the dishwasher came running outside shouting for her. Taking Fabian’s hand, she dragged him into the employee entrance with her.

  “This is J.T. and Joss and we have a special clip we promised you at the beginning of the show. That’s right folks we have finally found our proof of the witches of Willow Lake. Not only do we have the video folks, but we know who she is and where she lives. A real witch has been right under our noses all this time. Joss, I think she used her magic on us so we couldn’t see the signs.”

  “That’s right J.T. I have felt her evil powers and I think she’s been draining my life force at night while I sleep.”

  Phoebe starred in horror at the little television the dishwasher always watched sat on a high shelf above the commercial dishwashing machine. Her heart sank and she knew just as the others knew those goons were talking about her. Her annoyance with the comparison to a succubus distracted her for a moment. Her curiosity as to their proof out weighted her annoyance.

  “Here it is folks your Christmas present from your favorite paranormal investigators. Joss, roll the clip.”

  To her horror, she saw herself saving the little girl from the car accident. Every moment caught on grainy camera phone video. What am I going to do? As she watched, the video unfolded and she saw her body fall weakly into the snow and everyone just looked at her, doing nothing. Then she saw Fabian was there for her and she blushed as she watched him rescue her. No one had ever rescued her before and she felt something around her heart crack. Taking his hand she squeezed it, whatever was between them at the moment was something she’d never experienced before and she was not sure how to process it.

  After the horror of her impromptu television debut, the obnoxious neighbors then started to take calls. She hoped they only had one fan. However, it seemed everyone was staying up late because they took call after call about her evil deeds and witchy ways, the things people were saying about her were entirely false, she certainly would have remembered sucking blood or giving a man have erectile difficulties with the evil eye. What kind of people watched this show?

  Looking horrified, she glanced at everyone in the room. No one spoke. She prayed they too didn’t think she was a monster. Gregg Benson was the first to speak and he threatened to kill the nerdy bastards, his words brought the assembled group to a frenzied rabble. Threats of going to their apartment and lynching the nasty little men joined in the railing against the television network allowing the idiots to have airtime. Phoebe used her love for her supports to radiate peace and soon she had calmed the angry mob. Crying and exhausted, it was Fabian who took her into his arms and Phoebe felt something she hadn’t felt since she was a child, protection. It felt very nice and she did not care who saw her letting this man hold her. They should be adversaries, his ancestor burned hers at the stake after all, but she felt the healing of their connection a balance restored to the karma of the town, it would never be free of the curse, but the feelings they held for each other seemed to cleanse some the darkness and blood covering the town’s spirit.

  Fabian took out his cell phone and asked her for Ivory’s number. Without questioning why, she mumbled it to him. He dialed it into his cell phone, but did not hit send. Looking around him, he spoke with the authority his Sterling roots seemed to give him. “I’m taking Phoebe to my home. I don’t know how many people are going to have seen this, but I do know this could turn ugly.”

  No one argued with him. He led her to the door and as soon as they stepped outside, he dialed his phone. It was late but Ivory answered in a sleepy voice.

  “This is Fabian Sterling, there has been a problem, and those geeks living next door to Phoebe have ousted her to Willow Lake. I want you to keep the boy at your home, hidden. I don’t think it is a good idea for either of them to be out for a while until this can be swept under the rug. We don’t need a witch-hunt all over again.”

  He listened for a while, and then said goodbye and hung up the phone. Looking at the worn out woman, he spoke quietly. “She said she was going to drive Simon to her house tonight and lock up for you. Ivory agrees you should probably stay away until this thing goes away.”

  Tears fell from her eyes as she cried out, “This will never just go away. Fabian you don’t understand small towns have long memories; centuries of hating my family name will not just go away. I have to get my son and leave town.”

  “You will do no such thing, Phoebe. This will go away I assure you. I do have a bit of influence and I know you don’t have an evil bone in your body.”

  She allowed Fabian to take her to his car. Before they had even left the parking lot, she was fast asleep in the comfortable leather seat.

  Chapter Five

  Phoebe woke up just as she felt him laying her down in a large soft bed. Sleepy, but feeling a little better she reached out and pulled him down to her lips. Phoebe kissed him but he didn’t respond. When she pulled back and looked at him, she saw uncertainty. .

  “I don’t want you to have regrets, Phoebe. I don’t want you to sleep with me because you feel obligated or because you’re not thinking clearly from all your recent traumas.”

  Fire burned in her words and eyes when she spoke and the pitch of her voice rose with her anger. She got up to kneel on the bed in front of him and she put her hands on his shoulders.

  “I don’t feel “obligation” or like this is some sort of payback. I want you Fabian. I don’t know what this thing between us is but I want you more than I’ve wanted a man in a very long time. Stay with me Fabian, please.”

  Her soft plea broke his restraint and he groaned as he crushed her to himself. Phoebe returned his kiss with a vigor she hadn’t realized she had inside her heart. Her previous tired illness disappeared as her blood fired. Roughly and with a desperate passion, he began to throw his clothing off. Before long, he was naked. Her mouth went dry as she looked at the masculine contours of his well-defined body and when they arrived at his very erect cock her gave a little gasp, wow it seemed the man had more than a big bank account, wowza was he hung. She licked her lips and the simple act seemed to excite him further because he growled a very alpha-male-I-know-what-I-want growl. Quickly but gently his hands removed her uniform top nimbly unbuttoning it as quickly as he could. She saw his eyes darken with desire as he saw her pale flesh and the simple white cotton bra. She wished she had a sexier and more appealing bit of lingerie on now, but from judging from the look on his face, he did not seem to mind her innocently simple choice.
<
br />   His fingers seemed practiced as he unhooked the bra and let it fall away from her firm perky breasts. She saw him gulp for air and his large hands cup each of her breasts in his hands and he let his thumbs tweaked the nipples causing her to moan with the pleasurable sensation. Fabian continued teasing her soft breasts and she felt herself growing very wet and very hot.

  He pulled her down back onto the bed and he had her simple dress pants and white cotton panties off in a fluid movement. Leaning down, he scooped her up to a half sitting half-lying position as he kissed her. When she felt his hand find the wet junction between her legs, she moaned as he began to rub her clitoris in hard small circles until she was moaning and panting. He never broke the kiss until she arched her back and came against his hand. His lips found her elegant neck and he kissed the pale flesh there as she cried out with her orgasm.

  Amazed at how quickly he had brought her to her pleasure she decided it was her turn to tantalize him. His kiss had returned to her lips and she pushed him back, never breaking the contact. He let her have her way, and it honestly surprised her a bit. He seemed to like control. His eyes were hooded with his desire as she straddled his stomach and broke the kiss only to start nibbling kisses down his jaw, then neck, then hard defined chest, over his manly nipples, and down his flat six pack abs. She slid down his body as her lips finally came to rest at their ultimate destination. He was very large and she knew there was no way all man was going to fit into her mouth so she knelt at the side of the bed and took the head of his cock between her ruby lips. Her tongue swirled over the tip and she heard him moan. Her small hand fisted around the base and began to suck him with tender forcefulness. He moaned and she felt his hips involuntarily buck. Smiling against him, she was glad to see she could break his iron control, if only for a moment. She moved her mouth to his sack and took it into her mouth as her hand rubbed up and down his cock in a rhythm she could tell he liked very much. She felt him pulling her away from his body carefully and she was suddenly on his lap facing him. She could feel his hard cock pressing against her stomach and she knew his erection would fill her. As his lips found hers again, she felt his thumb find her clit again. It felt wonderful.