His Magic Touch Read online

  His Magic Touch

  Cynthia Cooke

  Eight years ago, demon hunter Trent Drouillard left his family to keep them safe--but a demon still found them. He must protect his daughter…but first he has to convince Sera, his ex and mother of his child, to let him back into their lives. And maybe he can make her realize that he never stopped wanting her…

  Trent once made Sera feel so cared for, so loved…and then he disappeared. Now that he’s back, she doesn’t know how to feel…Except she can’t deny her body’s rekindling desire for him, especially after a sensual dream reminds her how much she craves his touch. Can Sera open her heart to Trent again to save her family and the passion she thought she’d lost forever?

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter One

  Trent Drouillard’s stomach turned as he approached the door. Evil he could face. Restless spirits and angry demons he could handle. Sera Barnhardt with her big brown eyes and bouncy, soft curls? No way. He had to, though. He had to face her well-deserved fury. Worse, he had to convince her to trust him when there was no reason she should.

  If she didn’t, their daughter would die.

  He stood in front of the door of the small cottage in a small town in a Louisiana Bayou and swallowed the frustration building within him. He’d sacrificed his life, his family, and yet, no matter how far he’d run, the demon still found them. Trent looked over his shoulder, reaching with his senses, searching for the demon’s presence. He was close.

  Trent took a deep, calming breath, then reached forward and rang the bell. He listened impatiently to the sound of footsteps moving within the house. Over the years, he’d watched from a distance this place grow from cold and empty to teeming with life. Exotic tropical plants lined the walk to the front door. Off to the side, a hot pink bicycle with its metallic streamers flowing out of the handlebars lay on its side in the grass, waiting for Aimee to come home and take it for a ride. A sign of innocence soon lost if he couldn’t save her.

  With a pang of regret, he remembered the big smile brightening her face, the tinkling sound of her laughter ringing through the air the first time she’d ridden it. He’d watched her, unseen from his car, wanting to scoop her up and spin her around. But he didn’t dare. A few stolen moments at a time was all he’d ever been able to chance.

  The door opened. Sera stepped into the doorway, her beautiful brown eyes widening in shock, her luscious mouth falling open. He caught his breath, hoping to still the anxiety hammering inside him.

  After all this time, the sight of her still weakened him. Her sweet scent filled his nose and spread like warm molasses through his being, drawing him to her. He took a step back, trying to distance himself before he lost control. His heart quickened in his chest, he clenched his fists at his sides to keep from moving a muscle, from pulling her soft body up against him.

  “Trent?” The voice that had haunted his nights all these long years pierced him.

  He forced a wide, cocky grin. “Hello, beautiful.”

  “What are you doing here?” she demanded, her tone sharp, her gaze icy.

  “I wanted to see you…and Aimee.”

  Her face paled. The sharp scent of fear rolled off her in waves. The sound of her heart ramping up to a wild staccato pounded in his ears.

  He held up both hands. “Don’t worry. I just—” Miss you. “I need…”

  Her mouth closed abruptly, thinning into a straight line.

  He stepped forward again, opening his arms at his sides in a welcoming gesture. “I know this must seem out of the blue.” What could he say to put her at ease when he was nowhere near at ease himself?

  Her eyes narrowed.

  “It’s been a long time and…” The words he couldn’t say choked him. You’re in danger. Aimee is in danger.

  Anger sent color rushing back into her cheeks. “What is it you want, Trent?”

  “I need to talk to you about Aimee.”

  “What about her?” Her knuckles whitened as she clutched the edge of the door. “You have about thirty seconds before I completely lose it. Talk. And talk fast.”

  “She’s in trouble.”

  “How would you know anything about Aimee? You haven’t seen her in eight years.”

  “Trust me, I know.”

  Sera blew out an exasperated breath. “Twenty.”

  “Aimee needs me. You need me.”

  “Like hell.”

  “She’s in danger. You haven’t given her the amulet.”

  Surprise, then skepticism wrinkled Sera’s brow. “How would you know that? Have you been watching us?”

  He stiffened under her direct gaze. “Does it matter? Aimee needs my protection.”

  “Taking care of my daughter is my responsibility. You gave up that job when you walked away from being her dad.”

  Trent stiffened. Low blow and from her perspective one he deserved, but she was wrong. “Are we going to stand out here all day and become a spectacle for the neighbors, or are you going to invite me in and listen to what you’re up against?”

  A moment later, two women pushing baby strollers turned the corner and walked past the house, their eyes riveted on them. Sera gave them a halfhearted wave, then turned back to him with suspicion darkening her eyes.

  “Come on, Sera. Give me a break.”

  “You don’t deserve a break and time’s up.” She stepped back and slammed the door so hard the front windows shook.

  Damn, but she was even more hot-tempered than he remembered. “I will protect my daughter.”

  Nothing.

  “Give Aimee the amulet. The demon can’t touch her if she’s wearing it.”

  Trent dropped his head against the front door, knowing she was standing on the other side. He could hear her shifting from foot to foot, could hear the pounding of her heart, her blood rushing through her veins. His gift. His curse.

  For a moment, he wished he could touch her and hold her like he used to, then maybe she’d listen to what he had to say. Maybe she’d believe the unbelievable. But she was afraid. Not of the demon he knew was close by. She was terrified of him—the father of her child. The man she’d once promised to love forever.

  But her fear didn’t matter. He would protect his daughter whether Sera helped him or not. They could do this the easy way or the hard way, but either way, he was taking Aimee.

  Sera waited until she saw Trent drive away, then rushed out to her car and drove quickly to Voodoo Mystique. If anyone on the planet knew what that man was up to, it would be Mary. She pulled around back of the store and ran in through the delivery entrance.

  “Mary,” she called, as she entered the empty shop.

  Mary sat at a table by the window, worry lines creasing her brow as she flipped over a tarot card and set it on top of a row of others. “They’ve been saying the same thing all day. The threat I’ve warned you about draws near.”

  Fear needled Sera as she stared down at the cards spread neatly across the small table.

  “He’s here now,” Mary whispered.

  “I know. He just left my house.”

  Mary looked up at her, surprise widening her eyes.

  “Trent,” Sera whispered through the tightening of her throat. She still couldn’t believe it, after all these years, he’d just shown up and damned if he didn’t look better than she remembered.

  “No, not Trent,” Mary muttered, shaking her head. “He’s not the threat.”

  Sera slapped both palms down on the table. “Of course he’s a threat. The man has been missing in action for eight years and suddenly he decides to show his smug face? I’d say that’s a threat.”

  Mary pursed he
r lips and placed a hand over Sera’s. “He can help you fight the demon who seeks Aimee. Listen to what he has to say. Let him in.”

  Sera yanked back her hand. “Demon? What would a demon want with Aimee?” Ridiculous. “Besides, there are no such things as demons.” She’d heard Mary talk like this before, but had never paid much attention to her ramblings. But now? Now she was talking about Aimee. Uneasiness twisted Sera’s insides.

  Mary leaned forward, her fear-filled gaze capturing Sera’s. “I’ve told you for years she’s different. She’s special.”

  “Of course she’s special. She’s my baby.”

  “Magic is in her blood. It makes her desirable and easy to find. You won’t be able to protect her on your own.” The look in Mary’s eyes, the tone of her voice…she was dead serious.

  A shiver shook Sera. “You’re scaring me, Mary.” She turned away from her aunt, her gaze moving over reptile heads that stared at her through cold, glassy eyes. Voodoo dolls hung suspended from the ceiling by the hundreds, and apothecary jars of powders and herbs lined the shelves of the shop.

  Why was she surprised her aunt had finally lost it? Look where she spent all her time.

  Sera inhaled a sharp breath. “Mary, Aimee’s smart, beautiful and talented, but she can’t do magic. No one can.”

  “You can’t deny her blood heritage. That’s why you must listen to Trent. He is here to help you. There’s a lot about him you don’t know.”

  “And why exactly is that? Perhaps because he never let me know anything about him. He’s never kept in contact, has never been worried about his daughter before, and now suddenly he has to protect her? I know all I need to know about Trent Drouillard. He can’t be trusted. He has never been there for me or for Aimee.”

  Mary leaned back in her chair, her gaze narrowing. “Hasn’t he?”

  Sera bristled. “Yes, he’s provided for us financially.” Handsomely, in fact. Their cottage was paid off. Life for them was good. Lonely, but good. “But that doesn’t mean I owe him. He was the one who abandoned us. I wanted him to stay.” Her voice broke over the words, and tears burned behind her eyes.

  Tears of frustration and outrage. Tears she wouldn’t let fall. She’d shed enough tears over that man.

  Sera flung her arms wide. “Why am I having to defend myself to you? You are the one person I thought would be on my side.”

  Mary sighed, her dark eyes softening. “I am on your side. But turning your back on the one person who can save Aimee is not the answer. You have to see him. You have to listen to what he has to say. You have no choice here. Do it for Aimee’s sake.”

  “Of course I have a choice. It’s my job to protect my daughter. I’m not going to let him waltz in here and worm his way into her heart only to leave her in shambles when he waltzes out again.”

  Mary’s lips pursed. “Is it her heart you’re worried about? Or yours?”

  Sera stiffened and looked away. Her aunt had always been able to read her too easily.

  “Sera, what matters here is that Aimee’s in danger and Trent is the only one who can protect her.”

  Why did everyone keep saying that? What proof was there other than a picture on a tarot card?

  Bells tinkled throughout the shop as the front door opened. Trent strolled in, acting as if he owned the place, as if he’d never been gone. Sera’s eyes widened and dread turned her stomach.

  For the first time she noticed his faded blue jeans and worn black leather jacket, probably the same clothes he’d left with. His shaggy blond hair was overdue for a trim and he hadn’t shaved in a few days, but that only made him look more appealing. And more dangerous.

  Mary stood and reached out her hand to him, a large traitorous smile on her face. “As I live and breathe.”

  “Hello, sweetheart,” Trent said, his blue eyes sparkling as he kissed her cheek.

  Sera’s insides twisted and burned. She clenched her hands, certain that if she stared at him much longer she would self-combust.

  “What are you doing here?” she said through gritted teeth.

  “I thought neutral territory might make it easier for you to listen to what I have to say.”

  Neutral? Hah! “Sorry. I’m not interested.” Sera stood.

  “Are you going to let your anger at me endanger our daughter?”

  Her eyes widened in disbelief. “Our daughter is not in danger. This is some ploy you’ve made up. Some game you’re up to, and I’m not playing.”

  “For chrissakes, Sera. Wake up!”

  She stood stiff as a board, sputtering. Her wake up? Her? She was the only sane one in the shop. She couldn’t speak. Refused to speak, and instead gnawed on her tongue until she tasted blood. And then adrenaline surged through her system. “Get out!” she demanded, flinging her arm toward the door. “You are not seeing Aimee.”

  In two steps, he was on her. Before she could think, he had her in his grasp. He pulled her up against his hard chest.

  “No,” she blurted, placing her hands between them, trying to brace herself as his spicy scent overcame her. She couldn’t breathe. Anger, heartache and betrayal rose in her throat and choked her. With a twist of pain, she remembered his smell, his touch, and how safe she’d felt in his arms. Once she’d thought nothing or no one could destroy what they’d had together.

  And then he’d left her.

  She pushed against him, a roar of outrage building within her. Then his mouth crushed hers. In a blinding rush of shock and humiliation, she cried out against his lips. But he held on tighter, pulled her closer.

  And then the images came.

  Nightmarish images of blood and pain: Black waters sloshing against the knees of bald cypress trees as a man pushed a young girl into the water, again and again. The head flying off a beautiful burnt-orange rooster, its blood seeping into the dirt at her feet and splattering across her white shoes. A man with emotionless, coal-black eyes smiled as a trickle of blood seeped out the corner of his lips. And Aimee, crying as he came toward her, a wicked knife raised high above his head.

  Sera jerked free from Trent’s grasp. She rubbed her lips and swiped at the tears streaming down her face. “What did you do to me?”

  “I’m sorry, chère. But I had to show you the truth. You need to know what we’re up against. It’s not pretty, I know. But I had to get you to listen.”

  Disgust filled her. “Who are you? What are you? How did you do that?”

  Pain slashed through his eyes. “I’m a demon hunter. I was born one. I can see them, sense them, just as they can sense me. I had hoped you’d never have to know. But after Aimee was born, I knew we were in trouble. Demons can smell the blood of those like us. As a baby, she was too young to be detectable, but they could have found me. I couldn’t chance bringing them to her door.”

  Sera stared at him. The only man she’d ever loved was certifiable. “That’s insane.”

  “Maybe, but it’s my life. And it will be Aimee’-sif I can keep her alive. Aimee will grow up to hunt demons, she will have no choice. She will hunt or die.”

  “You’re crazy.”

  “Am I? Has Aimee been having night terrors lately?”

  Sera stared at him, a worm of doubt and fear wiggling through her. “All kids have nightmares.”

  “Night terrors so bad she has to sleep with you or she won’t sleep at all?”

  “How did you know about that?” Sera turned accusing eyes on Mary. “Did you tell him?” She turned back to Trent. “Is that why you’re here? Why you’re spouting all these insane notions?”

  “They’re not dreams, Sera. They’re visions. The monster she sees in her sleep is the demon who has found her. She’s getting old enough to put out her own scent and they’ve been able to pick it up. I had hoped the amulet would have given her more time to be a kid, to be normal before I had to come for her. I’m sorry.”

  “What do you mean, come for her?” Sera’s heart lurched in panic.

  “She needs to be trained. She needs to know h
ow to protect herself. She needs to come with me.”

  “You are not taking my daughter anywhere.” Tears sprung to Sera’s eyes. God, no. This couldn’t be happening. She looked to her aunt for assistance.

  Mary stepped forward and placed her hand on Trent’s arm. “You can’t just take Aimee and run. You must stay and fight. You must protect the ones you love.”

  The cloying scent of sandalwood incense filling the shop grew stronger, making Sera’s head spin. She looked at Mary, at Trent, and felt the walls closing in. Sera didn’t believe in voodoo or demons, but was she wrong? Was there really a demon after her baby? Would Trent really steal Aimee away from her? Nausea made her knees weak.

  “I need to get back to my daughter,” Sera said and clutched her stomach. She had to get away from him. She had to get to Aimee. “She’ll be home from school soon.”

  “I’m going with you,” Trent said.

  “No!” Sera stepped back from him. “Don’t come anywhere near us.”

  Sera felt Mary’s gentle touch on her arm and turned to her aunt. “Don’t take this threat lightly. Trust Trent. This demon wants her blood.”

  A chill moved through Sera, shaking her to the core. She ran from the shop, rushing home, driving faster than she should have down the small tree-lined street. She checked her rearview mirror constantly, hoping Trent wasn’t following her. She couldn’t deal with him. Not now. Not ever.

  She looked at her clock. Two thirty-nine. The bus should have arrived at two thirty-five. Four minutes, nothing could have happened in four minutes, right?

  This demon wants her blood.

  Crazy. The whole thing was insane. And yet, Sera couldn’t help bolting from the car and running toward the house. She needed to see her daughter, to hold her and assure herself that Aimee was okay. That they were okay and all was right with the world.

  But as soon as she opened the door and stepped inside, she knew something was wrong. The house was too quiet. Too still. “Aimee?” she called, though she knew Aimee wasn’t there.