Chapter 6

SIX

T he morning sun peeked through the curtains, casting a warm glow across Vienna’s crib. Fia stood in the doorway, watching her niece’s peaceful slumber with a mixture of love and lingering sadness. It had been two weeks since they’d moved to Whispering Pines, and every day brought new challenges and joys.

“Good morning, baby girl,” Fia whispered as Vienna stirred, her tiny fists reaching up toward the mobile of twinkling stars hanging above her crib. The stars, enchanted by Myla before her passing, danced and spun in response to Vienna’s magical energy.

As Fia lifted Vienna into her arms, a shower of golden sparkles erupted from the toddler’s fingertips, eliciting a giggle from both of them. “Already showing off your magic, huh? Just like your mama.”

The house, filled with Myla’s touches, still felt bittersweet. Family photos adorned the walls, and Vienna’s nursery was exactly as Myla had designed it – a perfect blend of whimsy and practicality. Fia was determined to honor her sister’s memory by making this the loving home Myla had envisioned for her daughter.

As they made their way downstairs, Fia caught sight of Sayer emerging from the guest room, his hair slightly tousled from sleep. Her heart skipped a beat, an involuntary reaction she was still getting used to. Goddess.

The man was making her a hormonal mess. From the moment Myla had shown her photos of Sayer and Dune together, Fia couldn’t help but admire how sexy and handsome he was. He had that tall, dark, and domineering look down to a science. And now that she’d been in his presence, her entire body still felt electrified from just having him near.

It was so strange. No man had ever had that effect on her. Even his voice was deep and rough. She had envisioned him saying something to her while he was talking to her during dinner. After he moved in, her mind had taken a trip down to the gutter and decided to stay there. All her thoughts were filled with getting Sayer out of his clothes to see the muscles she knew covered his body.

“Good morning,” Sayer said, his golden eyes warm as they landed on Vienna. “And good morning to you, little princess.”

Vienna cooed in response, reaching out toward Sayer. Without hesitation, he took her into his arms, and Fia marveled at how natural they looked together.

“I thought we could all head into town this morning,” Fia suggested, trying to ignore the flutter in her stomach as Sayer’s arm brushed against hers. “I need to pick up a few things from the market, and it’s a beautiful day for a walk.”

Sayer nodded, a smile playing on the corners of his mouth. “Sounds perfect. I have a conference call in a couple of hours, but I’d love to join you until then.”

Their newly established routine of alternating work hours had been Sayer’s idea, and Fia had to admit it was working well. It ensured Vienna always had one of them with her while allowing them both to keep up with their professional responsibilities.

As they strolled down the cobblestone streets of Whispering Pines, Fia couldn’t help but feel a sense of wonder. The town was alive with magic in a way she’d never experienced. Fairies flitted between flower boxes, their tiny giggles carried on the breeze. A group of young witches practiced levitation spells in the park, their instructor – a matronly woman with silver hair – gently correcting their wand movements.

“It’s like something out of a storybook,” Fia murmured, more to herself than to Sayer.

“It certainly is unique,” Sayer agreed, his deep voice sending a shiver down Fia’s spine. “I can see why Dune and Myla chose this place for Vienna.”

As they approached the market square, a commotion caught their attention. A crowd had gathered around one of the vegetable stalls, exclamations of surprise and laughter rising from the group.

“Oh dear, not again,” a familiar voice sighed. Fia turned to see Luna Nightshade, the town’s apothecary, shaking her head with fond exasperation.

“What’s going on?” Fia asked, curiosity piqued.

Luna gestured toward the stall. “Old Wilbur’s growth spell went a bit... overboard. Again.”

Fia and Sayer made their way through the crowd, Vienna babbling excitedly in Sayer’s arms. What they saw made Fia burst into laughter.

The vegetable stand was overflowing with produce of impossible proportions. Carrots as long as a person’s arm, tomatoes the size of beach balls, and a single head of lettuce that could feed a family of ten for a week.

“Blast it all!” a portly man with an impressive mustache – presumably Old Wilbur – exclaimed, waving his wand frantically. “How’d I mix up the incantations again?”

“Here, let me help,” Luna offered, stepping forward. With a graceful wave of her hand and a few murmured words, the vegetables slowly began to shrink back to a more reasonable size.

Vienna clapped her hands in delight, sending a shower of sparkles over the produce. To everyone’s amazement, the sparkles seemed to settle on the vegetables, giving them a subtle, magical shimmer.

“Well, I’ll be,” Old Wilbur said, stroking his mustache. “Looks like we’ve got some enchanted veggies now. Should fetch a pretty penny!”

The crowd laughed and cheered, and Fia felt a warmth spread through her chest. This was exactly the kind of magical mishap that made Whispering Pines so special.

As they continued their shopping, Fia couldn’t help but notice the way Sayer seamlessly handled both Vienna and their purchases. He seemed to anticipate her needs, grabbing items off high shelves before she could even ask and entertaining Vienna with silly faces when she started to fuss.

“You’re really good with her,” Fia said softly as they made their way back home. Why was she thinking of him with more kids? She needed to shut down her hormones. It was like the moment he moved in, her biological clock started hammering her over the head for attention.

Sayer’s eyes met hers, a hint of vulnerability in their golden depths. “She makes it easy. She’s... extraordinary. Just like her aunt.”

Fia felt her cheeks warm at the compliment. Damn. He was good at that. Saying nice things to her about parenting Vienna. It’s like he knew that she was scared shitless of doing anything that would come naturally to her sister. Before she could respond, a high-pitched giggle caught their attention. A small, winged creature – unmistakably a pixie – zipped past them, heading straight for the town square’s fountain.

“Oh no,” Luna groaned from nearby. “Not the fountain again!”

The pixie dive-bombed into the water, and with a flash of light, the fountain’s spray turned a vibrant purple. As they watched, the color shifted to green, then blue, then a sparkling gold.

Vienna squealed with delight, reaching out toward the colorful display. A burst of magic erupted from her tiny hands, adding swirls of pink to the already kaleidoscopic fountain.

“Well done, little one,” Sayer chuckled, pride evident in his voice. “Adding your own flair to the mischief.”

Fia couldn’t help but laugh, the joy of the moment overwhelming any lingering sadness. This was the life Myla had wanted for Vienna – full of wonder, magic, and love.

As they walked home, Vienna nestled safely between them, Fia found herself stealing glances at Sayer. The way he looked at Vienna with such tenderness and protectiveness, made her heart ache in the best possible way. Her hormones were in an uproar. She was ready to drag him to her bed and offer herself as a sacrifice for any future offspring he might want to have.

The afternoon sun cast a glow over the cobblestone streets of Whispering Pines. Fia walked beside Sayer, their arms occasionally brushing, sending little sparks of electricity through her. Vienna dozed peacefully in the stroller Sayer pushed, worn out from their eventful morning.

The comfortable silence between them was broken by Fia’s sudden question. “Sayer,” she began, her voice tinged with curiosity, “have you ever thought about having children of your own?”

Sayer’s stride faltered for a moment, surprise flickering across his features before a thoughtful expression settled in. He glanced at Vienna’s sleeping form, then back at Fia, his golden eyes warm.

“I have, actually,” he admitted, his deep voice soft. “For a long time, I thought my work was enough. But seeing Dune with Vienna, and now...” he trailed off, his gaze lingering on Fia.

Fia’s heart skipped a beat. “And now?” she prompted gently.

Sayer’s lips curved into a small smile. “Now I realize what I’ve been missing. I do want children of my own someday. I just...” he paused, choosing his words carefully, “I never met a woman special enough to consider it with. At least, not until recently.”

The implication in his words hung in the air between them, charged with possibility. Fia felt her cheeks warm, and not from the afternoon sun.

“What about you?” Sayer asked, turning the question back on her. His tone was light, but Fia could sense the genuine interest behind it.

She laughed softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Well, let’s just say my biological clock has been ticking rather loudly lately.”

Sayer’s eyebrow quirked up, a playful glint in his eye. “Is that so? And here I thought it was just the sound of Vienna’s magical mishaps keeping us up at night.”

Fia swatted his arm playfully, grateful for the moment of levity. “Very funny, Mr. Gentry. But seriously, yes. I’ve always wanted children. I just never found the right...” she hesitated, her eyes meeting his, “partner.”

The word seemed to hang between them, loaded with unspoken meaning. Sayer’s gaze intensified, the gold in his eyes seeming to glow with an inner fire.

“Well,” he said, his voice low and husky, “if you ever need help silencing that ticking clock...”

Fia’s breath caught in her throat. “Are you offering your services?” she teased, though her voice came out breathier than she intended.

Sayer’s grin was positively wicked. “I’m a man of many talents, Ms. Barlowe. I’d be more than happy to demonstrate.”

The sexual tension crackled between them, electric in the warm afternoon air. Fia found herself drawing closer to Sayer, drawn in by his magnetism.

Their moment was interrupted by a sleepy gurgle from Vienna. They both looked down to see the toddler stirring, her tiny fists rubbing at her eyes.

Fia laughed, the tension breaking but not dissipating entirely. “Saved by the baby,” she murmured, reaching down to stroke Vienna’s cheek.

Sayer’s chuckle was low and warm. “For now,” he said, his voice full of promise.

As they continued their walk home, Fia couldn’t help but steal glances at Sayer. The way he expertly maneuvered the stroller, his strong hands gentle as he tended to Vienna, the soft smile on his lips when he caught her looking – it all combined to create a picture of domesticity that Fia found increasingly appealing.

Back at the house, they fell into their routine. Sayer headed to the study for his conference call while Fia settled Vienna down for her nap. As she worked on some designs for her baby skincare line, Fia found her thoughts drifting to Sayer more and more.

His dedication to Vienna had surprised her. She’d expected him to return to his globetrotting lifestyle after a few days, but instead, he’d fully committed to being present for Vienna. The way he suggested alternating work hours, ensuring Vienna was always cared for, had touched Fia deeply.

When Sayer emerged from his call, Fia was in the kitchen preparing lunch. “How’d it go?” she asked, trying to ignore the flutter in her stomach as he leaned against the counter next to her.

“Productive,” Sayer replied, his voice low. “But I’m glad to be done. I’d much rather be out here with you two.”

Fia’s heart skipped a beat at his words. She turned to face him, suddenly very aware of how close they were standing. “Sayer, I...”

A cry from the baby monitor interrupted whatever she was about to say. Vienna was awake, and apparently hungry.

Sayer chuckled, the sound sending shivers down Fia’s spine. “I’ll get her. You finish up here.”