The Witch's Desire Read Online Free PDF Page A

on.
    Cal slipped the device over his head and adjusted the mouthpiece.
    â€œGetting bumpy out here,” the pilot said. “The tower at LaGuardia is turning away flights into the city.”
    â€œWhat does that mean to us?”
    â€œWe put down as soon as possible and you continue the trip by ground.”
    â€œWhere are we?” Cal glanced out the window at a blanket of clouds shrouding the ground below.
    â€œWe’ve been in the air for five and a half hours. I’ve gotten permission to land at Allentown, Pennsylvania. You can pick up a rental car from there. It’s a two-hour drive from there to the city.”
    â€œCan’t get any closer?”
    â€œNot in this weather. Even if I could, it’s iffy. The wind has picked up and gusts are being reported at thirty to forty knots. Can’t risk it.”
    â€œI guess we don’t have a choice. Put her down.”
    A hand touched his shoulder from behind him. “What’s going on?” Demi yelled.
    Cal removed one side of the headset and covered her hand with his. “We can’t get into any of the airports close to the city. He’s putting us down in Pennsylvania.”
    She blinked the sleep from her eyes and nodded, her lips thinning as she glanced across to Ursula.
    The woman sat calmly admiring her nails as if she flew into storms all the time.
    Demi had to be steaming over the change of plans. But there was nothing he could do about it. They were stuck in the job and had to see it through. He made a promise to himself that he’d make it right with Demi once they handed off Ursula to the council.
    The plane made a hair-raising landing in the middle of blinding rain and treacherous wind gusts. By the time they rolled to a stop, Cal had made permanent indentations in the armrests of the chair. He climbed out first, pelted by driving rain, and reached up to assist the ladies from the plane.
    Ursula came first, extending a hand. The wind whipped at her hair and trench coat as she descended the steps. On the second from the bottom, she slipped and fell into Cal’s arms.
    Cal caught her and would have set her on her feet immediately, but she wrapped an arm around his neck and wouldn’t let go.
    â€œMy, aren’t you the hero,” she said. Before he could respond, she kissed him full on the lips. At the same time, he felt something nudge him inside his head.
    â€œEh-hem.” Demi stood on the last step, her eyes narrowed.
    He practically dropped Ursula on the tarmac and reached out to Demi to help her to the ground.
    She ignored his hands and stepped down effortlessly. “Not happy,” she said beneath her breath.
    No amount of wind and rain muffled her whispered words. Even if he hadn’t heard them, he’d have known by her expression. Demi was not at all pleased about the course of events.
    Regret wouldn’t get him out of the current situation. Cal could only move forward, accomplish the task and make amends later. “Come on. Let’s get a rental car and get to the city.”
    Inside the airport, passengers lined the hallways, sleeping on their luggage. Cal stopped to ask directions of an airport employee who told them that flights all over the east coast had been cancelled and to forget about getting a rental car. Those who could drive to their destinations had taken all of them.
    â€œGreat.” He left Demi and Ursula inside and stepped out to the taxi waiting area. The line was long and the taxis could barely keep up.
    Cal drew his badge out of his pocket, flashed it at the tired people and moved to the front of the line. A taxi driver pulled forward in a bright yellow cab. He hauled himself out, pulling his collar up around his neck, squinting as the rain pelted him in the face. “Where to?”
    â€œNew York City.”
    The man shook his head. “Sorry, I’m local.”
    Cal dug his wallet out of his pocket. “I’ll pay you the fare and a