Must Be Magic (Spellbound) Read Online Free Page A

from the party, he leaned against the railing, staring across the water at the distant lights of another resort up the side of the mountain.
    More than once he caught himself sneaking a glance inside. He wasn’t stupid enough to kid himself when it came to Darby. He knew exactly where he and Darby would stand when they went back to their regular lives, regardless of what his sister wanted to believe.
    In the meantime, though, it couldn’t hurt to be friendly. And if sticking closer to Darby also gave his father a reason to maintain his distance for the rest of the night, great.
    Decision made, he was halfway across the small ballroom when he spotted her at the bar with her back to him, standing next to Riley. He nearly changed his mind about talking to her until he saw his father look like he might break away from the small gathering of Lancasters in the corner to seek him out.
    Darby and Riley it was.
    “So what’s going on with you and Bryce?”
    At the mention of his name, he stopped.
    “Nothing,” Darby answered.
    “You two have been friendlier.” Riley made it sound like her sister would be better off writing to prison inmates.
    Darby shrugged. “We called a truce for Finn and Bree’s sake. That’s all. He’s still an ass.”
    Okay then.
    Bryce shoved his hands in his pockets and walked in the other direction.

Chapter Two
    From the corner of her eye, Darby spotted Bryce walking away. She frowned, then mentally replayed the last minute of her and Riley’s conversation.
    Shit.
    She shouldn’t care, let alone feel even a smidgen of guilt at what he’d overheard. Without a doubt he’d called her worse, and yet… Shit.
    Riley caught on and shrugged. “At least he won’t be staring at you anymore tonight.”
    Darby frowned. “What?”
    “Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed.”
    Staring? At her? Doubtful. “He’s probably just annoyed because he thinks I tripped him earlier.”
    Riley arched a brow.
    “Finn.” It was all the explanation required.
    “Ah.” Riley waved to the bartender.
    Across the room, Bryce slid into a chair across from his sisters. Bree talked about her siblings often, but not until now did Darby realize just how close they really were. Bryce’s shoulders weren’t as rigid or his expression so distant or arrogant while talking to his sisters.
    Riley handed her a shot glass and waited until she drank the alcohol before looking a little too serious.
    “I’ve been telling myself for years that eventually you’d tell me why you hate him so much, but that’s a secret that will always stay between you and Dante, isn’t it?” Only those who knew Riley well would pick up on the trace of hurt in her voice.
    Before Darby could think up a response that didn’t involve changing the subject right off, Riley continued.
    “Even Dante, as protective of you as he is, can’t hide the evidence of a broken heart.”
    Darby stirred the ice in her glass. “And you think it involved Bryce.”
    “You cried in your sleep off and on for weeks, but only once did you call out his name.”
    “That was a long time ago.” She forced a smile. “It’s easy to confuse infatuation with love when you’re too young to know the difference.”
    Riley opened her mouth to respond just as Alex walked by with a redhead clinging to his arm.
    “I would have been so grateful if I had been the kitten’s owner. It’s just such a shame that you broke your leg saving the poor thing.”
    Broke his leg saving a kitten?
    Alex winked as he hobbled past them.
    “Speaking of saving.” Riley nodded across the room to where Dante was weaving his way through friends and family, his eyes locked on Bryce. “I don’t think I’m the only one who noticed the way Bryce has been looking at you.”
    Crap. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”
    The expression on Dante’s face, however, said it sure as hell was something.
    Suddenly anxious, Darby hovered on the edge of her stool before finally standing. “I’ll be right