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“I think he was about to tell me he loved me, but I blurted out that I’m a witch.”
What?! George arched his back and hissed.
“Talk about a mood ruiner,” Harper muttered.
“He didn’t take it well.”
Elspeth chuckled. “Cal had everything he could do to catch Lucas in the parking lot. Poor guy almost ran into a car.”
“So you said it and he freaked?” Harper asked.
Maggie sighed. “He said prove it.”
“Oh, no.”
“Oh, yes. I closed my eyes to remove the stain on my shirt, and when I opened them, he was gone.”
That’s it! I’m using his man-parts for a scratching post.
“Well, that explains why you were so tired. First your arm and then the shirt. You really need to practice more and build up your endurance,” Elspeth patted her knee, as if Maggie’s lack of magical endurance were the issue here.
“Just like cardio,” Harper cracked, knowing Maggie did neither.
“I don’t know what to do,” Maggie mumbled in a watery voice. She clutched her pillow, holding her heart in place so it wouldn’t shatter. Harper snickered when she saw the pillow. It was the one she’d given Maggie last Christmas embroidered with the not-so-subtle dig: Pilate’s? I thought you said pie and lattes.
“You do nothing until after Christmas when he’s back. Space is the best thing to keep Lucas safe. Worrying about you puts him at risk,” Elspeth said, as if it were a black-and-white issue. Worry or don’t worry. Love or don’t love.
“But what about me? Isn’t anyone worried about me?” Maggie whined. Elspeth opened the bottle of Buchanan holiday whiskey Maggie had left on her counter. She’d been saving it to share with Lucas, wanting to be with him when he experienced the blend that she and Cal had worked on. After straining her herb and spice mix from the liquor, they’d added a touch of Thistlestone honey for sweetness. Grandad joked it was like life in a bottle, pleasantly sweet with an occasional bite, but if you didn’t watch yourself, you’d land on your keister.
“Don’t be silly, of course I’m worried about you. You’re in love with a man, but I’ve got a bet with that annoying twit at the game shop, and I need the Tetons to win.”
George jumped into Maggie’s lap and glared at her. You’re in love with him? He wasn’t pleased, and Maggie made a mental note to pick up her shoes before bedtime.
Yes, I am. She rubbed George under his chin.
But what about me? Leave it to the cat to only be concerned about himself.
I don’t think you need to worry. With the way he disappeared, I don’t think he’ll be back.
Oh. He knocked his head under her chin. But I liked him.
Me, too. A lot. And maybe too much.
Elspeth passed the glasses around and raised hers. “What are we toasting to?” Harper asked.
“To Maggie, for bravely going after what she wants. May patience guide her through.” They joined their glasses, and Harper snorted at the dull sound.
“Guess who needs glassware for Christmas?” she joked.
“Shut up. If you lived with a cat who constantly tests gravity, you’d switch to plastic, too.” Maggie said before turning the conversation to the book signing and Harper’s next journalistic attempt to ruin the Tetons and their owner.
Harper kept to her story that she didn’t want to ruin the man. He did that all on his own. Her job was to protect the city and the people she loved. Penny rolled her eyes at their sister’s righteous tone, and Elspeth reminded Harper to tuck and roll when the truth knocked her off her pedestal.
“Glad I can be everyone’s punching bag,” Harper said before draining her glass and standing. No one tried to stop her as she walked to the door. Liquor only impacted Harper when she wanted it to. Freak, Maggie thought, following her.
“Thanks for coming, and for letting us gang up on you. We’d rather have you here trashing the team than at the capital or away on assignment.”
“I know. They’re not giving Cal a hard time, are they? He told me they weren’t.”
