Page 23 of Flirty Fall Fling

“Everything okay?” she asks.

“Time slipped away.”

“That’s magic.” She places more wood in the fireplace, like she’ll be returning here after I leave.

I study her lips, then meet her brown eyes. “Give me your number.”

“You can contact the shop if you need to get ahold of me,” Blaire says.

“What if I want to discuss matters outside of business hours?”

“It’s best if we don’t. I’ll see you on Thursday at seven.” She nearly pushes me through the room and into the entryway before opening the front door.

“Wait, we’re not meeting tomorrow?” I step past her onto the porch.

She’s kicking me out—and not subtly.

The cold washes over me and bites through my clothes. Smoke fills the air from those running their fireplaces, and I catch the faint sweetness of the oil still on my skin.

Blaire leans against the doorway. The glow from the lit pumpkins catches the side of her face. “We covered a lot tonight. Visualize your past relative. Speak to him. Be direct about not accepting the curse.” She’s already closing the door. “Do something you enjoy tomorrow. Good night, Jamie.”

“Good night, Blaire.”

I go down the steps and walk along the decorated sidewalk that leads to Main Street. Once I’m through the gate, I turn around and look at the historic house.

Two hours passed by like nothing. Ten hours may not be enough. Right now, I just want to spend more time with her, and that’s not a sensation I’m used to.

What the actual fuck just happened?

7

BLAIRE

Flora organized her cabinet with intention. Love spells on the left wall. Protection on the right. Releasing at the bottom. There’s a row of half-empty bottles of amber oil that’s used for luck.

I’m crouched in the study, pulling mason jars from the bottom shelf, when my phone lights up on the desk. I wipe my hands on my jeans and check to see it’s Autumn.

“Please tell me you’re coming to Zane’s party on the twenty-second.”

“Hi to you too,” I say, holding the phone between my ear and shoulder so I can keep working.

The dried cedar crumbles when I open the lid, which means it’s perfect for use. I set it beside the rosemary and lavender already lined up on the floor.

“Hi, hello, I love you. I miss my favorite witch. Are you coming? Please, please, please?”

“I already told Winter to tell you I would.”

“You actually showing up is a different story.”

“I’ll be there, I promise,” I say.

“Okay, thank you. Just remember, you promised me. I really don’t want a repeat of the Fourth of July.”

Our other best friend, Jules, wanted to play matchmaker with me and several of her husband’s friends at a town event. I didn’t pretend to be interested and left early. When I find my person, I won’t have to try. It was painful.

“I don’t care for how you said that.”

Her voice shifts. “Okay, busted. There’s someone I want to introduce you to.”