Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 87608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
“Is that the girl’s name?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, so yes, I think he might know something about her, but I could be very wrong. It might be a coincidence that he’s new in town and a girl is dead. Either way, whether he’s involved or not, we’ll know more once we see him.”
Lorne nodded. “Lemme change so I can go in my official capacity.”
“You don’t need to. You’re still the chief, with or without your uniform.”
“I’m aware.”
“But you might scare him in your uniform, when all we’re doing is making a neighborly house call.”
“Fine, but I’m taking my gun,” he snapped. “Whether you think it’ll do anything or not.”
“Whatever you want,” I huffed out, and moved toward the fire.
I was surprised when he grabbed my arm and whirled me around to face him. “Listen,” he said tersely, “I’m sorry I accused you of using magic on me. I’ve had, like, half a day to wrap my brain around all this, and I made a mistake.”
“Sure,” I said under my breath.
“No,” he clipped the word, “don’t get all defensive now and give up and say sure, all flippant and hostile. And don’t start thinking you were right all along about me not being good for you.”
“I didn’t do—”
“Yes. Yes, you did,” he stated, letting my arm go and taking my face in his hands so I couldn’t move away again. “The last few times I’ve seen you, you’ve been moving me back and forth in your head, thinking I was an asshole one minute and okay the next.”
“No,” I lied.
“Yes,” he countered. “It was just weird that day when I was introduced to the town, that’s all. It was like you were all I could see, like I was hit with lightning or something, and that’s never happened before.”
I searched his eyes for the truth.
“I’ve never had that reaction to anyone,” he confessed, taking a breath, “and finding out you’re capable of magic—actual magic—of course my brain went straight to you bespelling me, because what else could it be?”
I could see, from his point of view, where that conclusion could be a logical one. It would all make sense, how he was feeling, if I’d cast a spell on him. “I would never cast a spell on you that wasn’t for your highest good,” I promised him. “If you belonged to me, I would cast a protection circle around you before you left my side every day.”
“Oh yeah?”
I nodded.
“Every day?”
“Yes.”
“To keep me safe?”
I scowled at him.
“I’m sorry I accused you,” he muttered, and it was abrupt and short and he sounded a bit grouchy, so it was certainly sincere.
“Thank you.”
“I should have known better anyway.”
“What do you mean?”
“If you were going to cast a love spell on someone, why the hell would it be me?”
He was fishing.
“Why’re you squinting at me like that?”
“Are you being serious?”
“Of course I’m being serious,” he nearly yelled. “I’m way older than you. I’m—”
“I’m thirty-two, and what’re you, thirty-five?”
“I’m thirty-nine!”
“Oooh, seven years, how terrible.”
“It’s a valid question. You could have anyone with how smart and beautiful you are, so why in the world—”
“You’re brave and gorgeous and perceptive,” I blurted out. “Anyone with a brain would want you, Chief MacBain.”
He only stared at me.
“What?”
“You mean that, don’t you?”
“Of course.” I had to wonder when and how he’d imagined he wasn’t the kind of man anyone would want.
“Swear you forgive me,” he grumbled under his breath and took a step closer so he was staring down into my eyes. “I wanna go back to how it was before I thought something stupid.”
“That was stupid,” I agreed, putting my hands on his hips. “And for whatever reason, I didn’t really see you until you were in my house that day, and I’m sorry. I missed that there was interest in you stopping me all those times and acting like an idiot.”
“I didn’t say I was an idiot,” he apprised me as I reached up and wrapped my arms around his neck. “I…I just wanted you to see me, is all,” he finished, his voice going out on him.
“Well, I see you very clearly,” I assured him before taking his mouth.
It was a very good kiss.
SIX
After Lorne promised we’d be back in time for the spaghetti that took over an hour to make, we got into his SUV, which was cold as ice but warmed up fast even in the small amount of time it took us to travel such a short distance.
As expected, Declan’s shop was open, even though it was close to eight thirty at night and almost everything else downtown was closed, the sidewalks usually rolling up around seven. Normally, only Bread & Butter, the diner, stayed open until ten, as well as Cinerama, the movie theater that only had one area and was honestly more of a large living room with chairs, recliners, love seats, and couches. But from what I heard during the day at the festival, Declan’s stall had been a success, so it appeared he was trying to capitalize on that and would stay open to the later hour as well.