Once Upon a Witch: A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Fantasy Books 1-3
Page 55
“ANOTHER ONE?”
Landon was all smiles as he ripped my newest ticket off his pad and handed it to me several days later. I rolled to my back on his couch and read it, snorting when I saw the fine spelled out in his precise handwriting.
“Really? You want to eat bacon while I’m massaging you? That sounds like a greasy mess.”
“Only if you do it right.” Landon pressed a kiss to my cheek as he sat next to me. “What did you do while I was at work today?”
“I packed everything that you didn’t need in your office, filed two articles and texted with Clove.”
“What’s wrong with Clove?”
“She works with Thistle.”
“Ah, well, enough said.” Landon grabbed my hand and tugged it to his chest so he could study my fingertips. “Were you bored?”
“No. I appreciated the dirty texts you sent me.”
“I only had time for three today. I was busy.”
“I figured that out myself.”
“I’m trying to finish everything up so we can leave Friday morning to head back to Hemlock Cove early,” Landon said. “I’m ready to go home.”
He said the word easily, which warmed my heart, but I couldn’t help but be a bit surprised. “I thought you wanted more time alone?”
“We’ve spent the past few days alone. It’s not as if we’ll be surrounded by people all of the time. Thistle spends the bulk of her time at Marcus’ place now, and Clove lives with Sam. It’s already kind of like the guesthouse is ours.”
“I’m not complaining – I want you to think of the guesthouse as your home because it is – but I’m surprised you don’t want to take advantage of this setup after how terrible last weekend was.”
“Did you think it was terrible?” Landon looked legitimately curious. “I thought it was only mildly annoying.”
“That’s not what you said when I was walking around with a black eye.”
“Yes, but that’s mostly faded now.” He gently ran his knuckles down the side of my face. “I had fun last weekend despite some of the more … extravagant … obstacles we faced.”
“Extravagant? That’s an interesting word choice.”
“I think it’s the right one,” Landon explained. “When I fell in love with you I knew I was getting an exciting life in the bargain. I don’t think I had a choice falling in love with you. I think it was meant to be from the moment I met you.”
“Are you okay with all of the excitement? I mean … there are going to be times when things get out of control. Heck, with my family, it seems to happen weekly. Aunt Tillie might not curse another wishing well … or send us into a book of fairy tales … or even trap us in her memories. She will think of something to annoy us, though.”
“I’m okay with that.” Landon’s smile was impish. “She’s part of our lives. I wouldn’t trade that for anything, no matter how annoying she is.”
“She’s been texting, too,” I admitted. “She wants to know if you’ve arrested me for having a filthy mind yet. She also wants to know when we’ll be back, because she’s sick of Mom focusing all of her attention on her and wants to break free.”
Landon snickered, mirth lighting his face. “Well, don’t tell her we’re coming back early. Let her suffer.”
“Games?”
“Aunt Tillie isn’t the only one who can play them.”
“I’m glad you’re comfortable thinking of Hemlock Cove as home,” I said after a beat. “I want it to be your home.”
“You’re my home. Hemlock Cove is just a really weird bonus. It’s a bonus that occasionally causes me to see flying people … and talking bears … and cranky witches. It’s still home.”
“It is.” I rested my head against his shoulder. “We’re almost there. In one month you’ll be in Hemlock Cove full time. I’m really excited. I know that sounds cheesy, but there it is. I can’t stop smiling I’m so excited.”
Landon offered me an exaggerated grin, as if he wholeheartedly agreed with me. “I like cheese. It’s okay.”
“I like cheese, too.” I matched my fingers to his, enjoying the way his hand dwarfed mine before linking them. “Cheese is especially good when you mix it with bacon.”
“And that right there is why you’re my favorite person in the world.” Landon smacked a loud kiss against my lips. “So, how does dinner and a movie sound?”
“Great.”
“Good. We’ll enjoy the rest of our alone time tonight and head home tomorrow.”
“That sounds like a plan.”
Landon grabbed his ticket book and started writing.
“What are you doing?”
“I only have one more night to cite you. I’m going to make this last one good.”
I ran my finger down his cheek and captured an errant eyelash, holding it up for him. He dragged his eyes from me, curious.
“What?”
“Make a wish.”
“I have everything I want … except for bacon. We need to add bacon.”
“Of course we do.”
Want more? Sign up for my mailing list. It’s for new releases only, no spam.
http://eepurl.com/Y6bkf
About the Author
I want to thank everyone who takes the time to read my novels. I have a particular brand of humor that isn’t for everyone – and I know that.
If you liked the book, please take a few minutes and leave a review. An independent author does it all on their own, and the reviews are helpful. I understand that my characters aren’t for everyone, though. There’s a lot of snark and sarcasm in my world – and I know some people don’t like that.
Special thanks go out to Heidi Bitsoli and Phil VanHulle for correcting the (numerous) errors that creep into a work of fiction.
If you’re interested in my future works, follow me on Facebook, Twitter or join my mailing list. I do not believe in spam. I only announce new releases or free promotions.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
For more information:
author@amandamlee.net
Books by Amanda M. Lee
An Avery Shaw Mystery
Who, What, Where, When, Die
If it Bleeds, it Leads
Buried Leads
Shot Off The Presses
The Preditorial Page
Misquoted & Demoted
Headlines & Deadlines
Misprints & Mistakes
Bylines & Skylines
Off the Record
A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Mystery
Any Witch Way You Can
Every Witch Way But Wicked
Witching You Were Here
Witching on a Star
Something to Witch About
Witch Me Luck
Life’s a Witch
Charms & Witchdemeanors
The Trouble With Witches
Murder Most Witchy
A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Short
Careful What You Witch For
Wicked Brew
On a Witch and a Prayer
You Only Witch Once
The Christmas Witch
Bewitched
A Solstice Celebration
Witchdependence Day
Happy Witchgiving
Merry Witchmas
Four-Leaf Clover
Thistle While You Work
A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Fantasy
Witchy Tales
A Witch In Time
An Aisling Grimlock Mystery
Grim Tidings
Grim Offerings
Grim Discovery
Grim Reunion
Grim Expectations
Grim Holiday
Covenant College
Awakening
Whispering
Conjuring
Waxing & Waning
Graduating
Living Covenant Trilogy
Rising Covenant
Dark Covenant
Eternal Covenant
Dying Covenant Trilogy
Haunted Covenant
Desperate Covenant
A Mystic Caravan Mystery
Freaky Days
Freaky Lies
Freaky Hearts