I couldn’t decide what part of that statement I liked better.
Thirty-Five
“How did you know to come back?”
Landon and I snuggled on the couch in The Overlook’s library, dinner still an hour away. The afternoon had gotten away from us, multiple arrests and endless questions from law enforcement lasting until late afternoon shadows formed.
After a long bath, a stern lecture from Landon on self-preservation and a thorough brushing of my hair so I didn’t have to listen to my mother complain, we’d decided to spend the rest of the evening at the inn.
“Aunt Tillie called the police before she decided to save you all herself,” Landon said. “We got out here as soon as we could.”
My eyebrows flew up my forehead. “Seriously?”
“I know. I’m baffled myself.”
I rested my head against his shoulder. “Are you blaming yourself for leaving?”
“Yes.”
“You couldn’t possibly have known that was going to happen,” I said. “You know that, right?”
“My head knows that,” Landon said. “The problem is, if something bad happens in this town, odds are that it’s going to happen to you. I should’ve realized that if Nick was going to make a move, he was going to make it against you.”
“Live and learn.”
Landon snickered. “You’re okay, right?”
“I’m fine. Have you heard how Sam is doing?”
“He was barely clipped,” Landon said. “He was treated and released. I saw him on the front porch talking to Clove when I came in.”
“I was barely clipped, too. You seemed a little more worked up when I was barely clipped than when Sam was barely clipped.”
“Yeah, but you’re prettier than Sam is,” Landon said, grinning.
“And … you love me.” I was still getting used to it.
“I do,” Landon said, leaning over so he could give me a kiss.
“Oh, get a room,” Aunt Tillie said, breezing into the library, a wine glass in her hand. “If you don’t, I’m going to get the hose.”
“I heard you won the pool,” I said, changing the subject.
“I did,” Aunt Tillie said. “That five hundred bucks is going to come in handy since your mothers are making me turn the money I found in the greenhouse over to Terry.”
I froze. What?
“You found the money?” Landon asked. “When?”
“And when were you going to tell us?” I asked.
“I found it the other day,” Aunt Tillie said. “It was in one of my pots. I thought the fairies had finally smiled upon me. They know I have some intense shopping in my future.”
Speaking of that … . “What are you trying to buy?”
“Do you really want to know?”
Did I?
“No,” Landon said. “I don’t want to know. Whatever it is, hide it. Hide it well. If I find it, I’m going to take it from you.”
“How can you treat me like this after I saved Bay today?”
Landon rolled his eyes. “You did not save Bay today.”
“I did so.”
“You did not.”
“I did so.”
“You played with Lila and let her injure herself,” Landon said. “It was funny, but it was hardly heroic. Sam saved Bay.”
I glanced at him, pursing my lips as I took in his chiseled jaw and serious eyes. “Does this mean you like Sam?”
“Are you asking whether I like the man who saved you from a crazy person with a gun?”
I nodded.
“Yes.”
“Are you going to be nice to him?”
“Yes.”
“Are you going to give me everything that I want because you’re feeling all lovey-dovey right now?”
Landon rubbed his nose against mine. “Yes.”
“I’m definitely going to puke,” Aunt Tillie said.
Landon shot her a look. “No one says you have to be in here with us.”
“This is my house.”
I patted Landon’s arm. “We can leave right after dinner. I think we could use some alone time.”
“We’re going to the fireworks tonight.”
That was a surprise. “We are?”
“It’s a festival,” Landon said. “We’ve barely gotten to enjoy it. We’re going to the fireworks.”
“I love fireworks,” Aunt Tillie said.
“You’re not invited.”
“I can go to the fireworks if I want,” Aunt Tillie sniffed.
“Go nuts,” Landon said. “You’re not sitting with us.”
“Maybe we should invite Thistle, Clove, Marcus and Sam?” I suggested.
“Absolutely not.”
“Why not?”
“I love your family,” Landon said. “I do. I find them entertaining and I even enjoy spending time with them.”
“But?”
“But we’re not spending time with them tonight. It’s going to be you and me. Period.”
“We’re still having dinner with them,” I reminded him.
“No, we’re not.” Landon got to his feet when my mother walked into the room, a picnic basket and blanket in her hand.
“Here’s your dinner and blanket,” Mom said, beaming at Landon. “I think it’s very romantic that you want to give Bay a nice night. I think it’s even nicer that she decided to brush her hair for you.”
I rolled my eyes and scowled.
“Thank you,” Landon said, taking the basket in one hand and extending the other in my direction. “Let’s go, Trouble.”
I was still confused. “You’re taking me on a picnic and to see fireworks?”
“Yup.”
“That’s so … normal.”
“That’s why it will be a nice change of pace for us.” Landon waved his hand in my direction, silently urging me to take it. “No one is going to shoot at you. No one is going to cast any curses. No one is going to yell and scream. It’s going to be … perfect. Now come on.”
I took his hand and followed him out the front door, casting a quick look to the lounge chair where Sam and Clove were making out like teenagers as we passed by. “Have fun,” I said.
Clove never moved her mouth from Sam’s as she waved me off.
“Don’t wait up,” Landon called to them, tugging me toward the driveway.
Aunt Tillie stepped out on the porch behind us. “Oh, gross. You two, too? I’m going to have to de-sex this house tomorrow when all of the guests leave. It’s like living in a brothel.”
Sam shifted his mouth away from Clove’s. “Don’t you have somewhere else to be? Anywhere else?”
“You’re on my list.”
I smiled at Landon as he opened the passenger door and ushered me into his Explorer, situating the picnic basket and blanket at my feet before giving me a soft kiss.
Witchy life was good these days. I wondered how long the peace would last.
“You’re both on my list!” Aunt Tillie was hopping up and down on the front porch as she faced off with Sam and Clove. “I’m not joking!”
Not very long, apparently.
Author’s Note
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 produ
cts 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.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.
Books by Amanda M. Lee
Avery Shaw Mysteries
Who, What, Where, When, Die
If it Bleeds, it Leads
Buried Leads
Shot off the Presses
The Preditorial Page
Misquoted & Demoted
Headlines & Deadlines (August 2015)
Covenant College Mysteries
Awakening (Book One)
Whispering (Book Two)
Conjuring (Book Three)
Waxing & Waning (Book Four)
Graduating (Book Five)
Wicked Witches of the Midwest Mysteries
Any Witch Way You Can
Every Witch Way But Wicked
Witching You Were Here
Witching on a Star
Something to Witch About
Careful What You Witch For (A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Short)
Wicked Brew (A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Short)
Witch Me Luck
Witchy Tales (A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Fairy Tale) June 2015
On a Witch and a Prayer A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Short
You Only Witch Once (A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Short) September 2015
Life’s a Witch November 2015
Aisling Grimlock
Grim Tidings (Book One)
Grim Offerings (Book Two)
Grim Discovery (Fall 2015)
Witch Me Luck (Wicked Witches of the Midwest Book 6) Page 27