By the time Marcus emerged from the back room, my newly acquired artifact was wrapped in a soft, pale green cloth, fitted into a gift box, and tucked into a small, dark purple bag.
“Thank you,” I said to Kat and Genevieve, briefly raising the little paper sack.
“Of course,” the mother replied while her daughter ogled Marcus.
He approached me, amusement tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Did you purchase something? Perhaps a good luck charm . . . or a love potion?”
“Not exactly,” I replied coyly. “I’ll show you later . . . maybe.” My nonchalance was all a bluff—there was no way I could withstand bragging about my little Hathor carving, but I could drag it out for a little while . . . make him wait.
What had been only a hint of a smile turned into a full-blown grin. “Ah, Lex, I am so looking forward to the coming year.”
I blinked. That most certainly had not been the reaction I’d expected.
Before I could respond, Marcus turned to Genevieve and her daughter. “A pleasure, as always. Genevieve, Katarina.” He gave each a slight nod and placed his hand against the small of my back, ushering me toward the door. Even through my pea coat and sweater, the contact felt extremely intimate.
“Goodbye! It was nice to meet you both!” I called over my shoulder.
“And you,” Genevieve said. Oddly, she sounded relieved.
***
I hope you enjoyed this excerpt from Echo in Time (Echo Trilogy, #1). The full book is available on Amazon, as are the other novels and novellas in the Echo Trilogy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lindsey Fairleigh lives her life with one foot in a book--as long as that book transports her to a magical world or bends the rules of science. Her novels, from post-apocalyptic to time travel and historical fantasy, always offer up a hearty dose of unreality, along with plenty of adventure and romance. When she's not working on her next novel, Lindsey spends her time walking around the foothills surrounding her home, planning her future farm, and trying out new recipes in the kitchen. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her two furry feline writing assistants, Eva and Leo. www.lindseyfairleigh.com
Outcast (Kat Dubois Chronicles Book 2) Page 20