by Deanna Chase
“Three extra bedrooms?” he asked, stunned. “And an office? For me or you?”
“The office is for both of us if you think you can share.”
He wrapped his arms around her and stared down into her sparkling eyes. “I can share. Hell, I’m happy to share. Any extra hours of the day with you are more than welcome.”
She smiled up at him. “I feel the same way.”
“But three extra bedrooms? What are you going to do with those? Open a bed and breakfast?”
She laughed. “I don’t think Noel would appreciate the competition.” She tightened her hold on him. “No. One is for Zoey, and I think we’ll fill the other two with a brother and a sister. Or two brothers or two sisters. Whichever way works out.”
“Brother and sister?” he repeated.
“I’m not picky. Girls, boys, one of each.” She shrugged, enjoying the look of wonder lighting up his face. “Just as long as they’re ours. What do you think?”
He bent his head and claimed her lips in a searing kiss, holding her tight as if he’d never let go. And when he finally came up for air, he said, “I think maybe it’s time to get started on filling those bedrooms.”
She laughed. “I’m game. Can we wait until we get back to your house, though?”
“Hmm. That’s a lot to ask, gorgeous.”
“It just gives you something to look forward to,” she said and started to hobble back to the truck. But before she could take two steps, he came up from behind and said, “Hold on to those crutches.”
“Why?”
“You’re taking way too long.” Then he hauled her into his arms and carried her to the truck. Once they were inside, he said, “I love the hell out of you, Faith Townsend.”
“That’s a good thing, because I’m planning on marrying you next summer out on that gorgeous patio you built at the spa. Are you game?”
“You bet your ass. Now tell me you love me.”
She slid over the seat until she was right next to him and then whispered, “I love the hell out of you, too, Hunter McCormick. Now hurry up. We have a date in your bedroom.”
He gave her a wicked grin and stepped on the gas.
Chapter 25
Hanna Pelsh sat at a table at the reception of Noel and Drew’s wedding and watched as Rhys and Lena swayed to the music on the dance floor. Seeing them together reminded her of another wedding almost a year ago at the same Townsend orchard when she’d been the one in his arms. They’d been on three dates and attended Abby and Clay’s wedding together, and then he’d given her the talk. The one that started with “We’re better as friends” and ended with him brushing her off for the next twelve months.
If she hadn’t loved him almost her entire life, she’d have hated him. Now he was dating Faith’s receptionist at the spa, and Hanna wondered if seeing them together would actually kill her. Her heart certainly hurt enough.
“Hey!” Faith said as she hobbled over on her crutches and smoothly slid her way into one of the chairs. “What are you doing here all alone, no cake or wine in sight?”
“You’re getting really good with those things,” Hanna said as she gestured to her empty cake plate. “That was slice number two.”
“Damn, I’m falling behind.” She waved to Hunter, who was over by the bar, and gestured for two glasses of champagne for her and Hanna and then pointed to the cake table, again holding up two fingers.
Hanna gave her a side-eye glance. “Did you really just order him to get us drinks and more cake?”
“Ordered is a little harsh. More like requested.” She grinned, her eyes sparkling with so much happiness it actually helped lift the gloom cloud hovering over Hanna’s head. “Can you believe this?” Faith said, waving a hand around at the spectacular decorations. “It’s freakin’ incredible. Yvette and Abby outdid themselves.”
They really had. There were no less than two dozen Christmas trees, each decorated with enchanted white papier-mâché birds, sparkling glass icicles, and twinkling frosted snowflakes. Tinkling wedding bells were perched at the top of each one. There were miniature ice-sculpture snowmen and penguins in the middle of each table, and an enchanted sleigh with reindeer flew overhead, delivering novelty Christmas gifts to all the guests.
Even the champagne seemed extra bubbly. Or maybe Hanna was just extra tipsy. She’d had a few more than usual.
“You’re not still pining for Rhys, are you?” Faith asked.
“What?” Hanna jerked her attention to her friend. “I don’t pine.”
Faith placed a hand over her best friend’s and said, “I’m sorry, sweetie, but you do, and you are.”
“I hate pining,” Hanna said, venom in her tone. “And I hate him for making me feel this way.”
“I know. You’re very good at hiding it.” Faith glanced over at Rhys and Lena. They appeared to be having a disagreement of some sort, but they were keeping their voices down, careful to not make a scene. “Is he still avoiding you?”
“Usually.” Hanna shrugged. “The only time he doesn’t is when we find ourselves alone. Like if he’s the only customer in the café or I’m the only customer in the brewery. Then it’s like we’re back in high school. Besties, as if he hasn’t spent the last year acting like we didn’t used to talk on the phone every day. It’s infuriating.”
“Oh, no, Hanna,” Faith said, fuming as she glared at Rhys. “I’ve always liked him. Everyone does. And Clay, he loves him, too. Says he’s the best damned assistant brewer he could ask for. But no one treats my friend like a dirty little secret, no one. What the hell is that? You can’t let him get away with that crap, Hanna. Tell him to stick it where the sun doesn’t shine next time.”
She laughed. “You’ve been hanging out with too many children lately. ‘Stick it where the sun doesn’t shine?’ Whatever happened to shove it up your—”
“Hey, did someone order booze and cake?” Hunter said loudly, gesturing to Zoey, who was holding two cake plates.
“Yay! I love you,” Faith said, kissing him on the cheek as she took her champagne glass. “You, too, little Z.” She pulled the little girl onto her lap and hugged her tight.
Hanna ate cake and drank more champagne while she pretended to ignore Rhys and Lena, who had moved off to the side of the other dancers and were continuing to argue. Then finally, she heard Lena say, “So that’s it then. It’s over?”
Rhys mumbled something and stared at his feet.
Lena let out an irritated huff and stalked off, leaving him there looking like a fool. Hanna’s first instinct was to get up and go to him, make sure he was okay. But as she watched him watch Lena walk away, it was the same look he’d had on his face when he’d told her they were better as friends, and she got mad all over again.
What was with him and commitment? He’d certainly dated over the years, but never anyone serious. Hanna had secretly hoped it was because deep down he knew they were supposed to be together. But then he’d burst that bubble and spent the next year single… until Lena. Now he was repeating the same cycle. She didn’t understand.
“I want to dance,” Faith said. “Zoey, are you ready to shake your groove thang?”
The little girl grinned. “Yes, but you can’t dance. You have a broken foot.”
“You just watch me.” Faith popped up on her good foot, grabbed one of her crutches, and hopped out onto the dance floor. “Get your butts out here.” She waved to Hunter, Zoey, and Hanna. “Don’t leave me hangin’.”
Hunter and Zoey hurried to join her, but Hanna shook her head, politely declining. She wasn’t really in the mood to dance, and thankfully Faith let it go.
Hanna was just about to go grab another drink when Drew hopped up on the small, temporary stage where the DJ was set up in the corner. “Hello everyone. Thanks for joining us tonight for our Christmas Eve celebration. Noel and I are very thankful you could be here.”
The crowd clapped and yelled out congratulations.
“Thank you, thank you. You’re in for a trea
t, because the boys and I were supposed to make good on a bet last week at the holiday carnival, but due to some unforeseen family circumstances, it didn’t happen. So tonight we have a gift for Noel, her sisters, and all of you. Noel?” He waved for her to join them as Clay set a chair in the middle of the stage.
Noel, shaking her head and blushing furiously, climbed up on the stage. She was wearing a gorgeous white mermaid dress with a red sash and matching red stilettos.
“Have a seat, babe.” Drew grinned.
“What are you doing?” Noel asked with a laugh, but Hanna was certain she already knew. They hadn’t yet made good on their bet to sing “Santa Baby,” and Drew was making it happen in front of all their guests.
“Making good on a bet.” He winked, ran off the stage, and disappeared behind a partition screen that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. A few moments later, the music started and Clay, Brian, Drew, and Rhys ran out from behind the screen. Hanna was surprised to see the big grin on Rhys’s face, considering he’d just had a blow up with Lena. But that was Rhys, always the one who could compartmentalize. She was equally surprised to see Brian on stage with the rest of them since he hadn’t been in the losing cart when the bet was made. But he was such a fun-loving guy that it probably wasn’t hard for the others to convince him to play along.
Each of them were wearing short, red-sequined dresses that were cinched at the waist with forest green belts and had white faux fur lining the top of the bodice and the bottom of the skirt. They’d completed the look with green knee-high suede boots.
The wedding guests all cheered, while Noel clapped her hand over her mouth and shook her head in disbelief.
The men started lip-syncing and swaying to the music, doing their best white-man’s-overbite moves. Then they paired up and tried to do some complicated hand-to-foot moves that didn’t even match the music. Brian tripped over his own feet and pitched head-first straight into Clay, causing them both to go down in a heap.
The roar of laughter from the crowd was deafening, but Rhys and Drew ignored their partners in crime, moving on to twirling each other around as if nothing had happened. Unable to keep from cracking up, Brian and Clay got to their feet just in time for the grand finale.
As the song came to an end, all four men started shimmying their hips, and the next thing Hanna knew, Clay, Brian, and Rhys grabbed at the fabric at their hips and ripped their dresses right off. They spun around, bending over so the guests could see the writing on their fur-lined boxers.
Congrats, Drew & Noel!
Only Noel never saw it, because just as the guys were getting ready to strip, Drew covered her eyes with his hands and made a shocked O face for the crowd.
The guests loved it and went wild with their applause, hooting and hollering, while Hanna just sat there staring at Rhys as he gathered his outfit and hurried back to the safety of the privacy screen. He was gorgeous and more muscular than she’d imagined he would be, and even in his fur-lined boxers, she found him the sexiest man she’d ever seen.
Once all of the guys disappeared to get redressed, Hanna made her way into the house, used the facilities, touched up her makeup, and then reemerged feeling like a new woman.
She stopped in the kitchen to grab a glass of water. After downing half of it, she turned around and ran smack into Rhys’s chest. His hands came up to steady her, and her skin tingled all over from his touch.
“Whoa. Careful,” he said, smiling down at her. He was back in his suit, but he hadn’t bothered to redo his tie. “What’s the hurry?”
“No hurry. Try not to sneak up on people, huh?” She tried to sidestep him, suddenly irritated again about how he’d broken up with Lena right before the performance. It had been a repeat of how things had gone down with them a year ago. The realization that she was mad that he’d broken up with Lena almost made her laugh. Two hours ago, she’d have been ecstatic about the news. Now she was just annoyed.
“Wait, Hanna. Where are you going? I thought we could talk.”
She stared up into his earnest expression and shook her head. “I don’t think so, Rhys. If you need to talk to someone, try one of your buddies.”
He frowned, his brows drawing together in confusion. “But you’re one of my buddies.”
“Is that what you think? That we’re friends? That we can just call each other up and chit-chat, make plans, and listen to each other’s problems?” she asked.
“Sure. We could do that. We used to do that all the time.”
“Right. Then we didn’t. I think that means we’re not the friends we used to be.” She patted him on the arm. “Maybe Clay has time to chat. I’m going back to the party.”
“Hanna!” He strode forward and jumped in front of her to block her from leaving the kitchen. “It’s you I want to talk to. Lena and I—”
She held her hand up, stopping him. “I don’t want to talk about Lena. Haven’t you figured it out yet, Rhys? We’re not friends anymore. We haven’t been since you dumped me at Abby’s wedding.”
“Hey,” he said, sounding angry. “I didn’t dump you. I just said I thought it was better if we didn’t date for the sake of our friendship. You agreed.”
“Did I? Did I really? Is that how you remember it?” She knew she’d agreed, because what else was she going to say? But it hadn’t been her idea, and it certainly hadn’t been her idea for him to back all the way off and ghost on her.
“Yeah, that’s how I remember it.” He moved in closer, making her body ache for him even though she was thoroughly pissed off now. “And then I don’t know what happened, but I know I miss the hell out of you. Can’t we just go back to the way we were before? Best friends who can talk about anything?”
“Best friends?”
“Yes.”
“Who can talk about anything you say?” She eyed him suspiciously.
His confidence seemed to falter a little as he said, “Sure. I know I could use someone to talk to right now.”
“Right now.” She pursed her lips and nodded. It was clear he wanted to talk about his breakup with Lena, but she wasn’t having it. The last time they’d had a real conversation was right before he’d started dating Lena. She was no one’s second choice. And she was about to prove it.
“All right. Let’s talk about this.” She grabbed his shirt, yanked him to her, and kissed him with everything she had. He stiffened slightly but then opened his mouth, inviting her passion and wrapping his arms around her. With a small gasp, he tilted his head and deepened the kiss, making her toes curl with pleasure.
When she pulled back, breathless and wanting, she gazed up at him and asked in a sultry voice, “Is that what buddies do, Rhys?”
“Uh, um, buddies?” he asked, his eyes glazed with lust.
She patted his chest and said, “You think about it and let me know what you come up with.” Then she turned on her heel and sailed out of the kitchen and back to the party.
***
Get Courage of the Witch (Witches of Keating Hollow, Book 5).
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Want more books featuring witches, love, and friendship? Check out The Vampire’s Last Dance, the first book in the Witch Island Brides Series.
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Deanna’s Book List
Pyper Rayne Novels:
Spirits, Stilettos, and a Silver Bustier
Spirits, Rock Stars, and a Midnight Chocolate Bar
Spirits, Beignets, and a Bayou Biker Gang
Spirits, Diamonds, and a Drive-thru Daiquiri Stand
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Jade Calhoun Novels:
Haunted on Bourbon Street
Witches of Bourbon Street
Demons of Bourbon Street
Angels of Bourbon Street
Shadows of Bourbon Street
Incubus of Bourbon Street
Bewitched on Bourbon Street
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Hexed on Bourbon Street
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Witches of Keating Hollow:
Soul of the Witch
Heart of the Witch
Spirit of the Witch
Dreams of the Witch
Courage of the Witch
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Last Witch Standing:
Soulless at Sunset
Bloodlust By Midnight
Bitten At Daybreak
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Witch Island Brides:
The Vampire’s Last Dance
The Wolf’s New Year Bride
The Warlock’s Enchanted Kiss
The Shifter’s First Bite
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Crescent City Fae Novels:
Influential Magic
Irresistible Magic
Intoxicating Magic
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Destiny Novels:
Defining Destiny
Accepting Fate
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Deanna Chase, is a native Californian, transplanted to the slower paced lifestyle of southeastern Louisiana. When she isn't writing, she is often goofing off with her husband in New Orleans or playing with her two shih tzu dogs. For more information and updates on newest releases visit her website at deannachase.com.