“Are you nuts?”
“Completely, but I’m not a liar.”
Morgaine paused, pensively. “But I thought her novel was about a coal miner in West Virginia. Joe is a private investigator in Boston.”
“It is. That’s not the part she needs help with. She’s using his body to better describe her sex scenes.”
Morgaine burst out laughing. When she was able to talk again, she said, “I thought you were a guy, Chad. I doubt Joe minds helping her research her sex scenes.”
“You wouldn’t laugh if you saw the way he looks at her. He’s fallen head over heels in love. I know the signs.”
“Like what?”
“He preens before she comes over. He keeps the apartment immaculate and doesn’t ask her to lift a finger. He sports a goofy grin on his face whenever he looks at her.”
“So? It sounds like he’s treating her well. What’s wrong with that?”
“Just that he’ll be bummed out when she finishes that book. She has no intention of staying with him.”
“I still don’t get how this involves you.”
“I let him stay because he worked on my murder case. But the precedent’s been set by my allowing a roommate. Dottie will try to rent my pad again and again and again, and you know I’ll drive off anyone who moves in.”
Morgaine smirked and shook her head. “Now it makes sense.”
“Don’t you witches have some kind of code about not hurting others?”
“But how do you know she’s planning to break up with him?”
“She told me she was going to…what was it? Tell him to go catch tadpoles in another lily pond.”
“She said that? When?”
“Yesterday.”
Morgaine frowned. “Yeah, that’s not good. It doesn’t sound like she’s really taking the Witches’ Rede seriously, if she knows how hurt Joe will be. Maybe she doesn’t realize he’s in love with her. Has he ever told her?”
“Not when I was around. ButItold her. She didn’t seem to care.”
“Shit. That doesn’t sound like the Gwyneth I know. Let me talk to her before you say anything to Joe, okay?”
Chad emitted a loud sigh and floated toward the door. “Fine. I’ll wait. But if I have to listen to a grown man cry—”
Morgaine folded her arms. “You’ll what?”
“Try something I’ve been saving for a special occasion. You’ll see.”
Morgaine cringed.
***
“You’ve got to be kidding!” Roz stood toe to toe with Konrad and jammed her hands on her hips. “I will not film our sex. Body issues, remember?”
“I thought we put those fears to rest.” Konrad grabbed his jeans and stepped into them. Their lovemaking had been fantastic. Was it so bad to want a little souvenir?
“Yeah, they’re resting, not dead. Show me my naked body through a medium that adds ten pounds and see how quickly those feelings of shame and disgust wake up.”
He reared back. “Shame and disgust? Roz, how can you possibly—”Careful, guy. You don’t want her thinking she’s stupid as well as overweight.“Never mind. I just thought it would be fun. And I thought you were over that silly belief that you’re somehow not the most beautiful woman in Boston because of your weight. I find nothing disgusting about you. You’re the most exquisite woman I know.”
