“Wow!” He exclaimed.
She jerked her hands away from his leg. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I just felt a hot stab for a moment. Then it seemed to fizz, and now I feel?—”
“Better?” she asked hopefully.
“Yes. Much better!”
“Great.” Freya smiled to herself.Magical healing received.
Once she finished, she left him to get dressed and scribbled down some notes about his reaction. She’d type them up later and store them in her ever-growing computer file of case studies. Who knows, maybe one day she’d publish a book on magical healing. Or at least have enough material to prove she wasn’t just making this up.
When Devon returned to the kitchen, he barely limped anymore.
“I can’t get over it! The pain is gone, and I feel… It’s hard to put into words.”
Freya smiled. “Healthy?”
“Quite,” he agreed. “I feel like I could dance.”
“I’m glad.”
He slipped into the chair opposite her at the kitchen table. “You know, if you would permit me, I’d like to help you try to locate your family. I like to think of myself as a bit of an amateur sleuth.”
“Seriously?”
He nodded.
“That would be wonderful. I have another client coming soon, but when can you meet me to talk about that?”
“Anytime. I’m staying at the B&B a couple of streets over. The Christmas Inn.”
Ironic, since her grandmother originally owned the big house and would have called it The Yuletide Inn had she rented out rooms. Instead, when her husband died, she sold it to the current owners and moved into this lovely cottage, which required much less upkeep.
Devon agreed on a coffee date the following day, and Freya’s hope rose anew. Not only would she possibly get some leads on her grandmother and sister’s whereabouts, but also, she’d get to see her handsome new British friend again.
Not a bad turn of events.
The coffee date finally arrived,not that Freya had been counting the hours or anything. Oh, all right, she totally had. She showed up early to chat with Paula, her favorite waitress and thetown’s walking, talking, coffee-pouring gossip hub. If something happened within a ten-mile radius, Paula knew about it.
Devon arrived promptly. When he spotted her at the counter, Freya bid a quick ‘Goodbye’ to Paula, who smiled and raised her eyebrows, suggesting she approved of Freya’s date. Now, Freya would be added to the gossip chain. She and her family tried to avoid giving anyone juicy gossip material. They were already shrouded in mystery and preferred to keep it that way.
However, keeping the disappearance of her family a secret was impossible. As soon as the police were involved, the gossip chain hummed.
Freya sat down in one of the tall booths. After Devon hung his coat on the hook provided, he sat opposite her. The high wooden backs gave the illusion of privacy, even if the large window facing the street did not.
“How are you feeling?” she asked. Oddly enough, she hoped Devon’s leg was slightly less than perfect. She wouldn’t mind running her hands over him again.
“Tip top!” he exclaimed. “I’m ready to go dancing. Come with me?”
She laughed. “I wouldn’t overdo it right away, but I’m glad your leg is getting better.” And she was. The selfish desire to see him for a massage again melted as soon as she saw how happy he was with the initial result.
“Do you like to dance?” he asked conversationally.
“Very much, but unless I’m invited to a wedding, I don’t do anything but whirl around my kitchen.”
“Is there no public place to dance here?”
