I spin around toward the sound of that sweet, familiar voice, daring to hope for one more miracle on a day that’s already bursting with them…
And there, standing in the alcove between the counter and the kitchen, with perfect winged eyeliner and a fiery red lip that sets off her glossy black hair, my best friend Jessa beams at me.
I practically vault over the counter to get to her, tackling her in a hug and kissing her face until she has to physically shove me away.
“So, does this mean I got the job?” she asks.
I cock an eyebrow and give her the once-over. “That depends. You still know how to make a scone?”
“Andcinnamon buns,” she teases. Then, leaning in close and dropping her voice to a whisper, “I don’t suppose any of your hot mages have a hot brother? Or two or three?”
“I’m sure you’ll find plenty of inspiration on campus,” I say. “Wait, youarestaying, right?”
“Moving into the apartment upstairs, as a matter of fact.”
“How did this even happen?”
“Given the situation outside, we felt it would be safer for Jessa at the Academy,” Doc says. “And when I told her about our plans here, she leaped at the chance.”
The waterworks are starting up again, but I quickly dash away the tears. I’ve never felt so happy. So excited about the future.
“Thank you,” I say. “All of you. This is… Thank you.”
Sparing me from a lengthy speech I’d certainly bungle, Doc claps once and says, “It seems to me there’s only one way to properly christen the new space.”
I flash him a flirty smirk, lowering my voice to a whisper only he can hear. “Agreed, but you’re not into sharing, so a proper christening isdefinitelynot on the menu today.”
“Um, standing right here, hello!” Carly tosses her hands into the air.
So much for only Doc hearing my little innuendos.
“Goddess, we know you’re all in love,” she says, “but must you be so adorable and disgusting about it all the time?”
“Don’t blame me,” I say. “Doc’s the one who brought up the christening.”
His eyes blaze a fresh warning. Goddess, how I’ve missed that.
“Tea, Miss Milan,” he says firmly. “I’m talking about the inaugural pot of tea.”
I hold his gaze another beat, basking in the heat gathering between us, loving the way I can still make my controlling, commanding professor blush.
But he’s right. The inaugural pot of tea is important. It has to be just right—it’ll set the tone for the entire venture.
Isla takes a seat at the counter and hits the little silver bell.
When I shoot her a faux glare, she shrugs and says, “I told you that night in Red Sands I was going to be your first paying customer. Well, here we are.” She plucks a credit card out of her pocket. “I’ll take one cup of whatever you think I need.”
“Same,” Nat says, taking the seat next to her. Carly nods vigorously too. Behind them, the professors raise their hands.
“We’ll need some as well,” Professor Maddox says.
“All right.” I grab an apron from a hook beside the counter and tie it around my waist. “Why don’t youallhave a seat. Give me a second to get the lay of the land, then I’ll fix everyone something awesome to go with whatever Jessa’s baking back there.”
As they all find their tables, I scoot into the kitchen to explore the shelves.
Jessa follows me, heading for the ovens as I put the water on to boil.
“What are you brewing up?” she asks, sliding out the first batch of chocolate banana scones. The smell is heavenly. “Vanilla Cherry Bomb? Lemon Lavender Luxury? Classic Black with a whisper of almond?”
