Page 31 of Herbs & Hex-breaking

I blinked. “And none to your mother?”

“Correct,” he said. “She currently owns thirty percent, and expected to gain at least another twenty-five, so she would have controlling interest. She’s livid.”

“What will you do now?” I asked.

“I’m going to sell my shares of the company to my uncle. It’s not a quick or simple process, but it’s the best option. The shares can only be sold to a family member, and my uncle dislikes my mother enough that he enjoys the prospect of rubbing that in her face.”

“So do you plan to continue to work for Lorna?”

“That’ll depend on whether or not she’ll have me,” he said. “Right now my future plans are centered around you.”

I frowned at the declaration. “Me?”

“Yes, you,” he said. “I meant what I said to you that night, Kate. I waited a long time for you...to be with you, and I’m not giving up on us. Despite me leaving town for a few weeks, I’m going to put the work in until you realize that I’m serious about us as a couple.”

My eyebrows went way up at his declaration. “We’ll just see about that.”

Dex smiled. “Yes, we will.”

I pushed back from the table. “I need to finish putting these groceries away.”

“Let me give you a hand,” he said and rose to his feet to join me.

“That’s okay,” I said, trying to wave him off.

To my surprise he walked right over and got up into my personal space. I wasn’t threatened, only caught off guard. His eyes locked on mine, he gently backed me up until I found myself caged against the kitchen counter.

Once I came to a stop, he leaned in until we were practically nose-to-nose. “I’m not going anywhere, Kate. I’m staying put. You’re just going to have to get used to me again.”

“Well, I—” My words cut off when he pressed a soft kiss to my forehead. My heart leapt at the tender gesture.

“I can be patient,” he whispered against my hair.

“You can be patient? How lovely for you,” I snarked as the canisters on the countertop behind me began to rattle and shake.

Before I could think of anything else to say or to do, Dex stepped back. The canisters stopped rattling and he looked from them and back to me. “Is that temper or something else causing your magick to slip?” he asked.

“Don’t push me,” I said, yanking my magick back in line and desperately trying to cover the fact that’d I’d been devastated by his kiss. “I mean it, Dex.”

In answer Dex flashed me an easy smile and proceeded to help with the groceries, like an old friend.

I tried to level out my breathing. But it wasn’t easy. Because I didn’t fully exhale again until he was on the other side of the room. Shit, I thought. Keeping him at arm’s length is going to be harder than I expected.

***

I was the one to call Lorna—once I’d put my groceries away, as Dex did not have his cell phone. I imagined it was still in his apartment above the bookstore. It took Lorna less than ten minutes to arrive at my apartment, and when I opened the door for her, relief was written all over her face.

She ran straight to him and grabbed him up in a big hug. Dex held on to her just as firmly. Abruptly Lorna pulled back from his embrace. “Don’t you ever do that again!” she shouted.

“Lorna—” Dex began.

“You pull another stunt like this, and your relatives will be the last thing you’ll have to worry about!” And she was off. Lorna launched into a scathing lecture, and hearing that, I smiled and went to the wine rack on my counter. Once there, I selected a bottle and poured myself and her a glass. For Dex I snagged a can of ginger ale. I placed both on the kitchen table and moved back.

I had to hand it to her, Lorna Southern took no prisoners. Dex managed to get a few words in to explain what had transpired. Meanwhile, I took myself and my glass of wine over to my club chair and made myself comfortable.

Maybe I was more petty than I thought, but I thoroughly enjoyed watching Dex get his ass verbally handed to him.

Once she finally wound down, Lorna snatched up the glass of wine and drank deeply. Dex picked up the can of ginger ale, popped the top and sipped.