Page 34 of Herbs & Hex-breaking

“I am so sorry,” the owner said. “I’ve never seen her act like this before. She’s usually very focused.”

“Could all the spices be messing with her nose?” the owner’s companion wondered out loud.

“Hello, Goldie.” I accepted the offered paw. “You’re a very good girl, aren’t you?”

Goldie seemed to preen at the praise.

“Back to work you go,” I said and after a quick lick to the back of my hand, Goldie bounced to her feet and returned to her owner’s side.

“You certainly have a way with dogs,” Goldie’s owner said to me.

Instead of responding, I simply smiled and went back to reorganizing the display shelf.

***

I switched off the crock pot that I’d had out with mulled cider for the customers. There was barely anything left, so I hauled it to the back and rinsed it and the ladle off in the sink. I set it aside on my desk in the back room, right next to my purse, so I would remember to take it upstairs and wash it for the next day. It was quiet as Taylor and Toni had gone home, and Circe had already closed up her shop.

Returning to the sales floor, I began clicking off the small accent lamps that were strategically placed within my displays. Turning them off one by one, I worked my way to the back, and the only thing on my mind was taking a long hot bath and then nuking something in my microwave for dinner. It had been a very long day.

I caught movement in the doorway to New Moon Books and saw that Dex was standing there as if he were waiting for me. “Have dinner with me tonight,” he said, and held out a long-stemmed red rose. “At my place.”

“That’s a bold move,” I said, my eyes flaring in surprise.

“Dinner with no other expectations, Kate,” he explained. “I’d originally hoped to ask you over last month…but then things took an unexpected turn.”

Unexpected turn. That was one way to put it I supposed. Him inviting me over for a meal was the last thing I had expected that night. “Do you cook?” I asked.

“Been known to,” he replied and handed me the rose. “How do you feel about spaghetti?”

“Honestly, Dex?” I said. “I’m dead dog tired; and the thought of not having to cook tonight is very appealing. So sure, I could go for spaghetti.”

He smiled. “Are you about finished with closing up?”

I lifted the rose to my nose to sniff. “Yeah.”

“Then come with me,” he said, taking my hand.

“Um.” I hesitated. “I need to run the crockpot upstairs to my apartment so I can wash it out for tomorrow.”

“Okay. I’ll wait for you.”

“All right.” I went to the back room, hit the main switch, and the overhead lights went out. Scooping up the crockpot, I headed for my apartment.

I made short work out of washing out the crock pot. Then I snagged a glass, added some water and dropped the rose in. The crock pot and its glass lid I placed on a towel on the kitchen counter to dry. After debating with myself for a moment, I made a quick dash to the bathroom to check my makeup and powdered my nose.

Once finished, I let myself out, and my feet halted on the exterior stairs when I saw him leaning against the delivery door, his arms crossed and waiting for me.

Is being alone with him wise? I wondered.

His dark hair tumbled to his shoulders and the short-sleeved shirt he wore was deep blue, setting off his cobalt eyes. With his muscles and tattoos on display and that half smile on his face, I had to agree with Circe: Dex was romance cover material.

It’s only dinner, I reminded myself. I could handle an evening with Dex and not give into my baser instincts. I was a sensible woman, and I had zero intentions of letting him off the hook so easily…

But I supposed there was nothing wrong with sharing a meal.

I’d only been in Dex’s apartment once before. It was small, taking up the back half of the bookshop’s second floor. Behind a door kept locked during business hours was a short hall that led to his apartment. It wasn’t a fancy space, but still Dex had made it comfortable with a full-size bed in the far corner and a love seat and chair arranged in front of a large screen television. And there was a tiny kitchenette with an island big enough for two bar stools.

The walls were brick, and like my building the floor was old pine. There was a love seat that had seen better days covered with a crocheted blanket. I did my best not to notice the bed. But there it was, made neatly with a gray spread, and sitting high off the floor in what was probably an antique iron bed frame.