Page 58 of Manors & Mischief

After a few moments, we start talking about the manor again and the plans for the PVC. It feels surreal that all that just happened. I probably should’ve gone slower, but I lost myself after fantasizing about her all night and then finally seeing her. I don’t know how I’m supposed to behave myself now that I know how she kisses though.

It turns out, she must be thinking the same thing because the day consists of sneaking more kisses. Playful ones. Sinful ones. We laugh a lot, and when she leaves for the store to get snacks for her and Bea’s night, I take a deep breath, wondering how I got so lucky.

From the beautiful woman I saw drop her car keys on that first day to the one who just slyly slid her hand over my ass as we said goodbye, things have definitely changed but my attraction toward her hasn’t. It just took a little detour into feeling sorry for myself, but I’ve finally got my head on straight.

I’m beginning to think more and more that my grandfather was right. The well does work in mysterious ways. If not for wishing for Sleepy Hollow Manor, I’m not sure Ember would’ve shown up in my life.

I take out my phone and text Trav. I read it back with a chuckle when I send it. “You all were right, and I was wrong.”

He sends me a bunch of laughing emojis. Then some crude ones. Or what I think might be crude ones. I’m out of the game when it comes to stuff like that. I’d been spending so much time trying to earn enough money to buy this place that I haven’t even dated in forever.

Now that I’ve met Ember, I’m glad I didn’t. Just another way things work out mysteriously.

21

EMBER

The haunting music of Halloween continues in the background as I shove microwave popcorn into my mouth. Bea keeps interrupting the co-ed murders with observations about me and Devon. A bag of gummy bears sits between us on the couch, and my favorite blankets cover our laps.

She’s been such a good friend. I don’t mind her questions because I’ve only seen this movie about a hundred thousand times. It’s my favorite, so I needed to christen the new house with it. After this one, I told her we could watch whatever she wanted as long as it was spooky or scary.

“Why am I not surprised he’s such a good kisser?”

I almost groan. Not because this is the third or fourth time she’s brought it up but because I can still feel his lips on mine like they’re tattooed there for eternity. Honestly, it’s kind of scary how good it felt. How much more I wanted to happen. I’m not used to that. I was with my last boyfriend for a long time before we took it to the next level.

I guess I just wasn’t that into him because Devon has me thinking crazy things.

“You know I kissed him once,” Bea says, smirking over at me.

I almost choke on my popcorn. “You did?”

She laughs. “I was trying to make my boyfriend jealous. We were in eleventh grade. It didn’t work out so well. It kind of felt like kissing my brother. But the way you described the kiss sounds perfect. I wish I could get kissed like that.”

“Not a lot of options in Harvest Falls, huh?”

She rolls her eyes. “Tell me about it. I can’t say there aren’t any good-looking ones around here, but I’ve known them my whole life. If I can remember what they smelled like in fifth grade gym class, I don’t want anything to do with them.”

The laugh that bursts from my mouth comes all the way from my belly. I guess that would be a good reason not to want to date any of the locals.

“For the record, Devon never smelled bad.”

“I hadn’t thought I needed that information, but it’s good to know.”

She shrugs. “Maybe you can tell a lot about someone by how they smelled in gym class.”

“They should start asking it in speed dating.”

“Have you ever been speed dating?” Bea asks.

“Nah. I never leave a good first impression.”

“You did with me. The moment you walked into our meeting, I knew I was going to like you. Then when you kept Devon in the hole on your porch, I was convinced we had bestie potential.”

I cringe, but really, it still makes me laugh. Fuck around and find out. “So, tell me about your last boyfriend.”

Bea blows out a breath as Michael Myers cocks his head at the knife he just plunged into someone. “Let’s just say I’ve severely been lacking in that department. My last boyfriend was in college, and we held on for a few years where we would visit each other, but I don’t know. I think he expected me to move for him, but when I opened up the café, he figured out I wasn’t going to do that and ended things.”

“He didn’t want to move to Harvest Falls?”