Page 18 of Hex Appeal

I look around again.”

“This is really the same place?”

“That’s the idea.”

“It's completely different.”

She beams. And damn if I don't like knowing I put that look on her face.

“We've gotten pretty good at the transformation.”

The dark-haired sister appears behind the bar. Valerie. She's apparently gotten over our introduction this afternoon.

Or not.

It’s hard to tell.

Serena gestures toward an empty stool. “Sit down. Let us buy you a drink.”

For a second, I consider saying no.

I came here to look at the shop and workroom. That's it.

This isn't social. It sure as hell isn't a date. Then Serena smiles at me.

“What the hell.” I sink onto one of the velvet bar stools. “I'm technically off the clock. I'll have a…”

I look behind Valerie at the bottles. “I guess I'll have a beer.”

“No.”

I stare at her. “What do you mean, no?”

“No,” she repeats. “This is your first time sitting at my bar. Someone drinks my drinks. I'm not serving you something you can drink in whatever basement you crawled out of.”

I blink.

Serena snorts.

I look between them. “Are you both like this?”

“Yes,” they answer together.

“Okay, okay.” I hold up my hands. “I'll have something else.”

“You're damn right you will.”

Valerie turns to her sister.

“Your usual?”

“Please.”

Serena flashes her a smile.

Valerie turns away.

I release a low whistle.