Page 35 of Christmas Magic

Lucian waved to a gray-haired man across the street who was washing his car. “I’m fine.” He did not want to spend the drive to the store responding to prying questions.

“Nope, you’re not fine,” the feline said. “What’s going on?”

“Just a weird night. I’ll feel better once the caffeine from my coffee’s kicked in.”

Lucian unlocked the car, sat behind the wheel, and as soon as the squire had settled on the passenger side, switched on the radio. A Top 40 pop song blared. Galahad’s head rocked from side to side while he sang along.

How did he know the words? Did the cats listen to music, too, while Lucian and Molly weren’t home?

Maybe they threw parties; invited in the neighborhood cats. That might explain why the bags of dry kibble never lasted as long as expected.

Lucian made a mental note to talk to Molly about the felines later.

So early in the day, the streets into town were quiet. Lucian parked behind the store, entered through the rear door, dished out an extra breakfast for Galahad and then walked up to Devon Rex Bakery to buy his morning java. Upon returning to the store, he headed to the magic detecting devices.

Galahad jumped up on the table, sat beside Lucian’s left arm, and studied the laptop screen. “So. What have we got?”

Lucian sipped and scrolled. His thoughts wandered to his dream of holding Cora, and he mentally shoved the recollections aside. “That’s interesting. The low level of magic from before registered in our neighborhood last night as well as this morning.”

“A Mr. Grumpy Badass alert?”

“Not funny.”

The squire grinned.

Lucian studied the data from the past twenty-four hours. Since there hadn’t been any magical flare-ups significant enough to have triggered the alarms, and he and Molly had been busy in the shop, he’d saved an in-depth review for today. “The same magic showed up in the Seaside Hills neighborhood, much of the downtown area, and the store yesterday.” He frowned. “I’d really love to figure out why.”

“It’s still showing elements of Molly’s magic?”

“Yep.”

“Do you think the magic detected in our neighborhood could have been Molly practicing some small spells?”

“On her own?” Lucian’s frown deepened. “She’s not allowed. It’s against our agreement with The Experts. No, something else is going on. What, though, we have yet to find out.”

He downed more coffee and half-listened to Galahad chasing a toy mouse while he read several emails from clients. His fingers flew over the keyboard while he sent replies. Again, his thoughts strayed to Cora, her hair whitened by moonlight, her expression coy.

Lucian shut his eyes and squeezed the bridge of his nose. Damnation. Why couldn’t he quit thinking about her? Molly should be the only woman in his thoughts and dreams.

Opening his eyes, he glanced at Cora’s plate, sitting on the table with the boxes and bubble wrap. He needed to return it, because it looked to be part of a set.

Yes, a voice inside him whispered. Call her.

Another part of him resisted, but he did need to get the plate back to her. He’d feel terrible if it accidentally got misplaced or broken. He should wait until after nine o’clock, though, to phone her.

A few minutes before nine, he flipped the sign on the front door to ‘Open.’ Molly would arrive shortly. Galahad, dozing on a chair in the sunny front window, didn’t stir.

What was Cora up to this morning? Volunteering for one of the societies to which she belonged?

Doesn’t matter!

Lucian returned to the counter to price some etchings his grandfather had bought at an estate sale.

The bell on the door chimed. He glanced up.

Cora stood in the doorway.

Sudden, prickling heat whipped through him, as if she’d ignited gunpowder in his blood.