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“Looking hot with your rainbow bags, teach.”
He grinned over his shoulder at me. “I am secure in my manhood, thank you.”
I watched him walk ahead of me. His deliciously firm backside was definitely a plus as far as I was concerned. “You betcha.”
“Stop watching my ass.”
I pulled down my sunglasses. “Nah, I’m good.”
He walked faster. “Objectification? Really, Miss Hastings. You should be ashamed of yourself.”
“Shame, shame.” I sashayed after him, then laughed when he turned and hustled me down into the park by the gazebo so we were out of the way of foot traffic. He crowded me up against one of the trees and kissed me senseless before leading me back onto the sidewalk.
I was almost dizzy with laughter and hunger by the time we got to the wine bar. Lucky for us, everything was within a few blocks since it was hot enough to melt us and the food into a pile of goo.
We left with two bottles of summer wine and a growing awareness building between us again. He was charming and sweet, but he also knew how to make me come my brains out. It was a heady combination, and I found myself wanting to believe it could really be this easy with him.
Huffing our way across the street to our apartment building, we both fervently wished aloud that the elevator had been finally finished.
Alas, no.
We cooled down in his apartment for a few minutes as we prepared our food and broke into the wine.
I sipped from my glass, my butt back on the stool at his kitchen island as he doused the steaks with some concoction he called his secret rub.
“I have a secret rub too.”
He looked up, his fingers covered in spices. “Is that right?”
I set my glass down and came around to stand beside him. “Herbs are kinda my jam, though I use them for spellwork and medicinal purposes. Like the stuff I gave you for your sunburn.”
“And it worked better than anything I’ve gotten from a store.”
“Glad it helped.”
I knew I was testing him early with the witch stuff, but I wouldn’t hide that part of myself. Not ever again.
That pale eyebrow shot up as he gave me a bit of side-eye. “Spellwork?”
“Offerings to Brigid for my own spiritual practice, spells for clients to manifest things as simple as finding a job, or getting through periods of grief.”
He set the steaks aside and moved to the sink without saying a word. I could practically hear his brain working it all out.
I reached for my wine glass and took another healthy gulp, jolting when his arms came came around me from behind. “I’d heard from a few people that you were into tarot cards. Kinleigh is a little into that stuff.”
“Yeah, part of my business. I even do a podcast with my best friend Ryan.”
“Huh. Wow. I had no idea. So, it’s kind of a religion to you? The crystals and cards and all the plants I saw?”
After setting down my glass, I turned in his arms and laid my hands on his chest. “Very much so.” That was enough sharing for today. “Ready to go up?”
“Definitely.” He lowered his mouth to mine. “It makes you even more fascinating.”
I wanted to believe he meant that.
So very much.
Nine
