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“What happened?”
“A potion didn’t go as planned.”
I finally took a step away from him, mainly because I needed to remember how to breathe and having him so close—well, it made things my body took for granted, less taken for granted.
A little twinkle came to Andre’s eyes, and he snapped his fingers. A clean gust of wind raced through the room, clearing the smoke and the smell, and a bit of the general gloom that had seemed to be hovering. In its wake, it left an effervescent feeling, like I’d just had a good night’s sleep and a cold drink.
“What was that?” I asked him, awed.
“Magician magic,” he answered with a little wink. “Just a little pick me up. Which brings me back to my reason for dropping in.” He put a gentle hand on my back and steered me towards the front of the store.
There was a little cardboard carrier resting on the counter, with two takeaway cups of coffee still gently steaming in it.
Andre smiled. “Do you have time for a little break?”
“Yes,” I answered, fervently, thinking I’d never needed a little break more than I did at that very moment. I needed that coffee, badly. I’d felt like I was dragging all day, and every time I started to relax, the memories of my nightmare would flare up again. Or a horrible customer would walk through my door.
Andre put the cup of liquid heaven into my hands, and the first sip had my eyes fluttering closed. Only the fact that I would never, ever be able to face him again kept the embarrassing noises from spilling out of my throat.
Between his Magician magic, and the caffeine, I was starting to actually feel human again. Or at least less likely to burst into tears if one more thing went wrong.
“So,” Andre said, settling an elbow on the counter as he sipped at his own drink. “How is the planning going for the festival?”
I had to swallow before answering. “Pretty good. We’ve got most things settled now. Oh! That was what I wanted to ask you.” I hastily put my cup down on the counter as I looked up at him and found those beautiful and deep blue eyes focused on me. There was a little smirk on his lips that suddenly seemed to be the sexiest thing I’d ever witnessed. God, did I have it bad.
“Something you wanted to ask me?” he reminded me after a long lapse.
“Oh, right... do you think it might be possible for you to do a short magic show at the festival? I’m still looking for a few entertainment acts to fill up a couple of blocks. I was thinking you could do it before the big bonfire.”
“Oh.”
I nodded. “It doesn’t have to be anything involved or difficult. I was just thinking something fun, while everyone is standing around, waiting for the fire to light. Maybe you could incorporate the bonfire lighting into the act? I mean, only if you want to, of course. Or... you could just—”
“Poppy, take a breath.”
I took a breath. “Or you could also just attend the festival and not perform,” I finished, in a mousy voice.
He just looked at me and chuckled, his eyes full of warmth and mirth. When he reached out to take my hand, I let him. His fingers felt warm and when he wrapped them around mine, my heart started to pound. What was it about this man that made me feel like a teenager again?
“You are quite adorable when you ramble.”
“Was I rambling?” I asked, eyes going wide as I realized I was most definitely rambling. The flush that had been fading slammed back to life full force. “Oh, God, I was rambling.” I then did this weird, high-pitched laugh. “If you’re busy, or you just don’t want to perform, of course I understand.”
“I would be delighted to.”
The tension eased out of my shoulders, my own lips curling up. “Really?”
“Of course,” he said, his tone warm as he looked down at me. “I have a few ideas, actually. Perhaps we could discuss them together—”
“Oh, sure.”
“—Over dinner.”
“Oh.”
“Say, Friday evening?”
I sucked in a startled breath and swallowed hard for the nth time. “Oh.”
