Page 76 of Fairy Godmothers Aren't Cheap

She was holding my hand with both of hers now.

I chuckled. “Those are shadows, Char.”

She pressed closer to the wall while I tried the door. “Locked.” I stepped back, my right hand still in Char’s, debating whether I could kick in the door. That would be fun. Really fun.

As I stepped back from the door, I could see through the thick dust that nobody had been up here in a very long time.

“You’re not worried you’ll lose your balance, and then your footing, and then your life?” Her tone was dramatic, but it failed to mask her discomfort. She was gently pulling me closer, away from the platform’s edge. “One, two, three, gone.”

I focused on her and the endearing concern she had for me. Then I dropped a light kiss on her lips. She didn’t pull back, sending fire and happiness through my veins.

CHAPTER24

~ Char ~

Before I could pull James in for another kiss, he leaned back. His jaw was tight with what seemed to be restraint, like he wanted to devour me. I felt myself involuntarily tip my weight toward him, offering myself up.

Instead, he let out a shaky breath and turned away, facing the locked door. Mischief flashed in his eyes again. “Curious what’s inside?”

I nodded, one hand on the wall beside me, afraid to look over the expanse of openness to my left.

He gestured to the door. “Mind if I try?”

I wasn’t sure what he meant since it was locked, but I shrugged and said, “Be my guest.”

Before I could finish my sentence, he kicked the door, the loud noise ricocheting off the metal walls. I jumped, nearly falling off my step and tumbling down the rest.

He gave the door another kick, and this time the latch gave.

I gasped at his strength. “How did you do that?” Talk about sexy!

He strode into the room, leaving tracks in the thick dust. He turned back, unimpressed by what he’d discovered, which was nothing.

I surreptitiously inspected the door and doorframe. Splintered wood bent inward. Dang. I followed him into the dark room, using my phone as a flashlight. The area was the size of my apartment bedroom—not that big—and it was empty, aside from a cardboard box and a wooden crate. There was nothing but layers of dust in the crate and box, now marred by my fingerprints. Not even a fixture was attached to the loose wire hanging where a light had once been.

Somehow it was all incredibly disappointing.

I wiped my hands on my jeans, coughing at the disturbed dust.

“No gold,” James sighed, checking the empty crate.

“No gold,” I echoed.

But I’d been kissed, and he’d held my hand. I felt lighter than I had in days, because now I knew that there had been no midnight-breaking kiss-me spell, and that James was still interested.

CHAPTER25

~ James ~

Idesperately wanted to sweep Char into my arms and show her just how much I’d thought about her over the past week. How much I desired her in this very moment.

But I feared that if I pressed too hard, I might lose her. She was skittish. Shy. One to take it slow.

There was a reason I’d booked myself a trip to Corsica next week. I needed to give the woman a bit of space, so I didn’t freak her out with my readiness to march her down the aisle.

It was also entirely possible that I was reading her signs incorrectly, my own wants painting over the subtle hints she was sending me. Could her shyness be reluctance? Was her lack of recent availability a hint to back off?

I didn’t think so, but I was starting to realize just how many fears she had around relationships. And that meant she had a lot more uncertainty than I did. The things I took for granted, such as a marriage that would last, were the same things she assumed she’d never have.

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