Page 74 of Sweetwater and the Witch

“It does if you consider the possibility they think that dramatic scene was an indication you and I are a lot more emotionally involved than client and matchmaker ought to be.”

“Well, crap.”

“Way to stroke my ego. I have to tell you, it’s already taken quite a beating.”

“Sorry,” she muttered.

“Don’t apologize. Just tell me if you think it might be true,” Ethan said.

“True that we are a lot more emotionally involved than a client and matchmaker ought to be? Oh, yeah. It’s definitely true. We have recently been through some major bonding experiences, and I owe you big-time for getting rid of two people who tried to murder me. Yep. We’re involved.”

“I agree. I also think we should acknowledge that there is a strong physical attraction between us.”

She thought about the kiss in the room at the Rendezvous Inn.

“Yep,” she said.

“As far as I’m concerned, that means we are not on a fake date. It’s a real date.”

She caught her breath. “This is so not a good idea.”

“Has it ever crossed your mind that you tend to be a bit overcontrolling?”

She exhaled deeply. “My talent—”

“The fire witch thing. I understand. You do a fine job of controlling your psychic ability, but you don’t have to control it when you’re with me.”

She relaxed a little. “It doesn’t make you nervous.”

“Nope.”

“You don’t want to run experiments on me.”

“Nope.”

“You don’t think I’m a real witch.”

“Well—”

She narrowed her eyes in warning.

Ethan stretched out a hand, caught her chin, and tipped up her face. “Let’s just say that when I’m with you I believe in magic.”

“Ethan,” she breathed. She turned toward him and wrapped her arms around his neck.“Ethan.”

He wasn’t talking Covenant Marriage. He hadn’t mentioned any sort of marriage. But he was right. They hadn’t had sex, but they shared a relationship that could only be described as intimate. They had been through a lot together in the past few days and the attraction between them was undeniable. The reason the fake date had felt so wrong tonight was precisely because she had wanted it to be real.

“Yes,” she said. She took a deep breath and prepared to jump off the cliff. “I am emotionally involved with you, damn it.”

Energy shifted in the atmosphere. Ethan’s eyes burned.

“I guess that’s a step up from an outright rejection,” he said.

He started to lower his mouth to hers.

“Wait,” she said. “I think I should fire you as a client before this goes any further. Professional ethics.”

“So fire me,” he said against her mouth.

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