Page 28 of Made

“Or fishing with your brother.”

“Or withyou! But at one time reading was a reliable recreation.”

I waggled my head. “Well, sure. I know that.”

“Did you have something you want me to read?”

“No.”

“Alright. Full disclosure.” He grinned. “I saw the movie.”

“Aha! Caught you in a semi-untruth!”

“You did notcatchme in anything. I volunteered.”

“Hmmm. Which one?”

“Which one what?

“Which movie version?”

“Oh. The one with Ralph Fiennes. Great score. Worthy of John Williams.”

“Score?”

“The music? Couldn’t say enough about it. Wonderful. Blissful even.”

“Uh-huh. I liked that version. Points for knowing how to pronounce his first name.”

“John?”

“No. Ralph.”

Keir chuckled. “You give points too easily. I might know that because I’m English. Or it could mean I have too much time on my hands.”

“You have too much time on your hands? Wow. Wish I could say that.”

“Liar. It takes a lot of time to be the magistrate and the social chairwoman of Hallow Hill. Otherwise known as Gossip in Chief. But you fill your time with those things because you like being busy.”

“Wait a minute. I amnotthe chief gossip or whatever. While we’re at it, I’m not social chairwoman of Hallow Hill either.”

With a scoff, he said, “Who manipulated John David into throwing four blow-out galas a year?”

I sniffed, but couldn’t suppress a smile. “Me.”

“Who hosts Legendary Lunch?”

“Guilty.”

“Who organized the contest for best Yule decorations on the green?”

“I did. Oh, my gods, Keir! I have to get to the shop and give Maggie and Dolan my plans for decorating this year. I got distracted by my tea with John David.”

“It’s too bad you don’t have anything to do.”

“Ha. Ha. And bye-bye.”

As I turned to go, Keir said. “Did you ask that vampire to have those chocolate chutney mini pies again?”

---