Page 38 of Love's a Witch
Immediately wanting to help, I rolled my eyes, making a goofy face. I was rewarded with a small smile, a flush of pleasure, and never had I felt more powerful.
“Mum, come on.” Sloane had tugged her mother’s arm, but she’d just thrown her off.
“It’s a damn shame, is what it is. Robbery.” Her mum spied the pile of presents on the counter, and I grimaced, knowing what was coming. “I guess only posh people are welcome here.”
“Everyone is welcome in my store,” Dorothy said from behind the counter, where she blithely rang up my mum’s items.
“Well,Ithink they’re a fair price,” my mum had chimed in, trying to help.
“Och, sod off.” With that charming rebuttal, Sloane’s mum had sailed from the store, slamming the shop door before Sloane could get outside.
“Never you mind her, Sloane. She’s just having a rough day,” Dorothy called, and I could have hugged the shopkeeper.
“Um, thanks…” Sloane had given me one more embarrassed glance before skittering outside, and I’d never wanted to follow someone more than I had in that moment. But we didn’t really know each other, and there was nothing I could do to protect her from the wrath of her mum.
“Such a shame.” My mum had turned to Dorothy, her eyes alight with excitement as they always were when she knew she’d get a chance for a good gossip. “You know, I heard they’re splitting up.”
“None of that nonsense here, darling. We don’t talk about people’s marriages. Do we?” Dorothy had leveled my mum a look so severe that she’d immediately shut up and I’d been left with oh so many questions. Sadness filled me. I wished I’d had the courage to give Sloane a gift from the shop, to maybe make her Christmas a touch nicer.
Two weeks later she’d been gone.
Shaking my head of the memory, I made my way to Sloane’s house, my memories making my intentions murky.
When Sloane opened the door, looking sleep-rumpled and cozy in a loose jumper and leggings, I had to pause as my thoughts scrambled in my brain, and momentarily I forgot why I’d even come here. Flashes of the red silk were burned into my brain, and the contrast of curvy, sexy Sloane draped in silk, and warm, sleepy Sloane, looking like she’d just had a proper tumble, made self-control difficult. Something I never normally struggled with. Swallowing against my suddenly dry throat, I held up a bag.
“I come bearing gifts.”
“That’s suspicious.” Sloane crossed her arms over her chest. The wind gusted at my back, sending a dance of snowflakes into her house, but she held her ground.
“Invite the man in and stop letting the heat out, Sloane.”
I grinned as Sloane grimaced, mutiny on her face.
“Aye, Sloane. Listen to your grandmother.” I couldn’t help but taunt her. I didn’t know what it was about the stubborn set of her chin, or her absolute refusal to do my bidding, that got my back up, but I simply couldn’t resist poking at her.
All curves and softness, and sharp edges and wicked intelligence. It had to be tough, never having roots, but she seemed to have managed to adapt her life to this curse, and with a resilience that had to be admired.
Sloane stood back and motioned me inside, silently seething, and I closed the door behind me, the wind battling me to do so.
“How are you, Knox?” Broca asked from her perch in the lounge chair. Her wink was as sassy and colorful as she was. Who knew a neon-yellow silk pajama set with a peacock-green robe would work together?
“Och, well enough, I suppose. The snow is causing a lot of trouble, and I’ve been on call with helping where I can.”
“It’s sorry I am for that.” Broca shook her head. “Such a shame.”
I opened my mouth—
“If you suggest we leave town one more time I’m going to cut a chunk of your hair out.”
My eyes widened to where Sloane stood at the counter, cutting scallions with a pair of scissors, and I patted the back of my hair. I liked it just fine as it was, so it appeared I needed to proceed with caution.
“Is that a gift, Knox?” Broca eyed the bag in my hand, redirecting the conversation.
“Aye. For your wee one. I heard you had a new addition.”
The scissors clattered to the counter, and Sloane crossed her arms over her chest, a mulish expression on her face.
“You brought a gift for Blue?”
