Page 58 of All My Witches
Landon shifted his eyes to me. “What do youthink?”
I wasn’t sure what to think. “I don’t know.” I ran my hand over his chest, resting it on top of his heart and smiling. “The color is nice on you. The silk is a bit much. I actually prefer the bare chest, but I can tell you’re starting to feel self-conscious. I don’t think it’s thatbad.”
Landon rested his hand on top of mine, keeping it where it was so I could feel the steady beat of his heart. “I like being shirtless just fine … when it’s you and me alone. Solving crimes and fighting enemies shirtless is just … not how Iwork.”
“It’s how soap Landonworks.”
“Yes, well, I think Jericho is a moron.” Landon took me by surprise when he leaned forward and kissed my forehead. “How are you holding up? We didn’t get a chance to talk about what happened while we wereseparated.”
“Nothing much happened on our end. We talked to that loser Hutch. We went to the waterfall. We found a footprint. We went to the cabin. That’sit.”
“That’s not nearly as bad as I imagined.” Landon swayed back and forth, his arms loose around me, the motion somehow soothing. “I was worried aboutyou.”
“Funnily enough, I wasn’t worried about you. I knew you’d beokay.”
“Lila tried to kiss me. That’s pretty far fromokay.”
“Yet you survived. We’re together again.” I pressed the side of my head to his chest and briefly shut my eyes. “I’m tired. I know we’re really in our bed at The Overlook, sleeping, but I’m tired all thesame.”
“That’s because this is a busy world.” Landon stroked my hair. “How much longer do you think we’ll be stuckhere?”
“Until we reach the end of thestory.”
“And there’s no hope for reprieve, right? She won’t let us off early for good behavior, willshe?”
I chuckled, amused. “Have you ever known Aunt Tillie to give up before she gets the outcome shewants?”
“No, but … I guess I was trying to delude myself that we would be out of thissoon.”
“I don’t believe we have terribly long left here, but I also don’t think we’re close to being done yet. She built a continuous story. You know darned well she’ll be the star when we get to theend.”
“Yeah, I think we all know that.” Landon kissed the corner of my mouth and then released me. “Let’s see what fresh hell she’s stirred up for us next,huh?”
I nodded and turned back, pursing my lips when I saw Thistle’s glare. “What?”
“I can’t believe you guys are the leading couple,” Thistle complained. “Clove was right. You’re boring. That thing you guys just did? Yeah, it wasboring.”
I heaved out a sigh. “I’m more than willing to cede my leading lady title if it means Marcus will be the one getting slapped around from here on out. Maybe he’ll have his shirt ripped off for a change. How does thatsound?”
“I’m fine with it,” Thistle replied. “Marcus looks smoking hot without ashirt.”
“Are you saying Landondoesn’t?”
Thistle shrugged. “I just happen to think Marcus looks better … and I’ve seen both of them thanks to this littletrip.”
Now it was my turn to frown. “I’m pretty sure Landon looks better without his shirton.”
“Oh, thank you, sweetie,” Landon drawled. “I’m so glad you picked this to fight about and not my honor when Lila was throwing herself atme.”
I ignored the dig. “Marcus is nice, but Landon isbetter.”
Thistle’s eyes flashed with anger at the same moment the sky illuminated with faux lightning. Thistle and I turned away from each other at the same time, our potential fight forgotten as we stared at thesky.
“Did you see that?” Thistle narrowed her eyes. “It’s like lightning except … it’snot.”
“It’s a lightning effect,” Sam supplied. “I know because I’ve been considering doing similar things for the barge this upcoming season. I want to be able to simulate thunderstorms. I think the guests will really enjoyit.”
“So it’s not really a storm,” Landon mused. “We’re not really outside, are we?” He lifted his head and stared at the black sky. There was no ceiling there, and yet it was obvious we were in an enclosed space of some sort. “How come we’re notoutside?”
