Page 13 of With This Witch
Petra feels a slight blush creep up her neck. Who knew a demon could say something so simple, and yet it wants her to immediately drop her pants?
“Thanks,” she says from behind him as she exits her room.
Lachlan turns, then freezes in front of her. Petra smiles dangerously as she does a spin so he can fully appreciate her outfit. After a moment, Lachlan shakes himself out of his stupor and can only say, “Wow.”
“That good, huh?” Petra teases.
“It’s so good; I may need a minute before we can go out in public,” he responds, his voice huskier.
Satisfied, Petra picks a pair of black heels, a coat, and a purse from the front closet. She turns her back to him and bends over to put her shoes on, maybe intentionally giving him a nice view of her derriere.
“Not fair!” he says, walking up behind her. “Don’t get me wrong, it’s a gorgeous view, but this is unfair. I didn’t know we were playing dirty tonight.”
“Well, now you know, pookie.”
“Yes, I do.”
“If we want people to believe this is real, we need to act like we normally would on a date and as if we are interested in each other. So welcome to a date with Petra Rose.” She slides her coat on and places her purse on her shoulder. “You ready, snickerdoodle?”
He takes a deep breath. “As I’ll ever be.” He opens the door and motions for her to lead the way. “Also, ‘pookie’? ‘Snickerdoodle’?”
Petra laughs. “Just trying out some new nicknames, pumpkin.”
Lachlan’s head tips back dramatically. “Ugh… they are only going to get worse, aren’t they?”
“I don’t know what you mean, turtle dove.”
He sighs, shaking his head at her, though she sees the corner of his mouth quirking into a smile as they step into the hall to go on their first date.
A short time later, they arrive at Axe Me a Question, a combined recreation business with axe-throwing, trivia nights, and an arcade.
“Interesting choice,” Petra says.
“Well, I know you’ve had a rough couple of days, and I figured you could use either some old-school fun or the chance to get the bad energy out.” He holds the door open for her as they enter the building. “So which would you prefer?”
“Astute observation skills. I approve. They also have a bar, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Why don’t we grab some drinks first, then maybe we can start with the axe-throwing? I do have some things to work through, and that sounds like a super fun way to do it. Then, depending on how the night goes,” she says, winking at him playfully, “we can go to the arcade and see if you have the skills to win me a prize.”
Lachlan sucks in a breath, his eyes flaring with what looks like excitement. “That sounds like a challenge, shmoopie,” he says before immediately grimacing. “Nope, nope, nope. That doesn’t sound right coming from me.”
“Maybe it is.” She laughs, feeling lighter already.
“Alright. Well, I’ll grab the first round, but the loser gets the next,” Lachlan says, stopping mid-turn toward the bar. He turns back toward her and leans in to whisper in her ear. “Oh, and Petra? I absolutely have the skills to win your prize.”
As he walks away, Petra sits at one of the high-top tables and fans herself with her hand.Okay. I see you.
Returning with two drinks, he sets down an amaretto sour for Petra and a whiskey sour for himself.
“I realized when you walked away that I didn’t tell you what I wanted to drink. How did you know this is my fave?” she asks.
“Well, one, I’m a bartender. It’s kind of my thing,” he says, stirring his drink. “Two, you order this at least once a week when you come into the Acorn.”
“How do you remember all this? How many people do you see a night, let alone in a week?” She feels her cheeks warm as her magic sparks under her skin.
“You’re kind of hard to forget, Miss Rose.”
