Page 9 of Paws for a Minute

His smile didn’t slip. It was the opposite; he actually widened the damn thing, making him look every bit the predator that he was. “Carwash.”

“Puffed-up rooster.”

“Well, that was helpful.”

“But you didn’t walk away. You said that when you used your safe word, you would remove yourself from the conversation. We’re still staring at each other, which means you didn’t. Walk. Away.”

He crossed his arms, shook his head, and then stopped shaking his head just long enough to push past her into the store.

“Hey!” she cried. “You can’t just come in here. We’re closed.”

“What are you going to do? Call the cops?” He laughed.

Alana swore under her breath. “I knew that you would be the kind of man who abused his power, and I was right.”

“I’m not abusing my power.”

“No? Then leave. What reason could you possibly have for barging into my house like this when you know that we are gonna be at each other’s throats at Lila and Mason’s tonight?”

“That is exactly why I came here to see you. I think we should walk over together and really sell this peace we have between us.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “And why should we do that?”

“Because you know they are not gonna believe us. They’re gonna tease us relentlessly. It’s better if we show up together while having a pleasant conversation.”

“And so you thought that you would show up here an hour or two early and what? We would chat for a little while?”

“Something like that, yeah.” He jutted his chin toward the green velvet curtain. “You know, I’ve never gone back there.”

“And you won’t,” she snapped, stepping in front of him, effectively blocking him from the curtain.

Cohen was well over six feet tall, and he was built like a man who didn’t mind physical labor. If he wanted to walk around her, he could.

That’s exactly what he did. He shouldered his way around her, earning himself a deep and annoyed sigh from Alana. He only looked back at her with a grin and wink.

The entire exchange caused her to nearly pass out. What was his game, anyway?

“Don’t go back there,” she urged, putting all of her annoyance in her voice.

He didn’t bite. “Way I see it. If you show me how this magic stuff works, I might not be so against it in town.” He pulled the curtain back and stepped into her witch’s living room ... where she did readings or greeted guests who were a little bit more into magic than the usual Half Moon Key resident.

“Holy shit,” he whistled loudly. “This is actually kinda cool.” He looked around like a little kid in a candy store. Alana knew the second he spotted the crystal ball. He pointed toward it, shaking his head. “Do you actually know how to use that?”

She didn’t know how to answer, so she chose the truth. “That was my Nana’s. I don’t see much of anything in there, but I like to keep it out for her. It reminds me of her, and I don’t get so sad that she’s gone.” Alana only stopped because her throat started to close up from sharing so many details of her life.

She waited for Cohen to tease her, to say something harsh that would make her anger blast on high. She almost wanted him too.

What Alanadidn’twant was for his eyes to turn soft and kind. She didn’t want the pity and sympathy in his gaze. “I’m sorry you’ve lost your people.”

She nodded. “Thanks.” Her voice was too thick to sound like her, but he had the grace not to point it out.

“What tool was your mother’s favorite?” he asked instead.

Alana smiled despite the insults she wanted to hurl at him. “The books. She collected magic books in all languages and styles. It was her thing. Not much of a witch when it came to clairvoyance, but she was good with spells.” She swallowed hard.

Cohen gave her a smile. It was sad and full of understanding. “I’m sorry for prying. It makes you sad to think about them …”

“Sad?” she sighed. “Maybe not sad, exactly, but I am a bit …” She clamped her mouth shut.

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