Page 20 of Feverburn

“My mom was a rambling rose, so I grew up all over New England. But her family is from Allentown, Pennsylvania. They disowned her when she had me as a teenager and came out of the broom closet.”

“Broom closet? Is that a witch joke?”

“Yep,”I smiled at him before pushing the back door of Silver Springs open.“As if being a pregnant teen isn’t bad enough for a Catholic family. She stuck to her guns, though. This was decades ago when people weren’t acclimated to witchy stuff in mainstream society. She’s what you’d call a green witch, you know, really into herbs and plants.”

“She sounds like abadass. Did she raise you alone?”

“Yeah, it was just her and I. Thick as thieves. She never brought boyfriends around or married. But she carved out a good life for us. I always had what I needed and her in my corner.”

The next hour went by, much like the days prior. He wasn’t staying long, so I made him a drink in a to-go cup and typed my phone number on the label, hoping he’d see it. I put on his favorite playlist and tackled inventory while he painted clear gloss on the tables and added final touches to the mural. There wasn’t a minute of awkward silence. It was like I put a quarter in Carson, and he couldn't stop talking. I could’ve sworn the man had his jaw wired shut for years and could finally speak. It put a thrill in me.

He was quiet until he wasn’t.

I was honored to be this listening ear for him. On top of all that, he made me laugh. My cheeks were already hurting.

Walking past him, I saw what he was painting with a lurch of recognition.“Carson, why do I feel you’re painting that faerie to look like me?”

He let out a chuckle from where he sat on a chair, refusing to turn around to make eye contact.“I think you’re projecting, sweetheart.”

“Why is shenaked?”I gritted out, trying to hide my amusement.

He flashed me asmuglook.“Why not?”He turned back around, adding more details with small brushstrokes.“Remind me, I didn’t see much in the woods or when you were in the tub. Do the curtains match the drapes?”

I picked up a blueberry scone and chucked it at the back of his head. It bounced with a distinct plunk, causing a cackle toescapeme. He shot to his feet to chase me. While running, I exclaimed,“You know what they say—if the roof is rusted, the basement is flooded!”

His jaw dropped as I tried to run past him to the office, but he lunged in front of the hallway, making me squeal while I diverted to the left to run into the walk-in refrigerator.

He held up his paintbrush, threatening to paint me.“Not my cheesy wolf shirt!” I exclaimed asI ran from corner to corner to avoid him, grabbing a bottle of caramel drizzle as a weapon.

“You wouldn’t.”

I wiggled my eyebrows as I darted to the other corner of the refrigerator. Ditching the drizzle, I picked up a can of whipped cream and pulled off the lid.“Oh, I would.”

Carson shook his head, fighting a smile. He took a single step my way, hands up to relay a surrender.“You’reruthless.”

“You think you’re the first guy to ask if I’m a fire crotch? Like I haven’t heard every redhead joke under the sun.”

His eyelashes fluttered with a darkened look cast downward at me, his voice now low.“I would never call you that. And I’d be so privileged to ever know the real answer.”He stepped closer.“Rosie, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever had in front of me. I want to keep it that way.”

“Go on.”I used the phrase he said often, pitting his words against him.

“Since you rolled into town, all I can think about is you. How close yet so far away you are from me. And how I’d like to close that gap.”

He took another step, closing the gap.“Go on.”

“I think you think of me, too, and I make you nervous.”

“Yes,”I whispered, staring into his eyes.“Go on.”

“And I think about how I’d like to treat you right and make you never regret moving to Pine Bluff.” He moved closer, his broad chest blocking my view while his scent wafted in my senses. His energy tendrils mingled with mine, ensnaring me in a delicioustrapthat was all Carson, all masculine energy.

He held my chin as his eyes flashed to my lips as he lowered for akiss, freezing when a singsong,“Rooooosie!”echoed behind us.

I let out a heavy sigh as he stepped back. The fridgeconcealedus but left us nowhere to run. He glanced over his shoulder, then back to me as he picked up the hem of my shirt to dash his brush across my hip bone, leaving his mark. I swatted him, trying not to giggle as I quickly snapped into a lie.

“Thanks for grabbing that. I put it too high up!”I said it loud enough to ensure Kaylee heard. Picking up a box of creamer, I walked out of the refrigerator with him trailing behind me. She dug in her purse for her key fob, then stared out the window, clicking it to ensure her Jeep was locked.

“All finished,”he said, gesturing to the mural.

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