Prelude to a Witch, Amanda Lee [ebook reader web txt] 📗

though I’m careful who I acknowledge that to because I don’t want to look like a loon.”

Now I was curious. “Where have you met another witch?”

“Just like I won’t tell your secret, I won’t tell hers. Just suffice it to say that I’m more open to the paranormal world than you might guess. We need to compare notes, but it’s late and you’ve had a rough night. I’ll leave you two to each other. We can talk tomorrow.”

I nodded. “I’d like that.”

“We’ll talk,” Landon agreed. “You should know, I’ll die to protect Bay. If you’re lying about keeping her secret ... .” He trailed off.

Hannah said, “I know trust has to be earned. You can trust me.”

“I guess we’ll see.”

15

Fifteen

I moved with hesitancy upon waking the next morning. My back ached a bit, but the bath salts I’d thrown into the tub had done their job and I wasn’t feeling nearly as rough as I feared.

“Take a minute,” Landon murmured, stirring next to me. His fingers lightly trailed over my back. “How do you feel?”

“I’ve been through way worse than last night.”

“That wasn’t what I asked.”

“I’m okay, a little sore. Nothing to worry about.”

“Oh, right.” He let loose a raspy chuckle. “If only that were true.” He placed a gentle kiss on my forehead. “Be honest with me. Do you think you would do better if you stayed in bed all day?”

“Are you staying with me?”

“If I thought that would work, I would call in sick.”

“No, you wouldn’t.” That was laughable. “You would never rest during a murder investigation. Frankly, I’m insulted you’d try to run that nonsense on me.”

He rubbed his jaw with the hand that wasn’t working on my back. “You’re right. But you can spend the day in bed. I’ll even pick up breakfast and lunch for you like a good husband-to-be.”

“You’re already a good husband-to-be.” I carefully rolled on to my back and stretched my arms over my head. I did feel better than I expected. “I can’t back away from this any more than you can.”

“Fine.”

“I’m not trying to upset you.”

“I said it was fine. I didn’t really expect you to stay in bed, but one of these days I’m going to get my way on this.”

“Once this is behind us, we can both schedule a day to stay in bed. I’ll even cook for you so neither of us have to leave the guesthouse.”

“Don’t threaten me.”

I propped myself up on one elbow to stare down at him. “I can cook.”

He snorted.

“I can,” I insisted. “Just because I choose not to cook, doesn’t mean I can’t. I grew up watching my mother and aunts cook.”

“You have many fine qualities, including beauty, sweetness and a keen mind. But you burn toast.”

I was offended. “Maybe I like dark toast.”

“Burnt. Not dark, burnt.”

“I still maintain our toaster is faulty,” I grumbled, studying the ceiling. “What are we going to do about Hannah?”

“You opened that door. I was perfectly content pretending that you weren’t a witch.”

“She knew.”

“She suspected. She didn’t know until you admitted it.”

“I think we’ll do better working with her.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do.” He turned to his side and rested his hand on my stomach. “I’m not upset you told her, I just ... think we should talk about these things before they happen. You didn’t mention that she was digging as hard as she was.”

“That’s because she was only circling the subject in the library. I knew she was suspicious, but I couldn’t believe she’d just jump to that conclusion. I mean ... who does that?”

“Someone who has crossed paths with the paranormal before.”

“Yeah, I’m curious about that.”

“As am I. Her not telling us about it is a good sign, though.”

“I agree. She’s not the first one to find out the truth about us.”

“No, but I still think we should have protocol for situations like this.”

I grinned. “That’s so you. I love how you want to establish protocol. That’s such a man thing.”

“It’s the smart thing.”

“I think it’ll work out.”

“I hope you’re right, and not just because our lives could drastically change if the wrong person finds out.”

I’d been worried about the same thing, so I could hardly chastise him for saying it out loud. “I’ll do my best not to ruin your life.”

“Don’t say things like that. The only thing that would ruin my life is losing you. We’ll deal. I trust Hannah.”

“Even though she doesn’t have a crush on you?”

He scowled. “I’ll never live that down, will I?”

“No. It’s too cute.”

He sighed. “Honestly, thinking back, it makes sense. There were ... hints ... that she wasn’t as into me as most women are.”

“Ah, a way to boost your ego even in the face of defeat.”

“Ha, ha.” He started tickling my abdomen, causing me to squirm. “The only person I want to have a crush on me is you. As for Hannah, I never had reason to think she wasn’t trustworthy. I have hope that she’ll work with us. Is that what you need to hear?”

“Pretty much. I’d hate to be the one who opened my big mouth and put my family at risk. I always assumed that would be Aunt Tillie.”

He laughed. “I’m right there with you.” He nipped in for a kiss and then pushed his unruly hair from his face. “I’m starving. My stomach is about to lodge a formal complaint. Let’s head to the inn early so we can talk to Terry. It’s best he knows that the witch is out of the bag, so to speak.”

“He’ll probably be angry.”

“I don’t think so. He loves you too much. He’ll be worried, but he needs to know.”

I nodded. “I have to tell Mom and the others too. I only outed myself, but Hannah isn’t an idiot. She’ll figure out that the entire family is involved.”

“She will. I’m sure they’ll be fine.”

I figured otherwise, but there was only one way to find out.

CHIEF TERRY WAS AT THE TABLE WITH Aunt Tillie when we entered the dining room.