Page 8 of One Enchanted Evening

“Okay, you’re forgiven.”Shetook another sip and then laughed to herself. “Maybemy fortune wasn’t about a man but about this drink.”

“Whatfortune?” askedBeckett, leaning on the bar.

“Fromyour fortune telling machine in the back there.”

“Esmerelda?”Beckettscratched at his head.

“Yeah.Iput my quarter in and my fortune just said ‘around the corner.’Itwas supposed to be about love, butIguess chocolate is an adequate substitute.”

Beckettfroze, a bewildered expression on his face. “Uh…about that machine…”

“What?” she asked, andJackallowed himself to glance over.Fuck, she was pretty.Andof course, she had a tiny bit of whipped cream clinging to her lip, which made his mind go to absolutely filthy places.

Stop.Hockey.

Beckettcleared his throat. “Itdoesn’t work.It’snot even plugged in, because when it’s on, it shocks people.”

Shelaughed. “Uhhuh.Sure.”

“No,I’mserious.”

“Seriousabout messing with tourists.”Shestarted to laugh again, but it trailed off at the look onBeckett’sface.

“Iswear,I’mnot.”

Shepaused, then gaveBecketta deeply skeptical look before retreating around the corner.Shecame back a moment later, huge brown eyes—not thatJackhad noticed how pretty her eyes were, because he wasn’t looking—onBeckett.

“Youunplugged it.”

Heshrugged. “I’vebeen behind the bar the entire time.Askhim,” he said, tipping his head inJack’sdirection.Jacksighed, not wanting to be dragged into this.Heappreciated whatBeckettwas trying to do, and on a different night, maybe he’d letBeckettplay wingman.Butnot tonight.

“Hashe really?” she asked, sliding onto the stool next toJack, her hands wrapped around her mug.

Eventhough he wasn’t looking for company tonight,Jackalso wasn’t rude, so he turned to face her, holding up two fingers. “Scoutshonor.He’sbeen back here ever since you walked in.”

Sheblinked slowly as she studied his face, and heat crawled up his spine. “You’rethe cop,” she said softly, openly staring at him.Whenhe didn’t say anything, mostly because he seemed to have a hard time connecting his tongue and his brain when he was looking at her, she continued. “Youheld the door for me earlier today, at the town hall.Youwere just leaving, and you were on the phone…”Shetrailed off, spots of pink appearing on her cheeks. “Youwinked at me.”

Themoment came rushing back to him, and a small smile pulled at his lips. “Iremember.”

Sheswallowed and then took a sip of her drink, her eyes darting back and forth betweenJackand the hockey game. “Thankyou.Again.Forholding the door.”

“You’rewelcome,” saidJack, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck.Howdid he, who flirted witheveryone, have no words right now? “You, uh…Ihope you liked the town hall.”Hecringed inwardly.Beckett’seyebrows rose as he watched, hiding a laugh disguised as a cough behind his fist.

“Isthe machine really broken?” she asked. “BecauseIswear,Iput a quarter in and got this.”Shepulled out the small scrap of paper she’d allegedly gotten from the machine and dropped it onto the bar.

“It’sreally broken,” saidBeckett. “Butmaybe oldEsmerelda’sgot some real magic in her.”

Shelooked up at him, her eyebrows knitting together. “Realmagic?”Jackcould hear the skepticism dripping from her voice.

“Sure.Thetown’s full of it.”

“Fullof something,” she muttered, taking another sip of her drink.

Jackpicked up the slip of paper, tracing his fingers over the printed ink.Itwas still fresh.Thewoman was telling the truth.Ashe touched the paper, a warm tingle made its way up his arm.

Havinggrown up inGossamerFalls,Jackwas well-versed in the town’s mythology.Forthe most part, he didn’t put much stock in it.Itwas just a story, designed to entice tourists to visit the town.Afterall, he’d been to the falls withNorahunder the light of the full moon way back in high school, and look how that had ended up.

Thenagain, he didn’t exactly have an explanation for why the unplugged and broken machine was spitting out fortunes, even if they were nonsensical ones.Andhe’d watched his brotherAdamfall hard and fast just this past fall after his now-girlfriendHazelhad visited the falls on a whim.Adamhadn’t believed untilHazelhad come into his life.

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