Page 57 of Shadow Witch

He tossed the pencil back into the drawer and held the paper up with a grin. “Oh, baby, this is going to be a winner. Paranormal romance won’t know what hit ‘em.”

Devon shuffled back in, drying his hair with a towel. “Oh, yeah, how’s your book coming? Did you get those pictures I sent?”

“I did,” Dewey answered with a nod as he folded his note page. “I think they’ll work well. I forwarded them to my cover designer. She’s going to try them out.”

“That’s awesome. This is so cool, right, Paige?”

“Yeah, it’s super cool that our real names and now, apparently our real faces will be plastered all over a cheesy, steamy paranormal romance.”

“Hey, it’s not cheesy,” Dewey said with a wag of his finger at her. His features morphed into a coy grin. “It is steamy, though.”

“Well, I can’t wait to read it,” Devon said.

Paige’s jaw unhinged as she stared at him and shook her head. He closed the distance between them, lowering his voice. “Try to be supportive, Paige. He’s excited.”

“I’m not going to be supportive of Dewey’s efforts to make money by cramming a bunch of steamy sex scenes into a book that’s loosely based on us and has our real names in it. No, pass.”

“What if it was a clean romance?” Devon asked. “Could you get on board then? Because I’ve read a few clean romances that are pretty good, actually. Very riveting.”

“Are you serious?” Paige asked.

“Wow, closeted romance reader, eh, Dimples?” Dewey questioned.

Devon shrugged. “I like a happily ever after as much as the next guy.”

Dewey retrieved the pen from the drawer and scrawled on his paper again. “Reads romance.”

“I can’t listen to any more of this. I’m going to shower and get ready to almost die again today.”

“Also the dress fitting!” Dewey called after her.

She rolled her eyes as she stormed into the bathroom, mumbling to herself about how ridiculous her life had become. “I thought when I got a job as a librarian, my life would be better. Instead, it’s just ridiculous.”

Under the cascading hot water, she braced herself for the day's hectic agenda, from the battles ahead to the dress shopping. She couldn’t decide which prospect was more daunting.

With a sigh, she stepped out of the shower, toweled off, and pulled her clothes on. When she shuffled back into the bedroom, she found Drucinda had joined the group. “There you are. Good, let’s head down to breakfast. Devon needs sustenance before his battle.”

“I’m pumped,” he said, smashing his fist into his opposite palm. “Paigey, we’re going to be one step closer to being husband and wife after this duel.”

“Please stop calling me Paigey. I don’t like it.”

“Oh, right, I guess you prefer Kitten,” he said, his voice laced with ire.

“I don’t. Just use my name. Paige. Just say Paige.”

“I like Paigey. It’s cute without being degrading,” Drucinda said. “I have a nickname. You don’t see me pitching a fit when people call me Dru.”

“Fine, call me whatever you want,” Paige said as she threw her arms in the air.

“Ooh, someone’s not a morning person,” Devon said with a coy smile. “You hangry?”

“I’m not hangry,” Paige said through clenched teeth. “Let’s just go eat.”

“Sounds good to me,” Dewey said. “I’m starving. Hey, Devon, can I trust that you’ll wipe the floor with Henry today? I’d like to win back what I lost on the bets yesterday.”

“Of course, man. I’m all over this. You can count on me.” Devon pulled the door open and they shuffled through into the hall.

“What is it like to be that cocky, I wonder?” Paige said as he strode down the hall, talking strategy with Drucinda.

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