Page 100 of The Witch is Back

Okay, now he was getting annoyed. He gently loaded Hallie back in her enclosure for the moment, pausing to chuck her under the chin. Then he rounded on his pain-in-the-ass friend, bride-to-be and lover.

“We’ll make it easy. Do you like me?”

“Please. I’m not going to feed your ego.”

“It’s a simple question. And considering we were in bed last night, a damn pertinent one, I think.”

Color blossomed in her cheeks and her shoulders went up. “Of course I like you.”

“Good. I like you, too. A happy coincidence in a marriage. Emma, we said honesty.” He touched her hand. “What’s the deal here? Why are you so adamant about me leaving?”

Tell me, he all but willed. Trust me.

She stared at where they connected. An inhale lifted her shoulders and her head came up. She smiled, a shade rueful. “I’m not. Honest,” she insisted at his doubtful expression. “It just surprised me. It’s a change in plan. I thought you couldn’t wait to leave.”

“Well, I have gotten fond of Chicago.” He altered the contact to a gentle grip, using it to reel her in until he had his arms around her. He inhaled the scent of Emma, felt something settle inside him as her arms slid around his waist. He rested his chin on her head. “I’m not in any hurry to leave.” Not when his life was starting to feel...right.

Her breath stirred his shirt. “So you’re staying,” she said into his chest. “For a bit longer.”

“Yes.” He dropped a kiss on her head. “I’m staying.”

She didn’t say anything, but her hands tightened on his waist. After a moment, she lifted her head. The tension had mostly disappeared, leaving behind a smile that reached into his soul and cast away any lingering shadows. “Hallie’s glad to hear it.” Something behind him caught her attention. She lurched back, quick enough to give him whiplash. Or maybe that was from her change in emotions as she lost her smile and strode past him.

“Hey, Sloane. Where’re those going?”

Bastian turned to see a young girl, maybe twelve or thirteen, coming toward them with her arms full of boxes. She peered around the boxes with brown eyes that were both curious and cagey.

Manners jolted him to move. “Let me take those.”

“I got it.” Her voice was super quiet, but he’d been raised with Emma, so you could say his ear was tuned for it. She had retreated when he’d moved toward her, so he stopped in place.

“You sure? They look...awkward.”

“She’s fine.” Emma stepped in between them. She nudged her chin to the back. “I think Leah’s in there if you’re taking those to her.”

Bastian looked back and forth, then raised a hand. “Hi. I’m Bastian.”

The girl’s eyes widened. “You’re Bastian?”

He raised his eyebrows and glanced playfully at Emma. “Been talking about me to everyone, I see.”

Red flagged up on Emma’s cheeks as she herded the girl backward. “No.”

He didn’t see if the girl had tripped or if the top box had just been too heavy, but suddenly with a clatter, the boxes were on the floor.

“Excuse me, ma’am?” called someone from out near reception. A guy with a baseball cap on waved cheerfully. “Can we have some help real quick?”

Emma looked visibly torn. “Sloane, why don’t you go help?”

“Oh, no.” The teenager smiled so sweetly, Bastian could practically hear the birdsong. “I have to pick up all of this. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.” Some kind of undertone threaded her words.

“I can help her.” Bastian shooed Emma with a hand. “Promise I won’t get to the bottom of all your secrets.”

Emma’s smile was tight. A look passed between her and the girl before she turned on her heel and hurried to help the customer.

Bastian knelt and began to stack the scattered items back in the box. “So, it’s Sloane, right?” When she gave the barest hint of a nod, he said, “You been volunteering here long?”

The girl’s hair swung forward as she ducked her head. She was crouched, concentrating on putting items back in the box precisely. Her shoulders were lifted, a sign Bastian recognized. Shy now that the person she knew had disappeared. A mini-Emma. Good thing he had years of experience. “A while,” she said.

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