Page 49 of The Witch is Back

“It’s not a date.”

“Uh-huh.” Leah smiled with a cheery air, switching hats from annoying best friend to shelter volunteer as two men holding hands walked into the airy reception. “Hi, how can I help you today?”

The shorter of the two, with curling blond hair, beamed back. “We’re here to pick up Winston.”

Leah’s smile turned gooey. “Congratulations! It’s an amazing thing you’re doing.”

“We can’t wait. We bought out the pet store.”

The taller affectionately squeezed his partner’s hand. “He’s going to be spoiled rotten.”

“No such thing. So we have most of the paperwork already completed, so if you can just fill out these last few forms I’ll go get Winston.”

The paperwork was completed in minutes and soon Leah was back with a French bulldog that was completely black but for a white tail. It wagged like crazy and he jerked on the lead when he saw the two men.

“He knows his daddies already,” Leah commented with a laugh.

“Hey, boy.” The shorter blond bent to his haunches, held out his arms, and the room filled with his laughter as the dog bounded over and scrabbled to get onto his knees.

They left happy, and with them went Emma’s reprieve.

“So what does this mean? Are you attracted to him?”

Emma wasn’t sure if it was humans in general or Leah in particular that jumped to conclusions like a cat on a fleeing mouse but either way, she wasn’t letting the subject go.

“I told you. It’s dinner. We had it all out, what happened in the past. He apologized. We’re...” She circled a shoulder irritably. “Trying to figure out where to go from there.”

“I know, I saw the cool tattoo change.”

Emma tilted her wrist to the light and stared at the new addition. It was beyond weird to think more branches would descend from this, ultimately spelling out their compatibility and power as a couple. It was beyond weird to think of them as a couple.

She shrugged it off. “We’re actually trying to get to a place where we might be friends again now that it’s behind us. He suggested a friendly dinner. That’s all.”

“But is that all you want to be? Friends? Or does he hope—do you hope—that it’ll lead to something more romantic?”

“No.” It was decisive. “I went down that road before. We’re getting married; we’re better off as friends. If we can even be that. I still don’t know if I trust him.” Not to mention everything she was keeping from him...

“That makes no sense.” Her friend pursed her lips. “So if he kissed you, you’d...?”

Emma’s body flooded with heat then chilled in rapid succession. The garden provided an excellent example of what might happen if Bastian kissed her. Again. “That won’t happen.”

Eyebrows arched, Leah looked far from convinced. And she didn’t even know about the first kiss. Emma had kept that from everyone. She knew just how they’d react, and it hadn’t meant anything. Not really.

Switching tactics, Emma jabbed a finger at her. “I thought you were on my side.”

“I am.”

“Then why are you pushing for this to be a date?”

“Because.” Leah’s shoulders lifted. “I want you to be in a happy marriage with a man who deserves you.”

Emma scowled. Flicked a pen so it rolled across the desk. “Well, now I can’t say anything.”

“Jury’s still out on him, by the way, and whether he is that guy, but I like that he’s man enough to admit he was a dick and actually apologize. And again, I don’t see why it would be a disaster to have a romantic relationship with your husband.”

“You’re not a witch,” Emma muttered.

Leah’s lips quirked. She picked up the runaway pen and tapped it on a pad in front of her. “Have you told Tia?”

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