Page 50 of The Accidental Witch

Tugging at his hand as she rose, she smiled at him. “Then let’s go figure this the hell out, Winthrop.”

Greer let her yank him up, but he pulled her close, making her breath shudder. “Listen, we haven’t talked about?—”

“The kiss? No. We haven’t and we shouldn’t. Not now, Greer.” Trying not to melt into him, because it was too hard not to find herself sucked into his dreamy green gaze, she gave him a cold splash of water reminder. “We have to stay focused on our goal, and that’s finding your coven. Never in all my life did I ever think I’d run into someone who can’t find where they live on a map. And I’m not ready to explore much else right now. My life’s kinda messy, and so is yours.”

He looked at her for a long moment, cupping her cheek. “Am I being rejected here?” he asked.

Robbie poked his broad chest with her index finger and stepped out on a ledge she’d never stepped out on before. “How about we leave it at…I find you incredibly attractive, but our timing’s off. Can we revisit when our lives are more settled and we know everyone’s safe?”

He smiled, deep and gorgeous as always. “We can. But just so you know, I like you, Robbie Tisdale. I think you’re pretty great. I think you’re determined and smart and you’ve handled this life-altering experience like a rock star, and I want to date the hell out of you someday. If you’ll let me, that is.”

She stood on tiptoe and pressed a quick kiss to his lips before she tugged him along behind her. “We’ll have to see. Maybe we won’t have anything in common. I don’t even know how you like your steak cooked—or if you eat steak at all. I don’t know what kind of music you like. I don’t know if it irritatesyouthat I don’t like my food to touch on my plate the way it irritates Wanda. I don’t know if you like cats or dogs better. I like both, I just happen to have cats right now. Do you like romantic comedies, action films, noir? The questions are endless.”

He laughed. “Medium rare, anything from the ’80s except Barry Manilow—I beg of you, don’t tell Nina or she’ll have my head—and I don’t mind the food thing so much. I don’t get it. It’s all going to the same place. But I don’t mind it. I like both species, too, and I like most all of those genres.”

“That’s a great start,” Robbie said. “We’ll dive deeper into credit ratings and school records another time. Until then, let’s go make this happen.”

She turned, tugging him behind her, crunching their way over the frozen ground, refreshed and determined to perform this spell.

Make no mistake, she liked Greer—so much. She hated giving him a soft no because she wanted nothing more than tostay in his arms, but it wasn’t the responsible thing to do right now.

Greer stalled them for a moment, tugging back. “Hey, wait. Credit ratings? Why do you need to know that?”

She chuckled as they headed toward the light shining from the murder basement windows. Letting go of his hand, she began a light trot back to the castle. “I’m not dating a guy with a low credit score, buddy. All Millennials require a credit check before they date,Boomer.”

“Boomer? I’ll show you Boomer,” he said on a howling laugh, chasing after her as they ran back toward the castle.

She’d always remember how light and free she felt at that moment.

Because it didn’t last for long.

Chapter

Fifteen

Greer latched onto her hand, squeezing it hard. “Are you sure you’re ready?Reallysure, Robbie? I don’t want you to do this if you feel at all fearful.”

Robbie looked at his handsome face and decided to be honest. “Don’t be ridiculous. Of course I’m afraid. I’m going to meet my people. It’s like meeting the parents of the guy you’re dating.”

Nina snarfed. “You really are a badass, Glinda. I don’t give a shit what anyone says.”

Greer pulled her close. “I’m being serious. I don’t know if I can get inside with you once you’ve unlocked the village with your magic. It might only let you in.”

Hervé skittered across the basement floor. “Hervé will help. I solemnly swear. Do not be afraid. Hervé saves ze day!”

She smiled at him before she looked Greer directly in the eye, gripping his hands. “I’m okay. We’ve been just outside the gates twenty times now. All of us. We know I can get there. Now all I have to do is get usinthere. That’s it.”

She’d finally learned the spell well enough that it was almost fool-proof. The first time Robbie’d managed to get she and Greer to the enormous road leading to the iron gates of hisvillage, they’d cheered and hugged each other. The feeling had been euphoric, joyous, the connection between Robbie and the vision in front of her deep and abiding, like nothing she’d ever experienced.

As they stood on the road that first time, she’d been in awe. Wherever this was, it was beautiful. The cobblestone pathway, lined with mums and geraniums in a riot of colors, wound its way toward iron gates.

The skies were cloudless and blue, the tall oak trees beautiful with their change for the season. Orange-brown and yellow leaves fell to the ground in a lazy drift, riding the air. The breeze was perfect as it lifted her hair. Not too cold, not too warm—perfection. Birds soared above, gliding, swerving, their wings spread wide.

A wishing well sat nearby and a waterwheel paddled sparkling water, the tinkling sound soothing to her ears.

She would never forget first seeing the beauty of Moonfall Cove, knowing she could be a part of this—that she could belong to this beautiful place. It made her heart race with excitement.

“It’s beautiful,” she’d breathed, gripping Greer’s arm.

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