Page 53 of The Most Wanted Witch

“Yes, Tippi, that is what I’m saying. It’s your fault if he ends up in a relationship with her. Then we’ll all get stuck with her. And don’t act like you’re okay with this either. I can nearly feel the anger rolling off you.”

“Iamfine.” Hawk could do what he wanted. I’d come to terms with that, and Oscar would as well. But if this continued, I’d have to find a new place to live. No way could I stay here.

Oscar was still shaking his head. “It’ll be Belinda 2.0. Instead of a raving bitch, we’ll be bludgeoned to death by boredom and bravado. I’m telling you right now, I’m not having it.”

“There’s nothing you can do. If they have something, that’s between them.”

“You really think that those two fit?” He was smiling now, in spite of how annoyed he was a second ago. “I don’t think so, and there’s plenty to be done about it.” He pushed off his side of the doorframe to lean on mine, resting a hand over my shoulder and then dipping his head, his cheek grazing mine. “I’m telling you now, I’m not giving up easily, and I can fight dirty.”

“What are you going to do, Oscar?” There was a gleam in his eye that made me think of masked men sneaking about at night.

Hawk’s attention shifted in our direction, his gaze lingering on Oscar, almost as if he could smell something afoot. Oscar’s gaze was still on me as he leaned in closer, his broad shoulders blocking my view.

“I think we’re going to have to take some drastic steps.” He smiled, his tone flirty.

“What are you doing?” He was cranking out sex appeal the way Gillian cranked out cocoa. It was enough to make my body waver over whether this was real or not.

“You know what I’m doing,” he said.

“Do I?”

There was a flicker in his eyes. “I think so, but I might be open to diversions from the plan.”

“Hawk, are you walking me?” Gillian called out across the office.

There was no response.

Oscar’s smile grew as his shirt brushed mine.

“Hawk?” Gillian called again.

The door shut loudly a few moments later.

I glanced over in time to see Gillian and Hawk crossing the street, my heartburn making a return.

I turned my attention to Oscar, who was still standing a hair away from me.

Oscar’s gaze lingered on my lips. “If I wasn’t so sure I’d be runner-up, the things I would do…”

He broke away before I had a chance to argue that he was wrong about my feelings for Hawk.

23

The door to the office opened. Zab, Bibbi, Musso, and I all turned to see who was walking in. We had so few people coming in these days that any activity had everyone’s attention. I immediately dropped my gaze again. This wasn’t a visitor I was interested in seeing. The visits from Xazier were enough of an issue. Someone else could handle the high ground.

Lou continued into the office and no one said a word in greeting. If I had the nerve to glance up, I’d imagine all their heads were down as well.

The footsteps continued until he was standing in front of my desk. I ignored him for another few seconds, because the bottom line was that a representative from “up there” was as scary as one from below.

Not able to take the tension a second longer, I broke and looked up slowly.

He was grinning. “So glad I caught you here. I wasn’t sure if this would be a good time.”

“For me?” I couldn’t stop the urge to glance around. There had to be someone else here he’d be more interested in talking to.

He followed suit, looking about the office before looking back at me.

I reshuffled some papers on my desk, acting as if I were so busy. “Maybe you’d want to talk to…”

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