Page 38 of Better Luck Next Time

“Maybe we should go inside,” Dottie said. “I forgot to mention that sometimes one should stay close to a toilet after drinking my elixir.”

“I can throw up outside,” Adalia protested, her stomach already churning from the power of suggestion. She should probably try to eat something soon.

Dottie made a sour face. “Oh no, dear. Notthatend.”

“What?” Finn asked in alarm. “You didn’t mention that when you practically forced me to drink it a few months ago.”

“That’s because you got the hangover version,” Dottie said, gracing Finn with a warm smile. “Addy got my special batch.”

“Dottie’s right,” Jack said as he scooped up Jezebel and cradled her to his chest. “You should go inside and lie down.”

“And maybe we should burn you at the stake,” she said, keeping her gaze on Jezebel. She had never seen that cat so docile. Not even when Georgie had given her a double dose of sedatives a month ago before taking her to the vet for her shots. Apparently, she’d revived enough to take a parting swat at the vet tech.

“Don’t be silly,” Dottie said. “They haven’t burned witches for years. People are much more tolerant now.”

Adalia whipped her head around to determine if the older woman was joking, but a wave of dizziness washed through her. She stumbled, and Finn was instantly there next to her, grabbing her arm and holding her steady so she didn’t fall.

“I agree with Jack,” River said, but his answer sounded forced. “Georgie should be here soon. Why don’t you rest until she gets home? Maybe Aunt Dottie can make you another cure if you’re still feeling off.”

“Don’t be silly, dear,” Dottie said. “It only takes one. If I give her another…” She shook her head. “Let’s just say the last girl who drank two of them couldn’t get anyone to wax her chest hair.”

“What?” Adalia screeched, glancing down at her chest.

“You don’t have any chest hair,” Finn said. “I promise.”

“What are you doing looking at her chest?” Jack asked in a guarded tone. “And why was she so drunk anyway?”

“Here’s a better question that might actually be your business,” Adalia said in a dry tone. “Why is Georgie coming home early?” She narrowed her eyes even more. “And why are you here, Jack? Shouldn’t you and Dottie be at work?”

The three guys were staring at her like she was a cobra about ready to pounce, but Dottie was humming as she held up her hand and examined her nail beds.

“What’s going on?” Adalia asked, starting to get nervous. Maybe she hadn’t been that far off when she’d told Finn that Georgie was having her committed. Maybe this was some kind of an intervention. She honestly wouldn’t put it past her sister to stage an intervention, and River was probably too scared to tell his girlfriend no. Jack, he was still too new to protest, plus he knew Georgie controlled the brewery purse strings, and Dottie…well, Dottie would gleefully attend an intervention and likely pass out weed-filled brownies for refreshment.

There was no way she was sticking around for that.

Her body stiffened as it prepared for flight, but Finn’s hand found hers and squeezed.

“River,” he said, but it held the hint of a question in it.

River’s eyes began to soften.

“No,” Jack said. “I say we go inside. Georgie will be home soon.”

Adalia looked up at Finn. “What’s going on? Just tell me.”

She nearly accused him of helping the others set her up, but his gaze was full of warmth and reassurance.

He gave her a soft smile that made her stomach do a little flip that she was pretty sure didn’t have anything to do with Dottie’s cure. “We have something to show you.”

But they were all acting so hesitant that she feared it might not be anything good.

“Finn,” Jack snapped. “We need to wait for Georgie.”

“No,” Finn said, his smile unwavering. “We need to make sure Adalia doesn’t feel like she’s about to be attacked.” They were still hand in hand, and he pulled her around the bench and the tree behind it, guiding her toward a wooden shed at the back of the property.

“You gonna lock me in the shed?” she half teased, getting even more nervous, but Finn’s thumb stroked the top of her hand, calming her enough to keep her next to him.

“No,” he said, glancing down at her. “You’re in charge, Addy.”

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