Page 103 of Just Like That

I tightened my embrace, emotion burning the bridge of my nose.

Hazel sighed and closed her eyes as she melted into me. I could tell she was drifting off.

I wanted to tell her. Tell her that I loved her so completely that nothing would ever be the same. I had plans for the three of us.

I almost woke her to tell her.

Instead, I let her sleep, closing my eyes and drifting off next to her, dreaming of a world where all my plans wouldn’t clip the wings of her free and adventurous spirit.

A world in which, for once, something worked out for me.

The Amalfi Coastwas a gorgeous seaside town with its salmon-hued cliff sides and the cheerful pastel houses that dotted the coastline. In my experience, early autumn was the best time to visit. The weather was sunny and clear without being stifling. The impending harvest season also meant an avalanche of chestnuts and other local delicacies on the local menus.

A driver had taken us from the airport and dropped us in the heart of the village. I planned lunch for us before the next leg of our adventure.

“It’s like a postcard!” Hazel’s grin spread wide as she looked up at the pastel-colored buildings perched on cliffs overlooking the glistening turquoise waters. She snapped a few pictures with her phone and flipped it around to take a selfie.

I stepped forward with my hand out. “Let me.”

She blushed and handed me the phone. Instead of taking a picture of her in front of the gorgeous landscape, I tucked her into my side and held out my arm to take a selfie. As I took the picture, I dropped a kiss onto her hair.

“There.” I handed her the phone.

She looked at the picture of us and smiled. “It’s perfect.” Hazel looked down at her phone. “What’s the time difference again?”

I checked my watch. “He should be getting out of school soon.”

Hazel grinned. “I still don’t know if I should be proud or hurt that he couldn’t have cared less if we were there for the first day of school.”

I lifted a shoulder. “Kids are resilient. From the sound of it, he’s having a ball without us.”

In truth, I was eager to check in with Teddy too. I knew Sloane and Abel would make sure he was well taken care of, and he’d have a great time with the twins, but I still worried.

“We can call him before lunch or wait until we’re on the yacht.” I slipped on my sunglasses.

“Yacht?” Hazel nearly choked on the word.

“It’s private, of course. There’s a satellite phone there and plenty of quiet places to talk.”

Hazel snorted. “Oh, hello ...” She was putting on a fake snooty accent, clearly impersonating me in the most ridiculous way. “Yes, my name is JP King.” Her arm swung wide. “That’s my jet. Here’s my private yacht.”

I stared at her and tried not to laugh at her rather spot on, if not totally annoying, impression of me. “To be fair, I don’t own it.”

Her hand moved to her chest. “Oh ... how embarrassing.”

I wrapped my arm around her neck and pulled her into me, rubbing my knuckles on her head as she squirmed. “You’re such a little shit,” I teased.

Hazel giggled and pushed herself free, her coppery blond hair wild from the mess I’d made of it.

“This feels like too much.” Hazel sighed and spun in a circle, her sundress floating on the coastal breeze. “But I love it. Thank you.”

“You deserve it.” I stepped forward and kissed her nose. “Come on, I want to show you something.” I held out my arm for her. “This village, Conca dei Marini, has a long and lurid history with witches.”

Delight flashed in her eyes. I smiled and continued as we walked down the cobblestone road toward the village near the water. “Local legend is that long ago, witches populated this small fishing village. They would meet at night to practice magical rites and prepare love potions and hex remedies. They were believed to be witches at night and pretty women during the day. They were said to lure tourists and fishermen as victims.”

Hazel grinned as I wove the tale of the Janare. She smiled and nodded at passersby and leaned into my biceps as we walked.

“How do you know so much about this?” she asked.

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