Page 8 of Witchful Thinking

Chapter 3

Diana stood in frontof her wardrobe, scowling at her clothes as if they had personally offended her.This was ridiculous.She was a professional healer attending a professional dinner to discuss professional matters.There was absolutely no reason to care what she wore.

"It's not a date," she told her reflection firmly."It's a consultation about plants with colleagues.At a troll restaurant.Where people go on dates.But this is definitely not that."

Her reflection looked unconvinced.Traitor.

With an exasperated sigh, Diana pulled out a simple blue dress she typically wore for faculty functions.Professional but not stuffy.Attractive without being obvious about it.Not that she cared whether Alarick found her attractive.

As she applied a touch of lip color—purely out of respect for the social occasion and absolutely not because Alarick might notice—a knock at her door made her jump.

Diana opened the door to find Alarick standing there, dressed in dark trousers and a charcoal button-down that made his eyes look more intensely blue than usual.His sleeves were, for once, actually at his wrists, though the top button of his shirt was casually undone.He'd clearly showered recently, his dark hair still slightly damp, smelling faintly of sandalwood instead of his usual bouquet of sawdust and magical sealant.

"I thought we might walk over together," he said, then added with a hint of amusement, "unless you'd prefer to maintain plausible deniability by arriving separately."

Diana rolled her eyes, trying to ignore how good he looked."Don't be dramatic.It's dinner, not a clandestine affair."

"Affair," he repeated, eyes twinkling."Interesting choice of words."

"Professional collaboration," she corrected, locking her door with perhaps more force than necessary."I meant professional collaboration."

"Of course.My mistake."

"How's the lumber order coming for the infirmary?"Diana decided to start the evening as she meant to go on: professionally.

"Finally arrived this morning.Magical oak that won't interfere with your healing spells."He glanced at her."I got the self-leveling nails too."

"The ones that adjust if the building shifts?"

"Exactly.Only the best for your infirmary."

"It's not my infirmary," she corrected automatically.

"No?Then why did I find 'Property of Diana Maelstrom: Touch At Your Peril' burned into the old reception desk?"

"That was there when I arrived," she lied, fighting a smile."Probably from the previous nurse."

"Uh-huh.And I suppose the tiny magical trap that turned my measuring tape into a snake was also pre-existing?"

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