Page 33 of Pints & Potions

“We can teleport, Cian,” Piper explained with a soft smile. “No need to drive for hours.”

“Sure, and you’re right. I forgot it was an option.” Of course, he didn’t think of it since he never teleported without assistance. He felt like a complete arse.

Wordlessly, Piper placed a hand on his knee and squeezed.

His heart stuttered. Here she was, attempting to ease his embarrassment, and she had no reason to offer up anything but anger for the callous way he dismissed her overture last night. Giving in to the urge, he placed his hand over hers and entwined their fingers.

The other couple zeroed in on the gesture.

Suddenly, Cian wanted to squirm. Rarely did he find himself the object of speculative looks, and he didn’t care for the attention. Breaking contact with Piper, he leaned forward to grab another scone off the table in front of him.

“How much of the potion do you need?” Piper’s tone was subdued and serious.

Cian nearly winced. She hadn’t missed him distancing himself from her. “A single batch can last us near to three months, but it stores well. If you could make a half-decade’s worth, we wouldn’t need to bother you again for a good long while.”

And he wouldn’t have a reason to see Piper again.

He should request one batch instead of twenty so she was forced to come back.

Piper rose abruptly with a falsely bright smile. “Five-year’s worth, it is.” Without looking at him, she said, “Give me fifteen minutes to run up and grab a shower, then we can get going.”

After she’d gone, the silence in the room about deafened Cian. Once again, he experienced the urge to squirm under Knox and Spring’s scrutiny.

“I’ll check with Bridget to see if she needs help with the clean-up. If you want anything heartier to eat than those few scones and tea, come to the table.”

He bolted without waiting for a response.

“He doesn’t realizehe’s in love with her,” Knox said with a hard laugh.

“He’s going to fight it every inch of the way,” Spring replied with a sad shake of her head. “I’ve seen enough hardheaded men to call it.”

“I take exception to that.” Knox drew her to her feet and into his arms—exactly where she wanted to be.

With a wide grin and a caress of his chiseled jaw, Spring said, “If the shoe fits, babe.”

His grunt was his answer. They both knew well his stubbornness and what it had cost them in the early stages of their relationship. However, not a day went by that Knox didn’t make a point to show her how much he loved her.

“How do we help them?” she asked.

“We don’t.” He gave her a firm no-nonsense glare. “We aren’t matchmakers, sweetheart. That’s Alastair’s gig if he chooses to involve himself.”

“Piper deserves to be happy, and she’s crazy about him.”

“You can tell that after a few minutes?”

“An hour, and yes.”

“This isn’t going to end well if we get involved, Spring. It’s for them to work out.”

“Please?”

He groaned.

She grinned. “Is that a yes?”

“It’s a ‘we’ll see.’”

“It’s a yes,” she said with conviction.

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