Page 45 of Handcuffs and Hexes

“I knew it! You’re hiding a woman from me! I knew Mateo was acting strange.” Elena made a beeline to poor Hazel, whose hair, unlike her dress, looked just-fucked. “I’m Elena, Seth’s mother. And who are you?”

Hazel looked at me, panicked, then back at Elena.

“What are you doing, just standing there?” Elena asked Seth. “Go make us some tea.” She turned back to Hazel, expecting her answer.

“I’m... I’m Sarah... or Hazel.” She cleared her throat again. “People at work call me Sarah, but Hazel’s my first name.”

“We call her Hazel,” I said, ever helpful.

“And what do you do for work, Hazel?”

“I’m a cop.”

“Ohh! You’rethecop. How delightful!”

Hazel frowned. “Seth mentioned me before?”

“All the time! It was so kind of you to lend him your cruiser so he can save Tansy.”

“Lend?” Hazel had that look on her face that told me she didn't remember the events quite the same way. “That's not what—”

Seth cut his Hazel off by loudly asking, “Milk or cream?”

“Milk, please, dear.”

Hazel replied as well. “Milk for me too.”

In an attempt to save Seth from an awkward conversation, I started telling Elena the story of how we ended up with Hazel at our place, starting with the incident at The Breach. I kept talking until Seth returned with a tray with a pot of tea, milk in a small pitcher, cubes of sugar, and four teacups.

I got to work, filling mine with as much sugar as would dissolve in the hot tea. Her previous question forgotten, Hazel looked at my concoction with raised brows. “Seriously?”

“Yep. I like it as sweet as possible.” I reached out to boop the tip of her nose with a fingertip. “Just like you.”

“These two troublemakers are treating you well, I hope?”

“Yes. But before you jump to any conclusions, I’m only here temporarily. Like Liam explained, they’re supposed to be monitoring me until all the effects are gone.”

“That’s not what it looked like to me.” Elena eyed her dress. She’d seen Hazel naked for just a moment before it had appeared on her body. “But who am I to say about these things.”

Eager to keep the peace, I said, “Let’s talk about our favorite thing instead: Seth.”

The subject in question sent me a glare.

“Has my boy told you about how I ended up at Desmon’s place?” Elena asked.

Glad to have the pressure taken off her, Hazel said, “Yes, he has. I’m glad you’re safe now.”

“Thank you,” Elena beamed. “My Seth is such a good boy.”

Seth buried his face in his palms, and Hazel tried not to giggle at his reaction.

But what Hazel didn’t know was that by telling Elena that Seth had told her about his past, she was basically admitting that therewassomething between us. Seth was a private person and wouldn’t have told her anything otherwise.

“Seth usually comes by for the family dinner every week. Only Mateo and Eva showed this week, so I knew something was up.”

“Mateo?” Hazel’s surprised look was hard to miss. “I didn’t know he was family.”

“Family by choice,” Elena clarified. “He was orphaned and was going down a dangerous path when Desmon found him. Iconvinced him to take the young man in and give him a job. Seth was growing up and I needed someone to mother. Did you know we still keep their old rooms for them at the estate?”

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