Page 16 of Bewitched By the Headless Horseman
“I have a secret,” Stevie whispered. “I don’t really read comics or watch many of the movies.”
“But you work with comics.” He chuckled, taking a sip of wine from his glass.
“Only sometimes. Gideon’s given me the CliffsNotes version on so many characters though.” She grinned. “My main job is actually being a witch’s assistant for Lucia.”
“What does a witch’s assistant do exactly?” Reese lifted a brow, his interest seeming piqued.
“I help her make brews and run deliveries around town. Much easier than brushing up on all the comic characters.”
“No nightly séances then?” Reese cocked his head, studying her as if he were trying to read something.
“Not unless it was necessary but can’t say we’ve done one of those yet. I’m not a witch if that’s what you’re thinking...” She waited for his curiosity to slip out further and nudge her about what other paranormal ability she might hold so she could just get it out of the way, but instead he only nodded and went in the opposite directionentirely.
“So, circling back to comics, how about I catch you up on one of the movies you haven’t seen?”
Stevie inwardly cursed herself for bringing up the superhero subject earlier. “Sure. You can pick one for us to stream.” She cleared the table while Reese headed into the living room.
As she sat next to him on the couch, she was close enough to finally take in his scent. It was a bit too beachy, but it wasn’t unpleasant enough for her to send him packing.
Stevie handed him the remote to choose something. He then settled on one she hadn’t seen, so she crossed her fingers that it wouldn’t be completely awful.
Once the movie started, Stevie bit her lip, not knowing whether to inch closer to Reese, reach for his hand, or what. The only other first date she’d ever had was with her ex. When she was sixteen.
As the movie went on and on, dear witches, she wanted to fall asleep. She probably should’ve picked one she knew she liked, at least for these beginning stages. But Reese stayed captivated, not once pulling her to lean into him. It wasn’t as if she was scooting closer either though.
“Is this fool truly your lover?” Kit said behind her, his tone bored. “He seems more aroused by this play in a box than the woman beside him.”
“Cauldron’s teeth!” Stevie startled but didn’t turn around. She held back from correcting Kit that it was amovie. “That part got me good,” she said to Reese, and he nodded, not really looking at her. At that moment she was relieved she hadn’t told him about her ability yet, because on her life as a seer, she wouldn’t dare want to tell him that the Headless Horseman was in her house, hovering right behind him. The date was already not going as planned. But thank this awful movie that they weren’t tearing off each other’s clothes before the Horseman had made his deathly silent entrance.
“Are you going to speak or pretend as though you don’t see me again?” Kit said, his voice amused as he sat on her other side.Roxy barreled into the room and lowered herself near Kit’s feet, not seeming to mind Stevie’s scowl.
Traitor.
The credits of the movie rolled and Reese looked down at his watch. “I better go. I have an early start in the morning, but how about we get together next Tuesday night?”
“Sure, and I can bring you a meal this time,” Stevie said as they stood from the couch.
“And I’ll have milk for you.”
“Is he feeding you like a damn infant?” Kit chuckled, low and deep.
While walking Reese to the door, she glared over her shoulder at Kit who’d followed them.
Reese stepped onto the porch and remained there for a beat too long before finally saying, “Tonight was nice.”
She hesitated to give him a kiss but decided against it, not with the ghost snooping at her back.
“Well, have a good night,” Stevie rushed the words out and shut the door. She narrowed her eyes at Kit as he now leaned against the wall, his arms folded. “Seriously, you could’ve at least waited for him to leave before interrupting my night.”
“You were falling asleep already.” Kit shrugged. “Besides, I told you I was coming tonight, didn’t I?”
“And I told you I can’t find your head to help you pass on.” Stevie tapped at his broad chest, not caring that her finger went straight through him.
He pushed off the wall and lingered a hair’s breadth from her. “Who said anything about passing on, Pumpkin? You will help me return to the living.”
Chapter Seven
Stevie wasn’t sure that she’d heard the Headless Horseman correctly. “You needmeto helpyoureturn to the living?” she asked, incredulous. “I think it’s a little too late for that, buddy. Do whatever unfinished business you have, forgive yourself for a misdeed, ormisdeeds, you did in your past. You should then be able to move on to the … wherever you’ll be going.”
