Page 13 of Best Hex Ever
“Unfortunately, yes, dead giveaway.”
“Ah well, it’s the only uniform they let curators wear, so you’ll have to get used to it.” He looked at her from beneath those dark lashes and heat licked at her spine.You’ll have to get used toit.
“Is that what you do then?”
“I’m a curator. I haven’t been there for long. I’m trying to bring a bit more of the modern day to the museum.”
“In what sense?”
“An interactive tablet here, an exhibition focusing on ancient Islamic art there. But mainly I’m attempting to sort out the way the British Museum handles artifacts they not so secretly stole from the Middle East during the Second World War. I want—Ireally want—to return what we can. Or at least create an exhibition that travels on a permanent basis around the museums of North Africa and the Middle East.”
“That’s really admirable,” Dina said, and he smiled shyly. “You’re doing a reverse Indiana Jones.”
“I’ll tell my boss you said so the next time she thinks I’m acting too old for my age.”
Scott shifted in his seat, his leg briefly brushing her knee under the table. Heat flared at the touch. She shouldn’t be letting this man—this stranger—get her so riled up.Stick to talking, Dina, and quit staring into his eyes.
“What did you do before being a curator?” she asked, definitely not staring into his dreamy eyes.
“I traveled, working for different museums around the world. I”—he ran a hand through his dark hair—“I hadn’t been back to England for a while.”
“But now you’re back, you’re planning to stay?”
He smirked. “I think I will.”
The train pulled into a station deep in the countryside, and Dina realized that they had already been talking for nearly half an hour. She was running out of time to drink her hot chocolate, so she might as well share that and some of the ginger and persimmon cake she’d brought with her.
She pulled off the cup that was attached to the top of the flask and opened it up. Chocolate-scented steam rose into the air.
“That smells lovely,” Scott murmured, his eyes closing a little. Hot chocolate often made her feel the same. Like she was wrapped up in a cozy chocolate-scented blanket. She needed the calming magic that was brewed into this right now though, because each glance from Scott sent a buzz reverberating through her whole body.
“Would you like some?” she asked.
“If you have a spare cup, I wouldn’t say no.”
Dina didn’t have a spare cup, but that’s what magic was for. She stuck an arm in her bag, which was not quite a Mary Poppins bag but was known to rustle up pretty much whatever she needed in the moment if she thought hard enough about it. Her finger hooked on the handle of a mug. She popped it down on the table and realized in horror that the mug said “World’s Best Cat Mum” on the side, complete with a set of pawprints.
“How self-congratulatory,” Scott teased.
Dina ignored him, because he was definitely not funnyandhandsome, and poured the hot chocolate into both mugs. It frothed a little on top, just as she liked it. But no hot chocolate was complete without marshmallows. She dug her hand back into the bag, pulling out a sizable handful of pink and white mini marshmallows.
As Dina passed Scott his mug, their fingers touched. Thehenna on her wrist flared to life again, and Dina quickly pulled her hand away.Note to self, no more magic henna around Scott.
Unaware of her turmoil, Scott leaned back in his seat and sipped the hot chocolate.
“You made this?” he said in a soft tone.
“Mmm. It’s a secret recipe, which I’m taking to my grave.” She slurped at her drink and caught Scott watching her intently as she licked some melted marshmallow off her top lip.
“You missed a spot,” he said. “MayI?”
Dina nodded.
He reached out and stroked her upper lip with his thumb, his eyes boring into her all the while. She absolutely did not catch her breath as his hand moved gently across her face. She didn’t inhale his bergamot and cedar scent. And when Scott pulled his hand back and licked the marshmallow off his thumb, Dina definitely didn’t flush all over. It was just warm on this train.
Unfortunately, the train chose that moment to announce that they would shortly be arriving at Little Hathering station. She didn’t want this journey to end.
Dina put away the empty hot chocolate mugs and began to arrange her things to depart. Scott did the same, getting up and wrapping a scarf around his neck. Apparently, Dina could be jealous of a scarf.
