Page 24 of The Wolf and His Forbidden Witch
“Ah, I see. What are you thinking?”
“We should get someone to replace me.” Shame swelled within as she pictured Grayson’s eyes when he’d asked her to stay and help. “It needs to be within the next couple of days.” Before the next time she was needed to present a new proposal to the Sacco pack. She then babbled on as she explained what had happened with the packs so far while also becoming aware of her growing attraction to Grayson. “I promised I would help him, so I can’t leave until there’s someone else who can take over.”
“Whoa, hold on, Aurora, you’re throwing a lot at me. So first thing is you need me to find another mediator?”
“Yes. And fast.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thank you.” Aurora swallowed. “I’m sorry I let you down.”
“Don’t be. I’m glad you met someone.”
What did it matter since she would be leaving him soon enough? If she wasn’t here on a job, she had no reason to stay.
* * *
Aurora walkedthrough the village later that morning, killing time while Grayson’s pack worked on a proposal. Since it was a gray, rainy day, she brought an umbrella and explored.
She ventured into some cute stores, much more unique than the clones of chains in many cities. They reminded her of the little shops in other small towns in New England. She loved a rock and crystal shop in North Conway and a pewter store in Rockport. The rain kept people off the mountains, and many walked covered by umbrellas in and out of stores in the village.
Would a store like her aunt’s shop work in a place like this, a ski village?
Maybe. It would provide something to do on days when they weren’t skiing and had time to kill. What else was there to do around here but walk through the shops and eat at restaurants? Looking for things to see and do?
A shop could fit in with its unique angle, even if there weren’t witches that she knew of living nearby. Many of the clientele at Aunt Colleen’s shop were humans. Those taking a day off from skiing up here might enjoy taking a break for a tarot or tea leaf reading. Or they could purchase some crystals or figurines as souvenirs. Aurora could even have one wall covered with a bookshelf that stocked both books on magic, the craft, paranormal romances, and mysteries.
Perhaps even some shifters who lived here would be interested in magical goods. Although their magic was different, some herbs and other magical supplies were difficult to come by. Aurora knew the suppliers as she’d been helping her aunt restock inventory for years.
After having a sandwich and a cup of Earl Grey tea at a cute little cafe, Aurora returned to the hotel. The rain had lightened to a drizzle, but she still needed the umbrella to cover her.
Her phone rang. It was her aunt.
“Aurora, I tried to see if we could get someone to replace you. No one is available.”
“Oh.” She bit her lip, conflicted about how she even felt about leaving. Yes, she’d asked her aunt to replace her, but then she’d spent the morning daydreaming about an unrealistic fantasy about opening her own store.
Why would she even go there? She didn’t belong here, she didn’t even have a place to live. It made zero sense in reality.
“Do you think you can finish out this job? After all, it should only be a few more days, right?”
“Right.” It wasn’t as if Aurora had an option. Saying no would be letting both her aunt and Grayson down. “I can do that.”
To finish this job, she needed to focus on being a professional—not think about Grayson’s sensuous lips or the way his eyes smoldered before he’d kissed her last night.
When he called her and asked if she’d have dinner with him again tonight, she declined.
She’d have to avoid him as much as possible.
* * *
Stay neutral.
Aurora repeated those two words like a mantra as she walked through the snow over to meet the Sacco pack. Grayson had offered to drive her close to the borderline, but she’d told him it was better that they kept their distance, at least for now.
Besides, it was difficult to think with the way he looked at her with that intense gaze. She’d avoided looking at his lips, yet still pictured their sensual curve.
Focus, focus.
