Page 12 of Haunt Improvement
“Safety first.”Hermosa shook her head and reached up to pat Dylan’s cheek.“I remember when you were but a littlecachorro cielo.You loved playing with the bats in the belfry and eating pawpaws in the orchard whenever you pleased.It pains me that my sweet littlenietawill not know such freedom and joy.”
“She will,” I said, stopping in front of the paint buckets situated in the middle of the nursery.“She’ll just have more supervision.It’s a different world out there.”I opted to leave off the mounting concerns about my wicked family.No need to dredge up another storm.
To Hermosa’s credit, she didn’t push the issue.She was a bold woman with big opinions, but she also loved her family—which now included me.My delicate condition was not something she was willing to compromise.She was also not a fan of my moody weather.
Dylan deposited his drill in a toolbox under the new window that overlooked the backyard.A second window mirrored it on the opposite wall.They were energy efficient, and both featured slick combo heating and cooling units that would keep the nursery comfortable.And the hardwood flooring looked so much better under the warm glow that spilled from the new pendant fixtures spaced throughout the room.That dangling horror-film lightbulb had had to go.
“Are you sure we don’t need a brush or pan?”Hermosa asked, fingering a curl that had sprung free from her chestnut bun.“This is a lot of wall to cover on your own, and with no tape or tarp...”She frowned at the pair of gallon buckets between my feet, and then at Broomzilla who remained in the doorway.
My accuracy had greatly improved over the years, but it had only taken one mishap during my early home improvement days to traumatize my broom.She kept her bristles out of range for this part of the job.
“Is that even enough paint?”Hermosa added.
“More than,” I said, a wicked grin pulling at the corners of my mouth.I rubbed my hands together and winked, warming up my lashes.The unpredictable sky cauldron was relatively new magic, a rare talent that hadn’t been seen in the West family since my late gran.But the home and hearth spells were my specialty.
I resisted the urge to start singingBibbidi-Bobbidi-Booand winked open the paint cans.The soft lavender-gray would create a perfect backdrop for the batty night sky décor I’d picked up on my last shopping excursion with Zelda.And the deeper plum would be a perfect accent behind the white bookshelves and around the white window trim on the adjacent walls.
Ribbons of paint spiraled up from the buckets.They danced in the air, circling one another without touching, before racing to their respective walls.
“Woah, Auntie M!”Asher clapped his hands, then reached up as if to poke one of the ribbons.Dylan gave his ribs a tickle before he could break the stream.
“Dios mío.”Hermosa crossed herself, but I didn’t take offense.It was a nervous habit of hers anytime she witnessed my magic.“And not a drop out of place,” she marveled as the ribbons finished their dance, meeting in opposite corners.“Will you do my room too,mija?”
Shifters were so easy to impress.Not that the appreciation didn’t still kick me in the feels.Even Glinda was blasé about my domestic skillset—unless she needed a cookie fix.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded.“ Of course, Mama.”
“Maybe you should stop by the hardware store and pick up some paint samples after you and Asher get ice cream,” Dylan suggested, sneakily buying us more time.He lifted a suggestive eyebrow at me over the top of his mother’s head.
My clever honeybat.
Chapter 5
“YOUR MANGOES LOOK SOedible in my coveralls,cariño,” Dylan whispered against my neck in between kisses as he unclasped the straps and shimmied the denim down my swollen midsection.
Truthfully, the only reason I even bothered with the painting attire was to spark my batty beau’s libido.Elbow grease was as good as lubricant to my blue-collar lover.Not that I’d exerted myself with the magical renovation, but a job well done was a job well done.Also, I needed all the help I could get.
