Page 12 of Witch Please

Smiling, he tousled her hair, knowing it would irritate her, but he also took care not to rumple her style too much. “I’m thinking…pizza tonight. With my famous homemade crust, six types of cheese, and your choice of toppings. What do you say?”

Despite the evidence of recent tears, her smile brightened to a level he’d call blissful. “You’re the best.”

Chapter 4

Danica’s cell phone rang as she opened the front door.

Margie Bower always arrived first, and she held a plate of pimento cheese sandwiches with the crusts cut off. Danica waved the other witch inside, taking the call on the porch. “Gram, is everything okay?”

She heard furniture being dragged in the background as her grandmother replied, “Fine, darling. I wish I could attend your meeting tonight, but Gladys has something special in mind for the Lughnasadh, and we’re having our own get-together.”

On Gram’s end, someone called, “Angelica, where do you want the chocolate fountain? The ice sculpture is melting. Can you look for Gladys? She needs to cast a chilling spell on it.”

Danica grinned. “Sounds like fun. Remember, if you need it, I’ve got bail money.”

Her grandmother laughed. “Understood, and I appreciate it. Right back at you…and I won’t even tell your mother.”

Danica laughed as she was meant to, as Gram enjoyed being part of her circle of trust, enjoying confidences she didn’t even share with her own mom. “I feel safer already.”

Then came the probable purpose for the call. “By the way, I’ve flagged two excellent prospects for you on Bindr. Check your email, all right?”

She stifled a sigh. “Yes, Gram.”

“Talk to you soon, my dear!”

As Danica disconnected, Leanne Vanderpol climbed the front steps carrying a box of wine—unsurprising, as she didn’t cook. Danica followed Leanne into the house, mildly annoyed that she couldn’t haveonenight with her coven sisters without Gram nagging about Bindr. Soon after, Vanessa Jackson and Ethel Murray came together, as Vanessa was Ethel’s ride. The older woman didn’t drive, but she did bake delicious mini quiches. Vanessa contributed a Greek salad to the potluck, and as Danica arranged the food on the kitchen island, the last two members dashed in. Priya Banik and Kerry Quarles were inseparable, as they had been dating for the last four months and were talking about moving in together.

Once everyone had exchanged greetings, filled their plates, and settled in the living room, Danica held up a hand for attention. Gradually, the separate conversations quieted.

“You’ve gathered us here to thank us for our support, and you’d like to announce your candidacy,” Margie joked.

“Run for mayor,” said Leanne. “Then I can work for you instead of that asshole.”

Leanne did PR work for St. Claire, though her official title was director of communications, and she was damn good at her job. If Danica was seriously considering getting involved in politics, she’d want Leanne on her team.

“We haven’t even opened the wine yet, and you’re already fierce,” Clem said to Leanne.

Dammit, I’m losing them.

Since they got together to drink, eat, perform group spells, and act up, talking about books was usually the last thing on the agenda. Eventually, theydidget there, but they vented about personal stuff, shared good news, and complained about work crap first. Then anyone who needed help with spellcraft spoke up. And then they got around to chatting about what they had been reading, and sometimes they let online friends Skype in, as she’d mentioned to Titus.

Danica cleared her throat. “So Gram’s in town, and she just called me to harp about finding my perfect witchy match.”

“Again?” Vanessa laughed, doubtless thinking that only popcorn would make this family drama better.

“Yeah. I’m so tired of hearing about our bloodline,” Danica muttered.

Clem said softly, “Gram can be…a lot. She pushed me into dating Spencer and pestered you until you went out with Darryl.”

For our own good.Somehow, Danica swallowed the instinctive defense. She didn’t need to shield Gram, not here, not with her coven. They all understood, even if they teased.

“Such a jackass,” Leanne said.

Ethel nodded. “I never liked him. At least you didn’t marry the lummox. Your grandmother would never approve of you divorcing a ‘pure witch,’ and now you’re not stuck with a partner you’d prefer to poison.”

Priya grinned as she popped a mini quiche in her mouth. “Are you trying to tell us something, Ethel?”

“I’ll never talk,” the old woman answered. “Even if the statute of limitations is up.”

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