Page 5 of Boss Witch

She surveyed him from head to toe, and Gavin felt the skim of her gaze like she was touching him. “If you lose the jacket and change your shirt to something plaid, you’d fit right in without the need for more costuming.”

He laughed. The way he looked, cultivating that frightening air, so few people made eye contact, let alone joked with him. “I don’t know how I’m meant to take that. Is it a compliment? An attack on my wardrobe? Both?”

“I can’t answer all your questions on the first night,” she said. “It’s better for our relationship if I maintain some mystery.”

“Relationship? I thought this was meant to be a bit of fun.”

Clementine slid from her stool, signaling that she was done with the conversation, all too soon for his liking. “Relax, English. It’s a word, not a bouquet of flowers with a ring hidden in it.”

His heart pounded a little too fast over the idea of letting her walk out without making concrete plans to see that dratted farm with her. “In all honesty, you had me at Nigerian dwarf goats. By all means, let’s go. If I offer my mobile, will you call yours and save my number?”

“I’ll add myself to Contacts. Give.” She held out a hand in a playful, imperious gesture.

After some deft fingering—­and didn’t that put all sorts of delicious filth in his head—­she soon passed the device back. Gavin saw she’d saved herself as CLEM , and because he was a cynical bastard, he immediately hit the call button. Her mobile lit up at once.

“Did you think I gave you a fake number?” she asked, with a hard-­to-­read look.

“I did wonder. It’s not every day that a beautiful woman offers to take me on a farm tour. Something too good to be true usually has a catch.”

“What’s too good to be true, me or the farm?”

“An excellent question,” Gavin said with no intention of answering it.

“You might enjoy being cagey, but you’ll soon learn that I prefer not to waste time. I have every intention of seeing you often, at least until I get what I want.” The smoky intensity of her look went right through him, making him feel naked.

God, I want her. This is madness.

“And what’s that?” he asked.

On her way out, Clem delivered the answer like a grenade lobbed at an enemy, one she was determined to conquer. “You.”

Chapter 2

Over the next few days, between her usual workload, coven business, and family matters, Clem did so much juggling that she considered enrolling in clown college.

Three days after Clem met Gavin at the bar, she was creating social media graphics for Fix-­It Witches when Gram dropped by to give her an iced vanilla latte with a shot of hazelnut, a container of chilled melon and pineapple, and tuna salad in lettuce cups. Apart from the latte, everything was homemade, crafted with a grandmother’s love. Since it was a nice gesture and Gram hadn’t said a word about Danica’s relationship status, Clem dug in.

“Thanks, this is delicious.”

“My pleasure. I miss cooking for you, but I don’t feel right about inviting everyone over to Gladys’s place.”

“You can always use our kitchen,” Clem said.

“Maybe I will. If you’re sure. I don’t want to step on any toes. That’s why I don’t stay with you girls when I’m visiting.”

She laughed. “Please, you just want to live it up with Gladys.”

“Speaking of which, she needs my help in the garden. Hug Danica when you see her.”

Clem braced herself for a heavy-­handed suggestion from Gram about Dania’s dating profile on Bindr, but Gram only waved and rushed out, hailing the rideshare driver who pulled up to the curb soon thereafter. Clem ate her lunch standing at the counter in between responding to inquiry emails and answering the phone. The repairs in the back could wait for her cousin, who dashed in an hour later.

“You missed Gram,” Clem said.

Danica’s shoulders immediately came up. “Crap. Did she nag you?”

“Surprisingly, no. She just brought me lunch.” Clem held up the fruit container. “Want some?”

“See, this is why I say she likes you best. I get endless pressure about possible dates;youget packed lunches.”

---