Page 5

“Selene...”

I turned around and held up a hand to stop Farley from protesting his innocence. “Don’t follow me in here. You embarrassed me in front of strangers. I’m upset and busy with unexpected guests. In case you aren’t clear on the matter, this is me not being happy. It’s not metaphorical. My irritation is real.”

I closed the door in Farley’s startled face and began stripping off my sexy clothes.

He cleared his throat on the other side of the door. “I’m sorry, Selene. I don’t know what came over me. He was all glowy and oozing pheromones. As crazy as it sounds, I truly wanted to kill him. It took all my willpower to tone down my reaction to a mere warning.”

I froze, with one leg in my jeans and the other out. “I saw that too. Maybe that glowy stuff is part of the curse.”

Farley’s sigh was loud. “The centaur reeks of sex pheromones. The idea of him seducing you makes me insane. My urge to make sure you’re mine, and only mine, is very strong. I really wish I hadn’t made that stupid three-date promise to Dad Charlie.”

I sighed as I pulled on my jeans. “Yeah, well, that makes two of us, and not just because of the glowy centaur. I’ve been ready since the day I met you.”

“Does that mean what I think it means?” he asked.

“I have no idea. It’s called sarcasm. Being sarcastic is an advanced form of using metaphors. We can discuss it over dinner. Friendly food and talk are all you’re getting tonight. We’ll have to reschedule our real third date for another time.”

“Will we be talking about Metaphors 202 or Sarcasm 101?” Farley asked.

I laughed even though I didn’t want to. It was one of the reasons I wanted to sleep with him so badly. Farley always made me laugh.

“You have until dinner to decide,” I said.

I grinned at his low chuckle as I snatched up the still-filthy sneakers I had been wearing to garden. The washer and dryer were downstairs in the house, and I’d yet to go exploring.

3

A still-human Alfred eventually coaxed the still-fearful Prince Robin back to the inn. Farley helped me fix up the stall. After we were done, I ordered him back inside. Dinner was less fun than it should have been, but Farley had settled down enough at that point to kiss me goodbye before he went home.

When I went out to check on my guests before retiring, the innkeeper’s clothes reappeared. While I was sweating in the outfit, at least I got to watch a cute, fluffy bunny dig a hole in a hay bale nearest the closed stall door. It relieved me physically and mentally that the prince’s allure didn’t pull at me.

Maybe my immunity was a case of out of sight, out of mind. Was the curse visually triggered rather than a matter of pheromones?

Farley’s nose wouldn’t mislead him. If he said the prince was oozing pheromones, I believed him. But I’d be lying if I said the prince’s curse didn’t fascinate me. Collecting unusual spells was a hobby of mine. The best ones—like the spell I’d used to punish Ethan—were often curses.

I smiled down at my rabbit guest. “I’m getting ready to call it a night, Lord Alfred. Can I get you anything before I retire? It sounds like Prince Robin is already asleep.”

There was silence as Alfred and I listened to the prince snoring.

Sighing heavily, Alfred pushed some of the loose hay back into the hollow he’d made in the hay bale. “Could I trouble you for a carrot or some lettuce? Prince Robin refused to eat, but I’m starving.”

I hurried away as quickly as my corset and skirts would allow and soon returned with a plate of assorted vegetables. I also carried a baggie with a duplicate set for Prince Robin, in case he woke up hungry in the middle of the night. Alfred thanked me for the food and my patience. His pomposity was nowhere to be found. He must have lost it while chasing after his royal charge.

A need to ease him gnawed at my gut. “I’m sorry you changed back to a rabbit so soon. When the curse is gone, come back as a human for a visit. I’ll make a special room for you and serve you tea by the fireplace. We can have a real chat. You deserve a break.”

“You’re awfully kind for a criminal. Perhaps you will be granted an early release for your good behavior,” Alfred said with a strange snuffle that I credited as rabbit laughter.

I watched with a smile as he used one paw to scratch a twitching ear before using both paws to dust off the excess hay from his furry chest and belly. Lord Alfred Hutchley was growing on me, and there was nothing I could do about it. However, I’d lost interest in the prince when he ran after Farley merely growling at him. He could have stayed and explained things. No matter how alluring he seemed, I would never be genuinely attracted to someone like him.

“Well, I’ll do what I said for as long as I’m stuck here. Currently, I have about fifty days left on my sentence. Since the inn’s owner finds a way to add to my prison sentence every time she visits, your chances of catching me are good if you return before the end of summer.”

Alfred tittered at my declaration, and I smiled.

“Okay. I’ll let you get some sleep now. Goodnight, Alfred. Summon me if you need anything. Call my name and the inn will let me know.”

Alfred dipped his rabbit head in acknowledgement. “I am truly sorry we ruined your date.”

“Farley and I being together is inevitable. I should've kept my disappointment to myself. You didn’t ruin anything, nor did you do anything wrong. Also, Farley is not as bad as his growl made him sound. Please give him another chance to make a better impression when he shows up tomorrow.”