Page 40 of Of Poison & Pumpkins (Of Witches & Men #3)
Rynn
I hide in the back of Zanther’s Pumpkins, watching Elias charm another customer.
I no longer need to make a sale by forcing a smile to sell purple items, and even better, I no longer have to compete against Elias.
No more moral obligations to hate everything pumpkin, which is perfect since I adore pumpkin spice lattes.
Selfishly, I inhale in a giant breath of the pumpkin aroma I love.
Even hidden as I am in my secret spot, Maya finds me, a stuffed pumpkin toy balanced on her head.
“Auntie Rynn? I see you!”
I can’t believe how fast she’s growing. Before I know it, I’ll blink and Maya will mature into her own magic. Which reminds me of my seven-month-old niece, cradled in my brother’s arms in the pie aisle. So much has changed in a year.
I glance out the window. We have to leave soon in order to beat the storm. I walk towards my friends and family, grateful to have them all in one place.
“Lias, I got you something to wear to the show tomorrow,” I say, holding out a box.
His eyes brighten and widen. “What is it?! Oh, don’t tell me.” He tears it open and pulls out a custom, hand-knitted pair of golden suspenders I’ve been working on between orders.
“Oh, these are great! Should I wear them now?”
“No, they’re for tomorrow. You’ll match the unicorns.”
“Thank you, babe.” With a thunk , he plops a pumpkin scented candle on the check-out counter. “I need to get you a gift.”
“I don’t need a present.”
“But I want to spoil you.” I meet his dark gaze, eyes full of mischief.
With a playful sigh, I tsk at my boyfriend, my roommate, my best friend. “You did more than enough spoiling,” I whisper.
“Oh, wait till tonight, you won’t remember your name.” His flirtatious tone has my insides twist pleasantly. “I’ve been told my hands work miracles. I won’t disappoint.”
The sheer audacity of this man.
“We’re staying at Viv’s, remember?”
“But Oakmar’s festival is tonight.” He pouts dramatically and runs a suggestive hand over his thick suspender strap.
My heart rate doubles, hyper-aware of his stare. He knows exactly what he’s doing to me.
“From what I recall of your story, Viv has a thousand beds in her barn,” Tinsley says, punctuated by laughter.
Elias lifts an eyebrow, proud that I’ve shared our sexcapades.
“Eli doesn’t need a bed. Just give him a wall for hammering. Isn’t that right? Bro?” Zanther slaps Elias’s back and I’m certain I turn a shade of beet red.
“No, no, I’m begging you. Can we not talk about my sister getting hammered, please?” Orion winces and covers his ears.
Elias snort-laughs and pulls me into his chest, closer than skin to whisper, “I’m getting you this pumpkin candle, and tonight we’re trying the new spreader bar.”
A shiver of anticipation runs up my spine. Now I’m even more eager to leave. Raw desire coils through my center.
“I thought it was my turn to tie you?” I kiss his neck because doing anything else seems inconceivable.
“Lion’s orders.” He smirks, more devilishly than ever.
“Okay, y’all. Happy Halloween. Stay safe tonight and we’ll see you at the show tomorrow.”
Zanther, Orion, Tinsley, and Maya protest as a unified unit, but we scamper away before they can stop us.
They may be the most important people in my life, but my circle has grown tremendously in the last year.
Not only have I made friends with Shannon, who bought out my shop and altered Palooza into a purple sensory experience, but I also joined a weekly knitting club with a dozen other women, both Fuzer and Nergs.
I may not trust everyone instantly yet, but I’m making progress, understanding that everyone has good in their heart.
It doesn’t matter if they have magic in their DNA or not, I’ve started to lower my shield to let others in.
Elias tugs my hand a little as we head out the door.
Outside, the autumn air smells of apple crisp pie, reminding me of this time last year, when my life had been in disarray.
Now, the pieces have settled into place.
I make enough at Hooves of Love to support myself.
Not to mention, Tinsley was surprised by receiving a large inheritance from a long-lost aunt, so I don’t need to worry about her security anymore.
To top it all off, I have the sweetest, most charming, most authentic man at my side.
Someone I’d trust with my life, my heart, my soul.
If we hurry, maybe we can use my month’s spell of invisibility once more to give us extra time to play.
We jog away from Pumpkins, across the cobblestone street to Elias’s car. I almost trip on something—oh, it’s Goosie—but Elias catches me before I fall. Hand in hand, he looks over at me and winks. The man actually winks. And I couldn’t be happier.
The End