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The frustration curling in Niko’s gut had him striding out the door of Indigo’s shop. The knowledge that Indigo wanted to date him but wouldn’t, for whatever reason, was driving him insane. He couldn’t stop the ache he had for her, but he also knew there wasn’t anything to do but walk away. She’d made herself clear, and as much as he hated it, he intended to respect that.

“Oh, hello again,” Kinsley said, gazing up at him with a warm smile.

“Hi,” he said, forcing a smile for the younger woman.

She glanced at his broom. “Are you headed out for a ride now?”

He shook his head. “I’ll go later. Probably at twilight. It’s a nice way to unwind at the end of the day.” Really, he’d likely just go home, prop the broom up against his wall, and then head out to his studio to try to get lost in woodworking. He needed something to take his mind off Indigo, and flying around on one of her brooms wasn’t going to be the distraction he needed.

She placed her hand on his arm and leaned in. “That sounds lovely. Do you mind if I join you?”

Caught off guard, Niko blinked once and then said, “Sure. Why not?” Then immediately he glanced back at Indigo’s shop. It was what she’d suggested. Maybe this was just the thing he needed to put the idea of dating Indigo behind him. “We could meet down at the marina at 6:30.”

“That sounds good.” Kinsley glowed with happiness. But then her phone buzzed with a text, and she frowned as she read the message. “Oh no. Now what am I going to do?” She looked up and glanced around, her expression worried.

“What’s wrong?” Niko asked, ready to go into problem-solving mode. “What can I do to help?”

“Oh, you’re sweet,” she said, relief washing over her face. “I just need a ride home. My sister borrowed my car today, and she’s stuck in Seattle for a few more hours. I suppose I can call a cab. Are there any that run in Befana Bay?”

“Probably, but they’ll need to come from Poulsbo, and it’ll cost you,” he said, already pulling his keys out of his pocket. No one could ever accuse him of not being a gentleman. “Don’t worry about that. I’ve got you. Come on.”

“Oh my gosh! You’re the best.” Kinsley grabbed his arm and pressed her head against his biceps. “I can’t thank you enough.”

“No thanks necessary.”

Kinsley eagerly tightened her grip on him as he led her down the street to his truck.

* * *

If there was a way to cast a spell to time travel, Niko would have already pulled that trigger. He should have canceled his broom ride date with Kinsley when he’d taken her home. The younger woman hadn’t stopped talking once during the twenty-minute drive to the place she shared with her sister. Her twin sister. The one who’d stolen a candy bar at the local corner store when she was seven and then told everyone she was Kinsley when she’d gotten caught. He'd also learned that the sister had wet the bed until she was six years old and that Kinsley hadn’t gone on any sleepovers until her sister had mastered bladder control because Kinsley wouldn’t go anywhere without her.

It had been way too much information, and he’d tuned out so thoroughly that he hadn’t even heard her when she’d pointed out her apartment building.

And now as they were getting ready to mount their brooms, she was rambling about her Nana’s incontinence problems.

“You would just not believe the smell, Niko. I’m telling you, I love her to pieces, but if she doesn’t start wearing adult diapers, I’m gonna have to threaten to put her in a home.”

Niko cleared his throat. “Does she live with you and your sister?”

“Oh no,” she said, shaking her head. “She has her own place. But you know how it is. When we go over there, there’s no ignoring the smell.”

“Uh-huh.” Niko kicked off, grateful to get out of the conversation. Despite the fact that he hadn’t been in the mood to go on a broom ride earlier, he had to admit that the heaviness that had been weighing him down had suddenly disappeared, and there wasn’t much that made him feel better than flying over the Salish Sea in the Pacific Northwest.

Kinsley let out a cry of surprise, causing him to glance back. She was on her broom, wobbling a bit.

Niko quickly swung around, flying up close to her. “Level your handle!”

She glanced at him with wide, terrified eyes.

“Lean forward and level the broom handle,” he ordered again. “Just like this.” He demonstrated what he meant and watched her closely.

She tentatively leaned forward and immediately the broom took off, speeding over the bay.

He hurried to catch up with her, frustration bubbling over. Had the woman never ridden a broom before? “Pull up slightly!”

Her eyes were terrified, but she did as she was told, and as she slowed, her expression eased, an obvious look of relief on her young face.

“Follow me,” he said and made a gentle turn to head back to the shore.

Thankfully, Kinsley did as he asked, but when they landed, she didn’t get her feet under her and ended up dragging her legs, causing her to flail and fall off the broom. Without a rider, the broom just fell on the rocky beach, landing with a dull thud while Kinsley moaned and curled into herself.

“Kinsley!” Niko called as he ran over and crouched beside her. He placed a light hand on her shoulder. “Are you all right?”

She moaned again and rolled over, staring up at him, blinking away tears. “I’m okay,” she said as she tried to push herself up. “I just… lost control there for a minute.”

Niko helped her into a sitting position. “Have you ever ridden a broom before?”

“Of course. My sister and I had a lesson when we were like eight, I think.”

“So just once?” Niko asked.

“Yeah, but it’s like riding a bike, right?”

“Seems maybe not,” he said, shaking his head. Especially when she hadn’t ridden one since she was a kid. And certainly not one that had the capacity to go as fast or as high as the one she had been riding.

She shifted, trying to get her feet under her and stand. Wincing, she released the pressure off her left foot and reached for her ankle. “That’s gonna make it hard to stand at work.”

“You need a healer,” he said, wrapping his arm around her waist, trying to support her.

“No, no. It’s just a minor sprain,” Kinsley said, leaning into him. “What I need to do is get right back on that broom.”

“I don’t think that’s—” Niko started.

But Kinsley cut him off. “I’m not a quitter. I’m certain I can master this if I just give it another shot.”

There was no way Niko was letting that happen. She’d nearly fallen from fifty feet in the air, and she’d ended the trip with a spectacular crash landing. “Not tonight,” he said firmly. “Not on my watch.”

“But—” A gust of wind drowned out her protest and was followed by a sudden rain shower.

Kinsley just looked at him and nodded.

He grabbed both their brooms, and then without a word, he hauled her into his arms and made a run for it to their vehicles.

In no time, he had her tucked into her red Kia Soul. Before he shut her door he asked, “Can you drive?”

“It’s my left foot. Yes. I can drive,” she said. “I’ll just go home and put ice on it. I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

“You really should go see a healer,” he said again.

“That costs money. Ice will be fine.” She smiled up at him. “Thank you for saving me. You’re a hero, you know.”

He rolled his eyes. “No, I’m not.” If he was, he’d have put her in his truck and taken her to the healer himself. But he just couldn’t bring himself to do anything more than wish her a good night.

“Goodnight, Niko. Maybe we can try this again sometime,” she said.

He gave her a noncommittal smile and shut her door. He watched as she pulled out of the parking space and out onto Main Street. At least she appeared to be adept at handling her vehicle. That was great news, because all he wanted to do was go home, take a hot shower, down a whiskey, and forget this day ever happened.

With the rain still pouring down, Niko ran to his truck and climbed in. On his way out of town, he slowed as he passed Brooms that Vroom and looked up at the glowing light in the apartment upstairs. If he had his way, he’d be with Indigo at that very moment, dragging her to the shower with him.