“I don’t know.” Hannah gnawed on her bottom lip.
Kate stood back. “That’s fine. No worries. I’ll let you finish packing up.”
Hannah took off the cape and folded it. “Here’s the cape back.”
Kate moved away from Hannah and started cleaning off the counter. She should feel good. Their kiss had been freaking electric, surprising, and enjoyable. And she’d avoided getting entangled with someone she’d probably be running into at the business association meeting next week. So why did she feel like she was about to miss out on the adventure of her life?
“Is Mercury in retrograde or something?” Kate asked.
“No,” Hannah replied as she was trying to flip the table over so she could fold it down.
Smack!
Kate startled. “Here, let me help you with that.”
Hannah stepped back, and Kate effortlessly unlocked the table legs and had the table folded and ready to load into Hannah’s car.
“Thanks for the help,” Hannah said. Kate inhaled. There was something about the way Hannah smelled that made Kate think of a cozy cabin with a fireplace crackling and what it could be like if she were snuggling in that cabin with Hannah.
“I can carry it out to your car. You parked out back, right?”
“Yep.”
“Let me grab my jacket.” Kate walked over to the counter, pulled a jean jacket out from under the counter, and put it on. She checked the pocket to make sure she had the store keys and then led the way out the back of the store.
Hannah pressed her key fob, and the car lights flashed. Kate held on to the table while Hannah opened the door, and then Kate slid it into the car. Within a minute, Hannah’s car was packed, and suddenly Kate wasn’t ready for her to leave.
Hannah opened her car door and turned back to Kate. “Thanks again for having me out to do the pet psychic night. I suggested it to Zaina a while ago, and I’m so glad we could make it happen.”
Kate grinned widely, “It was a huge success! I can’t thank you enough. I am sure I’ll hear more great feedback from customers over the next few weeks.”
Hannah smiled. “Amazing, I appreciate you! Can you believe it’s almost Halloween? Our busiest time of year is almost here.”
“Maybe we can—” Kate said, and then Hannah’s phone rang. “I’ll let you take that. Thanks again—for everything.” She wrapped her arms around herself and watched as Hannah got in her car and left.
She didn’t like all the emotions that were bubbling up. Kate had been able to avoid thinking about Brittany leaving and about how she had refused to let Kate have their dog, Oreo. She tooka deep breath. Now was not the time to dwell on the past. She needed to get some sleep because tomorrow she’d be baking up a storm.
Kate went back into the shop to close things up. On the counter next to the POS, someone had left one of Hannah’s cards. It read: “Maxim the Magnificent, Tarot Cartologist,” and below was a phone number and an email. She put the card in her back pocket, unsure what she was going to do with it. Would she call her or just let things be?
Chapter Five
Hannah had to work the next day, so instead of stopping at work and unloading her car, she drove straight home from Pupcakes and Clawssaints. As soon as she walked in the door of her studio apartment, Smoky, her black cat, wound around her legs, meowing loudly. “I know, Baby, you must be starving. It’s been a long day.” Hannah dropped her bag on the small kitchen counter and pulled a can of cat food from the cabinet. As soon as the lid on the can cracked open, Smoky ran over to his dish, impatiently waiting for dinner. Hannah plopped the food in Smoky’s bowl and stood up. She walked over to her refrigerator to look for something to eat.
Standing in front of the fridge, she realized she was hungry for more of Kate. To taste her, to have Kate’s citrusy scent filling her nostrils, to touch the muscles just below her silky skin. A flush of heat spread throughout her, overpowering the cool air coming from the refrigerator. She pulled out a non-alcoholic pale ale, popped the tab, and guzzled half the can, desperate to cool off.
Hannah walked around the bookcase that divided the kitchen and living area from her sleeping area and plopped down on the bed. She lay back against the cozy, burnt orange chenille bedspread and replayed Kate’s kiss in her mind. It was the hottest kiss she’d ever experienced. If only Kate had said yes to a date. Hannah scooched back against the Halloween-themed throw pillows propped up at her headboard. She took a long drink from her beer and placed it on the Hop’s Heaven coaster on her nightstand. Pulling up her fluffy throw blanket covered with black cats, she pulled out her phone and went right to the Pupcakes and Clawssaints Instagram page. Pictures from the event taken by several of the guests had already filled the feed. Hannah slowly scrolled, examining each picture for glimpses of Kate. She sighed as she found a picture of Kate with a wide smile on her face, accentuating the sharp planes of her face. Even in the picture, her green eyes lit up, and Hannah wished she knew what Kate was smiling about.
She double-tapped the picture. Kate’s smile had been coy when she’d asked Hannah to read the cards and see if they should hang out. Hannah’s stomach clenched. She should have just done the reading. But what if the cards said they would be a disaster? Hannah put down the phone and went to her dresser to pull out pajamas and get ready for bed. After she changed, washed her face, and brushed her teeth, she got back into bed. Smoky hopped onto the bed, knowing it was bedtime, and curled up next to Hannah.
Hannah stroked her cat’s fur and thought about the evening again. Maybe. Kate had said maybe. Hannah would give the contents of her bank account to know what Kate was going to say next. Was she going to agree to a date after all? Hannah closed her eyes. Had she completely misread Kate’s interest in her? Tonight was the first time she’d kissed a woman. Was she going about this all wrong? What would have happened if she’dsaidwe don’t need to go on a datewhen Kate had questioned if Hannah was asking her out? She should have gone on the apps and practiced before going for broke and kissing her crush tonight. She needed more bi and lesbian friends. Frustrated and feeling foolish, Hannah drifted off to sleep.
The next day was a busy one at work. They had an afternoon private party for a group of Wiccan practitioners who’d taken the train from Chicago out to Marley Creek for a pre-Samhain celebration. The group had wiped out the store’s supply of Smoky quartz, yellow candles, and mini cauldrons. Hannah had reminded everyone to rate and review New Age Stones and Witch Crafts and gave them discount codes for the upcoming Yule celebration Zaina was hosting on December twenty-first. Aside from thinking about Kate’s exploration of her mouth and the hard press of Kate’s body against her soft body every five seconds, Hannah was very focused on her job.
Finally, it was time to lock the door and head home. Hannah twisted her body, cracking her back.
“I’m exhausted too,” Zaina said, stretching up to the ceiling. “We didn’t even have time to talk today about the pet psychic night. How did it go?”
“I’d say it was a success,” Hannah smiled shyly. “Can you believe I made over a hundred dollars in tips? That reminds me.” Hannah pulled out the envelope with cash payments from the readings and put it on the counter.
