“Mystery orders? Like all of Agatha Christie?”
“No, the books are all romance books. The mystery is I have no idea who’s buying them. They’re ordered via my online store, but the books get delivered straight to the mystery person, even though there’s no address I can see.” She gives a one-shoulder shrug and straightens a stack of books on one of the display tables. “The money always comes through. The shadow fae Severin put into place at the bank makes it all happen with magic. It’s not the first time a fae has ordered from me using this system, but I’ve never seen someone buy so many books all in one go.”
Huh. A fae purchasing large amounts of books makes methink of Luke, but he’d never buy romances. He made ahugepoint about his library being only for research.
Hannah hurries through the door, carrying a large pink box from Cake My Day. Autumn follows on her heels with coffees from Grounds for Celebration, and Kayla enters last, a bunch of bananas held up in each hand like trophies. “Not to bethatperson, but I figured some fruit wouldn’t kill us.”
After a flurry of hugs and a shedding of coats, we settle onto the comfy velvet couches with our breakfast selections.
Princess Buttercup runs up, demanding to be introduced to everyone all over again now that she can talk. She uses her innate ability to know exactly who’s uncomfortable around cats to focus on Kayla with the precision of a heat-seeking missile, climbing onto the purple-haired witch’s lap with a loud purr.
My friend sits, coffee and plate in hand, her arms hovering in midair like she’s no longer sure what to do with them.
I reach over and run a hand down Princess Buttercup’s back. “Come sit with me.”
“No.”
“You’re making Kayla uncomfortable.”
“I’m going to make her love me,” my cat says, voice filled with complete confidence.
“I’m not sure it works like that.”
“Of course it does.” She starts purring harder. “I’m using forced proximity. It’s in all of your favorite audiobooks.”
Hoo, boy! I didn’t even think about the fact that she can understand my spicy romance audiobooks now that she’s my familiar. Time for some new earbuds.
Hannah gives an amused snort, the only other person able to understand my cat.
“You okay?” I ask Kayla.
“Yeah, sure.” She lowers her hands, showing off a T-shirt that says:I speak fluent sarcasm.
I gulp my coffee, the perfect sweetness of the cinnamon latte rolling over my tongue. To make Kayla happy—and because I love them—I finish off a banana before letting myself take a bite of cinnamon roll. The fluffy and sweet cinnamon goodness melts in my mouth. My grandmother was an amazing baker, but nothing can compare to Pepperpot’s baking magic.
“Okay, we’ve been patient enough.” Kayla points at me with her bear claw, the sliced almond toenails hinting at the sweet almond paste stuffed inside. “What happened?”
Yesterday’s trip into the book spills out of me in a rush: beingGroundhog Day-ed during the dance lesson, the almost-accident while driving, the dinner. My words falter when I reach what came after. “Then, well, he… uh.”
“Come on, tell us!” Hannah says.
Autumn nods. “Yeah, you can’t stop right when it’s getting good.”
“Luke said I was the only dessert he wanted,” I blurt.
Hannah whoops and shares a high five with Autumn, who wiggles her eyebrows and asks, “And did heeathis dessert?”
My cheeks flame with heat at the memory of Luke’s head buried between my thighs, his words praising my sweet taste.
“Oh, he totally did,” Kayla says. “Look at her face!”
“So the sex.” Autumn leans forward. “There were two?”She waves two fingers in front of her hips.
“Nope.”
“That’s impossible! I saw him last year after a shift,” Naomi says. “He has two dicks.”
“Yeah, we saw them yesterday morning,” Hannah says. “Bothof them.”
