Milo nodded. “That’s all I can ask.”
Ruby looked pointedly up at the clock and Max followed her gaze. They’d have to hurry to get to Matilda and Helen’s place on time.
Max hesitated and considered canceling the appointment. Looking at his fierce warrior girlfriend, he wasn’t certain he wanted the love spell removed. What if he wasn’t compelled to tell her repeatedly that he loved her and wanted to marry her? Would that loss of persuasion make him change his mind about going back to Alpha-Prime for closure? Would he choose mending the rift with his parents over staying with her? Suddenly he was very unsure he wanted to lose the compelling voice in his head that kept him with Ruby.
“Why don’t you come with us to the Sheriff’s office?” To Ruby, he said, “We can drop off Milo there, he can look at the video and see if he recognizes the redheaded guy while we go on to our appointment. We can return for him after we’re finished or he can meet us somewhere later on.”
“Okay.”
“We’d better get going or else we’ll be late.”
The three of them exited the front door of Ruby’s workplace into the very tall center atrium hall of the mercantile building. The receptionist at Bubba’s Psychic Readings across the atrium waved at them as they walked by. Luckily, she didn’t motion Max over and try to put him to work.
They left Uncle Milo at the Sheriff’s office in the capable if zany hands of Birdie, who promised to show him all the video of their suspect. Milo told them he’d wait for their return.
Max read in Birdie’s mind that if she didn’t already have an amazing boyfriend in Jack Van Zant that his uncle Milo might be a contender, as she found him ruggedly handsome. Max stopped reading her mind when she started thinking about all her single friends who might also consider his uncle Milo premium dating material.
Ruby led Max to what she called a gingerbread gothic mansion tucked away on a quiet street a few blocks from Main Street and downtown Nocturne Falls.
“I know the outside of this place looks a little like the witch’s gingerbread house in Hansel and Gretel, but trust me, it’s very nice on the inside.”
“I trust you, Ruby. And—”
“I know, you also love me and want to marry me.” She smiled, but the mirth didn’t reach her eyes. Maybe she was thinking the same thing he was.
“Are you afraid I won’t feel the same way about you after they take the spells off?”
She shrugged. “Maybe.”
Max bent to kiss her, right in public on the street and everything. She didn’t fight him off, but the kiss, while lovely, seemed like she was saying goodbye. He didn’t want to lose her. At least not yet. Not while his will was not his own.
Ruby opened the white picket fence gate and strolled along a brick pathway to a large porch with all manner of fancy wood decorations carved into the frame and design. It was busy. He didn’t hate it, but his tastes ran more to clean lines and less fussy decor.
Ruby knocked on the front door.
It swung open, and the short witch named Matilda beamed at them. “There you are.”
“Sorry we’re running late,” Ruby said. “It was my fault. I had a client show up unexpectedly at my office.”
Nice of her to take the blame, since it was Max’s uncle who’d slowed them down.
“No worries, dearie. Come on in.” She looked at Max. “Youdolook familiar.”
Max narrowed his gaze and said, “Well, I should.Youput a spell on me at the Black and Orange Ball.”
“Did I? Are you certain it was me?” She grinned and two dimples showed up in her cheeks.
“Yes, I’m certain. But you weren’t alone.”
The taller witch strolled into the entryway. “He does look very familiar, doesn’t he, Matilda?”
“I was just telling him the very same thing, Helen. He says we each put a spell on him at the ball. Do you remember that?”
“Vaguely,” Helen said. “This year’s Black and Orange Ball is a bit fuzzy in my recollection. I didn’t really wake up until they booted us out because of the fire in the bathroom.” She gestured for Ruby and Max to follow her into what looked like a tiny fancy parlor.
Once they were all seated, Helen asked, “Do you remember any part of the spell?”
“Oh, yes. Good idea,” Matilda said enthusiastically. “That might help us remember.”
