“I know. I like their coffee.”
“It’s good, right?”
“Oh yeah, it’s one of the things I like best about this town,” he says, his eyes shining as they land on me.
For a split second our gazes lock and all the anger between us dissolves.
For a split second, that is. Next thing I know, he’s scowling again like a petulant child.
Stone pulls the Danish from the box, and I hold my breath. “I didn’t eat this morning,” he confesses.
I cross my fingers as he takes the first bite.
After I bought the pastry and coffee, I returned to my car and pulled out a small mason jar I’d stored the potion in. I unscrewed the lid, dipped in a spoon, and slathered what I hope is enough of the green goo onto the bottom of the Danish. It was thick and goopy. It also smelled slightly of vinegar.
Maybe Stone won’t notice.
I then dropped a small spoonful in the coffee, too, stirred, and capped the lid.
My thinking was that if he didn’t eat the Danish, maybe he’d drink the coffee.
Stone takes a big bite, frowns for half a second, and then keeps chewing. I exhale the breath I’ve been holding.
So far, so good.
“Now.” He wipes his hands on a napkin I brought. “What did you want to talk about?”
“I was hoping we could walk outside.”
“Why?”
There wasn’t any information in the book about how long the spell will take to work, so I’m hoping it’ll activate quickly and Stone will see the ley lines.
He watches me carefully. Oh no. I doubt one bite will be enough, so I pick up the coffee.
“You should wash your breakfast down.”
I start to hand it to him, but my fingers slip and the cup tips over.
I watch in slow-motion horror as the rim hits the top of his desk and the lid pops off. Coffee spills everywhere, spraying onto his lap and sliding over the blotter on his desk, staining his papers.
Stone jumps up. “Son of a—”
“I’m so sorry!” My gaze skims the office, and I hope to find a paper towel dispenser nearby, but no such luck. My cheeks burn with humiliation. My hands shake.
This is going all wrong. All, all wrong.
Grabbing the few napkins I brought, I blot Stone’s shirt. “I’m so, so sorry! I can’t believe I’ve done this. I’m such a klutz.”
“I’ve got it,” he snarls. When I try to blot him again, he takes both of my hands in his. An electric shock jolts down my body, and I jump back. He releases me and says darkly, “Was your plan to melt my skin?”
“No, it wasn’t.” I curl my hands into balls to stop them from shaking. It doesn’t help, so I just stash them behind my back. “I really did come here to give you this peace offering.”
“Well, good job. The Danish sucked and now I’m covered in coffee.”
So hecouldtaste the potion. Well, that answers my question about the flavor.
He unbuttons his shirt and yanks it off. “If there’s nothing else, you may leave. Unless you’re about to make a phone call.”
