Page 9 of Hex Appeal

Her irritation vanishes, too. “Is everyone okay?”

“I don’t know yet.”

I head for the door. “We’re not finished.”

“I assumed not.”

She follows me toward the entrance. I pull open the door, then look back at her.

“Hopefully, it’s not another one of your candles.”

Her mouth falls open.

I’m halfway down the steps when she calls after me.

“Have a magical day, Chief Hawthorne!”

I stop. Close my eyes. And shake my head.

She’s not just a ray of damn sunshine. She’s like a summer day.

As the local fire chief—the only full-time person on the department’s payroll—I have a duty to make sure everything that happens in this town is up to code and safe.

Luckily for me, checking out the town’s fall festival has more than a few perks. Namely, today I get to walk around with a cup of hot apple cider and a fresh maple donut while I work.

“Hard at work, I see.”

I turn toward the familiar voice. Beau walks toward me with his hands shoved into the pockets of his jacket.

“Somebody has to make sure this donut isn’t a fire hazard.”

“Very dedicated of you.”

“I take my responsibilities seriously.”

“Clearly.”

I take another bite before nodding toward him. “What are you doing here?”

“Enjoying the festival like a normal person.”

“Must be nice.”

He grins. I’ve known Beau since we were kids. Long enough that I know the grin means something. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing.”

“Bullshit.”

His grin widens.

I narrow my eyes. “Woman?”

More like, “another woman.”

“Maybe.”

“You get around.”