Page 83 of Love's a Witch

“You make it sound so easy. But it’s not.”

“And you’re creating troubles for yourself before they’re here. Listen. You said it yourself. Trial run. We’ll take it a day at a time. Deal?” I reached my hand out to Sloane, and when she finally gave it to me, I turned it over and placed a kiss on her palm. She shivered inher seat, and when I licked the skin, blowing a breath across it, she shivered again. Slanting a glance at Blue, she pulled her hand back.

“Not in front of the children.” Sloane reprimanded me with a small smile, and I was grateful to see it. She was warming up to the idea of us, on her terms of course, and I’d take what I could get.

“Understood. Shall I give you a ride home?”

Sloane groaned and slapped her hands to her face. “I forgot! We don’t have a car anymore. Bloody hell, now what?”

“Take one of mine.” I shrugged and snagged a piece of bacon.

“What?” Sloane’s eyes widened.

“I have several. Just take one.”

“Oh my goddess. Is this what it is like dating rich people? I can’t just take a car, Knox.”

“Fine, I’ll gift it to you.”

“Have you lost yourmind? You don’t just give someone a car.”

“I have it on good authority it happens all the time. They even make these massive bows to put on cars. It’s a thing. Look it up.”

“I know it’s a thing.” Sloane sighed. “It’s just not our thing.”

“It can be.” I grinned when Sloane made a frustrated noise.

“No, it can’t. You need insurance, and title stuff, and all the adult things that go with getting a car. You can’t just give someone it.”

“Would it be easier if I buy you one? They’ll do all that at the dealership right then.”

“What? No.” Sloane rose, frustrated, and began to pace. Blue’s gaze followed her, his ever-present smile on his face. “You don’t need to buy my love, Knox.”

“I’m well aware of that.”

“So why in the world would you offer me a car?”

“Because I’m your friend and you need one? I can just lend you the use of it if that makes you feel better. Insurance should cover driving in my car.”

“Just a loan?” Sloane eyed me suspiciously.

“Sure. We’ll call it a trial run.”

Sloane’s expression turned mulish, and I waited, hoping she would laugh, and when a smile broke through, I sighed in relief.

“Damn it.” Sloane shook her head and waved for Blue to fly into her arms. He slammed into her chest with the grace of a toddler hopped up on too much sugar. “Fine, Knox. I will accept your extremely temporary loan of a car until we figure out a better solution.”

“You’re welcome.” I grinned when Sloane slanted me a look.

“Thank you,” Sloane added, stiffly at that. I wanted to hug and kiss her until she relaxed, just eased up a bit, but I knew this wasn’t the time. Not yet. It was going to be incremental, with her, and I well understood why. So long as she gave us a fighting chance, I’d be happy.

On the way downstairs, I hummed softly to myself, feeling happy and relaxed for the first time in a long time. Sure, we had a curse to break, and the town was raging about the constant snow, but I liked challenges. I know it didn’t make sense, but it was nice to feel needed, to be able to fix things, and having problems meant I could find solutions. Call it a hero complex, or just a life of someone who didn’t like to be bored, but either way, obstacles were my thing. I was going to help the MacGregors, one way or another, because I think they deserved it. The sistersdeservedan honest chance at a happy life. This curse was unfair to them, and to the towns they tried to live in. It had gone on long enough.

My phone rang, and I pulled it from my pocket, swiping up as my mum’s name came up. It was a video call, and I angled so Sloane was on the screen.

“Say hi to Sloane,” I instructed my mum, and I could see the same expressions of shock on each woman’s face as they stared each other down on the phone.

“Um, hello, Mrs. Douglas.” Sloane nodded.