Page 42 of Enchanted to Meet You

“What girl? Do you mean the Chosen One? Because take it from me, those two are not on the best terms—”

“No, not that one. The other...”

He was used to the caller speaking in cryptic terms like this. He’d learned long ago to ignore it. He himself preferred action—but he didn’t often get what he wanted.

“Fine,” he said, with a certain amount of sarcasm. “Then I’ll continue protecting the Chosen One from our own people—and the weather.”

The caller’s voice warmed. “You’re a good boy. Have I told you that lately?”

“You think so? Well, in that case, give me a raise. A big one.”

This was followed by laughter. Then the caller hung up—without saying goodbye, as usual.

He put his phone away, then turned around and went inside. Not much had changed. The mother of the toddler had disappeared into the dressing room, presumably changing back into her street clothes, and Grandma was still waiting in the second Friends and Family chair, her phone neatly tucked away.

“Well,” she said conversationally, as Derrick sat down again. “How was your call?”

“Fine.” His coffee cup was empty. It was after five. He really couldn’t drink another one, or he’d never sleep tonight. But with what he knew now, could he afford to sleep?

“It doesn’t look like it was fine.” Grandma played with the baby some more. “Who was it? Your boss?”

“Sort of,” Derrick said, and settled back into his chair for what he presumed would be many more hours of waiting. “It was my mother.”

Jessica

To stop those who speak ill of thee, dip their names in honey. Henceforth the only words they speak of thee will be sweet.

Goody Fletcher,Book of Useful Household Tips

It was hard to focus on work with Derrick Winters sitting in my shop.

It wasn’t only because every time I glanced in that direction, there he was, reminding me of West Harbor’s impending doom—not to mention that kiss we’d shared.

It was also because of how fast word had spread that he was there. West Harbor was a small enough town that everyone knew everyone else’s business (and what they didn’t know, they made up).

I realized that the moment I felt a tug on my sleeve as I was trying to refold a decimated pile of summer stretch capris just before closing, and saw Dina standing beside me, her dark eyes huge.

“Oh my God, Jess,” she said. “Tell me it’s true.”

For some reason I thought she was talking about the hailstormRosalie had created to demolish my car. “Oh, it’s true. She nearly killed me this time.”

“What? Who nearly killed you?” Dina was confused. “What are you talking about?”

Dina wasn’t the only one who was confused. “What areyoutalking about?”

“I’m talking about the fact that that’s him, isn’t it?” She nodded toward Derrick, still sitting in the Friends and Family Chair with Pye curled in his lap, his gaze on a pair of older women lingering by the crystal display near the door, but who actually had eyes on only one item: him. “Has he really been sitting there all afternoon?”

“Um. Yes.”

When Derrick had pulled into a parking space close to Enchantments to drop me off, I’d removed my seat belt and reached for the car door handle, saying brightly, “Well, thanks for the ride. The shop closes at seven, so I’ll see you at home around then.”

I probably shouldn’t have been surprised when he’d replied, “I’m coming in with you.”

“You are? Why?”

“In case you’ve forgotten, you were seriously injured a few hours ago.” He undid his own seat belt. “I’m not going to allow that to happen again. I’m staying with you until the Bringer of Light has been trained and you’ve both saved this town.”

“But you can’t justhang aroundinside a women’s clothing shop.”