Page 24 of Knot Cursed

I left him with his potion and walked across the room to the hall mirror. Just as I was adjusting my favorite corset, a knock on the door echoed out.

I glanced back at Merrick. “Could you grab that?” I needed to fix my boobs and didn't want either man to take that as an invitation to help.

At least not yet.

Rook and Merrick exchanged pleasantries in the foyer and by the time they came back, I was searching for my purse. I swear things disappeared around here or moved on their own. I'd have to ask Merrick if he noticed that later.

Another aspect of my curse, perhaps?

"You're going out there in that?" Rook growled a little.

At first, I was about to give him a piece of my mind but then I saw the lust that filled his eyes and I smirked at him instead.

"It's my lucky corset," I shrugged, feigning innocence. It was revealing, but not far enough to leave it behind. I looked sexy as hell and I was owning it. Especially now that he could scent me, too.

The next day, I’d caught him breathing me in, but he hadn’t said anything yet. Instead, he turned up his flirting even more and tested just how close I’d let him get.

"Yeah, I can see why," he frowned but came over and pushed a rogue strand of hair behind my ear. "I'm not so insecure that I'll try and tell you how to dress but I will voice my disdain."

"Noted, and I appreciate your candor and I will do the same to you. Like when you roll up the sleeves on your button up and show off your forearms like that," I said, placing my hand on his arm. "Do you know how sexy that is, or are you just a tease?"

He winked at me before answering, "You think that’s sexy? I was just getting the fabric out of my way."

"Mmhmm, that's what I'd say about my corset." I grinned and there was a cough behind me.

"Umm, sorry to break this up but if we are going, can we get moving? My confidence is fading with each passing minute," Merrick stated. He was a bit anxious but he didn't look at all uncomfortable with our exchange.

"Of course, sorry," I said, my cheeks flushed red.

"No need to apologize, I can always just go to the shop and rearrange all that junk from the Johnsons we got," he offered up.

I liked the way he said ‘we.’ It had been a short amount of time but he’d found peace among my antiques.

"What? No, we’re all three headed to the bazaar to see what they have this year. Blake and I share a space and it’s already set up, so she'll cover for me until we’re done," I reminded him as I held out a hand for him.

"Are you sure you want me to go? What if I shift?" he hesitated before linking his fingers with mine.

"Then we embrace it. My curse was something that I tried to hide when I first got here and that was worse for everyone around me. Once I decided not to let it define me, I was able to start living a semi-normal life. At least as normal as we cursed, can,” I explained, giving his hand a little reassuring squeeze.

"Plus, I can take notes and research your condition more when I’m present for the change," Rook added.

"Ahh, look at you two having a moment," I teased as I moved past an annoyed Rook and pulled Merrick along with me.

"What’s the big deal with this bazaar?" Merrick asked as he fell into step beside me on my left.

"It's a tourist draw, bringing much needed cash flow to our town for a week. It's one of the times that the borders are weakest and don't discourage fresh faces from coming in. With all of the jinxed people here, the magistrate limits exposure to outsiders, so we go all out to keep them coming back or more," I explained.

"And Halloween time is the best time for that?" Rook questioned on my right, taking my free hand.

"It is. Some of the more strange occurrences can be justified because of Halloween," I answered.

"I never thought of that," Merrick commented as we reached the end of the drive.

Just then I hiccuped. Rook and I both stopped in our tracks and searched the area for a chicken. I breathed a sigh of relief when I didn't spy one close.

Then I heard it. A cluck from my left. I looked up in horror to find a chicken sitting on the window sill of my reclusive new neighbor’s house. Just as I stepped forward, it fell in.

“Sounds like the neighbor’s problem now,” Rook said quickly, picking up the pace and dragging us away with him. He was fighting off laughter but he was right. There wasn’t much I could do about it now.