Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Hannah thought she might have figured out the best way to approach the pet readings. In all cases, bring it around to love. Thank goodness for Kate’s signals when she talked to Doug. Now Doug sat across from her, and her hands had stopped shaking.
Petey sat on Doug’s lap, gnawing on his finger. Doug kept removing his hand from the general vicinity of Petey’s mouth only to have the little ball of fluff tug on the yellow cuff of his mustard costume.
“So how does this work? Do I need to pay you?” Doug used his free hand to reach into his pocket. Hannah was impressed that the costume even had a pocket.
“It’s a simple one-card reading for ten dollars.
The fee is being donated to fund spaying and neutering.
I’m from New Age Stones and Witch Crafts.
We carry teas, crystals, essential oils, and other items. We even have a section of holistic skin and hair products for dogs and cats.
” Hannah wished Zaina was there to hear her quick commercial for the shop.
She sat up straighter and shuffled the cards.
“Petey’s hair used to be glossy; now it’s dry, and I think it has split ends. Maybe I should check out what you have.”
“Great! Here is a flyer for our upcoming November sales and events.”
Doug moved his hand away from Petey and picked up the flyer. Petey promptly chomped on the flyer, tearing off a corner. Doug quickly folded the rest of the paper and shoved it in his pocket.
Hannah cleared her throat nervously. “Did you have a question for the cards?”
Doug looked toward the front of the store. A family with two King Charles Cavaliers walked in. Hannah watched his face fall. Petey gave a quick bark.
“Petey, do you have a question?” Hannah asked.
“He wants to know if he’ll be spending Christmas alone.”
Hannah nodded. She let her “Maxim” persona step out. She really hoped that the guests tonight understood most of this was just for fun and if Maxim got something really wrong, not to seek her out on social media.
Be Maxim, she reminded herself. Maxim always understands how to feel the energy.
She placed the deck of cards on the table. “Split the deck anywhere you want and take the top card.”
Doug leaned forward, concentrating on the deck.
She waited as he continued to stare at the cards.
Just when she couldn’t take waiting a moment longer, Doug cut the deck and took a card.
He stared at it, and Hannah watched as Petey’s long tongue came out and did a big swipe of the card.
Now she was going to have to disinfect the deck.
She held her breath, waiting for Doug to show her the card. Whatever it was, she hoped it would mean Doug might spend the holidays with Celeste’s owner, Kami.
It was the Three of Wands, which would have been fine, but it was reversed.
That meant the card, which usually meant preparation, progress, and foresight, instead meant unexpected delays and obstacles to long-term goals.
Well, shoot, now what was the Magnificent Maxim going to say?
She took a deep breath and tried to channel her inner Zaina.
Because she was feeling awkward, she didn’t make eye contact with Doug; she chose to look at Petey as she spoke.
“This is an interesting card you’ve chosen, Petey.
Because it’s reversed, its meaning has changed.
This doesn’t mean you will necessarily spend Christmas alone.
It could mean that the one you most want to find under the mistletoe is unavailable for Christmas, but if you can get past an obstacle or two, you’ll be sharing a New Year’s Eve kiss. ”
Hannah held her breath. Doug blew out a breath.
“Okay, well, that’s pretty good, I guess.
” He sat slumped in the chair, petting Petey as seconds ticked by.
Hannah’s stomach churned. She didn’t know if she should say more and try to comfort him.
She’d done the best she could with the card he’d picked, and to say anything more positive would be to completely disregard a reverse Three of Wands.
A German shepherd wearing yellow braids and a German serving girl costume entered the shop with her human. The woman had dark hair up in a bun and was wearing a beer stein costume. She looked over at the table where Doug was still sitting and waved her free hand. “Hey, Petey!” She said.
Doug immediately popped up, “Kami! What a surprise to see you here.”
Hannah chuckled and leaned back in her chair. She could do this.
After Kami arrived, a steady stream of people and pets came into Kate’s shop.
Everyone wanted a reading, and Hannah, as Maxim, was happy to oblige.
After a few readings, Kate stopped by Hannah’s table and set down a mason jar that had ‘tips’ written on it in black Sharpie.
She smiled and touched Hannah’s shoulder.
The heat from Kate’s hand spread throughout her body, and Hannah wished she had a free moment to do a quick reading and see what the card said about whether Kate was a good kisser.
By the time nine p.m. rolled around, only a small pile of broken tortilla chips was left at the snack table. The sangria had run out an hour before, and Kate was ushering her last guest out the door.
Hannah looked at her tip jar, which was overflowing with cash. “Holy crap, what a great night,” she said.
Kate flipped the open sign to closed and twisted the lock on the door.
Then she turned back to Hannah and did a little two-step dance.
“It was amazing! So many people told me how much they enjoyed your readings. And I sold out of the pet baked goods tonight. I had more sales tonight than in the last couple of weeks combined. Can you come back every week?”
Hannah smiled so widely her cheeks hurt. “I don’t think you really want me underfoot all the time.”
Kate walked over from the door and stood close enough to touch. She reached up and took the tassel of the string tie in her fingers. She toyed with it gently, “Maybe not all the time, but I’d love for you to come back.” Her big green eyes stared at Hannah.
Hannah could feel her pulse in her throat.
She licked her lips. Kate still held the end of the tassel.
“I would like that,” Hannah managed to get out.
She could smell Kate’s scent, and she realized it had citrus undertones.
Hannah wondered what she would taste like.
Hannah leaned forward, invading Kate’s space further.
Her breathing was shallow. She felt like she was on the brink of something huge.
Something that would change the course of her life.
For a second, she wished she could consult the cards.
Kate’s gaze dropped to Hannah’s lips. Warmth pooled in Hannah’s abdomen, and before the haze of desire enveloping them could lift, Hannah allowed herself to be carried away, pressing her lips against Kate’s black lipsticked lips.
They were soft and firm at the same time, just as Hannah had imagined they would be every time she’d seen Kate and wondered what kissing her would be like.
Kate made an “oh” sound, and Hannah jumped back and knocked into the rack of dog and cat Halloween costumes.
Before the blush could fully bloom all over Hannah’s chest, Kate wrapped her arm around Hannah’s waist. Hannah held her breath as Kate placed her other hand on Hannah’s cheek, tilted her head down, and kissed her.
Kate’s tongue teased her lips, and Hannah opened her mouth, eager to let Kate taste her.
Their tongues intertwined. Kate placed one hand on Hannah’s hip and moved her other hand away from Hannah’s cheek and into her hair.
Hannah moaned as she pressed herself against Kate’s hard body.
Hannah’s breasts ached as Kate continued her exploration of her mouth.
Hannah’s core throbbed with want, and she was tempted to take Kate’s hand and put it in her pants, anything to relieve the ache.
Kate pulled back from the kiss and pressed her forehead against Hannah’s.
Hannah tried to control her breathing. Kate pulled gently on a lock of Hannah’s long red hair. “Well, that was unexpected.”