Chapter Fourteen
The following week was pretty anticlimactic. Well, that wasn’t true – Blair climaxed many times in the three visits she’d had to Luke’s apartment. But there was little progress in her search to find out what was happening with the festival or in Moonbeam Hollow.
It was probably because Blair’s secret fling with Luke Caldwell was keeping her busy.
It surprisingly wasn’t sex only. They’d also watched Star Trek reruns like they used to as teens, and they’d talked.
A lot. Mostly after sex, while they were still wrapped in each other’s arms. They didn’t talk about their personal lives or about anything deep, but covered pretty much everything else – current events, music, even food.
They debated which was better – romcoms or interior design shows to pull one out of a bad mood, but then agreed that travel shows worked best. They talked about places they wanted to go to, and even about art and design – something they’d both become interested in since they were last together.
Blair had forgotten about this. Just . .
. existing with Luke Caldwell had always been easier than existing with anyone else in the world, even if they never went in too deep.
They didn’t see each other outside of their secret trysts in his apartment after the café closed, but Blair was having so much fun.
She honestly didn’t remember a time when she’d been this content.
But despite this, Blair hadn’t forgotten about her intention to figure out what Belinda’s prophecy meant, and how Luke was going to be the one to save the festival.
She and Luke did some brainstorming and googling in his apartment, but all avenues were a dead end.
Bianca’s tests on the pumpkins, roses and chrysanthemums came back officially inconclusive.
And Belinda had given up on her mythology search after finding nothing.
Blair didn’t know what to do next.
On Tuesday, Blair had a chat with Aarushi during the Stitch Witches meeting.
Aarushi had lots of information about the festival issues, since her husband was on the planning committee.
Apparently, the security camera that the committee had finally bought themselves was hit by lightning the day after it was installed and already needed to be replaced.
And then the haunted house bouncy castle went missing.
No one had any idea where it went – it was large, and had three blowers to keep it inflated, and those were gone, too.
Blair went straight to Luke’s after closing the café, excited to tell him that she’d learned something, but he kissed her senseless the moment she walked up the stairs. When he started peeling off her clothes before even getting to the bedroom, Blair decided discussing the festival could wait.
She eventually told him about her chat with Aarushi while they were getting dressed again.
Blair couldn’t stay long today – it was Bianca’s turn to make dinner, so Blair was expecting something delicious.
She’d already told her sisters that she had paperwork too many times this week, and she was afraid they’d get suspicious.
‘Most of the bad stuff has happened on the festival grounds, right?’ Luke asked.
He was buttoning his dark green plaid flannel over a grey T-shirt.
His hair was messy, and his face was already scruffy even though he’d shaved yesterday, but Blair couldn’t get over how good he looked.
Even after they’d been sneaking around all week, the novelty of being with Luke Caldwell again hadn’t worn off.
In fact, sometimes it felt like Blair had gone back in time, because when they were eighteen, they’d also had to sneak around to have sex.
Blair nodded. ‘Yeah. I mean, my sign, the flower shop and the bookstore were affected, but we’re all businesses that have a presence in the festival.’
‘Why don’t we take a look at their storage space and see what we can learn.
’ He paused, stepping behind Blair and wrapping his arms around her waist from behind.
‘I need to talk to the festival committee, anyway.’ He started kissing Blair’s neck.
He was very touchy-feely, which Blair loved, but she was slightly worried about going out in public with him if he was this affectionate.
‘Why do you need to talk to the festival committee?’ Blair asked, trying to keep her legs upright. It was hard to focus with his lips on the curve between her neck and shoulder.
‘I need to find out . . .’ he kissed her neck again ‘. . . if they approved my . . .’ he kissed her, then lightly sucked on her sensitive skin ‘. . . proposal to build my own market stall.’ He lightly bit Blair’s neck, sending a jolt of electricity straight to her core.
Blair couldn’t help it – she leaned back against Luke, letting him take her weight.
What had he been talking about? He turned her in his arms, and the smile on his face was downright proud at how she was putty in his hands.
She wrapped her arms around Luke’s waist. They’d just got out of bed and Blair could easily go again. What had this man done to her?
But she could affect him, too. She pulled him tighter, sneaking her hand under his shirt to get to his bare skin. She ran her fingernails down his back with the exact amount of pressure that he liked.
Luke groaned. ‘Why are you so irresistible?’ he asked, voice rough with desire. The look in his eyes told Blair that he was as addicted as she was. He leaned down and they were kissing again, his soft hungry lips drawing out any conscious thoughts Blair had.
Blair just barely managed to disentangle herself from Luke before they were naked again, because she really did need to go home. ‘I’ll ask Agatha.’ Blair slipped her boots on over her tights. ‘Maybe we can go on the weekend? Travis is closing the café Saturday.’
Luke nodded, buttoning his shirt again. ‘I can do Saturday. Want to come over after?’ He wagged his eyebrows and it was adorable.
Blair gave him a quick kiss. ‘I’d love to.’
* * *
Blair didn’t need to call Agatha, because she came into the café early Wednesday for an apple cinnamon latte. While Blair made the drink exactly to Agatha’s taste, Blair asked how the festival planning was going.
Agatha shook her head. ‘Oh, it’s still one problem after another.
’ She was in a bright green hand-knit pullover, paired with orange pants.
‘As soon as we put out one fire, another one ignites. Now the tablecloths and some of the pop-up tents have been slashed! We’re going to have to replace them .
. . and our budget is already in the negative. ’
‘Oh no! Did the new camera catch anyone?’
Agatha shook her head. ‘Not at all. Strangest thing in the world. But we ordered the cheapest we could find after the last one was ruined. Dr. Fairwood is donating some money that will help.’ She shook her head.
‘Even while her wife has an unexpected neurological issue. Moonbeam Hollow supports our own like no other place.’
That was very true. Blair passed Agatha’s drink across the counter. Agatha picked it up and inhaled. ‘Smells like heaven.’
‘Where were the tents and tablecloths?’
‘In the locked shed on the festival grounds. The camera was pointing at the shed door all night.’
This was troubling. In theory, cameras could be tampered with without the use of magic, but it was easier to do with magic.
All one needed was a blurring spell. ‘Hey, Agatha, would you mind showing me the festival shed?’ When Agatha looked confused, Blair shrugged awkwardly.
‘I hate that all this is happening to the festival and I’d love to help. Maybe I’ll notice something there?’
‘Of course! We would love more young people getting involved with the festival. In fact, there is an opening on the planning committee.’
‘Why is there a vacancy?’ As far as Blair could remember, the committee had very little turnover.
‘Oh, it’s the strangest thing. Earl Hawkins developed a nasty rash on his arms. Had to go into the city to see a dermatologist who suggested it might be environmental. So he’s not leaving the house until he figures out what it is.’
That sounded very much like another act of magic sabotage against the festival. Earl Hawkins had been the smiling face at the festival welcome table as long as Blair could remember. ‘Are you free Saturday? Maybe around two?’
Agatha nodded. ‘Absolutely. We can meet at the festival grounds. I’m happy to take you around for a looky-loo.’
Blair smiled, even though her stomach tied in a knot. But if Earl’s rash was magical, Blair knew an excellent potion to cure it. She could get the ingredients at the Moonbeam Market and bring some to Earl. Blair was glad there was finally a problem she knew how to fix.