Chapter 3
Calm down, Prim. Goddess above! What is wrong with you?
Prim stared at the menu in front of her, mortified.
It was a good thing that Dante hadn’t intended to actually start dating her, because she was making a complete fool of herself.
Her magic had flared out of control twice in the span of just an hour after three years of keeping her magic in check.
If this was how she behaved on a date with someone who wasn’t even interested in her, she was never going to find a life partner.
She took a deep breath, praying that she managed to keep from embarrassing herself further. “It’s a paranormal rom-com from what I understand. I haven’t gotten to read the script, but it was pitched to me as Pretty Woman, only with witches and no hookers.”
Dante chuckled. “Sounds like kind of a stretch to me.”
Prim shrugged. “Apparently the premise is that a rich guy comes to town and needs a fake fiancée to prove he’s a family man to help him secure a deal for a B&B he’s trying to buy, and she needs money to save her family business.
Not the most original set up, but there’s magic involved and some sort of family secret.
We’ll see. The filmmaker has a great reputation, so hopefully it’s a good one. ”
He was engaged, asking how it would affect her business, how long the film crew would be in town, and if she ever got starstruck from the actors who frequented their town.
“Starstruck? Heavens no,” she said. “Actors are just people. Most of them who film here are genuinely kind. It helps that my grandmother and her coven keep a magical veil over the town to keep the paparazzi from camping out and hounding them. They aren’t nearly as on edge as they are in other locations. ”
“That makes sense,” he said with a nod.
“Here we are,” the waitress declared when she appeared with the wine. She popped the cork, poured a sip into a glass and handed it to Dante, completely ignoring Prim once again.
Prim decided that was probably for the best. The less she interacted with her the better.
Dante tasted the wine, nodded and held the glass out for the waitress. She filled both goblets and then took their orders. As she left, she glanced back over her shoulder, looking longingly at Dante.
Prim rolled her eyes and then laughed. “Do women always act like that around you?”
His lips twitched into a half smile that made butterflies flutter in Prim’s stomach.
Damn that man was attractive. She decided she couldn’t blame Kimmie the waitress.
Or McKenna Moss for that matter. It was Dante’s fault for walking around with that movie-star face.
The finely-toned body certainly didn’t hurt matters either.
“No,” he said. “Not every woman.”
“Just the ones under fifty?” Prim said with a wink.
When his face flushed pink, she chuckled.
“You’re cute, you know that?” Both of his eyebrows raised, and Prim waved a hand at him.
“I mean you’re cute when you’re flustered.
You’d think a man that looks like you would be used to the flirting by now. ”
He shrugged. “I used to be, I guess. But when you’re engaged in a town like Salem, where everyone knows your witch fiancée, women suddenly start backing off. And I just haven’t had any interest in getting back in the game. I suppose I’m out of practice.”
“I’m sure it’s like riding a bike. Once you’re ready, you’ll be back in the thick of it,” she said and took a long sip of her wine, hating the very idea of him flirting with anyone in town, much less Kimmie the waitress.
Not that she had any right to be jealous.
He’d made himself clear, and besides, she’d just proved to him that she was still Schlong Pox Girl.
Even if he was ready to get back into the dating pool, there was no way he’d risk having his junk cursed.
She let out a sigh, knowing she was doomed to be alone forever.
“What was that about?” Dante asked.
“Nothing. Just thinking about the work I need to do for the movie,” she lied.
He glanced at his watch. “We can cut the night short if you need to.”
“No!” she said far too loudly as her face flushed with heat. “I mean, a girl needs to eat, right?”
His chuckle was a little awkward as he nodded.
Prim inwardly cringed. Why was she such a spaz? She quickly pasted on a smile and said, “So, Dante Silva, tell me what you did before you moved to Befana Bay.”
A shadow passed over his expression, and she immediately regretted her words.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to… ah, get too personal.” But what about that was personal? She’d just been making small talk.
“No, you didn’t,” he said, not bothering to keep the wince off his face. “I used to own a store with my fiancée.”
“A sporting goods store?” she asked, her brows pinched. When Dante had moved to town, he’d taken a job with Braxton at The Enchanted Outdoors, where they sold everything from kayaks to camping gear. All of it with a touch of magic of course.
“Oh, no. This was an herb and tarot store,” he said as his jaw clenched. “Mostly items that tourists would pick up. You know, sage sticks or good luck charms. That kind of stuff.” Then he stared down at the table and mumbled, “Or so I thought.”
A chill washed over Prim at the look on his face. Something awful had happened. Something he clearly didn’t want to talk about. She was just about to change the subject when he looked up and said, “My fiancée had a magic addiction and was… Let’s just say she wasn’t using it ethically.”
Prim sat perfectly still, her body nearly going numb.
The beautiful man sitting across from her had been engaged to a woman who’d abused magic.
And now he was on a date with Prim, who’d spent the evening unleashing her magic on every woman who’d shown the slightest interest in him.
“Oh, my goodness, Dante. I am so sorry.”
He shrugged one shoulder. “It’s water under the bridge now.” His lips curved into a small smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “At least I didn’t marry her.”
“Thank the goddess for that,” Prim said, slumping back into her seat as she eyed him, wondering exactly what his ex had done, but not wanting to ask. Instead she let out a nervous chuckle and said, “You must be a saint.”
“Why’s that?”
“You’re sitting here with Schlong Pox Girl.” She smirked, hoping to get a laugh out of him. “Most people who’ve been burned by something like that would have run at the first sign of uncontrolled magic.”
Dante stared at her for a long moment and then slowly shook his head. “Apparently I don’t scare easily.”
No. No he didn’t. But he was cautious. Not that she could blame him. Still trying to get a laugh out of him, she raised her hands and wiggled her fingers. “With these liabilities, maybe you shouldn’t be so trusting.”
This time he chuckled softly. “Those hands don’t scare me. But that mind of yours…”
His teasing tone put her at ease, and once again she felt a deep pang of regret that this would be their one and only date. Stop it, Prim. The man has made himself clear in his intentions. Just enjoy the night and let it go.
Their food arrived. Kimmie flashed Dante her award-winning smile and practically offered to cut his meat for him before she finally retreated, and they spent the rest of the meal chatting about his and his stepbrother’s bookstore, Prim’s yarn shop, Dante’s love of kayaking, and their shared interest in hiking.
“We should meet up sometime and do the Befana trail,” Prim said. “It loops up above town about three thousand feet and has a wonderful view of the Hood Canal.”
Dante pressed his lips together into a thin line, and instantly Prim felt like a fool.
“Just as friends,” she rushed to get out. “Not a date. I just thought it would be nice to have a hiking partner. None of my sisters are really interested in—”
Dante held his hand up, stopping her rambling. “I didn’t think you were asking me out. I was trying to remember my schedule for next week.”
“Oh.” Prim grimaced. “Sorry. I’m not usually this awkward.”
“Really?” he asked, giving her a smirk. “It’s not awkward to hex your date’s junk?”
Prim burst out laughing. Damn it. The man was going to have to stop being so charming. “Fair enough.”
“I’m always up for making friends,” he said, grinning at her. “And I’d love to go on a hike. I’ll check my schedule and see when we can meet up.”
“Okay,” she said, feeling more at ease than she had all night. “I’m good for most mornings. The earlier the better. There’s nothing more magical than hiking at sunrise.”
“You’re a morning person then?” he asked, looking at her thoughtfully.
“Very much so. There’s just something about the start of a new day. All the possibilities. And you know, that quiet time of the morning just feels… magical.” She instantly regretted her use of magical after what he’d said about his ex, but thankfully it didn’t seem to bother him at all.
His expression lit as he nodded. “Yes, I often enjoy taking the kayak out first thing in the morning.”
“Now that is something I haven’t done,” Prim said. “Me and water… We don’t mix too well.”
“Did you hex a date and cause a hole in his boat or something?” he teased.
Prim snorted. “Sort of.”
Dante threw his head back and laughed. “Oh, I’m going to have to hear this one.”
Prim giggled and said, “You asked for it.”