Chapter 9
As it turned out, Prim never did get her back washed.
By the time Dante got back to her place the night before, he was exhausted.
She’d made pesto chicken pasta for dinner, and then he’d passed out not long after while they sat on her couch watching a movie.
When it was over, she woke him just long enough to tuck him into bed.
When she crawled in next to him, he’d wrapped an arm around her, kissed her temple, and then promptly fell into a deep, restless sleep.
Prim had cuddled up next to him, soaking in the moment.
She hated that he’d had such a terrible day, but for her, it had almost been a dream come true.
She’d felt like a true partner, helping someone she cared about through a rough day and then taking care of them when they really needed it.
For the first time in a long time, she’d felt useful.
Needed. And even loved when he’d shown his appreciation.
Wasn’t that what life was supposed to be about?
Sure, she’d always been there for her sisters and her grandmother when they needed her, but she’d never had someone she could provide such intimate physical comfort to after a hard day. It just wasn’t the same.
“Good morning,” Dante said, his voice gruff and still full of sleep when he wandered into the kitchen well after the sun had risen.
“Morning, Sunshine.” Prim handed him a fresh mug of coffee. “Sleep well?”
“Better than I have in weeks, actually.” He walked over to her, slipped a hand around her waist, and kissed her softly. “Thank you.”
“For what? Keeping the noise down?” She grinned up at him, loving the interaction. What she wouldn’t give to start her morning like this every day.
“For giving me a safe place to land.” He kissed her again, though this time he lingered, and Prim clung to him.
When he finally pulled away, she inhaled a long breath. “Keep that up, and I’m going to get used to that real fast.”
He just grinned at her and took a sip of coffee. “Got anything for breakfast?”
“There’s breakfast casserole in the fridge,” she said. “Two minutes in the microwave should do it. I’ve got to head into work, but take your time and just lock up on your way out.” She handed him a key. “Will you be staying here tonight?”
“Would that be too much of an imposition?” he asked, eyeing her over his mug. “Mateo said I could crash at his place if I needed to, but if I’m being honest, I’d much rather share your bed instead of driving over to Hansville.”
She pressed her hand to his cheek and said, “You can stay as long as you want.” What she really wanted to say was that he could stay forever, but after his freakout about the wedding planning comment the day before, she decided that was really too much for him.
“Thanks.” He turned his head and kissed her palm. “I really appreciate it.”
“I’ll see you tonight.” She gave him one last smile and then hurried out the door, her heart feeling as if it were going to burst right open.
Get it together, Prim, she ordered herself. They were still just friends after all. Intimate friends, but friends, nonetheless.
Prim spent the morning at her shop, rearranging things for the film crew while Viv waited on customers.
There was a section in the back that production had asked to be cleared so they could bring in their own props.
She did the best she could, and when lunch rolled around, she was more than ready for a break.
She was just about to tell Viv she was leaving when McKenna strode in with her two assistants behind her.
“Good morning,” McKenna said as she stopped just inside the store and announced, “Everything needs to change.”
“What?” Prim asked.
“We’ve had a rewrite, and that wall now needs to be full of yarn, plus the window display needs to come down since we’re bringing in our own magical display.”
“You never said anything about changing the display,” Prim complained.
“Did you really think nothing would change inside the store?” McKenna said with a scoff. “This is a movie, honey. Everything changes. Daily. Now about the garden. I have notes about that, too.”
“I’m not changing the garden. That’s nonnegotiable,” Prim said. “I’ll clear one section for you, but that’s it.”
McKenna stared her down, piercing Prim with her steely-eyed gaze. “You signed a contract. If you breach it, the studio will sue.”
Prim wasn’t moved. “I read the contract. It explicitly says that the garden is to remain as is and that if the studio does any damage to it, I’m entitled to a large settlement.
So take it up with legal.” As soon as the words left her mouth, Prim ground her teeth together, hardly believing that she’d been the one to put McKenna in her place.
Prim was more of a people pleaser. She didn’t care for conflict, but apparently when it came to her garden, she was willing to stand with two feet firmly planted, unwilling to budge.
The pride overwhelming her was new and very welcome.
“You tell her, boss,” Viv whispered behind her.
McKenna’s expression suddenly turned from that of an overbearing executive to something closer to impressed. “I see. Well, I suppose that’s something we’ll need to look into. I’ll give you my notes about the garden, and I’d appreciate it if you could see if any of it is doable.”
“I’ll be happy to look them over,” Prim said, meaning it. She wasn’t trying to be difficult; she just wanted to protect what was precious to her. “I’m fine with changing the window display. Just let me know what you need. If you need a witch or two to cast a spell, I can make that happen, too.”
“You can?” McKenna pursed her lips and nodded. “Great. Let me tell you what we’re looking for.”
“There!” Bethany said. “It’s perfect.” Prim’s grandmother stood in front of the display window and rubbed her hands together.
She, along with her coven-mate Cassandra, had spent the last hour working on a spell to enchant a pair of knitting needles to knit a series of hearts all by themselves.
The hearts then turned into knitted butterflies that disappeared into thin air.
McKenna said it was supposed to symbolize the fragility of love and how fleeting it could be when two people weren’t ready for each other yet.
Prim couldn’t help but see herself and Dante in the symbolism. Right now, everything was all roses and chocolates, but once Dante was back in his apartment and he no longer needed her, she fully expected them to fizzle out.
What else could possibly happen? He’d just get so used to being at her place that he’d never leave?
She let out a snort at the absurd thought.
The man was the biggest commitment-phobe she’d ever met.
Not that she blamed him. Clearly, he had some trauma to work through from his previous relationship and his obvious mommy issues, but she couldn’t help the way she felt about him.
“Nicely done, Bethany,” McKenna said. “Nicely done, indeed.”
“I’m glad you like it. I’ll get you a bill for services rendered,” Bethany said and then went to put her crystals and herbs away.
“Bill?” McKenna asked Prim.
“Magic isn’t free. It usually isn’t cheap either, but I’m willing to bet Bethany gives you a friends-and-family rate since you’re working with me,” Prim said. “But if you balk, you might end up with a surcharge instead.”
“You’re joking.” McKenna turned to watch Bethany and Cassandra as they wielded their magic so that it would pack their supplies for them into the knapsack they’d brought.
“I’m definitely not,” Prim said and went back to work on boxing up the display items that had been taken out of the window.
Bethany walked up and motioned to the producer before the pair slipped outside. McKenna was about to find out that Bethany Befana was all business when it came to her magic.
The bell above the door chimed, and more of her grandmother’s coven-mates arrived, each of them ohhing and ahhing over the display window.
“Prim,” Cassandra said, sliding up next to her. “I hear you have news to share.”
“I do?” Prim asked, playing dumb. She knew what the older witch was getting at. She wanted to gossip about Dante, but Prim wasn’t going to give her anything.
“About a certain outdoorsy man who is fairly new to town,” Cassandra prompted.
“No news to share. Sorry.”
Bethany, who’d appeared out of nowhere without McKenna, snorted. “Except for that walk of shame yesterday morning.”
“Grandmother,” Prim warned. “Stop spreading unfounded rumors. It’s beneath you.”
The bell over the door chimed again, and an actual customer walked in. Prim motioned to Viv that she’d take care of them, happy to have someone else to focus on other than her grandmother and her crew of gossips. “Hi, can I help you find something?”
The pretty brunette beamed at her, all smiles. “Yes, actually. I need some stitch markers, but I also noticed that you carry some herbs. Do you happen to have sage and wormwood? I need to do some cleansing, and I don’t want to drive all the way into the city.”
“I just happen to have both. Come with me.” Prim led her to the far side of the store that was bathed in sunlight from the skylight above.
It was where she kept her live plants so that they got enough daily sun.
But there were also bundles that she’d already prepared for those who didn’t want or need entire plants. “Is this what you were looking for?”
“Perfect,” the pretty brunette said as she ran her fingertips over the bundles of wormwood. Her nails were filed into points and painted black with little crescent moons on her ring fingers. There were three sparkling cubic zirconia on each of her thumbnails that made them look like shooting stars.
“Cute manicure!” Prim said. “Where’d you get them done?”
“In town,” she said, snatching her hand back as if she’d been stung by something. “I’ll take this and a couple bundles of sage.”