Chapter 9 #2
“Sure,” Prim said, wondering what had spooked her customer.
Maybe it had something to do with whatever energy she was trying to cleanse.
Prim decided not to take it personally and led her to the front where she rang up the purchases.
Before she could even convey the total, the customer was gone along with her bundles, and a crisp fifty-dollar bill was lying on the counter.
Prim scanned the store, looking for the woman, but she was nowhere to be found. “That was odd,” she muttered to herself.
“What was odd?” a familiar male voice asked.
She jerked her head up and found Dante standing in front of her, looking just as yummy as he had when he’d emerged from her bedroom that morning. “Dante. What are you doing here?”
He glanced over his shoulder at McKenna and then gave Prim an apologetic smile when he said, “It looks like I’m giving Miss Hollywood kayak lessons today.”
“Since when?” she asked, completely taken aback. “Did you call her to set that up?”
“No. Definitely not.” He leaned against the counter with his arms crossed over his chest. “She apparently came in and demanded that Braxton schedule a lesson for today. When he told her that I wasn’t working, she offered to pay more than double.
He called to see if I was interested, and after the flood at my apartment, I just didn’t feel like I could turn it down. So we’re going kayaking.”
“I see,” Prim said, trying to keep the irritation from her voice. The last person she wanted around Dante was McKenna. The woman was the very definition of a maneater.
“Dante,” McKenna drawled as she sidled up next to him, running her hand down his arm. “There you are. I’m very excited for our date this afternoon.”
“Date?” Cassandra repeated when she overheard. “Dante Silva, what exactly do you think you’re doing?”
“Working?” he said.
“Cassandra,” Prim said. “It’s not a date; it’s a kayak lesson.”
“It’ll be a date if I have anything to say about it.” McKenna looked Dante up and down as if imagining what it would be like to strip his clothes off. Then she took a sip of the coffee she was holding as she held his gaze suggestively.
Prim tightened her hands into fists and felt her magic flair out of control just before the coffee cup in McKenna’s hand exploded, sending the liquid all over McKenna’s designer blouse.
“Dammit!” McKenna jumped back as she dropped the coffee cup, sending the remaining coffee splattering all over the shop floor.
Horrified, Prim shrank into herself, devastated that she’d let her magic get the best of her again.
“Take that blouse off, dear,” Bethany said calmly, already handing her one of the Happy Hookers Social Club T-shirts that were hanging on the rack near the front door.
“I can’t wear that!” McKenna practically shrieked as she unbuttoned her blouse. She stood there clad in her designer jeans and black lace bra, staring at Bethany as if she were supposed to conjure another silk shirt out of thin air.
“You can walk around in only your underwear if you prefer, but this is a yarn shop, so choices are limited,” Bethany said, already moving to replace the shirt on the rack.
McKenna stared pointedly at Dante, who had turned away from her to give her at least the illusion of privacy. When it became clear he wasn’t going to turn back around, she held out her hand and said, “Fine. I’ll take it.”
“Here you go,” Bethany said. “It’s a better outfit for kayaking anyway.”
“I was going to change into something more comfortable before we went,” McKenna snapped. Her two assistants cringed as they moved just a bit farther away from their boss.
“That’s probably not a bad idea, though now you really don’t have to,” Bethany said. “Enjoy your lesson.”
McKenna was fuming as she dropped the soaked blouse on the checkout counter and said, “Get this cleaned.” Then she grabbed Dante’s arm and stomped out of the shop with her two assistants scrambling after her.
“Well, that was quite the scene,” Cassandra said. “With that attitude, maybe Dante will just leave her out there on the water.”
“One can hope,” Bethany said as she grabbed the coffee-stained shirt. “I’ll handle this.” Then she leaned over and kissed Prim on the cheek. “Don’t let her get to you, love. Dante has eyes for only one woman in this town, and it certainly isn’t that piece of work.”
“We’re just friends,” Prim said so quietly she didn’t even think her grandmother had heard her.
But when Bethany snorted her disbelief, Prim knew she’d been wrong.
“Take it from an old woman, Prim. There is nothing ‘just friends’ about the way that man looks at you.” She patted her hand. “Now get that coffee mess cleaned up before someone slips and falls. Call if you need anything.”
Prim watched as her grandmother and the rest of her coven filed out of the shop. Unable to even think about eating, she told Viv to go ahead and take her lunch break, and then she got to work on cleaning up the mess.
While she was mopping up the floor, the bell chimed again, and Prim was half expecting to see the coven file back in just to harass her about Dante.
But instead, a tall, gorgeous woman with strawberry blond hair walked in.
Her cheeks were pink and her eyes lit up when she spotted Prim kneeling on the floor.
“Are you Prim Easton?” the woman asked.
Prim set the mop aside and stood. “You found me. What can I do for you?”
The woman held out her hand. “My name is Lynn, and I heard that you grow your own herbs. Is that true?”
“Yes, yes, it is. I know it’s a little unusual to have herbs in a yarn shop, but it’s my other passion, so I sell them on the side,” Prim said, already leading the woman to the herb section.
“I don’t think it’s unusual at all in a place like Befana Bay. When there’s magic everywhere, it seems natural to stock the herbs that help guide it,” Lynn said.
Prim was instantly put at ease and smiled at her. This woman spoke her language. “That’s what I always say. Are you looking for anything in particular?”
“No, not really. I just moved here and am interested in starting my own little herb garden, and I was told you’re the person to talk to.”
“Well, isn’t that sweet. I certainly can help. I have some starters ready to go, and I can hook you up with some cuttings if you want a more well-rounded garden.” Prim was already reaching for the most popular herbs and putting them in a tray.
“I want one of everything,” Lynn said.
“I’ll do my best.”
An hour later, Prim helped Lynn carry her treasures to her SUV.
“Now, don’t forget, those cuttings have been dipped in growth hormone, but they’re going to need to be babied for a week or two.
Don’t give them too much sun or too much water, or they’ll get too stressed.
I’ve found that talking to them each day helps as well. ”
“Really? I always wondered if there was any truth to that,” Lynn said. “I’ll definitely give it a go.”
“You can call if you have any questions.” Prim handed her a business card. “I’m always happy to help.”
Prim waved as the woman drove away and thanked her lucky stars for Lynn coming in.
Otherwise, she’d have stewed over her magical outburst the entire afternoon.
While she was still upset that she’d lost control, the sting wasn’t nearly as strong as it had been, and working with her herbs had calmed her.
It was a setback, but at least she hadn’t seriously hurt McKenna.
That was a win, because as much as Prim didn’t care for the woman, she certainly didn’t want to hurt her.
Or anyone for that matter. There was only one thing to do.
Prim turned the sign on the door to Closed and then disappeared into her hidden garden, determined to submerge herself in the energy of her plants.
With any luck, she’d find the peace she needed to curb her jealous outbursts.
It was a longshot, but a girl could dream, couldn’t she?
While Prim had her hands buried in the dirt, she reminded herself that while Dante was teaching McKenna to kayak that afternoon, he’d be with Prim, in her bed, later that night.
A smile claimed her lips, and finally Prim felt centered again.