“You’ve got it. Have a good one, Blaine.”
Just as Blaine hung up, a tiny ding came from the laptop; the file transfer was complete. He unplugged Thea’s phone and put it in his pocket for safekeeping until he could return it. Blaine tried to keep working on the paperwork for Potter’s arrest, but all he could think about was Thea and how he would tell her his feelings.
Chapter 30
Thea was arranging craft supplies at the front of the store while Jesse stood behind the counter. They had the door to the store propped open. Though it was fall, it was a warm day and the sun was shining.
Pippa walked into the store wearing a cozy knit sweater with tight jeans and boots. Her hair and makeup were done perfectly. She smiled at her two friends as she walked into the store.
“Hey guys,” she said, greeting them.
“Hi, Pippa,” Thea said with a smile back. Jesse waved at her.
Pippa went up to the counter and craned her neck to look around the store. “Is Kim here?”
“Kim?” Jesse asked, looking confused. “No? Should she be? Is there another event at the school?”
“Not that I know of. I just figured she might be since it seemed like she’s been hanging out here so much lately.”
Thea laughed as she continued to arrange things. Pippa was incorrigible.
“Has she been?” he asked. “I guess I didn’t notice.”
“It sure did seem like it. You hardly had time for me when I came in here to bug you,” she reached across the counter and playfully pushed him.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be ignoring you. We just get busy sometimes. It’s always nice when you stop by.”
“Is it? Is it nice?” She leaned down on the counter and put her head in her hands, pouting up at him. Thea could barely contain her laughter at her friend’s antics.
“Yeah, uh, really nice,” Jesse said with a blush forming across his cheeks.
Pippa smiled, pleased with herself. “So, what have you been up to besides hanging out with your not-so-regulars here?”
“Nothing too much I guess. Studying and working. You know how it can be.”
“I do. And I think both of us grad students could use a little bit more fun in our lives.”
“I like fun. What did you have in mind?”
“Oh, nothing too fancy. I was thinking you and me and a scary movie over at your place maybe.”
The blush going across Jesse’s cheeks went to his ears. “Oh, yeah,” he stammered out. “That sounds really cool.”
“Great, then it’s a date,” Pippa said with a wink.
“A date? Really?”
Pippa laughed. “You’re so funny. Anyway, I think it’s time to go mess up some leaf piles.”
Pippa transformed into a fox and ran out the door.
Jesse looked dumbfounded. Thea couldn’t help but laugh at his expression.
“Are you excited for your date?” Thea asked.
“It’s hard to believe, honestly,” Jesse said. He started grinning and looked like he couldn’t stop even if he tried.
Thea grinned back at him. “I’m really happy for you two. It’s about time.”
Blaine walked into the store through the open door. “Are you both aware of a fox leaping through all of the leaf piles on the street?”
“That’s just Pippa,” Thea said.
“I figured as much,” Blaine said. “It seemed like her.”
“Don’t get too excited there, Romeo,” Thea joked. Blaine looked between them. “They’re finally going to go on a date,” Thea explained.
“Congratulations,” Blaine said to Jesse with a smile. “That’s great news. Though I will say, it took you two long enough.”
“It was worth the wait,” Jesse said.
“I’m happy it was. Anyway, Thea, I wanted to know if you were interested in accompanying me on a walk.”
“Can you watch the store, Jesse?” Thea asked.
“Yeah, I can do that. Go have fun,” Jesse insisted.
Thea finished putting the box of supplies away and walked out into the autumn air with Blaine. She took a deep breath, as soon as she got outside, breathing in the sweet, fall air.
Leaves covered the grass surrounding the sidewalks where they walked. A slight chill fell over them as they walked down the town streets. A breeze bit at their cheeks as they walked. Thea’s sweater was starting to feel a bit thin, but they saw a hot cider cart in the distance.
Thea and Blaine walked up. Blaine insisted on paying the 25 cent per cup price for both of them.
Thea took the cup in her hands and basked in the warmth and spiced apple scent. She closed her eyes, taking in the feeling. When she opened them, she saw Blaine looking at her and smiling.
“What?” She asked. “Are you going to make fun of my undying love for apple cider?”
“No, it’s not that,” he said. “Actually, you reminded me of something.”
“What did I remind you of?”
“Well, I guess you reminded me of you,” he explained. “This is a little embarrassing, but when I first had a crush on you, it was on a day like this. It was fall and there was a breeze. The wind kept blowing around you and tangling leaves in your hair.”
Thea laughed. “You make me sound like a mess.”
Blaine shook his head. “You weren’t a mess. I had never seen someone so beautiful. I was just thinking that again when I looked at you now. I have never seen someone so beautiful.”
Thea smiled at him. “You really remember all of that?”
“I remember it like it was yesterday. I even remember what scarf you were wearing. And I have a feeling I’ll remember this too. I love you, Thea.”
Suddenly, it wasn’t just the cider keeping Thea warm. She felt a warm good feeling radiate from her chest through her whole body.
She smiled up at him, struggling to find words to express how she felt. She quickly gave up on words, realizing that the special magic of affection would communicate her feelings better.
Standing on her toes and pulling him down to her, she met him with a soft kiss.
Though there was still a chilly breeze, neither of them hardly noticed.
DON’T MISS THE NEXT book in the Tabby Kitten Witch Mystery Series:
Ghoulish Magic
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Catalog of Books
The Farmer’s Market Witch Mystery Series
Third Crime’s a Charm
A Devilish Charm
Hard Knocks Charm
Secret Charms
Magic Charms
TABBY KITTEN WITCH Mystery Series
Familiar Magic
Creature Magic
Adventure Magic
Spooky Magic
Ghoulish Magic
Shadow Magic
IVY’S BOTANICAL SHOP Cozy Witch Mystery Series
Brewing Up Trouble
Brewing the Midnight Oil
A Storm is Brewing
Back to the Brewing Board
Brewing Up the Wrong Tree
Brewing Down the Hatches
WITCHES BE CRAZY COZY Witch Mystery Series
Down the Hatch
Down But Not Dead
Down and Out
Down and Dirty
Down in Flames
Down for the Count
THE HOCUS POCUS COZY Witch Mystery Series
S
pooks and Spells
Freaks and Felons
Crooks and Crystals
Graves and Goons
Brooms and Brains
Moons and Magic
THE HAPPY BLENDINGS Cozy Witch Mystery Series
The Potion Commotion
A Pumpkin Potion Explosion
A Drop in the Potion
A Notion of a Potion
A Deceptive Potion
A Formidable Potion
A Risky Potion
CALAMITY CORNERS COZY Witch Mystery Series
Calm Before the Witch Storm
The Witch is in the Details
Better the Witch You Know
A Witch Axe to Grind
A Cauldron of Witch Tricks
TRIPLET WITCH SISTERS Mystery Series
Two’s Company, Three’s a Coven
Resting Witch Face
Bewitched and Bewildered
Triple Toil and Trouble
THE WITCH SISTERS OF Stillwater
Hoodoo and Just Desserts
A Shade of Murder
That Ol’ Black Magic
A Whole Lotta Witchin Goin On
The Beast Cometh
Secrets and Sorcery