Vampires and Vanishings
Page 16
“Oh, well, that changes things,” Beau said.
“What things?” I asked, confused.
Beau’s cheeks turned so red I worried they might catch fire. “Well, I was gonna ask you to, um, you know, move in with me. Just to be safe, in case anybody ever tried to come after you again.”
I couldn’t believe my ears. Beau Duncan wanted me to move in with him? After all the drama I’d dragged him and now his family through, he still thought I was worth wasting his time on?
“Well, ain’t the mop floppin’ the right way today!” Grandma shouted. “You’re in luck, Mr. Duncan, because Zoe’s about to have some extra room around her place, so why don’t you just move in with her?” I whirled in my chair to glare at her. “What? Don’t you think it’s a good idea? I don’t want you home alone either, and I trust Beau.”
“It would save me some rent,” Beau said, and I couldn’t help laughing. “I mean, if you want me to. I don’t want to rush you. It doesn’t have to happen, I just thought I would ask, but now that we’re talking about it, I’m sure you’ve got gargoyles or whatever to help protect you—”
“Yes, I would like that a lot,” I interrupted and Beau’s head looked like it might explode. Everyone in the office burst into cheers and Beau flew around the desk to hug me and Grandma both.
“See, what did I tell ya, Sugar? Me moving out is a good thing,” Grandma whispered in my ear, and though I didn’t fully agree, I couldn’t shake the excitement bubbling in my stomach at the thought of living with Beau.
“We’ll keep a room for you whenever you want to visit, Eleanor,” Beau told Grandma, and she pulled him into a big hug and gave him a kiss on both cheeks.
“There ain’t nobody else in the world I would trust my little firebrand to. You’d better be good to her or else I’ll hear about it, and trust me, you don’t wanna be on my bad side, little doggy.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t dream of treating her badly. But I don’t think she needs any help from you to keep me in line. She got plenty of her feistiness from you.”
Everyone in the office laughed, and as I looked around at all their smiling faces, somehow it felt like everything was exactly the way it should be — despite Grandma leaving.
Luna hopped up on the desk with her upper lip curled. “But you didn’t want us to talk about soap operas? This whole room is like a bad episode,” Luna said, and Grandma howled. Luna raised a paw at Beau and extended her claws. “Oh, and you’d better not bring any fleas into my house, Sir Barks-A-Lot, or you and I are gonna fight. I work hard to keep my coat clean.”
“Sounds like somebody’s jealous,” I said, and while everyone laughed, I pulled Beau in for another hug. “I don’t care if you have fleas. We can share those too.”
“Gross,” Luna grumbled and jumped off the desk to run as far from us as she could get.
Grandma patted me on the shoulder. “We’ll all be back together before you know it, Sugar. Who knows? Maybe by the next time I see y’all it’ll be for a wedding,” Grandma whispered in my ear and repeatedly raised her eyebrows at me playfully.
I wouldn’t have minded if she turned out to be right.
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The Magic & Mystery Series
1. Broomsticks and Burials
2. Spellbooks and Stakings
3. Alchemy and Arson
4. Heists and Homicides
5. Covens and Coffins
6. Vampires and Vanishings
About the Author
Lily Webb lives in the Pacific Northwest with her two cats, Hilda and Zelda, where she spends her time reading and writing all things paranormal. An aspiring witch herself, Lily’s always been fascinated by the magical powers of the written word.
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fanmail@lilywebbmysteries.com
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