“You ready?” I asked.
“Yes.” He smiled back, those dimples sending chills up my spine. “Although I feel ridiculous doing this.”
“You’ll be fine.” I laughed. “Just make sure to flirt with every woman you see.”
“And that’s going to draw people to the store?”
“Your shirt has the logo. I guarantee people will be looking at your chest. That’s better advertisement than any sign I could ask for.”
“If you say so . . .” He smiled, opening the door.
“I love you,” I said as he stepped out.
“I love you too.”
I watched as he walked away, his massive frame and gorgeous face disappearing into the waiting crowd. Buckhead Luxe was set to open in less than one hour and I had a big impression to make. This was the first time regular customers would be able to see and buy my clothing right off the table. I could barely contain my excitement.
“I’m proud of you.” I felt my dad’s hand rest on my shoulder.
“Dad.” I turned. “I didn’t even see you come in.”
“I made a quiet entrance. I wouldn’t want to upstage my little girl.”
“Thank you.” I smiled. “It is pretty cool, right?”
“It is.” He took stock of the room. Screaming Magenta was exactly what I’d pictured from the ground up. Deep pinks lined the walls and tables while mirror-ball accents shimmered and glistened around every corner. “But this wasn’t really what I was talking about. The way you handled that situation the other day . . . the way you put those pieces together. You’re an amazing woman, Ginni.”
“Thank you,” I said, a swell of emotion rising in me. “Where is he now? The warlock, I mean.”
“Serving time for his crimes. His magic has been stripped and bound.”
“I still don’t get his motivation though,” I said. “Why was he trying to kill Hannah Alden?”
“He wasn’t trying to kill her. He was trying to use her as a vessel. He has this crazy notion that the lycanthropes have invaded Enchanted Lake and that Hannah Alden and her business partner have something to do with it. He wanted to take control of her body, to pose as her and expose the truth.”
“Wow . . .” I replied, my mind flashing back to everything Abben and Edward had told me. I hated the idea of lying to my father, of keeping anything from him. But I’d made a promise and I was going to hold tight to that. I wasn’t sure what he would do, but I’d been through enough lately to know that everything isn’t always so black and white. If I could help save a race of people by just keeping my mouth shut, then I was going to do just that. “That’s crazy.”
“He swears Hannah Alden has been given powerful Lycan magic. Have you seen evidence of that?”
“No,” I lied again. “She’s just a mortal. I don’t think she knows anything about magic at all.”
“And where is she now?”
“She . . . went home, I think.” That wasn’t true at all. After nearly dying, Hannah decided she needed some time alone. And after a pretty powerful cloaking spell from Abben, she was off to find herself. Naturally, I suggested she begin by checking along the sandy shores of Fiji, but the truth was that I didn’t know where she was.
“It’s just a little strange though.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
“Terry Kingshaw is a pretty powerful warlock. His spell to use her as a vessel should have worked. It’s almost like there was something blocking him. The Council suggested that we look into it.”
“Oh.” I shook my head. “I wouldn’t waste my time with that. What happened to her happened here. I’d already hexed this place pretty heavily. It was probably just a bad mix of things.”
“Perhaps.” My father lifted a small scarf from the table. “How much?”
“I’m sorry?”
“I want to be your first customer.” He looked into my eyes. “How much?”
“Dad . . .” I gave him a tap on the shoulder. “Just take it!”
“Ginni. Babe. The man is trying to support the store. Don’t take that away from him.” Babbs pushed me out of the way then escorted my father to the register. “That’ll be twenty-nine, ninety-nine.”
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THE END
Magic & Mini Skirts Page 14
