“Great. Come on in. I’m happy to have the help.” She liked Norm. He was easygoing, never complained, and knew his books.
He nodded as he entered. “Yep. I heard Millie ran off to Canada. Some middle-age crisis thing. Except she’s kind of beyond middle-age.” He laughed. “You just never know about people, do you?”
“No, you don’t.” Amazing how fast the story about Millie had spread. The FOL was obviously a powerful organization, but she’d be just fine if they never showed up in Everlasting again. She got Norm started on some reshelving, then went to collect the books that had been dropped off through the return slot overnight.
Thankfully, the only books in there were library books.
The phone rang promptly at nine. She answered, sort of hoping it was Walker checking in. “Everlasting Library, Charlotte Fenchurch speaking.”
“Miss Fenchurch, this is Arnold Ruskin from the Maine Library Association. I’d like to talk to you about Mildred Merriweather.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Walker arrived at Charlotte’s apartment later than he’d intended, but the day’s events had taken more time than anticipated. He ran up the stairs, eager to tell her his news. He knocked on the apartment door, noticing the new lock.
“Come in!” she called out.
He opened the door. The mess was all still there, but he could tell she’d already made some progress in the kitchen. “How’s it going?”
She rolled her eyes. “Slowly.” She shook her head and looked around. “I have to be honest. I don’t even want to be here. It feels…tainted.”
He bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing out loud at the news he was about to share. “You should move.”
“I’d love to. But I don’t have the money.” Suddenly her face lit up in a huge smile. “Although I will soon. Well, I’ll have more money anyway. They offered me the job of head librarian! Can you believe it? That was going to be my wish if I got to make one and it came true anyway!”
“That’s amazing. Congratulations!” He came around to meet her. “They’re lucky to have you.”
Her hands shot into the air and she let out a whoop. “I’m so excited. It’s a raise and better hours and I get to hire the person to replace me. Plus Norm is going full time until my replacement is hired, and I like him a lot. You were right about the FOL tying up loose ends. Everyone seems to think Millie’s gone off to find herself in Canada just like you said they would.”
“Told you. I’m sure you’ll soon hear something similar about Lola, too.”
“I don’t like Stillwell, but I’ll give him credit for taking care of all that.” She frowned. “What about the judge? I have to admit, I feel a little bad for him. He did some awful things, but it was in the name of love and that sort of makes me wish he’d had a better end.”
Walker laughed. “As it just so happens, Stillwell caught him, the mouse version of him, and is taking him back to FOL headquarters to see if they can undo the spell. He thinks there’s a pretty good chance they’ll have him back in human form shortly.”
“Will they let him come back to town?”
“Yes, so long as he signs a non-disclosure agreement and promises to behave himself. He’ll still be under FOL scrutiny for the rest of his life, but that knowledge should be enough to keep him on the straight and narrow.”
“How about that. I’m happy he’s getting a second chance. Not sure I’ll ever be able to have him in the library without giving him the side eye, though.”
“Speaking of the library…” He pulled her into his arms, clasping his hands at the small of her back. “Head librarian, huh?”
She beamed. “Yep. I am so excited. It’s a dream come true.”
“You know, you really should move now. I mean, the head librarian needs to live somewhere more prestigious. Some place like that big white house on Maple that’s for sale. You know the one with the three brick chimneys and that massive front porch?”
She narrowed her eyes. “The one with the black shutters and the red front door? That’s the Timmons’ place. I love that house. I’ve been through it every year on the tour of homes, but when I said I’m getting a raise, I meant about a twenty percent increase, not triple what I’m currently making. I still wouldn’t be able to afford that castle.”
He smiled. “So you don’t want to move in there?”
She kept squinting at him. “You’re acting weird. Yes, I’d love to move in there, but like I said, I can’t afford it.”
He shrugged. “It’s off the market anyway.”
“It is? I wonder who bought it.”
He nodded. “I did. Today. Sad you don’t want to live there with me, especially because that big backyard would be perfect for Eddie, but if that’s how you feel—”
“What? Back up.” She grabbed his arms, her eyes wide. “You bought the Timmons’ house? How? You don’t have a job.”
He laughed. “No, I don’t have a job, but I’ve worked for the FOL all my life. They’ve paid me handsomely. And I spent very little. I had the money. And I liked the house.” He suddenly realized what a hasty decision that had been. “Crap. I should have asked you first. I was just assuming you’d like that place and it really does have a great backyard and—”
She kissed him, sending little sparks of pleasure up his spine.
He tightened his arms, tugging her closer and leaning into the embrace. He broke the kiss to trail more of them over her jaw and down her neck. “I’ve never kissed a head librarian before. Feels a little naughty, but I like it. Might even say it’s been long overdue.”
She giggled. “You’re nuts.” She pulled back to look at him. “That’s the other thing I was going to wish for. You, staying here in Everlasting. I’m so happy.”
“Me, too.”
She bit her bottom lip. “Is this going to work?”
“Living together? The place has two floors, six bedrooms, and a finished basement. I think there’s enough space for the three of us.”
“No, silly. I meant…us.” She smoothed the front of his shirt, no longer making eye contact. “I’m a witch, not much of one admittedly, but I am what I am. And you’re a witch hunter.”
“Retired witch hunter. Who only ever hunted bad witches. You’re a good witch.” He grinned. “A very good witch. And now I’m just a regular old independently wealthy leopard shifter who dabbles in antiques.”
She snorted. “You do present such an attractive case.”
He took her hands in his and kissed them. “I adore you, Charlotte. Maybe we’re headed into this a little fast, but so what? We’ll figure it out as we go. And if you’re okay with that, I am too.” He cocked his head. “Are you okay with that?”
She nodded. “I am.”
Then she leaned in. “You know what else I’d be okay with?”
He kissed the tip of her nose. “What?”
“Leaving this mess of an apartment for another day and going to get pizza.”
He whirled her toward the door. “Remo’s here we come.”
She pulled his arm over her shoulders. “And then maybe afterward, we could take a walk out by the lighthouse. You know, they say it has a ghost. Oh, and supposedly, if you bury a penny in the dirt around it, your wish will come true. Then you could have one too.”
He looked at her. “I can skip that part.” He beamed at her, knowing his eyes were filled with the glow of his beast and his adoration for her. “All my wishes have already come true.”
THE END
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About the Author
Kristen Painter is a little obsessed with cats, books, chocolate, and shoes. It’s a healthy mix. She lo
ves to entertain her readers with interesting twists, entertaining stories and unforgettable characters. She currently writes the best-selling paranormal romance series, Nocturne Falls, and the cozy mystery spin off, the Jayne Frost mysteries. The former college English teacher can often be found all over social media where she loves to interact with readers:
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Other books by Kristen Painter
PARANORMAL ROMANCE
Nocturne Falls series:
The Vampire’s Mail Order Bride
The Werewolf Meets His Match
The Gargoyle Gets His Girl
The Professor Woos The Witch
The Witch’s Halloween Hero – short story
The Werewolf’s Christmas Wish – short story
The Vampire’s Fake Fiancée
The Vampire’s Valentine Surprise – short story
The Shifter Romances The Writer
The Vampire’s True Love Trials – short story
The Dragon Finds Forever
The Vampire’s Accidental Wife
Can’t get enough Nocturne Falls?
Try the Nocturne Falls Universe books.
New stories, new authors, same Nocturne Falls world!
Sin City Collectors series:
Queen of Hearts
Dead Man’s Hand
Double or Nothing
Box set
Standalone Paranormal Romance:
Dark Kiss of the Reaper
Heart of Fire
Recipe for Magic
Miss Bramble and the Leviathan
* * *
COZY PARANORMAL MYSTERY
Miss Frost Solves A Cold Case – A Nocturne Falls Mystery
Miss Frost Ices The Imp – A Nocturne Falls Mystery
Miss Frost Saves The Sandman – A Nocturne Falls Mystery
Witchful Thinking: A Cozy Paranormal Mystery Page 17
