The Professor Woos The Witch
“No. That’s not a very fun way to live your life.”
He shifted uncomfortably and pushed his glasses back. Goddess, he was pretty.
“Something else you wanted to say?” she asked.
He took a deep breath. “I could use some help with Kaley.”
Her brows popped up. “And you think I’m your best shot?”
“She likes you a lot. She got really mad at me this morning.”
“That makes two of us.” She nodded at the chairs across from her desk. “Sit down.”
“Thanks.” He took a seat and crossed his long legs, one ankle on one knee. “I really am sorry about this morning.”
“Only because Kaley got mad at you. Doesn’t change the way you feel, does it?”
His mouth did the crumpling thing again. “No.”
Pandora rolled her eyes. Normies. “What is it that you think I can do for Kaley?”
“She thinks she’s a witch.”
“Because she is.”
Cole opened his mouth, then closed it again. Maybe he was figuring out something new to say. “I was thinking maybe you could…play along with that.”
Pandora narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean, play along?”
“She thinks she’s a witch, you claim to be one, so help her figure out how to be one, too. At least until this phase passes, because it will. When she was six, she wanted to own a zoo until she realized she’d have to have more animals than just cats and dogs. When she was seven, she wanted to compete in the Olympics until she found out jump rope isn’t an Olympic sport. Something will happen to make her realize this witch thing isn’t for her.”
“I like Kaley.”
He smiled, which was some kind of dark magic, because for a moment she forgot she didn’t like him. “She’s a great kid.”
“But I don’t like you.” There. She’d said it.
He shrugged. “Fair enough. I’m prepared to sweeten the deal.”
She hadn’t been expecting that. She’d been ready to say she’d help for Kaley’s sake, but now she was curious. “How so?”
He paused like his next words were going to be painful. “If you help Kaley, I’ll give you the house listing.”
An electric charge zipped through her, but she maintained her composure even as her brain went crazy. The Pilcher Manor. Not only would it be a killer commission, but she could make sure it ended up with the right family. She picked up a pen and twirled it through her fingers. “So you’re basically paying me off.”
He sighed. “Yes.”
Something bold entered her bloodstream. “No.”
“What?” He stared at her. “You don’t want it?”
“I do, but I have no idea what sort of…work you’re going to do to it. Or what kind of shape it’s going to be in when you expect me to get top dollar for it.” If he didn’t believe in her, she damn well wasn’t going to let him think she believed in him.
“I do excellent work.”
She lifted one shoulder. “I’m sure you believe that.”
His eyes tapered like he’d just figured out what she was up to. “What do you want?”
“I want the listing, but since I know what buyers look for in this town, I also want equal say in how you renovate the house.”
“Are you going to put up equal funds?”
“Are you going to cut me in for a share of the sale?”
He uncrossed his legs and recrossed them in the opposite direction. “You can help with decisions. I promise to run everything by you. But it’s my money, so I get final say.”
That was fair. “Deal.”
He smiled again. “Deal. Thank you.”
She wove the pen between her fingers. “So, Cole. What exactly do you believe in?”
“The infinite value of pi. Prime numbers. The strength of an engineered beam. Measuring twice but cutting once.”
She blinked. “Hoo boy, I can see why Kaley needs my help. Were you ever a kid? Did you ever believe in Santa and the Tooth Fairy and that stepping on cracks could break your mother’s back?”
“Sure, but I was a kid. I’m an adult now. And a realist.”
“But Kaley’s not. She’s still a kid. And there are things out there beyond human comprehension, so before you go telling her not to believe in things, why don’t you let her enjoy being a kid?”
He held his hands up. “Point taken. I’ll try to be more open-minded.”
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to drag you to a coven meeting or anything like that.”
He laughed. “You won’t let it go, will you?”
“What?” But she knew.
“The witch thing.”
So help her, she wanted to zap him. Anger bubbled through her. “It’s not a witch thing. It’s who I am. It’s who Kaley is, and it’s who her mentor will be.”
He shook his head. “I said it before, and I’ll say it again. Show me.”
Her fingers twitched to do exactly that. Because even when her magic went wrong, he’d still have to admit she’d done something.
She snapped her fingers, and the boysenberry candle sitting next to her pen holder blazed to life. She hoped it didn’t explode and cover them both with hot wax, but the flame died down to a dull flicker and danced happily atop the wick like every other lit candle she’d ever seen. It was rare that even a small use of magic went right for her, but thank the goddess it had.