Witch Is The New Black (Paris, Texas Romance #3)

“’Cus stupid Alan Finster dared me to,” she mumbled, avoiding Winnie’s eyes.

Winnie sighed and shook her head. “Now, you mind your manners. Alan can dare all he wants. It’s you who has to use all of your willpower and not accept the dare. You know you’re not supposed to be up in the tree at school, young lady.”

Bernie fought a chuckle and instead peered into Lola’s mouth and made a very serious face. “Wow. How does it feel to be so grown up in just one day?”

She shrugged her shoulders and made a pouty face. “Not as good as I thought. I got time out and Miss Marjorie told Mommy. But I got my fingers crossed the tooth fairy will still come.”

“Not on my watch,” Winnie muttered, dropping a kiss to the top of Lola’s head before rising and pointing toward the front door and following Bernie out of the kitchen. “Between you and me, he’s a filthy animal. Total misogynistic jackhole.”

Bernie cocked her head, fighting her typical disbelief when she heard stories of this ilk. “He’s real?”

“Very. Ran into him in a bar in Istanbul once. Wanted to take his collection of teeth and shove them down his throat.”

Bernie laughed with a wince. “This world takes some getting used to.”

“Indeed it does, and speaking of worlds, Baba seems to have fallen off the edge of it. But I’ve got a call in to her about this Eddie, Now, I need her approval before I give you the go ahead, but once she hears what really happened that day, I know she’s going to make you a free woman. Also, I’ve asked around about this Doris, and no one’s seen her since that night at bingo.”

“So she wasn’t a figment of my imagination. That’s a small measure of relief.”

“Nope. She exists. Ridge saw her, and so did Flora, and Calla’s grandfather Ezra. Now I want to know what she wants with you. If you don’t mind, I’ve asked Daphne to maybe poke at her husband Fate and see what we can see. He’s not supposed to reveal future instances, but I can’t see why he would mind looking into past occurrences. There has to be a clue somewhere along the way that explains this, Bernie. I damn well intend to find out what that is.”

Bernie swallowed hard, unable to express her gratitude for Winnie in words. She gripped Winnie’s arm, but nothing came out.

Winnie pulled her into a quick hug scented with lemon and roses before letting her go. “You don’t have to say a word, Just Bernie. But promise me you’ll be very careful when someone’s not with you, okay? I know you’re beginning to get the hang of your powers, but there’s still so much more we need to get through, understand? Your powers are so oddly complex that none of us can pinpoint their origins.”

Bernie held up her right hand. “Promise. Speaking of powers, I have a date with a very important book of spells. Can I borrow the car, please?”

“A date, huh? Freudian slip?” she asked with a wicked grin, handing Winnie the keys from the basket on the table by the front door.

“I don’t know who Freudian is. Is he cute?”

Winnie sighed and rolled her eyes. “Fine. Don’t tell me anything. But as far as I’m concerned, you’re a free agent. We just need Baba to sign off and then you can not date the tantalizing Ridge Donovan all you like.”

Her insecurities began to surface. “I don’t think he’s interested in dating me. Calla says he’s going back to Dallas once the farm’s handled. Plus, we’ve spent many nights studying those dusty books and he hasn’t made a single pass at me.”

“Have you made a pass at him?”

Horror widened her eyes. “No! He’s my—”

“Your boss. Yeah, yeah. Listen, did it ever occur to you that he’s not making passes because you’re so hung up on this order of things? And don’t tell me he’s not interested. His eyes gobble you right up whenever you’re not looking. Even when you wear that stab-to-my-eyeballs yellow velour tracksuit. Ridge is just following your cues, and allowing you your boundaries. Which makes him wildly hot and crazy patient. So here’s a thought, Rule Follower. Lighten up on all the regulations and eggshells and whatever else has you so hung up, and just relax, Bernie. Move forward. Go for what you want. Then don’t come home until morning. I’ll be here with Benny Junior tacked to my hip for support during your walk of shame.”

Bernie took a deep, shaky breath before saying, “I’m going to give that some thought. Thanks, Winnie.”

Winnie winked her fringed eye. “You bet, and by the way, you look gorgeous tonight. I love that color on you.” Then she waved a dismissive hand. “Now off! Go make goo-goo eyes at Ridge.”

With a laugh, she headed out the door and toward the Pacer. As she climbed inside, she pressed the button to turn on her favorite French GPS shotgun.

“Bonjour, Bernieee! I am so pleased to see you again! Where shall we go tonight?”

“Ridge Donovan’s.” Her heart sped up simply saying his name.