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

She laughed up at him then winked at Gus. “Good girls never tell. C’mon, Ridge Donovan, let’s go explore your new barn.”


He scooped her up, pulling her close. “Not before I do this,” he murmured, dropping his lips to hers and soundly kissing her. “I can’t believe you did all this for little ol’ me.”

She melted against him, so glad to have him home. “I didn’t do it alone. Everyone in town helped. Even Gus. And I kinda owed you one. I mean, I did blow it up.”

Ridge nuzzled her nose just as the music struck up. “But you saved my hide in the process. I think we’re even. So, dance with me, pretty lady? Let’s celebrate.”

He let go of her and pulled her toward the middle of the barn, where a dance floor had been dropped in the center, surrounded by standing fans to keep everyone cool.

“I’ve Got You Under My Skin” wafted to her ears as Ridge tucked her against him and they swayed. They’d done this often while getting to know each other. After long walks and dinners and lunches and star-filled nights spent on the porch sharing a beer, they turned on the music and danced. Sometimes they even danced naked.

Wrapping her arms around his neck, Bernie let her head rest on his chest with a happy sigh.

“You raised a barn for me,” he whispered in her ear.

She giggled. “I did. I know how much it meant to you because of your mother. I wanted to restore it to its former beauty. So I dug around all those pictures in your hotter-than-hell attic and did my best to recreate.”

“It’s amazing, honey. You’re amazing. You look amazing,” he said gruffly, twirling her.

Bernie smiled at his compliment. In preparation for tonight, she’d chosen a lavender, sleeveless number that hugged every curve she owned. “I’m so glad you’re home. Did everything work out all right in Dallas?”

He grinned from beneath his white Stetson, devastatingly handsome. “It worked out fine. I signed everything over to my partner, and we’re golden. I’m free and clear to become Farmer Donovan. And everything’s a whole lot better now that I’m back here with you.”

“Did you miss me, Ridge Donovan?” she asked flirtatiously.

“With all that time y’all two lovebirds put in on the damn phone, ya think?” Fee asked from below.

Ridge chuckled, reaching down to scratch Fee’s chin. “Did you take care of my girl while I was gone, Fee?”

Fee’s voice went husky and low. “Always, Hot Pants. You can always count on me to take care of your girl. Now I’m off. I hear there’s tuna casserole to be snatched!” He sashayed away to the beat of the music, his tutu fluttering behind him.

Fee had finally told her the story of his former witch. A woman he’d loved for centuries and lost when she died in a boating accident off the Ivory Coast. Baba had taken him in, and he’d waited twenty years to choose a new witch to mentor. All those years, and he’d finally chosen her. It was a choice she’d always be grateful for and she told him so every day.

Calla and Nash danced toward them, smiles on their faces. “So what about our girl here, huh, Ridge? Isn’t this amazing?”

“The most amazing girl ever.”

Calla shook her head. “I can’t believe she pulled it off with all those seniors fighting every step of the way.”

That had been a challenge, but she’d loved every minute of Flora and Gus’ bickering.

Calla did offer her the job as event coordinator for the center, and even though it was never going to make her rich, she didn’t care. It was enough to help her find a small basement apartment to rent from Glenda-Jo’s son, and with Ridge’s help, they’d decorated it using garage-sale finds.

Most importantly, it was hers, and she had more than a toothbrush and a pillow to call her own now. Her job also allowed her tons of time with Orchid and Miss Prissy and the people she’d come to adore.

Baba Yaga visited often, making it her personal mission to tutor Bernie on what they now all laughingly called, The Book of Everything. And she was learning every day—one everything at a time.

Winnie, Greta, and Daphne found their way through the crowd, smiles on their lips as they approached. Winnie pulled her into a group hug of perfume and bangle bracelets. “Everything is perfect, Just Bernie. It’s so beautiful!”

Hugging her back, Bernie gave her an extra squeeze. “I couldn’t have done it without all of you. And I don’t just mean the barn raising. Thank you, Winnie…all of you.”

She still choked up with gratitude when it came to these women who’d supported her when she had nothing to give.

Winnie flapped a hand in the air as though it were no big deal. “Bah! You finally helped yourself. That’s all that matters. Now, we’re going to let you two get reacquainted after that weeklong eon apart and go grab some food. There are pies, people. Buttloads of apple pies. So, whaddya say, girls? Let’s go rearrange the size of our asses.”