Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Closing his eyes, he asked, “What did she say?”
“She was only supposed to say, ‘In your mind, you will see me,’ but instead she said, ‘In your mind, you will see me naked and inside me.’”
Lucas gagged. “I didn’t need that visual.”
“Right? That’s what I was saying. Gross! Anyway, I honestly didn’t think anything of it.”
“Considering all Shawn wanted to do was get to Kristin—hold her, touch her—yeah, I’m pretty sure that was what he was seeing. And then the moment that shall not be named happened.”
I pressed my mouth together in a tight line so I wouldn’t laugh.
He shook his head. “What’s going to happen when he finally sees her? He wouldn’t…force her, would he?”
“No!” I quickly said. “Of course not. I mean, I don’t honestly know what he’s going to do, but I don’t think it will be anything like that. He may just be infatuated with her.”
Lucas frowned but nodded. “Okay, that might not be so bad.”
“And if he is paying her attention like that, then Kristin will give him the attention he needs, and all will be perfect! Everyone will be holly jolly for Christmas!”
He shot me a look that said he really didn’t believe it would be that simple, and I reached for his hand. “Let’s just see what happens. If something went wrong, then…”
My voice trailed off as I thought about what I was going to have to do. Ask either Sarah, Lucy, or my mom for help.
“If Kristin has to do a spell to reverse the first one, like you did, she is going to be so pissed,” Lucas warned.
A sudden chill filled the air, and I scrunched up my face. “I know. Let’s just hope it doesn’t come to that.”
The sound of the doorbell ringing caused me to sit straight up in the bed. A sudden déjà vu hit me, and I threw the covers off and jumped out of bed.
“I’m going to kill whoever that is,” Lucas mumbled as he rolled over and slowly sat up.
“It’s Sarah,” I told him.
Scrubbing his hands over his face, he asked, “How do you know?”
“Just call it a hunch.”
After slipping on my slippers and robe, I rushed to the living room and saw that Kristin was long gone. When had she left?
Opening the door, I was about to start to explain when I clamped my mouth shut and stared at the man standing in front of me.
“Shawn?”
“Hey, Hollie. Is Kristin around?”
“Oh. Dear. God.”
He narrowed his eyes. “I’m sorry?”
“Why would you think she was here?” I asked as I attempted not to freak out. I looked past him and didn’t see Sarah. Strange, I had such a strong feeling it was her.
“Didn’t you guys have a girls’ night last night? I texted her late last night, and she said she was crashing at your house.”
I studied Shawn. He seemed normal. Not sex-crazed or in need of finding Kristin right away. Maybe he had to talk to her about her taxes again?
“Why did you need to talk to her?”
His cheeks turned red, and he rubbed at the back of his neck. “I um, I’ve just been thinking about her and wanted to see her. Talk to her.”
Okay. Stay calm, Hollie. He only wants to talk to her. That means he’s noticed her in a different way. That was good.
“About her taxes?” I asked.
Shawn laughed. “Why would I want to talk to her about her taxes?”
That caused me to narrow my gaze at him suspiciously. “Aren’t you helping her with them? That’s why you guys were at lunch together about, wasn’t it?”
He looked confused for a moment before he snapped his fingers and pointed to me. “Yes. We were. Talking about taxes and stuff. This is more…um…personal.”
“Hey, Shawn. What brings you by so early?” Lucas asked in a dry tone as he shot me a look that said he knew exactly why his best friend was there.
Shawn looked past me and smiled when he saw Lucas. “Just seeing if Kristin was here.”
I shook my head as I looked at the empty spot on the sofa. “She’s not. She left earlier and I’m not sure where she went.”
A look of disappointment crossed his face, and for a moment, I felt sorry for him.
“I’m assuming Hollie has invited you in for coffee.”
I jumped. “Oh, right! Sorry, come on in.”
Shawn followed us to the kitchen and slid onto one of the stools at my small kitchen island bar.
“I never did pay you for your winnings last night,” Shawn stated as Lucas shot me another look.
“Don’t worry about it, dude, it was winners’ luck,” Lucas deadpanned.
I gave a tight smile and quickly got to work making some coffee.
“What do you have planned for today, Shawn?” I asked as I placed a coffee mug in front of him.
He gave me a warm smile. “I’m not sure.”