Boone was relieved to be off the “Ms. Hickok” conversational train. The last thing he wanted to hear was something dirty. “Yes, tell me about the weird sister witches. That seems like a safe topic.”
“You might change your mind when I’m finished,” Hannah warned.
“Anything is better than watching you guys throw foreplay at one another over the breakfast table. Tell me what you have.”
“With pleasure.”
11
Eleven
Jinx tried to follow Cooper and Hannah out of town. Even though Hannah ordered him to stay, he whined and carried on as if he were being tortured. Ultimately, Tyler had to put a leash on him to make sure he didn’t run wild.
“He’ll be okay,” Tyler reassured them as they moved away from the paddock. “He just likes an adventure and doesn’t understand why he can’t be part of this one.”
“I’m sorry, Jinx,” Hannah called out. “It’s not safe for you, though. Those hills are treacherous.”
“Yes, it’s only safe for us,” Cooper drawled. “We’ll be fine if we fall and break an ankle. Oh, wait ....”
Hannah shot him a quelling look. “If you’re going to have attitude, I bet Tyler has a leash for you, too.”
Cooper smirked. “I didn’t know you rolled that way.”
It took her a moment to realize what he was inferring and she made a horrified noise deep in her throat. “Cooper!”
Jinx barked one more time, a pathetic expression on his face for his mistress. Then, as if starring in a horror movie, his eyes were dark when he focused on Cooper.
“He’s going to rip my throat out when I’m sleeping one night, isn’t he?”
“No.” Hannah snorted ... and then thought about the possibility a little harder. “He’s far more likely to try and smother you in your sleep.”
“Oh, well, that makes me feel much better.”
They linked hands for the walk, the banter serving as amusement rather than actual strife. When they reached the edge of the dome, Hannah slowed her pace and stared hard at the magical barrier. “Can you see it?”
“Is this where it’s at?” Cooper shook his head. “Sorry. I don’t see it.”
“Maybe you have to be a witch to see it.”
“Or magically inclined.”
“Maybe.” She forced a smile and tentatively extended her fingers to touch the wall. “We tested it thoroughly yesterday, but I’m still a little nervous.”
“Then maybe you should stay on this side of the wall.”
“I can’t. I have to do something, Cooper. I can’t just pretend everything is hunky-dory.”
He was quiet for a beat and then managed a smile. “I don’t know that I’m comfortable dating a woman who can drop ‘hunky-dory’ into a conversation quite so easily.”
“Does that mean you want to break up?”
“Never. I just think hunky-dory is a weird saying. If you want to refer to me as a hunk, I’m fine with it. Nothing else should be hunky, though.”
“What about Jason Statham?”
Cooper’s forehead creased. “Are you talking about that guy in the giant shark movie?”
“He’s been in more than that, but yes. My favorite movie he’s in is Spy. Have I ever told you how much I love that movie?”
“That’s the Melissa McCarthy one, right?”
“Yes. I think she might be my spirit animal in that movie.”
He laughed. “It’s pretty funny. How about, when all of this is behind us, we pick up barbecue and have a movie night? That can be the main event.”
“I would like that.” However mundane, the conversation settled her. She took a deep breath and moved through the wall, only exhaling when she reached the other side. “See. I’m perfectly fine.”
“You’re better than fine.” He followed her, briefly snagging her around the waist and pressing a soft kiss to the corner of her mouth. “You’re absolutely perfect.”
“Oh, you’re too cute.” She tapped his chin and separated. “Let’s get to the caves, huh?”
It wouldn’t have been Cooper’s preferred afternoon excursion but now that they were out there, their destination settled, he just wanted to get it over with. “I’m going in first.”
“Why are you going in first?”
“Because I brought the flashlights.”
“Oh.” She felt like a bit of a ninny. “I guess that makes sense.”
“And I’m the head of security.”
“Yes, but I’m your boss.”
“It’s my job to keep my boss safe.”
“I guess I can live with that.”
They had to climb to the cave single file. Hannah went first in case she slipped and Cooper needed to catch her. It wasn’t an overly long climb, but they were both out of breath when they landed in front of their destination.
“I think I need to work out more,” Hannah said as she caught her breath. “That was like a five-minute climb and I feel as if I’ve aged ten years.”
“I’ve always wanted to date an older woman.” He rubbed his hand up and down her back to center her before digging into the small bag he’d brought with him. “Here.” He handed her a flashlight and retrieved one for himself. Then he turned serious. “If we do find something in there, you have to be ready to run.”
“If Angel is in there, I’m not running.”
“You might have to depending on what we’re up against.” He refused to back down. “It’s better to do an initial retreat than fall in the opening battle.”
She blinked several times in rapid succession. “Is that something you learned overseas?”
“Dungeons & Dragons.”
She froze, mystified. “You played Dungeons & Dragons?”
“Yeah. Didn’t you?”
“No. I ... no.” She had no idea what to make of the new revelation. “Do you still play it?”
“Not in years. Why? Do you want to set up a game?”
“I would rather set up a weekly euchre tournament or something.”
Now it was his turn to be confused. “Euchre is a card game, right?”
“Um ... it’s the card game. Don’t tell me you’ve never played it.”
“Sorry.” He held out his hands and shrugged. “My understanding is that euchre is a Midwest game. It might even be Michigan-centric. Not everybody plays it.”
Hannah’s mouth dropped open. “That can’t be right. Euchre is the best game ever.”
“Well, I’ll have to
