“You mean a witch?” Cooper’s mouth hitched at the corners. “Baby, I hate to break it to you, but that’s going to excite these people. They’re not going to look down their noses at you.”
“No, but ... what if they somehow get into my mind and see what I did to Becky?” Her lower lip trembled, but she held it together. The fear in her eyes was real, though.
Ah, Cooper realized. That’s what she’s so upset about. Becky Gibbons was one of Casper Creek’s former workers. In addition to that, she was a member of the coven that toiled under the town’s banner. Weeks before, Becky had been taken over by a malevolent force. Technically, she’d let herself be taken over for revenge. To save the town, to save random residents, Hannah killed the thing that had taken over Becky ... and in the process ended her own worker. She was still struggling with the outcome, even though she recognized she had no choice in the matter.
“You have three weeks,” Cooper noted, choosing his words carefully. “Jackie and Danielle can teach you how to shutter better in that time. By the time they’re done, nobody will be able to see inside your mind.”
Hannah’s face lit with hope. “Do you think so?”
He nodded, solemn. “I know so. It’s going to be okay.”
She chewed on her bottom lip and nodded. “What if it’s not, though?”
“Then we’ll get through it together. It’s going to be a good thing, baby. I won’t let anything bad happen to you ... including whatever it is you think these psychics might do. It’s going to be okay.”
Hannah wanted to believe that more than anything. “It’s still three weeks away,” she said, turning back to the invitation. “Things will be better then.”
Cooper’s heart gave a long, slow roll. “Things will be better,” he agreed. “I promise you don’t have anything to worry about. We’re going to get through this.”
“Yeah.” Hannah forced a smile for his benefit and then leaned her head against his shoulder, smiling as his lips brushed against her forehead. “Everything is going to be okay.”
Two
Three weeks later
“This isn’t what I was expecting.”
Maddie wrinkled her nose and glanced around the rather unimpressive hotel room.
Nick grunted in agreement as he lifted her suitcase onto the rack at the end of the bed. “It does have a little too much in common with a motor inn on the side of an abandoned highway, doesn’t it?”
Maddie nodded as she glanced around. “I was hoping for something a little more romantic.”
Nick’s lips curved. “Romance is a state of mind, Mad.”
“Yes, but moonlit strolls over pretty grounds and gorgeous views help,” she argued. “Also ... good food is a must.”
Nick cringed at the mention of food. They’d both eyed what the hotel laughingly called a restaurant on their way in. Without saying a word, they agreed they would be finding nourishment elsewhere.
“There have to be other restaurants, Mad.” Nick was the pragmatic sort and that was on full display now. “I promise to find something befitting my queen.”
Maddie snorted and rolled her eyes. “How did I know you were going to say something like that?”
“Because we’re soulmates and that’s how we roll.”
Maddie laughed, as he’d intended, and allowed him to drag her into his arms. “I guess I’m just nervous.” It wasn’t easy for her to admit. Nick knew her better than anyone. He understood that she was a fearful child who grew into a fearsome adult. Some of her old anxieties popped up at odd times, though, and this was apparently one of them. “I’ve never been around a bunch of psychics before. In fact, the only other person I know for certain had a true gift was Rowan on our honeymoon. Other than that ... .” She trailed off, uncertain.
“You’re afraid you’re going to be surrounded by frauds,” Nick surmised, understanding dawning. “I’m assuming that’s a natural fear, Mad. While I’m certain there are people who pretend to be something they’re not, I think there are others who are the real deal. You’re not the only one in the world.”
How he always knew exactly what to say to make her feel better was a mystery. Maddie profoundly appreciated it, though. “Yeah. I can’t be the only one.”
“You are the best one, though,” he countered, keeping his arms wrapped tightly around her as she squirmed. “You’re also my absolute favorite. I think it’s because you walk on water.”
Maddie squealed out a laugh, genuinely amused. “I love how you can say things like that with a straight face.”
“That’s because they’re true, whether you want to believe it or not.”
“Yeah.” Maddie pressed her ear to the spot above Nick’s heart and listened for a long beat. The sound always lulled her. “It’s going to be okay.” She didn’t know if she said the words for his benefit or hers, but in moments like this, when it was just the two of them and the real world couldn’t intrude, she believed they could do anything.
“It is going to be okay,” he reassured her, rubbing his hands over her slim back. She was strong, muscular even, but there were times she felt fragile. He wasn’t the sort of man who believed a woman needed a man to protect her. Maddie had proven to him — and numerous others — that she was capable of almost anything. That didn’t mean he wasn’t the kind of person who wanted his wife to be happy above all else. “We’re going to make it through this together, Mad. I’ll be with you the entire time.”
She was silent a beat, and then grinned against his chest. “Except when you’re checking out the brothel, right?”
“Well, that goes without saying.” He smacked a loud kiss against her pouty mouth and pulled back. “So, I was thinking that we would head up to Casper Creek, get the lay of the land, and then figure out dinner if that mixer
