I blink rapidly, trying to keep the tears at bay. This is exactly what I’ve longed for all of my life.
“I’d like that. Thank you.”
She nods happily and takes another look around my reading nook. “You have two little girls who hang around here, don’t you?”
Brielle lets out a surprised laugh, and I can’t help but join her. “Yeah, I hear I do. Brielle and Lucien see them, too.”
“You don’t?” Mama asks.
“No, because I have shields in place to block spirits. I inherently read their thoughts, and it’s too dangerous for me.”
Mama nods. “I understand. I’m glad you have your shields. Well, we should probably be going.”
We walk to the front of the café, and I wave at Esme, who’s manning the counter for me today.
When we step outside, I almost run right into Dahlia. “Whoa! Sorry, I didn’t see you there.”
“I was just coming over for an afternoon caffeine hit,” she says with a laugh. “Oh, hello.”
“Mama, this is Dahlia. Dahlia, this is my mom, Ruth.”
Dahlia reaches out to shake Mama’s hand, but Mom doesn’t take it. “Are you Dahlia Bergeron?”
“That’s right,” Dahlia says.
“Your family was part of the dark coven.”
“Yes, most still are, but that wasn’t for me. I’ve been working with Lucien as an apprentice so I can join his coven.”
“Oh. Well, how nice.” Mama walks around Dahlia as if she’s wary of her. “I’d like to go home now, please.”
“Nice to meet you,” Dahlia says with a wave, but Mama doesn’t reply. She steps into Daphne’s car and doesn’t give us another glance as the two drive away.
“She’s had a busy day,” Brielle adds. “She’ll need some rest tonight.”
“I put a potion in her coffee,” I reply. “It’ll help her sleep and calm her mind.”
“Good.”
“Well, I’d better be off,” Dahlia says and crosses the street, headed back to her shop.
“I have to go home and take a nap before my date tonight.” I glance over at Brielle, who’s grinning at me. “What?”
“We always knew Lucien was for you, but you were too stubborn to admit it.”
“It’s one date.”
“Right.”
Chapter Ten Millie
“I can’t believe I tried on nine dresses,” I say as I blow out a breath and perch on the edge of my bed where Sanguine sits, watching with judgy, mismatched eyes. “I know, it’s ridiculous. But it’s our first date. Well, in this lifetime, anyway. And I want to look nice.”
I’m in my underwear now, a matching black bra and panty set, and I’ve hung two of the dresses side by side so I can sit and ponder which one I like best for the occasion.
“I might not come home tonight,” I inform my familiar. It’s been wonderful having Sanguine with me. A witch without a familiar is a sad thing. A companion to help with magic, and I’ve always loved having a little friend around. Sanguine has settled in seamlessly. It’s as if she’s belonged here all along.
Which is exactly as it should be.
“And don’t judge me about it. Oh, and if I do come home with Lucien, don’t judge me for that, either.” I glance down at my cat and see her eyes narrowed. “I’m an adult woman, and if I want to have sex, I will. And something tells me that sex with Lucien will be off the damn charts.”
I walk over to the dresses and choose the deep red one with the flowy sleeves and a V-neck that plunges to the center of my breasts. With this bra, my cleavage is impressive.
I slip into the silk and twirl in front of the mirror, pleased with my decision.
“The feelings I have for him are strong,” I admit. “I know now that it’s probably because our souls have been linked for so many years, but it was unnerving to be seventeen and, with one look, know that I was born to be with him. And, of course, I’m a stubborn person, so I fought it for what seems like forever. But you know what, Sanguine?”
I turn and see her watching me intently.
“I don’t want to fight it anymore. It feels too good to be with him. And now we can move forward together. Because as crazy as it might sound, I’m ready to share my life with him.”
I run a brush through my long hair and stare at myself in the mirror.
“And it’s our first date.” I can’t help but laugh. “Well, no one ever accused me of being ordinary, so I guess my love life shouldn’t be either.”
I don’t usually wear a lot of makeup, but tonight I take my time with my eyes, giving them just a bit of a smokiness and then smooth red lipstick on my lips.
I slip my feet into black boots with a chunky heel because I have a hunch we’ll be walking a bit, and heels won’t work for that in or around New Orleans.
That reminds me. I need to walk down to Head Over Heels next week and ask Charly if she’d like a booth at the Halloween street party this year.
I make a mental note and then turn to Sanguine with my hands out at my sides.
“Well? What do you think?”
“Meow.”
“Thank you.” The doorbell rings, and butterflies immediately fill my stomach. “I don’t know why I’m nervous. There’s no need to be.”
I grab my black shawl for when it gets cool after dark, along with my black clutch, and hurry down the steps. When I open the door, the words I was about to say die on my lips, and I can only stare at the beautiful man in front of me.
His brown hair is tamed and styled away from his face. His dark glasses frame his intense blue eyes, and his square jaw has recently been shaved.
But what his body does to the white button-down and sport coat
