Free The Cupcake Coven by Ashlyn Chase Page A

gentleman and refrained from squeezing her ass. Regardless, his primal urges wouldn’t leave him alone.
    Dammit. I’ve got to get out of here, before I throw her down on the floor and have my nasty way with her.
    He broke the kiss, but didn’t step away.
    Her breasts were rising and falling. “Wow.”
    “Funny. I was just thinkin’ the same thing.”
    They grinned at one another. Dru let go, took a step back, and cleared his throat. “I’d better go before…” He didn’t quite know how to finish that sentence, but her nod said she understood.
    “Uh-huh. Well, thanks for all your help today. Will I see you tomorrow?” Rebecca asked.
    “Count on it.” He set his cowboy hat on his head and winked before he left the kitchen to gather up the day-old bread. It was time he concentrated on his real mission—finding Shasta.

    Dru dropped off the bread at the homeless shelter, casting a furtive glance around the rooms. If Shasta had run out of money, she might be forced to stay in a place like this. The amount of people that could be housed there was staggering to him. However, it didn’t seem overcrowded at the time. Winter might be a different story.
    He was both comforted and disappointed when he didn’t see her. He showed her picture to a couple of guys sitting out front and they just shook their heads. Maybe she had found someone who had taken her into their home. Someone kind, who was caring for her. He knew it was wishful thinking, but he needed to focus on good possibilities as well as bad.
    Having completed his task, he set off for Myranda’s store. He wanted to find out when her next beginners course in Wicca was being held. Hopefully it wasn’t on a weekend, which was when Rebecca said her bakery is busiest.
    He rounded the corner, whistling a tune that he remembered from childhood. It was a little ditty his mother used to sing to them, and anytime he was disappointed, he whistled it, fooling himself into thinking everything would be all right.

    April stepped out of Mrs. Reese’s car and heard someone whistling a song that seemed vaguely familiar. It was almost as if she could predict what notes came next. Glancing in the direction of the sound, she saw a tall male figure disappear around the corner. She didn’t recognize what she saw of him.
    “Well, thank you again for such a great day. I really love my new hair style.”
    “It looks great on you. I’m glad you let them cut it short. It’ll be easier to manage.”
    “Yeah.” A wet drop fell on her shoulder. The sky had looked threatening all the way back from Hampton Beach. “I guess I’d better get in there before the rain comes down and ruins it.”
    “Good idea. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    “Yup. See you tomorrow.” A few more splashes of rain fell on her, so she slammed the car door and ducked inside the shelter.

    Dru’s cowboy hat protected his face from the rain, but his plaid shirt was getting soggy. He was glad Myranda’s shop wasn’t any farther away or he’d be soaked to the bone. Dashing inside, he almost bumped into the only other customer there and she looked like she was leaving. Good. Maybe I can get enough privacy to talk to Myranda about Rebecca’s problem.
    He knew he should stay out of it, but that was the trouble with caring. If he cared about what was happening to someone, he just had to say or do something to help. It was as much a part of who he was as his Texas twang.
    “Hey, Myranda.”
    She looked up from a catalogue and gave him a big smile. “Dru! Hey, yourself. I was thinking about you recently.”
    “You were?”
    “Of course.” She waved goodbye to the other customer, who was leaving. “Are you all right after what happened the other night?”
    “Yeah, I’m fine. I’m not so certain about Hanna’s altar items though.”
    Myranda chuckled. “I thought her eyes were going to pop out of her head at first. She didn’t get mad at you, did she?”
    “No, ma’am. She was right nice about it. I