Free Enchantment by Lawna Mackie Page A

e l f. I real l y do like to cook the old-fashioned w a y j u st like my m om, w hich is, for the record, very si m i lar to y o ur w orld.” He stopped.
    G ood. Now I’m babbling.
    This could be dangerous. Getting too close to her would be a m ista k e, but eve r y m ove s he m ade intrigued hi m . The w a y she tilted her head, or put her hair over her shoulder, and even the way he caught her staring at her own hands, no doubt wondering w hether s parkles originated there.
    Catz ju m ped up onto the island. He could tell s he looked unco m fo r tab l e. Her voice broke the aw k ward silence. “Ma y be y ou could explain what y ou think the old - fashioned w a y is ? ”
    Kerrigan explained as his hands deftly sorted groceries. He placed the granger m eat into the oven, w hich opened at the wave of his hand. “M o st Enchanters would not have a kitchen with w hat y ou would call appliances. In m ost kitchens, y o u w ould find a table and perhaps a sink. Food is a necessi t y , s o m ost Enchanters u se m agic to feed the m selves, but th e y do not prepare it by hand.” He m ixed an array of vegetab l es, chopped th e m , and placed them in a bowl, and then set two plates and one set of cutle r y on the island, watching her careful l y , wondering exact l y w hat she thought.
    “W h y do y ou coo k ? O n Earth, m ost m en I kn o w prefer not to do those chores.” She reached up, scratching Catz behind her ear.
    He stuck both hands up and said, “ C over.” The oven door opened, and K errigan re m oved the hot dish from the oven. “I do like to cook. I find it relaxing, but like I said, it is not a u sual thing here in Enchan t m e nt.
    The loud ru m ble from the table drew his attention, and he hid a s m ile at the faint flush of pink on Meeka’s face. He also noted that s he had one e y e closed, sh y i n g away from the scene. He’d scared her so m ehow. Holding his hands back up he said, “re m ove.”
    Rubbing his hands together, he s m i led. “ It didn’t hurt, see.” He showed her his unburned hands.
    “Wow. I wish we had that talent at ho m e.”
    Kerrigan fixed her a plate with greens and granger before setting it on the table. The cat was pacing and purring extreme l y loud l y , waiting for her portion of the m eat. He cut the m eat into tiny pieces and placed it down in front of her.
    Meeka stared d o wn at the food with a curious look. H i s shoulders shook with a chuckle as he turned to clear the countertop.
    “I think y o u ’ ll find the m eat similar to what y o u would call chicken. We call them grangers. The greens are si m i lar to y o ur salads.”
    She picked up her fork. “Are y ou not going to eat ? ”
    “I had so m et h ing earlier w hile y ou were sleeping.” Kerrigan leaned against the counter, his gaze steady while s he placed a s m all piece of granger in her m outh and lick her bott o m lip. What w ould it be like to taste and touch that kind of heaven? His body tightened with desire. Silent l y , he cu r sed hi m s e lf. H ow could the little witch have such p o wer over hi m ? He needed a diversion, s o he grabbed the pan and noisi l y rattled it into the dishwasher.
    “Delicious.” Meeka licked her lips. “ Better than our chicken. You are a good cook.” Catz purred, licking her paws and cleaning her face to extend her own thanks.
    Meeka slid her hair over her shoulder. “ K errigan…do y o u have so m ewhere I could freshen u p ? ”
    “Yes, of course.”
    “Would y o ur parents m ind if I took a s hower ? ”
    He hid a s m i l e at the w a y she tugged at her hair, a look of disg u st in her e y e s. “I am certain M om w ould be hap p y to kn o w all y o u r needs were taken care of.”

* * * *
    Meeka’s bo d y ached from head to toe. A sh o wer would be great. Perhaps she could forget for a bit about sparks, sparkles, and m agic. Kerrigan led her to the bathro o m and opened the door. There w a s a large m arble shower. M eeka could feel the warm water