Free Life's a Witch by Amanda M. Lee

“Those women are horrible. You can see on their faces that they’re here to stir up trouble.”
    “That’s what worries me.”
    “You’re worried that they’re up to something? Join the club. I know they’re up to something. Until they make their intentions known, though, we’re in the dark. Being nice to those women isn’t going to propel them to tell us what they want. Being nice to them only hurts us.”
    “You really hate them, don’t you?” I asked, running my finger down his cheek.
    “I really hate anyone who goes after you,” Landon replied. “In case you missed it, I think you’re pretty great. I love you. You make me smile and I enjoy watching you laugh.”
    “That’s pretty sweet.”
    “I have my moments.”
    “It’s also schmaltzy,” I said. “I didn’t know you were that schmaltzy.”
    “I think you make me schmaltzy,” Landon said, tickling my ribs. “Don’t let your head get too big, though. You’re also a pain in the ass, and your family gives me heartburn.”
    I sobered. “I’m sorry about all of this,” I said. “You came here for a relaxing weekend, and it’s been anything but relaxing. We have only two days left together before you have to leave again.”
    “I don’t like leaving either,” Landon said. “I don’t really have a choice. I’ve been trying to get over here at least one day during the week, too. That’s how much I miss you.”
    “What we really need is a case here in Hemlock Cove. Then you could stay and work at the same time.”
    Landon grinned. “Please don’t go out and kill someone simply because you want me close,” he said. “As flattering as that would be, I would prefer not having to lock you up.”
    “I’ll consider it. You’re pretty cute, though. It might be worth a murder to keep you around.”
    Landon rolled on top of me, pressing his lips to mine to let me know what he had in mind. He pulled back long enough to study me for a moment. “Are we going up to the inn for breakfast?”
    “Do you want to try to subsist on the crumbs in the toaster? That’s all we have for food.”
    “Fine. We’ll go up there. Breakfast had better be good, though.”
    “Isn’t it always?” I asked.
    “Generally,” Landon said. “I’m going to need something to entice me to put up with those horrible people, though.”
    “I gave you a naked massage last night.”
    “And that was a nice start,” Landon said. “Now I want to give you a naked massage.”
    “I guess I can live with that.”
    “That’s good,” Landon said, moving his mouth to my neck. “This would be so much better if you smelled and tasted like bacon, though.”
    Wait … was that an insult?
     
    “I CAN’T believe Thistle and Marcus abandoned us,” I muttered, entering The Overlook through the back door an hour later. “Thistle said she actually would rather eat toast crumbs than risk breakfast up here.”
    “Clove was the smart one,” Landon said. “She spent the night at the Dandridge, so she has a ready-made excuse for not being at breakfast.”
    “Yeah, she lucked out there.”
    “I’m just glad the inn is still standing,” Landon said. “Do you think we cut it close enough to mealtime to avoid an uncomfortable meeting with your mother in the kitchen?”
    “Probably not.”
    The back of the inn serves as private quarters for my mother and aunts. It’s accessible only through the kitchen, and guests wouldn’t dare enter. I wasn’t surprised to find Aunt Tillie sitting on the couch watching a morning news program. Her outfit did surprise me – although at this point nothing she wears should give me pause.
    “What are you doing?” Landon asked.
    Aunt Tillie, her combat helmet firmly in place, glanced up. “I’m deciding whether the world is going to end today.”
    “Oh, well, I’m glad you’re not taking this to extremes or anything,” I said, smirking. “Where did you get those pants, by the way? I thought you gave up yoga pants.”
    “These are