Free Witch Weigh (A Paranormal Romantic Comedy) by Caroline Mickelson Page B

mess with a piece as fine as you.” He took a swig from his water bottle and then looked over at her. “You get what I’m saying?”
    Honestly, she hadn’t considered cornering and threatening Liam, but the idea wasn’t half bad. “What if he doesn’t see things my way?”
    “Make him see things your way. You’re a woman. Women are always twistin’ men this way and that to get what they want. Don’t tell me you haven’t done that before.”
    Tessa nodded. “Maybe I have.” She just couldn’t tell Marcus that the twisting she’d done had left men in some pretty uncomfortable situations. She thought of the construction worker she’d left to dangle from a crane. Yeah. She probably shouldn’t have done that.
    “Hey, Tessa, stay with me,” Marcus said, his deep voice rounding up her stray thoughts. “What’s this guy got?”
    “Got?” Tessa asked.
    “What’s the turn on?” Marcus clarified.
    Tessa didn’t answer. How to explain Liam’s charm? And charming he was; he’d gotten under her skin. She couldn’t deny it. But she could fight it.
    “Is there another chick involved in all of this?” Marcus asked.
    A vision of Fiona’s gold wing tattoo flittered through Tessa’s mind. “Unfortunately, yes. And I don’t know what to make of her interference.”
    “You jealous?”
    “As if,” Tessa shot back.
    “Yeah, thought as much. Whatcha gonna do about your job problem?” he asked.
    “I don’t know, Marcus, but I think if I can get my man trouble sorted out the job will fall into place.” She punched the number five on her treadmill and started to jog. “Now leave me alone because I can’t run and talk at the same time.”
    ***
    After a hellacious free weight workout Tessa made her way to the locker room. Her quivering legs wanted to head in the direction of the sauna but she overruled them and headed to the changing area. A quick shower was all she had time for before she went in search of a telephone. It seemed everyone but her carried a tiny telephone in their pocket.
    Her conversation with Marcus had given her an idea. She wasn’t sure what to do to help herself, but an idea of how to help her new friend had popped into her head during a triceps extension.
    Wet hair hanging down her back, Tessa explored the corridor between the men’s and women’s locker room. She found a small, unoccupied office. At first touch the door seemed locked but Tessa refused to be deterred. She rubbed her hands together and then tapped her index finger against her palm. She was rewarded with a spark of energy and the doorknob turned when she tried a second time. A slow smile spread across her face. Witch 1. Fairies 0.
    The thrill of victory soon soured into frustration as she struggled to figure out how the computer worked. The big fat button looked like it should be pushed. So she did. The little screen button she pushed next. Shouldn’t that do the trick? The idea of using magic briefly entered her mind but she dismissed it. Whatever abilities she’d gained back she didn’t want to waste on something a mere mortal could do for her. She needed someone to assist her. She thought for a moment. Bethany. Yes, easy going, compliant Bethany was just the human to help.
    Tessa glanced up at the clock. Unless she was mistaken, Bethany and Claudia’s group had just finished their lap swimming which meant showers were next. Bethany should be easy to track down.
    And she was. Tessa snagged Bethany just as she came out of the dressing room.
    “I need your help Bethany.” For good measure she threw in the six letter word that humans seemed to find magical. “Please.”
    “I’d be happy to,” Bethany said. “Lead the way.” But her expression was much less confident when Tessa ushered her into the empty office. “Are you sure we should be here? What if someone comes in and catches us?”
    “Then just hide behind me,” Tessa told her.
    “There isn’t enough of you left to cover me,” Bethany said.