Free Forever Charmed (The Halloween LaVeau Series, Book 1) by Rose Pressey Page B

between the two of you? I’m not stupid and I know something is going on. You know each other and I don’t believe you’re being honest with me.”
“Please, let’s have breakfast and we’ll talk.” He stretched his hand out to me.
That statement made me wonder if I’d want to eat after I heard what he had to say.
As soon as my fingers touched the warmth of his outstretched hand my whole body tingled. His gaze looked with mine and I found it hard to look away, as if I was being hypnotized.
“Why do I feel as if I am about to receive bad news?” I tried to keep the banter relaxed.
He squeezed my hand and smiled. “Come on, I put a lot of effort into breakfast.”
I sighed and allowed Nicolas to escort me into the dining room. He’d even set the table with my pretty white napkins and the special crystal glasses that I liked to use. In spite of the knot in my stomach my mouth watered. Nicolas had outdone himself with breakfast. Strawberries and powdered sugar decorated the French toast on the plates. He’d even cleaned up the kitchen.
Nicolas pulled out the chair for me and said, “Please have a seat.”
“I’m pretty sure I’m the one who is supposed to be doing all this for my guest,” I said as I sat in the chair.
“You can make breakfast any time. I don’t get a chance to make breakfast that often. I’m usually on the go too much.”
I studied his every move as I took a sip of my orange juice. “So tell me what is going on. How do you know Mr. Rankin and why did you tell me I was in danger simply by being around him?”
Nicolas looked down at his plate for a moment and finally met my gaze. “I’m just passing through on business.”
What? Okay, he was crazy. That’s not what I’d asked. They were just playing games with me.
“I don’t believe you. There has to be more to your visit. Do you work with Mr. Rankin?”
Just when he was about to answer, Nicolas’ cell phone rang.
“Will you excuse me for just a moment?” he said while pulling the phone from his pocket.
I nodded as he stood and moved out of the room. After a couple more minutes, Nicolas hadn’t returned and I went back to the library to check on his call status. When I reached the library, I found Nicolas not on the phone, but standing close to the shelves studying the titles on the bindings. I got the feeling that he was looking for something. Did he want a book to read? Would he notice the spell book to his left? I didn’t want him reading that. I’d have to explain what it was and I wasn’t sure he’d understand the whole witchcraft thing.
As if he sensed my presence, he turned around. The expression on his face was odd, as if he’d been caught doing something he shouldn’t be doing.
“I didn’t hear you enter. I was just looking at the wonderful collection of books you have.” He pulled one of the books from the shelf.
“They were my Great-Aunt Maddy’s. She left me this manor recently,” I said.
Nicolas flashed a knowing smile. “Is that right? Is that why you decided to run it as a bed-and-breakfast?” He placed the book back in its spot.
I nodded. “What else was I going to do with all the rooms, right?”
He nodded, then walked over to the desk in the middle of the room. I was just glad that he’d moved further away from the mysterious book. Why did I have such an overwhelming desire to hide it? Out of all the books on the shelves, it was unlikely that he’d pick up that one book. Regardless, I didn’t want to chance it. They first opportunity I got, I’d hide the book.
“How long have you been in the manor?” he asked while running a finger along the intricate detail of the wooden desk.
I couldn’t help but imagine that I was that desk and his finger was tracing the curves of my body. I shook off the thought and met his gaze. 
“Just a few weeks,” I said.
“You’ve certainly been busy then.” Nicolas fixed his gaze on my face and looked away as quickly as possible.
Finally, I glanced back at him.