A Witch's Love by Erin Bluett

for the coming month, witches, because, believe me, you’re going to need it.”
    Ava couldn’t wait to get out of the car to stretch her legs. They had been driving for hours and had just arrived in Saratoga. Night was falling. They’d have to wait for morning to look for Belinda.
    It was probably just as well. Traveling and fighting back tears all day made her feel like Samantha Baker from Sixteen Candles . Cara would love that she knew that. Her throat constricted. Were they even alive?
    She had been so close to throwing herself into Lucas’s arms this afternoon. Despite her better judgment, she still cared for him. Even though she’d been unreasonable and mean, he’d been patient and kind to her. Answering her questions and explaining that he was trying to protect her. Still, his omissions hurt, especially after what had happened with her family.
    They turned into a driveway. “Where are we?” She studied the Queen Ann house while he shut off the car.
    “A bed and breakfast. Should be a nice place to stay the night.” He got out of the car and opened the trunk.
    Her feet touched pavement as he removed their bags.
    He walked toward the entrance, his movements smooth in spite of the cumbersome luggage.
    Maybe she would be ticked, but right now she was desperate for a shower and some privacy to sort through her thoughts. With a glimmer of relief on the horizon, she followed him.
    At the entrance, Lucas held the door open for her. Without paying him a second glance, she entered an exquisite foyer, filled with charming antique furniture and old-fashioned hurricane lamps. The woodwork around the door had beautiful carved details of vines and leaves, which seemed to extend into the other rooms. Lucas moved around her into the parlor.
    Sitting behind a polished, dark wood desk was an older woman with silver hair and bright pink lipstick. “Good evening, I’m Beverly, how can I help you?”
    Lucas nodded to Beverly and gave her a quick smile. “We wondered if you have a room available tonight.”
    What did he mean ‘a room’? Walking up next to him, Ava bumped his arm. “We need two rooms.” She tried to keep her voice low and not create a scene.
    Beverly studied a book on her desk and nodded. “You’re in luck, we have one room left.”
    This lady had to be joking but before she could protest, Lucas turned to whisper in Ava’s ear. “Looks like we’ll be having a pajama party tonight.”
    Ava looked around their room. The lavender and blue theme fit the rest of the house to a ‘T’. The comfortable space contained a full-size bed with a flowery quilt and lace curtains. Next to the bed stood another hurricane lamp and a blue area rug that looked hand woven. Beside the bed was a door that led to their private bathroom.
    Hearing the door close behind her, she turned to find Lucas standing beside their bags. “I hope you don’t think you are sharing that bed with me.” She gathered her bag and when she glanced up, he was sporting a smile.
    “What if I did?”
    “Well you’re not, so you can just forget about it.” She gave him the look that always made her sisters think twice. “Now, I’m going to take a shower. I trust you know enough to stay out of there while I’m occupying it?” She headed toward the bathroom door with her bag in tow.
    “As you wish,” he said as she closed the door.
    Everything in this room was pink, with the lace shower curtain. It was obvious whoever had decorated this house loved lace.
    Starting the water, she undressed and stepped into the claw foot tub. The warmth felt wonderful, but her thoughts alarmed her. Why couldn’t she stop thinking of Lucas?
    She pictured his hands caressing her body and his mouth ravaging hers. She touched her breast, pretending it was him. Closing her eyes, she could feel his kiss. She imagined his lips on her neck and his body pulsing over hers. She moved her hand lower, gliding it across her belly, stopping when she felt her soft curls. Her