Part 17 (1/2)
”Twenty-seven next month,” Sebastian added helpfully.
”And I can continue to handle it. What's between Boone and me-”
”Ah.” He held up a triumphant finger. ”So there is something between you.”
”Stuff it, Sebastian.”
”She only talks like that when she paints herself into a corner,”
Sebastian told Mel. ”Usually she's extremely mild and well-mannered.”
”Careful, or I'll give Mel a potion to put in your soup that'll freeze your vocal cords for a week.”
”Oh yeah?” Intrigued by the idea, Mel tilted her head. ”Can I have it anyway?”
”A lot of good it would do you, since I do all the cooking,” Sebastian pointed out. Then he scooped Ana up in a hug. ”Come on, darling, don't be angry. I have to worry about you. It's my job.”
”There's nothing to worry about.” But she was softening.
”Are you in love with him?”
Instantly she stiffened. ”Really, Sebastian, I've only known him for a week.”
”What difference does that make?” He gave Mel a long look over Ana's head. ”It took me less than that to realize the reason Mel irritated me so much was that I was crazy about her. Of course, it took her longer to understand she was madly in love with me. But she has such a hard head.”
”I'm getting that potion,” Mel decided.
Ignoring the threat, he drew back to consider Ana at arm's length. ”I ask because he definitely has more than a neighborly interest in you. As a matter of fact, he-”
”That's enough. Whatever you dug out of his head, you keep to yourself.
I mean it, Sebastian,” she said before he could interrupt. ”I prefer doing things my own way.”
”If you insist,” he said with a sigh.
”I do. Now take your hawthorn and go home and be newly weds.”
”Now that's the best idea I've heard all day.” Taking a firm grip on her husband's arm, Mel tugged him back. ”Leave her alone, Donovan. Ana's perfectly capable of handling her own affairs.”
”And if she's going to have one, she should know-”
”Out.” On a strangled laugh, Ana gave him a shove. ”Out of my yard. I have work to do. If I need a psychic, I'll call you.”
He relented and gave her a kiss. ”See that you do.” A new smile began to bloom as he walked away with his wife. ”I believe we'll stop by and see Morgana and Nash.”
”That's fine.” She shot a last glance over her shoulder. ”I'd like to hear what they have to say about this guy myself.”
Sebastian laughed and hugged her close. ”You are a woman after my own heart.”
”No, I'm not.” She kissed him soundly. ”I've already got it.”
For the next several days, Ana busied herself indoors. It wasn't that she was avoiding Boone-at least not to any great extent. She simply had a lot to do. Her medicinal supplies had become sadly depleted. Just that day, she'd had a call from a client in Carmel who was out of the elixir for her rheumatism. Ana had had just enough to s.h.i.+p, but that meant she had to make more as soon as possible. Even now she had dried primrose simmering with motherwort on the stove.