The Professor Woos The Witch (Nocturne Falls Book 4) (29 page)

“I’m fine, thanks.”

“Good,” Hank muttered. “Birdie’s lousy at getting it.”

“I heard that, sassmouth,” she screeched. “Don’t forget I changed your diapers.”

Hank grimaced and shut the door. “Make yourselves comfortable.”

They sat while Hank went to his desk chair and settled in. He looked like a werewolf. Or what Cole imagined one might look like in human form. Blue eyes, five o’clock shadow at nine A.M., gravelly voice and a slightly predatory gleam in his gaze. It wasn’t entirely welcoming, but Cole supposed it suited the man well, considering his occupation.

Hank rested his forearms on the desk. “What can I help you with?”

“This is a supernatural matter,” Pandora started.

Hank seemed puzzled. “Witch business?”

“Yes.”

“You’ve always handled that yourselves. What’s going on?”

“My ex-wife is what’s going on,” Cole said.

Hank’s brows lifted slightly. “I see.”

Pandora explained about Lila and what they suspected she was up to.

The sheriff shook his head. “Not sure what I can do for you.” He looked at Cole. “I could add your house to one of the deputies’ patrols. Alex Cruz lives in Pandora’s neighborhood. He could drive by on his way home.”

“I appreciate that,” Cole said. “But I don’t think Lila’s going to be that obvious. And Pandora’s got a plan.”

“That’s really where we need you, Sheriff.” Pandora laid out the strategy to catch Lila in the act. “Ultimately, things will go smoothest with the ACW if there’s an impartial witness to this whole operation.”

A light came on in Hank’s eyes. “And that’s where I come in.”

“Yes. My sisters and my mother will be there to contain her magic, but I’m sure you can see that us all being related creates a bias. Your impartial word would go a long way towards making sure Lila can’t try this again.”

Hank seemed to think for a moment. “What will the ACW do to her?”

“The penalty for this sort of violation is usually a five-year suspension from magic.”

Hank nodded. “When do you need me?”

She glanced at Cole. “Could be as early as tonight.”

Hank scrawled something on a business card. “Text me. I’ll be there. And if Marigold needs to drop Saffie off at our house, I know Ivy would be happy to watch her until this matter is settled.”

Pandora smiled. “Thank you, I’ll tell her. I don’t suppose Charlie would mind Saffie’s company either.”

Hank smiled, shocking Cole. He hadn’t thought the man capable of it. “That boy’s got himself an awful crush.”

Pandora laughed. “I’m pretty sure it’s a two-way street.”

Then Hank looked at Cole, and his expression went back to sheriff-on-the-job. “You’re new in town, so—”

Cole nodded. “New to this whole world, actually.”

Pandora put her hand over his. “Cole only recently found out he’s not entirely human.”

Hank nodded. “That had to be a shock.”

“You can say that again.”

“Well,” Hank continued. “You need anything, you call me. We do our best to take good care of all our citizens, but our supernatural ones especially.”

“I appreciate that, but the only thing I’m going to need after this is over is a job.”

“What kind of work are you in?”

“College math professor. Algebra and Calculus, mostly.”

Hank nodded thoughtfully. “I’ll mention it to my wife. She works part time for Delaney Ellingham at the sweet shop, and Delaney’s married to Hugh Ellingham.”

“One of the town’s founders,” Pandora supplied.

The name rang a bell for Cole. “She made the desserts that Stanhill brought to dinner.”

“That’s her,” Pandora confirmed.

Hank leaned back. “The Ellinghams run this town. If there’s a job to be had, they’ll know about it. Anyway, I’ll send word you’re looking. Of course, I imagine Corette could do the same with Stanhill, seeing as how he’s Hugh’s rook.”

“Great idea, and one I should have thought of.” Pandora stood. “I’ll talk to my mother about it. Thank you for all your help. We should let you get back to work.”

Hank got to his feet as Cole did the same. He stuck his hand out. “You, your aunt and your sister, who Pandora introduced me to at lunch the other day, are the first werewolves I’ve met.”

Hank smiled again as he shook Cole’s hand, but this time it was more amused than overtly joyful. “I can guarantee that’s not true. We’re just the first ones you’re aware of.”

Back at Cole’s, Pandora headed straight for the attic to search Gertrude’s things for the key ingredient in their sting, the substitute feather. Cole declined to join her, begging off to get out of his dress clothes and into something suitable for hauling junk out to the dumpster so he could get back to work.

Pandora had a feeling it had more to do with Gertrude than his desire to get the house emptied.

She flipped on the attic light. “Gertrude? I need your help.”

A vision in lemon appeared before Pandora. “Hello, dearie!”

“Hi, Gertrude.”

The ghost clasped her hands in front of her. “Oh, I do love a visit. You know the stud muffin came to see me.”

“I heard. I sent him up here, so you’re welcome.”

She grinned. “He is a tasty cookie, isn’t he? Speaking of, have you had a bite yet?”

Pandora did her best stern face. “Gertrude, that’s my familiar you’re talking about.”

Gertrude put a hand to her mouth and floated back a bit. “Oh my, yes, sorry. No disrespect meant.”

“No harm done. And yes, he is a tasty cookie. Now, I need some help.”

“Anything, dear, anything. Just name it.”

“I’m looking for a very specific ingredient for a spell, and I thought you might have just the thing.”

Gertrude hovered up and down, the ghostly equivalent of yes, Pandora imagined. “I’m sure I do. What do you need?”

“A black feather.”

Gertrude’s smile fell off her face. “What’s wrong? The bonding didn’t work?”

“It’s not what you think. We’re not doing
that
until we know each other better and are more sure we’re compatible.”

Gertrude clucked her tongue. “If you haven’t tried bonding the old-fashioned way, then you don’t need the feather yet. Trust me, child, nature’s way is better, and that’s not something I often say when it comes to the craft. Just give it time.”

“No, it’s not for us.” Pandora sighed and gave Gertrude the quickie version of what was going on.

“Oh my, I see. Well, then. A feather.” She floated around the attic, inspecting her shelves and the storehouse of witchly goods contained there. She waved her hand, and a box drifted toward Pandora. “See if those will do.”

Pandora plucked the box out of the air and opened it. It was filled with black feathers. “These are perfect. I just need one.” She selected one and returned the box to the shelf it had come from. “Where did you get all of those?”

Gertrude’s smile held sadness. “They were Ulysses’.”

“Are you sure using the feather of another familiar won’t backfire? Especially one that’s related?”

“Doesn’t work that way. At best, she might be able to bond herself to Ulysses, but seeing as he’s long gone…” Gertrude sighed and lifted a lacy handkerchief to her eyes.

“You still miss him, huh?”

“I do.”

“I hope this isn’t too personal a question, but why didn’t he end up a ghost like you?”

Gertrude shrugged. “I guess because I had unfinished business here. And once that’s done, I’ll be with him again. I hope.” She hovered lower as she nodded. “He was the great love of my life.” She sniffed, then her smile brightened. “You’ll see. That man downstairs will be yours.”

“Maybe.”

“No maybes. He is meant for you, just as you’re meant for him. I saw it when you two were up here together the other day.”

“I do really like him.”

“You love him. You just won’t admit it yet. You young people are so scared to be in love these days.” She did a little twirl. “In my day, you found a fella, you knew it was right and you acted on it. None of this pussyfooting around.” She flopped her hand in the air and fluttered her lashes. “None of this
I like him, I adore him, he’s so nice
business.”

Pandora laughed.

Gertrude stuck her tongue out and made a rude noise. “Enough. Love is love. You know it when you feel it.”

Pandora shrugged. “Maybe I haven’t felt it.”

“Liar. If you don’t love him, why are you doing all this to protect him? Out of the goodness of your heart?”

“Maybe.” Pandora was getting mad now. “You don’t know what I’m feeling.”

“Yes, I do.” Gertrude waggled her finger. “I know what he’s feeling too.” She grinned. “I can’t leave the attic, but I can hear him singing love songs in the shower.”

Pandora blinked. “He sings love songs in the shower?”

“Not well, but it’s very endearing.” Gertrude floated closer. “He’s got it bad for you.”

Pandora stroked her fingers down the silky feather. “He did agree to stay. But how do we know if what we’re feeling is real and not just a product of the connection between a witch and a familiar?”

Gertrude shook her head. “It’s a good thing the two of you are so pretty, because you’re both tremendously dumb.”

Pandora crossed her arms. “That’s not very nice.”

Gertrude sighed. “Do you think the connection you’re feeling is somehow fake? That it’s somehow been manufactured because of who you are? Those feelings are real! If Cole fell in love with you because you were a witch, he’d be in love with your sisters and your mother too. Think, girl. That’s not how it works. Those feelings are there
because
you’re meant to be together. If you weren’t, you’d feel nothing.”

Pandora felt like a lightbulb had gone off over her head. “So…”

“
Yes
,” Gertrude hissed. “Get out of your own way and just be in love already.”

“You say that like it’s so easy to do.”

“Because it is. Taxes are hard. Raising kids is hard. Learning to drive a stick shift, that’s hard. But love?” She did a slow twirl mid-air. “Love is easy.”

“I can’t just blurt it out.”

“Sure you can. Unless you’re just pretending at all this. Are you pretending or do you love him?”

Pandora fell silent and searched her heart. The truth. She did love Cole. “I don’t think I have the courage to tell him I love him.”

“You already did. And I’m sure he feels the same way.” Gertrude looked past Pandora and smiled. “Isn’t that right, cookie?”

Pandora turned to see Cole standing in the attic doorway. She shivered. Either Gertrude had just passed through her or it was the cold panic of the realization that Cole had heard the tail end of that conversation. “H-how long have you been standing there?”

“Long enough.” His expression looked…funny.

She wished she was a ghost. She twisted to face the conniving apparition. “Gertrude, you tricked me into—” Gertrude was gone.

Pandora stayed where she was. She stared at the feather in her hand. It was easier to have her back to Cole while she dealt with this mortification.

Of course, he didn’t stay where he was. His arms wrapped around her and pulled her against his chest. “She’s right, you know.”

“About what?” She couldn’t look at him. Couldn’t bear to see rejection in his eyes.

“I love you too.”

She stiffened. “Are you just saying that to make me feel better?”

“Yes. But also because it’s true.” He laughed. The sound came out shaky. “It’s also frightening as hell.”

She smiled and turned to look at him. “That’s the truth.” But his admission allowed her to catch her breath. “So we’re in love.”

“Seems that way. You all right with that?”

She nodded, and a slow smile bent her mouth. “I am. Still completely freaked out by how fast this is happening, but I guess Gertrude is right. If our feelings are there, why deny them?”

“Agreed.” He kissed her. “I still think we should take things slowly. I want you to be completely comfortable before we do any…”