Page 29 of Kiss and Spell
He studied both ladies trying to imagine having their teenage witch escapades all over the Grove.
Diane was draped in complete onyx. The dyed ombré locks sitting on her wide shoulders popped against her black velvet dress and complemented her rich brown skin. Her lips were painted black and matched her pointy boots. Heavy eyeliner rimmed a pair of dark brown eyes that scanned him. Xavier wouldn’t be surprised if she had a skull, bat, or spider hidden in her pocket. Where Diane was dressed in the colors of midnight, Ursula was wrapped in the pale pink colors of dawn. Whitney would have a field day dressing this witchy woman in the finest clothes she could find at the mall.
She caught him looking at her but said nothing. Ursula tucked a loose curl behind her ear. His heart skipped a beat. He bet she could wear every color in the rainbow and look fabulous. His brain knocked some sense into him.
Hey, Prince Charming. She’s not your possible date. Focus on Ms. Dearworth.
He looked over to Diane, who swirled the dregs of her drink against her wineglass. She gave him a piercing glance.
“Ursula’s been singing your praises,” Diane said. “I almost thought that you didn’t exist, that she made you up from a storybook.”
He eyed Ursula again. Why couldn’t he stop looking at her? “She’s too kind.”
Xavier let something warm and gentle ease into his comment. She flushed lightly but remained silent. Suddenly, Ursula stood up from the stool as if she forgot a super important meeting she had to attend.
She positioned Xavier closer to Diane. “I’ll be right back. I have a lip gloss emergency.”
“Okay.” Xavier peered at her lips, which had a shiny gleam. There was nothing she needed to fix; everything about her looked great.
Ursula winked at Diane, then moved to whisper in Xavier’s ear, “I told you I got you.”
Her breath tickled his skin, sending shivers up his spine. Her floral perfume floated in his nose. Made him think of secret gardens and parted tulips. He allowed himself to lean forward for a moment to capture a hint of her essence. She turned and left them alone. Xavier watched her saunter away, then faced Diane. They stared at each other across the sudden ring of silence between them. She gave him an intense, penetrating glare that made him feel like he was under a spotlight auditioning for the role of boyfriend. Ursula had gone through all this trouble to talk him up to her friend, so he was going to be a gentleman. He was going to be charming, damn it.
He sat up. “So, Ursula told you—”
Diane held up a hand, effectively cutting him off. “It’s fine, Your Highness. I’m only talking to you so Ursula doesn’t get too suspicious. I was raised in the art of distraction.”
“Um—” Xavier let his mouth hang open.
“Pretend you’re talking to me,” Diane insisted.
Xavier cocked his head to the side. “We’re talking now, right?”
Diane stroked her chin. “Honestly, I’m looking for a hookup, not a happily-ever-after. Ursula was so determined for me to meet you. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings, especially after everything she’d been through, so I said yes to meeting you. We’ve met. We’re not a match. I’m not your type.”
“You’re not?” Xavier asked.
Diane wagged her brow. “Magicians notice everything, Your Highness. I noticed you really, really like pink. You seem to like the shade of rose.”
An image of Ursula’s rose quartz flashed in his mind. Xavier remained silent, but he felt his ear tips turn red. Stupid fae ears were always telling on him.
Diane chuckled under her breath. “Life’s so funny. I was hoping to set her up with Gus but… you… finally arrived. Timing is everything and you’re super late, but at least you showed up.”
She sipped her drink until it was completely empty. The conversation had more twists and turns than a two-story water slide. Questions flew around his brain like fireflies buzzing around an open field. Why would she think that Ursula was waiting for him? What had she been through? Who was Gus? Judging from her silent glare, Diane didn’t seem eager to answer any questions, so he wasn’t going to ask her. Who knew magicians were this cryptic?
Xavier folded his arms. “So, you’re not interested in me.”
“Oh, no.” Diane tilted her head, a twinkle of secret knowledge shining in her eyes. “I don’t flirt with other people’s dates.”
He shrugged to hide the alarm that went through him. Was it that obvious that he favored Ursula?
“With all due respect, she’s not my date. We’re friends.”
Diane snorted. “Just thank me in your wedding toast.”
Xavier opened and closed his mouth, unable to come up with a response. Instead, he imagined himself dressed in a tailored tuxedo surrounded by wedding guests, looking at Ursula standing by his side in a white gown that made her sparkle like a treasured crystal. She probably would wear flowers in her hair on that day. His heart hoped. Shut it down. His brain stopped that fantasy. He wasn’t here in the Grove to dream; he was here to break the spell. Besides, Ursula had plans for her life that didn’t include him. Plans that had everything to do with falling in love and nothing to do with his enchantment. Diane nodded, seemingly pleased with his non-comeback.
She stood up, patting Xavier on the arm like they were old friends.