Page 54 of Kiss and Spell
Even his reflection looked dubious. Xavier flexed his jaw and tore his eyes away from the mirror. This wasn’t a date with Ursula. It couldn’t be a date because she wanted to fall in love, and he couldn’t allow himself to love her. He just couldn’t.
As if sensing his discomfort, Whitney held up her hands in surrender. “Forget I said anything,” she said.
Xavier merely nodded. Whitney continued fussing over him. “Since you’re seeing Ursula, tell her that I loved the article about the nominees in the Press. I forwarded it to my crocheting circle, and they thought it was so romantic. We’re rooting for all of them, especially her to find love. Have you read it?”
Xavier made a low sound. Oh, he read the article.
He’d read the article five times, listened to the audio recording, and studied the picture of her posed by the carousel along with her fellow Sweetheart nominees. Everyone looked great in the group photo, but his attention stayed on Ursula. The photographer was truly gifted because he managed to capture Ursula’s bubbly personality in a series of candid photos. In it, she was perched on a bucking painted unicorn in an ombre purple dress, looking fierce like a lady-knight riding off to battle a dragon or rescue a prince.
His phone buzzed. His chest lightened when he checked the screen.
“She’s waiting outside for me. Thanks for your help, Whit,” Xavier said.
Whitney squeezed his shoulder. He left the mansion and went to Ursula’s car. She gave him a wave from the driver’s seat, unlocking the door for him. He climbed inside and settled next to her. The space smelled of fresh-cut tulips and pressed jasmine, of rolling in flowerbeds. Ursula angled her body toward him and grinned.
“You look nice,” she said. “I’d hate to get you all messy.”
“Please, Madame. Make a mess of me,” he teased.
Ursula’s grin turned into a full smile. She looked away. “Let’s go.”
She eased the car from the house and drove off. As they made their way to the Grove Garden, Xavier shared Whitney’s compliments.
Ursula grimaced. “I have to get used to all this attention. My inbox is a mess, and I haven’t answered an email in days. The article title didn’t help.”
“A Shore Sweetheart is a great title,” he said.
Ursula playfully stuck out her tongue. “My family wouldn’t agree with you. I haven’t been sweet in a long time. I’ve already gotten asked out on like ten dates this morning. A goblin left me a diamond—or a really big paperweight—at the shop. The Press wants to do a follow-up interview at the end of June to see if I’ve found a forever love.”
Oh. Xavier pressed a hand to his stomach to quell the sudden burn that fired up in his gut. All that coffee was coming back to haunt him. He had been fine until Ursula mentioned a forever love. Did Whitney see something he couldn’t? Paige probably wanted a forever love, but he’d been clear with her that he was only looking to get his kiss, break the enchantment, and leave the Grove.
What would it be like to love someone like Ursula forever? His mind couldn’t think that far ahead. Instead, he thought about what it meant to love Ursula right now.
No. He couldn’t love her, but he could want her. Yearn for her. Cherish her.
She eased the car to a stop at the traffic light.
He peered up at it. “How long does a traffic light stay red?”
Ursula chuckled. “I asked my Grandpa James the same question. He repaired all the lights in the Grove when he was alive. He told me the light cycle lasts for one and a half to two minutes, or about a hundred twenty seconds.”
“Okay,” he said. He’d want her until the light turned green. Xavier was only strong enough to allow himself to want Ursula for that brief time. For those blessed seconds, Xavier let himself relish in her closeness. Let himself honestly desire her. Emotion flowed into him like he was a thirsty plant finally being given water after months of waiting for rain.
Ursula looked at him. One corner of her mouth lifted. “Are you good, Xavier?”
Warmth filled his heart down to the roots of his soul. Yes, he was more than good, he felt wonderful. A car horn blared behind them. His eyes snapped up to the traffic light. It had turned green. Time was up. Xavier swallowed and nodded. You’re done. Stop.
The warmth ebbed out of him, leaving him chilly. It was lovely while it lasted.
Ursula gave him a once-over then refocused on the road. She cruised the car smoothly through the green light and into a tree-lined neighborhood. Traces of that warmth remained within him, but he tried to push the feeling away.
Xavier took a moment to collect himself before requesting softly, “Tell me what’s next on your to-do list.”
“I still have to find a date for the ball,” she said.
He swiveled his head in her direction. “There’s a ball.”
Sweat beaded on his neck. Just the thought of hearing the words “pencil me into your dance card” made his beard itch badly.