Page 58 of Kiss and Spell

Gwen made an outraged squeak at her announcement. “Not on my watch. You’re getting a real gown. I need this in my life. Have you found a date yet?”

Ursula shrugged. “Well, it’s been interesting trying to find one.”

“Hmm, how interesting? Is it like sexy werewolf or sexy goblin king?”

“It’s like a gnome gave me a bouquet of mushrooms in the store type of interesting,” Ursula said. “That whole situation happened yesterday.”

Gwen giggled. “So, I guess you’re not going with Mr. Gnome?”

Ursula shuddered in disgust. “No way. I got a very angry email from Mrs. Gnome telling me her boyfriend is a player.”

“Why don’t you ask Xavier?” Gwen pinned her with a stare. “I’m sure he’d be happy to go with you.”

“He won’t stick around until midsummer,” Ursula said.

“Why don’t you ask him to stay?” Gwen tapped her temple mimicking a famous meme.

Ursula bit her lip. She’d wanted to ask him to stay for the ball, but she held back. What if he said yes? How long could she expect a whole fae prince to stay around the Grove?

“Midnight’s almost here, Cindy-rella,” Gwen reminded kindly.

Ursula gave her major side-eye. “You sound like Sirena.”

Gwen brightened. “You’re talking to Sirena again?”

Ursula gave a small grin. “We’re texting back and forth, but yes. She sent me a recipe for a come-hither oil. I don’t need any more attention.”

As a Smitten nominee and an object of public affection, she’d been visited at the shop by many supernatural beings seeking to court her. They were all perfectly nice, but there wasn’t the spark that she had with Xavier. The spark she was trying to ignore but wouldn’t go away. She’d practically jumped him in Grove Garden. Forget that she’d been tempted at the traffic light to just keep driving and go someplace so they could be alone. Alone and naked.

Ursula came across the book page she needed and stopped. It was a tea blend she scribbled down from Lucy when she couldn’t get a good night’s sleep due to those late-night fantasies.

Her fingers ran over the title. How to Banish Thoughts and Dreams of Certain Persons.

The word “banish” gave her pause. That choice seemed a little extreme. She didn’t want to completely rid him from her mind. One thought kept aggravating her like a popcorn shell stuck on the roof of her mouth.

I lie awake at night thinking that not kissing him is a mistake.

There was that intimate moment in the garden when she could’ve claimed him, but she waited too long and the moment was lost. Good. The man had a date waiting for him. He’d texted her a little while ago on his way to meet Paige for their date. She wished him luck and then put her phone on mute. There was only so much anguish she could put herself through. She didn’t want to get real-time updates about whether he was successful or not. He was going to get his kiss today. She felt it in her bones.

She tried to imagine them in the garden, but for some reason she couldn’t.

However, she had no issue remembering her and Xavier standing in the sunshine in each other’s arms.

Ursula held the book to her chest, weighing consequences of using the brew. Dream magic was potent and extremely effective. If she drank it, then she would probably stop dreaming about Xavier. Her stomach lurched. She’d never dreamed about any man like this before and knew that she’d never dream about anyone else like this again.

Ursula knew how this story ended. Princes did not end up with witches in fairy tales or in real life. She wanted him badly, but she wasn’t meant for Xavier.

Maybe another drink would help her make a choice. Ursula closed her spell book on the table. The bistro door opened. Gwen stood up stiffly from the booth. She straightened and lifted her chin.

“Welcome to Night Sky, Mr. Walker. What can I get you?”

Lincoln approached their booth wearing his usual polo shirt, jeans, and fresh sneakers outfit. His forehead wrinkled when he glanced down at her and the book. Ursula merely blinked. The once familiar urge to hide her magic from Lincoln was gone, replaced with indifference. If he didn’t like it, then she didn’t have to care.

“I’m just dropping off the last payment for the party.” Lincoln held up a check and handed it to Gwen.

She took it. “Thank you. I’ll be right back with your receipt.”

Gwen hovered for a second, giving Ursula a secret Are you good? look.