Pruned (Cultivating Midlife Magic Book 2) by Paula Lester & ME Harmon

Author:Paula Lester & ME Harmon [Lester, Paula & Harmon, ME]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: paranormal women's fiction
Publisher: Paula Lester
Published: 2023-03-06T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 11

Maomi’s enforced dream state had been emotionally taxing, but it at least seemed to have a side benefit of physical rejuvenation. I didn’t feel tired, so after my shower, I descended the stairs to the first floor. The early morning hour greeted me with silence. Another plus. I headed for the kitchen, intent on making a pot of coffee.

The quiet only lasted so long. Hammer peeked his head around the corner about three minutes after I put grounds in the filter. He squeaked and flew into the kitchen. “Thank the skies you’re back!”

I glanced at him, surprised at his tone of utmost relief. The sound of wing flapping was extra fast, and he held a hand over his heart. “I was getting worried.”

Hammer’s shut jaw worked from side to side. Very unlike when he was wasted and did this mouth-breathing thing that got on my last nerve. Dear heavens, was he stone cold sober, for once?

“I’m back,” I verified.

“I saw you go out to meet that pixie last night, but Tillie came down at the same time. I knew you wouldn’t want her to see you being spirited away into the night, but she was heading right for the bay window in front.” He sat on the edge of the counter and studied his knees. “So, I decided the better course of action was distraction.”

I’d been reaching for my favorite mug but stopped with my hand midair. “Okay? You distracted Tillie? What does that mean?” Panic slithered up my throat. If Tillie had seen Hammer...

Hammer shook his head, refusing to meet my eyes.

I retrieved the mug, set it down, and faced my steward head on. I used as firm a tone as I could muster. “Hammer. What did you do?” I frowned. “And why did Jack think I was up writing a blog post all night?”

“Because I led him to believe that’s what you were doing. And, uh, I also made Tillie believe you read her a bedtime story.”

That left me speechless. But only for a second. “What the hell are you talking about?” I hissed, imagining the tiny fairy perched on my daughter’s headboard, reading over her shoulder.

Hammer shook his head.

“I swear, if you don’t tell me what happened here last night, I’ll... I’ll...” I struggled to think of a threat with enough clout to faze him. “I’ll throw every ounce of alcohol in this house into the trash can and tell Jack I want us to be dry from now on.”

Hammer’s head jerked up, eyes wide. Then, a resigned sigh escaped his lips. “All right, fine. I’ll show you.”

He launched from the counter to hover at eye level. His form grew fuzzy, and I blinked a few times. I cursed the fact that my near vision had been slowly getting worse since I’d turned forty-five.

But no, that wasn’t what was going on. The edges of Hammer’s form blurred, like swiping a thumb through a wet watercolor painting. The air around him clouded. Then through the haze, a shadow expanded.

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