Accidental Leigh by Melanie James

he wanted. He surprised me. “This is kind of a nice way to spend an afternoon. I really like being with you, Leigh.”
    I laughed a little. “I was just thinking the same thing. Now, h ow do I make this thing shoot?”
    By n ow, Hunter had probably realized I had sort of tricked him into holding me like this and he got his flirting skills on as well. “Well, you take one hand and grab around this part, then take just one finger and put it on the trigger. You want to touch it lightly and easily at first so it doesn’t just shoot off unexpectedly.” He took my hand in his and placed it on the curved grip of the stock. Slowly he wrapped my fingers around it. I was amazed at how he could touch my hands in such a sensual way. He took my index finger and placed it on the trigger. “Now, when you are ready, you need to squeeze it. Don’t just go pulling on it. Squeeze it gently, at first.”
    “You are sassy! Are you sure? Just squeeze it? How about like this?” I wrapped my fingers around his index finger and stroked it. “Do you think that would work?”
    We both started laughing at the exchange of corny innuendoes, and I inadvertently pulled the trigger as I lost control of the barrel , which pointed straight up. The cork shot out and bounced off of the metal rail above us and directly back down onto Hunter’s head. “Thank God it was only a cork and not another golf ball!” Hunter said.
    I went to set the cork gun down and accidentally caught the barrel on the angled metal support that held up the awning. I forcefully pulled it free and as I did, I pulled the retaining pin free. The awning slipped an inch and then froze in place. I breathed a sigh of relief and then just as I exhaled, it dropped. Hunter ducked just in time, or it would have caught him right in the teeth. He stood back up and laughed.
    “You know, I never thought going out with you would be so danger-”
    Then the entire awning frame came crashing down on the top of his head. I screamed and checked on him. Hunter sat with a blank stare, then he finished his sentence.
    “Dangerous - or painful.”
    “This is my fault. I’ve never caused as much disaster as I did today.”
    “It’s al l right, Leigh. I’m thinking that I need to get some ice.”
    “Well, you do have that wounded look on your face. How about we head back to my place? I’ll get you some ice and some ibuprofen.”

Chapter 11
    Reverse the Curse
     
    Hunter accepted my offer and agreed to go back to my apartment. He handed me the keys and this time I helped him into his truck. When we got back to my apartment, I had him lie down on my couch. I went to get ice and ibuprofen. When I came back, I saw Luna curled up on his chest. I was a little jealous because that was the exact position I’d like to be in!
    “ Geez! I swear, she never acts like this, not even with me. How’s your head? And everything else?”
    “I’m sure the headache will go away soon.” He gulped down the pill s and put the icepack on his head. “We can still go out for dinner, later, if that’s OK with you.”
    “Yeah, of course! But only if you’re feeling well enough. You took a few good shots to the head today. Just relax and shut your eyes , if you need to.” I left Hunter to recover while I thought about the events of the day. It was almost as if Hunter was under attack from my bad luck. Luna jumped down off of Hunter’s chest and came over to the writing desk. She took one paw and swept a paper off of the desk. When I picked it up, I saw that it was the witch spell I had printed off the internet.
    I picked it up and looked at the Latin incantation that I had recited for the spell. I simply assumed the spell was correct. Rookie witch mistake , I suppose. Something was going on with the way Hunter seemed to be cursed on our very first date. Apparently, Luna had a clue. I needed Lindsey. After all, she knew Latin. I took a picture of the spell with my phone and sent it to Lindsey with a request for