Big Beautiful Witches: I Married A Warlock by Georgette St. Clair Page A

love. It shows off my slim waistline.  Erik’s always saying how he loves my tiny waist.” Maegera threw a glance at Fiona that could not have been more obvious, her gaze sweeping from head to toe, with a curl of disapproval to her lip.
     
    “There’s the luster-bright.” Fiona bent her lips up in a pained smile as she pointed at the little bin where the luster-bright leaves were kept.
     
    “I’ll take six leaves.”
     
    Fiona scooped up the leaves with shaking hands, shoveling them into a small paper bag.   Maegera took them, and pulled a handful of bills from her wallet, handing it to Fiona without even bothering to count them.
     
    “Keep the change.  We’re going to the Palace Hotel tonight. It’s one of our favorite restaurants. Well, thanks for the Luster Bright. Bonnie!” she barked.   Bonnie started, and flinched, a look of fear on her face, and Maegera thrust the bag at her. “Here’s the bag, and do NOT let any of the leaves get crushed. Or there will be consequences.”
     
    Fiona watched them leave, stomach churning.
     
    On the one hand,  Maegera had always been sneaky and conniving.
     
    But Erik hadn’t specifically made Fiona any promises, or said they were exclusive. Sure, he’d said that he’d dreamed of having sex with her for ages, but maybe that was all he’d wanted. To scratch that itch. A quick roll in the hay.
     
    And then he’d rushed off that morning before she was really awake.
     
    “Fiona.” Fiona, dazed, turned to see a scowling Maizie, standing with hands on hips.
    “For Hades sake, don’t fall for it.  Can’t you see why Maegera is trying so hard to make you think that she’s dating Erik? Because she knows you’re a threat.”
     
    “Me, a threat?” Fiona shook her head. “A threat to Maegera?”  Now that was a laugh. 
     
    After all, Erik hadn’t ever had sex with her until she put the moves on him. Why was that, if he was truly interested in her? Maybe he was just taking what was offered.
     
    She could barely concentrate for the rest of the morning, especially because her cell phone remained stubbornly silent.   By lunch time, she was too distracted to eat, and she’d convinced herself that Erik was already regretting the night before.
     
    She kept herself busy restocking shelves and rearranging bins, with an exasperated Renoir following behind her and fixing everything that she’d messed up.
     
    “Penny for your thoughts.”  Erik’s voice brought her back to reality with a start. She glanced up, surprised to see him standing there, holding a bag of donuts. “Mid afternoon snack.   There’s been another break-in, late last night. It was just discovered a little while ago.  This should be good; we’ll get there when the scene is still fresh.   Are you ready to go?”
     
    She glanced around at the crowded store. Maizie and Renoir could handle it.
     
    “Guys, I’ll be back later!” she called out. As she and Erik headed to his car, Maizie leaned out the doorway and yelled, “Hey, Warlock!”
     
    Erik turned around. “Yes?”
     
    “I’ve got my eye on you.” She glared at him.
     
    “I’ll keep that in mind,” he said, puzzled, and held the door of the passenger side open so Fiona could climb in.
     
    “What’s up with her?” he asked Fiona, as he climbed in and started up the car.
     
    “Maizie? Oh, she’s just being herself. You know. Cray-cray.”
     
    Fiona leaned back in her seat, pulling her seat belt on, trying to keep her voice casual. She was still shaken from Maegera’s visit this morning.   She was dying to interrogate Erik, but she couldn’t find the words, and she was still afraid of what his answer might be.
     
    “I’m sorry I had to rush off so early,” Erik said as they pulled away from the curb.
     
    “No problem. Duty called. How was the triple homicide?”
     
    “Quickly solved. A woman caught her husband in bed with the yard boy, killed them both, then