The Professor Woos The Witch (Nocturne Falls Book 4) by Kristen Painter

with a familiar and then losing that familiar would be worse than a bad breakup. Worse than living with faulty gifts. It would destroy your magic for the rest of your life. And you’d both end up with holes inside you that would eat away at any happiness you find.”
    “Like Ren.”
    Corette nodded. “Like Ren.”
    Pandora stared at her mother as the words sank in. She certainly didn’t want that for Cole or herself. One tragedy on her conscience was enough. “I never intended to get involved with this guy. Now I’m not sure I want to.”
    Corette took her plate to the sink. “Familiars have a way of finding the witches who need them the most and, in the case of human familiars, the witches they belong with. There’s a good chance you could be meant for each other as a fated pair. But like I said, that doesn’t mean you’ll get along as man and woman. Just witch and familiar. It’s a lot to consider.”
    “That’s for sure.” But clearly it had worked for Ulysses and Gertrude.
    “I know this must be overwhelming for you to take in. Did I answer the question you came over to ask?”
    “Not really.” Pandora sighed. “I wanted to see if I could bring Cole and Kaley to dinner tonight. Kaley still needs a mentor, and she’s dying to be around other witches. Plus, I thought maybe being around my family would help Cole see there’s nothing weird about us.”
    Corette laughed. “Pandora, there will be four witches and a rook at dinner. You want to add a fledgling witch and a familiar and you think it’s not going to be weird? Bring them, but don’t expect miracles.”
    Pandora grabbed her stuff. “Thanks. All I want is for him not to be afraid of who he is.”
    Because no matter what the risks were, Pandora couldn’t help but be attracted to Cole. He was handsome and sexy and smart and, yes, her magic worked perfectly around him, but beyond all that, she felt drawn to him. Ever since that kiss.
    She gave her mom a little wave. “See you tonight.”
    Her mother nodded back as Pandora left the house. She walked to her car with a sinking feeling. What if the lure of being a witch with unencumbered powers was why she really liked Cole?
    Getting to know him better seemed like the only way to know for sure. But then she could be setting herself up for a disaster, and she’d already had one of those in her life. She couldn’t be responsible for ruining another man’s life.
    She got in her car, closed the door and started the engine, but didn’t pull out of the drive. Liking Cole for Cole was one thing. Liking him because he was a familiar was another. There was only one way she could think of that would keep both of them safe.
    Under no circumstances, no matter how sexy Cole was, no matter how much she was tempted, not even if he did some kind of familiar magic spell on her (if that was even possible), there was absolutely, positively no way she could end up in bed with him.

    Jack Van Zant arrived at Cole’s house earlier than expected. He greeted Cole with a hearty handshake. “Good to see you, son.”
    “You too, Dad.” He raised his brows as he looked at his watch. Quarter to noon. “You made good time.”
    His father shrugged. “What else have I got to do these days?”
    “Grandpa!” Kaley came down the stairs. Despite being a thirteen-year-old, she hadn’t yet lost the ability to be affectionate, at least with her grandfather. Maybe it was because he was the only grandparent she had any regular contact with.
    Jack scooped her up in a hug. “Hello there, baby girl.”
    She returned his hug until he deposited her back on solid ground.
    Then he started with the questions as he came into the foyer. “How’s the move treating you? You like your new school? Keeping your grades up? Have you made any friends? I hope none of them are boys.”
    “Grandpa, no. No boys. And my grades are fine.” She rolled her eyes. Not even Grandpa Jack was spared that.
    “Good. Just checking.” He dug into his