Page 43 of Enchanted to Meet You

“Watch me.”

He’d then proceeded to do just that.

I had to admit, his presence didn’t seem to adversely affect transactions—if anything, they went up. I had to call in my assistant sales manager, Zahrah—even though I’d given her the day off—for emergency reinforcement since so many people wereshowing up and actually making purchases. The only thing Derrick’s being at Enchantments seemed to negatively affect was my ability to concentrate.

“Let me guess,” I said to Dina. “Mama G.”

“You got that right. I think she called every single person in her contact list.” Dina took half the pile of capris I’d been folding and began neatly stacking them back into their rack. “Pretty good for business, though, huh? It looks like you have as many customers in here on the Monday after the big sale as you had over the weekend during the sale. And they aren’t all looky-loos.” Her gaze landed on the two older women by the door. “Well, maybe some of them are.”

“That’s all anybody is talking about?” I asked. “The fact that there’s some guy sitting in my shop? Nothing else?”

“What else would they be talking about?” Dina asked, puzzled.

She hadn’t heard. No one was talking about the freak hailstorm at the high school.

She’d find out about it eventually. Sal was bound to mention it. His own car might not have been damaged—faculty parking was in the back—but others certainly had.

So she’d find out. I’d tell her about Bluebell—and Billy—eventually. But not now. Too many people could overhear.

“And he isn’tsome guy, Jess,” Dina went on. She shook her head as she gazed at Derrick. “I don’t blame those two over there for staring. Why didn’t you tell me about those shoulders? And those cheekbones! You could grate parmesan on those, they’re so sharp.”

“Dina.” I turned to put the rest of the capris back where they belonged. “Do me a favor?”

“Anything.”

“Tell Zahrah to go ahead and close the register. I’ve got to start shutting this place down or we’ll never get out of here.”

Dina grinned. “Sure. But first tell me how it went with your new mentee.”

My visit with Esther seemed to have happened in a different lifetime. “It went fine. Can we talk about it later?”

“Sure. Meet me and Mark at Mama G’s for dinner.” Her voice rose to a teasing lilt. “You can bring your new boyfriend.”

“He’s not my—”

“That’s not what he told Mama G!”

“Dina. It’s not real. We’re fake dating. It’s all part of his plan to save West Harbor from sinking into a demonic rift.”

“Ooo-ooh, now there are demons?” She laughed with delight. “That’s great. But come on. Look at him. Somethingshouldhappen between you two. And I think he and Mark will really get along. They have a lot in common.”

I looked from Derrick—now openly glaring at the two women who’d been staring at him—to Dina and then back again.

“Because they both wear motorcycle jackets?” What else did dark-haired, Italian restaurateur Mark have in common with my blond, fake witch boyfriend Derrick?

“No!” Dina laughed some more. “Because they’re both mama’s boys.”

I was confused. “What do you mean?”

But before I had a chance to find out, the bell over the shop door tinkled. I glanced over to see that Derrick was holding open the door with one hand, while sweeping his other out toward the darkness that had fallen over the Post Road, giving his two fans a courtly bow.

“Sorry, ladies,” he said, in response to their surprised glances. “It’s seven o’clock. Closing time. Please, allow me.”

The women, blushing and tittering, left the shop. Once they were gone, Derrick closed the door, locking it behind them, thenflipped theCome In! We’re Opensign to the side that saidSorry! We’re Closed.

“Finally,” he said with satisfaction, locking the dead bolt. “I thought they’d never leave.”

Becca and Zahrah, behind the cash register, burst into giggles, but I gave Derrick a disapproving look.