Charmed & Dangerous Read Online Free PDF Page B

Helen, run the place. Ms. Johnnie bakes all the pies fresh each morning and runs the front counter. Ms. Helen cooks everything else. They’re quite a pair.
    When you walk in, the delicious smells of just-baked bread and cinnamon assault your senses and you are overcome with the need to gorge. I wore my green cashmere sweater, and a pair of jeans that would allow me to eat whatever I wanted.
    Pictures of the women’s lives cover the walls. They were quite the lookers back in the day. Several of the photos have them sporting cheerleading outfits complete with pom-poms. And collectively they’ve been through eight husbands. All of whom are proudly displayed on the walls in various photos along with their children, grandchildren, and dignitaries who have made their way to Lulu’s.
    On a slow evening, after a few nips of cooking sherry, Ms. Johnnie and Ms. Helen have the place rolling with their tales about the president of the United States getting stuck in the toilet when it was out back, and Helen’s fourth husband who she divorced when she found out he was two years older than he’d said he was. Didn’t matter that they were in their sixties at the time. She thought she’d married a younger man.
    “Just you today, Bronwyn?” Ms. Johnnie, dressed in a lime green pants outfit, handed over a menu.
    “No, ma’am. I’m waiting for a friend. Oh, there he is.”
    Ms. Johnnie turned to see who walked in the door and put her hand on her heart. “Now that , darlin’, is a real man. Mmmmmm. Is that the new doctor?”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    “Is he your date for lunch?” She fanned her face. “I think I’m feeling a twinge of the vapors.” She never took her eyes off of him.
    “Um, well, it’s not really a date.” I tried to set the record straight. “More like a business meeting.”
    “Damn shame if you ask me.”
    Sam’s black hair gleamed in the sunlight pouring through the windows. How did he manage such a great tan in late February? He must have just come back from a beach holiday.
    I’m always jealous of people with tans. With my light brown curls, green eyes, and fair skin it takes a solid month at the beach just for me to turn honey colored.
    I introduced Sam to Ms. Johnnie and he charmed her socks off. We ordered the special, which included avocado turkey subs with Helen’s melt-in-your-mouth mashed potatoes.
    “Thanks for meeting me here.” He took my hand in his and my stomach clenched in sexual anticipation. My body heated instantly and I stopped myself from sighing.
    Ms. Johnnie brought him some tea and we released our hands.
    “I haven’t eaten here before.” He folded a napkin into his lap. “But I’ve heard wonderful things about the food.”
    “I look for any excuse to eat the twins’ cooking. I love this place.”
    “Rumor is, they’re something special.” He eyed the pictures on the walls.
    “And then some. Ply them with a little alcohol and you’ll get the entire history of Sweet, Texas, in one sitting.”
    “I’ll remember that.” He looked down at his hands. “There’s something I’ve got to ask.”
    Now what? “Okay, shoot.”
    “Really it’s two questions. Are you a high witch and can you read minds?”
    Where the hell had that come from?
    He held up his hand in a stop motion. “Wait, I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just…I think you’re pretty and I’m sitting here wondering if you already know what’s in my head. And I could feel the power emanating off you the other night. I’ve never met so powerful a witch, and I’m just curious.”
    I’d been so nervous about our lunch I hadn’t even thought about reading his mind. Wish I had. “Yes, I’m a high witch. I have the ability to read minds. No, I didn’t read yours.”
    “I’m sorry. Just curious.”
    “No worries. When I go out in public I usually put up shields because the noise gets to be too much. But I’m curious why you asked me about it. Most witches don’t read minds and I haven’t