Chick with a Charm Read Online Free PDF Page A

it is—a rowdy bar. The mirrored ball might not be such a bad idea. I’m thinking balloons and streamers, and maybe a few tiny illusions.”
    “Ready to shake up those in-laws, after all?”
    Anica shared a conspiratorial smile with Lily. “Yeah, I am. They’ll never guess what’s going on, anyway.”
    “Nonmagical people never do.” Lily savored the moment of witchy bonding, but it soon passed and Lily could see the wheels turning as her big sister circled back to the subject that had brought her over here in the first place.
    Anica took another swallow of her ’tini. “Dorcas told me that if you fail to consummate the union within twelve hours, the spell simply wears off.”
    “ Consummate the union? Ugh. It sounds like something you’d need rubber gloves for.”
    “You can joke about it if you want, but the bottom line is that you can’t have sex with him.”
    Lily blew out a breath. “And waste all that work I put into the elixir? Aren’t you curious about whether it works or not?”
    “Sure I am, but not at the risk of—”
    “Here’s an idea. I’ll just keep him for the weekend. Then I’ll let the spell wear off. How’s that?”
    “No good. He’s a cutie-pie, and I’m guessing once you shag him you’ll want to keep it up. That will make the spell grow even stronger, so it’ll take a long time for it to wear off. It’s much better if you don’t get started down that path in the first place.”
    Lily went back to washing glasses. She had to concentrate, because when she was high on magic she tended to break them. “Easy for you to say.”
    “Hey, there’ll be a bunch of single guys at the engagement party. You could meet someone.”
    “I’ve already met someone. I think Griffin and I could turn out great together.”
    “All the more reason to let the spell wear off!” Anica reached across the bar and clutched Lily’s arm. “Seriously, Lil. What if he’s your one and only? If you start out this way, you’ll always wonder if it’s the spell or if it’s real.”
    Lily dropped a glass in the sink and it broke.
    Anica released her arm immediately. “Hades, did I make you do that?”
    “Sort of. Not really. It’s what happens when I’m a little jiggy because of the magic and I don’t concentrate. And what you said . . .” She sighed. “I suppose you have a point.”
    “I do. Watch yourself with that broken glass.”
    “Right.” Lily carefully fished out the broken pieces and threw them in the trash.
    “I just don’t want you making a huge magical mistake like your big sister. Learn from my error and let the spell wear off. I know Griffin turned you down for the coffee date, but some time’s gone by. Try again. Invite him to the engagement party.”
    Lily wiped her hands on a towel. “Maybe I will.”
    “Without benefit of the spell.”
    Lily was torn. To take Anica’s advice or not? That was the question.
     
    Within an hour, Griffin’s mellow sense of well-being had disappeared. He paced his apartment, unable to settle down to anything. He nuked a frozen pizza and tried to watch TV while he ate it. The remote got a workout, but in the end he turned off the TV.
    He wanted . . . something. After searching the refrigerator he decided it wasn’t food he craved. A survey of his liquor cabinet told him it wasn’t booze, either. None of the books on his shelves sounded interesting.
    As the minutes ticked by his restlessness grew. He hadn’t been to the zoo in years, but he remembered going as a kid and watching a male lion pace endlessly in his enclosure. Griffin felt like that lion.
    There was no reason he should, though. The lion had been trapped behind bars, but Griffin was free to go wherever he wanted. He could go to the gym, for example, but that didn’t appeal to him, either. A run, though—that sounded better. He changed into sweats and a T-shirt and left the building.
    He was cold at first, but in about three blocks he was feeling just fine. Moving was the