Chapter Twenty-five

The Hidden Dangers of Coffee Shops

RILEY

They were back in his car. Back to being stuck into a too-compact space together. Riley had better solve this case fast, or he’d lose his sanity.

The silence between them stretched, fast-approaching awkward.

Riley was frantically searching his brain for something harmless to say, when Mila beat him to it.

“I get it why we can’t accept refreshments from suspects,” she mused.

Riley turned to her with a raised eyebrow. “And why is that?”

Mila frowned adorably. “It wouldn’t be professional.”

“That’s not why I refused the offer. Coffee is hardly a bribe.”

“Why’d you refuse, then?”

“I just wanted to be rid of that woman’s company as fast as possible.”

“Oh, okay.”

“Why, you wanted to accept?”

“Maybe, I mean, the Potentilla Latte was great, but would you think me greedy if I asked to stop for another cup of coffee on the way?”

Would you think me greedy if I asked to kiss you now until the end of eternity? Riley thought and was never more glad for the beanie shielding Mila from all his improprieties. “Regular shop or witchy one?”

The good thing about living in a town like Salem for a wizard was that humans didn’t as much as raise an eyebrow if a coffee shop owner wrote on his blackboard a selection of wizarding drinks including dragonfire ale, unicorn’s milk, blackberry grog, starlight cider, batwing coffee, or eyes of newt bubble tea.

Humans who ordered one of these specials would get served regular spiced hot beverages, while the wizards and witches in town would get the real thing.

“Witchy,” Mila said. “I could do with the extra kick.”

Couldn’t they all?

***

The request for a coffee break had seemed innocuous enough when Riley had agreed to it. But he was fast learning that danger lay also in the most unsuspected places when Mila Bennet was involved.

Take an action as simple as drinking a froggucino. It was completely innocent in theory. But not when the foamy drink left a white mustache over Mila’s upper lip that begged to be licked off.

Before he knew what he was doing, Riley wiped it clean with his thumb, and then, not content, he sucked his finger clean.

And that wasn’t even the worst part.

The worst part was how Mila’s eyes trailed the gesture to his mouth and how, immediately after, her gaze snapped up to meet his. He could drown in that stare, drown in a pool of molten lava, given the heat he could read in her green irises.

Apparently, getting coffee with Mila Bennet was a big no-no. Like sitting in a car with her. Or having dinner together. No action, no matter how mundane, was safe around her.

“Sorry,” Riley apologized because he couldn’t just go and act like that and then pretend it hadn’t happened. “I don’t know why I did it.”

Mila’s features hardened with guilt. “We both know it’s the potion. I’m so sorry I’ve cursed you into being attracted to me, Riley.”

The only curse was not being able to act on that attraction. Riley hated the guilt on Mila’s face with an intensity that churned in his chest and replaced his heart with a swirling, raging black hole of regret. But letting her experience this momentary guilt was the lesser evil compared to the suffering and devastation the alternative would bring.

Still, he could try to make her feel more at ease.

“Hey, at least I’ve been bewitched by a beautiful enchantress with spectacular green eyes and long mermaid hair.”

She just gaped at him.

“You could’ve been an old hag.”

Now she scowled, working hard to contain the smile that was tugging at her lips. “With that love potion, you would’ve liked me even if I’d been an old hag.”

Riley shrugged. “I seriously doubt it.”

“Then you’re seriously wrong.”

“I’m rarely wrong.”

“You were wrong when you arrested me and my sister.”

“Technically, I wasn’t. You’d still violated the law, and I was just following procedure.”

“Then procedure sucks.”

“Careful, Miss Bennet, that sounded a lot like insubordination.”

She flipped him the bird. “And how’s this for insubordination?”

Riley threw his head back and laughed.

Mila pouted in response. “I’m so going to turn you into a toad.”

Riley gently grabbed her arm and leaned in to whisper in her ear. “Maybe we should stop discussing love potions and turning anyone into toads in a coffee shop full of tourists.”

Getting so close to her was clearly another mistake, as the scent of that maddeningly good coconut shampoo invaded his nostrils. On top of that, he could now perceive the slight tremor his whispering in her ear had sent down her body.

Riley felt his own body respond with a surge of desire, and he quickly straightened up, hoping to hide his reaction.

Easier said than done when the air between them had thickened, and become charged with an electricity that neither of them could escape.

Mila’s cheeks flushed a soft pink, and she bit her lip, clearly experiencing the same discomfort.

Riley stared at her mouth for a too-long instant, then forced his gaze away. Get a grip, man, he chided himself.

But he couldn’t, not while she was so close. The only effective solution would be not to be in Mila Bennet’s proximity, and that could happen only when they solved the case.

On that note, Riley proceeded to the coffee shop exit and held the door open for Mila. “Break over, Bennet. We have a loose wannabe murderer to catch.”

Mila rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress the smile that crept onto her face. She walked out, flipping her hair back. “Lead the way, Detective.”