Valhalla Cupcakes (25 page)
Authors: Cassidy Cayman
“Of course you are,” Seda repeated.
“Leave,” Erik bellowed, pointing to the back.
Seda nodded meekly and scampered away. “It’s not like I don’t have plenty of work to do, trying to find the other men she cursed into paintings,” she called, finally leaving them alone.
Audrey buried her face in Erik’s shoulder, breathing him in in great gulps, grateful it was really him and not just his pillow. What had she been thinking?
“I’m so glad you came back,” she said, trying to get closer to him on his lap. “I’m sorry I sent you away.” She leaned back and smacked him in the bicep. “But why did you go if you didn’t have to listen to me anymore?”
“I thought you wanted me to go. You said you didn’t need me and it hurt my pride.” He made an embarrassed face. “And I do still need to listen to you. The thought of making you unhappy is like boiling oil being poured over my heart. I’d do whatever you said if I thought that’s what you really wanted.”
Audrey sighed and rested against him again. “We’ll have to work on that,” she said. “Because I can be pretty stupid, apparently. Let’s make a pact to be honest and discuss our feelings instead of randomly deciding we know what’s best for each other.”
“Agreed,” he said, wrapping his arms around her middle and pressing his lips to the tender spot below her ear.
“What will you do now?” she asked tentatively, ducking her face away so he couldn’t see how nervous she was about his answer.
“I guess I can’t still get my revenge?” he asked disappointedly.
“No!” she said, turning back to see the mischievous teasing in his eyes. “The real witch is dead, you’ll just have to be satisfied with that. And Seda did her best to make up for it.”
“Yes, I suppose if I hadn’t been cursed, I wouldn’t be the happiest I’ve ever been.” His eyes sparkled with intent and he glanced at the locked front door. “We should take advantage of the shop being closed right now since I’m sure we’ll have twice as many customers tomorrow.”
He stood up, pulling her with him and aiming her toward the stairs. She liked where his thoughts clearly lay and ended up pulling him along behind her, before what he said sank in.
“We?” she asked. “You want to keep working with me here in the shop?”
“Didn’t you say I had a talent for it?” He waited for her incredulous nod, continuing, “I was in a living death for five centuries, and finally woke up in Valhalla. How could I leave?” He paused in the upstairs hallway, playfully tugging at her hand. “Only one thing could make it more perfect.”
“What?” she asked. “Anything.” Whatever he asked, she was sure she would agree. He made her life more complete than she could have imagined in her wildest dreams.
“Perhaps I could finally have permission to go in your room?” He nodded at her tightly closed door.
She laughed and flung it open, holding out her hand for him to enter. “Our room,” she said. “And that’s too easy. I want to give you so much more.”
He took her in his arms and grinned down at her. “I’m sure I can think of something else.”
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