Love Potion #9 by Claire Delacroix Read Free Book Online Page A

flashed briefly again and Mitch was confused to feel himself respond to her obvious pleasure. “So, you were already on your way! That’s wonderful!” She clasped his jaw in her hands and kissed him so quickly that Mitch didn’t have time to step away.
    He stared down at her, hearing his heartbeat thunder in his ears. She must be a nut. There was no other possible explanation for her behavior.
    Because Mitch knew that there was no such thing as witches, and certainly no such thing as spells that actually worked.
    â€œI guess I didn’t have enough faith, after all these years,” she confessed with glowing eyes. “I’m so sorry I underestimated you.”
    Mitch pushed a hand through his hair, not quite certain where to start in untangling this woman’s misconceptions. “Look. I don’t actually know you,” he said firmly but gently. To his relief, she didn’t interrupt. “I can’t apologize enough for my behavior - it was wrong.”
    â€œIt was perfectly right,” she breathed, then smiled again. “And that’s why you couldn’t stop yourself.” She nestled closer and clasped his neck, stretching to kiss him again.
    But Mitch evaded her touch as he frowned anew, disliking an intuitive sense that she had hit the nail on the head. “It can’t have been right,” he argued carefully. “Because I’ve never met you before in my life.”
    Her calm confidence didn’t waver, much to Mitch’s dismay. She arched one dark brow, as though amused by his protest. “Which particular life do you mean?”
    â€œWhat was that?”
    â€œJust because we haven’t met in this life, doesn’t mean we haven’t met before.” Her tone was surprisingly matter-of-fact. “You may not remember, but I certainly do.”
    She remembered all her past lives. Oh boy, loony tunes. Mitch should have paid more attention to that sign. There was no way he would be able to argue his way free of this one.
    â€œLook. Believe it, don’t believe it. We all make our choices,” he said lightly. “I’m your new neighbor and that’s it as far as I’m concerned. No past lives, no previous scores to settle, or bad karma leading to lives as cockroaches. I don’t do mumbo jumbo. One life is just plenty for me.”
    â€œSo very practical,” she teased with soft affection. “Why were you knocking on my door, then?”
    Mitch wished that knowing little smile of hers didn’t make him want to kiss her quite so badly.
    â€œMy stepmother has this idea that people who tell fortunes are perfectly sane,” he confessed. “I came over here to prove her wrong.” He didn’t finish the argument, he didn’t think he needed to and he didn’t want to be rude.
    But the lady didn’t seem to get his inference, which surprised Mitch. There was something in those eyes that made him think she didn’t miss much.
    Mitch pointed in the direction of the neon sign. “You would be the Lilith of Lilith’s Lovematches ?”
    Her sudden smile was dazzling, and she stuck out her hand in turn. “Lilith Romano: tarot card reader, matchmaker, small business owner, damn good cook.” She quirked a brow. “And perfectly sane, by all accounts.”
    She was charming, Mitch had to concede that. “Except for one small kink in the belief system?” he dared to suggest.
    Lilith laughed. The sound was rich and rippling, it made Mitch want to laugh along with her. “Speak for yourself,” she retorted.
    Mitch couldn’t completely stop his unwilling smile at her stubborn consistency. Nor could he refuse to shake Lilith’s proffered hand.
    It would have just been rude.
    But he wasn’t expecting her touch to send an army of little tingles over his flesh. The sweet recollection of Lilith’s kiss flooded his mind once more, his gaze dropped to her lips in