Yule Be Magical (Familiar Kitten Mysteries Book 8) by Sara Bourgeois (popular novels TXT) 📗

“What are we going to do?” I asked.

“We’re going to get out of here before he catches us,” Thorn said before peering out the window again. “It looks like he’s going around back. He’s probably seen my cruiser. We’ve got to slip out the front and make a break for it. You ready?”

I hastily grabbed the piece of paper in front of me on the dining table and shoved it into my purse. At the same time, Meri darted over to me and hopped inside.

“Yeah, let’s go,” I said.

Thorn and I moved quickly to the front door. I could hear Jeremy pushing the back door open as we ran out the front. Thorn quietly pushed the front door closed, and I waved my hand over the deadbolt to lock it. Jeremy would never believe that someone had escaped out the front if it was locked from the inside.

Once it was done, Thorn took my hand and we sprinted off in the opposite direction of his cruiser. “We’re going to have to take the long way around,” he said as he pulled me forward.

As soon as we were out of any possible line of sight from the house, we slowed down to a casual stroll. It was better not to draw attention by running like we were doing something wrong.

I swear I didn’t really breathe again, though, until we got back to Thorn’s cruiser and did not find Jeremy waiting for us. “He might not have seen the car after all,” Thorn said with relief.

“Either that or he thinks you’re visiting someone around here and is minding his own business,” I said. “Since he didn’t bust us inside the house.”

“That sounds like him,” Thorn said. “Jeremy’s a good man.”

“He’d arrest us if he caught us,” I said. “And it would all be for nothing. This tow truck receipt is for the early morning hours of the day Pepper died. Kurt couldn’t have killed Pepper because his car was broken down between here and what I presume is the city where his son lives. Maybe not, but either way, I seriously doubt it was him. We risked arrest for no reason.”

“He’d arrest you,” Thorn teased. “I’m not sure what he’d do with me.”

“Probably get you fired after he arrested you,” I said. “Maybe you shouldn’t be enabling my shenanigans.”

“I think you forget sometimes that I was friends with your family long before I met you, Kinsley. I know you witches and your morality are a little different than mere humans. I accept that, and sometimes, I think that I might even agree with it. What I’m saying is that I don’t feel bad and neither should you. Jeremy wanted me off the case for propriety’s sake, but he’s not solving it. I know you must have your reasons for wanting to help, so I’m helping,” Thorn said.

“I love you,” I responded. “I appreciate it. I really do, but what I’d like right now is some dinner. Preferably something that I don’t have to make.”

“I’d offer to take you into the city so that we could dine at a fancy restaurant and then spend the night in a five-star hotel, but I have to be at work in the morning. Unfortunately, I’ve used up most of my vacation time and the department still needs me even if I’m not working on the biggest case,” Thorn said. “We’ll have to figure out a honeymoon soon, though. I want to take you away for a while. Oh, and what about the dog? He slept with me on the sofa the other night, but you’re not home much. How is that working out?”

“The house takes care of Tangerine,” I said with a shrug. “His bowl always has food, his water dish is always filled with clean water, and either the house lets him out into the yard or cleans up after him. I should spend some more time with the little guy, though. He’s just been so quiet. Always napping or chewing on a bone when I’m there. I feel bad because I think I’ve forgotten a couple of times that he’s even there,” I said.

“Well, I’ll help you with him. Maybe he’d like to run with me in the mornings. If his little legs can keep up. Not that I run that fast…” Thorn said and laughed. “Anyway, which of Coventry’s fine dining establishments would you like to choose for your wedding night dinner?”

“Let’s go back to the place where you asked me to be your wife,” I said as we got in the car. “And just hope that nobody tries to die this time.”

Chapter Nine

Bella Vita had been completely remodeled, and in addition to that, it was decorated sumptuously for Christmas. Twinkling Christmas lights hung from the ceiling, and there was fluffy white garland everywhere you could think to hang it. The owner had also removed a couple of tables from the center of the dining area and put a massive Christmas tree in their place.

“Can we sit near the tree?” I asked the hostess.

“Sure,” she said. “Right this way.”

“I thought you didn’t like all this stuff so early,” Thorn said. “I thought for sure when we walked in, you were going to roll your eyes and want to go get a burger.”

“I’m warming up to it all,” I said. “I don’t think I’m quite ready to decorate Hangman’s House this early, but this is beautiful.”

Our waitress came around after a few minutes, and we ordered filet and lobster tails. She pretended not to notice Meri’s head sticking out of my bag under the table. Whether that was because she liked cats or because he used some sort of magic on her, I’ll never know.

Thorn and I chatted about his day, before he helped me break into Kurt’s house, and I filled him in on Ursula’s departure.

“So, you’re going back to work then?” he asked before taking a sip of his beer.

“I am,” I