Bigfoots Don't Do Mini Coopers (Kate Storm Book 1) by Meredith Allen Conner Page B

couldn ’t help it. It started as a snicker then erupted into a full on belly laugh, complete with snorts. I could hear Aunt Tabs giggling like a maniac on her end of the phone.
    There are just moments when words escape you. And laughter heals the wounds.

     
    8. Not Again.
     
    We arrived home just before five. Aunt Tabs had wrapped the Spell Book in a purple scarf as if she had known I wouldn’t be able to face it right away. She probably did know. She’s no dummy.
    I let us into the apartment. Al trotted down the hall to the kitchen. I peeked in on Bigfoot. Sound asleep. Its breathing appeared to be more rhythmic and not as shallow. The odor was manageable.
    I set the book on my desk. Rubbed the silky material of the scarf. Fingered an edge.
    I wasn’t ready.
    I cast a concealing spell, left my office and joined Al in the kitchen. He sat on his furry butt in the middle of the kitchen floor, staring at my counter tops.
    He frowned up at me. “ Where’s dinner?”
    I glanced at my counters too. Usually at this time in our evening they held the white Styrofoam boxes of our dinner.
    I do not cook.
    Even my cauldron spells have been known to cause allergic reaction s in innocent bystanders. Sometimes permanent. That’s why I use my wand.
    That and the fact Aunt Tabs had confiscated my cauldron after the last incident.
    “Well, frog warts.” I wasn’t terribly surprised. I’d had a lot on my mind, but this could put a huge dent in my primping time for my date with Ash. “I left dinner at my office.”
    Al ’s little tummy rumbled. He grunted, “Let’s go get it.”
    Never mess with a true Italian mafia hit man and his food. Big Al takes his meatballs very seriously. I grabbed my purse a nd we headed back out.
    It takes about forty seconds longer to drive to my new office than it did my old one. Dominion is a VERY small town. Seven minutes later we arrived at Love Required .
    I dispersed my protection spell and unlocked the door. The manicot ti and spaghetti and meatballs were on the desk in the waiting room.
    I ’d taken two steps toward them, when Al began to growl. I gathered my magic and sent it out, but I couldn’t perceive anything dangerous. No assassins waited in one of my offices.
    I reach ed into my purse and pulled out my wand. “What’s wrong?” I didn’t question his Chihuahua senses.
    “ Blood. I smell blood.” Al tilted his nose higher into the air. He sniffed, deep angry snarls vibrating from his throat all the while. “It’s coming from your human office.” He started forward. “Stay behind me.”
    I followed, my wand - where he couldn ’t see it and take manly offense - well above his head and at the ready.
    I flicked on the light as we entered the office. Nothing appeared out of place. No smears of red anywhere I could see.
    Al moved to the door in the corner leading to the alley. The hair on his neck ruffled, ears twitched and tail quivered. “Outside.”
    He pla nted his body in front of the seam to the door. “Open it slowly and stay back.”
    I sent out more magic. Scanning the alleyway, behind trashcans and into every box and bottle in residence within five hundred feet.
    I still couldn’t feel anything harmful. But I’ve learned the hard way there are some creatures that are immune to my magic.
    I whispered the strongest protection spell I could think of, gripped my wand until my knuckles shone white, prepared to do the fastest Chihuahua snatch and grab I could manage, and unlocked the back door.
    Al had his nose in the crack the moment I eased open the door. I knew if I pulled too slowly he ’d squeeze his tiny frame through the opening and be outside - all alone - before I could stop him.
    I flung the door open with such force I had to stop it with my elbow so it wouldn’t slam shut on the rebound.
    “ Al, Stop!” I screamed. He skittered to an immediate halt. Sadly, it had nothing to do with my non-existent dog training skills and more to do with the body lying on