Never Marry a Warlock (5 page)

“You didn’t ask.”

I held back my tears. “That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t tell me.”

Jeff tried to hold my hand, but I didn’t return the pressure. He continued with a diatribe of excuses. “I’ve been traveling among mortals for a while. I haven’t met up with a witch for a while. It has been some time since I’ve been in the States. In fact, it was during a fierce battle that I last saw Rich. We were on the same side if that helps any.”

I was still fighting the floodgates. I was so near the edge. “I feel so betrayed. I wouldn’t have done anything had I known you were Rich’s friend. I wasn’t trying to get revenge. I’m just trying to sort myself out.”

“No, don’t cry, Cat.” He gripped my hand more to get me to focus. “I really have wanted to be with you the last few days. Maybe there is a reason we met when we did. It almost seems like fate.”

A sniff came out before I could stop it. “All right. I believe you.” Another sniff made it dab time. I let go of his hands to dab a napkin at the corner of my eye. “And somehow, I think we’ve avoided a pretty nasty spell battle.” I had to look at the positive. There wasn’t going to be any toasted Jeff.

“Well, if I know Rich, he’ll find some way to stab back. It will just be when we least expect it. I wouldn’t let my guard down yet.”

“Right.” I noted the fact that he’d said “we” and took a deep breath. I had to put my big girl panties on for this. Besides, I was free of Richard. This was an official move-on moment. I looked across the table at Jeff, with his blue eyes, blond hair, and incredible body. Could I fall in love with a warlock again?

I grabbed his hands, still clinging to the napkin holding my tears. “I’ll take a chance if you will?”

He returned the pressure. “Anything is possible if you take a chance.”

I smiled. “Sounds like we’re ready for Vegas.”

We headed out the door of the diner, ready for whatever might come. It was time to take that chance. He turned out to be another warlock, but somehow I felt lucky.

I would like to thank many people for making my debut novella a reality. There were so many areas of support. One of the first was my writing board at Kboards.com in the Writers’ Café. The guidance that I found there was priceless. Hopefully, I’ll be able to give back as I continue down the writing journey that has started with this first novella.

Authors need daily contact to support our obsession with writing. So I’d like to thank my husband for his continued advice and for putting up with my OCD moodiness, and the huge number of Adam Ant and Adam Lambert videos that were played during the writing of this project. I want to thank my Inner Circle of friends and family that give me that boost to keep writing everyday. Just keep swimming.

The people involved in getting a project turned into a finished novella are key. I want to thank my editor Shelley Holloway who greeted the news that I was going to try romance novels as a new direction as a “You go, girl” moment. To Melody Simmons for designing a cover that matched the scene perfectly at the start of the story. It was uncanny and spectacular all in one instant. To Lisa Frogjourney and Trish McDonald for beta reading through earlier drafts. Your feedback was invaluable.

And most of all, I would like to thank you, the reader, for making all this possible. I will endeavor to keep my nose to the grindstone and churn out more adventures for Catherine and fellow warlocks and witches. There is a whole underground world of witches evolving in my mind, and it’s centered in Vegas, baby.

Book two in the Beware of Warlocks series,
Never Fall For A Warlock
, will reveal what kind of trouble she gets into there. Be sure to look for it. For the latest information about new releases, visit my website and blog at:
http://marilynvix.com/