Suddenly, out of nowhere Max pounced, knocking over a vial of cat’s claw, spilling it on the parchment paper.

Spilling it onto her incantation.

Oh boy!

Just then Kayla and Abby approached the counter. Flustered, Brianna ripped the page out and tucked it inside one of their store flyers, out of view. The bells over the door chimed and automatically drew her focus. Brianna glanced up in time to see a tall, dark-haired man exit the store. Strange. She hadn’t noticed him come in earlier. Pushing that thought to the recesses of her mind, she turned her attention to the crisis at hand.

God Max, what have you done?

Her pulse leapt in her throat. Perhaps it was just a legend and it wouldn’t come true, after all.

Then again, perhaps it would.

Her stomach knotted with equal measures of apprehension and excitement.

She scanned the store, searching for Max, but he was nowhere to be found. “Max? Where are you?” Brianna stepped out from behind the counter.

“I’ll ring in Abby’s purchase,” Kayla piped in, moving in to take Brianna’s place behind the register.

Brianna stepped out from behind the counter and perused the shop, hunting for her cat, hoping he hadn’t slipped out the door behind that tall, dark-haired man. Lately, Max seemed so restless, wandering off at will.

As she searched, that same tall, dark man lingered on the curb outside, drawing her attention. Oddly enough, as she angled her head for a better look, sparks shot through her body, and the fine hairs on the back of her neck began tingling in anticipation. Anticipation of what, she couldn’t be sure. Her palms grew moist, her pulse kicked up a notch.

The man twisted around to face her and shot her a panty-soaking smile. Her hormones rocketed to life like they never had before.