She scowled at him. “That was to help somebody.”
“You mean the guy you pushed into the water and almost killed? The one we had to convince not to press charges against you?”
“He was trying to kill himself.”
“He was a tourist taking a picture. Or didn’t you notice the camera? And the wife? And the kids?”
“I was just trying to help.”
He smiled. “I know, and that’s what I adore about you. You’re always helping people. But you got to realize that some people just don’t want any help. Even if it’s from a hot blonde.
Realize that and you’ll save yourself a lot of trouble.”
She frowned. A change of subject would be a good idea.
“Where’s Claire?” she asked. “Aren’t you two joined at the hip?”
Reggie seemed to back away a bit at the mention of his girlfriend’s name. “Oh, Claire? My
Claire? She’s . . . she’s around.”
“I’m sure she is.”
His eyes got big. “You’ve seen her? Where?” He looked around nervously.
Val stared at him. “Oh no. What did you do this week to get her mad?”
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly so she could see a puff of frozen air appear as if he were smoking a cigarette. For a second it reminded her of Nathaniel.
“It was a total misunderstanding,” Reggie said.
“What was?”
“She thinks I cheated on her.”
“Oh?” She raised her eyebrows. “Why would she think something like that?”
He rubbed the side of his face, a nervous gesture, and looked away.
“You didn’t,” Val scolded. “You cheated on Claire? How could you?”
“I didn’t cheat. Not technically, anyhow.”
“Not technically? What does that mean?”
“I was at the casino.” He gestured with his head toward the direction of Casino Niagara. “I’d had a few beers. I won a hand of blackjack and I sort of gave the dealer a big kiss. Tongues may have been involved.”
“You kissed a blackjack dealer.”
He looked sheepish. “Got her number, too. But I’ve already thrown it away. I never would have called her. It was just one of those things.”
Val took a deep breath. “Well, that sounds fairly harmless. Just a mistake.”
“Harmless if Claire’s friend hadn’t been walking past. Told her everything. Embellished some stuff. Now she wants to kill me.”
She shook her head. “You really shouldn’t have kissed the dealer.”
“But she was so hot.”
“You’re not helping matters.”
“I’m a rat. I’ll admit it. When I’ve got a good thing, I’ll always do something to screw it up.
And Claire is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“You need to tell her that. Apologize. Take her out for dinner. Fall to the floor and beg her forgiveness.”
Reggie shook his head vigorously. “No way. I’m not seeing her until she’s calmed down.
She’s a witch.”
Val rolled her eyes. “You’re the one who played kissy-face with a blackjack dealer and she’s the witch? Sure, that sounds like a fair assessment.”
“No, I didn’t mean it as an insult. She is a witch. Like ‘eye of newt’ witch? She has a ton of books on the subject that make me very nervous. If she finds me in her current state of mind .
. . well, let’s just say I prefer my genitalia in its current configuration.”
“Claire is a witch?” She was surprised Reggie seemed ready to believe it—full-fledged humans rarely accepted oddities unless they were shaken right in front of their faces on a regular basis.
The fact that Claire may or may not have been a real witch didn’t scare Val in the slightest.
There were more paranormal elements in the earthly realm than most humans knew about. In fact, there was a special section of Heaven where witches and other non-evil creatures like werewolves went to after death. The angels called it the “Hair and Scare” area, but just among themselves. Besides, most witches were very salt-of-the-earth and do-no-evil gals. No green faces and broomstick-riding. At least, for the most part.
Although thinking her boyfriend was a cheater might make any girl go a little green in the gills. Broomstick optional.
“Witchcraft is her latest hobby,” Reggie said nervously. “She’s been buying candles like crazy lately.”
“Scented?”
“Some.”
“Then I don’t think you should be out in the open like this. You should probably hide.”
“Yes. Hide. I’m going to go hide now. At the casino.”
“I’ll see you back at the motel later.”