Tuesday Tales: Writing Snow

Tuesday Tales is a weekly blog featuring diverse authors who post excerpts from their works in progress based on word and picture prompts. We’re a book hungry troop that enjoys reading as much as you do. Today our prompt is snow. We continue the story of Ivy and the new man in town, demon hunter Gavin. Of course her sisters are always central as well. Please visit the other fabulous authors at Tuesday Tales.

When they paused outside Uncommon Scents, he cleared his throat. “Thank you for showing me around town. I’ll phone you tonight if I may.”

Her hand on the doorknob, she half-turned to him, surprised. “Won’t you come in and say hello to my sisters?”

Churning hazel eyes met hers, bringing a delicious shortness of breath. “Forgive me. I must get back to my hotel and prepare some things.”

Her lips softened. “Later then.”

“Please give them my regards.”

“I will.”

“But you’ll keep what we learned to yourself for now?”

“You mean not tell my sisters that Mrs. Jenkins has a haunted store window?”

“Exactly. Until I can further research the matter and we know for certain what we’re dealing with.”

“All right.” She made a zipping motion over her mouth and then blushed at the juvenile act.

He seemed not to notice. “Ivy, no slipping down to Mrs. Jenkins’ store without me, is that clear?”

“Loud and clear. I have no desire to pick at that demon.”

With a satisfied nod, he left her, stepping off the sidewalk and crossing the road toward where he had parked the car. A cloud obscured the afternoon sun, making the day seem farther along than it was.

Sighing audibly, she went inside. Rowena was nowhere to be seen, but Shale had a good rhythm going as she worked a pestle over fragrant leaves. “Hi, sis. Long tall sexy had enough small town vibes for today?”

Ivy plunked her crossover bag on top of the glass covered gemstone display and let her eyes scour the ceiling in response.

Shale frowned. “Well, are you seeing him tonight or what?”

She shrugged. “He said he’d call.”

“Then he will. He strikes me as sincere.”

“It’s not like that. He’s here on business. Apart from that he doesn’t know I exist.”

Shale rested the pestle on the green onyx mortar and her eyes rounded to incredulous. “Doesn’t know you exist? Don’t be a dim bulb. The man looks at you as if you just emerged from a John Waterhouse wading pool.”

She laughed despite herself. “You can’t snow me. He thinks I’m a child.”

Shale’s curls bounced as she shook her head. “No. He doesn’t. Maybe he’s concerned he’s a few years older than you, but believe me, he sees you as a woman fully grown. Or maybe a witchy nymph.” With a grin she tossed a pinch of fragrant oregano in her direction. “Begone ye sorceress who hath bespelled the great Sir Gavin, the honorable knight come lately to our castle abode.”

Ivy’s humor returned, as she gave into the sisterly play. “Waste our herbal store on knights and faux creatures, will you? I’ll see you in the moat for that, Lady.” She eased a bottle of water from her bag.

I hope you enjoyed the snippet based on the word prompt snow. Thanks for stopping by. Please visit the other fabulous authors at Tuesday Tales.

Cheers & Happy Reading!
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic in Romance