Kindling Flames: Granting Wishes (The Ancient Fire Series Book 5) Read Free

stopped in the first time.
    “Wow. If he offered me three wishes, I sure wouldn’t have picked waffles.” Sarah bit into the partially thawed waffle she’d pulled from the box.
    Cathren glared at her. “And what would you have wished for?” she snapped as she took what was left of the Eggos away from Sarah and tucked them back into the box. She wrapped it in the bag Patrick had brought them in.
    Sarah chewed on the cold waffle she’d managed to keep. “First of all, I’d ask for that.” She pointed towards the door where Patrick had left.
    Cathren’s mouth fell open at the girl’s suggestion. She looked the young woman over. Yes, she could see the spiky-haired teen wishing for the carnal pleasures a man like Patrick could provide. If his arms and hands were any indication of what the rest of him looked like, he had the potential to be a fabulous lover. Cathren blushed as her mind whipped up some tasty fantasies starring a less-than-clothed version of the man. “Sarah!” she reprimanded the younger woman. “He’s not right in the head.” There was no way anyone that believed himself to be a leprechaun could be sane.
    “But he’s right everywhere else.” Sarah’s voice took on a teasing note as she munched on the waffle.
    Cathren just sputtered in disbelief as she stormed away from the laughing goth girl. The ideas kids came up with these days astounded her. Sure, Patrick wasn’t bad looking, especially from the back, but she wanted someone that was stable. Not some crackpot who thought he was some kind of mythical creature.

 
    2
     
    “What’s up?”
    Cathren looked up from her beer at Mitzy. The woman’s short hair waved as she bobbed her head to the heavy beat of the music. Alchemy was hopping tonight. Cathren didn’t usually hang out with her, but they had become friends when Mitzy ran off some guys Cathren was having troubles with. “Not much,” Cathren said, unconvincingly. It had been nearly a week since Patrick had come into the shop. Thoughts of him would not stop playing across her mind. She had even started to have dreams about the man.
    Mitzy grabbed the chair across from Cathren and spun it around. “Oh, come on.” She plopped down into it and crossed her arms over the back. “You can tell me.” The woman smiled encouragingly.
    Cathren considered the trim girl patiently waiting for an answer. She didn’t look old enough to be in the bar, but she always seemed to be here. Cathren chewed on her lower lip as she tried to come up with an explanation the young woman would believe. “You ever meet someone that just confused you?” She started peeling the label on her bottle as she spoke.
    “Sure.” Mitzy grinned. “All the time.” The woman sniffed and turned to look at something.
    Cathren followed her line of sight to a young blonde in a black dress. The strap of a heavy-looking satchel ruined the line of her outfit. Seeing her party, the woman waved and went to a table where three other women were waiting.
    Mitzy watched her for a moment before returning her attention to Cathren as if nothing had happened.
    “You know her?” Cathren asked. She couldn’t help but wonder why Mitzy would be interested in her.
    “Nope.” Mitzy waved the issue away. “So who is this person who confuses you?”
    Cathren drew in a deep breath as she turned her thoughts to Patrick. “Some guy that came into our shop the other day.” Shaking her hand, she made the gold chain skitter around her wrist. She still hadn’t found a way to get it off.
    The motion caught Mitzy’s attention. Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Tell me about it.”
    There was a seriousness to her voice that Cathren didn’t like. “Well,” Cathren started, “I’m not sure what he was looking for when he came in, but I stopped him from touching a broken shelf. The wires on the light were touching the metal. Anyway, I think the guy was nuts. He claimed he was a leprechaun and I’d caught him.”
    Mitzy sat upright, shocked.