Jake ignored her words and gave her a tight hug before repeating this with Madison.

Running to the hall he shouted, “Rita Mae! Rita Mae! I’m going to be a firefighter!”

“But I thought you wanted to be a dog sitter.” Rita Mae entered the living room, sending her and Madison a questioning glance.

Smiling, Sherry said, “We’ll visit the local fire department sometime soon so that he can go on one of their kid’s tours.”

Madison beamed.

When Rita Mae had gone to the kitchen to prepare dinner, Sherry moved closer to Madison until their thighs touched. “That was pretty sneaky of you.”

Madison rubbed her neck. “Are you mad?”

“No.” She was much too happy at how Madison was treating Jake, despite being so busy prepping for her new job. On impulse, she linked her arm with Madison’s and rested her head on her shoulder.

Together, they leaned back.

Sherry sighed. It felt wonderful to be close to Madison like this. Too good.

Madison laughed at something on TV.

Sherry studied Madison’s profile before gazing to the TV as well. She also had to smile when the character of a comedy show got totally drenched in water, looking grim.

Madison placed her arm around Sherry’s shoulders and pulled her closer.

If she didn’t allow herself to think about what all this meant, this moment was perfect.

Her stomach felt like a ball of knots while she was waiting beside Tiffany’s desk to be led into her grandmother’s office.

Tiffany fidgeted with her pen. “Would you like to meet tonight for a—”

“I’m in a relationship now.” Madison stopped her attempt to hook up with her for the third time this week alone. “I’ve told you.” She wasn’t interested in Tiffany or any other woman. Any woman but Sherry. Her breath caught when she realized it to be the truth.

Tiffany leaned forward, offering a glimpse of her ample cleavage. “And I told you already that’s a reason to meet, not a hindrance.”

“You can let her in,” Grandmother Eileen said through the speakerphone, saving Madison from telling Tiffany off yet again.

Unnecessarily, Tiffany pointed to the office door. “She’s expecting you.”

Walking into her grandmother’s office felt as if she were on her way to her execution. She had been at the firm for only a couple of weeks, and so far, the decisions she’d been making seemed to be correct. So why did her grandmother want to see her?

“Sit,” Grandmother Eileen said when Madison had closed the door.

As soon as Madison sat, the witch opened some folders on the table and took her time reading and signing them.

Why was she playing her damn power game?

Finally, all the paperwork was signed, and her grandmother pushed the stack of folders to the side. She steepled her fingers on the desk. “You’ve settled in nicely?”

“Yes, Grandmother.”