A New Meaning to the Night

Chapter Seven: A Kiss Goodnight

Cori had no qualms about a free dinner whether she knew the invitees or not. As per her mother's very firm rule of thumb, she struggled through the seemingly simple recipe for a chocolate cake at the extreme amusement of Sam and they brought it with them to dinner.

"You sure that's edible? It wouldn't do to poison my new boss before I've even had a chance to start work."

Sam winced as Cori's elbow dug into her side right before they opened the door. "Shut up, you know I don't bake. You should have been the one to make it."

"I had a lot more fun watching you do it." Stepping smoothly away when Cori would've elbowed her again, Sam opened the door to the bed and breakfast and stepped inside.

Ann came scurrying in from the sitting room to the right with a bright and welcoming smile, "David, they're here and it looks like they've brought us a beautiful cake!" she called over her shoulder. "You must be Cori, welcome to Lucky, we're so glad you could make it."

Cori smiled back at the little old woman, instantly fond of her. "Thank you, and thanks so much for inviting us. The town seems really great so far."

Ann nodded, motioning for them to follow her through the house and to the back where she and her husband resided. "Sam told us you had an interview with Allen and Arlene at the hardware store. I saw Arlene at the store just today and she said they thought you seemed very reliable."

Surprised pleasure came across Cori's face and her smile widened, "Really? I thought it'd gone well, they said they'd give me a call."

"They'll call you sometime tomorrow, and you mark my words, you're hired." Ann glanced over her shoulder and gave Cori a wink as they entered her dining room where dinner was already waiting. "Make yourselves at home. David, come introduce yourself."

Obligingly, David came around the table and held his hand out to Cori with a smile that easily matched his wife. "Cori, is it? How lucky am I to be having dinner with three beautiful young girls?"

"Oh don't listen to him," Ann called out, shooting her husband a playful look of irritation. "He couldn't stop flirting if you held a gun to his head."

Cori and Sam both laughed as Cori took his hand. "Very nice to meet you. Thank you for inviting us over for dinner. Your place is beautiful."

"My Ann wouldn't have it any other way. Let me take that cake from you, it looks delicious." Relieving Cori of her dish, he disappeared into the attached kitchen and Ann urged them both to take their seats.

When David returned, they all began to fill their plates and the conversation flowed easily. David and Ann showed a keen interest in where Sam and Cori had come from, what they were going to school for (Mythology and Folklore, and Organic Chemistry respectively), and what made them decide to choose a school so far from home.

The decision to move to Nevada had been weighted heavily by Sam's desire to go there, and she'd never had any explanation as to why she'd chosen the place she'd chosen, only that she'd felt an odd pull to the location. Cori had never questioned her friend's desire, but since speaking with Damien, she suspected she knew what had called Sam to their current location. Though she couldn't say anything, she'd recently begun to worry that perhaps things wouldn't be as peaceful here as they'd all hoped when Sam's memories had been taken from her. Maintaining her smile, Cori reentered the conversation as they brought out her cake.

***

"She has a protection spell around the place," William observed, standing on the sidewalk just outside the property line. "We'll need to get her to invite us in so that we are able to cross it."