Krystal grimaced. “I’m working. See, yesterday I switched the evening shift with Valerie, so we could go out last night. That’s why she’s not exactly giddy this morning.”
Devin nodded in understanding. “You did blame me, right? I would hate that your friend was upset with you.”
She waved it off. “Oh, don’t worry. I totally blamed you and Alexa.”
“Why Alexa?”
“It was her car that had the brake light out.”
Devin chuckled. “I should thank her, then. That brake light gave me an excuse to see you again… So there’s no way I can get you alone tonight?” he asked again.
Krystal frowned and it might as well have been like someone broke her favorite toy. “Not tonight anyway.”
“Tomorrow then? Are you working in the evening tomorrow?”
It sounded desperate, but Devin was. He enjoyed her company more than what was logical and he had been bashing his brains in trying to figure out why. Maybe a few more dates and he would come to understand.
“Tomorrow is Goldcrest Cove’s annual Fall Harvest Festival. It starts at ten in the morning and goes right on until nearly midnight.”
Devin sighed and snapped his fingers. “Damn, I forgot. That’s what this morning’s meeting was about. Half of the department will be making rounds at the festival.”
Krystal nodded. “Yeah, the police department sets up a booth every year and lets kids come by to pet the K-9 units. Are you going to be at the booth?”
That was one fortunate thing. He wouldn’t be stuck with the dogs all day. “No. Aaron and I will be walking around as security and directing the parking.”
Her smile returned. “Well, you can stop by our booth then. We’ll be giving out our famous hot chocolate. It’s always a big hit every year.”
“Seeing you at your booth isn’t exactly the same as getting you alone,” he said as he made a face.
She shrugged and a bit of her knitted sweater slid down further on her arm. “It’s the best I can do. Take it or leave it.”
Devin eased forward. “I’ll take what I can get. Including this.”
He pressed his lips to hers and she didn’t shy away as he might have expected. Instead, she eased into the kiss and let out a tiny moan that made his hard on press a little tighter against the front of his pants. If Krystal wasn’t careful, it’d bust through the zipper just to get at her. Her lips were warm, smooth, and delicious, just like they had been last night. If only he could kiss her all day long, then maybe he would be satisfied. Then again, he enjoyed that aching need for more of her. He never wanted it to come to an end.
Then, as if someone had blown the whistle on them, she jerked back and straightened up behind the counter, leaving him a little dazed.
“Not here,” she mouthed to him and Devin glanced behind him at some of the customers who had been watching the exchange.
He didn’t really care what they saw, but she had a point. This was a small town and word about their little kiss would spread through every sewing circle and school study group before long. Oh well.
“So, I’ll see you tomorrow then?” he asked as he pushed off from the counter and started to back away with his and Aaron’s coffee. Though he would have loved to stay in their little fantasy bubble all day, Devin did have a job to do and reality wouldn’t wait for a cop or a barista.
“As long as you don’t pull me over again,” she teased as she cast him one more simpering smile.
“I’ll try not to,” he said.
Just as he turned around, he caught sight of another woman walking right into him. She was too busy looking over her shoulder at her friend who was talking about something to do with the PTA meeting at the school that afternoon.
By the time he clicked his heels to a stop, it was too late. She collided right into him, jostling them both enough that he lost a grip on his two coffees and she dropped her own. All three cups went tumbling, their lids popping off and the hot contents spilling out.
“No!” he heard Krystal shout from the counter.
Devin and the girl stumbled backward away from the mess, and he had expected to feel the scalding coffee stain the front of his shirt and trousers. But, nothing. He looked down and the creamy, blended liquid seemed to be contained in one huge puddle on the floor. Not even the woman’s white blouse looked to be soiled by the accident.
He looked back to Krystal. One hand was extended toward them, while the other covered her mouth. Valerie and Alexa didn’t move behind the counter, but stared with wide eyes, their gazes shifting between their friend and the mess.
“I’m so sorry!” the woman exclaimed. “I’ll buy you another coffee.”
Devin turned back and gave her a reassuring look. “No, no. It’s all right. That was my fault too.” He hurried toward one of the café tables that had a napkin dispenser, though it was silly to think that a few napkins would clean up a mess like this. It was a miracle none of it even got on his shoes.
It just slipped out. Krystal didn’t mean to use her magic, but it just happened. Almost like a reflex. She looked behind to her friends, terror and apologies in her eyes. Valerie snapped into action and ran toward the cleaning closet to fetch the mop and bucket.
Alexa came to her side, a kind and grounding presence. “Are you all right?”
Krystal could only nod as Valerie rushed around the counter toward the mess. Did anyone notice? Everyone seemed focused on the two involved in the accident, rather than on her. At least she had the sense just to make the liquid fall away from Devin and the other customer, rather than make the cups levitate in mid-air. It could have gone much worse.
Devin glanced to her again as he helped pick up the empty coffee cups and she realized that they would need new drinks. On the house, of course.
She and Alexa moved in unison toward the coffee machines and took out a fresh to-go cup to pour for Devin.
“You’re shaking. Here.” Alexa took the cup from Krystal and she held up her hand to see that it was, indeed, trembling.
“Do you think they saw anything?” she whispered as Alexa took the carafe of black coffee and poured that first.
“I doubt it,” she replied. “It was smooth, but I’m surprised you did it. You get onto us just for using our magic to put the chairs up during closing time.”
Krystal groaned and covered her face. “I know, I know. It just happened. I didn’t mean to.”
Alexa ribbed her. “We all make mistakes, sis. Now, take this to your man.”
She let that comment slide. They didn’t belong to each other. They only had one fantastic, amazing, life-changing date. Did that mean they were a couple, or dating? Yeah, they just kissed in front of the whole coffee shop, so maybe they were. Nothing had really been agreed on, that was for sure. If her nerves weren’t so wracked, she might have tried to ask him for an answer.
She took a deep, steeling breath and turned to see Devin waiting at the counter.
“Are you okay?” he asked as she handed him his coffee. “You look pale all of the sudden.”
Krystal nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just sorry you lost your coffee and all.”
He shrugged. “It happens.”
“Alexa’s making Aaron’s espresso right now,” she said as she gestured behind her and hoped that he didn’t see the way her hands were still shivering. She hadn’t been this shook since the time she almost got hit by a car out on Johnson Avenue. She never neglected to look both ways again.
Devin looked like he was about to say something and then his partner walked up to the counter to interrupt. “What happened?” he asked. “I was in the bathroom.”
The way Krystal looked, he might have guessed someone was shot right there in her coffee shop.
“Just a little spill,” Devin answered for her, then went into explaining what had happened.
They both looked toward Valerie who was mopping up the coffee while the other woman in the white blouse, Jessica, continued to apologize profusely for causin
g her so much trouble. Like a trooper, Valerie wasn’t snapping at her like Krystal would have expected. Instead, she just patiently assured her that everything was all right. She made a mental note to charm the poor girl’s coffee, so she would chill out. Hell, Krystal needed her own latte charmed for the same reason.
She turned to check on Alexa and saw she was already done and making her way around to deliver the drinks. So much for doing a charm on the sly. Aaron took his coffee and turned to head toward the door. “Let’s run down to McRae’s before they run out of donuts,” he said to Devin before walking away.
Devin gave Krystal a look to convey that he really didn’t care to follow, but he had to. “I’ll see you tomorrow then?”
Krystal nodded and let out a long breath. “Tomorrow.” She managed to muster up a smile just before he walked out the door. She hated to see him go, but loved to watch that fine piece of man swagger out the door and down the sidewalk.
Valerie waddled toward the back door with the bucket of murky, sudsy water sloshing with each step. “Next time you decide to use magic,” she whispered to Krystal. “You can clean it up.”
Krystal pushed back her bangs and propped her hands on her hips without a word. She wasn’t about to get into it with her co-owner when another customer was walking through the door. As soon as she spotted his white collar and black jacket, she straightened a little behind the counter.
It wasn’t every day that the town’s preacher came walking into her shop. Mostly because he confessed that he didn’t like to be dependent on any substance, even coffee. Understandable. If he was walking into Perfect Books and Brews, it must have been for a good reason.
“Good morning, Father Frank,” Krystal greeted, putting on her best smile, so the man wouldn’t see the emotional turmoil she had just gone through. If there was one thing Christians could pick up on, it was a person in need of prayer. Though she could definitely use some, she didn’t care to burden others with her problems.
Though, by the way the preacher looked, he had problems of his own. Usually, there was a spry skip in his step that reminded her a lot of Alexa. Maybe that was something seriously religious people had in common. They were always so happy, so contented.
“Good morning, Krystal,” he said, a slight downturn in his voice. “How are you?”
“I’m doing just fine,” she lied. “Is everything okay?”
Krystal glanced to the chalkboard, knowing she hadn’t been keeping track on this busy morning.
Fridays and Mondays were always crazy. There were two tick marks and it wasn’t even noon yet.
Whoever decided to get dangerously close to their blessings quota would be hearing from her.
Father Frank rested his hands on the countertop and gave an unconvincing nod. “I’m doing all right. Though, to be honest, I am pretty tried.” He combed back a bit of his dark blonde hair from his forehead and looked to her with calm, sincere brown eyes that were always so filled with emotion. “I’ve been struggling with Sunday’s sermon all week.”
“Oh?” she asked, guiding her ponytail over her shoulder to cover up some of the skin she had been reserving for Devin’s eyes. “What exactly is the trouble?”
He pursed his lips and blew out his cheeks in a look of mild annoyance. “The good Lord gave us both parts of the Bible – the Old and the New Testament – because they are essential to one another. I’ve known that since seminary, but the Old Testament is so hard to base a sermon off of. Much of it is the history of the Jewish people, and a few books are reserved especially for old Jewish laws, so unless I take a story from one of the books of the prophets, it’s almost impossible for me to form a cohesive message. I can reference the Old Testament all week long, but sermons always seem to be just out of reach.”
Krystal nodded, though she had very little idea of what exactly he was talking about. All she needed to know was that he was struggling with coming up with his sermon. Sounded like he needed a good ole’ fashioned enthusiasm charm mixed with a little dose of focus to get the creative juices flowing.
“I’m sorry you’re having such a hard time. I can at least give you some coffee so you can have an extra zip of energy.”
He smiled and nodded gratefully. “Which is exactly why I’m here. I’ll have your house blend with some French vanilla cream.”
Krystal narrowed her eyes and smiled sweetly. “If I recall right, you liked two sugars, right?”
Father Frank pointed at her, his brows arched in surprise. “Good memory.”
“It’s all that coffee,” she said in a low voice as if it were some secret. In reality, she made a point of remembering everyone’s coffee of choice, especially when they would prove to be regulars. Though Father Frank wasn’t exactly a regular, she couldn’t forget the way he always wanted exactly two pumps of the sweet syrup for his coffee.
She turned away to start making it as he pulled out his thin billfold from his pants pocket. “Don’t you want me to pay you first?”
She waved him off. “It’s on the house. You do so much for this community already.”
Krystal was giving away coffee left and right this morning, but stroking the preacher’s ego might improve his confidence. She approached Alexa who was already pouring the coffee and leaned in close.
“I’m going to trust you with this one,” she whispered. “He needs help writing a sermon, so charm it with some enthusiasm and focus. Got it?”
Alexa seemed more than eager for the chance to practice and nodded. “Got it,” she confirmed.
When Krystal turned around, she was met with another unexpected guest coming through the front door. A great gust of wind swept in with Amber as she came tripping over the threshold, a box tucked under her arm and other hand gripping the handles of a shopping bag.
Amber, another witch in Goldcrest Cove, operated one of the few bed and breakfasts in town.
Known for her exuberant personality and lively sense of humor, her guests instantly fell in love with her. Out of all the hotels and bed and breakfasts in town, she had the highest return guest rate of anyone.
Krystal wasn’t so keen on the idea, but Alexa was convinced that she was a fairy or sprite in another life.
That would explain so much.
Her dark purple hair fell across her face and she mumbled out a few curses at the wind for messing with her. Like Alexa, she was far deeper into the wiccan religion than Krystal was willing to get, and she couldn’t help but wonder how this visit would go with Father Frank standing right at the counter.
Amber let the coffee shop door close behind her. She bent down low before whipping her hair back up with a toss of her head to reveal her dark, almond shaped eyes. The preacher had already turned to regard her with amusement, but as soon as the inn keeper saw the Christian man, she put on a big smile as if she hadn’t just let out a string of profanities.
“Good morning, Father Frank!” she exclaimed as she scuttled forward with her parcels. “I trust the church is doing well these days?”
Krystal pressed the heel of her palm between her eyes and winced. Not the brightest thing to say.
Father Frank laughed anyway and nodded. “Things are well, thank you. How’s your bed and breakfast?”
Amber invited herself around the counter and plopped her box on the counter next to Krystal. “Never better. Rose House is still the best rated bed and breakfast in town. I know because I checked this morning.”
Alexa joined them at the counter and presented Father Frank with his coffee as if she were giving him the keys to the city. “Here you go. One coffee, French vanilla creamer, and two sugars.”
He gave his nod and lifted the cup to the three witches as if to toast them. “God bless you fine ladies, and thank you. Have a good rest of your day.”
Amber made a silly gesture, touching her forehead with her fingertips and motioning to him like she were some Middle Eastern nobleman. “And you also.”
When Father Frank was out of earshot, Krystal gave Amber a light
jab in the ribs. “Why do you have to be so damn weird?” she hissed.
She held up her hands in a beseeching way. “What the hell am I supposed to say to him? May the force be with you too? I certainly can’t come back with a ‘blessed be’ or he’ll start in on some righteous Jesus talk.”
Alexa butted her hip against the counter. “I did that by accident and he didn’t seem to mind. He even smiled. Father Frank’s not the kind to shove fire and brimstone down your throat, really.”
Amber gave a helpless shrug. “Whatever. Listen, I need coffee. My guests this morning cleaned me out.”
Krystal crossed her arms and gave her a sassy look. “Then go to the store and get some.”
“I can get it cheaper from you. Besides, it’s good business. I tell them it’s your specialty house blend, they love it, and they come back to your place in the afternoon.” Amber pointed between them.
“I get them addicted and you’re the dealer. That’s how it works.”
She rolled her eyes and heard Valerie come struggling through the back door with her mop and bucket again. It was a chilly, windy day outside, but Krystal could see a light sheen of sweat on her forehead.
“Dumping out dirty water that difficult?” Alexa teased.
Valerie shot them daggers with her eyes. “No, but fighting off an army of cats to get through the alley is.”
Amber gasped. “You didn’t kick my babies, did you?”
Krystal’s eyes went wide. “Your little pride of cats followed you here?”
She flipped her hand at her dramatically. “Listen, they follow if they want. I don’t tell them to come with me. They just come.”
“Well,” Valerie growled, “tell your pride to migrate or I’m going to turn half of them into mice, so the other half will eat them.” She stormed off to put away the mop.
“She’s just cranky,” Alexa soothed Amber. “You know she’d never hurt your fur-babies.”
“Either way,” Amber said, turning back to Krystal, “give me my coffee so I can leave before that black storm cloud gets close to carrying out her threat.”
Krystal shook her head ruefully and filled the order, grabbing several pre-packaged bags of their house blend coffee grounds from the cabinets and dropping them in Amber’s box. She had a point. It was good business to keep supplying her with their product. That’s what the witches did. They supported one another, and just like Taylor cut her a good deal on the components for their famous hot chocolate, they would cut Amber a deal to keep her guests happy and peppy in the morning.
Bewitching Fire Page 8
