by Cindy Stark
He chuckled. “I’m surprised you haven’t already started your own investigation.”
The idea did appeal to her, but… “You’re always telling me to stay out of official police business, and I think I finally learned that lesson with Glenys. My involvement there could have cost me everything. My friends, my life, you. If I haven’t said it before, thank you for not condemning me.”
He tightened his arms about her waist. “I never would have condemned you.”
“But you told me witches have no place in Stonebridge.”
“Why would a person want to be where they’re not wanted? It only creates more chaos and heartache for everyone involved.”
She sent him an understanding smile. “But why should we have to be the ones to leave? It was our ancestors’ town back then just as much as the others. Stonebridge is a beautiful place. I can see why they wouldn’t want to go.”
He tilted his head to the side. “Point well-taken.”
The bell on the outer door chimed, signaling a customer. She smiled. “Possible first sale of the day. Gotta love that.”
He chuckled and released her. “Yep, gotta love it. I need to get back to work, too. After yesterday, we have our hands busy.”
Very true. “You work too hard. You make sure you take care of yourself. Don’t forget to eat.”
He grinned. “I wouldn’t mind if you invited me to your place for dinner one day this week.”
“Ah… I see. Playing my concern against me. Good thing I have a soft heart.”
“I love your heart.”
The center of her soul squeezed with happiness. “Sweet talking will get you everywhere. I’m eating at Cora’s tonight, but I’ll let you know if tomorrow or Wednesday works.”
He kissed her on the cheek. “Sounds wonderful.”
Together, they walked into the outer area where Hazel found Rosalinda studying the canisters of tea sitting on the counter.
Rosalinda wasn’t one of her regular customers, but she liked her. She’d stop by every other week or so. Hazel always enjoyed her sunny disposition and glowing aura. Not to mention the sales.
Peter tipped his head in greeting. “Morning, Rosalinda.”
She looked up with a bright smile. “Good morning, Chief.”
Peter placed a quick kiss on Hazel’s cheek and headed out the door.
Rosalinda grinned with mischief. “I’m so glad you two found each other. After his wife died, we all were so heartbroken for him.”
Hazel nodded in sympathy. “I can’t imagine how devastating it must have been. Did you know his wife well?”
She tilted her head from side to side, causing her salt and pepper hair to sway. “Not really. Sarah didn’t come to church often, but she liked to join the ladies’ quilting group. A pleasant, kind person. Such a tragedy.”
That was putting it mildly. “Peter said it was a hit-and-run accident.”
Rosalinda’s eyes widened. “That’s the official word.”
Questions popped into her head left and right, and she fought to dismiss them. She’d promised herself to turn over a new leaf and search for peace in life, not the drama that came from solving crimes.
She managed to hold off for two seconds before she thought she might die from curiosity. “You make it sound like there’s an unofficial version of what happened.”
Rosalinda slid a blue ceramic teapot toward Hazel, indicating she wanted to purchase it. “There have been rumors.”
“What kind?” she asked without hesitating at all this time.
She studied Hazel’s eyes for a long moment as though deciding whether she should trust her. “I’m not sure you’re aware, but I used to work for the church as its secretary.”
“I heard that outside a few moments ago. They’ve called you to come back.”
She nodded. “One day,” she said carefully. “I was walking toward Father Christopher’s office, and I heard him on the phone with someone. It was right after Peter’s wife died. The Father asked if ‘she’ was dead and then said good.”
Hazel’s jaw dropped. “Was he talking about Sarah?”
Rosalinda shrugged. “I don’t know.”
The older lady crossed herself. “He was not a good man, Hazel. I would never want to see anyone die, but I’m glad he’s no longer leading our church.”
“Me, too. That’s very disturbing to hear.”
“I asked him about it afterward, but he said he was talking about a deceased person in another town, and when he’d said ‘good’, he’d meant he was glad to hear the services went well.”
“But you don’t believe that was true.”
She shook her head. “Shortly after that, things escalated between us, donations went missing, and he asked the church to replace me.”
Now, Hazel understood why she’d gotten such a negative vibe from the priest. She’d learned not to ignore her senses, but that didn’t mean she could completely avoid awful people, especially not when being near him had helped to protect her own secrets.
Rosalinda expelled a breath and smiled. “Let’s forget about that nasty business. It’s in the past. I, for one, am ready to look forward to the future.”
“That sounds like a good choice.”
Rosalinda lifted her purse and set it on the counter. “The reason I’m here today is that I would like to purchase a teapot for the church and request a delivery of a large canister of your youth tea, the one with currants and apples that gives an old lady like me a spring to her step. Every two weeks, if you please. If I’m going to be working full time, I’m going to treat myself. A cup of your tea always brightens my mornings. Sometimes, I even have two.”
Hazel smiled with delight. “Of course. But I might suggest smaller canisters every week instead the larger one. Same price, and your tea will be fresher.”
Rosalinda lifted interested brows. “Is that so? All this time, I’ve been buying bigger canisters because I thought I’d save money. But, you’re right, the first cup out of the canister is always the best.”
Hazel pulled the book containing her delivery customers from under the counter and opened it. “Let’s see. I deliver that way every Tuesday. I could start tomorrow and would be there around eleven. Does that work for you?”
She clapped her hands together. “That would be perfect. Before I leave, I’m also going to sample a cup of Happy Day, if that’s okay.”
Hazel waved away her concern. “It’s always okay. That’s what I have my sampling station set up for.” She paused. “Hey, would you like to try something new I’ve been working on? I’m calling it Pineberry Bush Tea. It’s best served iced.”
“Sounds like fun. I’d love to.”
“Great. I’ll be right back.”
Hazel headed into her workroom, her mind buzzing with thoughts. Maybe she’d stand on the street corner and hand out samples of tea like Timothy had handed out hatred. That might encourage more business and good feelings toward mankind.
Also, she needed to figure out a way to ask Peter more details about his wife’s death without making it seem like she was meddling again. But she’d be remiss to not tell him what she’d learned. She’d just have to make sure he understood that Rosalinda had offered the information, and she hadn’t gone looking for it.
Nine
Hazel locked up the teashop just after seven that evening and headed down the cobblestone sidewalk toward Cora’s. Up until now, the twinkling white lights strung up in the trees had been turned off since Christmas, but the town had relit them to add ambience to the upcoming summer season. Strolling down the sidewalk with tiny white lights glowing overhead like stars as a soft balmy breeze caressed her skin soothed her soul and erased all stresses of the day.
This was why witches stayed in Stonebridge. Despite its turbulence, the town carried a deep abiding peace in its soil and trees, and that intangible gift soaked into people’s souls whether they realized it or not.
The curse of being Clarabelle’s offspring might have been wh
at brought her here, but this was why she stayed. With all this beauty, it was hard to see living in Stonebridge as a curse.
Halfway down the block, an unwelcome anomaly screeched across her serenity like a needle on a vinyl record. She halted in her tracks, searching for the source, as familiar angst and heartbreak surrounded her.
She surveyed the area and then spotted him standing across the street watching her. She closed her eyes and launched a desperate prayer to the Blessed Mother to save her.
When she lifted her lids, she found Victor Black strutting across the street like he owned it. Taut muscles stretched with each step, and confidence radiated like it should from one of the most powerful witches along the eastern seaboard.
He stepped onto the sidewalk next to her, ice blue eyes devouring her in an instant. “Hazel.”
She gritted her teeth as anger boiled inside. “What in the Samhain are you doing here?”
He raked a hand through long, dark bangs, pushing them over top of his head. “Your mother sent me.”
Disbelief exploded inside her. “Say that again.”
That woman might have birthed her, but Hazel wasn’t above hexing or disowning her.
One side of his mouth tilted upward in the sexy grin that used to leave her weak in the knees. “Your mom. She was worried that she hadn’t heard from you.”
Seriously? She couldn’t believe she’d spaced her weekly email letting her know she was fine. “I missed one stupid email. She didn’t need to call in the cavalry.”
“Cavalry, huh?” He nodded at what he perceived was a compliment. “And it’s been two weeks since you’ve emailed, not one.”
She clenched her fists. Out of all the people her mother could have sent, she’d picked the worst. She knew her mom hadn’t wanted her to break up with Victor, but Hazel had also avoided telling her all the ugly details.
“She could have called.”
He shrugged, and she wished she could wipe the cocky smile off his face. Maybe Clarabelle’s book had a spell for that.
“You know how she worries. I think she wanted firsthand knowledge that everything was well with you.”
She pointed an angry finger at him. “First off, asking you to see to my well-being is laughable, and second, I’m a grown woman capable of taking care of myself without having my mother check on me every two seconds.”
He shook his head, his expression suggesting she was overreacting. “Come on, Hazel. You know I cared about you. I still do.” He placed a hand over his heart. “Deeply.”
“No.” She shook her head vehemently. “No, no, no and no! You lied to me, and you cheated on me.”
“I didn’t lie. I just didn’t tell you everything. I didn’t want to hurt you.”
She couldn’t believe her ears. “You were with another woman.”
He reached for her, but she stepped back and held out her palms toward him. “There were no feelings involved,” he said.
She stared in stunned disbelief for several long seconds and then inhaled a deep, fortifying breath. “Get out of my life and out of my town. Now.”
His eyes pleaded with her. “Hazel… Be reasonable.”
“Now.” She pointed south down Main Street. “Get on whatever broom you rode here on and disappear from my life forever.”
“It’s a Harley,” he said with a grin.
She growled and shook her head. “Leave. Just leave.” She turned and marched toward Cora’s without giving him a backward glance.
Hazel jerked open the door of Cora’s Café still fuming. She didn’t know if she was angrier at her mother or Victor.
She glanced about the café but didn’t spot Cora.
Bertie, Cora’s new server, greeted her with a warm smile. The older, sturdier lady might not provide the customers with the same eye candy as Belinda had, but she doubted she’d take advantage of senile old men, either.
“Hey, Bertie. Have you seen Cora? I’m supposed to meet her here.”
Bertie tucked a pencil behind her ear. “She stepped out to drop off an order two doors down. Told me to tell you she’d be right back. Why don’t you take a seat, and I’ll bring you a drink?”
Hazel smiled and allowed the woman’s friendly attitude to erase some of her anger. Not all people in the world were obnoxious like her mother or jerks like Victor.
“That would be lovely. I’ll take ice water, please.” That might help cool off her insides as well.
Bertie dropped off her water. Hazel lifted the glass to drink and spotted Lachlan, her favorite person from the bank, walking through the door. He glanced about, met her gaze, and headed in her direction with a friendly smile.
Beautiful blue eyes peered at her through dark glasses. “Hey, Hazel. Have you seen Cora?”
She checked her watch, noting that ten minutes had passed already. “She’s missing in action. I’m waiting for her, too.” She opened her hand to invite him to sit.
He slid onto the opposite side of the booth. “That’s right. She said you were coming here to have dinner with her.”
Hazel lifted her brow. “You and Cora seem to get along well.”
He smiled and nodded. “We have some great conversations.”
Only conversations? Hazel hoped it might turn into something more. “Heard anything on my loan for the house on Hemlock yet?”
He narrowed his eyes in thought. “Uh…I think it’s in process. Everything is a disaster. The bank ran so smoothly when Glenys was in charge, but now that she’s gone, auditors have discovered missing money, fake accounts and all kinds of weird stuff they hadn’t noticed before. We’re working to get things back in order.”
Magic, Hazel assumed. Glenys had probably used what she had to work things in her favor.
Feminine laughter drew their attention to the front door, and Cora walked in with Victor right behind her. Cora’s cheeks were flushed, and Hazel was sure she’d missed the predatory look in Victor’s eyes. “You are the biggest flirt I’ve ever met.”
Victor glanced over Cora’s head and sent Hazel a crafty smile.
Deep anger rumbled like a volcano. If he thought flirting with Cora would make her jealous, he’d have to think again. She turned her attention to Lachlan who also watched the public display with irritation and suspicion shining from his gaze.
“Who’s that?” he asked Hazel without taking his eyes off Cora.
Her sigh was heavy enough that it drew his attention. “That would be my ex-boyfriend. My mother sent him from Boston to check on me.”
His look hardened. “He needs to get out of Dodge. Today.”
“That’s exactly what I told him.”
More laughter and teasing drifted their way, fueling Lachlan’s anger until Hazel feared he would combust. She cursed her bad luck and stood. “Will you excuse me?”
He grunted in answer but didn’t take his gaze off the flirting couple.
She strode up to them, and Cora turned to her with a smile.
Hazel shook her head in answer. “This man that you’re flirting with is one of the worst scoundrels this side of England. I’d suggest you run as far as you can.”
Cora’s expression turned shocked.
Hazel didn’t wait for her reply but gripped Victor’s forearm as hard as she could and pulled the leech away from her best friend. “We’re leaving.”
Victor grinned. “Bye, Cora. I’ll catch you later.” He walked happily alongside Hazel until they were outside.
She rounded on him. “What do you think you’re doing?”
He shrugged. “Chance meeting between me and Cora. I’d just gotten on my bike when she walked by. She seemed appreciative of what I have to offer, so I asked her if she’d like a ride.”
“And she said yes?” Was her friend insane?
“It was only a little trip around the block, but I didn’t mind having her—”
“Stop!” Hazel yelled over his words. “I don’t want to hear what you thought, and I never want to hear you talk about or see my best friend a
gain.”
He flashed the dangerous smile that she’d once thought so attractive. “Best friends, huh? Maybe we could—”
“You disgust me, and you need to leave.”
He turned his palms upward and shrugged. “Can’t. Not until I’m sure you’re okay.”
She gestured to her body with a dramatic sweep of her hands. “I’m standing right here in front of you. I’m obviously okay.”
He raked the hair off his forehead. “Yeah, but there is that little issue about those in town who might hurt you and some of the other witches. I can’t report to your mother until I know you’re safe.”
He knew far too much for being in town such a short time. “How did you hear about that?”
“Let’s see.” He turned his gaze skyward. “The police had you in custody when I first arrived, questioning you about a murder. Uh…there’s a maniacal dude who works at the library who thinks he can wipe out our kind. Do you want me to continue?”
“Wait,” he said before she could give him a piece of her mind. “You’re also dating the police chief. Is that right?”
She pasted on a pretty smile. “That’s right. I am. And he treats me much better than you ever did.” She sensed her barb hitting home and took pleasure in it.
Victor narrowed his gaze, and Hazel relished the irritation building in him. He never had been able to hide his feelings from her. “Does he have powers?”
She wasn’t about to let Victor downplay Peter’s value. “He can kiss better than anyone I know.”
The darkness surrounding him grew to a point that left her anxious, and she decided to cull the insults. The last thing she wanted was an angry, jealous man on her hands who was highly skilled with magic.
He curled his lips back into a dangerous smile. “I was referring to his abilities as a witch.”
She met his gaze directly. “No magic.”
The intense air around them settled. “And you’re happy with that?”
“Victor, what do you want? It’s obvious I’m fine. I have friends here, including witches, that look out for me. I don’t need you to protect me.”
“He’s not going to make you happy like I can.”
