Spelled Kiss (Coven Corner Book #2)

by Charlotte French

  “Do what?”

  “Be…close to anyone.”

  “You’re close to your family.”

  “That’s different.”

  Sean smiled. And oh, Bryony’s stomach flipped. Not in anger this time. It was…something else. Something new that she hadn’t felt before. It was terrifying and thrilling but she hoped she never stopped feeling it when she looked at him.

  “Are you saying you’re backing down from a challenge?” Sean said. “That doesn’t sound like you.”

  Bryony stared at him for a moment. Even now, he was teasing her. But he had learned how to temper it, to make it good-natured instead of hurtful. It was soft around the edges with affection that he wasn’t afraid of showing anymore.

  “If you have something to say to me, Sean O’Hara,” Bryony said. “Spit it out.”

  Sean’s smile grew into a mischievous grin she knew all too well.

  “I dare you to kiss me, Bry,” he said. “And make it good.”

  Bryony fixed him with a long look. She grabbed him by the lapel of his coat and planted a firm kiss on him. She could taste his smile, as sweet as caramel and pumpkin pie. She could feel his hum of triumph as if to say, I told you so.

  Sean slid his fingers through her hair, gentle and light, curving around the back of her neck. His other hand settled at her hip, pulling her a little closer.

  Bryony faltered at first. This was new to her but she…

  She liked it.

  She slid her arms around Sean’s neck, drawing him flush against her.

  She didn’t kiss him to prove him wrong. She kissed him, nipping at his bottom lip with a smile, because she knew what she wanted now.

  And she had him right here in her arms.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  It was the first week in November with the crispness of frost lingering in the air, coating the trees in pale white crystals. Bryony huddled deeper into her coat, rubbing her mittens together.

  “I was thinking the kitchen could go here,” she said, outlining a box-shape with her hands. “So it would overlook the garden.”

  Sean sat beneath a giant elm tree, branches twisting and twining up toward the sky. A basket of leftover Samhain treats rested on the ground next to his knee. He pulled a thermos of hot apple cider out along with two sturdy earth-colored ceramic mugs.

  “What makes you think you’ll have a garden?” he said with a wry look. “I’m building you a house and you expect a garden, too?”

  “I’ll handle the garden. You just take care of the woodworking part with your brother.”

  “Yes, boss.”

  Bryony grinned and tucked her chin into the collar of her coat.

  “I like it when you call me that,” she said.

  “I bet you do,” Sean said with a laugh as he held out a cup of cider to her.

  She accepted it, wrapping her hands around the warmth it provided. She settled down on the ground beside Sean and cuddled into his side. He draped an arm around her shoulder with a kiss to her temple.

  After clearing things up with Sean, she had reconsidered her thoughts of leaving Pagan Posies. Instead, Naomi and Galen had offered a corner of the property for her to build on if she wanted it. A house of her own, whatever size and shape she desired, buried in the heart of the forest, surrounded by trees.

  That way, she could still be close to the family. Her siblings could spend the night with her when she wanted them or she could have the house to herself when she needed time to be alone.

  “Do you still plan to work somewhere besides Pagan Posies?” Sean said after a minute or two of silence.

  Bryony shrugged. “I think it might be good for me. I’ve worked here since I was nine.”

  “What will you do instead?”

  “Teach. I love my siblings but it’s nice to work with other kids for a change.”

  She reached out and took his hand into her lap, tracing the lines of his palm with one fingertip.

  “What about you?” she said.

  “I have no intention of leaving Posies.”

  Bryony poked him in the ribs as she looked up at him.

  “Didn’t you get the job just to be close to me?”

  “Keen observation, boss. Yes, I did. That’s true. But besides the perk of seeing you every day, I like the work.”

  Bryony fiddled with a loose button on his coat.

  “I would have thought you’d be bored with it. You know, after traveling the world.”

  Sean frowned at her, confused. “What?”

  “When you showed up at Wildemoor that first day. You looked like you’d been somewhere…” Bryony gestured vaguely. “Tropical. You were very sunburned.”

  The corner of Sean’s mouth tipped up in amusement.

  “Texas is hardly tropical. I was working at a cattle ranch. Hated every minute of it too.”

  “Why?”

  “Hot. Dusty. Dry. Smelled terrible.” He tilted his head back against the tree, exposing the line of his throat. “Always preferred the cool, damp forests of Wildemoor anyway.”

  Bryony leaned in and pressed a kiss to his throat where his pulse ratcheted up a notch.

  “Me too,” she whispered.

  In the distance, Seline screeched that dinner was ready. Sean huffed a laugh.

  “Is she still mad at you?” he said.

  Bryony rolled her eyes. “Yes. She thinks I stole her man. Her massive crush on you hasn’t faded one little bit.”

  Sean grinned at her. “Well, she’ll just have to get used to the fact that I love somebody else.”

  “SEAN! BRYONY! DINNER! WE’RE NOT WAITING FOR YOU!”

  Bryony and Sean stared at each other for a moment. Then they scrambled to their feet, grabbed their brooms and they took off into the air, racing each other back to the house.

  SNEAK PEEK:

  A CHARMED LIFE (COVEN CORNER #3)

  The open house at Windywings was always chaos. But Hazel liked it. She loved meeting the families, talking with the parents of her students and getting to know new kids who would be joining her classes when school started next week.

  Sky was there, serving tea from her Boiled and Brewed booth. A quaint amethyst ring sparkled on her finger. It had been no surprise when Sky had accepted Aiden’s proposal at Yule last year. Hazel had seen it coming the moment Sky and Aiden set eyes on each other.

  Bryony was there as well, with Sean in tow. They still pestered each other with little biting kisses and a gleam of competitive edge in their eyes.

  Bryony was showing a group of young potential students how to conjure a mushroom from a pot of dirt without a single spore to help it along. She was brilliant at earth magic and Hazel was thrilled that Bryony decided to sign on at Windywings as a full-time teacher.

  Sean placed his hand at the small of her back and rested his cheek atop her head. He closed his eyes with a soft smile, looking as if there was nowhere else he’d rather be than by her side.

  A pinch settled in Hazel’s stomach and she turned away. She had always thrown herself into her work and she rarely had time for a serious relationship. But she still caught herself pining for romance at the most inopportune and inconvenient moments.

  Someone cleared their throat. Hazel glanced up from her clipboard to see a man standing before her with a little girl at his side. He wore a plain gray t-shirt that clung to his broad shoulders well. The little girl had long dark hair and striking blue eyes. She glared at Hazel from beneath the wide brim of a witch’s hat.

  “Are you Hazel Aven?” the man said.

  “Yes. What can I do for you?”

  “I’m Nick Butler. This is my daughter, Phoebe. I’d like to enroll her for the school year.”

  “Of course. We’d be happy to have you. Just fill out this paperwork and bring it back on the first day of school. That would be next Monday.”

  She handed over a stack of papers.

  “Great,” Nick replied. “Phoebe and I love what you’ve done here—”

  “No,
I don’t,” Phoebe said, insulted.

  “Phoebe,” Nick warned. “Be nice.”

  She pulled her hand away from him and crossed her arms.

  “I don’t want to go here,” she said. “I want to go to a normal school.”

  Nick sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “We’ve talked about this, honey.”

  Phoebe turned away, sullen and silent.

  Hazel ducked her head to hide a smile. “I get that all the time. More than you would believe.”

  Nick raised his eyebrows with a grateful look. “You’d think kids would want to go to a magical school.”

  Hazel shrugged. “It’s still school. There’s homework involved.”

  Nick smiled. Hazel’s breath hitched slightly before she looked away.

  Don’t, she thought. Do not let yourself fall for a handsome face. You have work to do.

  “Tell me, Mr. Butler,” she said. “Are you new in town?”

  “Please, it’s just Nick. And no, I live on the edge of Wildemoor. I have a garage there. I fix up cars for, you know, regular, non-magic using people. My wife is the witch. Phoebe got magic from her.”

  Wife.

  Of course. He was married.

  Hazel stifled a sigh.

  “Is your wife here today?” she said. “I’d love to speak to her as well. I always enjoy meeting the parents of my new students.”

  Nick shifted and glanced down at Phoebe. Hazel’s gaze dropped to the empty space on his finger where a ring should have been.

  Not married then.

  “No,” Nick said. “She’s not here.”

  “Oh,” Hazel said quietly. “I’m so sorry.”

  “That’s not…no, I didn’t mean…she’s still alive. Marissa and I are divorced. She left about three years ago, I haven’t seen or heard from her since.”

  “I’m…well, that’s still not good news.”

  “No, I guess it’s not.” He laughed and rubbed a hand over his face. “Sorry for the mix-up. It’s been a long day. Lots of emotions running wild.”

  He gestured to Phoebe. She snuck a glance up at Hazel until Phoebe realized she was being watched then whipped around again, feigning anger for show to prove a point.

  “Forgive me for over sharing,” Nick added.

  “Actually, it helps makes my job a little easier,” Hazel said.

  “It does?”

  “Yes. Home life can impact my students in the class room. And since Phoebe will be my student, I want to make sure that she’s well taken care of.”

  Nick released a breath of relief. “I’ve heard a lot of good things about you. Sounds like you’re just what my Phoebe needs to help her with magic.”

  A pleased flush swept up Hazel’s cheeks.

  “Thank you, Nick. That’s very kind of you. But I’m just doing my job.”

  He nodded and held up the paperwork.

  “I’ll see you Monday, then?” he said.

  “Bright and early,” Hazel replied.

  Nick placed his hand on Phoebe’s shoulder and guided her away. Hazel touched her still-warm cheeks. She hadn’t been that tongue-tied or flustered in a man’s presence since she was a teenager.

  But she did her best to push the thought of Nick Butler and his broad shoulders out of her mind. She returned her attention to her list of new students and went in search of Bryony to discuss the possibility of adding Phoebe to her earth magic class. Most children loved getting their hands dirty and it just might be the ticket to getting Phoebe to enjoy her stay at Windywings.

  “Miss Aven!”

  Hazel turned to see Nick jogging toward her. Phoebe was nowhere in sight.

  “Is something wrong?” she said. “Where’s Phoebe?”

  “Nothing’s wrong. Phoebe’s in the car. I just…I just wanted to ask you a quick question. Before I, you know, lose my nerve here.”

  Hazel folded her arms around her clipboard, hugging it to her chest.

  “I’m listening,” she said.

  Nick took a deep breath and released it in a rush.

  “Would you like to grab a drink with me on Friday night?” he said.

  Hazel’s heart stuttered in surprise but she schooled her expression to remain impassive.

  “I beg your pardon?” she said.

  Nick blanched. “I guess that’s pretty sudden.”

  “It is.”

  He grimaced at her chilled tone which wasn’t her intention but she was still reeling from shock. Most men she encountered were either married or took one look at her and fled. She terrified men with her strict posture and school teacher rigidity.

  But Nick didn’t seem the least bit afraid of her.

  “Oh boy,” he said in a flat tone of chagrin. “I know that look. Overstepped my boundaries, got it. Forget I said anything. Never happened.”

  He turned to go when Hazel spoke.

  “I prefer tea to alcohol,” she said.

  Nick went still. Slowly, he turned back to her. It must have taken a considerable amount of courage for him to ask her out, judging by how bright his eyes were with tentative hope—the blooming light of a new beginning he didn’t dare believe was true but he wanted just the same.

  “The Eye of Newt then?” he said. “Seven o’clock?”

  Hazel bit the inside of her cheek to hide a smile.

  “That would be lovely,” she said.

  A smile spread across Nick’s face as he backed up.

  “I look forward to it, Miss Aven,” he said.

  A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

  Thank you for reading Spelled Kiss, the second book in my sweet Halloween romance series, Coven Corner! If you enjoyed it, please consider leaving a review on Amazon or Goodreads to let other people know how you liked it and spread the Halloween goodies around!

  If you’re interested in reading more Coven Corner romances, grab a copy of:

  A Charmed Life (Book #3)

  Or

  Coven Corner Series Boxset

  BOOKS BY CHARLOTTE FRENCH

  Sugar and Spice

  COVEN CORNER SERIES

  Jinxed (Book #1)

  Spelled Kiss (Book #2)

  A Charmed Life (Book #3)

  Coven Corner Series Boxset

  ANTHOLOGIES & SHORT STORIES

  Only For Her

  Sacred & Profane

  Symphony Amore

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Charlotte French writes romance across a wide range of genres, from contemporary to paranormal. Her short fiction has been featured in several anthologies and her novel, Sugar and Spice, has been featured on Cosmopolitan.com.

  Outside of writing, she loves baking, especially desserts, and watching romantic comedies.

  For more details on her writing, check out her website: charlottefrenchbooks.weebly.com.

  To keep up to date on her releases, connect with her on Twitter @CFrenchBooks