Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Other Books By Felicia Starr
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Other Books By Felicia Starr
Jack and Ginger Sacred Hearts Coven
Editing by:
Copyright © 2013 by Felicia Starr
Copyright © 2014 by Felicia Starr
Copyright © 2015 by Felicia Starr
Editing by
Elizabeth A. Lance from Crushing Hearts Black Butterfly
Double V Editing and Proofreading
Cover design by Bookfabulous Designs
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the author of this book. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
Published by Rockti Publishing
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Other Books by Felicia Starr
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Breaking the Darkness Series
(New Adult Paranormal Romantic Suspense)
Taken
Marked 1.5
Betrayed
Sacred Hearts Coven
(Steamy Contemporary Romance with a touch of magic.)
Dark and Stormy
Light and Sweet
Jack and Ginger
Hawk Creek Novel
(Psychological Romance Suspense/Thriller)
The Beauty in Deception
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to the heartbreaker
that made my heart whole.
Chapter One
JASINDA HURRIED AROUND THE UNUSED kitchen in the rear of her pub trying to make sure she had everything she needed for the night ahead of her. The moon would be at its fullest at midnight; she didn't want to be late. She promised her sisters to mix up one of her famous meads so she needed to be on time.
With autumn around the corner, she decided a pumpkin flavored spirit would be the best option. She made it periodically throughout the year as it was one of her own personal favorites. She knew people seemed to go crazy for anything pumpkin starting at the end of summer through the fall.
"Steve!" Jasinda yelled out through the small opening to the main bar.
"Yeah, babe, what's up?" Steve hollered back.
"When you get a chance can you help me put my stuff in the Bug." She poked her head through the window.
"Now?" he asked.
"Yeah? Could you please? I'll watch the bar." She smiled at him hoping she was charming enough to get him to stop whatever he was doing.
"K, babe."
Jasinda walked out of the kitchen around behind the bar. She slid her hands around his waist from behind. She reached up on her toes to whisper in his ear, "You're the best. I'm going to show you how much I appreciate you when I get home tonight."
Steve spun around holding her arms in such a way that he remained in her embrace. He leaned down and ran the tip of his nose over the angle where her shoulder met her neck breathing in her scent.
She still wore the same oil that she wore the night they met. She considered trying something new on several occasions, but she figured why bother if after all those years it still had the same effect on her husband. Besides, she loved how the soft powdery musk had a sweet floral finish.
"You keep making promises like that, and I will do whatever you want," Steve whispered back making the hair that hung down over her shoulders tickle her neck. She started to giggle like a little girl. "You think I'm kidding?"
Jasinda looked up into her husband's eyes and not only could she see, but she could feel how sincere he was. She gave him an impish smile. There wasn't anything she wouldn't do for her husband, but she loved feeling like she got to wear the pants. He loved her and desired her, and she used it to her advantage whenever she could. Who wouldn't?
"Good thing I know you will be up when I get back." Jasinda wiggled her eyebrows and let her hands fall down into the rear pockets of his jeans. She pulled him in toward her and she could feel that he was already half way there.
"Woman, you better let me go take your stuff out to the car before I close this bar and hold you as my prisoner for the rest of the evening." Steve was dead serious. There was no mistaking the fire in his eyes.
Jasinda lifted herself and gave him a sweet slow closed mouth kiss before she let him go. Once she released him, she realized that there was no one tending to the bar patrons.
Whoops... Jasinda had gotten lost in the moment with her life mate. It didn't take much to have her become putty in his hands. The funny thing was she knew he knew it. She smiled to herself as she reached for a bar rag.
"Where is Sally?" she asked Steve just as he was about to walk through the swinging door to the kitchen.
"She just called out sick- again. I was just about to see who I could call in before you asked me to help load your car. I think we need to talk about some staff changes. Maybe tomorrow at breakfast?" Steve informed her.
"Ok, do you want me to start calling around to find a cover?" she asked him.
"That would be great. I will be back in a few and can help you call from my cell. Don't worry I can manage just fine if we don't find anyone." He winked at her, she loved his confidence. She always knew she could count on him and that was worth its weight in gold.
Before Jasinda opened the staff book, she made sure to check on the few guys sitting at the bar. She poured one of them a draft. Just as she was about to dial the first bartender on the list the front door to the bar opened. It was still early and since they didn't serve food there wasn't usually a big rush until after nine.
The sun was still shining behind the silhouette of a female figure walking into the bar. Jasinda couldn't make out what she looked like yet, but there was something magical about the way the rays of light shone in around her. She loved noticing the little artistic moments that life had to offer.
The doors closed behind her. As the woman got closer to the bar, she waved to Jasinda. At first Jasinda wasn't sure if she was just being polite, but when she got close enough she realized who it was. Jasinda walked around to the front of the bar.
"Ginger, oh my goddess, I haven't seen you in months." She opened her arms to offer her a friendly hug.
"I know. You know I am usually only here during football season." Ginger practi
cally fell into Jasinda's arms.
Jasinda was not technically a psychic or a true empath, but she was highly sensitive to other people's emotions. The wave of pain and sorrow hit her like a mac truck. She pulled back and held onto Ginger's arms and looked at her face.
"Are you ok, sweetie?" Jasinda knew that she wasn't.
"Yeah, sure why?" Ginger answered, but her eyes were focused on something on the floor.
"How about I get you something to drink?" Jasinda offered. "It's on me."
"Oh really? Thank you!" Ginger took a seat at the end of the bar closest to the kitchen.
"What can I get you? A beer, or do you need something a little stronger?" Jasinda tried to joke and probe at the same time as she tossed a coaster in front of her friend.
Ginger placed her oversized red bag on the bar. She smoothed her hair back and blew out a breath. She smiled; Jasinda thought it looked like the effort was hurting her. She had seen Ginger's smile plenty of times, and this one was just unnatural.
"I could go for something much stronger, but I think a Coke would be great for now." A nervous chuckle followed her answer.
Jasinda filled a glass with ice and grabbed the soda gun. She looked over to Ginger and searched her eyes while she pushed the button for Coke. There was something off and different about her. The woman's energy was all over the place.
Jasinda was starting to stress because she knew she had to leave soon to meet up with her sisters of the Sacred Hearts Coven. It wasn't her turn for casting a spell, but she was getting the notion that she might have to request the stage tonight to help her friend. If only she knew what was wrong.
Jasinda adjusted the placement of the paper coaster and rested the pint over the advertisement.
"So how are things here?" Ginger asked as she scratched at the stitching on the edge of her bag. "Did you have a good summer?"
"It was hot, which actually I think helped with sales. Normally in the summer we are not that busy during the day, but with the unbearable heat more people were happy to be indoors." Jasinda obliged and engaged in the small talk. She wanted to help make Ginger feel at ease. Hopefully so she felt comfortable enough to open up.
Jasinda didn't want to be rude by asking her too many questions or rushing her into revealing what was going on in her life. She did however glance over at her watch to check the time. She didn't like the feeling of being caught between needing to be in two different places at once.
"That makes sense. You know I normally only come here to meet my dad to watch the Bears games." Ginger lifted the soda and put her lips on the edge of the straw and took a sip of her drink. Jasinda saw her eyes fill with tears. She managed to hold them back so not to allow any to fall down her creamy white cheeks.
Jasinda grabbed a few bar napkins and slid them across the bar without saying a word. She knew when the time was right, Ginger would share what was bothering her, which she was hoping was any minute.
"The pre-season games have started. Have you had the games on?" Ginger asked.
"Here and there. It depends on who is at the bar. Not a lot of people come in to watch the pre-season. Give it another week or two and this place will be packed again for football season. Baseball doesn't draw much of a crowd. How is your dad? I haven't seen him in here lately now that I think of it."
Ginger stared into her glass. Her fingers held on to the straw so tightly that her hand started to shake. She inhaled. Jasinda was worried that if she didn't exhale soon she might pass out. Gingers pressed her lips together between her teeth. Jasinda could see the tension in the constricted muscles of her jaw.
Jasinda walked around to the front of the bar and took the seat next to her. She put her hand on Ginger's back. She cleared her own mind and tried to focus her energy into a ball of white light. She envisioned the white light streaming from her heart through her arm and out of the palm of her hand. She mentally instructed the light to go straight to Ginger's heart and wrap it with the purest healing light she could muster.
Ginger grabbed a napkin and turned to Jasinda. Her eyes fixed on Jasinda's lap. Jasinda saw her finally let her breath go before she looked up to meet Jasinda's gaze.
"He's gone." Her words barely a whisper. "He passed at the beginning of the summer." The floodgates opened and the water works began. Ginger tipped her head as she patted her wet face with the rough cocktail napkins.
"Oh, I am so sorry, Ginger, I know how close you were with him." Jasinda was at a loss for words. What really could she say, other than she was sorry?
"I am sorry. It wasn't my intention to come in here and start crying at your bar. I just... I just wanted to see if I could do it. I wasn't sure I could come here without him. I have to, I need to; it feels right to be here." Ginger took a short breath and pinched her eyes shut.
"I'm sure wherever you go he is with you. Please don't feel like you have to come here if it hurts you." Jasinda's heart was aching for her. "You can call me, we can grab coffee or a giant ice-cream sundae."
"That's just it, we always had happy times when we were here. It has just been a really rough summer." Again she held her breath.
Jasinda could sense the immensity of what she was feeling, and not saying. She looked down at her watch and was getting anxious about how late it was getting. She felt like she was being pulled in several directions. She was supposed to be helping Steve with their staffing issue, and she had expected to already be on the road. Now her friend was sitting there spilling her heart out to her about the loss of her beloved father.
"Are you sure you don't want something stiffer than a Coke?" Jasinda offered as Steve walked back through the kitchen doors. "Not that I am suggesting you ease your sorrows with booze. I can make you a cup of tea too, if you like."
"Yeah, I just stopped in to say hi and make sure I would be ready to come in when the regular season starts. I don't think it's a great idea for me to be drinking right now. That's how bad habits start. I prefer to drink when I am happy, not as a crutch to deal with my problems," Ginger said resting her hand over Jasinda's. "I really appreciate it though. I feel better already."
"Hey babe, did you- oh... Ginger hi, nice to see you. How was your summer?" Steve blurted out not realizing what he had walked in on.
"Long." Ginger forced a smile.
Jasinda gave Steve a hard look trying to tell him not to push the conversation any further. They had been together long enough that they were often able to communicate with the right look when needed.
"Did you find anyone to work tonight?" Steve asked as he wiped down the bottles on the speed rack in front of him. Jasinda knew he was keeping busy with nervous energy. He always got fidgety when he didn't know how to handle walking in on an overly female moment.
"Sorry, I didn't. Ginger walked in just as I was about to call one of the girls. Do you think you could do it? I have the book open next to the register." Jasinda still had her hand on Ginger's back.
"Are you short staffed for tonight?" Ginger asked.
"Yes, the gal that is supposed to be here right now called in sick, five minutes after her shift started. One of the joys of being a small business owner," Steve joked as he turned to retrieve the book.
"I bartended my way through college. If you are really stuck I can give you guys a hand," Ginger offered.
"Really? What about your husband, Roger? Won't he be expecting you?" Jasinda asked her.
"Well," the pitch in her voice peeked, "that is just another part of my long summer. After seven years of marriage, he actually moved out. The same week my father passed. We were divorced by the end of June."
"Wow. We have a lot of catching up to do. Do you think maybe you are too upset to work here?" Jasinda wasn't sure it would be a great idea since she just had a tiny emotional break down.
"It would actually be a lot of fun and a great distraction. If you need me I am here." Her eyes seemed to brighten with the prospect of it.
"Hey, Steve, what do you think about training Ginger for the night?" she
asked her husband.
"You mean I don't have to call and beg our staff to come in tonight?" Steve jabbed his pointer finger in the air. "Sold!"
Jasinda gave Ginger a quick hug. Her wavy red hair tickled at Jasinda's nose. She envied the amazing head of hair that Ginger had and it smelled fresh like honeysuckles.
Jasinda was glad that the laws had gone into effect banning smoking in restaurants and bars. It didn't hurt business nearly as much as people protested it would. There was still a lingering smell of smoke that was imbedded in the walls of the bar, she looked forward to when they would be able to afford a remodel. At least she didn't worry about her hair and clothes stinking of burnt tobacco any longer.
"Listen, I have somewhere I have to be tonight, but let's set up a time to get together. We can talk about what has been going on, and maybe you can fill in here on a more regular basis." Jasinda got up and walked around the service entrance of the bar.
"That sounds like a plan. I'm excited. Am I dressed ok? I don't even remember if you have a dress code or uniform for your staff," Ginger asked.
"You're perfect. The only real restriction we have is; no open toe shoes. Sneakers with a slip resistant bottoms are best, but whatever is most comfortable for you," Steve explained as he slid the staff book back in its slot next to the register. Jasinda noticed how relieved he looked.
Jasinda snuck up behind him so that when he turned around he practically knocked her over. They both laughed. He grabbed the sides of her head squishing her hair against her ears. He pulled her head in toward his lips and kissed her forehead and then her lips.
"You have fun tonight. If you decide to throw back more than a glass of that mead, you make sure that you get a ride or call me, I will come get you." Steve didn't mind having to pick her up, he did it on several occasions. He always told his wife to have whatever fun she wanted to just be smart and safe.
Jack and Ginger (Sacred Heart Coven Book 3) Page 1
