by Laura Pavlov
Charmed
Willow Springs Series, Book 3
Copyright © 2021 by Laura Pavlov
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
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. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Lisa, Julie, Eric, Jennifer and James,
This book is filled with sibling love which is easy for me to write because of YOU!! Thanks for giving me lots of material and real life sibling memories to sprinkle into my stories!
Love you, Laura xo
Contents
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
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Epilogue
Acknowledgements:
Other Books by Laura Pavlov:
Follow Me…
Chapter One
Maura
I can’t believe winter break is over and I only have one semester of college left. Not that it’s going to feel like I’m even in school these next few months as I’ll be interning at Carlisle Ad Agency as often as they need me and taking my final two classes at night. I’d been anxiously waiting for news that Crew Carlisle had realized I was the intern and he’d kick me to the curb, but it hadn’t happened yet. My worst fear was that he’d put it together when he saw me, and publicly humiliate me. Our families were absolute rivals. I would put nothing past the man.
My phone rang as I merged onto the freeway and my Bluetooth let me know it was an incoming call from my mother.
“Hi, Mama,” I said.
“Big day today, baby girl. How do you feel?”
“A little nervous, but otherwise excited.”
“It’ll be great. Are you wearing the new suit?” she asked. She was huffing a bit, so I knew she was moving around the house. The woman never sat down. I swear being married to my father was a full-time job.
“I sure am. I’ll send you a picture later today. Of course, Ivy took a couple dozen like it was my first day of kindergarten.” I laughed and so did my mother.
“That girl never misses a beat. Dad said to wish you luck when he headed into the office early this morning.”
I cringed just a little because my father was unaware of where I was interning.
“That’s sweet. He sent me a text this morning.”
“All right, well, we’re wishing you lots of luck, sweetheart. Love you.”
“Love you, Mama.”
I ended the call and exited the freeway. Butterflies swarmed my belly the closer I got. I knew I’d be nervous, so I’d planned to arrive early and get a pregame pep talk from my best friends, a.k.a. the Magic Willows. I sent a group text letting them know I was sitting in the car waiting whenever they were ready. We’d been close for as long as I could remember. The first letter of each of our names spelled out Magic: Maura, Addy, Gigi, Ivy, and Coco… and the Magic Willows were born. These girls were more like sisters to me, and we’d been with one another through all the ups and downs in our lives thus far.
Ivy was my roommate. We lived in a gorgeous apartment that my parents owned in the city. My father had bought a new larger condo in the building down the street from us and they’d let Ivy and me live in the older one. My dad was a well-known oil tycoon in Texas, and he’d been commuting back and forth from our home in small-town Willow Springs to Dallas for as long as I could remember. Willow Springs was best known as the heart of Texas, and my mom preferred to stay in our home, and now that my brothers were working for my father, he didn’t have to travel as often as he had been when we were growing up.
My phone rang and I held it up as Coco came into focus. She lived in Houston and attended school there. Ivy was next to appear. She sipped her coffee as she sat at our breakfast bar. Gigi and Addy were smiling and waving as they appeared on my screen. They shared an apartment in Austin, as they both attended Texas University. We were all graduating in a couple of months and I still couldn’t believe how quickly the past four years had flown by. I was the only one of my friends who would be doing an internship this last semester, as I’d finished most of my coursework early so I could get this experience these last few months before I graduate.
“You guys are going to love her outfit. She’s rocking the cute pale pink skirt and blazer her mom made her get. And let me tell you, girls, professional Maura is HOT!” Ivy wriggled her brows. “I texted you all a photo just now. I felt like a proud mama taking pictures of our girl on her first day on the job.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I said over a chuckle because she’d been ridiculous this morning about this photo shoot.
“It’s for the book,” she said, and everyone nodded.
We’d been keeping notebooks of our memories since we were ten years old. Ivy was the secretary of the Magic Willows, and to say she took her job seriously was an understatement. She documented all of our memories and collected photos and keepsakes and attached them all inside these leather-bound journals we’d been collecting for years. One day when we were old and gray, we’d be able to sit around a fire together and reminisce about all the good times we’d had growing up.
“Buck up, buttercup. You look hot as hell. That sexy grump of a man is going to be putty in your hands.”
I rolled my eyes. Crew Carlisle had grown up in Willow Springs with all of us, but he was five years older than we were. Our families had always stayed clear of one another, as there had been a long history of dislike for one another. The Carlisles were, for all intents and purposes, enemy number one in the Benson household. My father despised the Carlisles. Always had. I didn’t even know what the reasoning was, aside from the fact that my grandfather and Crew’s grandfather had been partners in an oil company way back in the day and had some kind of fallout. They’d each gone on to open their own companies. Crew’s grandfather eventually let his brothers run the oil company and he opened the Carlisle Ad Agency, which had grown into the largest advertising company in the state of Texas. But for whatever reason, my father hated them with a passion and did not hide his feelings when we’d run into them.
Thankfully, I was able to keep this internship from my dad, as my counselor had placed me here, and working as the assistant to Crew Carlisle, the president of Carlisle Ad Agency, was considered an honor. I’d discussed it with my brothers and my mother, and we’d all decided it was best not to tell Dad where I’d be working for the time being. I wasn’t getting paid, so there was
no paper trail. My father had zero interest in advertising, so what he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. So, I’d told him I was interning at a different company, and he didn’t question it. My dad was the most competitive man I’d ever known. He liked that I’d been selected by my professors for the most coveted spot in my program, and he didn’t question where it was. I’d given him the name of the second largest company in the field, and he’d been just fine with that.
It was mostly true.
Aside from the part that I was working for his nemesis.
“What if Crew calls me out when he realizes it’s me?”
“He’d look extremely unprofessional if he did that. He’s a businessman after all. And maybe he doesn’t hate you as much as you think he does,” Addy said before taking a bite of her toast.
I rolled my eyes. Crew hated me as much as I hated him. It had just carried over from our parents. We had a large enough age difference, so we never attended school together, but the few times I’d run into him in town, he’d always behaved like a jackass. He’d called the cops on me when I accidentally rear-ended him once. More like barely tapped his fender. Thankfully, Officer Powell was my neighbor and found the whole thing hilarious.
He had three brothers, two who were closer in age to my brothers, and one who was younger than me. But they weren’t rude like Crew; however, we certainly stayed away from one another.
The Carlisles and the Bensons were oil and water.
They didn’t mix.
Never had.
Never would.
And now Crew was going to be my boss for the next couple of months.
“Gray told me he knew Crew in high school and he’s actually a cool guy. All of this family stuff is not going to come up at the office. You’re in Dallas. Away from your dad. And, for the record, you look freaking gorgeous. You’ve got this. This internship will look so good on your resume. You’re going to be working for his assistant and probably won’t even have to see him a whole lot,” Gigi said as she sipped her coffee.
“Exactly. Deep breaths. I just printed your picture on my handy dandy photo printer.” Ivy held her hands in the air and fluttered her fingers. “Thanks, Mom. Best Christmas gift ever. Anyhoo, you’ve got this. This is the start of a new adventure.”
“And you got rid of that dead weight,” Coco said, shaking her hands and rolling her eyes at the same time. The girl had a gift for theatrics.
“Don’t talk about Will that way. He’s a good guy. But we’re definitely better off as friends.” I’d ended things with my boyfriend of a few months when I returned from winter break and realized that I hadn’t thought of him once while we were apart. The breakup was as exciting as our relationship had been.
Vanilla.
Sugar-free, dairy-free vanilla.
There was just nothing there.
“Maur, come on. You’ve had three boyfriends in your life, and they have all been boring as sin. You’re working for a man that is hot as hell. You’re single now. Don’t completely rule out hot spontaneous office sex with your new sexy boss.” Coco had carried her phone into the bathroom and paused to apply her signature red lipstick.
“Let’s just try to survive day one without him calling me out at the office when he realizes I’m his intern.” I glanced in the rearview mirror one more time to check my makeup. “Okay. I’ve got to go inside.”
“Seize the day,” Addy shouted, pumping her fist toward the ceiling.
“I want a play-by-play of everything that sexy man says to you.” Coco puckered her lips at the camera.
“Don’t take any crap. You’re Maura freaking Benson,” Gigi shouted, and we all burst out in laughter as I stepped out of the car.
“Remember to text me highlights of your day so I can add them to the book,” Ivy said.
Because that’s what I was worried about? Making sure my humiliation from Crew Carlisle made it in the book?
“Got it. Love you guys.”
They all echoed the same sentiment as I ended the call and made my way out of the garage.
Carlisle Ad Agency was in the heart of downtown Dallas, and to say the building was grand would be a massive understatement. They say everything is bigger in Texas, and they sure as heck aren’t kidding when it comes to the Carlisle Building. I shielded my eyes from the sun that was shining down even with the chill in the January air as I looked up at the tall high-rise. The wind swooshed around me, and I patted my hair into place.
“First day?” a voice called out from beside the building. A man sat against the wall with a shopping cart beside him filled with cans. He had an old coffee can in front of him with a sign that read: Need help.
“Yes. I’m interning here for the semester before I graduate.”
He smiled, and it reached his blue eyes. He looked to be in his mid-sixties, but I could be misreading that because I’m sure living outside in the elements speeds the aging process.
“Let me tell you a little trick. Take three long slow breaths and hold them in for as long as you can before you step into the office.”
“That’s a great idea. Thank you.” I reached in my purse and grabbed a few dollars and dropped them in the can. “I’m Maura, by the way.”
“Nice to meet you, young lady. I’m Beevis. Now you go and kick some ass and tell me tomorrow how it went.”
I smiled. “Nice to meet you, Beevis. How do you take your coffee?”
His puzzled gaze met mine, but he answered me anyway. “Black with cream and sugar.”
“Great. I’ll bring you a coffee tomorrow and fill you in.”
He winked at me, and I waved goodbye before turning back toward the building. It was hard to believe that I’d be working here. My stomach fluttered with nerves as I tugged the heavy door open. Everyone looked like they belonged here with their high-end suits and designer bags. Three large crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling in the grand lobby, and I stopped to take it all in before falling into line with a group of people moving in the same direction. I paused to glance in the mirror by the elevators before stepping on. My mother insisted on taking me shopping when I was home for winter break, and I was thankful now that I let her talk me into purchasing a few suits, some dresses, and two blazers. I didn’t think I would need to be quite this formal, but from the looks of it—everyone was dressed to the nines.
Carlisle Ad Agency was a huge company, and of course Crew Carlisle’s office was on the top floor. It didn’t surprise me. The man had an ego the size of this building, so of course he’d be on the top floor.
I turned my phone off and tucked it in my purse before exiting the elevator. My stomach was twisting, and I took one deep breath before walking up to the front desk.
“Can I help you?” the woman behind the elegant white desk asked. She was probably in her late twenties and very attractive with her long blonde hair and bright blue eyes.
“Yes. I’m Maura Benson. I’m here to meet with Layla McCormick,” I said, smoothing the hair in place that I’d left out of my bun to frame my face.
My heart raced and my hands were sweaty. Why was I so nervous?
Oh yes. My nemesis could potentially humiliate me and cause me to lose this internship. Maybe he wouldn’t see me. Maybe his assistant would be the only one to deal with me.
One could dream.
“Yes. Welcome. I’m Gwen and I run the front office. Layla’s excited to meet with you. Let me just tell her that you’re here.”
I glanced around the lobby. People were just arriving to work for the day, and a few were already situated at their desks.
She picked up her phone and spoke to Layla before letting me know that she’d be right out.
“Who do we have here?” a voice said from behind me, and I turned around.
“Hi, I’m Maura.” I shrugged awkwardly. “The intern.”
“Nice to meet
you, Maura. I’m Sam. I guess you could call me the Mayor of Carlisle Ad Agency, so I’ll introduce you to everyone on your first day.” He was very good-looking and appeared to be around my age, or maybe a few years older.
Gwen giggled and flipped her hair over her shoulder. Her cheeks pinked just enough to let me know she liked him. I smiled when her gaze locked with mine and she blushed even more. I missed that feeling. I hadn’t been excited about a guy in a long time.
“Nice to meet you, Sam. I appreciate the help. I think I officially start tomorrow and I’m training today.”
“Maura, welcome.” A dark-haired woman came around the corner with her hand extended. “I’m Layla. I see you’ve met Gwen and our resident social chair, Sam.”
Layla was gorgeous, probably in her mid-forties. She wore a navy pantsuit and her hair was pulled back in a classic chignon. She exuded confidence while her smile reached her eyes.
“What can I say? I’m a joy spreader,” Sam said, and Gwen’s head tipped back in laughter. Layla smiled as she watched her and then winked at me.
“Yes, you are. But you know Mr. Carlisle would not appreciate you being up here visiting during work hours.” Layla’s tone was all tease, but I didn’t miss the look that she gave Sam. She wasn’t kidding.
“Good luck at your meeting,” Sam said, rolling his eyes and nodding at me before walking off.
Layla chuckled and led me down the hall and paused outside a closed door. “Are you ready to meet Mr. Carlisle?”
Been there.
Done that.
“Of course.” It was a necessary lie.
And my stomach dipped as she pushed the door open.
Chapter Two
Crew
To say I was pissed about this meeting would be putting it mildly. Maura Benson. The girl had Satan’s blood running through her veins. I’d just realized she was the candidate that Texas University had sent over. We took the top student every year via our internship program for seniors getting ready to enter the workforce. It had become tradition that they sent us their star student, and we gave them a front-row seat to the ad business. Shadowing my assistant, Layla, who happened to be the rock star of personal assistants. The woman ran my life. She booked my meetings and got me there on time. She managed my busy schedule and never missed a beat. I’d be lost without her. So, anyone would be lucky to be tied to Layla, and it was a great way to get your foot in the door.
