by Nicole Hall
Accidental Magic
Modern Magic - Book One
Nicole Hall
ACCIDENTAL MAGIC
Copyright © 2020 Nicole Hall
All rights reserved.
No parts of this publication may be reproduced, stored in 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 copyright owner.
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Under no circumstances may any part of this book be photocopied for resale.
This is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and situations within its pages and places or persons, living or dead, is unintentional and co-incidental.
Cover designed by Germancreative
Edited by Karen Thurrell Gledhill
To Eli, for believing
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Epilogue
A Note from Nicole
Insidious Magic
Chapter 1
Also by Nicole Hall
About the Author
1
SERA
There was a man under her kitchen sink on his back, and not in the fun way. At least, Sera Allen was pretty sure it was a man. The legs sticking out from the cabinet wore jeans and work boots that seemed masculine enough, but it was when the cursing started that she was sure. His voice was low, rough, and vaguely familiar, though she couldn’t quite place it. She awarded him some extra points for creativity, but didn't lower her bat. A girl had to protect herself.
“Excuse me,” she said.
The cursing stopped abruptly as his head thunked on the underside of the counter. He twisted and started to slide out. Sera bit her lip. There was a whole lot more of him than she’d expected. Run back out to the car and slam the door, or stand still and wait to be murdered? Her lizard brain urged her to panic, but she'd had plenty of practice convincing her brain that panicking was a terrible idea.
His head cleared the cabinet, and he stood, turned to survey her, then leaned back against the counter, arms crossed over an impressive naked chest. Sera sucked in a breath. He wasn’t bulky, more lanky corded muscle, but he took up a lot of the space in the little kitchen. Still, Sera was ready to clear the bases using his face if he made any moves toward her. It would be a shame too because his face was all lean angles and pretty brown eyes. He raised a brow as she stared at him for several more seconds.
“Not that I don't mind a little break, but maybe you could lower the bat and we could use our big girl words?” His voice matched his stance, deceptively mellow.
Sera didn’t move. “Who are you and what are you doing here?”
He shrugged. “Thought I’d see how much I could get for the sink on the black market.”
She tightened her grip on the bat. “I’m calling the police.”
He grinned. “Looks like you got your hands full from where I’m standing.”
Sera wondered if hitting him would be considered self-defense if all he’d done was stand there. Probably not, though he was trespassing. He didn’t seem inclined to injure her, and Sera wasn’t naïve enough to think that the bat was keeping him at bay. Sure, he probably didn’t want any bruises, but he had a good half a foot on her and he looked like he was all muscle. If he wanted the bat, he could probably take it from her.
She shifted the bat into one hand and reached into her back pocket for her phone.
He put his hands up in surrender. “C’mon, Sera. I was kidding. You seriously don’t remember me? You’ve seen me naked.”
Sera lowered the bat and took a closer look at his face. “Jake?” As a teenager, he’d been lanky and a little awkward. She’d found it adorable until he’d let her leave without a single phone call. He’d grown up a lot in seven years. Too bad. “You seem to be in the wrong house.”
He ran a hand through his unruly hair and muttered, “You got that right.” He glanced at the sink behind him. “Look, I came by earlier to make sure the water and electricity and whatever was turned on. Evie gave me a key years ago. When I checked the water, something funky was happening with the sink. Thought I’d be nice and fix it up for you before you got here.” He glared at the sink. “But I can’t find anything wrong with it.”
His explanation rang true, but she got stuck on one point. “Evie gave you a key?”
“Yeah. I did odds and ends for her.” He met her eyes, sadness swimming in his. “I’m sorry about her passing.”
Sera swallowed hard and nodded. She hadn’t seen her grandmother since the summer she’d turned seventeen. At the time, her grandma insisted that everyone call her Evie. Grandma makes me feel so old. She’d smiled as she said it and pulled Sera in for a hug. Her lonely teenage heart had soaked it up.
After Sera’d left, they’d talked on the occasional holiday, but it had never been enough. A need deep inside her wanted Evie to ask her to return, and a fear just as deep ensured that she’d never broach the subject herself. It stung that Evie’d maintained a relationship with grown-up Jake instead of her own granddaughter.
The boy she’d known had been wild. He’d pushed the limits every chance he got, and somehow, it never came back to bite him in the ass. Sera frowned. This Jake, half-naked in Evie’s house, her house now, looked different, but acted the same. So maybe he hadn’t grown up so much as gotten bigger. His brown eyes were the same. Vibrant and mischievous. It surprised her that she hadn’t recognized him before, but to be fair, she had been distracted staring at his chest.
Sera set the bat on the kitchen table and narrowed her eyes. “I distinctly remember you refusing to learn how to fix things around the house despite your dad’s best efforts. You said that was his thing, and you were destined for something more. I’m pretty sure that’s an exact quote.”
Jake winced. “Well, it turns out teenage me didn’t actually know everything. It wasn’t long after you went back home that I started working for my dad’s company.”
Sera raised a brow. “He let you near his tools?”
Jake chuckled. “After a while, yeah. Clems left, so Dad ended up with more work than he could handle. I started picking up the slack a little, helping him out.”
Sera nodded. “Always the hero. So, now you claim you know how to fix a sink?”
“Yes. I can fix a sink.” He rolled his eyes.
“What’s wrong with this one that necessitated an evening shirtless visit?”
Jake crossed his arms in response. “I always fix sinks shirtless if I can. They get drippy, and I believe I already mentioned that I can’t find anything wrong with this one. It’s the damnedest thing. Nothing is blocked, but it’s draining slow, then fast, then slow again.” He frowned at the sink again.
Sera joined him and reached for the faucet. She really wanted the sink to be fixed so she could send him on his way. Her brain was tired and even more mixed up with grief after all the traveling, making
it hard for her to remember why she wasn’t supposed to touch his chest. The metal was cold, but heat rushed across her hand and down her fingers. For a second, golden light spilled over the sink from the window, but then Sera blinked and it was gone. Water rushed into the basin and down the drain in a steady flow. They both watched it for a few more seconds, then Sera turned it off again.
She looked up at him. Her words were dry. “Good job. You fixed it.”
He huffed out a breath. “Awesome. If you have any more problems, please call someone else.”
Jake reached past her for the toolbox on the counter, and Sera almost leaned into him. A habit from long ago that she’d thought buried. She took a stumbling step back instead. He quickly steadied her, his hands gentle on her upper arms, and searched her face.
“You okay?”
A few deep breaths calmed her racing pulse, but it took off again when she met his eyes. How inconvenient. “I’m fine,” she said. “Just tired.”
The half-lie rolled off her tongue easily, and Sera hated that it came so naturally. She backed away and shoved her hands in her jeans pockets.
Jake held her eyes for a moment, and Sera wondered a lot of things. Were his parents still next door? Was he in a relationship? Was he married? Did he have kids? Did he still slide his hands into a girl’s hair when he kissed her? Warmth crept up her cheeks, and Jake chose that moment to drop his eyes. There was no way he didn’t notice her blushing.
He busied himself with his tools. “It shouldn’t take long for you to pack up Evie’s stuff, and the house is in good shape, so it won’t be too hard to sell,” Jake rambled.
Something glimmered in the dark cabinet, distracting her, so it took a second for Sera to process his words. She glanced up in surprise. “I’m not selling the house.”
Jake stopped packing up his tools. “Renting it out then?”
“No, I’m moving in. Tomorrow, actually. Isn’t that why you came by to check on the utilities?”
He shrugged. “Rumor mill said you were coming to stay tomorrow, but I assumed it was temporary.”
“It’s not. This is my home now.”
Jake took a long look at her and nodded. “Okay.”
Sera got the feeling he didn’t believe her, but she didn’t give a crap. Evie had wanted Sera to have her house, and Sera was going to take good care of it. The house was more than a means to an end; it was a new beginning in a place she’d been happy. She’d loved her grandma, despite the distance.
Jake’s easy smile had vanished, and Sera was surprised she missed it. It was habit to be closed off and unwelcoming, easier to make people leave her alone that way, but maybe her therapist was right and it was time she put some effort into building, or even rebuilding, friendships. Even if she’d been the one to torch them in the first place.
“Thanks for your help, Jake.”
He snapped his toolbox closed. “De nada.” He turned to go, but words popped out of her mouth, surprising both of them.
“Does Maddie still live at your parents’ house?” Sera cringed. Why couldn’t you just let him leave?
Jake looked over his shoulder to answer her. “Nah, she moved to the other side of town a while ago, and my parents are gone.”
Sera’s brow furrowed. “Oh, Jake, I’m so sorry.”
He winced. “Not like that. Mom made a bunch of money investing, and they retired early. They gave me the house so they could travel around Europe. They’re in Norway right now, terrorizing the local wildlife.”
Sera let out a relieved breath. “Well that’s something, but Maddie’s still around?”
Jake turned fully to her, but his voice was still hesitant. “She is, but I don’t know what she’s into lately. We don’t really hang out other than when she invades the house to steal my food.”
“Too bad. I could use some friends.” Sera mumbled quietly.
Jake ran his hand through his hair again. “Maybe you’d still have some if you hadn’t run away without looking back. Besides, town is maybe a five-minute walk from here. She’s hardly living across the country.”
He wasn’t wrong. That summer had been the first time she’s spent more than a few days at a time with Evie. It had been full of surprises, and she’d let events beyond her control scare her away. Initially, she’d tried to contact them, but not very hard. And it’s not like any of them had tried either. That last thought was bitter. Eventually, it had been easy to let her mom break those connections. Sera forced herself to meet his eyes. “I’m hoping for a fresh start. It’s…it’s one of the reasons I’m moving back.”
Jake studied her intently for a long moment. The grin that bloomed across his face did funny things to her insides. “Okay, but you asked for it.”
“I’m going to regret this, aren’t I?”
He pushed away from the counter and invaded her space again. This time she held her ground. “Probably, but it might be fun.”
The heat in his eyes excited her and made her nervous at the same time. They’d been friends first, once upon a time, and Sera hoped they could be again. No matter how distracting she found this grown up Jake to be, she definitely wasn’t looking for anything more. She was still dealing with the fall-out from her ex-husband, and she needed to figure out who she was on her own. There was no need to pile on more complications, especially not with their history and with this town being her new home.
Jake ripped a piece of paper off the pad on the fridge and scribbled two numbers down. “The first is my private cell. If you have any non-sink related problems, give me a call. I’m across the yard. The second number is Maddie’s. I can’t speak for her taste in friends, but she’ll probably be happy to hear from you.” He traded the paper for his toolbox and opened the back door.
Sera put her hand on Jake’s arm before he could head out. “Thanks, Jake. For real.”
“See you tomorrow, Sera.” There was a challenge in his voice, but she refused to rise to the bait. He would see her tomorrow. And the next day. And the next. She was staying put this time.
She nodded, and the kitchen door closed with a soft click behind him. Sera couldn’t help but watch out the kitchen window as he walked across the yard and disappeared into the shadows at the property line. Sera shook herself. If she couldn’t get a handle on her body’s reactions to him, living next-door to Jake was going to get very awkward in the near future.
Sera crouched down to close the cabinet door under the sink and remembered the glimmer. Something shiny had caught her eye during their conversation, but when she stuck her head under the counter, there were only pipes. Huh.
Sera sighed. She’d planned to go into town and hit the diner, but it was late and dealing with Jake had drained her. Her overnight bag was still by the front door where she’d left it. Evie’s baseball bat had been in the umbrella stand as usual, and she’d felt it prudent to not be encumbered while defending herself. The bat could stay in the kitchen. She latched the back door and killed all the lights except the one over the stove. An archway opened into the living room, and the big front windows let in the glow from the streetlights. It wouldn’t have mattered. The house hadn’t changed much in seven years, and Sera could navigate it with her eyes closed.
She rubbed her face, eyeing the stairs. Or I could just crash on the couch. It was newish and looked comfy, but she really needed to stretch out on a bed and maybe sleep for a week. Sighing, she snagged her bag and saw another glimmer out of the corner of her eye. It was on the console by the stairs. When Sera turned to face it, it winked out. There was no denying something had been there this time. Fireflies? In the house?
It wasn’t beyond the realm of possibility that she was hallucinating. She’d driven twenty-three hours straight from Orange County, California to Mulligan, Texas. Somewhere around El Paso, she’d thought about stopping for some sleep, but it’d been mid-afternoon at that point and the comfort of Evie’s home was calling. The console didn’t hold anything that looked like it would reflect golden light, and the c
abinet definitely hadn’t. Neither had her hand.
There was a green ceramic gourd lamp, some art books, and a collection of pictures in plain white frames. Even the pulls were simple matte black against the wood. Sera picked up one of the frames and took a closer look. It was of her teenage self hugging Evie. Sera was in some of the other pictures as well. Photos she didn’t remember sending. They were mostly major life events, her high school graduation, her wedding portrait, and one of her with Will, her ex, at a black-tie event. She turned that picture face down and looked around the room more carefully.
Evie had a lot of pictures on the walls and on every flat surface. Sera walked past them, trailing her fingers over the glass. Some were pictures of Evie in town with people she didn’t recognize, some forest-y landscapes that appealed to Sera, and at least half of them were pictures of Sera herself. The room was full of her, of her achievements and her life.
Sera rubbed her chest as a sharp pang spread through it and down to her stomach. She’d wasted so much time trying to make the wrong people love her, and apparently, she’d missed her chance to have it right here. The room was filled with her grandmother’s love for her. Tears blurred Sera’s vision as she turned her back on the photos. Evie’d had her own way, pragmatic and patient, but Sera hadn’t appreciated the love that encompassed all of it. And now it’s too late.
The room to the right at the top of the stairs had been hers. Sera held her breath and opened the door. The switch turned on the nightstand lamp, and in the soft glow, Sera was glad to see the big bed was still made up with sheets and a blanket. There wasn’t even any dust. Pretty blues and whites made up the color scheme, but the abstract patterns could have been picked out by anyone. Sera was almost disappointed that it was decorated as a generic guest room. What were you expecting? A shrine? Time to get your head out of your ass.
