by Cindy Stark
When she felt strong enough, she moved to a sitting position on the couch. Regret seemed to be her word for the night.
She blew out the candle and reached for Clarabelle’s spell book. Before her fingers reached it, pages flipped wildly and then came to an abrupt halt.
She lifted the book to her lap.
“The Fifth Curse,” she whispered. “When bonded by true love, the tapestry between two shall never be broken no matter how much one wishes it so.”
No ingredients for the spell. No incantations.
It was more that it was something already set in stone that perhaps the witches hadn’t crafted. Maybe something handed down by the powers that be.
Whatever it was, the magic behind it was more powerful than anything she’d ever experienced before. These binds between Peter and her were unbreakable, and she’d likely die if she tried to sever them again.
Which meant she’d have to fix things between her and Peter or remain miserable for the rest of her life.
Who was she kidding? Either way, without Peter, she’d never be complete.
Epilogue
Four days had passed since Peter had walked out her door, and Hazel couldn’t stand being without him any longer. She had to fix things no matter what.
She prayed hard that Peter would give her a chance.
For the first time in forever, the sun didn’t scorch her when she stepped outside. She still opted for her car instead of her bike, just in case the bees hadn’t left town with the heat.
A few minutes later, she strode into the police station determined to make him listen or else. When she found pickle-headed Polly still sitting in Margaret’s spot, she frowned.
“Where’s Margaret?”
Polly graced her with a dull look. “Excuse me?”
Her patience had left town days ago. “You heard me. Why are you still here, and where’s Margaret?”
Her snarky smile fell into place. “I’m sorry. We don’t give out personal information to just anyone.”
Hazel closed her eyes and took a breath, afraid if she didn’t, she’d do something she’d regret.
“Hey, Hazel.”
She turned to find John Bartles walking up behind her. “John, hello. Is everything okay with Margaret?”
“Oh, sure. She and her sister went to Florida for a few days to soak up some sun and de-stress, as she put it.”
Hazel cast a nasty glance toward Polly before she smiled at John. “Good to hear. I’m sure they both need it. Is Peter in?”
“No,” Polly replied before John could.
Hazel ignored her and kept her gaze on John, waiting for him to answer.
John drew his brows together. “He actually hasn’t been in for a few days. He’s been under the weather with the flu or something. I’m surprised he hasn’t called you.”
Or something.
“Oh, you know how life can be. We’re busy and miss each other’s calls. I’ll go over and check on him.”
John nodded. “Good idea.”
She drove the short distance to Peter’s house, and tried to figure out what to say to him. She considered telling him about the Fifth Curse, but that might make things worse.
Maybe she should start by apologizing, but that seemed like she was apologizing for Sarah’s betrayal.
By the time she parked in his drive, she hadn’t come across anything that seemed remotely good. He’d been so angry, and rightly so.
But she couldn’t live without the man, so something had to work.
Her pulse lurched with each step she took toward his front door. She whispered a quiet prayer and rang his doorbell.
When a few moments passed and he didn’t answer, she began to fear the worst. But then the lock clicked, and he opened the door.
He looked like death warmed over.
His faded blue t-shirt had seen better days. The scruff on his chin looked several days old. But, the dark circles beneath his eyes, made worse by pale skin, worried her the most.
She reached for him without thinking. “Peter. Oh, my gosh. Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” he grumbled, and she forced her way in. “I think I have the flu.”
She was almost certain it wasn’t the flu. He was likely still fighting their attachment and paying a hefty price for it.
If so, she could fix it. She slid her arms around his waist and placed her cheek on his chest.
When he hugged her back, she sighed in relief.
She stayed that way for several long moments, grateful that he didn’t push her away. When she finally leaned back and gazed into his eyes, he seemed to have more color.
“How do you feel now?”
He scrunched his features. “Do you really think a hug is going to cure me? I mean, it’s nice and all, but…”
She smiled, so unbelievably relieved that there wasn’t a trace of animosity between them. “Tell me how you feel.”
He paused as though considering. “Okay, maybe I do feel a little better. Please tell me you didn’t put a spell on me.”
Her heart opened wide. “Will you believe my answer?”
He trapped her gaze and held it long enough to make her heart pound wildly. “Yes, Hazel. I believe you.”
Emotion flooded her, but she kept her tears under control. “If it makes you feel better, I tried to break the bond between us after you left.”
Sadness enveloped him. “Is that what you wish?”
She shook her head. “No. I only wanted to spare you more pain.”
He sighed. “It didn’t work.”
A heartfelt smile curved her lips. “No, and it won’t. Like ever.”
“Ever?” he repeated.
“It’s the Fifth Curse,” she said quietly. “When bonded by true love, the tapestry between two shall never be broken no matter how much one wishes it so.”
He seemed suspicious, but it was only surface deep. “No one can break it?”
She snorted. “Well, none that I know of. You basically have two choices, Chief Parrish. You can love me and be fine. Or you can suffer while you wait for me to figure it out because I haven’t a clue, and Clarabelle isn’t talking.”
He nodded slowly as though weighing his options. Then he stepped forward and pulled her into his embrace. “I guess I’ll keep you.”
The bonds between them wrapped her with love. “But how can you know for sure? I mean, I do, but you haven’t been through what I have when I tried to break us.”
He studied her eyes. His fingers were soft against her cheek as he brushed the hair away from her face. “That’s where you’re wrong.”
She narrowed her gaze in question.
“Do you remember how you said if I was under a love spell that breaking it would ease my grief for Sarah?”
She nodded.
“It did. But it also opened me up to the fiercest pain because I’d lost you. What I felt for her was nothing compared to this.”
This time, she was certain she’d cry. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. “Peter…I love you.”
“I love you, too,” he whispered before he captured her lips in a kiss that promised forever.
****
Click here to purchase Book 6: It’s All Sixes
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Thank you and happy reading,
Cindy
Book List
TEAS & TEMPTATIONS COZY MYSTERIES (PG-Rated Fun):
Once Wicked
Twice Hexed
Three Times Charmed
Four Warned
The Fifth Curse
BLACKWATER CANYON RANCH (Western Sexy Romance):
Caleb
Oliver
Justin
Piper
Jesse
ASPEN SERIES (Small Town Sexy Romance)
:
Wounded (Prequel)
Relentless
Lawless
Cowboys and Angels
Come Back To Me
Surrender
Reckless
Tempted
Crazy One More Time
I’m With You
Breathless
PINECONE VALLEY (Small Town Sexy Romance):
Love Me Again
Love Me Always
RETRIBUTION NOVELS (Sexy Romantic Suspense):
Branded
Hunted
Banished
Hijacked
Betrayed
ARGENT SPRINGS (Small Town Sexy Romance):
Whispers
Secrets
OTHER TITLES:
Moonlight and Margaritas
Sweet Vengeance
About the Author
Award-winning author Cindy Stark lives with her family and a sweet Border Collie in a small town shadowed by the Rocky Mountains. She writes fun, witch cozy mysteries, emotional romantic suspense, and sexy contemporary romance. She loves to hear from readers!
Connect with her online at:
http://www.CindyStark.com
http://facebook.com/CindyStark19 (follow me)
https://www.facebook.com/cindy.stark.96780 (friend me)
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5895446.Cindy_Stark
https://www.amazon.com/Cindy-Stark/e/B008FT394W
