by Sofia Belle
“Well, this is me.” I gestured to my car, which sat parked on the street in front of the restaurant. “Thanks again, Ted.”
I looked up, shivering as my eyes fell on the dress shop where Linda had been murdered. All through dinner, I hadn't stopped thinking about the midnight meeting.
The note from Linda’s belongings sat in a hidden pocket of the cute, short leather jacket I'd borrowed from Layla. I'd paired the jacket with a simple knee-length red dress that was both modest and bright all at once. The note weighed heavy as a rock in my pocket, and as we stopped by my car, I ran my fingers over the leathery page.
“Do you want me to drive you home?” Ted's eyebrows furrowed. “It's the full moon, after all, and the Fargles are out. My mom told me it was polite to drive a girl home.”
I reached out and patted Ted on the chest then leaned in to brush the briefest of kisses on his cheek. “Teddy, you're a really nice guy, and I had a great time tonight. Just for future reference, though, I’d refrain from mentioning your mom’s advice about dating...while out on a date. It's a little disconcerting.”
“Ah, darn. I'm new at this dating business.” He frowned. “I had a nice time, too. Are you saying that you want to go on a date with me again?”
I hesitated, unsure how to proceed. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, but without the butterflies, I couldn’t in my right mind lead him on, either. I might not have been in love before, but I knew this wasn’t it. A flash of Beckett’s kiss crossed my mind, and I pushed it away. “Teddy, I’ll be honest—I just want to be friends with you. Really, let’s grab a drink sometime just to talk. I'm sorry, but…”
“Whew!” Teddy wiped a hand across his forehead. “My mom told me I had to ask you for a second date. So I did, which means I'm off the hook with her. Plus, I really want to get home and study the Fargles. They're only around for a limited time, and no offense, but you’re not really my type.”
I smiled at his excited expression and waved him away. “See you around, Teddy,” I said. “Thanks for the nice evening.”
Teddy hopped in a car that looked more like a fourth-grade science project than a vehicle. Spouts and whistles and tubes popped out from every direction, and the thing sounded more like a tugboat than a car. Teddy was a nice guy, just not my nice guy.
However, before I could fantasize more about finding my nice guy, I had to find one more answer. Who would show up at midnight?
Unfortunately, I had a place and a time, but I was missing a where. The time was ten thirty, which left me under two hours to piece together the meeting place.
I started walking.
Chapter 21
** **
There are only so many streets in Fairyvale. Most of them are deserted by night, save for a few couples strolling to their hotels from a late dinner. The full moon burned bright, and for a long minute, I wondered if Ted would find his Fargles.
I walked up and down the streets from ten thirty to eleven thirty, but nothing was out of place. Over the course of the hour, I'd slowly come to terms with the fact that I’d likely miss the meeting. Without a location, I was lost.
The big clock atop the Council building showed ten minutes until midnight. My time was running out, and so was my hope.
On a gut instinct, I pulled off the main drag just in front of the Forest of Fairies. A small rose garden stood empty of people. I sat down on the bench, the rest of the hope fading out of my body as I eased back, watching the stars and hoping for some sort of sign. The minutes ticked by, but the sign never came.
I blew out a breath of frustration. My feet were tired, and I knew I should give up the jig and just head home. But I couldn’t bring myself to move as exhaustion from the events of the day, the week, the wedding washed over me.
It was pleasant here, the scent of roses swirling through the air. A fountain danced to the tune of soft music coming from unseen speakers, and the stars shone from above. If nothing else, this moment had turned into a beautiful one. The full moon made the fountain sparkle like never before, and as I watched the water splutter and dance, the tension in my shoulders eased away and my worries lessened. The water was mesmerizing in the same way as a campfire.
“Do you have room for one more?” When the male voice spoke, it was so smooth, so silky that it didn't jolt me out of my reverie. Instead, it slipped in like a dream and washed over my senses like the soft music permeating the air.
“Why am I not surprised to see you here?” I turned to face Beckett Stone, his eyes black gems in the night. I couldn't hide a small smile, even as I wondered how he'd known I would be here. My spine tingled, and I shivered against the night air as he sat next to me.
In response, Beckett wrapped his arms around me. “I know you have the note,” he said softly. “And I know you’re looking for the man who was supposed to meet Linda tonight.”
I waited.
“It’s me,” he said finally. “I was supposed to meet her tonight. I followed you here from the restaurant so I could explain everything.”
The words didn't surprise me. What surprised me was that I didn't feel nervous. Or scared. “Why?”
“She was an informant for the Council,” Beckett said. “We think she was made, and that's why those men were searching her building. She had information for me. We were supposed to meet tonight.”
“But Cris admitted to poisoning the flowers.”
He nodded. “The two men from the hotel didn't figure out her true identity until after she'd died. They started looking into her death, and somehow realized that she was an informant. They searched her room looking to destroy any information Linda might have on them.”
“Who are these bad guys?” Now the tingle of fear started at the back of my neck. The way Beckett spoke, they were not nice people.
“Let's not ruin this moment talking about them.” He reached up and played with my hair. “That's not why I showed up tonight.”
“Why did you show up?”
“Because I wanted a date with my fiancée. Is that so hard to believe?” His crooked smile made me laugh. His face fell into a more serious look. “Bel, I have to leave town now.”
“You have to get the bad guys,” I said. “I understand. It's your job.”
He nodded. “I can't stick around. And even if I could, I wouldn't.”
I swallowed.
“Because I don't want you to get hurt,” he finished. “I hope you understand.”
“Of course,” I whispered. Then I gave another halfhearted laugh. “We hardly know each other.”
“True, but it's a full moon. Maybe the Fargles are out wreaking havoc with our hearts.” Beckett gave me a sideways stare. “Should we see?”
“You can see Fargles?”
“No, but I can feel.” With that, Beckett's eyes darkened, and he closed the distance between us on the bench. Our lips met, and under the full moon, magic sizzled at its strongest. His soft lips pressed against mine, his hands winding through my hair and pulling me close. This kiss was hello and goodbye all in one, and the surprising sting of tears had me blinking when Beckett gently pulled away.
“Wow,” I said, my voice but a breeze. “Those Fargles are out in full force tonight.”
“Fargles.” He shook his head, laughter in his eyes. “Now, I have one night left here. I'd like to use it wisely.”
I raised my eyebrow. “Oh yes? And what does that mean, sir?”
“I'm thinking a walk through the Forest of Fairies. A little bit of bubbly.” He produced a small flask from inside the pocket of his suit. “We can pick up some hot chocolate, dip our feet in the Stream of Souls, and then dance? Do you dance under the full moon like all the witch lore says?”
By now, I was cracking up. “No, but for you, I’ll try. However, you forgot one thing on the agenda.”
“Anything.”
“Kissing. Let's definitely fit some kissing in there.”
In response, he leaned in and kissed me with such abandon that for a moment, I believ
ed true love might exist.
We spent the rest of the night hand in hand, laughing, giggling, and whispering under the full moon. I looked up at the stars, and I thanked my lucky Fargles for this moment in time.
Chapter 22
** **
Here comes the bride sounded clear and cheerful across the brilliant gardens. Hailey Monroe—stunning in the beautiful white gown she’d picked out less than a week before—stood at the rear of her family’s courtyard.
She was Cinderella reincarnated with shining blue eyes, a look of love reserved for the man standing at the other end of the aisle. Her gorgeous blonde locks had been pinned back into a stunning bun, and her makeup was perfectly shadowed and brilliantly glossed. I even had intel from Layla that Hailey’s undergarments were beautiful, thank you very much to the Witch’s Britches.
She practically floated down the aisle, her dress swooping about her ankles. Though I’d sat through hundreds of weddings, I still blinked back a lump of emotion during this point in every ceremony. My chest constricted; even if I wasn’t cut out for love, I could see why it was the very thing that made the world go round.
Oftentimes people wondered why I put so much effort into one day. It’s just one day, they’d tell me. Marriage lasts more than a day. I never argued, but I knew in my heart that the wedding day was about magic. A symbol of the most precious gift in life.
Someone cleared their throat to my left, and I looked up the aisle, past Madrina, Layla, and Rosie, the latter sitting exactly one polite inch away from the chief. All of them looked gorgeous on this sunny day, and even the chief had discarded his cowboy look for a more polished suit.
Someone cleared their throat again, and I realized the sound came from behind me. I turned back, coming eye to eye with Mystery Man.
“Beckett,” I whispered. “What are you doing here?”
“May I?” He pulled up a folding chair without waiting for a response and plunked it on the lawn next to me. “I know I said I couldn’t see you again, but I realized I forgot to give you this.”
My breath hitched in my throat as he slipped a corsage onto my wrist. A beautiful, simple corsage with a single white flower on it. “It’s beautiful.”
“I thought you might be lonely without a date.”
“Beckett, I told you…” I trailed off. “I told you about the curse. You have your job, and I’m...well, I’m off limits. It’s dangerous to date me. I’m cursed.”
“That’s the reason I came back,” he said. “I’m not one to back down from a challenge.”
“But—” I hesitated. The sentiment was sweet, but I didn’t know how to digest it.
I really liked Beckett, and I enjoyed his company. However, it was too dangerous to get involved with each other. If not physically then emotionally. If we went down this road and he got my hopes up… what if it all crashed to the ground? If I couldn’t believe in love, then I wouldn’t be able to do my job, and if my heart was broken, I didn’t know that I could stand to be around love every day.
He rested a hand on my leg, his voice barely audible. “You deserve love. And if I have any chance at all with you, no matter how small, I’ll fight for it. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t.”
I swallowed. I didn’t have words to say, so I just slipped my hand into his and turned my gaze forward.
Soon enough, Clive looked at me from the front of the crowd and winked. Turning back to his beautiful bride, he began his vows. Vows I’d never heard before. It hit me that Clive had relaxed, let go, and allowed the words to flow from his heart.
By the time he finished, there wasn’t a dry eye in the place, including my own.
And as Beckett’s warm lips brushed my cheek with a kiss, I wondered if maybe, just maybe, Happily Ever After did exist.
The End
** **
Note from the Author
** **
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for taking the time to read The Wedding Witch! Stay tuned for the next release in this series called The Witch Weekly. It will release in January 2017 and features Rosie, Fairyvale’s toughest reporter.
In the meantime, if you can spare a few minutes out of your day, an honest review on Amazon or Goodreads can really help us new Indie authors out! And we appreciate them more than you know!
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