"Maybe you could make rain start, then. If there were a drought, for instance. What have you done so far with water?"
I counted on my fingers. "So far, let's see. I stopped myself from drowning. Made water carry Nate out of the lake in a giant bubble. I turned liquid into steam and snow and ice. That was fun! I made water break through a pipe and flood the hair salon. That was not fun. I think that was it. Oh! The current, I guess. I told the water to bring the Regina Ellen and you safely to shore. And then the thing with the water tower and Eddie." I decided not to tell Jake about the gills, just in case it grossed him out. I still had a romantic dinner to look forward to. And more kissing, I hoped.
"Moving water with your mind. Changing its state."
"I made water move, but I haven't made water exist. Do you think I can do other things? Maybe things I haven't tried? I suck with wind. Tried it on the dock. Fell into the ocean."
"I'll bet there's all kinds of things you can do." He nodded. "Plenty of time to figure it out. Your family will probably be a big help with that."
My family. What a strange concept. I still couldn't believe it was true.
The elevator arrived, and the doors opened. I exhaled. This was going to be okay. Maybe even amazing. I had more power than I ever dreamed possible.
Jake and I stepped into the elevator. I pulled my water bottle out of my backpack and unscrewed the lid.
"Water?" I offered the bottle to Jake and watched as he took a long drink.
"Thanks." He handed it back. "I needed that."
As I lifted the bottle to take a sip, I was startled to see something floating inside. I tilted the bottle into the light and looked closely.
It was Aunt Tina!
A transparent image of her face floated in the water and I heard her voice in my mind. "Sadie, your family requests your presence."
I shook my head. I couldn't leave now. I just couldn't.
"What is it?" Jake asked, looking concerned. He put a hand on my arm.
The elevator doors opened.
"Nothing." I screwed on the lid and shoved the bottle into my backpack. I wasn't ready to deal with my family. Not tonight.
We stepped out into the air-conditioned elegance of Mrs. G's hallway.
"Sadie!" Mrs. G came bustling toward us the second the elevator doors opened. "I was so worried about you!"
She plopped Pudgie into my arms. He mewled up at me. "Hello, little guy," I said, nuzzling him. He purred like crazy. Had he missed me? "I'm fine, really! Better now."
"Tell me everything," she said, leading us into her apartment.
"First, Mrs. G, have you met Jake Serrano?"
"Of course!" she exclaimed.
He leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Hello, Sparkplug!" Jake said. "Nice to see you."
"I understand we have a town council meeting tomorrow." She winked at Jake.
"Eddie's in jail," I told her. But maybe she already knew?
"Oh, really!" Mrs. G smiled, seemingly not surprised or even displeased. "Sit, sit. I have tea ready."
She had a tea tray laid out with three cups. How had she known I'd be bringing Jake?
"What else?" she said eagerly. "I want to hear everything that happened today."
I sat on her gold and pink paisley sofa and Jake sat next to me. I kept Pudgie on my lap until he crawled over and wedged himself between us, clawing at our legs as he kneaded and purred.
Jake looked incredibly happy as he petted Pudgie. He took a sip of his tea, jutting out a pinky as he held the tiny cup in his huge hands. He smiled over at me and my heart beat a little faster.
Would Aunt Tina be in my teacup? I took a peek. She wasn't. I'd go to the shell in the morning and find out what she needed.
I filled Mrs. G in on the day's events, and since she knew about magic I didn't need to leave anything out. What a relief to be fully honest and not worry about her reaction!
Mrs. G beamed as if her deepest wishes had been fulfilled. "My goodness, lovey! Did you accept the job at the Hair Atelier? That was the prize for winning the hairdo-off, correct?"
My jaw dropped.
Had she even heard everything I'd said?
After all that she just wanted to know where I was going to work? "No," I said, shaking my head. "I did not accept. And I don't know where I'll work now that Marcy is gone."
Mrs. G continued, "What will you do, then? Will you be leaving us?" She looked from my face to Jake's and back again.
"Not right away." I decided. I would see what Aunt Tina wanted, but I wasn't ready to leave Enchanted Shores. Not yet. "For now, I'm staying here."
She laughed as if that news delighted her. "Why don't you run the Shaggy Puppy, then?"
"Run it? I don’t even know who owns it!"
"Of course, I own the Shaggy Puppy, my dear. Along with all the other buildings in that block of the boulevard."
"You do?" That was a lot of real estate.
"Consider the Shaggy Puppy yours, dear. For as long as you'd like. And, I've deposited an advance into your checking account, as well as a ten-thousand-dollar signing bonus!"
"Really?" I'd be able to pay my tax bill!
She nodded. "You'll find a cabinet in the office. Just ask it nicely to open and it will. Inside you'll find everything you need."
"Thank you!"
Mrs. G nodded before continuing, "And, dear, there's one other thing. About your magic. I already knew all about it as I'm sure you've guessed. I'm your godmother and everyone calls me Sparkplug because I can do this. Watch."
She exhaled a tiny stream of purple fire and it flew across the room and lit a candle. I gasped.
"Fire?" I couldn't believe it. "Is anyone who I think they are? Anyone at all?"
"I'm who you've always known me to be. And then some! I'm a fire starter and I've been watching over you since you were a baby! First, I hired Gwen and then I hired Marcy. Now that you've learned the truth about who you are, I can do a little traveling, which Mr. G and I have been dying to do for decades. Jake, I'll ask you to take over the town council for me until I return."
"With pleasure," he said.
"Wait," I said. "Mr. G? Is he magical too?"
"He is quite magical, and once I get him back into the upper atmosphere where he belongs, he'll stop being so forgetful." She grinned and patted my leg. "Oh, it's so nice to have this all out in the open!"
"Upper atmosphere?"
"Angel," she whispered, leaning forward with a wink. "But let's not spread that around, shall we? Too many people will start asking for favors. There's nothing on this earth like having an angel on your side."
"Will you be leaving soon?" I asked, feeling teary.
She nodded. "As soon as you say your goodbyes. Mr. G is already packed and waiting for me upstairs!"
"Then, goodbye. And thank you for everything." I jumped up and hugged her.
"I'll miss you, my dear, but I'll be back before you know it. One way or another. I'll need to get my hair touched up in a few weeks, regardless."
"I'll miss you so much until then!" I tried not to cry.
Jake picked up Pudgie as he stood to leave. "Sparkplug, as always, it was a pleasure," he said, hugging her.
"Jake, be well." She kissed his cheek, then turned back to me. "Take care of the Shaggy Puppy, my dear Sadie. I love you, my dear."
"Love you too," I said, as the tears started. One last hug and then we left. Just after closing her door I heard a rumble come from her apartment. I threw open the door. Only a puff of purple smoke remained where Sparkplug had just been standing.
"She's gone." She'd better come back soon. I needed her.
In the hallway, Jake put his arm around my shoulders and we walked to the elevator. I leaned my head on his chest. Pudgie mewed.
"I have an important question for you. After we have dinner with my parents, will you come out with me tonight for a late-night date?" he asked.
"A late-night date? Us?"
He caressed my hair before kissing the top
of my head.
"Actually, we can have a drink at my place."
"Where is your house?" I snuggled into his chest. I knew so little about Jake.
"Not a house. I live on a boat. It's at a private dock north of town."
"So you're a bear shifter who lives on the water?" I said.
"And you're a sea witch who lives on the land," he pointed out.
"You're right!" I laughed.
"The first one who saw how perfect we are for each other was my bear."
"Who's your bear?" The elevator opened, and we stepped out into the deserted lobby. Pudgie followed beside us, keeping close.
"My inner bear. Sort of like an inner child. But wiser. My inner bear tells me you're my fated mate. And also advises me constantly to kiss you."
I didn't know what a fated mate was. But right now I was more interested in the kissing. "So why don't you? Kiss me, I mean?"
Jake reached for me. "Sadie," he said. He ran his hands up my arms, trailing gooseflesh as I shivered under his touch.
"Jake," I said.
He dipped in for a gentle kiss, pressing his lips against mine. I ran my hands up his back as he grabbed me by both arms and pulled me closer. What started tenderly deepened into a soul-churning kiss. After a good long while, I leaned back and smiled up at him. "I can't believe our first kiss was in the Center for Senior Folks."
"Say you'll have a late-night date with me, Sadie," Jake said, his voice husky.
I was so happy I could barely speak. "Yes," I whispered finally.
"My love," Jake whispered into my neck before he kissed it, sending chills through me. I wrapped my arms around his broad shoulders and stood on my toes to take another kiss.
Could this week get any more incredible? This thing with Jake was obviously happening. I was a sea witch and could command water. I had a magical family. Mr. and Mrs. G were angels. And I was in charge of the Shaggy Puppy.
Had I forgotten anything?
"Get a room." I heard a deep voice come up from the floor.
Jake and I gasped.
"Pudgie?"
The kitten arched his back and hissed up at me. "It's about time you heard me." His voice was deep, sarcastic, and very male. "I've been waiting for you to stop being such an idiot and listen to me. Don't you dare call me Pudgie again. My name is Steve."
Vamping and Glamping, the next Enchanted Shores title, is available now. Click here to keep reading about Sadie, Jake, and Steve! Or turn the page to read chapter one.
Vamping and Glamping
Chapter One
"$6,432!" I signed my name with a flourish and handed the check to the Enchanted Shores town clerk, meeting the property tax deadline with minutes to spare. Sweet relief flooded through me. I could keep my house!
The clerk let the check flutter down to his desk, then glanced up at me and sniffed, saying nothing. His bald head reflected the ceiling's fluorescent lights.
Wasn't it his job to accept tax payments? It hadn't been easy pulling these funds together. I pushed my hair behind my ear and continued, "1419 Oak Street? My deadline was today."
Tapping his computer mouse with an aggressive index finger, the clerk scrolled through spread sheets.
I slid the check closer to his side of the desk.
"I'll need your name," the clerk droned.
"Sadie Summer."
"You owe $4,832," the clerk said finally, peering down at the check. He pushed it toward me. "This is wrong."
"It's for this year's taxes—and next!" I'd received a signing bonus and promotion at my job with the Shaggy Puppy hair salon, so I could afford to get next year's taxes out of the way too.
The clerk rolled his eyes. "Where'd you get that amount? I haven't even sent you a bill for next year!"
"I guess-timated!" I said proudly. I nodded and lifted an eyebrow at my kitten, Pudgie, who still allowed me to keep him in my backpack, even though his name was Steve now. And he could talk.
"Are you on allergy medicine? We don't 'guess-timate' in the town tax office!" The clerk pulled a tissue from an extra-large box on his desk and blew his nose hard, making a snorting sound.
"I'm being proactive," I said with pride.
He swabbed at his nose. "We haven't even opened the books for next year yet!" he hissed. His face turned a purplish shade of red.
"Sorry?" I said. He didn't have to get so angry. I'd thought he would have been happy to receive money early.
Ever since I'd learned that the small town of Enchanted Shores was full of paranormals living side by side with humans, I'd been wondering if everyone I knew was human—or something else. Maybe this clerk was a boar shifter if such a thing existed. Maybe a demon.
"Told you so," Steve mewed. "The town doesn't want to receive next year's taxes yet. They have a system. You're disrupting it."
"Is that a cat?" The clerk jumped up and backed away from us. "You need to get that thing out of here."
Everyone else just heard a kitten meowing whenever Steve spoke to me. They didn't know how lucky they were. I heard every disapproving word. I closed the top of my backpack to quiet him.
"Thing!" Steve meowed, pushing his little kitten head out of the backpack. "Thing?"
"Get out!" The clerk waved his hand at us. "Go! I'm highly allergic."
"So we're good then?" I said, backing to the door. "With the check?"
"Just go!" the clerk cried, pointing to the door.
I walked into the hallway, closing the door behind me. I had to smile. "That didn't take as long as I thought it would."
"Thing?" Steve was still fuming.
"There, there, Pudgie." I pulled him out and kissed the top of his head until he settled into my arms. "I'm sure he didn't mean to call you a thing."
"How many times do I need to tell you? My name is Steve." For reasons I didn't quite understand, only I could hear Steve's deep, male voice—or knew he was anything other than an adorable black kitten with white paws and whiskers.
I guessed it was part of the whole ‘Surprise! You're a sea witch’ thing. Whatever.
I hadn't figured out what Steve was exactly. Besides a talking cat, I mean. When I'd asked him to explain himself this morning he hid under the bed until I'd dropped the subject.
Was Steve a genie?
A witch?
A kitten shifter? I laughed quietly as I trotted down the stairs of town hall.
In the lobby of Enchanted Shores' town hall, Jake leaned against the wall, reading something on his phone as he waited. He wore what I was realizing was his daily uniform: blue flannel shirt, faded jeans, and work boots. His wavy golden hair touched the top of his collar.
I sighed, my heart twirling in my chest. I still couldn't believe Jake was waiting for me. Or how much everything had changed in one week. Last Monday, I hadn't even known Jake—or his family. Now I couldn’t imagine my life without them.
"Hi," I said, touching his shoulder.
Jake turned to me, his blue eyes twinkling as he broke into a grin. "All set?" he asked, leaning down and giving me a kiss on the lips.
I felt a shiver of desire. Jake Serrano, kind, loyal, and the hottest fisherman this side of the Indian Ocean, just gave me, Sadie Summer, fledgling hair salon manager, former orphan, and magical sea witch, a kiss. And I kissed him back.
Sigh.
I was still amazed that Jake and I were a thing. And we were having our first official date tonight, complete with fancy restaurant and wine—and everything that came after. Another shiver swam through me. I took a deep breath. All I had to do first was dive to the bottom of the ocean to visit my long-lost magical relatives. And swim back to Enchanted Shores afterwards, of course. Then… tonight. A wave of desire tickled me all the way to my toes.
Get a grip, Sadie!
And the talking kitten in my arms? He never left my side. I was even used to his new name, Steve, although I still liked to call him Pudgie just to watch his claws pop out and his fur stand on end.
He hated that name.
>
As it turned out, grumpy kittens were fun to tease. Especially when they could talk back.
We all walked outside into the sunny day. A cool breeze gusted, blowing my blond hair across my face. I pushed it back.
"What's next on your list of things to do?" Jake asked. He petted Pudgie's head and then took my hand.
"Are you really doing all my errands with me today?" I asked.
Jake nodded. "Now that Nate is back in the office, I can take a few days off and there's nothing I'd rather do than help you."
Warm pleasure coursed through me. I smiled. "In that case," I said, "I think what I most I need is another kiss."
"Your wish is my command." And then he kissed me.
He was an amazing kisser.
Jake had been obliged to run his family's shipping corporation when his brother Nate was in the hospital. Their entire family was bear shifters and Nate had accidentally hibernated, even though bear shifters never hibernated. It was considered uncivilized. I was still getting used to the idea that bear shifters were a thing. I'd even seen Jake shift into a huge grizzly. It took some getting used to, but I'd get there.
Especially if he kept kissing me like this.
I had to lean on his chest to catch my breath. "Next up is to check in with Hannah," I said after I’d recovered, leading the way toward the Shaggy Puppy hair salon.
Hannah was my best friend and fellow stylist. It was just the two of us at the Shaggy Puppy now. "If I'm going to see my family, I need to make sure Hannah's cool with my being away," I told Jake.
Last night my aunt had summoned me by appearing in my water bottle and insisting I come home. She was the one who told me about my fledgling magical powers. I figured I could get in and out in an hour, tops, once I swam to their magical world—wherever that was.
I'd been kind of busy last night saving myself from a man named Eddie who had tried to kidnap and ransom me—to the very same family I would meet later today. Eddie was locked up in magic jail now so I could visit my family.
They lived somewhere under the sea.
Shifting and Bewitching (Enchanted Shores Book 1) Page 12
