Power of the Witch

by Deanna Chase

  “I see. Well hold off on that thought for a bit. I think there is a way to salvage this deal without marrying you off to the Manchesters. But I’m going to need your help.”

  “Doing what?” Brian asked, pressing a hand to his forehead. Why was he part of this family? There was a reason he’d moved five hundred miles away from them.

  “We need to talk Manchester down, but he isn’t going to be receptive if you’re flaunting a fiancée. Can you get here this afternoon?”

  No. The real answer was yes, he could. But there was nothing short of a medical emergency that was going to get him down to southern California after the ultimatum Manchester had given him. He recapped the conversation for his father and said, “I don’t think either of us want to let Manchester feel like he’s in a power position. If I go down there, he’ll think he calls all the shots.”

  “Right.” His father sucked in a sharp breath. “Okay. Never mind. I’ll deal with him. Just… for now, keep a low profile.”

  “Don’t I always?” Brian asked. “No one is writing society gossip pieces about me up here.”

  “No, but if anyone finds out Manchester was expecting an engagement that isn’t coming, don’t think being in Keating Hollow is going to give you any cover. The vultures will be circling.”

  That was fair enough. The Knox name was well known enough that if the gossip rags caught wind of something, they’d swoop in like seagulls on a lobster dock. No thanks. He loved his quiet life in Keating Hollow. He didn’t need any reporters to mess it up. “Got it. I’ll talk to you later. I need to get to work.”

  “Do you even have any?” his father asked. “I heard Manchester pulled the plug with you.”

  Brian rolled his eyes. “Yes, Dad. I have a thriving online supply business, remember? There’s always something to deal with. Honestly, I don’t care about Manchester’s design. Now I’m free to find other clients and not be locked in with his no compete clause. The man was horrible on all levels.”

  “Is that so?” his father asked.

  “Yep. Just be careful what you concede to him. He’ll exploit it all. Trust me. Make sure your contracts are tight.”

  “They always are.”

  Chapter Eight

  The sweet scent of caramel and chocolate filled the air as Shannon opened the display case to clean the shelves. She hadn’t had a break all day at A Spoonful of Magic and couldn’t wait to get home to put her feet up.

  It was late in the afternoon, about twenty minutes before closing when exhaustion settled over Shannon’s weary limbs. After her night out at the skating rink with Brian and the two teenagers, she’d said goodnight to Levi and Silas, leaving them in front of the television, and had gone straight to bed. Unfortunately, she hadn’t done much sleeping. In fact, she’d lain in her bed reliving the kiss Brian had given her, wishing she’d had the nerve to invite him inside. Instead, she’d kissed him one last time, told him she had a great time, and then hurried inside before she caved. Asking him to stay was a mistake she wasn’t going to make again.

  Considering how tired she was, she was once again grateful for her air magic. It allowed her to wave her wand and send the mop around the confectionary shop floor, saving her the physical effort. Just ten more minutes and she’d be free to go home, curl up in her yoga pants, and eat leftover mac and cheese. She couldn’t wait.

  The mop had just about finished its job when the phone started to jingle like a set of bells. Miss Maple told her once that if they had to have a phone, the ring could at least be pleasant. Shannon agreed, but today she was just irritated that someone was calling five minutes before closing.

  Pasting on a smile that she hoped would force a cheery tone, she answered, “A Spoonful of Magic, how can we charm your day today?”

  “Shannon?” Her mother’s voice was harsh as she barked into the phone. “Where the hell is Silas? We have a meeting tomorrow morning that he can’t miss.”

  Shannon bit back her groan while trying to ignore the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. “Good afternoon, Mother. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? How are you?”

  “Not great. Where’s your brother. He is with you, isn’t he?”

  The desire to just hang up and pretend the phone call had never happened was strong. But Shannon couldn’t do that. Silas was, after all, still a minor, and although Shannon disagreed with just about every decision her parents made when it came to Silas and what was best for him, they at least deserved to know he was safe. “Yes. He’s here in Keating Hollow, but he’s not here with me at work. He’s probably at home or out hiking or something.”

  “Hiking! He can’t do that. His new show starts filming next week. If he hurts himself, that’s going to be a huge problem. I need you to find him and make sure he’s on the next plane to Los Angeles. Text me his flight information, and I’ll have a car waiting for him.”

  The bells over the door of the shop chimed, and Shannon glanced up to find Silas and Brian both walking through the door. Silas had a smirk on his face while Brian was holding a bouquet of sunflowers. Brian mouthed, Hi, and sent her a sexy grin that sent a bolt of pleasure through her.

  Whoa. Where was the fan when she needed one?

  “Shannon? Did you hear me?” Gigi Ansell asked.

  “I heard you. But he’s not going to get on a plane, Mom. His car his here, and as far as I can tell, he doesn’t want to do this new show. Didn’t he tell you that?”

  “Mom?” Silas whispered and turned pale as he scowled.

  Shannon nodded, sending him a sympathetic look.

  “Pfft. We’ll hire someone to drive it back. Or you can do it. It’s been far too long since you’ve been home to see us. I swear, that sleepy town is like quicksand and has swallowed you whole. You need to get out of there before you can’t remember how to interact with the rest of the world.”

  “I’m not driving down to LA.” The last time she’d left, she’d vowed to never go back. Her parents had ruined it for her.

  “Fine. Get on a plane with Silas then. It’s not a problem to hire a driver. I’ll expect you both tomorrow.”

  “That’s just not possible. I have a job here. I can’t pick up and do whatever you ask at a moment’s notice,” Shannon said, holding her emotions back. If she didn’t, she’d be screaming into the phone.

  “How many times have I told you that you don’t need to work at that ridiculous little shop?” Gigi said, her disapproval coming through loud and clear. “There is a job waiting for you at the management company until we can get your portfolio back into shape. You just need to—”

  “Mother, I don’t need to do anything. I like it here. I’m happy here. It can’t be that bad. You raised me here.” The Ansell’s had moved to Keating Hollow when Shannon was just seven years old. Her dad’s mother had lived there, and he’d convinced Gigi they needed to take care of his mother in her golden years. Gigi had gone along with it grudgingly. She’d had big plans of breaking into Hollywood. She’d had a few minor roles, but nothing that paid the bills. So when money was tight and Grandma Ansell needed a caretaker, the three of them moved.

  Eleven years later, when Silas was only four years old, Grandma Ansell had passed, and Shannon was entering UCLA, the entire family moved to southern California. Gigi was intent on turning Shannon and Silas into stars. Four years later, Shannon had graduated from college and immediately moved back to Keating Hollow. She was done with call backs, being told she needed to lose ten more pounds, and most of all, answering to her critical mother. Her only regret was leaving Silas alone with them.

  That was when Gigi Ansell had turned her entire focus on Silas. In the past nine years, he’d modeled for more catalogs and appeared in more commercials than she could count. But unlike Shannon, he actually liked the work. It was too bad their mother was doing her best to ruin his love for the business.

  “I was forced to move to Keating Hollow. You know that. Your father… Well, he’s always gotten his way when it’s come to our marriage, but ever
since he slept with that woman, things have changed. I call the shots now. In fact, he’s out schmoozing the execs from Stream Box. It’s a new streaming service, and I’d bet my new Louboutins that I could get you signed on as part of the ensemble cast in their new show that’s coming out next year. What do you say? Should I set up a meeting for tomorrow afternoon?”

  Betting her Louboutins would mean she was more than a hundred percent certain she could get what she wanted. If there was one thing her mother really cared about, it was her designer shoes. Status was everything to her.

  “No thanks,” Shannon said, pretending it was no big deal that she was casually turning down a meeting with an exec big wig. In fact, it wasn’t to her. She’d liked acting, but didn’t care for the business end. And if it meant her mother managing her career, that was a hard pass. “I’ll be here in Keating Hollow with Silas. I think you need to give him a break. He’s burned out, Mom. Let him rest a few days and then give him a call.”

  “Rest? He’s been off for over a week already.” Gigi scoffed. “He’s seventeen, not forty-seven. All he needs to do is sleep in one day and he’ll be as good as new.”

  “Um, have you noticed him lately? He has bags under his eyes and is much paler than normal. I think the best thing you can do is give him a break,” Shannon said.

  “Gee, thanks, sis. Good to know you think I look like death,” Silas muttered.

  Shannon pressed her palm to the receiver and whispered, “Shh, I’m buying you a few days before you need to deal with her.”

  He raised his hands in a surrender motion and then sat down, sprawling out in one of the chairs.

  Her mother let out a very put-upon sigh. “Fine. But if he doesn’t answer when I call two days from now, I’m going to fly up there and bring him home myself.”

  “Mom, I don’t—”

  “Forget it, Shannon. This isn’t a game. It’s his entire career. If he needs to play in the redwoods for a few days, then fine. But I’m not going to let him hide out for the rest of the summer. He has commitments to deal with.”

  There was a distinct click, and Shannon knew her mother had ended the call. She replaced the receiver onto the store’s landline and walked over to the table to take a seat next to Silas.

  “Well?” he asked.

  Shannon rubbed at her temple. “I got you two days before her head explodes. She’s demanding that you talk to her then or she’ll come up here and get you herself.”

  He groaned and covered his face with his hands.

  “I’m sorry. Did you go see Lorna White today?” she asked, referring to the town’s attorney.

  “No.” He dropped his head onto the table and started to gently knock his skull against the wood.

  “Don’t knock something loose,” Brian said with a slight chuckle. “I bet she’s still at her office if you want to go now.”

  He stopped his self-destruction and turned his head to look at Shannon. “Do you think I can trust her?”

  “Probably,” Shannon said. “Lorna is a small-town lawyer who doesn’t give a crap about prestige or pissing off the wrong person. In other words, Mom won’t have any influence over her, unlike some of the lawyers in Hollywood.”

  “Ugh. Fine.” He pushed himself up to his feet. “I’ll go talk to her.”

  “Do you want some company?” Shannon asked as she stood. She was dying to go with him, to hear with her own ears what Lorna might have to say, but she also knew Silas was tired of being handled. Some things he needed to deal with himself.

  “No. Not tonight. I just want to find out what’s involved and how long it will take. If it’s a six-month process, it’s hardly worth it, right?” he asked.

  “Right.” He’d be eighteen in just eight months. Anything that could drag on probably wasn’t worth the family drama.

  “I’ll see you back at home.” He moved to the front door, but just before he left, he turned to Brian and said, “Good luck, man.”

  Shannon raised an eyebrow at Brian. “What do you need luck for?”

  “This.” He handed her the bouquet of sunflowers, reached into a canvas bag she hadn’t noticed before, and pulled out a candle. After lighting it with just his thumb and forefinger, he placed it on the table and stepped back, circling his arm around Shannon’s waist.

  “Impressive,” she teased, referring to the minor display of his fire magic.

  He grinned down at her. “Wait for it.”

  Shannon eyed him suspiciously. “What’s—”

  The flame shot up into the air and morphed into a sparkling wand. The wand scribbled through the air, leaving behind the words, Will you have dinner with me?

  Shannon couldn’t help but be charmed. How cute was that?

  “If you’re not up for dinner, I’ll be content with a drink or a walk down by the river. I just wanted a moment alone with you since our date ended up including teenagers. Not that I didn’t enjoy them. Both Levi and Silas are good kids.”

  “They are.” Shannon said, casting him a sidelong glance. “Does this count as date number two?”

  She could see him mentally weighing how he wanted to answer her question. If he said yes, it would significantly up the chance she’d say yes. If he said no, he’d still have five more dates and plenty of time to plan them before the bet was over. “You told me yesterday the bet was for one date a week for six weeks, so no. This one doesn’t count. I’d just like to spend some time with you and get to know you a little better before the next date.”

  Hell, how could she say no to that? The fact was she didn’t want to say no. And after dealing with her nightmare of a mother, all she wanted was to put the conversation out of her mind. Brian was the perfect distraction. “Okay, sure. How about dinner at the pub and then a walk down by the river?”

  His lips split into a wide grin. “You don’t have to ask me twice.” He held his arm out to her. “Ready?”

  “Definitely.” She pulled her wand out of the holder at her waist, flicked the tip and sent the mop bucket back to its place in the still-open closet, and then reached over and turned out the lights before stepping out onto the cobbled sidewalk of Keating Hollow’s Main Street.

  Chapter Nine

  Brian slipped his hand into Shannon’s and ignored the strange pressure in his chest that had materialized the moment she’d agreed to the date. He’d fully expected her to say no, especially after he’d tried to impress her with his cheesy magic trick. He let out a small chuckle, both embarrassed and amused at his amateur dating moves.

  “What’s so funny?” Shannon asked. The sun was low in the sky, providing a warm glow that gave her features a luminosity in the late afternoon light.

  “Me. I can’t believe my fire trick actually worked.” He felt his face get hot and willed the flush to go away.

  Shannon laughed. “Okay, it was a little cheesy. But I like that. Anyone who can make me laugh gets bonus points.”

  “Is that why you said yes? You find me amusing?”

  “Yes… and no.” She shrugged one shoulder. “Honestly, I wanted a distraction from dealing with my mother. She always has a way of getting under my skin.”

  Brian let out a snort. “That sounds exactly like my relationship with my father. I also had one of those conversations today.”

  They shared a long glance, both of them silently commiserating with the other.

  He tugged her a little closer, steering her away from the sticky mess of a melted ice cream cone that had been left in front of Incantation Café.

  She glanced down at the sidewalk, and when she looked back up, there was a tender expression in her eyes. “Thanks.”

  “Don’t mention it.” He loved that he’d managed to work past her sassy outer layer to find her softer side. It made him want to do it again and again.

  The Keating Hollow Brewery was surprisingly quiet despite the fact that it was summer, a notoriously busy time of year for the town. Sadie, a petite blonde, rushed over to greet them. “Hey Shannon, Brian. Just the two of
you tonight?” she asked.

  “Yep.” Brian dropped Shannon’s hand and placed his on the small of her back.

  “What’s going on? Where is everyone?” Shannon asked as they followed Sadie to a table near the window.

  “There’s some sort of tasting party over at the Pelshes’ that Rex Holiday put together. Free wine does the trick every time.” She smiled. “But you know what? Even though my tips are going to suck tonight, I don’t really mind. It’s nice to have a break every once in a while.”

  “I hear you,” Shannon said. “No wonder the shop was slow this afternoon.”

  “Yeah.” Sadie nodded. “I think Rex is trying to gauge audience reactions to the wines he’s been working on with Mr. Pelsh. They’re testing their early blends and trying to decide which ones to put into production and which ones they want to age longer. I heard Mr. Pelsh also has some from last year that he bottled that they are going to try. It sounds like quite the community party if you ask me.”

  “It sure does,” Brian said, taking a menu from her. “But tonight I think I’ll just have Rhys’s new pear cider. I hear it’s really good.”

  “I want to try the apple,” Shannon said. Rhys was the brewery’s assistant manager and had recently been put in charge of producing ciders.

  After assuring them she’d be right back with their drinks, Sadie took off for the bar.

  “Isn’t Rex a friend of yours?” Shannon asked.

  Brian frowned. “He was until he started putting the moves on my girl at Jacob’s wedding reception.”

  Shannon let out a bark of laughter. “Your girl?”

  He nodded. “Bro code means hands off.”

  “Bro code?” She scoffed. “You can’t be serious.”

  “I’m dead serious. He already knew I had my eye on you. The fact that he put his hands all over you is a major foul. It might mean the end of a friendship that has lasted over a decade.”

  Shannon rolled her eyes. “We were dancing, not making out. And if you end your friendship over that, then you’re an idiot.”