Dark Moon Magic

by Jerri Drennen

  Dark Moon Magic

  JERRI DRENNEN

  Kindle Edition

  Copyright © 2012 Jerri Drennen

  Cover art by Elaina Lee

  Edited by Tara Chevrestt

  All rights reserved

  This book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any existing means without written permission from Jerri Drennen.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  DEDICATION

  I dedicate this book to my sister Cindy who kept me motivated until the very end, and to Tara Chevrestt, my editor, and Elaine Lee, my illustrator, who helped to make it the best book it could be.

  Other Books by Jerri Drennen:

  Agent in Training

  Her Man Flint

  Untouched

  Unplanned

  Fire & Ice (available in e-book and print)

  Three stories by Jerri Drennen are published

  in an anthology entitled Aztec Security:

  “Inventing the Abbotts”

  “Mauvelous”

  “Caddy-Did”

  CHAPTER ONE

  Regina Moon flipped the sign hanging in the window of the door to OPEN, then glanced around her shop and smiled. After three grueling weeks of work, Healthy Glow was now ready for business. Time to see how well health food and holistic medicines fared in the small town of Groves, Arkansas.

  She took a calming breath, the butterflies in her stomach easing somewhat at the smell of the burnt sage and botanical oils in the air. The mingling of scents made her feel reassured about her future, despite all the negativity she’d received from her friends back in Little Rock. They’d all said trying to sell anything New Age in a town so clearly old school would fail. But she refused to believe that. Most people were open to new things—and everyone wanted to look and feel better. Besides, she had Internet sales to fall back on if things started slow.

  Regina strolled over to a rack filled with healthy meal cookbooks and homeopathic guides and readjusted the space between each. Everything had to be perfect. Word of mouth was crucial for a business such as hers, and she needed all the positive reviews she could get.

  At the counter, she looked over all the precious stones placed in small, clear cubes that sat adjacent to an ancient-looking cash register. Amethysts to zircons. Cat’s-eye to zebra stones. Any type of rock or crystal one could imagine, Regina more than likely carried it.

  Noting all the stones had her fingering the piece of clear quartz hanging on a silver chain around her neck. She always wore it. The colorless mineral had a way of making her feel safe—or as safe as she could under the circumstances.

  Next to all the cubes sat a black cardholder, her newly designed business cards tucked neatly inside. She’d ordered a thousand and hoped they’d go fast.

  The jingling of the brass bell above the door made Regina’s heart skip a beat. My very first customer. She smoothed the lines of her gray pencil skirt, wanting to look her best.

  Curses. Was that a scuffmark on the only pair of black, calf-high boots she owned? Why hadn’t she noticed it? So much for a perfect first day.

  Regina smiled at the middle-aged lady walking toward her, a lackluster complexion indicating a sense of unwellness. She could help with that, yet the fact the woman appeared to have no aura baffled her. Everyone she’d met until today had always given off some type of glowing hue, indicating the type of person they were. So why didn’t this woman have one?

  Then again, you could tell she wasn’t feeling well. Maybe that was why the woman’s aura was nonexistent.

  “Good Morning. Can I help you?”

  “I’m Sylvia Heart. I’m from the Groves town council. I’m responsible for welcoming new businesses to our fair city. I meant to come by a few days ago before you opened, but I’ve been a little under the weather.”

  “Nice to meet you, Sylvia. I’m Regina Moon. All my friends call me Reggie.”

  The woman gave a half smile, then glanced around the store. Her gaze narrowed as they fell on the shelf of incense and burners in one corner. She turned back to Regina. “What exactly do you sell here at Healthy Glow?”

  “A bit of everything, but I mainly concentrate on healthy living and holistics.”

  Sylvia’s gaze narrowed further. “Holistics?”

  Regina studied the woman. Her dry skin, listless dark hair, and short, brittle nails suggested she was definitely missing something in her diet. Regina had a few things in stock that could help, but from the way Sylvia looked at her and the contents in the store, she doubted the woman would listen.

  Sylvia tilted her head, as if turning her nose up at her. “Did the council know what type of shop you were opening when you were approved for a license?”

  “Of course.” Her first day and she was already being looked at as some kind of charlatan. Regina bit her bottom lip. What was she going to do? Her future depended on this working out.

  Chocolate.

  She reached under the counter and retrieved the crème-filled bonbons she’d bought especially for the grand opening. She thumbed open the top on the fancy gold box and held it out to the older woman. “You have to try one of these.”

  Sylvia glanced down at the treats, her eyes widening. “I really shouldn’t … well, maybe just one.”

  When the woman’s expression changed from guarded to orgasmic, Regina released the breath she’d been holding. Chocolate worked this time, but what would happen on the next go-around? Maybe she’d have to stock the confection. Too bad that wasn’t feasible, since they cost thirty dollars a dozen.

  She started to return the bonbons to their hiding place beneath the counter, but before she could, Sylvia grabbed another and cleared her throat. “Do you carry any special lotions?”

  “I do,” Regina said enthusiastically. “I’ll show you what I have.” She led the woman to a revolving metal rack holding an array of perfumed lotions, shampoos, and bath oils. “Do you have a favorite scent? If I don’t have it in stock, I can make it with some essential oils.”

  “I’ve always loved the smell of lilacs. Do you carry that?”

  Regina’s spirits lifted. Lilac was one of her bestsellers on-line. “Yes. I have a whole line of lilac products.” She leaned down, grabbed an eight ounce bottle, and handed it to her potential client. “That’s the lotion. I have shampoo and bath oil as well.” The essence of that specific flower had an uplifting quality and could only help the woman.

  Sylvia unscrewed the top and sniffed, a look of sheer pleasure racing across her face. “It’s heavenly. I’ll take all three.”

  Regina reached for the shampoo and bath oil bottles before heading for the counter. She quickly rang the sale, bagged the products, and tossed in some supplement packets she thought would help the woman’s well-being. As an afterthought, she also tucked in one of her business cards. “That will be thirty-two, fifty. I gave you a few vitamin samples. If you like them, come back, and I’ll get you the full-sized bottles.”

  The woman smiled and handed her the money.

  The bell jingled, and both women turned toward the door.

  Regina’s jaw went slack at the sight of the tall man entering. He was lean, yet nicely built, with taut, muscular shoulders that a tan button-down shirt molded to like a second skin. He had a thick head of sandy-blond hair, which stood up in the front, and his eyes reminded her of a clear summer sky.

  “Shut your mouth, dear.” Sylvia shook her head. “That’s our sheriff. Don’t get any romantic notions. Many women have tried, yet failed, to catch him since he came to live here, and he’s still single
at thirty-six.”

  Heat raced over Regina’s cheeks. She prayed the man hadn’t overheard. All she needed was for him to think she was interested.

  She wasn’t. Although, the sheriff of Groves was definitely a yummy piece of man candy. But good looks didn’t always equate to stability. Something she’d found out the hard way.

  “Morning, ladies,” he said as he reached Sylvia’s side.

  Regina was immediately struck by the deep baritone of his voice and the spicy musk scent radiating off him. An intense dark red aura surrounded his being, indicating he had a strong will but was grounded to the earth. Both good qualities in a man, or anyone, for that matter.

  “I’m Sheriff Langston. I thought I should come by and introduce myself. Apparently I missed you when you were present at our town meetings.” He turned to smile at Sylvia. “How are you feeling, Mrs. Heart?”

  “Better. Thanks for asking.”

  Their whole exchange amused Regina. Middle-aged or not, Sylvia Heart clearly found the man attractive. The blush on her face was a dead giveaway.

  * * *

  Trace considered the woman standing behind the counter with interest. The word eccentric summed her up. She looked nothing like anyone he’d seen in or around Groves, not with that fiery red hair flowing dramatically over her shoulders in a mass of rioting curls. He couldn’t see where the coiled ringlets ended on her back, but they looked long and damned soft. Her face was almost heart-shaped, except for the cute, little, rounded chin. Her eyes angled slightly and were the color of high-glossed steel—definitely a shade he’d never seen before. Around her neck dangled a strange looking rock, and a tinkling when she moved her hand had Trace noticing the numerous bangles on her wrist. Not to mention the large rings covering half her fingers. Bit of overkill if you asked him.

  She cleared her throat, and he realized he’d been staring.

  “If there’s anything you need, don’t hesitate to call.” Holy Mary, mother of God. Did that sound like some kind of invitation? What the hell was wrong with him? He knew better than to say anything that gave a woman the wrong idea.

  He glanced around the small shop. A huge bronze eagle—or was it a lion?—caught his eye. Trace studied it for a few moments, wondering what it symbolized, then looked at her and frowned. For some reason, she seemed nervous about where his attentions lie. But why?

  “Nice to meet you, Sheriff. I appreciate you coming by,” she said in a tone bordering on rude.

  Okay. That was his cue to go. He had a desk full of paperwork to finish anyway. He didn’t have time to figure out what this woman was about. Hell, he didn’t care as long as she didn’t cause trouble in Groves.

  “Have a nice day, ladies.” He nodded to Sylvia and made a beeline for the door. Outside, he felt his equilibrium return. Something about the woman or her shop had him feeling off-kilter. Maybe it’d been the strange smell in the air. He couldn’t place it. He’d definitely keep his eyes and ears open when it came to her. She didn’t fit the mold for a small town resident. That alone could stir up a hornet’s nest, since some people in the community didn’t take to different, and Trace needed no more problems from them.

  Shaking off the thought, he started down the street toward the police station and spotted Becky Riverside—too late to politely avoid her. The woman was relentless in her pursuit. How many times did he have to turn her down before she got the message he wasn’t interested?

  “Sheriff,” she called, waving wildly at him.

  Trace winced, her high-pitched voice sending a tremor up his spine, and the bright yellow sundress she wore, the sun shining directly on it, almost blinded him.

  He sucked in a fortifying breath and pasted on a smile he knew must look forced. He’d try to be nice, even though she was impossible to shake. Today, he’d just explain he was busy and hope she got the message, although for her that seemed a bit of a stretch.

  She raced across the street to greet him, her amber eyes dancing with excitement. “I saw you coming out of the new store. What’s it all about?”

  “I really don’t know, Becky. Just dropped in to say hi to the owner.”

  “Yeah. I saw her at a few of the council meetings this spring. Very strange woman—what with the way she dressed. Always in black. I love color myself.” She smiled brightly at Trace. “While I have you here, I was wondering if you’d like to come by for dinner tonight? You owe me that rain check, remember?”

  “Sorry. I can’t. I’m officiating at Bingo.”

  “Right. I forgot about that. Maybe I’ll come by and play for a while. We could get ice cream afterward.”

  “I’ll have rounds to do.” Trace shifted the belt at his hip and glanced around before returning his attention to her.

  Her Colgate smile had slipped a notch. “Yeah. Okay. Maybe another time, then?”

  “Sure.” Trace knew he shouldn’t continue to encourage her, but he didn’t know what else to say without coming across as mean. They’d been at this game for years. He’d have thought the woman would have given up and moved on to someone else by now. Garrett, his only deputy, thought she was cute and would jump at the chance for an invitation to share a meal with her. Too bad Becky didn’t seem to notice him. She was too busy trying to snag Trace, as was every other single woman in a fifty-mile radius. Apparently, as town sheriff, he was considered a catch.

  “I have to get back to work, Becky. Maybe I’ll see you at Bingo tonight.”

  “I’ll be there,” she said, reaching out to cop a feel of his bicep before sighing loud enough for him to hear. “Have a great day, Trace.”

  Trace fought an eye-roll and headed for the station. He loved his job, loved the small town of Groves, but with all the single women vying for his attention, he wasn’t sure how much more he could stand, since he had no intention of getting married again.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Regina stepped inside the VFW hall and glanced around, the smell of stale coffee and popcorn overwhelming her.

  Why had she decided to come? She’d never played Bingo in her life, not even as a child, but Sylvia thought it would be a good idea for her to get to know the residents of Groves—put a face to her business and start to assimilate herself into the community.

  She scanned the tables peppered here and there with people, unsure of what she was supposed to do.

  “B three,” echoed over a loudspeaker.

  Regina recognized the voice. Sheriff Langston. Her eyes swept the room, spotting him sitting at a card table, turning a handle on some wire contraption. He reached in and pulled something out. “I twenty-three.”

  The man’s voice vibrated like an electrical current down Regina’s backbone. Tonight, he wore a light blue chambray shirt, which highlighted the color of his eyes, and she noticed how full his lips were beneath them.

  “Are you going to play?” a man asked, forcing her attention away from the sheriff’s mouth.

  “I’m not sure. I’ve never played Bingo before.”

  The young, brown-haired man standing next to her smiled. “You must be the owner of Healthy Glow.”

  She frowned. “How did you know?”

  “We don’t get many new people in Groves. Trace told me he met you today.”

  Regina’s frown deepened. “And you are?”

  “Oh, sorry. I’m Garrett Sherwood. Trace’s deputy.”

  The ruddy color of his cheeks and nervous stance had her thinking he wasn’t used to talking to women he didn’t know. But that didn’t stop him from doing a full body scan, his gaze stopping abruptly on her chest. Men were all the same. Give them a rack to stare at and they’ll be happy to do so.

  He looked up, knew he’d been caught, and turned red.

  Regina sighed. She thought it best to move on and learn how to play. That was why she was here, after all. That, and to meet the people in town. “So, explain this game to me.”

  “Okay. I’ll get us some cards.” Garrett scratched at the nape of his neck. “Find us a seat and I’ll teach
you the basics.”

  She glanced around the tables. Sitting with women would be best. Older ones. They were more accepting.

  “N forty-five,” the sheriff said.

  Regina turned and found his gaze on her.

  She sucked in a breath and blindly found a table. Regina didn’t care who she sat with. She was too busy shaking off the rush of intense heat coursing through her body, making it hard to breathe. No man had ever made her feel so frazzled. Maybe it was just fatigue. That had to be it. Because lately men just gave her the willies. Especially after the way her ex-boyfriend tried to end their relationship—with her dead. Psychopathic lunatic.

  Garrett dropped down in the seat next to hers and placed a card on the table in front of her. “Open your hand.” He grinned.

  The boy had a cute smile. She’d give him that.

  Regina stuck her hand out, and he dumped a bunch of green see-through orbs onto her palm. She stared at them, unsure of what she was supposed to do. She glanced at the people around her table. Okay. They were markers of some kind.

  “O sixty-five.”

  Regina squirmed in her chair. The sheriff’s voice alone could give a woman an orgasm. What would that baritone be like whispering sweet nothings in her ear? The mere thought had her nipples puckering. She hoped Mr. Ogler next to her didn’t notice.

  “You have that one.” He pointed to it on her card.

  She stared at the number and realized she needed to cover the spot with the green circle thingy. Regina placed one over the sixty-five and smiled at Garrett, who again turned red. He was worse than an adolescent. She’d think the guy was a virgin if he wasn’t at least twenty-five. No man his age could be one. Could he?

  “G forty-seven.” The sheriff’s words cut into her thoughts and diverted her attention back to him. He looked up, and their eyes met.