by Amy Boyles
“Not as beautiful as you,” he said.
I nudged him with my shoulder. “You’re so sweet.”
“Has nothing to do with it. I speak the truth, woman.”
I laughed. “Thanks.” We walked in silence for a few minutes. “Listen, I know you said you weren’t getting me anything, but I got you a gift.”
“You shouldn’t have.”
I handed him the cuffs wrapped in bright red paper. “Yeah, well, just because you think it’s stupid for us to exchange gifts doesn’t mean I do.”
“Thank you.” Axel smiled. “You didn’t have to.”
“I know. Anyway, open it.”
He unwrapped the package and revealed the arm cuffs. “The symbols to connect with animals.”
I smirked. “I got a pair, too. To see if we can connect when you’re a werewolf.”
“Pepper,” he warned. Then Axel changed. His face cracked into a smile, and love bloomed in my heart. “I love them. Thank you.”
He kissed me lightly. “You’re welcome. I hope they work.”
Axel stowed them in his pocket. “Me too.”
“Come on. Isn’t it almost time for the wishes to be revealed?” I started to walk toward the park.
“Not quite. I’ve got something for you.”
I whirled around. “Are you kidding?”
He shook his head.
“You’re the one who said no presents.”
He rocked back on his heels. “Did you really think I wasn’t going to get you anything?”
“Yes.”
“If I didn’t get you, my girlfriend, something for Christmas, I would’ve expected you to break up with me.”
“I almost did,” I snapped. Stopped. “Not really, but I was pretty ticked.”
He laughed. “I know. It was so funny.” He must’ve seen the dark look on my face because his face sobered. “Pepper, did you really think I wasn’t going to get you anything?”
“Yes,” I whimpered.
“You were wrong.” He hooked a finger under my chin and tipped my face to meet his. “So very wrong.”
I felt something slip into my palm. I glanced down and saw a velvet box.
“Open it.”
The lid top sprang back. Inside lay a gold locket. “What’s this?”
Axel pulled it out and secured it behind my neck. “It’s a charm locket. Meant for protection. It’s been in my family for years.”
I fingered the gold. “And you’re giving it to me?”
His lips brushed mine. “You need protecting. Pretty sure tonight proves it.”
It was gorgeous, and I loved it. I threw my arms around Axel’s neck and kissed him. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”
His arms tightened around me. “You’re welcome. We stared at each other for a moment, and then he released his hold and threaded his fingers through mine.
“Come on, let’s go check out the wishing snowman.”
I followed him to the center of town, where it appeared that half the population had shown up. We wove through the crowd until we found our families.
“You ready?” I said to Amelia and Cordelia.
“I didn’t wish for anything,” Cordelia said.
Garrick Young walked up behind her and hugged my cousin close. “You’ve got just about everything you need, huh?”
Cordelia hugged him back. “I sure do.”
“Well, I wished for something,” Amelia said.
Cordelia hitched a brow. “What’s that?”
“Not telling,” Amelia said happily. “Not saying one thing.”
The snowman’s black top hat quivered. It lit up, sparkling as if covered by stars. A pop sounded and a hundred slips of paper sailed up into the sky and slowly fluttered down. They zipped and zoomed through the crowd, stopping when the slip found its recipient and waiting while the person slowly took the paper.
More and more papers clipped through the sky, and my heart started to sink as I realized my wish wouldn’t be granted.
“Oh my gosh,” Amelia yelled. “It’s been granted. My wish! It’s been granted!”
Right then a slip of paper whizzed by me. It stopped and fluttered back. The paper hovered by my face.
“Take it,” Axel nudged. “It’s yours.”
My hands trembled. I plucked the sheet from the air and opened it.
Your wish has been granted.
Those were the only words written.
“What’d you wish for?” Axel said. “You can tell me now since it’s been granted.”
I opened my mouth to explain when a car came to a stop off to the side. Two men stepped out. One was tall and bald, the other tall with a mound of gray hair.
They walked up to Amelia and Cordelia.
Amelia’s eyes widened when she saw them. “My wish! It’s already been granted.”
“Huh?” Cordelia said.
The men stopped. The bald one spoke first. “Amelia, Cordelia?”
“Yes,” Cordelia said suspiciously.
“Girls,” he said, tears pricking his eyes, “we’re your fathers. We’ve come to see you.”
“Dad!” Amelia yelled happily.
“What?” Cordelia’s head snapped to Amelia. “Is this what you wished for?”
“Yep.” Amelia was so proud. “Our dads are here. We can finally get to know them.”
“Girls,” the gray-haired one said, “how about a hug?”
From out of nowhere Mint and Licky appeared. My gaze swept from my aunts to my cousins and then to their genie fathers. The genie power in my cousins might turn to chaos like their mother’s magic.
It looked like trouble was brewing in Magnolia Cove once again.
I turned to Axel. “This should be interesting.”
* * *
<<<<>>>>
THANK Y’ALL!
Pepper’s adventures continue in Southern Potions, the next book in the Sweet Tea Witch Mysteries Series. On sale soon!
I love to hear from you! Please feel free to drop me a line anytime. You can email me [email protected].
Also by Amy Boyles
SWEET TEA WITCH MYSTERIES
SOUTHERN MAGIC
SOUTHERN SPELLS
SOUTHERN MYTHS
SOUTHERN SORCERY
SOUTHERN CURSES
SOUTHERN KARMA
SOUTHERN MAGIC THANKSGIVING
SOUTHERN MAGIC CHRISTMAS
SOUTHERN POTIONS
* * *
SOUTHERN GHOST WRANGLER MYSTERIES
SOUL FOOD SPIRITS
HONEYSUCKLE HAUNTING
* * *
BLESS YOUR WITCH SERIES
SCARED WITCHLESS
KISS MY WITCH
QUEEN WITCH
QUIT YOUR WITCHIN'
FOR WITCH'S SAKE
DON'T GIVE A WITCH
WITCH MY GRITS
FRIED GREEN WITCH
SOUTHERN WITCHING
Y’ALL WITCHES
HOLD YOUR WITCHES
* * *
SOUTHERN SINGLE MOM PARANORMAL MYSTERIES
The Witch’s Handbook to Hunting Vampires
The Witch’s Handbook to Catching Werewolves
The Witch’s Handbook to Trapping Demons
About the Author
Amy Boyles grew up reading Judy Blume and Christopher Pike. Somehow, the combination of coming of age books and teenage murder mysteries made her want to be a writer. After graduating college at DePauw University, she spent some time living in Chicago, Louisville, and New York before settling back in the South. Now, she spends her time chasing two preschoolers while trying to stir up trouble in Silver Springs, Alabama, the fictional town where Dylan Apel and her sisters are trying to master witchcraft, tame their crazy relatives, and juggle their love lives. She loves to hear from readers! You can email her at [email protected].
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