Witch Bait

by Kate Allenton

  WITCH

  BAIT

  A Hex Sister Cozy Mystery

  (Tess Venture)

  Book 3

  Kate Allenton

  Copyright © 2018 Kate Allenton

  All rights reserved.

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

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work, in whole or in part, in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

  Published by Coastal Escape Publishing

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  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Sneak Peek Book 4

  Chapter 1

  “I’m not going,” Georgia said before lifting her cereal bowl to her lips and slurping the milk.

  My sister, Georgia Fontaine, watched me over the bowl’s edge from across the table. Angry energy poured off of her in uncontrollable waves, and I’d yet to figure out the origin. She didn’t want to be here in Canapoly Falls, North Carolina, much less at our grandmother’s magical inn.

  She wasn’t a sharer like some others I knew that liked to go on and on about whom they are and the fabulous places they’ve been and things they’ve done. I hardly knew much about her, but not from lack of trying on my part. I’d asked questions and she seemed to be a master at avoiding giving me any answers.

  It was apparent she wasn’t here out of the kindness of her heart. Her motives were unclear. Maybe the intrigue of finding out she had sisters stirred her appearance. One day she’d tell me if I was right.

  Today wasn’t that day. She didn’t care about information of our past, unlike me. I was still flabbergasted that I had not one sister but two who partially shared my DNA.

  We were as different as night and day. From her red hair and spirited attitude down to her ruby-red nail polish and matching lipstick. She was a looker but in a pin-up calendar kind of way. I had no doubt she hid the bite of a gator. Her animal nickname was probably a perfect fit.

  She’d been in town for two days, and I still knew nothing more than her name. Some detective I was. Maybe my murder-mystery-solving skills were getting rusty since my move from Venture Island to the haunted inn I’d inherited. My own life had been thrown into a tailspin and had just started to slow down. Maybe Georgia’s would, too, if she stayed around long enough to find out.

  Georgia swiped the milk from her chin with the back of her hand, and I turned my gaze to the inn’s appointment journal to see what, if any, surprises had been added to the day.

  The magical book liked to throw curve balls that I’d yet to find a way to stop everything from random guests to appointments being added right before my eyes. I was to adhere to each and every one of them for an entire year to earn my prize—the family history I sought.

  “You should reconsider. It will give you a chance to meet the residents in town. The ones I’ve met seem like good people,” I answered, staring down at the appointment entry labeled Hexford Sisters’ Welcoming Party scheduled for tomorrow night at the mayor’s mansion. At least it wasn’t something we’d be hosting.

  That would be us, two of the three Hexford sisters. Hexford was our grandmother and father’s last name. For reasons still not revealed, each of our mothers had left that behind and never looked back.

  “Good people? I doubt it. You don’t know them any more than I do, and looks can be deceiving,” she said, grabbing her cereal bowl and taking it to the sink to rinse out. “Take Friday for instance. He looks like a harmless house cat.” She gestured with her hand to the cat that jumped up onto the table.

  Friday wasn’t just a house cat but a man trapped in a puma’s body that could shapeshift into a cat. It was all still troubling to wrap my brain around. Apparently, the Hexfords knew how to carry out a grudge.

  “Leave me out of this,” Friday said.

  Yes, this was the new reality of my life. Even the man-cat could talk, and we’d hear and understand it, where others heard only meows. He was selective in who he’d reveal his secrets too. Kind of like my new sister, I was starting to realize.

  “The party is for the Hexford sisters. You don’t want me to go alone, do you?” I sighed, resting my hands on the open pages.

  “I don’t plan on being around long enough to make friends with the locals. Nobody makes me do anything I don’t want to do.” Georgia crossed her arms over her chest, shooting daggers from her eyes, waiting to see if I’d contradict her. “We have an appointment to see the attorney tomorrow afternoon. When that’s over, I’m out of here.”

  “No, we don’t,” I said, flipping the pages to see if I’d missed an entry.

  “Yes. We do.” She dropped her folded arms and eased the book closed. “That book doesn’t know everything.”

  It knew enough, just like our grandmother. “Mildred knew my weak spot, what I wanted most. Chances are she knew yours too,” I warned.

  The doorbell rang, interrupting our conversation, and Georgia sauntered in the direction to answer it. I had my work cut out for me to get her to agree. This conversation wasn’t over yet.

  I’d risen to follow when I heard Georgia speak in a sultry voice that rivaled a sex-kitten phone operator. “Well hello, boys. This must be my lucky day.”

  “Where’s Tess?” King’s voice made me grin. Maybe he’d let me borrow his handcuffs to use on Georgia to get her to the party.

  “Pity, that only leaves two,” Georgia said, pulling the door open for me to see who the other two visitors might be.

  My steps faltered. Standing on the porch with King was also my brother, Noah, and Ryder Shields.

  Things had just gotten messy.

  King was the town detective and delicious eye candy I liked, and, well, Ryder, he was the relationship with potential that never got off the ground when his work took him away.

  I took a deep calming breath and plastered on a smile I reserved for awkward situations before approaching all three of them. “Well, this is a nice surprise.”

  “We were invited.” Noah held up an invitation.

  “By whom?” I asked as Noah grabbed me in a bear hug and lifted me off my feet, swinging me around.

  Georgia leaned her hip against the doorframe. “Well, well, well, Tess. I told you looks could be deceiving. I never pegged you to be the naughty one. You’ll have to share your secrets.”

  Heat slammed into my cheeks as Noah lowered me to my feet. “It’s not like that, Georgia.” Not that I was ready to admit anything. “Noah is family. He’s like my brother. I gre
w up with him thinking we shared the same dad, which obviously was a lie.

  “King is a detective and our neighbor and my friend.”

  King raised his brow, naturally questioning my choice of words.

  “And this is Ryder Shields,” I said, gesturing to tall, dark, and brooding man whose look said he was assessing my reaction.

  “This is the guy that left you stranded in an unfamiliar town to go work a job?” King asked with a thumb pointing at Ryder.

  Ryder shoved his hands in his pockets. Understanding and annoyance registered on his face. “And let me guess, you swooped right in to rescue her.”

  “She doesn’t need rescuing, but you’d know that if you’d stuck around long enough.” King’s tone turned territorial.

  “This just got interesting. Maybe I will stick around.” Georgia grinned, linking her arm around Noah’s. “If you two fight, can you do it shirtless?”

  Chapter 2

  I opened my mouth and then closed it again, unsure of what to say. I’d been honest with both men. I was quick to tell King about Ryder before anything could get too serious, and I’d mentioned King to Ryder before too. Each man had a place in my life and had befriended me when I needed it most. I’d just never expected for them to meet.

  I glanced down at the invitation in my hands to see that it was for the welcoming party and flipped it over to the return address.

  My gaze shot up to King’s. “You invited Noah?”

  “Well, yeah.” The lines of his face softened. “I knew you were missing home, and he’s important to you.”

  “Thank you.” I smiled. The tension squeezing my heart eased.

  “I invited Ryder,” Noah added. “I thought you could use another friendly face besides my familiar mug.”

  “And a fine mug that is.” Georgia rested her head against Noah’s arm and batted her eyelashes, staring up at him.

  “Tess, can I talk to you a minute?” King asked, stepping off the porch.

  “Sure. Georgia, can you take Ryder and Noah inside and offer them coffee.”

  “Absolutely.” Georgia winked and led them both into the house.

  I eased the door shut behind us before meeting King in the yard next to the metal dragon. His gaze turned from the closed door to mine as I approached.

  “This is good,” King said, clearing his throat.

  “Really?” I chuckled. This was far from good. Dealing with this entanglement wasn’t listed on my agenda for the day. It truly was my own fault for being in this predicament. I should have dealt with it when it started. But each guy gave me what I needed in different ways. Ryder was the one who understood my witchy side even better than I did, and King…well, he was my King. The man who’d been there for me since the day I arrived. The one that made my heart beat a bit quicker just being near him.

  King cupped my cheek. “You already know I like you, Tess, and I’m ready to come off the sidelines. I’ve already figured out you’re worth sticking around for, and if he’s too blind to see it, then he doesn’t deserve you.”

  I rested my hand over King’s as my chest tightened at his words. King was right. He deserved for me to be all in if that was where the pieces fell. “You’re a good man, King Arthur.”

  “No, I’m not.” He rested his forehead against mine. “I’m selfish. I want to be the only man you think about.”

  His lips lowered to mine in a kiss that left me breathless, sweet and sexy, leaving me wanting more. My eyes remained closed as he pulled away with one last nibble on my lip. “Save me a dance at the party.”

  My eyes slid open, and I watched him leave through the gate and go next door. I patted the cold metal of the dragon as my mind raced with how to handle things.

  I turned to find Ryder leaning on the porch railing watching me. His gaze was stoic and unreadable.

  “Sorry you had to see that.”

  “Your life didn’t stop just because I was out of the picture, I get it. He likes you,” Ryder said, taking my hand as I climbed the steps. He led me to the swing to sit. “He’d be an idiot if he didn’t.”

  “We got close in the time I’ve been here. King helped me solve a murder.”

  “Funny.” Ryder chuckled in a way that contradicted his words. “We fell for each other under the same circumstances. I lost my chance. I should have been here for you.”

  “You had an assignment,” I said, meeting his gaze.

  He rubbed his thumb over my finger. “We have time to figure things out, but first…” His words trailed off as he stared deep into my eyes as if searching for the appropriate words to use. “I need to talk to you about Georgia. She’s dangerous. What all do you know about her?”

  “Not much I’m afraid. She showed up with a military bag and dresses like a pin-up girl. She’s a bit sugar and spice but don’t let that fool you. I think she’s hiding a mean bite. Why do you think she’s dangerous?”

  “She’s been on the council’s radar for a while now.”

  Before he could finish, the door swung open, and Noah appeared, his hair mussed. “Uh, Tess. You might want to get in here before Georgia kills the man that appeared from the basement.”

  “Franklin.” His name rushed from my lips as I hurried inside to find Georgia holding a butcher knife to Franklin’s throat with him pinned against the wall.

  “Georgia, release him. He’s a friendly. It’s just Franklin. He lives here. He’s a guest.”

  She eased the knife back but only an inch. “How many men are you hiding, sister?”

  “It’s not like that,” I said, pulling the knife from her hands.

  “You keep saying that.” She grinned. “I’m beginning to wonder if it’s true.”

  I apologized to Franklin and made the introductions before explaining about his accommodations and room in the basement. Surprisingly Franklin seemed unfazed by the new people that had shown up.

  “Don’t worry, Tess. Georgia and I are going to be great friends,” Franklin said, pulling Georgia into an awkward hug that had her leaning back to get away from him.

  “Have you ever heard of personal space?” Georgia asked, pushing against Franklin’s chest.

  “You should heed your own advice,” Noah whispered under his breath.

  “Any other house guests you’ve yet to warn me about? Maybe you should check your book,” Georgia said.

  They all followed me into the kitchen, where I picked up the book and flipped it open to find Ryder’s and Noah’s names now added to the mysterious book. Better late than never, I guess.

  I flipped the next page to see if anything or anyone new had been added and was relieved to find only the welcoming party and now the added attorney meeting. “None that’s recorded yet.”

  Georgia raised her brow, and I shrugged. I had no way of knowing when and if the book would add more people and appointments. It was like working with invisible ink that just appeared whenever the heck it wanted to.

  I nudged Noah’s arm and gestured to the hallway. “Come on, let’s find you guys some rooms to stay in.”

  “Tess, why don’t you give Noah the room next to mine?” She winked. “And you can put Ryder in the special room. I’m sure he’ll enjoy it,” Georgia called out.

  “Special room?” he asked.

  “You don’t want the room with creepy dolls, trust me,” I said under my breath. As much as I was tempted to put him in the doll room to tell me if those ugly suckers were possessed and carrying bad juju, it probably wasn’t the best idea.

  I led them up the stairs and showed them two rooms on the second floor. I opened the door to one of the spare guest rooms expecting to find it as bland as the first day I’d peeked inside. It was now comfortably furnished, making me pause.

  A king size bed with bedding that looked suspiciously like the one from the island that I’d fallen in love with. The frame was dark wood, as was the rest of the furniture. As surprising as all that was, the picture on the dresser caught me off guard more. It was a picture of Ryder with a
little girl holding a fish dangling from the line of a fishing pole.

  “This is my room at home. How…” Ryder asked.

  I shrugged, unsure how to answer. “I have no idea.”

  “Let me check mine,” Noah said, hurrying across the hall to the opposite room. He flung the door open and stepped inside to find his bedroom furniture just as I’d remembered it from the island. “Sweet, all the comforts of my own room.”

  Pictures of the two of us by the pool sat on his dresser. I remembered the moment well. It was when I’d been blissfully ignorant and happy with my life before I’d uncovered lies.

  “How did you do this?” Ryder asked.

  “I guess it’s the magic of the inn. It’s like a living, breathing entity. It must know who’s staying and what you need.”

  “Did the inn create your old bungalow when you first arrived?” Noah asked, opening the closet doors.

  “No, but my room is upstairs. It’s better than my old room. It has everything I’d ever need and want.”

  Ryder rested his arm around my shoulders. “How do you explain this to your guests without them thinking you’re a stalker?”

  “You two are the first that have actually stayed inside the house.”

  Noah fell backward onto his bed with his fingers laced beneath his head. “I wonder how far the inn will go to accommodate my needs.”

  “Let’s not test those boundaries.” Only my brother would ask that question. I rolled my eyes and headed back down the hall.

  Ryder rested his hand on my arm, stopping me in the hallway. “I don’t like anything about this place. You can smell the magic in the air, and Georgia is unpredictable.”

  “It’s my life now, Ryder. I’ll figure out how to deal with all of it.”

  “You’ve got a man living in your basement and a man trapped inside of a cat. Most people would have been shocked by your text after you arrived when you told me about the cat. I didn’t expected anything less from what you’ve told me about your grandmother.”

  “They came with the inn as part of the will stipulations.”