It had taken months to adjust to life in Beechwood Harbor and while I’d become convinced it was my new home, and possibly what I’d been searching for since leaving California, there was a tiny piece of me that missed the glitter and rush of living in a big city. In Beechwood Harbor I would always be known as Holly the potions witch. But what if I wanted more than that? Adam was right. Having my own potions shop had always been the goal. And now … I’d never been closer. It wouldn’t be like before. I wouldn’t be forced to work as an apprentice, barely authorized to chop basil or cattails. I could be a master potion maker. With my own shop. Custom blends that would be sought out all over the supernatural world.
In Beechwood Harbor, the largest reach I had would probably be less than three counties.
“Holly? You okay?” Adam asked, running his fingers along the side of my face. He circled my ear, tucking away a flyaway strand of hair that had escaped from my ponytail.
I snapped out of my reverie and nodded, then tried to summon a convincing smile. “Yeah. Uh, what time is it?” I asked, leaning past Adam to get a look at the clock on the opposite night stand. “I need to get to the haven portal in about an hour. Harvey was nice enough to get me a special pass to use it. He said it will be unlocked for me to use but he was very particular about the time for some reason.”
“An hour, huh?” Adam stood from the bed and reached for my hands. “Sounds like the perfect amount of time for a snack.”
I laughed. “Tell me something, Adam. Is there ever not time for a snack?”
He didn’t answer as he led me from the room. He led me down the stairs and into the kitchen. As soon as the door flapped open, I could see that Evangeline, Lacey, and Posy had all gathered around the large table. A spread of my favorite treats—including a double decker Lemon Cloud cake, complete with tiny, lemon-shaped sprinkles in the whipped cream—adorned the table.
I clapped a hand to my mouth for a moment. “What’s all this?”
Adam grinned. “Just a little going away buffet. Nothing too crazy.”
“You guys!” I gushed, nearly on the verge of tears. “It’s just a week or two!”
Posy floated forward. “Yes, dear, but you’re the heart of this place. We’re all going to miss you, no matter how short of a time it ends up being.”
I swallowed the lump of emotion in my throat. “Thank you, Posy.”
Evangeline smiled. “You’re going to kick butt, Holly. I can’t wait until you’re back in business so we can see what you come up with! I’ve already got all the girls at the salon ready for our second line of hair products.”
“You got it!”
Lacey smiled at me. “I’m just here in case you get yourself thrown back in SPA jail and we never see you again.”
Everyone laughed and I rushed forward and gave her a hug before she could object.
“All right, ladies. Enough of this sappy stuff. Let’s get to business,” Adam interjected. He slapped his hands together and rubbed them vigorously. “Let’s eat!”
Once all of the food was gone and the goodbyes were said, I went upstairs to finish packing. Adam lugged my suitcase down the stairs while I rounded up Boots and enough cans of food to keep him happy during the trip.
Adam walked with me to the portal, dragging my suitcase behind him, and I was reminded of my last trip down the same streets. I’d been locked in magically enhanced handcuffs and I was the one being carted behind Harvey. I shuddered at the memory and the emotions it stirred.
“It’s down here,” I said, pointing to the house with the cellar doors. There were lights on in the front room of the house and for a moment I wondered who lived there. Harvey had never mentioned them by name. Beechwood Harbor was small enough that I would probably recognize them. Then again, they had a portal to the haven right under their house; they probably didn’t deal with the locals much. They were probably content to be the mysterious guardians of the portal.
“It’s strange, but I can’t remember ever seeing this house before,” Adam commented as we neared it.
“The portal is on the right.”
We approached the portal and Adam set my suitcase down in the frost-covered grass. He gathered me against him and gave me a lingering kiss. “Stay outta trouble,” he said when we parted.
I grinned. “Planning on it.”
I reached for the handle of the cellar door and pulled it open. As promised, the faint purple glow shone from the opening and a shiver of excitement snaked down my spine. “This is it.”
“Here,” Adam said as he bent and picked up my suitcase.
I scooped Boots into my arms and the tabby stared, mesmerized, into the purple beyond. “You ready, Bootsie? For our next grand adventure?”
He looked up at me and blinked once. I took it as a yes.
“Hey, Holly.”
I turned back. “Huh?”
Adam flashed a goofy grin. “I hope you don’t run into any vampires.”
“You and me both!” I replied with a laugh.
“Good luck, gorgeous,” he whispered, touching my face.
I nodded and then took a deep breath and one big step.
Author’s Note
Thank you for reading Witch Slapped! I hope you’ve had a wonderful time catching up with your friends in Beechwood Harbor. Would you like to get exclusive short stories, news, and first dibs on all of my new releases?
Then join my newsletter. A few clicks and you’ll be all set! Plus, get a FREE prequel novella called A Witch of a Day. Come see me at: www.DanielleGarrettBooks.com/newsletter
About Danielle Garrett
From a young age, Danielle Garrett was obsessed with fantastic places and the stories set in them. As a lifelong bookworm, she’s gone on hundreds of adventures through the eyes of wizards, princesses, elves, and some rather wonderful everyday people as well.
Danielle now lives in Oregon and while she travels as often as possible, she wouldn’t want to call anywhere else home. She shares her life with her husband and their house full of animals, and when not writing, spends her time being a house servant for three extremely spoiled cats. For more about Danielle and her work, please visit her at www.daniellegarrettbooks.com or at www.facebook.com/daniellegarrettbooks.
Witch Slapped: A Beechwood Harbor Magic Mystery (Beechwood Harbor Magic Mysteries Book 3) Page 19