by Amy Boyles
“You are anything but soft,” he said huskily. “When I arrived, I saw you out in that circle and I wanted to yell and stop you. I could have. The peace treaty had been signed by the two sides. There was no reason for the Order to want you.”
“It wouldn’t have worked,” I said.
He dipped his head toward mine. “It would have long enough for the wolf to come out.”
I inhaled a deep breath of air and stopped, turning to him. I cupped Axel’s beautiful face in mine.
“I don’t need you to save me.”
He threw back his head and laughed. “You’ve proven that. You don’t need any saving. That’s the last thing I want to do.”
“Good,” I said smartly, throwing my arms around his neck.
He dropped his hands to my hips and squeezed. “You got plans tonight?”
I smiled shyly. “I don’t know. What do you have in mind?”
He stared up at the sky, an innocent expression splayed on his face. “Oh, I don’t know. I thought maybe a little dinner, maybe some dancing?”
“Did a new club open up?”
Axel shook his head. “Nope, it sure didn’t. But that won’t stop me.”
I giggled. “Sure. I’m free tonight.”
“Great. I’ll pick you up at six.”
“He’s going to ask you, you know that, right? This is it,” Amelia squealed. “Now hold still while I get your hair put up.”
I stood in the middle of my bedroom. Amelia curled my hair while Cordelia decided on my wardrobe.
“Uh, not black, it’s too dark.” She tossed a dress into the air where it vanished. “Not red, it’s too trashy.”
“Red isn’t trashy,” Amelia said. “I’m planning on wearing it on my first date with Sherman.”
My eyes flared. “You’re going out with him?”
She nodded slyly. “Yes, and if anyone gives me a hard time because he’s a little aloof, I’ll be mad.”
Cordelia and I exchanged a glance. “Of course we’re not going to make fun of you,” she said. “Well, at least not this time.”
“We like Sherman,” I added. “He’s nice.”
Amelia’s cheeks burned bright red. “Thank you. Now hold still, Pepper. I’m almost done.”
“Silver sequins,” Cordelia nearly shouted, “that’s what you need.”
Suddenly a silvery dress slipped onto my body. It flowed like silk and shimmered like diamonds.
“I love it,” I said.
“All done.” Amelia stepped back. “What do you think?”
I stared at the loose waves my crimson and honey hair were in. It looked gorgeous.
I pulled my cousins into an embrace. “Thank you. Both of you.”
The doorbell rang. “He’s here,” Amelia squealed.
“Go get him,” Cordelia said with more enthusiasm than she usually used.
I opened the front door and found Axel in a black suit and tie. His dark hair was swept back, away from his face. The ends just dusted his shoulders. His blue eyes blazed fiercely, and his clean-shaven jaw was set hard.
Axel was nervous.
“You look beautiful,” he whispered.
“You look more handsome than a drink of water in the desert,” I shot back.
He tipped his head and laughed. “You win.”
I slinked my hand through his arm, and we headed out into the night.
We arrived at the Potion Ponds a few minutes later. A single table had been set up beside the sparkling water. Torches circled our dining area, and two plates sat covered atop the table.
I beamed. “Is all this for me?”
Axel kicked a stone. “No, I think it was for someone else, but they canceled at the last minute.”
I punched his arm.
He laughed. “Yes, it’s for you.”
“Should we eat first?”
Axel shook his head. “No, I have a surprise.”
Suddenly a four-string quartet appeared at the end of the pond. They broke into beautiful music.
Axel offered his hand. “May I?”
I slid my palm over his and nodded. “You may.”
We danced slowly. The music flowed over us like water, and I stared up at him, total contentment in my heart. I smiled and he did the same, the corners of his eyes crinkling in happiness.
“Pepper, never in my life have I been as happy as I am with you.”
I opened my mouth to agree, but Axel continued. “I want this feeling to last forever, and I want forever with you and only you, until the day I die.”
Tear swelled in my eyes. Even if I had wanted to speak, all words evaporated from my mind.
I barely noticed when Axel stopped dancing. He pulled something from his pocket and dropped to one knee.
The lid of a black box snapped open, revealing a cushion-cut diamond flanked on either side by another smaller diamond.
“Pepper Dunn,” Axel said in a low voice, “will you make me the happiest man alive and be my wife?”
My fingers trembled as I reached for him. I hadn’t expected that—to be so full of emotion that my body would shake in this moment.
Axel took my hand, and I bowed my head, closing my eyes. When I opened them, my strength returned. I stared into Axel’s perfect blue eyes.
“Yes,” I said, “I will marry you.”
Axel rose. He took the ring from the box and slid it over my finger. He smiled broadly. “A perfect fit.”
I gazed up at him, and Axel dipped his head. Our lips met for a tender, romantic kiss. The music still played in the distance, soaring to a crescendo.
In that moment I realized Axel was right. I stared at him, and when I said my next words, I meant so much more than the ring; I meant Axel and our future life together.
“Yes, it is,” I murmured. “It’s perfect. All of it.”
* * *
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THANK Y’ALL!
Thank you so much for reading SOUTHERN WANDS. If you enjoyed it, please consider leaving a review.
While you’re waiting for Pepper’s next adventure, if you haven’t started any of my other series, consider picking up SPELLS AND SPIRITS, it’s a cozy mystery sampler. You can order it HERE.
And…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 FORTUNES
SOUTHERN HAUNTINGS
SOUTHERN WANDS
* * *
SOUTHERN GHOST WRANGLER MYSTERIES
SOUL FOOD SPIRITS
HONEYSUCKLE HAUNTING
THE GHOST WHO ATE GRITS
BACKWOODS BANSHEE
* * *
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].