by Larissa Ladd
Contents
Title Page
Description
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
Get Cool Stuff
About the Author
The Witch’s Love Spell
Book One
Larissa Ladd
Copyright © 2014 by Larissa Ladd
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission.
Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.
Description
Fashion journalist, Skyler Duran, is popular with her boss and colleagues at Suddenly Chic Magazine her stories resonate with her readers and life couldn’t be sweeter…until super gorgeous Chad Pearson enters the picture as her new boss. Though she’s instantly attracted to him, he hates her on sight. When he bashes Skyler and her work, then threatens her job, she pulls out her secret weapon—magic. Skyler is a witch with a wardrobe of spells. She’s always done things the mortal way, but handling Chad requires more than mortal politeness. So she creates a love spell to get him off her back and make life easy breezy again at work. But, how could she know her magic would spark a chain reaction that could cost her the job she loves, ruin her love life and threaten the very existence of her coven!
Chapter 1
“You know, you’re supposed to wear your ceremonial robes, Skyler. Some of the others are going to find your manner of dress offensive.” Skyler Duran rolled her eyes at her Aunt Tilda’s words. She’d gotten the same admonition from one of the coven every summer for three years now. She’d given up the traditional garb because it was too hot in the summer to wear long velvet robes. Maybe if she lived in Seattle, she could be comfortable in the cool night breeze. But in the South, even the dark of night was sweltering and humid. She was sweating even now, dressed in an airy white blouse and a pair of light cotton shorts.
She shook her head. “When we start invoking our magic indoors, where I can be in air conditioning, I’ll consider putting on those robes again. Until that tradition changes, you can find them packed away with my winter clothes.” She stepped away from Aunt Tilda and took a deep breath, dropping her bag of goodies just outside the circle they would seal in a few minutes. Skyler preferred her own solitary practice, but it was, after all, tradition in a long family lineage for witches to gather at the full moon with their coven.
Her mother floated toward her, flourishing her robes with a huge smile. For someone who claimed to be a modern witch, the woman sure enjoyed playing the part of an ancient power. “Skyler, dear, you’re almost late.” She hugged her daughter, patting her on the back.
No matter how ridiculous Ava Duran was, Skyler loved her mother and couldn’t particularly fault her. “Mother, there’s a big difference between almost late and being late.”
The older woman waved off the technicality, laughing dramatically. “Either way, my dear, you’re here, and that is the most important thing. You know, since you took that job of yours and moved to Uptown, I’ve been worrying that you might miss a gathering.”
“I told you I’d be here. When are you going to have faith in me?” She sounded harsher than she’d intended, but it didn’t matter; her mother was already moving on to greet another member of the coven.
“Our mothers are more overprotective than non-magical creatures, aren’t they?” Jayden Fisher sidled up next to her, wearing a new set of robes out of some lighter material, and Skyler offered her a smile. “It’s a little ridiculous, don’t you think, since we’re equipped with thousands of years of magic that mortals aren’t? You’d think they’d be a little more hands-off.”
Jayden was right, which wasn’t unusual. Skyler’s best friend typically had a sarcastic way of making a joke and using it to point out the obvious. “I don’t know where you got those robes, but I want a set.”
Jayden brandished her threads, grabbing the skirt and turning in a circle. “I made them myself, and if you’d ever taken home economics or let your mother teach you anything, you’d be able to make some of your own too.”
Skyler made a face. “I have a better idea. I’ll give you my velvet robes for measurements, and I’ll pay for the materials, as well as a bonus for you, if you’ll do the sewing.”
“We might have a deal.” Jayden laughed and took her place at the circle, pulling Skyler with her. The others were filtering into position, and while people of her kind ran off what they jokingly referred to as ‘Pagan Standard Time’ and were never trustworthy in terms of punctuality, it was considered dishonorable to be late to join the monthly festivities. Skyler’s mother stood to her right, her Aunt Tilda on Ava’s other side, and her cousin Willow to Tilda’s right. Jayden’s mother flanked Jayden, and the circle continued around. Their coven had grown in the last two years, with five new witches coming of age and joining, making them twenty-four in number. It was a large coven, one of the largest in the nation.
Miriam Hightower, their High Priestess, secured the circle and began their ritual chant, invoking the power of the moon above and the earth below. These gatherings were about appreciating their magic, sharing their energy with each other, and renewing themselves for another month. If it weren’t for the energy exchange, Skyler might consider breaking away from these meetings. After all, anyone who stumbled upon them would think they were some strange occult. Skyler was a modernist too, and every other aspect of her life was completely normal by mortal standards.
She had been working at Suddenly Chic magazine as a fashion journalist since she’d graduated from college a year earlier, and she’d acquired her quaint little apartment in Uptown just a few months ago. If you asked any of her coworkers, she was a mere mortal, who attended baby showers and planned birthday parties and other events for people in the office, a mainstream girl who liked hockey and football. The most unusual thing about her was probably her appetite—she really liked to eat!
There were two rooms in her home that were off limits to any guests: her bedroom, where she kept her personal altar, and her ‘office,’ where she kept all her magical paraphernalia, including racks of herbs and spices, a scrying mirror, Tarot cards, and a great number of other trinkets. Those were personal spaces with personal items, and she didn’t want any questions asked regarding ‘religion’ or purpose. She liked appearing normal.
As they ended the chant, she could feel the tingle of the combined power of all the witches in their coven crackling in the air around them and flowing through her own body like a supercharged battery. It really was a glorious feeling, and it lit up the night, creating a bright circle that raised in a cone to a peak, shooting a beam of light straight at the moon. They absorbed the energy of the earth, the moon cycle, and each other, and she heard the cackling of several of her peers at the natural high. She simply smiled and basked in it, knowing it wouldn’t last long.
The formal gathering ended in only a few minutes, but this was like being at a party where everyone had drank a l
ittle beyond their limits and needed to sober up before heading home. As was the tradition, several witches had brought charmed gifts, including Skyler, who handed out ribbons she’d infused with a luck spell. They weren’t strong, but they would give her witch family a good day or two of good runs of luck. She met up with Jayden before leaving. “So, are you going to help me out with the new robes?”
Jayden pretended to consider it for a moment, then told her, “Of course I will. But you’ll owe me one.”
“Yes, I most definitely will. Give me a call tomorrow, okay?” Skyler hugged her friend goodbye and headed to her house in the suburbs, just a few miles from downtown. She entered and found it just as quiet and lonely as ever, save for the greeting she received from her cat, Mischief. She was more of a dog person herself, but her mother had given Mischief to her two years ago, insisting that every good witch had to have a cat. Skyler thought it was nonsense found only in fairy tales, but she humored the woman when it didn’t really cause any disruptions in her life. Mischief was incredibly low maintenance, and his solid black body was broken only by bright green eyes, making him quite mysterious and almost frightening. He was the textbook witch’s familiar.
One day, Skyler intended to get a dog. She’d have more of a companion that way.
She stopped in the kitchen for a glass of grapefruit juice, then decided to hit the sack, knowing she’d have a long day at work tomorrow. Mondays were hard on everyone, but in the fashion world, it meant reviewing every major event that had happened over the weekend and discussing the best and worst wardrobes of each event.
Chapter 2
Perky and dressed to kill in a size-14, tea-length, fitted, midnight-blue dress with a wide belt at her waist and a V-neck, topped with a silver necklace and matching strappy heels, plus a light blue, silk scarf tied around her head of auburn curls, Skyler blew into the office like a windstorm, striding with confidence and a winning smile. When she’d woken up groggy with puffy eyes, she’d mixed up one of her magical brews that worked better than any facial cream on the market to smooth over her face, and she knew she was drop-dead gorgeous.
Dropping her designer handbag beside her desk, she reached to turn on her computer and found a sticky note on her desk. She frowned, reading her editor’s handwriting. New assoc meet n greet, my office when u get in. Skyler hadn’t known they had any open positions, but apparently she’d had her head in the clouds or something and missed the memo. She shrugged it off and headed toward Marina’s office, winking and smiling at her coworkers along the way. The door was cracked open, and Skyler knocked and pushed it, peeking around and offering Marina an ear-to-ear grin.
“Skyler! Come on in.” Marina waved her in. As she stepped past the door, it took every bit of her self-control to keep her jaw from dropping to the floor. Was that hunk of man a model for cover art or the new associate? Because he was head-to-toe perfection, more delicious than cheesecake popsicles, which were Skyler’s favorite. “I wanted to introduce you first since you’ll be working with our new associate the most. This is Chad Pearson. Chad is coming in as an assistant editor, and you’ll be reporting to him instead of me from now on. Chad, meet my fashion journalist and my best writer on staff, Skyler Duran.”
The epitome of tall, dark and handsome, Chad Pearson had gorgeous chestnut-brown hair, startling blue eyes so clear they looked like crystals, a square jawline, and a long, lean, athletic figure that sported the tailored, black, pinstripe suit and dark green shirt without fault. To top it all off, he was at least six foot two, if not more, and Skyler wanted to salivate or perhaps howl like a wolf. Instead, she offered her hand with perfectly manicured nails and a welcoming smile. “Mr. Pearson, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
He offered a crooked, charming smile that curled her toes and one side of his mouth. “Likewise, Ms. Duran. But please, call me Chad.” His voice was deep and timbered, and all Skyler could think of was that he could say something sharp and scathing and still be able to smooth it over as if it were the biggest compliment of all time. “I’m sure we’ll get to know each other well here, and I look forward to working with you.”
Skyler nodded and offered a mischievous smile of her own. “Likewise,” she repeated. “And you must call me Skyler. ‘Ms.’ or ‘Miss’ makes me feel much older than I really am.” And really, when she was that old, she certainly didn’t plan to look it.
They locked gazes, and it was almost a challenge. Skyler could’ve held on for ages, making him be the first to turn away, but Marina clapped her hands, and they were both drawn to attention. “Lovely! Skyler, I know Mondays are extremely hectic for you, but if you could set aside some time today or tomorrow to iron out the methods to your madness for Chad and to clarify your expectations of each other, I would really appreciate it.” She gave her nod and smile of dismissal, and Skyler bowed to the both of them slightly before exiting the office.
Holy Sexy Boss, Batman! Rather than heading straight back to her desk, Skyler took a detour to the break room for a cup of coffee and a moment to regain control of her body, which was buzzing with the desire to press against Chad’s lean hardness. Her mind was swirling with images of what he looked like beneath that very hip suit he wore, and she needed to erase the pictures from her brain. She practically chugged one cup of coffee and poured herself a second, deciding that getting to work would be the best thing.
She’d just logged in and started scouring emails from her sources and updates from scouts at several events from the weekend, clicking through pictures they had taken for her, when a shadow fell over her. Skyler looked up and smiled coyly at Chad. “Can I help you, sir?” she asked with just as much syrupy attitude.
He scoffed. “I’m not sure. I’ve read your work, Skyler, and all I have to say is that you won’t get drivel past me and into the magazine. I’m a little tougher on format, structure, and content. So, when it comes to your future articles, we’ll probably have to do quite a bit of refinement. I just thought I’d prepare you so that you can either step up to the plate or give up the struggle.”
Skyler’s smile almost faltered as she took in his meaning. He was really threatening her job, and they’d only just met. Seriously, it was his first day on the job, and she was the star employee here. Apparently, she hadn’t made the good impression on Mr. Hot Stuff that she’d thought, and she would have to work on refining that impression as well. Clearing her throat and changing her tone of voice, she leaned forward, placing her chin on her hands and batted her eyelashes up at him. “Let me assure you, Chad, I can rise to any challenge. I’ve earned several awards for my work, and they love me here. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed in my work, and if you find fault with it or me as a person, you might want to consider the respect you would lose should I have to go elsewhere.”
Turning back to her computer in a clear dismissal, Skyler cheered herself up with an image of Chad in nothing but underwear, which she fantasized were Ironman print. Before he walked away, he added, “Don’t forget to block off some time to meet tomorrow.” She watched out of her peripheral vision as he strode away, the same relaxed confidence in his step that she infused into hers. It was odd, the juxtaposition. He was so damned attractive, and as far as she could tell, a bit of a pompous ass all at the same time. It might do him some good if she spiked his coffee with some potent humble tea from her stash.
Chapter 3
Aside from essential supplies provided by the magazine, Chad’s office was pretty barren. He didn’t have a lot of personal effects he cared to share with an office full of strangers, and he hadn’t known how much room he would have here anyway. But Marina had set him up nicely, with all the most advanced computer equipment, scanners, color printers and copiers, large screen monitors, and everything he could possibly want in this position.
There was only one exception. He really didn’t want to work with Skyler Duran. He wasn’t quite sure what it was that felt off about her, but something about the woman rubbed him the wrong way. Of cours
e, she was sexy as hell, with auburn brown hair that fell in voluminous waves around her shoulders, green eyes that glittered like jewels, porcelain skin that was flawless, and a fabulous curvy body. But it wasn’t the fact that he wanted to close the curtains to his fish bowl of an office and bend her over his desk that set him off. Something was different about the woman, and he intended to get rid of her before his curiosity uncovered something he didn’t want to know.
He would rather bring in a new employee, easily groomed for the position. He liked having control over things, and even beyond the negative energy he had toward Skyler, he knew she was too strong for him to take control of her assignments, her style. She had talent, but it wasn’t the sort of talent he cared for. She would be better at writing gossip columns than serious fashion articles. He’d just help her see it.
For today, though, Marina had given him access to the archives of all four journalists he’d be overseeing, and he was to go back and read the information so that he was up to speed on style, content, and anything else that might be pertinent in a discussion regarding strategy going forward. He was sure he’d have to revamp a lot of what the staff here did. He’d read the magazine more than once, and he’d been nonplussed. He couldn’t see how it was in the top twenty in the nation right now, but he intended to take it to the top three singlehandedly.
Flexing his hands and popping his knuckles, he waited for the computer to boot up and set up his login, plugging the jump drive in so he could start scouring through hours of writing. It wasn’t his idea of a great day, but if he could use this to help show what not to write, he could guide the poor, lost souls to success. At least, all of them except Skyler. He was going to force her out, whatever it took.
Chapter 4
Jayden didn’t call; she just showed up at Skyler’s place a couple of hours after she’d gotten home, right about the time Skyler had finished dinner and put her dishes away. “I brought the tape measure,” she told Skyler.