Fried Chicken & Fangs

by Bella Falls

  “Still, I’m impressed with your efforts, Detective,” I teased.

  “I’m trying. Seems that food is an important part of living in this town. I can’t keep mooching off others. I’ll have to eventually pick a good dish to bring to these things and learn how to actually make it.” He smiled with a sheepish grin. “I’m good at a lot of things, but cooking doesn’t seem to be one of them.”

  I slipped my arm through his and led him in the direction of the real food. “It just takes practice. I’ll help.”

  “I look forward to the lessons, Miss Goodwin.” He put his hand over mine that held onto his arm, squeezing it.

  I spotted Dash heading our way, balancing two large dishes of what looked like his fried chicken on them. Letting Mason go, I went to help, clearing off a large area on one of the tables. “You fried up all this?”

  He shrugged. “It’s nothing. The least I can do to contribute since I’m tryin’ to be a good town citizen and participate.”

  My cheeks heated under his intense gaze, my heart beating harder than the drummer on the stage. “I think that’s a good start.”

  “Although I’ll be leavin’ Honeysuckle for a while,” he added, watching me carefully.

  My stomach dropped. “What? When?” I hadn’t spoken to Dash since he’d shown up at my side in his wolf form, not even taking the chance to give him my thanks for standing by me or telling him how glad I was that he was a much better man than Trey or Butch.

  “In the morning. I’ve got my bike’s saddlebags already packed and ready to go.” He touched my arm. “But I wanted to come here tonight.”

  “To celebrate with Flint. I think we’re all happy he was the only one left after everyone else refused to get back in the race. Honestly, I think he would have had the majority’s vote anyway.” If I kept the wolf shifter talking, would I be able to convince him not to go?

  “I’m happy for the gnome. But I came here tonight to talk to you.” Weaving his fingers through mine, he walked me away from the crowd. I glanced back and caught Mason watching us find some privacy.

  Dash took me to a bench and offered to let me sit. I shook my head, needing to stand as close as face to face as possible. He kept my hand in his. “I feel like I’m always screwing things up. And then I have to apologize to you.”

  Remembering our motorcycle ride together, I smiled. “But sometimes your apologies are fun.”

  He grunted, but his lip twitched a little. “I’d love to take you on rides every single day if I could. Having your body wrapped tight around mine,” he whistled. “That’s a fantasy I never thought would come true.” The heat in his eyes hinted at his double meaning.

  “Then stay,” I whispered.

  His expression filled with a dark shadow. “I can’t. I meant it when I said I was no good.”

  “Dash, don’t start—”

  “Shh.” He held a finger to my lips. “Let me finish. I don’t talk about my past because there are some bad things there. Awful, horrific things that should never touch you. You only got a glimpse of them that night you watched Trey and me in the alley.”

  “I hope you kicked his rotten behind into the ground,” I gritted through my teeth, wishing the other shifter as much ill will as possible.

  “I could have killed him for threatening your life.”

  “But you didn’t,” I said, hoping that the words were true.

  “No. Mason made sure to transfer him to the jail up near where my old pack is. I don’t know where Butch was sent.” He looked away into the sky at a dark bird circling in the late afternoon sun. “I have to go back to Red Ridge.”

  Concern for the man in front of me possessed every atom of my body. “But from what Trey said, it’s horrible there.”

  “And that’s my doin’. I left there, thinking things would be better. It’s my brother that’s makin’ things worse. I’m the oldest, so it’s my job to fix things. And who knows, maybe Trey was lying.”

  We both knew the other shifter spoke the truth. He had too much venom in him not to be. “If you leave, how long will you be gone?”

  Dash sighed. “I don’t know. If I can get some help from a few others up there, it might not be that hard to oust Cash.”

  My lower lip trembled, and I looked down, not wanting him to see the tears pooling in my eyes. “What if they want you to stay and be their alpha?” I held back the real question I wanted to ask him. What if you don’t come back?

  He furrowed his brow. “I can’t think that far ahead. I have to focus on the first step.” Glancing at me, he softened and cupped my cheek. “Besides, I’ve promised to fix Old Joe. And that’s one thing I’m not gonna screw up.”

  His thumb caressed my cheek, and he leaned in, his hot breath warming the sensitive skin of my mouth. I closed my eyes, anticipating one of my late night dreams coming true, my heart threatening to leap out of my chest.

  With a slight groan, Dash tilted my head down and planted his warm lips on my forehead. “Oh, Charli.”

  I threw my arms around him, wanting to hold him here, protect him, and make him see himself through my eyes rather than through his all at the same time.

  Dash buried his face in my hair, drawing in long breaths. He ran his nose down my jawline and across my cheek until he found my nose, rubbing his against mine in a sensual greeting. Taking his time to inhale, he pulled back my hair to expose my neck and dragged his nose up and down my neck, sending hot chills down to my belly.

  “Are you scenting me?” I tried my best to stay upright despite the slight shake in my legs.

  He nodded, his beard tickling me.

  “So that you’ll remember me if you don’t come back?” I feared.

  Dash pulled away from me, placing both his hands on my cheeks. “No. So that the essence of you will call me back home.” He gave me one last chaste peck on my forehead. “Maybe I should go now before I get caught up in the one reason I want to stay.”

  He didn’t say anything more, and I let him release me and walk away. I couldn’t watch him go, and I didn’t want anybody to see me cry over his decision. Collapsing on the nearby bench, I gave in to my confused emotions.

  Biddy announced her presence with a caw and landed next to me. She hopped up on my lap and flapped her way onto my shoulder. I loved how she always knew, and took comfort in her presence, sitting for a moment together on the bench in silent support.

  “Hey, girl, would you mind following him out of town?” I don’t know why I wanted her to or what piece of mind it would give me. But if I couldn’t watch his departure, somebody I cared about could.

  She nodded her dark head and cocked her head to regard me. With another caw, the crow took off into the sky. I wiped my eyes of any evidence of tears and headed back to join my friends.

  All my girls, including Blythe, met me at the edge. I nodded at my friend, who still acted more fragile than I’d ever seen her.

  Lavender stared at the air around me, no doubt interpreting my aura. Her cousin Lily touched my arm. “Everything okay?”

  I nodded, marveling at their undying support. “Yeah. How did y’all know?”

  “Mason sent us to find you,” Blythe replied. “Said you might need us.”

  “And at least one slice of chess pie.” Alison Kate held out a plate and fork to me.

  I accepted the pie and their love, appreciating the detective’s ability to make sure I had things I didn’t even know I needed. He stayed on the other side of the crowd, deep in conversation with Lee. But his protective glances never wavered for the rest of the night, and I was glad that the wall of ice that he’d erected between us was finally melted and gone. With nothing standing between us, what would that mean for us in the future?

  Horatio approached with Juniper close at hand. The betrayal of Moss and her death weighed on the tiny fairy, who seemed more reserved than ever except in the troll’s presence.

  “My dear Charli. Allow me to extend my congratulations for following the clues to the end and solvin
g the mystery. Well done, Holmes.” Horatio clapped me on the back, knocking the breath out of me.

  “I don’t think I deserve that name, but thanks.”

  He handed me a small rectangular card, and I turned it over in my hand. In precise handwritten calligraphy, it read:

  CHARLI GOODWIN

  Lost & Found Services

  “For there is nothing lost, that may be found, if sought.”

  Fees to be determined on case basis

  “Where’s the quote from?” I asked.

  Horatio smiled. “Edmund Spenser, from his epic poem, The Faerie Queene. I thought it very appropriate.”

  I stared at the card and read it over again. “You know, I’m not opening a business, right?”

  Both he and Juniper chuckled. The troll patted my head. “With every case that you solve, your renown will grow. Already there are stirrings of people willing to pay for your assistance. Do not dismiss the opportunity lightly nor close the door when it comes knocking.” With a wave, they both left to greet others who were appreciative of the way both ex-candidates had contributed to tonight’s victory.

  I stood at the back of the crowd, half-listening to the council speeches and half-tangled up in my own emotions. Unbeknownst to my friends, the effects of drawing on the magic from the tree still lingered. No telling how the extra boost would affect my magic, and frankly, I wasn’t ready to find out yet.

  And there I stood in the middle of it all—A town that I loved. Friends and family that I would die for. A man that pushed my intellect and made me better in so many ways. And another man who just drove out of town, taking my wilder side with him.

  Shaking myself out of my head, I tried to pay attention to Flint, who started his acceptance speech. I agreed with him, that only when we banded together as a community would we be strong and worthy of the little slice of paradise we’d cooked up here in our small Southern town.

  I started to lift my cup to toast the gnome’s sentiments and found it empty. Focusing on what I wanted and feeling the buzz of magic in my veins, I snapped my fingers. Sweet iced tea with the floral scent of honeysuckle in it filled the red plastic to the top. What other spells were just waiting to be discovered inside of me?

  Lifting my glass, I toasted with everyone else. “To our future.”

  Dear Reader -

  Thanks so much for reading Fried Chicken & Fangs. If you enjoyed the book (as much as I did writing it), I hope you’ll consider leaving a review!

  Sweet Tea & Spells: Book 3 is ready to be one-clicked!

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  NEWSLETTER & FREE PREQUEL - to gain exclusive access to the prequel Chess Pie & Choices, CLICK HERE!

  SOUTHERN CHARMS COZY COMPANIONS - Join my reader group to discover awesome Southern recipes, talk about the series and other cozy mysteries, and connect with other readers like yourself!

  Southern Charms Cozy Mystery Series

  Magic & Mystery are only part of the Southern Charms of Honeysuckle Hollow…

  Suggested reading order:

  Chess Pie & Choices: A Southern Charms Cozy Prequel

  (Available exclusively to Newsletter Subscribers)

  Charli Goodwin is engaged to Tucker Hawthorne, the admired "prince" of Honeysuckle Hollow. Underneath the perfect surface of their union boils an ocean of doubt. If he's such a catch, then why does she feel like she's on the hook?

  When Charli's magical talents are put to the test to find something valuable to Tucker's family, she's set on a path that will test her love and show her where her true happy ever after may be.

  Moonshine & Magic: A Southern Charms Cozy Mystery Book 1

  Charli Goodwin doesn’t expect her homecoming to go without a hitch—after all, she skipped town, leaving her fiancé and family without a clue as to where she was going or why. Now that she’s ready to return home, she plans to lay low and sip some of her Nana’s sweet tea while the town gossips come out to play.

  Unfortunately, on her first night back, Charli discovers the body of her crazy great uncle (hey, everyone has one). She suddenly finds herself at the center of a mystery that threatens the very foundations of Honeysuckle Hollow and the safety of every paranormal citizen in it—starting with Charlie herself.

  With the clock ticking, will Charli’s special magical talents be enough to save not only the town but her own life?

  Lemonade & Love Potions (in the anthology Hexes & Ohs)

  Charli Goodwin can’t help herself when it comes to helping out her friends, especially a failed cupid trying to earn his way back into the matchmaking ranks. A singles mingle in her small Southern town should be the perfect event, but trouble with a capital T shows up when someone attempts to boost the odds of love in their favor.

  Sweet honeysuckle iced tea, it’s gonna take more than lemonade and a little magic to help Charli find out what’s wrong, solve the mystery, and save Honeysuckle Hollow from disaster again.

  Fried Chicken & Fangs: A Southern Charms Cozy Mystery Book 2

  An upcoming election shakes up Honeysuckle. When an outspoken resident who opposes the changes to the magical small Southern town turns up dead, it’s up to Charli Goodwin and her special talents to get on the case…except her valuable magic doesn’t seem to be working.

  What starts as a simple search uncovers a darker layer of manipulation and sabotage. Will Charli be able to figure out who is pulling the strings before the foundations of the town are destroyed?

  Sweet Tea & Spells: A Southern Charms Cozy Mystery Book 3

  A prank war has erupted in Honeysuckle, and spells are flying everywhere. All’s fair in spells and sport, but when one goes terribly wrong and someone ends up dead, it’s up to Charli Goodwin to figure out who’s to blame.

  At the same time, she’s also on a mission to learn more about her past and do her best to harness her growing magical powers. Will Charli be able to pull herself together in time to stop things before more lives are at stake in the magical small Southern town?

  Acknowledgments

  I’m grateful for the consistent support I received while writing this book from family and friends to fellow authors. I’d like to give credit to a few who, without them, I might not have gotten to the end.

  My Tiki group, you are the first I go to and the last I check with. Thanks for putting up with me.

  Mel, “Melanie Summers”, thank you for being the upbeat person that you are and my constant cheerleader. Without our conversations, the page might still be blank.

  Alana, you not only provided me with laughs but also you will forever be my permanent movie date and breakfast companion.

  Many thanks go to ReGina Welling, who checked in on me every day.

  To Annabel Chase and Amanda Lee, my two friends and witch cozy authors who kicked my behind regularly, thanks for pushing me to get to The End.

  My Southern Charms series is all about family, and my love for my own shows up all throughout the books. Without them, Charli’s life might not be that rich.

  And finally, to my husband, thanks for being willing to eat cereal for dinner, to let me write while on vacation, and to put up with my obsession in getting the book finished.

  About the Author

  Bella Falls grew up on the magic of sweet tea, barbecue, and hot and humid Southern days. She met her husband at college over an argument of how to properly pronounce the word pecan (for the record, it should be pea-cawn, and they taste amazing in a pie). Although she’s had the privilege of living all over the States and the world, her heart still beats to the rhythm of the cicadas on a hot summer’s evening.

  Now, she’s taken her love of the South and woven it into a world where magic and mystery aren’t the only Charms.

  bellafallsbooks.com

  contact@bellafallsbooks.com

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