Courage of the Witch
Page 20
“Me neither,” Luna said. “I had a walk-in at the spa at the last minute. She was a regular from Eureka who got her appointments mixed up. I just didn’t feel like I could turn her away.” Luna bit down on the side of her cheek to keep from blurting out that her explanation was a total lie. The truth was she’d taken the booking because she wasn’t sure she wanted to attend this gathering at all. Not because she didn’t like Hanna and Rhys, she did. Very much. It was just that she was much better one on one than she was in large groups.
“Don’t even worry about it.” Hanna tugged her over to the bar. “Sadie, can you get Luna a drink? She’s been working all day, and I know she needs one.”
“Sure. What can I get for you, Maggie?” Sadie beamed at her.
Luna bit back a grimace. Ever since Luna helped Hanna beat her autoimmune disease, Hanna had taken to calling her Magic Hands, or Maggie for short. It appeared that the cringe-worthy nickname was going to stick. Luna hated the name Maggie. It reminded her of a foster mother she’d had who’d been a recovering addict and blamed her “kids” for having to stay clean. She’d been a mean bitch who chain-smoked and smelled of moth balls.
“How about a lemonade,” Luna said.
“You don’t want to try Rhys’s newest cider?” Hanna asked. “It just got the highest marks from the Lost Coast Times. It’s up for like three or four awards.”
“Uh, okay,” Luna said, not sure she should be drinking since she had to work at the clinic in the morning, but one cider wouldn’t hurt, right?
“Let her drink whatever she wants to, Hanna,” Rhys said with a laugh as he slid in beside her. “Not everyone has to try my cider.”
“Yes, they do,” she insisted. “That stuff is really freakin’ good.” She turned her attention back to Luna. “I just want you to taste it. I think it’s going to be right up your alley.”
Luna couldn’t help but laugh at her enthusiasm. “I’m happy to taste it. But just a taste. I need to be sharp for tomorrow.”
“I’m on it.” Hanna slipped behind the counter, grabbed a bottle of Rhys’s cider, and poured it into two glasses. She took the one that was fuller and handed Luna the other. “Drink what you want and pass the rest to me. I love this stuff.”
“She’s our best customer,” Rhys said. “Too bad she doesn’t pay for any of it.” He winked at his fiancée, and she giggled.
Good gracious those two were so sweet it almost made her nauseated. But then so were all of the Townsend sisters. If it hadn’t been for her work with the clinic in Eureka, helping a lot of sick people, Luna would’ve thought she’d stepped right into a storybook. Everything about Keating Hollow was pure, almost wholesome. It was a far cry from where she’d grown up in a trailer park on the wrong side of town.
“Drink. Tell me what you think,” Hanna urged.
“Right.” Luna hadn’t ever actually had hard cider before, not even the night they’d all been in the hot spring down by the river. So she had nothing to compare it to. Trying not to look like a hick who’d just stumbled off the bus from nowhere, she sniffed the liquid the way she’d watched Rhys do a few times before and then took a sip. The crisp, slightly sweet flavor surprised her, and she quickly took another sip, once again delighted by the freshness of it. “Wow. Delicious.”
“See. I wouldn’t steer you wrong,” Hanna said, giving her elbow a light squeeze.
“When you’re right, you’re right,” Luna said, toasting her with her glass of cider.
Hanna grinned. “Listen, tomorrow night is girls’ night. You busy? Can you meet us at Yvette’s shop at seven? We’re going to have cocktails and then kick Wanda’s butt at golf cart races.”
“Tomorrow?” Luna hedged.
“Oh, come on, Luna. You have to. You have no idea how much fun it is sabotaging someone else’s race.”
Luna looked into Hanna’s very sincere and excited expression and caved. It really was time she got out and socialized. She’d been hermitting long enough. And she just liked Hanna too much to say no. “I’ll be there. Seven o’clock.”
“Yes!” Hanna raised her glass and danced a little jig. “Yvette and Noel will be excited to finally spend some time with you.” Rhys started beckoning her out onto the dance floor, and she waved as she rushed out to meet him.
The DJ put on a high energy swing number, and Luna watched as the perfect couple launched into a coordinated dance, complete with lifts and twirls and a whole bunch of moves that would end with Luna face-first on the floor. Was there anything they couldn’t do? She was so caught up in watching Hanna and Rhys that she didn’t even notice when someone sat on the stool beside her.
“Hope, is that you?” a strikingly familiar voice said from right beside her.
Luna felt her blood run cold, and she froze, pretending she hadn’t heard him. Maybe if she didn’t turn and face him, he’d think he had the wrong person.
“It is you,” he said, sliding off his stool and moving to stand right in front of her. “My god, I never thought I’d see you again.”
The boy who’d been responsible for the worst day of her young life, stood right in front of her, his deep, soulful eyes searching hers.
“Chad,” she said, her voice quivering. “What are you doing here?”
“I live here now. I’m thinking about opening a music store. What are you doing here?”
“I’m a guest of Hanna’s.” Her throat closed up and she had to squeeze her eyes shut to keep from crying.
He reached out and engulfed her small hand in his large one. Regret rolled off him in waves as he said, “I meant what are you doing here in Keating Hollow?”
“I…” She lifted her eyes to his and remembered with perfect clarity the last words he’d said to her that night when he’d shattered her heart. Chad Garber was her first love, and the one person who knew all her secrets. He was also the one who could ruin her new life in Keating Hollow. She couldn’t keep sitting there talking to him. It was far too dangerous for both her heart and her safety.
“Hope?” he said again.
She cleared her throat, pulled her hand from his, and stood. “I go by Luna now.”
“Why?” he asked, confused.
“I just like it better,” she lied. “It was nice to see you, Chad, but I have to be going. Have a good evening.”
With her head held high, Luna strolled out of the brewery and straight to her little Kia Sportage. Once she was safely inside the vehicle, she gripped the steering wheel and forced herself to breathe.
Chad Garber had just walked back into her life, and she was nowhere near ready for him.
***
Get the next Witches of Keating Hollow book: Love of the Witch (Witches of Keating Hollow, Book 6).
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Deanna’s Book List
Witches of Keating Hollow:
Soul of the Witch
Heart of the Witch
Spirit of the Witch
Dreams of the Witch
Courage of the Witch
Love of the Witch
Power of the Witch
Essence of the Witch
* * *
Witches of Christmas Grove:
A Witch For Mr. Holiday
* * *
Jade Calhoun Novels:
Haunted on Bourbon Street
Witches of Bourbon Street
Demons of Bourbon Street
Angels of Bourbon Street
Shadows of Bourbon Street
Incubus of Bourbon Street
Bewitched on Bourbon Street
Hexed on Bourbon Street
&nb
sp; Dragons of Bourbon Street
* * *
Pyper Rayne Novels:
Spirits, Stilettos, and a Silver Bustier
Spirits, Rock Stars, and a Midnight Chocolate Bar
Spirits, Beignets, and a Bayou Biker Gang
Spirits, Diamonds, and a Drive-thru Daiquiri Stand
Spirits, Spells, and Wedding Bells
* * *
Ida May Chronicles:
Witched To Death
Witch, Please
Stop Your Witchin’
* * *
Crescent City Fae Novels:
Influential Magic
Irresistible Magic
Intoxicating Magic
* * *
Last Witch Standing:
Bewitched by Moonlight
Soulless at Sunset
Bloodlust By Midnight
Bitten At Daybreak
* * *
Witch Island Brides:
The Wolf’s New Year Bride
The Vampire’s Last Dance
The Warlock’s Enchanted Kiss
The Shifter’s First Bite
* * *
Destiny Novels:
Defining Destiny
Accepting Fate
* * *
Wolves of the Rising Sun:
Jace
Aiden
Luc
Craved
Silas
Darien
Wren
* * *
Black Bear Outlaws:
Cyrus
Chase
Cole
* * *
Bayou Springs Alien Mail Order Brides:
Zeke
Gunn
Echo
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Deanna Chase, is a native Californian, transplanted to the slower paced lifestyle of southeastern Louisiana. When she isn't writing, she is often goofing off with her husband in New Orleans or playing with her two shih tzu dogs. For more information and updates on newest releases visit her website at deannachase.com.