Twice the Witch: A Beechwood Harbor Magic Mystery (Beechwood Harbor Magic Mysteries Book 2)

by Garrett,Danielle

  “You mean you have nightmares about it,” Cassie teased.

  Phillip was a hard looking man, and for a while, he’d topped my suspects list as I tried to solve Peg’s murder. So, finding out he was supposed to be my boss had been a shock. In the end, he’d had nothing to do with Peg’s murder, but he still gave me the heebie-jeebies.

  Cassie and I worked together to go through the closing procedure checklist. Cassie finished counting up the till and divvied out the tip jar into two piles while I went to the back room and started sweeping. When I finished, I took the large broom to the front and started working around the two tables with lingering customers, stacking chairs onto the empty tables. As I worked, the two customers—both tourists—got the hint that we were almost closed and packed up their belongings. Cassie and I waved goodnight to them as they left and then breathed a collective sigh of relief at the quiet, and finally empty, shop.

  “One plus about summer time…the tips. Almost fifty bucks a piece.” Cassie pushed a stack of worn bills to the edge of the counter in front of me. “Not too shabby for a day’s work.”

  “Seriously?” My eyes probably bugged out of my head.

  Cassie giggled at my stunned expression. “Yep. People get pretty generous around here.”

  “Well, except for Evangeline’s crowd,” I grumbled, sweeping under the last table now that it was vacant.

  “Yeah. That’s true.” Cassie sighed as she crossed the shop and pulled the cord on the small Open sign that hung to the right of the front door. She didn’t lock the door just yet, as we technically had a few minutes left until closing, and Cassie was a rule follower through and through. Instead, she went to the long, narrow table built from pieces of driftwood that the shop used as a coffee bar. “What’s she like?” Cassie asked, her back to me as she straightened and organized the caddies that held sugar packets, stirring sticks, and coffee cup sleeves.

  “Evangeline?”

  “Yeah. Do you guys get along?”

  I paused, leaning against my broom. “I guess. I mean, we don’t not get along. But it’s not like we’re best friends. Her and Lacey do the BFF thing.”

  “Oh. I still haven’t met her.”

  I smiled and went back to sweeping. Lacey was a vampiress and only came out at night, after the coffee shop was closed. Cassie had been to the Beechwood Manor on a handful of occasions, but so far hadn’t experienced Lacey first hand. “She’s pretty busy these days.”

  Cassie went back to the counter. “Hmm. Must be. But her and Evangeline are close?”

  I nodded as I lowered down beside the dust pan. I held it steady to sweep up the small pile of crumbs, dirt, and crumpled paper straw wrappers. “Yeah. I’m not really into their hair and makeup tutorials or the endless talk about clothes. So, I’m not part of their club.” A smile tugged at my lips as I finished sweeping the pile into the dust pan. “They drive Adam crazy. He calls it sleepover talk. He’s the only guy in the house now.”

  Cassie laughed. “I would think he’d like that. Works with his whole Casanova persona.” Cassie stopped short and shot me a worried look. “Not that I think he’s looking for someone else…I mean…not now that you two are together.”

  I grinned and boosted myself back up to standing. “I know what you meant, Cass. It’s okay. I’m not worried about him.”

  Well, at least, I hadn’t been, until he and Evangeline had waltzed out of the shop together. I knew he was agitated that I’d forgotten our movie date. Was it possible that he would want to break up and pursue Evangeline instead? The stars knew she was always available. I shook my head, dismissing the idea.

  Cassie fussed with a wet rag, wiping down the counter. “How’s that going, anyways? You and Adam?”

  With a shrug, I rounded the counter, stepped behind Cassie, and went to put the broom away. “I don’t know. Good, I guess,” I replied, coming to lean against the archway that separated the front of the shop from the back room where we kept cleaning products and extra stock. There were also two industrial-sized refrigerators and a small supply-closet-turned-office, where Cassie went to make the schedule, place vendor orders, and do paperwork for the payroll company Phillip employed.

  “Good, you guess?” Cassie turned and smirked at me over her shoulder. “That’s it? That’s all you’re gonna tell me? Your very best friend?”

  I laughed and pushed off the wall. “I’m just not sure how to gauge it, I guess. It’s not a measurable thing in my eyes.”

  “Are you happy?”

  “Yeah. I mean, we have a lot of fun together and he…gets me.”

  Cassie grinned. “Well, for what it’s worth, I think you two are adorable together.”

  My stomach swirled; thinking about Adam and I together as a couple was still new enough that I got butterflies thinking about him. All at once, I felt a rush of urgency to get back to the manor and steal his attention away from Evangeline. It was close enough to closing that I could probably slip out. We weren’t likely to have any more customers and Cassie usually stayed late to do paperwork on her own.

  I was about to ask Cassie if she’d mind me sneaking off, when the small bell on the front door tinkled. Cassie and I both grimaced at each other before turning over to greet our last-minute customer. We both sighed with relief when Nick Rivers walked inside. “Hey ladies!” he greeted, flashing a wide smile at us both.

  “Told you we should have locked up,” I deadpanned to Cassie, smiling at Nick.

  He chuckled and strode up to the counter, unfazed by my comment. “Espresso machine still turned on?”

  Cassie laughed. “For you? Of course.”

  I rolled my eyes. Cassie had a little crush on our resident Private Investigator. “Hey, Nick.”

  “Hey, Holly. How’s life treating ya?”

  “Good. How about you? How’s business?”

  Nick smiled, making his blue eyes even brighter. “Great. I just got a new case, so I’m headed out for the night to do a little…observation.”

  “Putting those stalking skills to good use, huh?” I asked, playfully. When Nick and I had first met, we’d each accused the other of stalking. In the end, he’d been a huge help and we’d formed a good friendship since then. Mostly because he was no longer trying to weasel his way into ghost hunting at the Beechwood Manor.

  Nick laughed at my assessment. “Something like that. It’s a pretty typical case. Woman thinks her husband is stepping out on her, so I’m following him around a little to see if I can catch him with anyone.”

  “Sounds like a party,” I said, leaning against the counter as Cassie hurried to make Nick’s drink.

  He shrugged. “Keeps the lights on. As a fringe benefit, I get to dress like James Bond.”

  I considered Nick’s all-black outfit, recognizing it from the first time we’d met, when he’d been skulking around in the rose bushes outside the manor in the middle of the night. “You’re missing the hat.”

  “It’s in the car.”

  “Of course.” I pursed my lips. “I think I like James Bond more when he’s wearing a suit. Maybe you should try that next time.”

  Nick laughed. “Noted.”

  “Here ya go,” Cassie said, coming to join us, a steaming mocha in one hand.

  Nick took the cup from her and breathed in the decadent chocolate scent as he raised it to his lips. He took his mochas very seriously.

  Cassie cocked her head at him. “Doesn’t that feel weird? Prodding into other people’s lives like that?”

  Nick shrugged as he took a long, lingering sip. “Not really. I guess I look past the fact that I’m following someone around, and focus on the part where I’m helping someone. In this case, the woman who hired me. Trust me, adultery cases are by far my least favorite. I’d rather be looking for long-lost siblings or parents and spurring on a reunion or something happy.”

  I smiled at him. “You’re such a marshmallow, Nick.”

  He chuckled and set the cup down on the counter long enough to fish his wallet fro
m the back pocket of his relaxed fit jeans. “Let me settle up my tab and I’ll get out of your hair.”

  Cassie opened the drawer under the register and pulled out a small binder where we kept track of ongoing tabs for our best customers. She consulted the record and rattled off the total for the week. Nick pulled out some bills from his wallet and handed them over. In addition to being a marshmallow, he was also old fashioned and seemed to like the tactile quality of having cash on him instead of using his bank card like most people I knew. Then again, that might have had more to do with the fact that cash was harder to track. He was a PI after all.

  Cassie made his change and tried to hand it to him, but he shook his head. “You guys keep it.”

  “Nick…” she protested, glancing down at the leftovers in her hand. From my vantage point, it looked like it was close to ten dollars. “Take it.”

  “Nope.” He flashed another smile, picked up his cup, and backed away. “See you ladies tomorrow.”

  Cassie huffed and tucked the bills into the small ceramic jar beside the register. “At least take a muffin or something!”

  Nick laughed and pushed out the front door.

  “He’s impossible,” Cassie said, shaking her head.

  “You like him,” I said, elbowing her in the ribs.

  She turned away, going back to counting the till, but her red cheeks gave her away.

  I lunged for her and grabbed her arm, shaking it just enough to throw off her counting. “Cassie! I’m your best friend! Wasn’t that the line you just used on me?”

  She giggled and set aside the stack of bills in her hand. “What do you want me to say?”

  I grinned at her. “That you’re using cookies and mochas to make Nick fall head over heels in love with you.”

  “That’s ridiculous.” Cassie rolled her eyes. “You make it sound like I’m bribing him.”

  I propped my hip against the counter and rearranged my expression. “Cass, you would never have to bribe anyone to like you. Nick would be a lucky duck to get your attention.”

  Cassie’s lips quirked into a small smile. “Well, he already has that…”

  “I knew it!” I pumped my fist.

  Cassie rounded on me, her smile gone, replaced with a look of terror. “You’re not going to say anything, are you?”

  I placed a hand on each of her shoulders, and in all seriousness, replied, “No. Of course not, Cass.”

  I wouldn’t have to say anything to Nick. There were far more effective ways to get the ball rolling. Step aside cookies and mochas! This was a job for a batch of Fated Flirt.

  After all, what damage could a little love potion do?

  CHAPTER THREE

  THOUGHTS OF WHIPPING up a kettle of Fated Flirt still occupied my mind when I returned to the manor later that night. As soon as I stepped over the threshold, a hard head rammed into my legs, nearly taking them out from underneath me. I smirked down at the oversize orange tabby weaving around my legs. “Bat wings! I wasn’t ready for that one, Bootsie. Where were you hiding?” I squatted down beside him and he rubbed his fluffy face along the side of my hand. “So, while I’m off, slaving away at work, you’re here, practicing the art of being a kitty ninja? Is that it?”

  He blinked slowly, neither confirming nor denying my accusation.

  “Fine. Keep your secrets.” I smiled at him. “What else did you get up to today? Let me guess; a few naps, some sunning in the kitchen, and begging Adam for tuna? Does that about sum it up?”

  Boots cocked his head as though he knew he was being mocked.

  I scratched his ears and then popped back up to my feet. “Come on, let’s go get you some dinner.”

  He didn’t need to be asked twice. I followed after him, smirking at the sound of his little paws sliding on the wood plank floors as he scampered toward the kitchen. The house was quiet. Night had fallen, so there was a good chance that Lacey was out with her undead gal pals. Posy, my ghost landlord, refused to go out after dark, so I knew she’d be hanging around somewhere. Likely the attic. Her favorite haunt…literally.

  As for Adam and Evangeline…I didn’t have the faintest idea where they were and part of me didn’t want to know. It was jarring enough to replay the image of them walking away into the sunset together. The thought of them having dinner in some dark corner of McNally’s was unbearable. I wasn’t sure what I wanted with Adam. The last month had been a careful dance to find a way to take our relationship to the next level without over-committing myself. I was still figuring things out and didn’t want to end up hurting anyone. Life in Beechwood Harbor was turning out to be better than I’d ever imagined. It was a far cry from the nightmare I’d pictured when my Supernatural Protection Agency (SPA) agent, Harvey first handed me a one way ticket and gave the order that I was never to return to the Seattle Haven.

  I was happy with my life as it was, but I had no idea what I really wanted for my future. I was approaching thirty and somehow felt like I was running out of time. After leaving the Haven Academy, I’d set off with the goal of becoming a potions master and having my own shop. Now, living in a human society, that was impossible. Instead, I’d satisfied my ambitions by running an independent—not to mention slightly illegal—potion business on the side. I sold potions to local supernaturals and while word was spreading about the quality of my custom concoctions, I knew it was only a matter of time before my local market was saturated and I would need to figure out new ways of distribution if I wanted to grow. And with growth, there would be more risk of the SPA finding out and shutting me down. Or worse. Throwing me into a SPA-sanctioned prison without hope of escape.

  It wasn’t an ideal way to live my life, but after being banished from the haven system, I wasn’t sure what choice I had left. My resume was spotty at best—mostly because the places I’d worked before were all potions shops, the names of which human HR managers wouldn’t recognize—and I didn’t want to work at Siren’s Song for the rest of my life. So, I continued to quietly grow my business, hoping no one at the SPA would find out.

  Boots yowled and dragged me back to the present. “Yes, yes, we’re going.”

  With a sigh, I pushed the swinging door to the kitchen open for him. Boots raced ahead and I followed behind, shaking my head and smiling at his utter lack of patience when it came to getting his dinner. From behind me, the sound of the front door and a soft giggle caught my attention. With one hand still holding the kitchen door open, I craned around and saw Adam and Evangeline tumble inside, both of them doubled over with laughter. A flash of heat exploded in my stomach, and I scowled in their direction before pushing into the kitchen. I let the solid wood door slap shut behind me, wishing the swinging door had more of an effect when it slammed.

  Boots was mid-tuna feast by the time the door opened again and Adam walked in. His dark hair was ruffled from the evening breeze and I wondered if they’d been down, walking along the ocean. “Hey, gorgeous,” he greeted. “You about to start working on some potions?”

  “No,” I replied, dropping a gaze to Boots who obliviously stuffed his face. “I’m just waiting on the furball.”

  Adam gave a knowing nod and then pocketed his hands. “Holly, what’s going on with us?”

  I crossed my arms and cocked my hip, leaning against the counter. “I was about to ask you.”

  Adam dragged in a heavy sigh. “Are you mad at me? For going out with Evie?”

  “Do you have to call her that?” The sound of it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

  He shot me bewildered look. “What? What’s wrong with using a nickname? I have one for everyone.”

  “You don’t have one for Lacey, unless you’re counting Princess of the Night or Fanger.”

  “Ugh! Holly, this isn’t about Lacey or Evangeline. This is about you and me.”

  I scowled. He was right. Bat wings.

  With a huff, I pushed away from the counter and paced the large kitchen. After a few laps back and forth, I stopped in front of him. B
oots had finished his meal and was lying at Adam’s feet, looking up at me with indignation. Even the cat thought I was being impossible. Great.

  “Holly, I don’t want to fight with you. But, I don’t know what else to do to get your attention. You’re so busy, you never slow down, and it seems that I’ve slid down the list of priorities. Sometimes, I think…” he drifted and glanced at a spot on the wall behind me.

  “Sometimes you think, what?”

  He flicked his dark eyes back to mine and I sucked in a silent breath, holding it as I waited for him to finish his thought. “Sometimes I think that you don’t actually want to be in a relationship. Like, you make yourself busy so that you can avoid me.”

  All the air left my lungs in a rush, like a deflated balloon. “What? How could you think that? We always have a good time when we hang out. Don’t we?”

  Adam nodded. “We do. But, I think that maybe I rushed things with you. You weren’t looking for a relationship. You flat out told me that, but I kept at it and then, when Evie—Evangeline—moved in, you suddenly changed your mind.”

  Was I really that transparent? How pathetic.

  “Adam, there are parts of my life that you don’t know about yet. Things that happened in the past that I haven’t been ready to share with you, but maybe that was my mistake. I should have explained it all before we got to this point.”

  “Well, I’m right here, gorgeous. You can tell me anything. You know that by now.”

  I tucked my chin and stared at my hands as my fingers nervously interlocked with one another. “I know.”

  Adam stepped closer and ran his fingers along the side of my jawline. When he reached my chin, he tipped it up, so that our eyes met once again. All of the heat and anger had faded from his eyes, leaving the soft chocolate pools that always made my heart jump. “I’m sorry that I was frustrated with you at Siren’s Song. I know you’re just helping Cass out as much as you can and that it wasn’t your fault you couldn’t come out tonight. I just…I miss you. That’s all.”