“This is beautiful,” I squeaked, pressing my hands against my mouth.
I’d designed hundreds of pretty centerpieces and event spaces during my career, but this was the first time someone had arranged something for me.
“I’m glad you like it,” Marco said. “You deserve it, cariña. Now, sit, enjoy. I’ll bring the rest of your party back as soon as they arrive.”
He strode off, a purposeful set to his shoulders, and I turned to Caleb. “I can’t believe you did this for me.”
He smiled and gently cupped the side of my face. “I’m glad you like it.”
“I do.”
Caleb kissed me deeply. “You’re so beautiful, Ana. How did I get so lucky to be with you tonight?”
“You’re not so bad yourself, Agent McCord,” I teased, toying with his lapels. “You should wear this suit more often.”
He chuckled and kissed me again.
Voices sounded in the hall and we turned to find Marco leading a small parade of familiar faces. Harmony catcalled. “Wowzers, sis! You look like a movie star!”
I threw open my arms and she hurried past Marco to step into them. “I’ve missed you!”
“Missed you too, Stace.”
I greeted the other guests in turn, Holly, CeeCee and her new boyfriend Tyson, and bringing up the rear of the party was Patrick and his girlfriend, Sky. Following Harmony’s move, Patrick and I had actually grown to be good friends. Sky was lovely, and the four of us had a good double-dating dynamic.
Harmony quickly fell into conversation with one of her former co-workers as the rest of us made introductions and then got seated. She returned a few minutes later and stopped at Caleb’s seat, leaning down to whisper something to him. He smiled and replied in an equally hushed voice before she passed behind me to take her own seat.
“What was that about?” I asked, looking at each of them in turn.
“Oh, nothing,” Harmony said, a spark of mischief in her eye. “I was just complimenting Caleb on pulling this dinner together. I mean the flowers alone … whew!”
I flashed a skeptical look at Caleb but he just grinned.
“It is stunning,” Holly agreed. “I’ve been here a handful of times, but this is something else! And that dress! Is it really an Aurelia?”
I nodded and slowly pulled my eyes off Harmony. “Uh, yes, it is. I have no idea when I’ll get the chance to wear it again, but I’ll forever worship it every time I see it in my closet.”
“I’d frame it and hang it right in the middle of my bedroom!” Holly declared.
“Not a bad idea,” I said, smiling across the table at her.
We enjoyed a three-course meal, filled with laughter and stories and food, glorious food. Each course was more decadent than the last, and by the time a trio of dessert trays literally floated into the room on silver wings, I was worried I’d bust a seam on Aurelia’s exquisite dress if I took so much as another bite.
That’s when Caleb stood, holding a champagne flute. Before I could wonder where it had come from, a server pressed one into my hand. “Here you are, Miss,” he said.
“Thank you.”
Caleb held the flute up. “Before we dig into dessert, I wanted to take a minute to acknowledge the reason we’re all gathered her tonight.” Smiling, he looked down at me. My breath hitched in the back of my throat at the love radiating from his eyes. “Ana, to say I’m proud of you would be a massive understatement. Ever since the first time I met you, I could see your fire and drive, and the hours of work you’ve poured into starting your own business have confirmed that and then some. You’ve proven you can do anything, and I personally can’t wait to see how far you fly.”
“Thank you, Caleb,” I replied softly, my throat thick.
“To Anastasia!” Holly cheered, lifting her own flute.
Everyone stood to lean across the table and clink glasses together. We all drank, and the bubbles danced across my tongue. I’d had some darn good champagne in my years as a high-profile event coordinator, but I knew there would never be anything that compared to the sweetness of the sip following Caleb’s toast.
I stepped in closer and kissed him, setting off a round of applause and catcalls.
Blushing, I pulled away, still grinning like a madwoman.
“I do have one more thing—” Caleb said, setting the flute on the table.
Harmony squealed and clapped her hands.
Caleb cleared his throat, his eyes locked on mine. “Ana, you’ve started the next chapter in your adventure, and I’m hoping that I might have the honor of sharing both this, and all of those yet to come, as your husband.”
The words took a second to sink in and in the blink of an eye, Caleb dropped to one knee, holding a velvet box. He opened it, smiling as brightly as the sparkling diamond ring inside, and asked, “Anastasia, will you marry me?”
Tears sprang to my eyes, fracturing the light dancing off the surface of the ring even more. “Are you serious?”
Caleb chuckled, gesturing at his posture. “I’m not down here tying my shoes.”
I whipped around to glance at Harmony. “You knew about this?”
“Um, duh! You think he pulled this off all on his own?”
“Hey!” Caleb said, taking umbrage.
“Umm … Stacy, this is the part where you say yes,” Holly said in a stage-whisper.
Laughing, I whirled back to face Caleb and nodded vigorously. “Yes! Yes, of course, yes! I’d marry you tomorrow.” I paused, frowning for a moment. “Well, not literally, but you know what I mean.”
Caleb slipped the stunning ring on my finger and then rose to his feet, gathering me in his arms in one fluid movement. Our lips met, the taste of champagne making the kiss all the more intoxicating.
“I can’t believe this is really happening,” I whispered against his cheek, staring at my ring over his shoulder.
“You’ve made happily ever afters for everyone else, and now it’s our turn,” Caleb said.
He kissed me again and then turned so we were facing our friends. “I’d hoped to book at least one wedding today,” I said, “but I had no idea one of them would be my own!”
Everyone laughed, and Harmony raised her glass for a second toast, this one to the future Mr. and Mrs. Caleb McCord.
* * *
THE END
* * *
AUTHOR’S NOTE:
* * *
Thank you for reading Wedding Bells and Deadly Spells! I hope you enjoyed Anastasia and Harmony’s latest adventure as much as I did. You can follow Harmony’s new adventures as she joins the other residents of the Beechwood Manor, starting in book seven of the Beechwood Harbor Magic Mysteries, A Royal Witch.
If you’re new to the Beechwood Harbor Magic Mysteries series, start with the free prequel, A Witch of a Day by signing up for my newsletter. I email twice a month and let you know about new releases and sales and occasionally a book recommendation based on my personal reading list.
As a reader, I love when my favorite stories have crossover appearances and cameo appearances baked into the story. If you do too, you’ll want to make sure you check out my other series and meet all of the other leading ladies. I promise each book is packed full of magic, mystery, laughs, and a twinkle of romance.
Thank you for reading. Your support truly means the world to me and allows me to continue writing and following my dreams.
If you want to connect with other readers, please join the Bat Wings Book Club on Facebook. It's my favorite little corner of the internet. We share funny memes and comic strips, talk about paranormal mysteries, and have book club discussions when I release a new book. It's also one of the first places I share exclusive news and updates, do live videos, and show off cover reveals and promotions. We'd love to have you!
Join here: Bat Wings Book Club
* * *
Until next time, happy reading.
* * *
Danielle Garrett
www.DanielleGarrettBooks.com
Come join the fun in Beechwood Harbor, the little town where witches, shifters, ghosts, and vamps all live, work, play, and—mostly—get along!
* * *
The two main series set in this world are the Beechwood Harbor Magic Mysteries and the Beechwood Harbor Ghost Mysteries.
* * *
In the following pages you will find more information about those books, as well as my other works available.
* * *
Alternatively, you can find a complete reading list on my website:
www.DanielleGarrettBooks.com
Beechwood Harbor Magic Mysteries
Banished from the magical world, misfit witch Holly lands in a halfway house with squabbling shifter and vampire roommates.
* * *
This series is full of spellbinding murder mysteries with clever twists and delightful characters!
* * *
Find the complete Beechwood Harbor Magic Mysteries series on Amazon.
For more Beechwood Harbor fun, check out the adventures between the main books, compiled in Betwixt: Volume I and II. Available in eBook, paperback, and audio.
* * *
Find Betwixt Volume I on Amazon.
Find Betwixt Volume II on Amazon.
Beechwood Harbor Ghost Mysteries
The first rule of being a ghost whisperer … don’t tell anyone.
* * *
Find the complete Beechwood Harbor Ghost Mysteries series on Amazon.
Sugar Shack Witch Mysteries
In Winterspell Lake there are things darker than midnight…
* * *
Sprinkles and Sea Serpents is the first book in a brand new paranormal cozy mystery series by Danielle Garrett. This series features magic, mystery, family squabbles, sassy heroines, and a mysterious monster hunter—all with a little sugar sprinkled on top.
* * *
Find the Sugar Shack Witch Mysteries on Amazon.
Haven Paranormal Romances
Once Upon a Hallow’s Eve is the first novel in Danielle Garrett’s series of paranormal romances.
* * *
Find Once Upon a Hallow’s Eve on Amazon.
About the Author
As a lifelong bookworm, Danielle Garrett has always loved dreaming of fantastic places and the stories they have to share. Through her love of reading, she’s followed along on hundreds of adventures through the eyes of wizards, princesses, elves, and some rather wonderful everyday people as well. This lifelong passion led her into the world of writing and she has now achieved the dream she’s held since the second grade and become an author herself.
* * *
Danielle lives in Oregon, and while she travels as often as possible, she wouldn’t call anywhere else home. She shares her life with her husband and their house full of animals. When she’s not writing, she can be found serving as the dedicated servant to three extremely spoiled cats or chasing down the most recent item the puppy has turned into a chew toy.
Visit Danielle today at her website or say “hello” on Facebook.
www.DanielleGarrettBooks.com
Witchy Weddings: A Magic Witch Mystery Series: The complete Touch of Magic series Page 44