“But why?” I knew Melony’s grandfather had urged her not to leave the house, but I still didn’t understand the full extent of it.
“Simple,” Parker said with a crooked grin. “Lila Haberdash lived her entire life in that house. Her parents lived there before her, and their parents before them. Over time, the house has absorbed generations of family magic—so much so that it became a part of them.”
“And it amplified their bond,” I said, finally understanding.
He nodded and looked as if he wanted to say something else, but I still had more questions that needed to get out of me.
“What were they after? Why did they need that extra power if Mrs. Haberdash was already dead?”
“They were never after her. At least the grandfather wasn’t.” He took a deep breath and squeezed my hand before letting it go. “They wanted the board.”
“Who? Fluffikins?”
“Yes. And Connie. And Greta. And Buckley. And—”
“All of you.” I exhaled slowly, taking this new information in. If Melony and her grandfather had been successful, they could have destroyed the magical balance completely. Could have done whatever they wanted with all that power, no matter how horrible.
Parker nodded, confirming my suspicions.“We are the strongest in the region. If they were able to assume all our power for themselves, they’d be unstoppable. They thought with Lila out of the way, they could use the house to help accomplish that.”
“But they failed.”
“They failed. Thank goodness for that.” Parker looked so tired now. Was that because he’d been worried about me? How long had I been out? How badly had he been hurt?
“Where were you?” I asked gently.
Luckily, he didn’t seem to take offense. “Incapacitated,” he stated simply.
“Oh.” I decided not to press further. Instead I switched back to the previous topic, “So their whole plan hinged on everyone coming to the house?”
“Since it was a major source of their power, yes. But they were also counting on us coming one by one, so we’d be easier to defeat. That’s why Melony’s grandfather took my form, so he could sway our actions. He dropped just enough hints to raise suspicions, then sent us to the power points in order to divide us.”
This all made sense, but it didn’t complete the puzzle. Not yet. “But they didn’t kill me or Greta when they had the chance. Why?” This more than anything, I needed to know.
Parker shrugged and pressed his lips together in a tight line.“I don’t think Melony ever quite understood the full extent of her grandfather’s plan. I don’t think we do, either.”
“What happened to him?”
“Fluffikins dropped him off in the farthest possible region from here. New Zealand, I think.”
“But he’ll be back.” This wasn’t a question, because I already knew for sure it would happen.
“Yes. This time we’ll be expecting him, though.”
“What happens now?”
“The board will find a new Liaison to the Force, and I’ll work at filling Lila’s very big shoes as Town Witch. You go back to living your normie life. Hopefully, though, you’ll be up for frequent visits from your new landlord and friend?”
“I’d like that,” I said, feeling like an old-timey movie heroine. Now would have been the perfect time for Parker to sweep me off my feet—or rather my bed—and give me that sweet and perfect first kiss.
Instead, he leaned forward and hugged me tight, then whispered in my ear,“This will be our little secret. Okay?”
“My lips are sealed. Well, on one condition,” I whispered back.
“Anything,” he promised. He also wouldn’t stop smiling.
“Would you please fix my hot water heater before you go? I could really use a nice long shower.”
2. PSYCHIC FOR HIRE
1
My name’s Tawny Bigford. I’m a 35-year-old part-time romance author, and I just found out that magic is real.
You see, it all started one morning when I stumbled upon my new landlady’s dead body. From there I was whisked away by a dashing cop who wasn’t exactly there to investigate her murder. He delivered me to the PTA—no, not the one you’re thinking—the Paranormal Temp Agency.
They’re the special governing body that protects magical interests in our fair Peach Plains region of Georgia and are one of many such boards set up all across the globe.
Once they determined I was not at fault for my landlady’s death, they ordered me to act as her temporary replacement. Not as a landlady, but as the official Beech Grove Town Witch. Oh, boy!
From there it was all talking cats, flying brooms, and one twisty turn after another. Every time someone actually bothered to answer one of my questions, at least a dozen more popped up in its place.
By the time we caught the real killer on the loose, I had a terrible headache from trying to keep it all straight. Here’s what I do know…
The board is made up of five paranormal liaisons plus the Town Witch and the assigned Diplomat in charge. Our local Diplomat is a little black cat who loves following rules almost as much as he loves making demands; his name is Mr. Fluffikins.
Then we have sweet, matronly Greta as the liaison to Schools. I recently found out she’s an angel—um, wow!
Parker Barnes is that same cop who initially brought me into this crazy supernatural ring. He’s also the reason I remember everything that happened even though the others attempted to wipe my memory. Beyond that, his role is a bit more complicated. I’m still trying to figure it out for myself.
Lastly, we have Connie in charge of Commerce, Buckley as head of Agriculture, and some old dude in a suit who serves as the emissary for Cemeteries. Yeah, I still don’t know his name…
I was recently the temporary Town Witch, but now that they have someone more permanent to fill the role, I should be out of a job. The board works with temps for a reason. They’re easier to control, and the fewer people who know the full truth about what they do, the better. They’d rather tell lots of people part truths than let anyone too deep into their circle and risk exposure. I guess that’s why I find them so confusing.
Even though I’m a little sad to have lost the magic they granted me—I only had it for less than twenty-four hours, mind you—I’m more than ready to get back to my normal life.
The boss cat, however, seems to have other ideas…
Uh-oh.
It’s been three days since the madcap magical adventure that changed my world and everything I knew about it. Three days since yet another cold shower led to a murder mystery that turned into a magical conspiracy that almost cost me my life.
Three days.
That’s longer than the entire adventure lasted. I don’t even think a full twenty-four hours passed between me stumbling over Mrs. Haberdash’s corpse and the PTA board catching the bad guys and put a stop to their dastardly plan.
In fact, I know it wasn’t.
So how can such a short span of time change literally everything?
For one thing, I have a new landlord now. And while my previous landlady Mrs. Haberdash studiously avoided me, Parker Barnes finds at least half a dozen excuses to stop by every single day.
Yes, that Parker.
It’s kind of hard to push magic out of my mind when the same guy who introduced me to it in the first place is always hanging around my doorstep.
And it definitely doesn’t help that I have a big fat crush on him. Ever since my ex-husband found a new wife—while we were still married, I might add—I’ve sworn off love for a life of complete personal freedom.
So while Parker’s swoony gray eyes may make my heart gallop, they also make my stomach churn. That’s why I’ve imposed three new rules.
Three days. Three rules.
They are no more magic, no more men, and no more madcap adventures.
That was it. Should’ve been easy enough to follow. Especially since the rest of the board assumes I have no recollection of what happened.
But then…
Crash!