Page 3 of The Magic of Discovery
Ha. I’m theonlymagic shop owner in Emerald Lakes. But yeah, I’m pretty awesome.All the asspats for me.
Miranda was my only friend who still lived in town; everyone else had left for one reason or another: schooling, careers, marriage, or just craving a change of scenery. She and I had grown up together, and it never mattered how many days went in between us texting or seeing one another. It always felt like we could pick right up where we had left off. I didn’t know what it was like to have a sibling, but I’d imagine it would be like my bond with Miranda.
A loud rumble came from behind me, and I swiveled on my seat to see who would be driving so loudly through downtown. Oh hell, a moving truck with the words ‘Get Your Move On’ sprawled across the side barreled past me. A colorful tattooed arm was hanging out of the window, and I glanced up, my gaze connecting with a pair of emerald eyes. It was like time slowed to a crawl, and I couldn’t bring myself to look away.Who the hell is that guy?The truck passed me, and I sped up, curiosity taking over.Is that my tenant?
My shop was sandwiched in between two other businesses. To the left was Mr. Vladescu’s crystal shop, and to the right was a bookstore that was owned by Madame Winston. I lifted my hand in greeting toward Mr. Vladescu who was just opening up for the day. Being such a small town, we were able to keep pretty cushy hours, most businesses opening between 9:30am and 10:00am.
Slowing to a stop, I hopped off my bike in a practiced move and walked it the rest of the way to the bike rack, no need for a chain since crime was basically nonexistent here. It was hard to get away with anything illegal when the town’s residents had likely watched you grow up and knew where you lived. Maven leapt fluidly out of the basket and into my waiting arms. Frank and Arlo were already at work, stocking the produce stands in front of the large picture window that looked into The Pig. Green ivy climbed to the roof and blended beautifully with the deep red bricks that housed my livelihood. A continuous beeping alerted me that the moving truck was backing into the alley beside our row of shops, and I quickly ran inside to grab the keys for the upstairs apartment.
The dark hardwood floors creaked as my favorite flats quickly flew across the boards, my left hand trailing along the smooth twenty-foot-long wooden bar that I used as my sales counter. Floor to ceiling shelves lined the entire wall behind the bar. Having such a perfect setting for it, I’d enlisted Frank and Arlo’s help to set up a mixing station so that I could whip up different elixirs, tonics, and potions for customers as needed. Once a month, I hosted ‘Witching Hour,’ an event that nearly the whole town attended. I ran specials on different items and mixed up magic shots, always a big hit.
With a quiet yip and eager squirm, Maven jumped from my arms, running straight to the back of the shop where I kept his food and water bowls. Figuring the keys were likely in the spelled safe we kept under the counter, I ducked down and unlocked it with a flick of magic, the safe recognizing me and popping open. The bell that was attached to the front door began to chime, announcing a customer, or in this case, a tenant. Sensing their magic immediately, the hair on my arms stood straight up. It felt like fingers reaching out to me, seeking, caressing, and I hadn’t even seen these people yet.They must be really fucking powerful.
“Just one minute! Grabbing the keys...” My hands wrapped around the keyring, and I’d just spelled the lock when a thump sounded from the bar top, jerking my head up. When a face appeared right above me, I startled, releasing a shriek and falling backward onto my ass. A smiling man stared down at me, his almond-shaped eyes sparkling like onyx. Jet black hair fell playfully over his eyes, and his mischievous grin only served to spotlight his defined high cheekbones.Beautiful.
“Kaito, don’t scare the poor girl,” a deep voice chastised.
The man above me, who I assumed was Kaito, gave me a sheepish look. He still had a playful glint in his eye as he said, “Sorry, didn’t mean to spook you. This is a really cool shop.” Disappearing momentarily and just as quickly reappearing beside me, he held out his hand to pull me up. I grasped it and was instantly propelled upward, the momentum had me putting my palms out and catching myself on his chest.
“Hi, I’m Kaito, but you can call me Kai.” He looked down at me and canted his head to the left, a move that instantly struck me as animalistic in nature, reminding me so much of Maven when he was studying something. His hands were wrapped around my wrists, barely an inch of space between our bodies. I knew I should back up, but my brain felt like sludge and my feet wouldn’t listen. My heart was pounding so hard I wondered if he could hear it. Kai exhaled.
“Actually, you can call me whatever you want...” My eyes rounded when his grip tightened on my arms as he leaned in slightly, effectively destroying the inch of space that had been between us, his nostrils flaring as he inhaled deeply.
“Kai.” That baritone voice from before broke the spell like a splash of cold water in my face. I pulled my hands from his grasp and took a step back, smoothing the front of my shirt down just to make sure I wasn’t showing any skin.
We both looked to the front of the store, but the morning sun was shining brightly through the window, and all I could make out was a large, dark silhouette that was illuminated with golden rays. Turning back to Kai, I stuck my hand out to him. “Welcome to Emerald Lakes, I’m Saige. I’m not usually this clumsy, but I’ve only had one cup of coffee this morning, and my gran only let me know about your arrival approximately twenty minutes ago. She owns the apartment, but she’s old and really fucking nuts, and I’m rambling, so can you just shake my hand now?” My mouth was going a mile a minute, but he just grinned at me with a blindingly perfect smile.
Now that I was no longer pressed against him, his eyes rapidly dropped from mine to my feet and then back. I wore a black shirt that saidI hope thistle cheer you upand a pair of skinny jeans. A laugh broke free from his throat as he took my hand and pulled me close to him once again. I swear to gods, I stopped breathing.
“I love your shirt,” he said as he leaned down to put his mouth next to my ear. “The answer is yes, by the way,” he added softly, which caused my brows to furrow in confusion. With another flash of that blinding grin, he explained, “It did cheer me up.”
It appeared that we had a Grade A flirt here.
Back away, Saige. Red alert. No, vagina, do not do that zingy thing. Looks like another night of digging around in my nightstand to see which electric weapon, I mean TOY, will be pleasuring me.
Problem was that everyone in this town knew everyone, and it was no secret how my old relationship had fared. Most had been extremely supportive, but you always hadthose people, the ones who made excuses for men who got off on preying on women. At this point, there honestly wasn’t anyone in town I was interested in, so my toys and I were quite well acquainted.
A deep throat clearing made me jump, breaking the intense eye contact between myself and Kaito. He held onto my hand, gently tugging me around the corner of the bar and up to the front of the shop.
“Saige, this is my best friend, Cam. Cam, this is Saige,” Kai sing-songed.
I pulled my hand out of Kaito’s and giggled.What the fuck was that?Taking Cam’s offered hand, I tilted my head up to look at him.By the moon, this one is a giant of a man. Light brown hair with glittering strands of gold was twisted up into a topknot on his head. The arm that was extended toward me was covered in colorful rune tattoos.This is moving van man.My stomach bottomed out when our hands connected; it felt like an electric current was moving through my bloodstream, tethering me to him. His piercing emerald green eyes were staring at me so intensely I could feel my blush darken at least seven shades. I probably looked like a fucking strawberry.Be cool, Saige.I pulled my hand back, flipped my hair over my right shoulder, and put my hand on my hip.No, do the other hip. This feels off, switch back. Yes. That’s the pose of power. Now hit him with the scrutinizing stare from hell.
“Hello, Saige,” he rumbled. A delicious shiver worked its way through my body. “Do you have the lease agreement and keys so we can start moving in as soon as possible? I’m feeling a storm coming in later this afternoon, and this hair cannot handle that type of abuse.” He winked at me when he said this, and I nodded at him like a bobblehead doll.
Laughter came from beside me, and my brain caught up with what I was doing.Gods dammit! There goes my authoritative stance.
“Oh! Yes, forgive me. So, my gran was um… not forthcoming at all regarding who was going to be renting, so which one of you is our new tenant?” I drew out the question while pointing between the two men.
My inner witch was jumping up and down, rolling around on the floor, laughing maniacally, and doing hip thrusts.Please just let it be one of them, please just let it be one of them.
“Actually, it's me, Cam, Sloane, and Fischer.” Kai smirked, the cocky twist of his lips saying he knew exactly what I’d been repeating in my head.
Well, poop sticks. I’m fucked.
“What the fuck are they doing in there?” Fischer groaned, clearly ready to get settled in the apartment upstairs.
“Did you not see that curvy redhead that ran into the shop right before we parked the van?” I raised an eyebrow as he looked at me, realization dawning on his face.
