Kiss and Spell (11 Valentine's Day Paranormal Short Stories) Read online

  And went ass over end off the empty side of the dock.

  Chapter Ten

  Althea let herself sink for a moment, the shock of the water quite literally cooling her desire. Embarrassment made her kick to the surface and swim automatically to the end of the dock where she knew the ladder was.

  “Are you okay?” Trace asked, already crouching at the top of the ladder with his hand outstretched.

  “That was awesome,” Rafe chortled, flitting around their heads, his laughter consuming him.

  “Shut it, Rafe. You’re in a lot of trouble for what you did tonight. I should have Luna send you back to the otherworld,” Althea hissed, shoving wet hair from her face as she stood up on the dock. Looking down at her dress, she sighed. “So much for this dress.”

  “If anything, it looks even better on you now,” Trace offered, his eyes still alight with desire. Althea held up her hand to keep him at a distance.

  “Stay back from me or I’m going to do something we both might regret. It shouldn’t be like this – not now. Not tonight,” Althea said, bending to pull her sopping wet sandals from her feet. She began to walk silently down the dock, shaking her head at what had become of the night.

  “Althea. There’s going to be a time and a place for this. For us,” Trace said from behind her, his words sending a delicious little thrill spiraling through her. Althea shot him a look over her shoulder.

  “We’ll just have to see about that, won’t we?”

  “You can run, but you can’t hide. I’ll be seeing you on the dive boat this week. Maybe I need to make sure we won’t have any clients,” Trace said, deliberately baiting her as they walked towards the tiki bar.

  “Maybe you could think of something more romantic than trying to get me on my back on your dive boat?” Althea shot back, though she was only half-joking.

  “Oh? The lady wants to be wooed, does she? Duly noted, my sweet, duly noted,” Trace said, a smirk on his handsome face.

  Althea shot him a look from her under her lids just as they reached the patio entrance to Lucky’s.

  “I’m nobody’s sweet.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Miss Elva covered her eyes and tried to think straight. The bar was in complete pandemonium, and a standoff of sorts had formed between the people who had drunk the sangria and those who had abstained. Word had traveled through the crowd quickly that there was an aphrodisiac in the punch and those who hadn’t partaken were doing their best to help Beau run damage control.

  “Whatcha got going on, Miss Elva? Any time now would be good,” Beau called from across the room, and she shot him a glare.

  “This is something that is meant to be done with time and care,” Miss Elva yelled back.

  The crux of the situation was that she needed a spell to reverse the love potion – but not cancel out anyone’s feelings. The potion had been designed to enhance what was there – if Miss Elva took that away, she could be ruining people’s lives. It was a lot of weight to carry on her shoulders.

  Which is why she typically never trifled in matters of the heart, much preferring to leave such things to the winds of destiny. It was better that way, all around. And this is what happens when you break your rules, Miss Elva grumbled to herself as she began to carefully measure and pour various ingredients into the bowl Beau had brought her.

  “Shoot, I need oyster powder.” Miss Elva slapped her hand on the bar in frustration. One of the key elements to reversing the potion was using the same elements of the original potion, plus their counterparts. She had almost everything she needed. Looking around, she caught Beau’s eye.

  “Do you have oyster powder?” she called across the room to where Beau was pulling a giggling girl off the town garbage man.

  “Just oysters,” Beau called back.

  Miss Elva wrinkled her nose. Oysters it would have to be then. Though getting people to drink the antidote was going to be tricky.

  Grumbling under her breath, she made her way to the kitchen, where a terrified dishwasher peeked out from the pantry.

  “What’s going on out there?”

  “Just stay in here and don’t drink the sangria. Where’s the oysters?” Miss Elva brushed past him and surveyed the kitchen.

  “In the cooler,” the dishwasher pointed.

  “Take them out and blend them for me.”

  “Ugh, that’s nasty,” the boy said.

  “This bar is going to erupt in utter chaos if you don’t. Do it now,” Miss Elva put on her don’t-mess-with-me face, and the boy went scurrying.

  “Bring them out when you’re done.”

  The stand-off in the bar was still holding, but just barely. On one side of the room were couples in various states of undress, their arms wrapped around each other as they glared down those who hadn’t had any of the sangria. Miss Elva knew that reasoning with people intoxicated by her potion was useless – but there was no time to explain. Catching Beau’s eye, she waved him over.

  “Line up your shot glasses.”

  “How many?” Beau asked, moving around the bar.

  “One for every person who’s had the sangria.”

  Beau cast an eye across the bar; bending down, he snatched a whole tube of plastic shot glasses from beneath the bar.

  “Best to use plastic.”

  “Shush now, let me work on my incantation,” Miss Elva said, waving her hand at Beau as she began to scribble in her notepad.

  What was done must be undone. Yet wants, needs, intentions must remain the same, Miss Elva mused.

  “Um, I’ve got the oysters.” The dishwasher grimaced as he held up a blender full of grey sludge.

  “Pour it in the bowl,” Miss Elva instructed.

  Beau grimaced as he watched the liquid go in.

  “There’s no way you’re getting people to drink that.”

  “I’ll charm it to taste like a Sex on the Beach shot,” Miss Elva winked at him and went back to her incantation.

  “Perfect,” she murmured.

  Standing up, she grabbed a salt shaker from the bar and created a haphazard circle around her, handing the shaker to Beau to complete it on his side of the bar.

  “I call upon the Goddesses,” Miss Elva began as she invoked the elements, going old school with her witchcraft.

  Now, some might say that witchcraft and voodoo are the same thing – but Miss Elva knew differently. She was schooled in both and had enough power to use either as she pleased. The reversal of this potion would need some fast-acting magick, and so an incantation and a call to the Goddesses was needed.

  “Though lonely hearts wish to be full,

  And potion drops give the pull,

  What’s best is free will and free intent,

  So with this potion we repent.

  For though there may be love that’s true

  It’s best that with this potion I undo

  One drop on the lips and you will be free

  As I will, so mote it be.”

  A soft current of light infused the potion over which Miss Elva held her hands. In a snap, its color had changed to virulent pink, and Miss Elva nodded once at it.

  “Pour it up,” she instructed Beau.

  Turning, she put two fingers in her mouth and emitted a sharp whistle bringing the crowd to a halt. Elvis’s ‘Suspicious Minds’ wailed in the background, and Miss Elva mentally rolled her eyes at whoever had chosen the playlist for tonight’s party.

  “Valentine’s Day shots! Line ’em up!”

  A cheer went through the crowd and Miss Elva circled the bar to make sure nobody slipped outside and missed out on their shot.

  Now if only Rafe would return with Althea.

  Chapter Twelve

  “I still think there’s something about this potion that you aren’t telling me,” Trace grumbled next to Althea as they paused outside the bar.

  “Maybe I don’t feel like it,” Althea shot back, annoyance ratcheting through her at her pleasure having been interrupted. Annoyance with everyt
hing really. Cash blowing her off on Valentine’s Day, her feelings for Trace confused, Rafe being a jerk and giving them a potion.

  “No need to get cranky with me,” Trace pointed out. “Isn’t the ghost the one you should be mad at?”

  Rafe shot a glare over his shoulder at Trace.

  “Yeah, Rafe, I’m thinking you deserve something extra mean for this one,” Althea said as they pulled the bar door open.

  “From what I saw, you seemed to be enjoying every minute of it. You’re welcome,” Rafe huffed and zipped through the door ahead of Althea.

  “I swear to God I am going to send that pirate back one of these days,” Althea spat. She crossed her hands in front of her chest, trying to conceal the fact that she was not wearing a bra under her soaking wet dress.

  “Well, well, well! What do we have here?” Trace paused as they took in the scene inside the bar. Couples were lined up, arms slipping up shirts, hands cupped around back pockets, as Miss Elva handed out hot pink shots. From the tone of her voice, people were going to take their shot whether they liked it or not.

  “I’m guessing that’s the antidote,” Althea said.

  “We don’t have to take it,” Trace said immediately, turning to meet her eyes. Althea felt the pull of him, and for a moment she lost herself in his gaze, remembering the pleasure his lips could give her.

  “Althea Rose. Drink this immediately,” Miss Elva barked from her side, making Althea jump.

  “You need to keep Rafe under control,” Althea said sharply, more loudly than she had meant; she was a teensy bit embarrassed to be found soaking wet and mooning after Trace. She grabbed the shot glass from Miss Elva and tossed it down in one gulp, the sweet liquid reminding her of a drink she couldn’t quite place.

  “Sex on the Beach,” Miss Elva said, and Althea’s eyebrows shot up.

  “We didn’t get that far!” Althea exclaimed defensively, blushing as Miss Elva tilted her head at her, the tiara sparkling madly in her hair.

  “It’s the name of the drink. Though it looks like you and I are due for a little chat now,” Miss Elva said, handing Trace his drink.

  Althea couldn’t meet his eyes as he swallowed the shot.

  “Looks like we are due for a little chat, as well.”

  Althea froze and closed her eyes for a moment before turning to look over Miss Elva’s shoulder.

  “Cash.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “I kissed Trace,” Althea blurted, then blushed, hanging her head in shame. Droplets of water were still running down her legs, and now began to form a little puddle beneath her dress.

  “Is that why you’re soaking wet?” Cash asked, crossing tanned arms over each other as he surveyed Althea’s dress. He looked coolly elegant in a loose white button-down shirt and pressed grey slacks. Seeing him standing there sent a wash of happiness and shame through Althea. Things were so messed up now.

  “I slipped on the dock.”

  “Where you were kissing Trace?” Cash raised an eyebrow at her.

  “Rafe put a love potion in the punch. You can’t really blame her for this,” Miss Elva took control of the conversation.

  “This is the pirate ghost, yes?” Cash asked, raising an eyebrow derisively at Miss Elva.

  “Yes, and I am far mightier than you! I dare you to speak badly of me,” Rafe shouted, swooping past Cash’s head, the pirate’s hat bobbing wildly.

  “Knock it off, Rafe,” Althea scolded, and Cash looked around behind him.

  “He’s here?”

  “He’s pretty much always with Miss Elva,” Althea said, and shivered a bit. The air conditioning was beginning to cool her off and with her wet dress – goosebumps broke out on her arms.

  “Why don’t I take you home and we can discuss – this?” Cash said, turning his head to take in the bewildered patrons of the bar, who seemed to be just now realizing the compromising state of affairs they were in.

  “I… well, I – yes. I should go get a change of clothes on, anyway,” Althea said, and turned. “Trace, I…”

  But Trace was already across the room and in an argument with his date.

  Althea shook her head.

  Message received.

  “Yes, Cash. Let’s go home. We’ve got a lot to discuss.”

  “Remind me not to leave you alone after an argument again.”

  “I thought you’d broken up with me,” Althea said, raising her chin, her words defensive.

  “I thought I had too. And yet, here I am,” Cash said, his face a mask. Althea could read the undercurrent there.

  Althea let the words hang in the air a moment before nodding once.

  “Let’s go talk this out,” Cash said, putting his arm around her shoulders and pulling her close. Althea leaned into his warmth for a moment, then turned to look over at Miss Elva.

  “Will you be okay to get home?”

  “Go on, child. You’ve got a mess to clean up – as do I. Oh – and happy Valentine’s Day,” Miss Elva chortled, her shimmery caftan catching the light and making her look like a laughing disco ball.

  “Yeah, yeah, same to you, I suppose,” Althea mumbled, and left with Cash.

  Miss Elva watched her go, not missing the look Trace sent Althea as they moved past. In Miss Elva’s opinion, he’d been stupid to run across the room, back to the blonde. That would have been the perfect moment for him to declare his real feelings for Althea. And yet, he’d made the wrong move. Miss Elva was sure that, now that Cash realized Trace was moving in on his territory, he’d step up his game.

  She shook her head and sighed, leaning heavily on the bar as the room slowly began to empty.

  “This is certainly a Valentine’s Day that will go down in history. I’m almost mad I didn’t drink any of the sangria,” Beau grinned at her from across the bar where he was drying glasses with a bar towel.

  “Who needs the complications?”

  “I don’t know… Sometimes complications can be… spicy,” Beau decided as he held up a glass up to check for lipstick marks.

  “Child, I’m too old for complications.” Even though earlier in the night she had told Althea complications could be fun.

  “That’s too bad, because if I remember correctly, Theodore left before he drank your antidote. I think you’re going to have one huge complication coming your way,” Beau laughed, winking at Miss Elva as dread turned her cold inside.

  “I just had to go and make a damn love potion.”

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  Author's Note

  Thank you for taking a chance on my books; it means the world to me. Writing novels came by way of a tragedy that turned into something beautiful and larger than itself (see: The Stolen Dog). Since that time, I've changed my career, put it all on the line, and followed my heart.

  Thank you for taking part in the worlds I have created; I hope you enjoy it.

  I would be honored if you left a review online. It helps other readers to take a chance on my work.

  As always, you can reach me at [email protected] or feel free to visit my website at triciaomalley.com.

  You can sign up for new releases here http://eepurl.com/1LAiz.

  Other books by Tricia O'Malley

  The Althea Rose Series

  One Tequila

  Tequila for Two

  Tequila Will Kill Ya

  Three Tequilas

  Tequila Shots & Valentine Knots

  The Mystic Cove Series

  A paranormal romance series set on the rocky shores of Ireland

  Wild Irish Roots

  Wild Irish Heart

  Wild Irish Eyes

  Wild Irish Soul

  Wild Irish Rebel

  Wild Irish Roots: Margaret & Sean

  Wild Irish Witch

  THE VAMPIRE’S VALENTINE SUR
PRISE

  Kristen Painter

  The Vampire’s Valentine Surprise

  by Kristen Painter

  Copyright © 2016 Kristen Painter

  All Rights Reserved

  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portion thereof, in any form.

  This is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Summary

  When Delaney Ellingham enters the Nocturne Falls Valentine’s Day Bake-Off, she has no idea that an old rival will create such havoc. Her husband, Hugh, and her friends come to her aid, but even they can’t guess the surprise that lays in store…

  Chapter One

  “Hugh. Psst. Honey.”

  Hugh Ellingham kept his newspaper firmly in place and held very still. He wasn’t exactly ignoring his wife so much as he was trying to avoid tasting her twenty-seventh batch of frosting. Or was it the twenty-eighth? As fiercely as he loved her, there was only so much sugar a man, even one who was a vampire, could take.

  “I know you can hear me. For one thing, I have the same super-sharp vampire senses you do and for another, I’m standing right in front of you.”

  With a sigh, Hugh put his paper down to stare at the business end of a spoonful of buttercream. He dug deep for a smile. It was the fifth such spoon he’d faced down today. He should have done his reading in the living room, but he enjoyed his wife’s company too much so he’d settled at the kitchen table. “Delaney, my dearest, love of my life, queen of my kingdom, I cannot possibly ingest any more sugar. I may become the first diabetic vampire if I do.”