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“Don’t forget my tremendous retail sales prowess. I can upsell like no other.”

“Well…”

“I can vouch for him,” Bo said in a surprising turn of events. “He might annoy the heck out of me, but he’s a hard worker.”

“Really?” Willow looked at Bo for confirmation of his sincerity. But Bo only sighed and bounced his head.

“Yes, actually. Dale is nothing if not reliable. Ridiculous as all get out. But reliable.”

“Okay then.” Willow wasn’t one to argue with that, especially since she was in the weeds at the shop and in desperate need of help. “Can you start this afternoon?”

“I got the job?”

“You got the job,” she said. “I have some business to take care of this morning, but I can start training after lunchtime.”

She didn’t admit her‘business’involved driving out an irritating poltergeist, or at least convincing him to make himself scarce.

“I’ll be there with bells on,” Dale said proudly. “Well, not literal bells. Which is another one of my musical talents, but that will have to wait until Christmas.”

“Can’t wait,” Willow said, and Dale took that as his cue to leave, which he did with a thumbs up.

“You didn’t pay for your Roy Rogers,” Bo shouted, but Dale was already out the door.

“You can put it on my bill,” said Willow, but Bo waved his hand back, shaking his head.

“It’s fine. I’m keeping tabs for when the guy finally wins the lottery.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yep. If anyone in Mysthaven ever wins, it’ll be him. The guy’s got the weirdest luck.”

“Okay then,” said Willow, then checking the time, realized she’d been in the diner too long and had stuff to do before opening the shop. “I’ll take my check now, please.”

And then remembering her Women’s Business Council discount, showed Bo the bracelet.

“I… haven’t tried using this yet, but I was told I could get discounts?”

Bo scowled at it like the bracelet itself had somehow offended him. “I don’t honor that,” he said. And Willow felt like an idiot. But then Bo softened toward her, and placed his warm palm over her hand as she reached for her wallet.

“First breakfast is on the house, though. For you.”

Willow felt the weight of those words.For you.Not for the Women’s Council, but only for her.

The gesture wasn’t going to earn him a date or anything, but it was nice just the same. Perhaps she could extend him the same generosity if he went into her bookshop.

“Thank you,” she said simply, not wanting to complicate things by insisting to pay. Esme always taught her to accept the kindness of others without a fuss. Instead of saying, “Are you sure?” or “Oh, you don’t have to do that.” Esme taught her to just say thank you and let them know it was appreciated.

As she left the diner, feeling pretty good about crossing a new hire off her to-do list, and making a friend in Bo, she had a spring in her step, striding down the sidewalk on her way back to Moonstone Spirits and Books. But she hadn’t made it far before she almost ran into the tall figure of a man who’d stepped out in front of her from behind a display of pumpkins outside the grocery market.

“Oh, pardon me,” she said, jerking to the side to get out of his way. But he only mirrored her movement, blocking her path.

She slid again to bypass him, but his presence was imposing, and she knew he was purposely trying to impede her by the way he scowled directly into her eyes.

“Willow Ravensong,” said the stranger. It wasn’t a question of her identity. More of an ominous statement. An‘I know you’omen or something.

“Have we met?” Willow asked, only a little frightened. After all, after meeting a real ghost, she didn’t spook easily.

But the man didn’t answer her, only narrowed his eyes inauspiciously, glaring at her with cold suspicion.