Page 1 of Hex and the Kitty (Whispering Pines #9)

ONE

M olly Hues bolted upright in bed, her green eyes widening as sunlight streamed through the pastel curtains. The clock on her nightstand read 6:42 AM.

“Oh, sweet cinnamon!”

She flung the floral quilt aside and scrambled to her feet, curly red hair bouncing around her shoulders in wild disarray. The Mates too much and it might broadcast people’s deepest secrets across the room.

“Just a whisper of insight,” she murmured, stirring clockwise thirteen times, watching the chocolate-coffee mixture shimmer with subtle magic.

She transferred the frosting to a piping bag and set it aside, unaware that her anxiety about the social—and Celeste’s mention of the new Fire Chief—had amplified the enchantment beyond her intentions.

Behind her, the piping bag twitched.

Molly hummed as she mixed cupcake batter, oblivious until a cold splat of frosting hit the back of her neck.

She spun around to find the piping bag hovering midair, quivering with mischievous energy.

“Get back here!” She lunged for it, missing as the bag zipped past her ear.

It swooped through the kitchen like a caffeinated bumblebee, squirting mocha frosting across the shelves, walls, and ceiling. Rich coffee scent filled the air as Molly chased after it, arms outstretched.

“This isn’t funny!” she called out, though part of her wanted to laugh at the absurdity.

Her phone rang again. She snatched it up, breathless. “What?”

“You sound stressed,” Daisy chirped. “Need help with those cupcakes?”

“Unless you can wrangle a possessed frosting bag, no.” Molly ducked as the bag darted toward her head.

“Sounds entertaining,” Daisy laughed. “But seriously, you’re staying for the whole social, right? Ellie says you always drop off your baking and disappear.”

“Because I have a business to run,” Molly protested, grabbing her wooden spoon and pointing it at the rogue frosting bag. “Settle and sweeten, that’s enough of that!”

The spoon warmed, glowing softly. The piping bag froze mid-flight, then floated down to rest in her palm.

“Was that a spell?” Daisy asked.

“My frosting was staging a rebellion.” Molly surveyed the chocolate-spattered kitchen. “Why’s everyone so insistent I stay for this particular social?”

“Because your single status is becoming legendary,” Daisy replied bluntly. “Even Jasper Moon—who’s been dead for a century—has a more active love life.”

“He’s dating the ghostly librarian from Hollow Creek,” Molly said defensively. “I can’t compete with century-old romance.”

“You could if you’d stop hiding in your bakery. Even your cupcakes have more romantic encounters than you do.”