Page 30 of Magical Mischief (Stonewick Magical Midlife Witch Academy #3)

For the first time in eons, I woke up in my cottage without an army of visitors stationed downstairs. The only sound that rumbled through the house was my bulldog’s snores, and it provided the comfort I needed.

Finding out that we might have a fae trying to test our tolerance both exhilarated and worried me. I didn’t want anything to go wrong. I couldn’t afford it. Too much was at stake.

I kicked off my covers and stretched as the morning sunlight streamed in through the window, and let out a lofty yawn as I walked toward the steps and went downstairs. My dad saw me and extended his paws by the fire that had died out. I quickly snapped my fingers, and flames ignited in the hearth.

Not bad.

But that didn’t help all my spell mishaps, especially ones that involved my ex. Stella had taught me the spell to make Alex’s name give me a bitterness in my mouth, but it wasn’t enough. After the recent mistakes, I needed something more effective to provide a longer-lasting aversion.

Pulling a domestic spell book from the shelf near my dad, I flipped to a page where I’d seen something about aversion spells.

To create a moderate aversion toward a specific person, memory, or recurring regret by triggering minor discomfort (hiccups, sneezes, spontaneous itchiness) whenever the subject invades your thoughts. Side effects may include sassiness and improved boundaries.

I didn’t need to be in the middle of something vital between fae and shifter at the Academy, have Alex pop into my head, and have him start barking like a dog states away while some fiasco unfurled in front of me.

Bringing the spell book into the kitchen, I set it on the counter and smiled. This should be perfect.

I reached for the worn wooden spoon I’d used for every ill-advised spell since I first decided to dabble in self-improvement via magic.

I read a few of the lines and stirred clockwise. I kept my voice low and steady, reciting the incantation for practice's sake.

Inhaling a breath, I glanced out the kitchen window where the morning sun spilled over my small herb garden, which still had a thin coating of snow.

No mistakes this time, Maeve, I told myself.

“This is going to be fine,” I murmured to myself. “Just a normal, month-long aversion therapy spell. Nothing complicated.”

Right.

A simple spell to rid me of ex-related thoughts.

By then, I’d already daydreamed about throwing Wisconsin’s finest potatoes at his smug face.

So why not craft a new approach? One that created some sort of physical discomfort if his name so much as skimmed my mind. Drastic, sure, but I was desperate for closure, or at least an empty mind that wanted no part of him.

Go big or go home.

Hiccups it is.

“I’d stay in the other room, Dad,” I called.

I added a pinch of thyme from my herb tin, the aromatic dust floating into the small cauldron perched on my stovetop.

So far, so good.

A little bit of wing dust.

I frowned and thought about that.

Whose wings?

Scooping a bit into the pot, I shrugged off that worry and forged ahead.

A cup of apple cider vinegar, a scoop of rue, one strand of my hair, two pinches of baking soda, and a few little words spoken over the bubbling brew.

“Let this Alex thought fizzle and bubble away,

with a hiccup loud enough to ruin my day.

This is mine and mine to mend,

My thoughts no longer shall pretend.

Each time I stray to thoughts unwelcome,

Let me sneeze or wheeze or mildly yelp them.

Each time that name dares drift through my brain,

let my diaphragm clench and strain.”

I recited the incantation, stirring in lazy circles. The brew started to bubble. My ex’s name perched at the back of my brain, but I resisted it.

Keep it out, Maeve.

Don’t even glance at that mental image. Not now, or you’ll blow up the pot.

But some cosmic force wanted to test me.

Because right when I was in the middle of chanting the line that sealed the month-long effect, I heard the front door hinges creak, and a voice that warmed my insides even on the coldest days called.

“Maeve? You in here?”

I jerked my head up at the worst possible second.

My tongue twisted around the final words of the spell.

Because my brain short-circuited at the sound of Keegan’s voice.

Truth and Light.

There was a faint pop in the pot.

A wisp of lavender smoke curled toward the ceiling. Something smelled too sweet, like honey, which wasn’t part of the plan.

But I didn’t have time to worry about it, because Keegan, gloriously rumpled, wearing a half-smile that suggested he’d just woken up, stepped into my tiny kitchen and gave me a grin that made my stomach flip.

“Hey,” he said, looking cozy and comfortable with his hands in his pockets. “Sorry if I’m interrupting something important. I tried knocking, and the door wasn’t locked, so…”

I swallowed. “Hi.”

He nodded at the little pot. “New potion?”

I breathed, trying to recall where I’d lost my place in the incantation.

“Practice makes perfect and all that. I’m trying to, um, fix some leftover thoughts about my ex, which might be the least flattering way to greet a handsome man like you, especially one I might have a minor…err… major crush on.” My brows waggled at him, and my eyes widened. “I mean, leftover thoughts. No, leftover exes. No crush. Just hiccups.”

Keegan’s hazel eyes steadied on mine. “Leftover thoughts, huh? A crush? This all sounds interesting.”

“Yeah. No. No, crush.” I coughed nervously, stirring the brew as a reflex, though I was pretty sure I’d messed it up beyond salvage. “I was going for a month-long aversion spell. Like every time I think of him, I’d get hiccups. But… I may have just goofed up the final line.”

Keegan made a sympathetic face. “That’s rough. Maybe it’s still salvageable?”

At that exact moment, the pot gave a little hiss, releasing a burst of pinkish steam that tickled my nose.

Pink was… well, reminiscent of those potions I’d read about that made people tell the truth. My cheeks warmed, wondering if I’d just conjured a mini truth-serum cloud in my kitchen.

I parted my lips to say something, but a bizarre impulse took hold.

I realized I felt no sense of filter. If a thought popped in my brain, it tumbled out immediately.

Like now.

Specifically, thoughts about Keegan.

And I had a lot of those. Why was he so tall? And that hair, the messy blond color, always looked better after he ruffled it. The sweet shape of his mouth…

I snapped my jaw shut, trying to hold in the flood. Too late. My mouth just started babbling.

“I want to mention, for the record, you look extremely good in those jeans,” I blurted. “And I’m sorry if that’s weird, but it’s just, you do. I think you should know that. Also, your hair is basically perfect for running my hands through, even though that’s probably not a thing you want me to do right now. And your eyes are… I mean, it’s almost unfair how nice they are. Been that way since you were a kid.” I snapped my mouth shut and clenched my eyes closed.

“Thanks, Maeve.” The deep gravelly tone sent a shiver through me.

“I—um. That wasn’t… I think something went wrong with the spell.” I opened my eyes to see him studying me, and my belly did a nosedive.

Keegan’s expression shifted from confusion to a grin that reached his eyes. He took a slow step forward. “Is that so? I wonder what else you might want to tell me.” His brows lifted.

“Yes, that’s definitely so,” I said, but the words kept spilling out anyway. “I can’t stop telling you exactly what I think. Like, how your shoulders fill out that shirt in a ridiculous way, and how sometimes I catch myself thinking about them, and you—argh!”

I stomped a foot in frustration, which only caused the potion to bubble again, letting out another puff of pinkish steam.

It smelled of sugar and mild embarrassment. Possibly also a whiff of thyme, but mostly embarrassment.

Keegan coughed, half-laughing. “So… you were brewing an ex-aversion spell, and now it’s turned into a truth-chatter spell about me?”

“That’s the short version,” I groaned, feeling my cheeks burn so red I was surprised the kitchen walls weren’t catching fire. “Oh, this is… humiliating. That’s another truth. I find you unbelievably distracting, especially with that half-smile thing you do. I’m not trying to flirt, but I can’t stop it now, so yes, you have an amazing smile. Even your jawline is designed well. I’ve noticed your jawbone. Who does that?”

“I’ve noticed yours too,” he offered.

“You have?”

“It’s very lovely.”

We both went still for a moment, the only sounds coming from the pot’s faint gurgle and my heartbeat thundering in my ears. Then Keegan shifted closer, his tone warm but teasing.

“It’s not the worst thing to hear, you know. Might be nice to get direct compliments sometimes.”

“Direct compliments? I’m practically giving you a monologue about how wonderful you are.” My words came out in a rush. “You’re kind and funny, and you have that way of looking at me like you listen, which is super disconcerting but also the reason I keep telling you everything. And you smell really good, which I guess is also something you should know.”

He stood there, letting me ramble on, a grin slowly spreading across his face. “I’m not complaining.”

“Why would you be? I’m your biggest fan.” I threw my hands up.

“I think I’m yours too, Maeve. Although you have a lot of them around town.”

I chuckled. “As if.”

“It’s true. Something about you draws people in, and I didn’t need a truth serum to tell you. You’re an incredible woman.”

“I’m jealous of Bella.” My eyes clenched shut. “Damnit.”

“What? Your magic will get to her level, but it’s different. You must recognize that every magical being has strengths and weaknesses and…”

“Not about her magic.” I pried one eyelid open to see him looking at me. “At how you two are absolutely perfect for one another.”

“Maeve, I’m not looking for perfection.” Keegan’s eyes stayed on mine. “I’m not looking at all.”

I froze, exhaling slowly. “I’m not either. I mean that’s precisely it. I'm just barely divorced, and my head is all over the place, and even though I find you to be the perfect specimen of a man, I’m too scared to even imagine what it would be like to be with someone again. Obviously, I have a lot on my plate. I can’t even get my spell work right, so adding a relationship to that would be…”

He didn’t let me finish and closed the gap between us before he rubbed his thumb softly along my jaw, sending shivers through me.

“Don’t put so much pressure on yourself, Maeve. Time is on our side.”

Our side, as in my side, your side, a we side, us side? Don’t say it, Maeve. Don’t.

“Look, I’m sorry. This was definitely not my plan for the morning.” I shook my head, feeling the spell begin to wear off.

Of course, now that I had embarrassed myself.

Keegan took another tiny step forward, watching me like he was trying to figure out what to do next.

My dad waddled into the kitchen, looked at me, and then Keegan before wandering back out.

“I’m always going to be here for you, Maeve, in any way, shape, or form you need me.”

Those words tingled down my toes, but I kept my gaze on his. “Thank you.”

Keegan cleared his throat. “So, you need help reversing the spell or will it wear off?”

“I think I do,” I said with a shaky laugh. “Or maybe it’s wearing off now? I don’t feel like I’m about to disclose too many more dark secrets. Although you do look stunning today.”

“So do you, Maeve.” He gave me a half-grin. “And I could handle this all day long if you tell me more about how great I look.”

A strangled laugh escaped me. “Stop encouraging me!”

“I can’t help it. You do wonders for my confidence.”

My cheeks felt scorching again. “Right. Well, fresh air, and then maybe my mind can go back to G-rated monologues.”

“I’d rather have the R-rated.” He chuckled, stepping aside so I could grab a towel and wipe the sweat from my brow. I wasn’t sure if it was from another well-timed hot flash or just a side-effect of mortification.

I rolled my eyes and chuckled as I tried to steady my pounding heart. “Please, I’m sure you know how good-looking you are.”

His hand ran along my shoulder, and he spun me back around. “And I sure hope you know how beautiful you are.”

His eyes stayed locked on mine, and I felt the same flutter that I’d tried so hard to push away, and I smiled. He just smiled, hovering in the doorway, and even with my face burning, I couldn’t help but return the grin. Because, truth serum or not, I felt oddly free for the first time in a long while.