Page 10 of Rise of the Witch (Witches of Keating Hollow #17)

Briggs walked into the bedroom just as Melissa exited his bathroom, freshly showered and dressed in formfitting black pants and a soft white turtleneck sweater. Her dark curly hair framed her face and he wanted nothing more than to bury his hands in it again.

“You look like you have meetings today,” he said as he handed her a mug of coffee.

“I do.” She took a sip and pure bliss shone on her face. “This is delicious. I’m gonna have to find out what brand you buy.”

He laughed. “It’s the beans from Incantation Café.”

“Seriously? You’d think I’d have recognized it after all the time I spend there.”

“I think your senses are just heightened after last night,” he said with a wink.

“I’m sure that’s it.” She placed the coffee on his dresser, kissed him softly, and then sat on the edge of the bed to tug on a pair of boots.

Briggs had woken that morning with a pit of unease in his gut.

He’d stared at the ceiling, wondering what had come over him when he’d decided to tell Melissa about his childhood.

He hadn’t told anyone about how he’d ended up in foster care except for King many years ago.

It was something he didn’t talk about. But the dream had just been so real.

He’d felt like he was twelve years old again, right back there in his father’s home, trapped and fearful for what each day would bring.

When he’d woken, he’d just needed to tell someone…

No, he’d needed to tell her . To ease his burden and not be judged for it. And she hadn’t disappointed him.

But when she’d opened her eyes and smiled at him, the uneasy feelings had faded away. In the light of day, she hadn’t suddenly started thinking less of him. She hadn’t even mentioned the dream. Instead, she’d climbed on top of him and they’d had another round of lovemaking.

It was why she hadn’t gotten her breakfast in bed. Instead, she was getting coffee and a quick breakfast before she took off for work.

“Eggs and avocado toast are ready and waiting,” he said.

Melissa beamed at him. “Perfect.” She grabbed her coffee and then took his arm as he led her into the kitchen.

As Briggs was handing Melissa her breakfast, Kassie walked in.

“Good morning,” she said cheerfully.

Her attitude was such a change of pace that Briggs was stunned silent for a moment.

But then he remembered how she’d softened when Imogen had been kind to her and decided that it was worth a shot.

If he was going to be stuck with her for weeks, he had to make it work somehow.

“Can I get you breakfast, Kassie?” he asked.

“There’s eggs and avocado toast, or I could make you a smoothie. ”

Surprise lit on her heart-shaped face. “A smoothie would be perfect. Do you have protein powder?”

“I do,” he said and got to work while Kassie made her tea.

Twenty minutes later, Briggs walked Melissa to the door. “Thanks for last night.”

She smiled softly, pressed her hand to his chest and said, “No thanks necessary.”

They both knew he wasn’t talking about their sexcapades. The gratitude was for being a friend when he needed one. “I’ll call you later.”

She nodded, gave him a kiss, and then left him alone with Kassie Kinny. He let out a tiny sigh and returned to the kitchen to do the dishes.

Once he was done, he was surprised to see that Kassie was already waiting for him by the door. She had her tea in a to-go mug, her laptop bag, and a pleased smile on her face. “Ready?”

“I am.” He followed her out, praying that the day was uneventful and he managed to keep his magic to himself.

“How’s it going?” King asked as he strolled into the recording studio.

Briggs looked up from his place at the boards and grinned at his friend. “Not bad. We just had lunch.”

“Mind if I stay a while?” he asked Austin.

“It’s fine,” Austin said as he looked at the time on his phone. Then he called, “Kassie, we’re ready to go again.”

It was just after lunch and so far, the day had been uneventful.

All they’d done was lay down track after track on the new song.

The one that Austin had finally relented and agreed to turn into a pop song.

They’d been trying different vocals and arrangements, while Briggs experimented with the production.

“Just a minute!” she called as she scrolled through her phone for the 200 th time that day. Whatever was happening with her social media page, she was ecstatic and kept answering messages even as Austin started to lose his patience.

“What brings you by?” Briggs asked King while they waited.

“Sadie’s covering a shift at the brewery, and I didn’t have anything else to do, so I figured I’d come bother you. You doing all right?”

“Yeah. Just trying to slog through this song.”

“We don’t have all day,” Austin barked, and Briggs was glad he wasn’t the one who had to say it. They had both been getting impatient, but at least Kassie had kept her bad attitude tucked away. Briggs liked to think it was because they’d started out on a good footing that morning.

“Sorry,” she said, stuffing the phone in her pocket. “I’m ready.” She hurried into the booth and got back to work.

Ten minutes later, Austin tugged his headphones off and sat heavily in his chair. “Something isn’t quite right. Not yet.”

Kassie slumped on her stool in the booth, looking both tired and a little frustrated, but she kept her thoughts to herself.

“Do you mind if I try something?” King asked.

Austin glanced at him. “You have an idea? Sure, let’s hear it.”

King swaggered into the booth, grabbed a pair of headphones, and stood next to Kassie. “Let’s take it from the top.”

Briggs cued up the music and sat back, waiting to see what King had up his sleeve.

Kassie started to sing, and then King came in with a softer tone echoing her voice. When they got to the chorus, they harmonized, and Briggs just knew that was the magic formula. He met Austin’s gaze, and his boss shook his head as he started to smile.

“That’s it!” Kassie said. “That’s the single.” She turned to King and threw her arms around him. “You’re a genius.”

“I was just trying something out,” King said. “You could even do it with just Kassie’s voice as a backing track. Layer the lyrics or something.”

“No!” Kassie was nearly bouncing out of her chair. “We should do it just like that as a feature.”

King pressed his lips together as he contemplated it. “I’d have to talk to my management.”

Briggs knew that was a lie. There wasn’t anything in his contract that said he couldn’t collaborate with another artist. He probably wanted time to consider what it would mean to work with Kassie.

“It really is perfect, King,” Austin said. “Give them a call and let me know. I’d love to record this at least as a remix. The label can decide how they want to play it.”

King stepped out of the recording studio and Briggs went after him. He found King standing outside, just staring at his phone.

“Gonna make that call?” Briggs asked.

His friend just laughed. “No. And you already knew that.”

Briggs leaned against the porch railing. “What made you decide to help Kassie out?”

“I dunno. I just heard the song in my head that way. And you know me; I can’t keep my trap shut when I hear the music like that.”

“Isn’t that the truth.” Briggs had known King long before he’d ever gotten a record contract.

And as long as he’d known him, he’d always been amazed while watching his friend create music.

It was like something came over him and he just lost himself in it.

“So, what are you going to do? Sing on her record, or make her find someone else?”

“Would it piss you off if I did it?” King asked, studying him.

“Why would I care?” Briggs frowned at him.

“Because, if I end up on that album, I might have to do appearances with her for promo. She could be around more, I suppose.”

Briggs just shrugged. “I think that’s something you should be asking Sadie, not me.”

King chuckled. “You know what? You’re right. I better call her.”

“Good luck.” Briggs walked back into the studio to find Austin and Kassie playing back the recording with King’s backing vocals. Kassie was grinning ear to ear, and even Austin was looking pleased.

When the track finished, Kassie tapped her phone and said, “This is a number one record.”

Austin pursed his lips. “Maybe. It does have all the markings of one.”

Kassie squealed and bounced around in a circle.

King walked back in and said, “Let’s do this.”

“Omigods!” Kassie ran and flung herself at him. King barely caught her as she wrapped her legs around him and clung for dear life. “I love you!”

King’s eyes widened with panic as he sought out Briggs.

“Better you than me,” Briggs said with a smirk.

“Let go of King,” Austin said. “Let’s get this song finished, and then we’ll be done for today.”

Relief flooded King’s expression once he was free of Kassie’s clutches, but Briggs worried he was in for a lot more than he’d bargained for.

As King brushed past Briggs, he muttered, “What have I done?”

All Briggs could do was shake his head.