Page 13 of Rise of the Witch (Witches of Keating Hollow #17)

“So this is your place,” Briggs said as he stood just inside Melissa’s doorway, feeling like he’d just stepped into a home he’d see in a Hallmark movie.

The small two-story house was painted slate blue and had white shutters and wooden planters under the windows that were no doubt filled with flowers every spring and summer.

The inside felt like a cozy hug. There were framed pictures of Melissa and a woman he assumed was her mother, along with others that featured Sadie and another woman.

Candles were set up on a stone hearth, and what looked like a handmade quilt was draped over the overstuffed cream couch.

It was the type of place that made him think of sharing homemade cookies with a grandmother. Not that he’d ever experienced that himself, but he’d longed for such a scene when he was a kid.

“This is it,” she said. “My room is this way.” She led him upstairs to the primary suite that took up the entire floor. She pointed to her second walk-in closet. “There’s room in that closet to the left if you need to hang anything up.”

They’d stopped at his place on the way home so that he’d have fresh clothes and toiletries.

“I wear jeans and flannels to work. I don’t think I’ll need any hangers,” he said with a soft chuckle as he walked over to the closet and placed his overnight bag in it.

The room was spacious with a couple of flower paintings on one wall and a picture of the Keating Hollow River on another.

It screamed that it was the oasis of a woman who was content with her life and where she lived.

Melissa shoved her overnight bag that she’d packed earlier in the other closet and then gestured to the sliding glass door. “There’s a balcony out there, but it won’t get much use until the temperatures warm up a bit.”

Briggs moved to stand by the window. He peered out and said, “Nice view of the mountain.”

“It is, isn’t it? There used to be a bunch of trees blocking it, but once my mom moved to Befana Bay and I claimed this room, I had them taken out. Now I have the forest to the east and the mountain to the north.

“You’ve lived here your entire life?” he asked, wondering what it would be like to have such deep roots.

His own family had moved every few years, and then when he’d been removed due to his father’s abuse, he’d been in three different foster homes before finally landing in his fourth, where he’d met King.

For a long time, his only home was wherever King was.

Now he had his own house in Keating Hollow.

The one that had been invaded by an unwelcome houseguest.

“I have. I’ve often wondered what it would be like to live in the woods like you do,” she said wistfully. “While the view is nice, I still live in a neighborhood with people all around me.”

“People? You mean like having Sadie next door?” he asked with a raised eyebrow. “Something tells me that as long as that’s true, you’re never moving from this house.”

She chuckled. “I do like having her right next door. I’m sure you understand since you keep an entire room for King.”

He smiled at her. “Yeah. But it’s his room. His things. Until he moves them out, it will continue to be his room whenever he wants it.”

“I get it.” She looked at the bed and then shuffled her feet awkwardly. “Are you hungry? I have leftovers in the fridge.”

Suddenly his gut rumbled. When was the last time he’d eaten? Lunch? He and King had been on their way to get takeout when all hell had broken loose.

“That sounds like a resounding yes.” Melissa slipped her arm through his and led him out of the room.

Briggs followed her down the stairs and into her bright yellow kitchen with white cabinets and counters. The space had plenty of light, and Briggs wished his own kitchen was so inviting.

“I hope you like tomato basil pasta, cause this chili looks past its prime,” she said as she peeked in her plastic containers.

“If it’s food, I like it,” he said as he moved around her to search her cabinet for a glass.

She glanced at him. “There’s soda, juice, or filtered water. Help yourself.”

“Want something?” he asked as he pulled the water pitcher out of the fridge.

“Water’s good.”

He poured them both a glass and then leaned against the counter as she heated up his dinner.

When the microwave beeped, she removed his plate and went to set it on the table. “Dinner’s on.”

“You’re not eating?” he asked as he took a seat.

She sat next to him and shook her head. “I ate something earlier, but I’m happy to sit with you for a while.”

He felt a little awkward, having her sitting there just watching him. He wasn’t sure why. It wasn’t like he never ate in front of other people. Maybe it was just because it was getting late and he was in her house while she waited on him. He wasn’t used to anyone except King doing anything for him.

But he had to admit, he liked that Melissa cared enough to pamper him a little.

“Why do you think I can neutralize your magic?” Melissa asked.

Briggs nearly choked on a bite of pasta. He quickly swallowed and then chased the food with his water before he put his fork down and said, “What?”

“You heard me. Every time your magic flares out of control, I seem to be the one who can bring you out of it. Not even King has been able to help. I’m just asking why you think I’m the one who can.”

His heart started to beat wildly against his ribcage. It was the one question he’d been avoiding asking himself. “I honestly don’t know. I guess you just calm me down.”

She pursed her lips as she narrowed her eyes. “Maybe we should test it. You know, you try some of your magic and I’ll… I don’t know, see if I can interrupt it?”

Bone-deep wariness rippled through him. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea. After what happened tonight, I’m thinking I should bury my magic for good.”

Melissa stared at him, giving him an exasperated look. “I’m fairly positive that you weren’t actually trying to use your magic when that window shattered tonight or when you made it rain inside Mystyk Pizza. Those incidents only happened because of Kassie. And she’s not here, is she?”

“No, but…” He trailed off, unable to express just how reluctant he was to even think about his magic.

Melissa ran a soft hand down his arm. “Listen, I can’t blame you for being gun-shy about calling up your magic after the last few days, but it was fine while you were helping Noel repair the window.

I’m just trying to determine what’s going on and how I might be able to help you.

It’s weird for me, too, you know. I don’t have any magic of my own and being able to help you control yours is mind blowing to me.

If there’s more I can do, I’d like to know about it. ”

She was so earnest, so sincere, that Briggs just couldn’t say no. He pressed his lips together in a thin line and then nodded. “Yeah. All right. Let me finish this pasta and then we’ll try a few things. Okay?”

Melissa beamed at him, her eyes flashing with triumph.

“Don’t act so happy. This could be a gigantic mistake,” he said.

“Could be. But I’m willing to bet it won’t,” she said and then grabbed his fork and took a bite of his pasta. After smacking her lips together, she handed him the fork and then got up to get something out of the fridge. When she returned, she had a slice of cheesecake and two clean forks.

“You’re a goddess,” he said as he finished off the last of the pasta.

“Pasta and cheesecake. It’s the magic formula.” She grinned at him and then took a small bite of the decadent treat.

He pushed his plate away and dug into the dessert.

After two more bites, Melissa put her fork down and pushed the plate toward him. “It’s all yours.”

“Are you sure? Because I’m about to devour the rest of this,” he said.

She laughed. “Go for it.”

When the last crumbs of cheesecake were gone from the plate, Briggs cleared the table and started to load her dishwasher.

“Hey, you don’t have to do that,” she said, trying to push him away from the sink. “You’re my guest. Not a roommate.”

“I’m a friend and you made dinner, so I’m cleaning up,” he countered.

“I heated up dinner. It’s not the same.” She stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at him.

“You put food on the table. It counts in my book.” A few moments later, he closed the dishwasher and cleaned out the sink.

When he turned back around, she was till glaring at him.

He laughed as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

“Come on. Let’s go see what you can do when I make stuff fly off your bookcase. ”

“Not my books!” she cried.

“Stop me if you can,” he said, cackling as he jogged into her living room and then pointed at her bookcase. He called up his magic and held it at his fingertips while he waited to see what she might do.

Melissa stopped right in front of him, her hands up as if she were protecting her books.

He laughed. “What do you think I’m going to do to them?”

“I don’t know, but those are my children. So whatever it is, don’t make them go flying across the room where they might fall and scuff the covers, or worse, fall open and bend the pages.”

“Then you better stop me,” he taunted and let his air magic fly.

“No!” She lunged for him, grabbing his hands and instantly neutralizing the magic.

But it was too late. He’d already made one of the books fly off the shelf.

It fell harmlessly onto the carpet. “Dang it!” she rushed over to it, inspected the book, and then carefully put it back on the shelf.

When she turned around, there was fire blazing in her eyes.

“I said not to touch the books. And I meant it.”

“Okay, okay,” he said gently as if he were trying to calm a skittish animal. “Sorry. I didn’t know they were that special.”

She blew out a breath. “No, I’m sorry. It’s just that my mom and I have this thing about collecting special edition books, autographed copies, and rare prints.”

He cast his gaze back to the books. “You’re saying I just messed with an expensive collector’s edition?”

“Expensive?” She shook her head. “Heavens no. The special editions cost a little more than a regular issue, but usually not that much. These are just sentimental, and I try to keep them in pristine condition. As most book lovers do.”

“Got it. Leave the books alone.” He moved to sit in the armchair by the hearth. “I won’t make that mistake again.”

Melissa frowned at him as she took a seat at the end of her couch.

“Now what?” Briggs asked, wondering what he did to irritate her this time.

“Nothing.” She let out a soft chuckle. “You just sat in my favorite spot.”

“Oh, is that right?” He laughed. “Well, in that case…” He sat back and made himself comfortable. “Ready to try this magic thing again?”

“Yes, but stay away from the pictures and the books,” she warned.

“Got it. Won’t make that mistake again.” He winked and then turned to stare at the fireplace. His skin glowed with a faint trace of magic and then suddenly, a fire roared to life in the fireplace. He glanced at Melissa. “Nothing?”

“Nothing. I saw your magic and knew you were focusing on making a fire, but I wasn’t able to intercept anything,” she said. “I think I need to be touching you.”

“No argument here,” he said, unable to keep the self-satisfied smile off his face.

Melissa rolled her eyes at him and moved to sit on the arm of the chair. “Okay, use your magic again.”

“So demanding,” he said but then focused on the fire again. The moment his magic appeared on his skin, Melissa grabbed his hand and then gasped as the flames burst higher before settling back down to normal. “Whoa, I didn’t do that,” he said sheepishly.

Melissa was staring at the fire with her mouth open. When she finally met his gaze, she said, “I think I did.”