Page 19 of Rise of the Witch (Witches of Keating Hollow #17)

Melissa eyed herself in her full-length mirror and wondered if she was too dressed up.

She’d opted for a black dress that had a hint of shimmer, black boots, and her red faux fur coat.

The bodice of the dress showed just the right amount of cleavage so that it was sexy, but not too revealing.

But if Briggs decided to take her to a movie or somewhere like mini-golf over on the coast, she’d definitely be overdressed.

The only question was, did it matter?

No. If that’s what they ended up doing, she’d just pretend they were going somewhere fancier later. With a self-satisfied smile, she dabbed on her favorite red lipstick and went downstairs to wait for her date.

“Hot damn. Where are you headed, the Hustler Club?” Kassie asked.

Melissa ignored the slight. She had eyes and knew she didn’t look like a stripper or even a high-class call girl. “I have a date.”

“And you trust me here all alone?” Kassie asked.

“What are you going to do, bug the entire house with cameras? Good luck with that. The most exciting thing you’d see me doing is drinking wine while I read by the fireplace. Besides, I’m going out of town tomorrow for a few days, so you’ll have the place to yourself anyway.”

“Really?” The singer looked a little shocked.

“Really. I have a job to do. Just don’t burn the place down, and we’ll be good.”

Kassie gave her a small smile. “I think I can handle that.”

There was a knock on the door, and Kassie ran to open it before Melissa could get to it.

“Briggs,” she said, placing her hand on his chest. “I just wanted to apologize about that video. King and I spoke and?—”

“I know you took it down,” he said as he physically removed her hand from his body.

Melissa was glad he did it so that she didn’t have to.

“Right, but I wanted to tell you that I was just joking because of the dumb rumors on the internet and?—”

“It doesn’t matter.” Briggs stood on the doorstep and stared at the musician with mild disdain before he looked past her. His expression shifted instantly as a sexy half smile claimed his lips. “You look incredible.”

Melissa felt her cheeks flush with pleasure. “I hope you’re taking me somewhere worthy of this dress. If not, I might have to just take it off.”

“I’ll help you with that, but later. For now, keep it on. I want to show you off a little.”

“Oh gods,” Kassie said dramatically. “You two are gross, you know that?”

Neither Briggs nor Melissa acknowledged her comment.

Melissa grabbed her red bag and swept past Kassie. Briggs leaned in to kiss her on the cheek and then led her outside onto the porch.

As they were making their way to his truck, Kassie called, “Be safe! Don’t forget the condoms!”

Briggs smirked and whispered, “Don’t worry. I didn’t.”

Melissa chuckled. “If you think I’m getting busy in the back of your truck, you’re not as bright as I thought you were.”

“What if I have a sleeping bag back there?” he teased. “A night under the stars sounds just about perfect if you ask me.”

“If it wasn’t forty degrees out, maybe,” she countered.

“Don’t worry. I’ll keep you warm,” he said with an exaggerated wink.

Melissa threw her head back and laughed. “You’re ridiculous.”

“But I made you laugh, right?”

“True.”

Briggs opened the truck door for her and made sure she was safely inside before gently closing it.

“Such a gentleman,” she said once he was in the truck.

“It’s our first date. I’m pulling out all the stops.” As he steered the truck toward downtown, he reached over and took her hand in his and brushed his thumb over the back of her hand. “Did you have a good day?”

“I did,” she said, feeling a warmth in her chest. “I spent some time with Imogen and Sadie over at Imogen’s new place.

While we were there, Amelia Holiday-Riley stopped by and helped me figure out that it’s not just your magic I can control.

I can wield hers, too. So while I may not have magic of my own, it looks like I can harness other people’s magic. ”

“Wow, really? That’s pretty rare, isn’t it?”

“I don’t know,” she said with a nervous laugh. “I suppose.”

Briggs shook his head as he let out a soft chuckle. “We’re quite the pair. Here I am, an elemental witch, with more magic than I know what to do with, and you… Well, you don’t have any of your own but seem to wield it like a pro.”

That sounded like the perfect match to Melissa, but she kept that thought to herself.

“Well, it’s not like I intend on using this newly discovered power.

What would I even do with it? Just walk up to someone while they’re casting a spell or charm and just take over? Seems pretty invasive if you ask me.”

Briggs brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “I can’t imagine you’d do such a thing, but I, for one, am grateful you’ve been there to help me.”

“Me, too,” she said softly, suddenly feeling shy. “Anyway, enough about that. After my visit, I went home and got caught up on work, so I’m ready for my meetings over the next few days. Now tell me about your day. Sadie said it looks like King and Kassie came to some sort of agreement.”

“They did. Kassie was pretty freaked out about King backing out of the song, so she apologized profusely and then was on her best behavior for the rest of the morning. Honestly, she was more like the Kassie I knew back in LA instead of this new caustic, fame-hungry version she brought to Keating Hollow.”

“That’s good, right?” Melissa asked. But even as the words came out of her mouth, she felt a little nauseated by the thought of Kassie and Briggs when they were back in LA. They’d been a thing then. It wasn’t something she liked to think about.

“Yeah. It is. King is still irritated about it all, but at least he’s not threatening lawsuits anymore. And hopefully Kassie will decide that she can catch more flies with honey instead of vinegar. We had a good morning in the studio. We got a lot of work done and then…”

When he didn’t finish his sentence, Melissa peered at him. “Then what?”

Briggs made a funny face before he said, “I had a therapy appointment.”

“You did?” That took her by surprise. He hadn’t said anything about it earlier. “How did it go?”

“Pretty good, I think. He gave me some advice on what to do if my magic flares out of control again.”

Melissa wanted to ask more but didn’t. She’d never gone to therapy, but she imagined it would be intense. Especially for someone with Briggs’s history. “That’s great, Briggs.” She lightened her tone and added, “I hope it works better than the potions.”

He chuckled. “You and me both.”

When they made it to town, Briggs parked in front of the new restaurant, the Elegant Cauldron, and then hurried over to open her door for her. “I hope you’re hungry, because after the day I had, I’m starving.”

“I could definitely eat,” she said.

With his hand on the small of her back, he led her into the enchanted restaurant.

The door opened seemingly by itself the moment they stepped onto the short red carpet that was just outside the door. The entrance was dark, making Melissa hesitate, but when she got a whiff of the delicious scents inside, her mouth started to water and her feet began to move on their own.

As soon as she crossed the threshold, candles flickered to life and a woman dressed in a purple velvet dress and ornate lace-up, knee-high boots appeared before them.

“Mr. Williams,” she said. “You’re right on time. Your table is ready for you. Right this way.”

Twinkle lights were strung along the walls and across the ceiling, giving the charming restaurant a beautiful glow. And when they got to their table, the chairs moved out all on their own. As Melissa was taking her seat, the chair scooted in to just the right distance for her to enjoy her meal.

“This is fun,” she said, enjoying the special magical touches the witches had added to make dinner just a little bit more unique. “It’s beautiful, too,” she added as she took in the gorgeous tapestries on the walls that depicted various potions, herbs, and the ethereal witches who worked with them.

“Good evening,” a waiter in a green crushed velvet suit said. “Can I bring you something to drink?”

Melissa frowned. “Do you have a wine menu?”

“Of course.” He snapped his fingers, and suddenly a floating chalkboard appeared right next to their table with a list of wines by the glass and the bottle.

“Nice touch,” Briggs said.

The waiter smiled. “Thanks. That was my idea.”

“Can I have the Italian red?” Melissa asked.

“Absolutely. Do you want a bottle or a glass?”

“Bring the bottle,” Briggs said.

“Good choice.” The waiter didn’t write it down or make a note of it anywhere. He just snapped his fingers again, and the wine list was replaced with the food menus. He rattled off a few specials and then said he’d be right back with their wine.

Once he was out of earshot, Melissa eyed her date. “Are you trying to get me drunk?”

“No,” he said with a soft chuckle. “Not unless you want to.”

“Tempting,” she said. “But I do have to get up and leave early tomorrow.”

“That’s unfortunate. I already miss waking up and making you breakfast.”

She winked at him. “I’m pretty sure you miss what happens before breakfast.”

“That, too,” he said, his eyes glinting with mischief.

The wine glasses and bottle appeared out of nowhere. They watched as the bottle rose in the air and poured wine into their glasses. Then Melissa’s rose and hovered right over her plate. She took it, tasted the wine, and said, “It’s delicious.”

A mysterious voice sounded out of thin air. “Excellent. Enjoy.”

Melissa smirked. “Is this just their way of keeping their staff costs down?”

“Maybe.” Briggs glanced around, eyeing all the magic that was happening around them. “It is charming, though, right?”

“Very.”

They spent the rest of the evening at the restaurant being delighted by the magical touches, but the real show was the food. Melissa had never had a more flavorful risotto. Briggs raved about his glazed duck. And then there was dessert. The key lime pie cheesecake was heaven. Pure heaven.

By the time they left, Melissa was starting to wonder if they’d charmed the food, too. Everything was so good, it must have been made with just a touch of magic.

“That was wonderful,” Melissa said once they were back in the truck.

“And I didn’t even get you drunk.” He winked at her.

“Almost, but not quite,” she said. “I can’t believe we didn’t finish the bottle.”

“I didn’t want you to accuse me of taking advantage of you,” he said as he turned onto the highway that led out of town toward the mountains to the east.

“Is that right?” She peered out the windshield at the moonlit night. “Where are we headed now?”

“Just a nice little spot with a pretty view.”

“Are you taking me to make-out point?” she asked.

“Would it be a problem if I did?”

“No.” She leaned toward him, and this time it was Melissa who took his hand in hers. “I think I’d like a little alone time with you.”

That sexy half smile was back, and Melissa felt a tingle of anticipation run up her spine, making her feel like she was seventeen again.

It wasn’t long before he pulled off the highway and drove a couple miles back into the woods. When he finally stopped, they were overlooking a small lake that had the mountain behind it and the moon high overhead.

“Come on,” he said as he climbed out of the cab of the truck.

“We’re getting out?” she asked as he pulled her door open.

Once she was on her feet, he led her to the back of his truck and helped her climb in.

She laughed when she saw the two sleeping bags that had been zippered together. “You weren’t kidding.”

“Nope.” He climbed up after her and then slipped his arms into her coat and pulled her to him. “I missed you, Melissa.”

“I missed you, too,” she breathed as his mouth brushed over her bare collarbone.

“Tell me I can have you, right here under the stars,” he whispered.

Her body was lit with fire, and all she could do was nod.

An hour later, as they lay in the sleeping bags staring up at the stars, Melissa said, “I wish we could live in this moment forever.”

He trailed his fingers through her curls. “Me, too.”

They stared up at the sky, both of them content just to be with each other. And when a shooting star appeared, Briggs just held her tighter and said, “It’s always the small moments that stay with you.”

Melissa wanted to laugh. “You call this a small moment?”

He glanced down at her and chuckled. “Okay, maybe a quiet moment.”

“For now, anyway,” she teased and then rose up to kiss him. They got lost in each other again, and by the time she told him it was time to go, the sun was just about to rise.

He sighed softly, kissed her one last time before they got dressed, and then took her home.

Briggs walked her to the door, and just before she went in, he said, “I think it’s safe to say we’re dating now.”

“After one date?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.

“One epic date,” he corrected. “I know you’re supposed to be my fiancée, but I think maybe I’d like to be your boyfriend first.”

“Boyfriend?” she asked with a grin.

“Yeah. Are you okay with that?”

Melissa stepped in, gave him a soft kiss on the lips, and said, “Yeah, I’m more than okay with that.”