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The sun shone through the front window of her apartment, and even though it was a bright, sunny day, Indigo felt as if a cloud was hovering over her head. She’d woken up that morning with a heaviness on her heart. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d lost something—or someone—that was very special.

Grabbing her insulated coffee mug, she went next door to her office and took a seat at her desk, intending to process invoices for the month. Instead, she found herself staring at the safe beneath her desk and thinking about the notebooks she’d stashed there the day she’d taken over the broom shop from her grandmother. Bethany had stepped in to run it temporarily after her son and daughter-in-law died in case one of her granddaughters decided they wanted to take it over.

The store had been in the Befana family ever since the town had been founded over two centuries ago. Though in the early days it was more of an apothecary that carried other magical supplies. And although Indigo still carried some herbs and charms, she’d morphed the main business into magical brooms. And with it, she’d changed the name from Befana Bay’s Witchery and Brooms to the snappier name, Brooms that Vroom.

No one in her family had questioned why she’d made the changes. They knew.

Indigo tore her gaze away from the safe that held the answers to those questions and reminded herself that since she’d locked away her secrets, she’d built a good life. A happy life. One that she could be proud of.

And welcoming a man who worked for the Magical Task Force into that life was just asking for trouble she didn’t need.

The store phone rang, startling Indigo out of her memories. She picked up the cordless and said, “Brooms that Vroom, Indigo speaking. How can I help you?”

After taking a reservation for rentals for a family of four that weekend, Indigo quickly got the invoices paid and then went down to open the shop.

As she was moving a display of broom rentals onto the sidewalk in front of the store, a young woman with sleek brown hair and wide amber eyes walked up.

“Hello, are you Indigo?” the woman asked.

“In the flesh,” Indigo said with a welcoming smile. “Are you in the market for a broom?”

“Not exactly.” She pulled a thick piece of paper from a book bag she had slung around her body and held it out. “I’m here about the job you have advertised in the Befana Bay Bulletin . I hope the position is still open.”

Indigo nodded as she took the woman’s résumé. She scanned it, noting that the woman was short on experience but that she was a student at a local magical college who was majoring in business administration and minoring in graphic design. Indigo’s interest piqued. She’d been wanting to run some online and print campaigns and needed a decent graphic designer. She glanced at her name at the top and then said, “It’s nice to meet you, Kinsley. The position is still open. Why don’t you come on in and we’ll chat a bit.”

“I’d love to.” Kinsley followed Indigo into the store and then paused for a moment to look around at all the brooms. “My gosh. Look at those carved handles. I’ve never seen such beautiful, intricate work before.”

“They’re lovely, aren’t they?” Indigo agreed, nodding at the carved handles that depicted secret gardens that had lifelike flowers inlaid in the wood. “Those are carved in Italy by a master craftsman and imported. The ones on the opposite wall are done by a local craftsman. While not quite as intricate, I find the subtle landscape designs fascinating. And just look at the hidden animals peeking out everywhere.”

“Oh my.” Kinsley pressed a hand to her heart as she inspected the broom handles thoroughly. “Maybe I should change my major to art. How lovely it must be to be able to work on these all day.”

Indigo chuckled. “I’m certain a business degree will serve you well. If you do decide to pursue art as a living, having the tools to figure out how to sell it will be invaluable.”

Kinsley let out a sigh and smiled softly. “You sound like my mother.”

“Oh, oops.” Indigo grinned at her. “I guess I’ve turned that corner from dreamer to responsible adult.” She faked a shudder and added, “It’s probably all downhill from here.”

Giggling, Kinsley shook her head. “Looks like you have years until things start to deteriorate.”

“Now you’re just flattering me. Thank you.” Chuckling, Indigo leaned against the checkout counter and said, “Tell me about yourself and why you want to work here.”

“Oh, I’m starting my senior year at the Witchery Institute in the fall, and my plan once I’m done with school is to open a store much like this with my sister. Only I’ll be specializing in tarot cards and talismans while she focuses on herbs and potions. Mostly healing and spiritual stuff. I wanted to get experience working in a store that caters to the witch community. I did work for a psychic during the school year, booking her appointments and doing her advertising, but none of that involved retail. She moved to Salem to be near family a few months ago, so I’ve been looking for something that will give me more experience in the direction I’m wanting to go.”

Indigo studied the young woman, trying to get a read on her energy. She wasn’t an empath, but she had learned over the years that if she was quiet enough, she could usually get a good understanding of someone’s overall intentions.

There was nothing but love and light coming from the woman standing in front of her. It made her inclined to offer her the job on the spot, but there were more questions she had to ask first.

“You said you’ll be focusing on tarot. Are you a reader?” Indigo asked.

“Yes.” An easy smile claimed Kinsley’s lips as her eyes lit up. “It’s something that runs in my family. All the oldest women in each generation are gifted with the sight when it comes to tarot. I do readings as well as design the cards. It’s pretty much my passion. If you want me to offer readings here, I’m more than happy to.”

It was an interesting idea, but Indigo didn’t think tarot readings really went that well with her brand. “Maybe save those for festivals or special events.”

“That works, too.” Kinsley was clearly ready to say yes to anything in order to get a shot at working at the store.

Her eagerness charmed Indigo. She’d been fresh-faced and eager to learn anything and everything about her passions at one time, too. So eager that it had almost ruined her life. She quickly pushed those memories aside and focused on the woman in front of her. “The job is part-time, but the pay is competitive. We need someone for Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. And sometimes Mondays. Will that be an issue?”

“Not at all. I’m available whenever you need me,” she said. “And then when I go back to school, if you still need weekend help, I’m your gal.”

Indigo asked her a few more questions, and by the time the door chimed, indicating they had a customer, Kinsley had already filled out her new hire paperwork.

“Good morning,” a familiar deep voice said.

Jerking her head up, Indigo sucked in a sharp breath when she spotted Niko heading toward her. He had an easy smile, and his T-shirt was molded to his sculpted chest. The man was far too gorgeous for his own good.

His lips curved into a cocky smile.

She rolled her eyes and turned to tell Kinsley that she could start in the morning, but before she could get the words out, the younger woman was already striding toward Niko.

“Hello,” Kinsley said, far too eagerly. When she reached him, she placed her hand on his forearm and stared up at him adoringly. “What can I help you with this morning?”

Amusement lit his dark eyes as he smiled down at her and then cast his gaze to Indigo. “New employee?”

Indigo nodded as she reached for Niko’s favorite broom. Holding it in her hands, she said, “Niko, meet Kinsley. Kinsley, this is Niko. He’s been renting the same broom each week for almost a month now.”

“You’ve been renting a broom every week? Wouldn’t it be more cost effective to just buy one?” Kinsley asked, looking confused.

“Yes, it would,” Indigo answered for him. “After the cost of the third rental, he’d have been ahead if he’d just bought the same broom. I’ve been trying to tell him that.”

He shrugged. “If I did that, I wouldn’t have an excuse to come in here all the time.”

Kinsley glanced between Niko and Indigo, realization dawning in her amber eyes. “I see. Maybe I should just get out from under foot then.” She raised her eyebrows at Indigo. “What time tomorrow?”

“Nine sharp,” Indigo said, briefly tearing her gaze from Niko.

“I’ll be here.”

Indigo didn’t miss the way Kinsley checked out Niko’s backside on her way out, and she couldn’t help her grunt of disapproval.

Niko chuckled softly.

“What?” Indigo asked defensively.

“I just find it amusing that you’re jealous. That’s all.”

“I’m not jealous,” she lied.

“If you say so.” He winked at her and handed over his credit card.

Without a word, Indigo completed the transaction for his broom rental. As he was signing, he said, “Are you sure I can’t entice you to join me on a moonlit broom ride tonight? I heard there’s a chance that we’ll see the northern lights.”

His invitation was tempting. So tempting that she almost said yes, but before she could get the word out, she remembered the promise she’d made herself the night before not to accept any more dates from him, no matter how charming he was when he asked her out. She quickly clamped her mouth closed and then shook her head.

“Are you sure? I was planning to grab a beer and a burger at the Salt Circle before my ride. I’d love to have some company.”

“Niko,” Indigo started before she let out an audible sigh. “We’re not dating.”

“Can’t we be friends?” he asked as he frowned at her.

“Of course we can. It’s just…” Dammit .

“It’s just what?” he asked, frowning.

She swallowed the lump in her throat and decided it was best to be honest. “I think we both know that we’ll never be just friends. Having dinner or going on a broom ride with you will just make it harder to walk away.” Indigo’s stomach churned as she spotted her new employee outside on the sidewalk with a phone pressed to her ear. In an effort to break the cycle of Niko always asking her out, she hastily added, “Maybe you should invite Kinsley. I bet she’d love to do both.”

Irritation flashed in his gaze before he said, “Yeah, maybe I will.”

Indigo watched him walk out the front door and stop to talk to the gorgeous college student. Bile rose in the back of her throat as she watched Kinsley gaze up at him with adoration.

Unable to watch any more, Indigo turned her back on them and then started reorganizing the brooms, just so she’d have something to do.