Interrupted Magic by Karla Brandenburg (best reads of all time .TXT) 📕

I laughed, at the end of my patience. “Such arrogance.”

“As I’ve already pointed out, they’re going to know you don’t have time to invest in a relationship,” he said harshly. “Don’t you think they’d notice you with someone else? They’re going to blame me because I’m the one who called off the wedding, and they all know that.”

I set Ash on her rug in the corner, my hands shaking with anger. I owed this man one thing, and one thing only—to fix the hex I’d brought on him. “What did you find out about Daria?” I asked.

He stared at me a long moment. “I saw people coming and going from her house, but it seems she was telling the truth when she said she was out of a job.” He frowned. “I suppose we can do whatever you need to do whenever it’s convenient.”

“I’ll have to call Nora.”

He scoffed. “You can’t do it by yourself?” More sarcasm.

My cell phone rang. I checked the display and saw Ian’s name, which sent my stomach whirling like leaves in a warm breeze.

“I have to take this,” I said. “I’ll call Nora and we’ll arrange something.” I turned away from Kyle and answered the phone.

“We still on for tonight?” Ian asked.

My temper eased and I managed a smile. “Yes.”

“Any clues for me? I don’t suppose you live in a castle. There aren’t that many around here.”

“I have a triquetra on my chimney,” I told him.

“I can work with that. You close your shop at six?”

I wanted to close right now, but tourist season wasn’t over, and there were details to deal with. “Yeah.”

Screeching tires drew my attention to the window. I ran to the door in time to see Kyle lying in the street.

Chapter 19

I rushed out of the boutique, phone in hand.

“What happened?” Ian asked.

“I’m not sure. I think Kyle’s been hit by a car.”

“Who’s Kyle?”

I stopped, struggling to breathe. Would Ian understand? “Long story short, the man the spell traveled to—the spell I need to reverse.” Could Ian help me? Did he want to?

How badly was Kyle hurt?

“I have to go,” I told Ian.

“I’ll get the long story when I see you tonight?”

“Yeah.” I slipped my phone into my pocket.

Kyle was sitting in the street, his head bowed. The car that had apparently hit him had pulled over and the driver stood beside Kyle. “He walked right in front of me. You okay, buddy?”

Kyle nodded, then his gaze locked with mine. Fear.

“Dylan’s on his way with the fire station ambulance,” Roxanne Purdy said.

“Not going to the hospital.” Kyle pressed his hands to the ground, then jerked his injured shoulder backward. His face screwed into a mask of pain. “I’m not going to spend half my day in the ER for a couple of bruises. He didn’t actually hit me. I walked into a moving car. Nothing feels broken.”

“I think you should at least get checked out,” she said.

He shot me a glare and turned to the driver. “It was my fault. I wasn’t looking when I stepped into the street. Lost in thought.”

The guy looked at Roxanne. “Do I need to do something? Accident report, or something?”

She escorted him to his car to collect his information.

Kyle lowered his voice. “We need to fix this.”

I nodded. “Sooner, rather than later.”

“How soon can Nora be here?”

“She’s busy today. I’m not sure she can come before Sunday.” My heart pounded and sweat broke out on my brow. “But we might have another option.”

He reached for my hand and I helped him to his feet as the ambulance arrived.

“I’m not going to the hospital,” Kyle said as Dylan approached.

“You don’t mind if I check you out, do you?” Dylan said.

“Might as well earn your paycheck, but you won’t be transporting me,” Kyle told him. He nodded toward the store. “Go back inside, Brynn. Excitement’s over. If nothing else, it’ll earn me the sympathy vote.”

And make me look cold, walking away from him while he was hurt. I swallowed my pride. I had agreed to be the villain in this story. “You sure you’re okay?”

He nodded and managed a smile. “Nice to know you still care.”

I rolled my eyes. “Of course, I care.”

He nodded toward the boutique once more. I frowned, nodded in response, and walked away. Cassandra waited by the door. She squeezed my hand as I passed her.

Ash sat on the counter, waiting for me. I scooped my cat into my arms and snuggled her, tears in my eyes.

Within half an hour, the excitement on the street cleared. Another fifteen minutes brought Yvonne into the boutique, where she glowered at me.

“Dylan said Kyle’s okay, in case you care.”

The second shoe was dropping. “Of course, I care.”

She waved around the store. “It isn’t as if you had customers to go back to, or after what you told me, a business to run.”

This was what he wanted. I was the villain in this story. “He didn’t want me there.”

“What’s going on with you two, anyway?”

Cassandra swooped in to save me. “That isn’t any of your business.”

Yvonne raised her eyebrows, but continued to study me. “Indeed, it is not, but as your mother’s best friend I’m only looking out for your best interests.”

My mother had been dead fifteen years. I hadn’t known Yvonne existed until I’d arrived in Hillendale five years ago. The best-friend status was a weak argument, at best.

The bell over the door rang and I became aware of Ian’s presence. My skin tingled. My heart pounded.

“Can I help you find something?” Cassandra asked.

“No, thank you. I’ve already found her.” He offered me a smile.

My responding smile was automatic. “You cheated. You’ve been to the boutique before.”

“I was worried. We can see where I’m led later.”

I shot a nervous glance at Yvonne. I’d offered Kyle an out, and here it was, standing in front of me.

“If you’re done harassing Brynn...” Cassandra said, moving toward Yvonne.

The gossips wanted something to talk about and I was ready to give it to them. I set Ash