Хармони Харт - Basic Witch

“You’re a perceptive guy,” I said. “I’m not about to let my forever fate rest in someone else’s hands.”

“No,” Beau said, gazing at me thoughtfully. “I don’t imagine you would.”

I sat back in the booth, considering my own words carefully. As a quintessential people pleaser, I’d been content to let other people dictate my actions for years. Well, maybe content was an overstatement. More like, scared that people wouldn’t like me if I stood up for myself , which in turn bred a simmering resentment over my self-inflicted situation that eventually came boiling to the surface in an epic volcanic eruption that incinerated everything in sight. And then, once I was satisfied I’d burned every bridge in the vicinity, I’d pack up and move on to somewhere, something, someone new.

But this situation was different. I could feel my resolve strengthening within my core, demanding that I face this challenge head-on. Was this a side effect of being a witch? Maybe crossing over into Salem had changed me somehow.

“So talk to me about Mason Montcrief,” I urged. “Did he have a good relationship with Morty?”

“Ask anyone in town, and they’ll tell you Mason is the nicest guy you’ll ever meet,” Beau said. “As for his relationship with Morty, it was as good as could be expected. Mason did his best to be there for Morty, running errands and fixing things up around the property. Morty was always cranky about it, insisting he didn’t need anyone’s help. But Mason didn’t mind. He still dropped by Montcrief’s every day to check on him.”

“It sounds like Bennett was right,” I said. “Mason should be the rightful heir to Montcrief’s.”

“I don’t disagree with you there,” Beau said. “But the powers that be in Salem are quite particular about following the rules, even though the constant bureaucracy seems to slow everything down. They’ll have to confirm Morty’s estate plans with the Hall of Records, which…” he sat back and closed his eyes, shaking his head slowly. “... is about as expedient as a drunken snail.”

“It sounds like Morty was a pretty wealthy man.” I lowered my voice to a whisper. “And Mason worked here , which doesn’t strike me as a glamorous life. Is it possible Mason killed him to gain access to his money?”

Max, who was diligently cleaning the table a few booths down from us, paused and shook his head. “No way,” he said. “Mason loves working at Darkwoods Diner. Morty always pushed Mason to follow in his footsteps and take over the shop, but Mason wanted a simpler life. Real point of contention between them, too. No way he’d kill Morty just to get his hands on the very thing he always turned his back on.”

I frowned. I swore I was speaking quietly enough to keep our conversation private. “How did you—?”

Max wriggled his eyebrows and pointed to his ear. “Werewolf ears.”

“Oh. Right.” I flashed an innocent smile.

“Hey, Max? Y’all obviously think Mason isn’t capable of killing Morty. I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions. Maybe it’s best we keep my initial suspicions to ourselves. I don’t want to get off on the wrong foot with Mason before we even meet.”

“Don’t worry about it, sweet cheeks. I’m good at keeping secrets. You remember that, in case you ever want to keep something else just between us. If you know what I mean.”

Ew. I bit back my immediate reaction, smiling once more. “I’ll keep that in mind, Max.”

Beau was silent, but his tightly clenched jaw betrayed his annoyance. He dug into his pocket and pulled out a gold coin, depositing it on the table as he stood. He extended his hand to help me up, and I took it, nearly crashing into him as I slid out of the booth with as much grace as a newborn deer.

Beau was quick, catching my elbows to steady me as he grinned. “If Detective Otto had witnessed that near-disaster, your story about tripping over Morty might seem more plausible.”

“Ha-ha,” I replied. My tone may have been sarcastic, but every inch of my body danced with electricity as I realized just how close Beau and I were standing. I felt my face flush, and I lowered my gaze, as we walked to the door.

“ Oh, my Bast! You like him !” Titus exclaimed.

“ Hush. I do not. ”

“ I bet he doesn’t cuddle like I do. ”

“ Don’t be weird. No one is cuddling anyone. ”

I was too embarrassed to admit it, even to myself, but the cat was right. We had only been here a few hours, but I already had a hopeless schoolgirl crush on my new professor.

"Do you mind if we walk?"

"Not at all," I said. "If I'm going to be stuck here awhile, I might as well get to know the town a bit."

He held open the door, and as I brushed past him, his delicious, masculine scent wafted into my nose. I thought I might melt into a puddle right at his feet. Instead, I plastered my best casual smile on my face and hoped he hadn't noticed me breathing him in.

Beau offered me his arm—apparently a common custom for gentlemen in Salem—and I looped mine through his, resting my hand on his wrist.

I fell into step with him, Titus sulking as she followed at our feet. We rounded a corner and found ourselves surrounded by a gloomy forest on one side and a row of dilapidated warehouses on the other.

"Are The Fringes always this spooky?" I asked. "Talk about the perfect setting for a slasher film."

“The Fringes can be intimidating at night, but I think you'll find the area more welcoming in the light of day." He pointed to the bare black tree trunks rising up from a blanket of gray fog. "However, those are The Darkwoods. Best avoided entirely.

A cold wind whipped through the trees, sending a shiver through my body. "I'll take your word for it."

Beau cupped his free hand over mine and slowed to a stop. "You're freezing," he said.

"Maybe a little chilly. I didn't have a chance to pack a jacket before being ripped from my home by the magical bookcase from hell."

He frowned, shrugging off his coat before draping it over my shoulders. "You'll need a coat. An entire wardrobe, in fact." He furrowed his brow. "And a bank account. And money."

"I don't even know where to begin," I said.

"I think the Coven is taking care of the logistics, but I’ll check in to make sure they expedite things.”

“Thank you.”

“It's been years since someone crossed over into Salem,” he said. “I forget how jarring it can be."

"That's an understatement."

"You'll want some help settling in. I'll introduce you to some fellow witches tomorrow, and we'll make a list of what you need."

"A cup of tea, a hot bath, and a warm bed would be more than enough for tonight," I said.

"Simple requests," Beau said. "Consider it done." He wrapped an arm around me, drawing me close to him as we began walking again.

And it wouldn't hurt to have you as a snuggle partner , I thought.

“Hey! I'm your snuggle partner!” Titus whined.

“You literally sleep on top of my neck. I'm not sure I'd call that snuggling. More like strangling.”

“ It's a love strangle. ”

“ I’d be safer sleeping alone. ”

“ I am a fierce protector. ” She puffed out her chest and tail, making her furry black form appear medium-tiny as opposed to just regular tiny.

I stifled a laugh. But speaking of spending the night alone… "Beau?"

"Yes, Gemma?"

"You don't think Morty's killer will come back, do you?"

"I'm not sure. It seems unlikely the killer would return to the scene of the crime, at least so soon.”

“Unless they came back to hide something. Like the murder weapon,” I pointed out.