Devil in the details, p.1
Devil In The Details, page 1
About This Book
These four women are the worst witches ever.
Shannon’s coven really ought to have their act together by now. With the addition of Cynthia, younger but waaay more experienced in the White Arts the world should be at their feet right now. Well, at least Wesley, N.Y., okay?
Nope.
Shannon’s familiar, Robert the bobcat is still missing in action after being shot by Steve. By the way, that budding romance is also shot to hell.
Libby hates her new job, but it looks like every four-legged creature in Wesley is in love with her!
Mary-Jane? Oh boy. What’s so great about having magical powers if your marriage is on the rocks?
And dear Cynthia, the youngest of the coven (someone in her 30s is the youngest! Damn!) is antsy as hell.
They’re still meeting weekly, practising charms and trying to figure out the contents of Shannon’s Grimoire, but the more they try, the screwier things get.
Shannon tries to amp up her love life and winds up screwing over Mary-Jane’s marriage.
Libby enlists the town’s wildlife to help find Robert the bobcat and in return they transform her entire neighborhood into some sort of Critter Hotel.
Mary-Jane? Oh boy... almost burning her restaurant down was the least of her challenges. Now? Huh. Now she’s trying to cope with an insanely jealous husband... who’s too busy hanging with his new buddy than a roll in the sack! What the hell...?
And poor Cynthia feels left out of the three’s shared motherhood. She’s single, and her own bio-clock is ticking away.
Has Mary-Jane been screwing around with spells again like she did with Shannon? Is Cynthia trying to become ‘leader of the pack’ despite Shannon being the heir to the Witching Well?
These four women can’t get their collective asses in gear, despite the Spanx.
Wait. A. Minute...
Are they really this crappy at magic? Are they really just a bunch of mid-life broads over reaching? Or is it something else?
Or someone else?
© Copyright 2021
ISBN: 978-1-988913-31-5
License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
071621docx
Cover Design Juan Padron
https://www.juanjpadron.com/
Editing by Paula Grundy
https://paulaproofreader.wixsite.com/home
CONTENTS
About This Book
CONTENTS
One
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
FIFTEEN
SIXTEEN
SEVENTEEN
EIGHTEEN
NINETEEN
TWENTY
TWENTY ONE
TWENTY TWO
TWENTY THREE
TWENTY FOUR
TWENTY FIVE
TWENTY SIX
TWENTY SEVEN
TWENTY EIGHT
TWENTY NINE
THIRTY
THIRTY ONE
THIRTY TWO
THIRTY THREE
THIRTY FOUR
THIRTY FIVE
THIRTY SIX
THIRTY SEVEN
Author’s Note:
An Invitation For My Readers Group!
Other Works By Shelley Dorey
One
M y heart catapulted into my throat when I stepped into Mary-Jane’s restaurant. Oh my good goddess! He was there in all his GQ glory.
Alone at a table by the window, Devon Booker sat with his tablet propped up, reading as he had lunch. A lock of dark-blonde hair brushed the smooth skin of his forehead, while the chiseled features of his nose and jaw once more took my breath away. He was drop-dead gorgeous.
Maybe it’s in our genes or something, but I knew instinctively all the things I could do to get his attention, despite having spent twenty years married. It’s like falling off a bicycle, I guess. I could call out his name (we’ve already met, right?) and flash him a smile. Or I could just “brush” past him on the way to my seat or something...you know, those little tactics we girls employ to get a guy to notice us.
But no... I actually took a faltering step back, seriously considering escape before he noticed me. That’s because Devon is pretty much convinced I’m a complete psycho, and I really don’t blame him for that.
Besides thinking I’m out of my mind, he’s kinda—okay, totally—pissed off at me. Getting shot really takes the bloom off attraction, don’t you think? Not that I shot him: no, that was Steve Murphy. But it was on my property, and Devon kinda blames me.
So hot guy I know, public space, and I was trying to figure out how to blow this joint. But that plan was blown to bits when Ray called to me from his usual spot behind the bar.
“Shannon! It’s good to see you. MJ didn’t mention you were coming in for lunch today.”
I really didn’t want to look over at Devon, but I couldn’t help stealing glances his way. And, yeah, I got busted when he looked up straight at me. When our eyes locked, I’ll admit my heart went pitter-patter. But when that now familiar scowl appeared, darkening his absurdly handsome face, my pitter-patters fell into my stomach. He shifted in his seat and turned away from me as he studied the screen before him.
Damn.
I pasted on a fake smile and headed over to the bar. “Hey, Ray. I just finished a meeting with Wayne Silver about that article he wants me to write. Since I was in the neighborhood, I thought I’d stop by for some lunch.” My voice only squeaked a little bit. Just a tad.
As I spoke, half of my mind deliberated on what to do about Devon. I’d tried so many times to apologize, but he wouldn’t take my calls or texts. When I stopped by his office, he’d threatened to physically throw me out, if that was what it took to get rid of me.
“Take a seat wherever you want, Shannon. Can I get you a drink?” Ray leaned closer and lowered his voice. “If you’d prefer to visit with Mary-Jane in the kitchen to avoid Devon, I totally get that.”
From the concern in Ray’s eyes, Mary-Jane must have filled him in on everything between Devon and me. Plus, he probably wasn’t keen on a nasty scene going down in his restaurant.
Ray’s cautionary kindness, coupled with Devon’s rudeness, had the opposite effect on me. It was like a switch was flipped, and I went from scuttling skulker to assertive broad. Instead of slinking away with my tail between my legs, I decided to deal with the situation head-on.
For decades in my life, I had backed off “for the sake of peace.” Don’t ruffle feathers; don’t make a stink; just shut up, and take it with a smile. I kept that façade until I became a doormat. Terrified of being classified as a “bitch,” I became the world’s bitch. Well, that version of Shannon is long gone. It took my divorce to learn that if I didn’t stick up for myself, how could I expect anyone else to?
I hitched my hip onto one of the barstools. “Thanks, Ray, but I’ll sit out here. I’ll pop into the kitchen to see MJ before I leave. Would you pour me a shot of Jack Daniels on the rocks?” There was barely a tremble in my knees, so that was something.
Ray’s eyes widened for a second before he turned to get the bottle and pour me a generous shot.
I stared at the drink for a second, working up my nerve. I didn’t say sticking up for myself was easy, just that it was the right thing to do. I took a deep breath and strode over to Devon’s table. If Devon had his way, I’d never get the chance to see him face-to-face again, so I might as well go for it while I had the chance.
Not looking up or acknowledging my presence in any way, Devon casually took a sip of his drink, his gaze focused on the tablet’s screen. My eyes narrowed as I stood there like some afterthought. Ha! Deliberately ignoring me? Well, we’d see about that! Adding gas to the fire, I sat down in the chair across from him and flipped his tablet over.
“Devon. You have every right to be pissed, but I want you to know that I’m sorry. I’m sorry for jumping to conclusions about you and your intentions with the land. I’m sorry that you got caught up in the battle that day between Steve and me. I’m sorry you got shot.”
As I spoke, his steely blue eyes bore a hole through me, while the muscle in his jaw twitched. Dressed in a navy blazer with a crisp button-down shirt, it looked like he’d just come from his office. It didn’t help my frayed nerves that he was so freaking attractive, a fact that I’d made known to him countless times when MJ hexed me with her spell. The spell was now lifted, and I could control my mouth around him, but the feelings for him still smoldered.
When I finished speaking, he dabbed his mouth with his napkin and then picked up the tablet, making ready to leave.
I grabbed his arm. “Wait! Don’t you have anything to say? I apologized and you’re going to ignore me? Come on, Devon! That’s not fair.”
He plucked my hand from his arm like it was a piece of lint. Scowling, his tone was terse. “I’ll tell you what’s not fair, Shannon! Trying to make peace with you but wa lking into some weird shit going down between you and that idiot, Steve Murphy! And in the process, I take some buckshot in my shoulder!”
I sat back, hunching lower from the verbal assault. Not that I didn’t deserve it, but still... “I said I was sorry. You weren’t the only one who got shot, y’know. My bobcat got hit too, and I haven’t seen him since!”
I swallowed the lump in my throat thinking of Robert, my “familiar.” The very last thing I wanted to do was to break down in tears in front of Devon and the other customers scattered throughout the dining room.
His eyes became so round I thought they’d pop out onto his cheekbones. “Do you even hear yourself? Comparing a human being getting shot, to an animal? Me?” He shook his head. “You’re something else; you know that?”
He gritted his teeth so hard I could hear them grind from across the table. “You lead me on, making me believe you’re hot for me and I buy into that BS. All the while, you’re sticking the knife in my back, spreading rumors, and generally maligning my character. And that’s not bad enough, but I end up in the goddamn hospital for trying to prevent your bobcat getting shot by your mouth-breathing boyfriend.”
All the breath left me as I sat there totally gobsmacked at the venom in his words. Accusations that held a hint of truth, sure, but far from the complete story. I jerked forward to defend myself, but Ray arrived with my drink and set it down before me.
“Everything okay, here? Can I get you anything else?” Ray’s gaze ping-ponged between Devon and me.
“Just the bill, Ray.” Devon shot a pointed look at me. “I’ve totally lost my appetite.”
When Ray hurried off, Devon slipped his overcoat on. “I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating, Shannon. You are dangerously psycho. You’ve gone from hurting my reputation to physically harming me.”
I stood up, blocking his way. “It’s true I said some outrageously flirty things to you. Things that were all true, by the way. I also jumped to conclusions about your business dealings, so that’s fair. But it wasn’t me who shot you, you know. It was Steve. And if you think that Steve Murphy’s my boyfriend, you’re dead wrong. He’s anything but!”
Devon stepped to the side, avoiding getting anywhere near me, like I was contagious or something. His words were coldly officious when he spoke. “If you come within twenty feet of me again, I’ll have you arrested, Shannon. Are we clear?”
“I wish you’d just try to listen to me, Devon. Even if we could just be friends. Hear me out; that’s all I ask.” It came out all whiny, something I hated but was powerless to stop. And dammit, tears welled up in my eyes. I’d hurt him so bad, and now he wanted nothing more to do with me. There was truth to that saying “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.”
Devon leaned closer, rapping the table with his knuckle before he hissed. “We could have been so much more than friends, Shannon. No doubt if we ever got together, it would be an awesome wild night of amazing sex. We both know the attraction is there for both of us. But in the morning, I’d wake up, and you’d still be the whack-job that you are. No, thanks.” With that, he turned and left me sitting there.
TWO
I swiped at the tear rolling down my cheek as I rushed across the dining room. As soon as I stepped into the kitchen, Mary-Jane looked over from the stove, where she was sautéing something in a frying pan.
“Shannon!” She signaled to Debbie, her assistant, to take over before she rounded the counter. Instead of asking me what was wrong, her arms folded around me in a hug. Normally, I would resist her “reading” me with her psychometric gift, but not this time. I wouldn’t have been able to get the words out anyway, not without blubbering. Great. Not a doormat, just a freaking blubbering schoolgirl. Argh!
Mary-Jane eased back and steered me to the back of the kitchen, where we could talk without Debbie hearing everything. We sank into the chairs at a small table, and her head tipped to the side as she gazed at me.
“I’m sorry he’s being such a jerk to you, Shannon. I’m no fan of Devon Booker, but I can see that this is hurting you. And then there’s also Robert. Still no sign of the bobcat?”
I grabbed a tissue from my purse and dabbed my eyes. “No. I’ve searched every square inch of the forest, but there’s no sign of him. Even Libby came out yesterday to help. She let that raccoon she fostered go free and asked him to keep an eye out for Robert.”
Mary-Jane smiled. “Well, that’s got to help! You know what raccoons are like. They’re the busybodies of the woods, poking their noses in everywhere. And with Libby now able to talk to animals, I’d say that the prospects of finding Robert just got better.”
I nodded. “Yeah, she uncovered a warren of rabbits to ask about the bobcat, but they hadn’t seen him. I’ve been putting wild salmon and even free-range chicken meat on my verandah for Robert, but nothing’s working. Nada. Maybe the wound was worse than I thought, and he died.”
Her eyebrows rose high and she snorted. “That eccentric little bugger is tough, Shannon. Hell! He lost an ear in another battle. Don’t write Robert off. Not yet.”
“Unless he’s given up on me. You know how critical he was of my witch skills when he talked to Libby. Maybe he’s found a more worthy witch.” I slumped over the table. “Robert deserts me, and Devon can’t stand me. The only guy who hasn’t given up on me is Steve Murphy. Although, I seriously wish he’d take a hike.”
Mary-Jane winked. “I can make that happen. Say the word.” When MJ saw the shock in my face at her offer, she held her palms up. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to try another spell, not where you’re concerned, Shannon. I learned my lesson after what happened with Devon.”
“Good. Although I won’t mind if you cast a spell on Robert to make him come back. I miss the little shit.” There was an ache in my chest thinking of the evenings the bobcat and I sat in my living room next to the fire. Although he was prickly, and I wasn’t able to have conversations with him like Libby could, he was my friend and my familiar. Feeling him purring as I absently pet him was such a peaceful, comforting sensation. He was the first pet (although he’d be insulted to hear me use that term) I ever had.
Mary-Jane scowled. “I still can’t believe that Steve would show up at your house to shoot Robert! What the hell was he thinking! You know something? It kinda makes you wonder about his marriage breakdown. Maybe Amy had more reasons to leave him than meeting and falling in love with Suzanne.”
I thought of the times I’d argued with Steve. “He’s definitely a control freak. And I’ve definitely had enough of guys mansplaining and trying to make decisions for me. But this? He totally went too far this time. He was lucky to get off with a fine when Devon was injured. Steve’s never setting foot on my land again. Thanks to him, Robert’s gone, and any chance I had with Devon got shot to smithereens. Literally.”
“Which brings us back to Devon. I feel like I’m partly to blame for what happened between you. If I hadn’t hexed you, removing the filter between your brain and your mouth, the two of you would be friends at least. Do you want me to touch Devon? Maybe give him a hug to try to figure out how to fix things between you?”
I sat there silently, mulling over her idea. Technically, it wasn’t a spell she’d be doing. I had enough of her spells on me to last a lifetime. This would be using Mary-Jane’s gift—the ability to read into a person and find the truth of their feelings and actions. So, technically, we weren’t breaking any rules with this.
“Okay. If you could accidentally bump into him, grab his hand and read him, then sure! Why not? Things are terrible now, so it couldn’t hurt to try it. I hate it that I can’t even be friends with him.”
Which was only half true. I hadn’t had a romp in the sack in far, far too long, and Devon was... well, yummy. I wondered what it would be like with Devon. He even said that sex between us would have been crazy wild, and who am I to argue? I mean...the number of men I slept with in my entire life I could count on one hand and have fingers left over.
Stop it, Shannon! I came back to MJ. She was looking at me oddly, so I said, “What’s the matter?”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re forgetting who you’re talking to, Shannon. C’mon! Friends with benefits is more like it! I picked up on that when I hugged you.” She stood up. “But, I’m not judging you. Go for it, if that’s what you want. Get laid. Just don’t marry him.”
