Something Magical (Witches of Hawthorne Grove Book 1) Read Free Page A

interfere!”
    “And what do you call giving them magic-infused items that will bring the two of them together if not interference, hmm?” Mortianna shot back. “Besides, it's a dull, dead bore to watch them come in here and then leave like two ships passing in the night, the one never seeing the other until they are well out of our sight.”
    Her grumpy pout disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, the corner of her lips suddenly kicking up in a half-grin. “At least this way we get to see a little action ! Did you two notice he never took his hands off her until she shrugged? No, wait. Did you notice she didn't realize he hadn't until her blasted cousin butted in? You know she was feeling it. Heck, I was feeling it—from all the way in here! Those smoldering gray eyes of his are sexy enough to make any woman's—”
    “Mouth shut ,” Serephina commanded with a swift flick of her wrist, silencing Mortianna before her runaway tongue could do any more damage to the situation, then she turned to greet their latest customer with what she hoped was a warm smile as the bells over the door jangled out a noisy warning. “Good morning, sir!”
    Sliding off his dark sunglasses, he slowly folded them and slid them into the inside pocket of his heavy charcoal gray bomber jacket, his gaze roaming over the front interior of the store before he nodded to each of the sisters in turn. “Ladies.”
    “Can we help you find something?” Serephina asked, surreptitiously motioning for Mortianna to bring the box around, but Esmerelda swept it out of her hands.
    “I'll just put this in the back,” she said, making sure to pass by him on her way. His eyes flickered to it as she passed and his hand shot out, halting her.
    “Hold on. Is that mahogany?”
    “Mm hmm,” Esmerelda murmured. “It's a bit worn, but look at this. Metal string work, inlaid Mother Of Pearl...”
    She turned the box, tilting it a bit so he could see it better, but he reached for it instead. “Do you mind if I have a closer look?”
    Smiling, she handed it over to him. “Not at all. It really is a lovely box. English, I believe, but I'm not quite sure what these hooks on the sides are for … ”
    “A pen, or quill, and a letter opener,” he offered without further encouragement.
    “There's a bit of the spiral trim work missing up here, and the feet—see, you can tell where they once were—” he said, pointing out the rounded indentations on the box's bottom, “are missing.”
    “Yes, I see. You are very astute. It does have a few flaws. The missing feet, a bit of string work, trim, and the inside is a bit picky though intact.”
    “There are numbers here, too. Likely the mark of the creator. See? They've been carved into the wood on the bottom. Looks like 2-1-4.”
    “Numbered? Well, then, that makes it even more rare and wonderful! Serephina, this one is marked, darling. Remember the Avrochelle set from last year? This box must be the second item in a single desk set made up of four pieces. Should I put it in the other room until we've located the others?” She peered over her shoulder at her sister, who bit at her lip to erase the growing smile that tried to appear at his words.
    “Oh, my, yes! The set will bring much more. We can't—”
    “I'll give you two fifty for it,” he said. “I know it's worth less—I'm a bit of a hobbyist collector myself—but I'm willing to lose a little to bring it home today.”
    Esmerelda frowned. “Oh, I don't know. We would actually prefer to find the other pieces. This one is clearly part of a set, you see. If it is like the Avrochelle set, there would be a blotter, an ink stand, and an—”
    “Oh, of course we will give it to him, Merry,” Serephina called out. “Would you like it wrapped, sir?”
    With barely a glance at Esmerelda, he walked over to the counter, placed the box carefully to one side and took out his wallet. “Thank you, ma'am, but it isn't a gift.”
    “Ah, I see,” Serephina