Forever Charmed (The Halloween LaVeau Series, Book 1) by Rose Pressey Read Free Book Online

sarcastically.
I’d always thought I was a good judge of character. I was a little bummed over the way Nicolas had left without saying goodbye.
“You should call the police and report Nicolas for not paying,” Annabelle added as she grabbed her purse.
“No, I think I’ll just chalk it up as a lesson learned. I’ll always remember to collect the money first, or at the very least, get a deposit.”
After saying goodbye to Annabelle, I rushed toward Bewitching Bath and Potions. The historic section of town housed all the specialty shops and boutiques. The main road ran along the river, twisting and turning through Enchantment Pointe. A stone wall surrounded the outer edge of town with cobblestone sidewalks and wrought-iron accents sprinkled around.
I knew my mother would be waiting and I wasn’t looking forward to telling her about the catastrophe I’d experienced with my first two guests. I’d leave out the parts about the spell and the burnt pancake—and the fact that one of them had skipped out on the bill. No need to give her any more reasons to be disappointed in her one and only daughter.
I pulled up in front of the shop and turned off the ignition. The events of the morning were just now fully sinking in, not to mention that I was starting to feel faint from lack of sleep. Pulling my purse up over my shoulder, I trudged toward the entrance. The bell chimed on the door when I entered. No one was in sight, no customers and no mother.
Annette LaVeau made all the items right there in her shop. Her merchandise included soaps, lotions, scrubs, and bath salts. She had a special knack for mixing scents—magical oils were her specialty. She was a workaholic when it came to her business: sections of the store were specifically designated for specific items, and you’d better not get them out of place either. Fragrances, oils, powders and herbs on the right. Soaps, shower gels, lotions, shampoos and conditioners on the left.
“Mom, are you here?” I walked further into the shop.
She popped up from behind the register where she’d been arranging items under the counter. People could tell immediately that we were mother and daughter. We were the same small size—five-foot-one—but we packed a powerful punch. My mother had recently cut her hair in a fashionable bob with the occasional gray hair showing up in the otherwise dark strands. She wore the store’s signature polka-dotted apron over her black T-shirt and black and white Capri pants. 
She sighed as soon as she saw me. Must she do that every time I walked into a room?
“Hello, dear.” A small swirl of smoke circled behind her.
“Working on another spell?” I asked as I joined her behind the counter.
She held up a light blue bottle. “I’m making a facial lotion for Mrs. Combs.” She stirred the pot a few more times, then dipped the bottle into the concoction. “This should help her with the warts.”
“I have noticed she’s sprouted quite a few more lately.” I draped the Bewitching Bath and Potions apron around my neck.
My mother wiped her brow and let out a deep breath. “Whew. I’ve been swamped all morning. I’m glad you finally decided to show up.”
I stared at my mother’s forehead.
“What?” She scowled. The color drained from her face. “Not again,” she said.
I thought by now she’d be an expert at penciling on those eyebrows and keeping them in place. One brow was still perfectly drawn on, but the other had been smeared all the way across her forehead. To her credit, she’d stopped reminding me of the way I’d destroyed her face. She just let out breathy sighs instead.
She shook her head. “Well, I don’t have time to put it back on right now. It’ll have to wait a minute. I need to finish these orders for the customers.”
“Would you like for me to fix it?” I asked, transfixed by the sight. It was like a car accident; I couldn’t look away.
“You don’t know how to add the arch that I’ve perfected over the years.”