Slightly Spellbound by Kimberly Frost Read Free Book Online Page A

it’s for Vangie’s own protection. Evangeline has a tendency to spend lavishly on friends she’s just met, and several people have taken advantage of her.”
    I moved my charm-bracelet-clad wrist behind me.
    “Evangeline also has a bad temper and questionable judgment. She once tried to mow a former friend down with her Bentley. The woman ended up with a broken pelvis. Expensive lawyers convinced the judge that Evangeline had diminished capacity, so rather than jail she spent two years in a mental institution.”
    “Two years,” I said with a gasp.
    “Still want to be her friend?”
    “Hmm,” I said, cocking my head. “What did the former friend do to make Vangie mow her down?”
    Bryn raised his eyebrows. “Is there any argument that should be settled by hit-and-run with a Bentley?”
    I pressed my lips together thoughtfully, watching steam rise from the pool. “Well . . .”
    “Tamara,” Bryn said, shaking his head.
    “All right, so maybe she’s a couple of Hershey’s miniatures shy of a full bag. That doesn’t mean she couldn’t use a friend. And she claims she has a right to your friendship and protection.”
    “What?”
    “She said you made a promise to protect her.”
    Bryn tipped his head back, staring at the sky, then looked back at me. “I promised to help her look after her assets. I’ve given her legal advice. And several of us vowed to help if there was cause to believe her stepmother and stepbrother were trying to hurt her. But they have control of the house and the bulk of the estate. There’s no reason for them to target Evangeline. You need to understand that she has a history of paranoid delusions.”
    “Oh, wow. And around here, we’ll never know if she’s crazy or if she’s right that someone’s after her, since a lot of the time, magical people come to town with murder on their minds.”
    Bryn smiled. “You have a point.”
    “I tried to warn her that my life’s crazy, but she wasn’t having it. And when she’s nervous she looks just like a baby deer. You can’t expect me to shoot Bambi down. And what if she really needs help?”
    “I’ll look into it. But you need to remember her bouts of instability. She can be dangerous.”
    “How does that make her different from any witch or wizard I’ve ever met?” I said with a sigh.
    He pulled me in for a hug and kissed the side of my head. “Just be careful.”
    “I’ll give it a whirl.”
    “If I don’t hear from her in the next couple of hours, I’ll call her and set up a meeting.”
    “Sounds good. Until then, I’ll be in the kitchen making everybody breakfast.”
    “You need sleep. The staff and I can fend for ourselves today. I sent Jenson back to bed. He’s got a cold.”
    I waved off this plan. “Mr. Jenson needs me to make him breakfast if he’s sick.”
    “You’re not here to wait on the staff. The staff is here to take care of you and me.”
    “That’s sure overstating things, don’t you think? It’s not my John Hancock on anybody’s paycheck.”
    “Tamara,” he said.
    “I’m cooking the breakfast. About the only way you can stop me is if you kick me out of your house. Maybe not even then. I’d probably just ring the bell and leave a package at the gate.”
    Bryn smiled. “Thank you for making breakfast.”
    “Welcome.”

6
    AFTER BREAKFAST, I went home and hit the road. I delivered fresh bread, three apple pies, and two pumpkin pies to Jammers and three classic cheesecakes, one chocolate cheesecake, and two tiramisu desserts to De Marco’s Italian restaurant.
    With two checks for the week’s catering in my pocket, I zoomed home. I’d just arrived when my phone rang and Sheriff Hobbs asked me if I had a friend named Evangeline Rhodes.
    Uh-oh.
    “I know Vangie,” I confirmed. “Why do you ask, Sheriff?”
    “Can you come on over to Delaney’s?”
    I raised my brows. Delaney’s Furniture wasn’t open at eight thirty in the morning.
    “Sure thing,” I said, starting my car and