No Shoes, No Shirt, No Spells (Mystic Cafe Series) (21 page)

Finishing the spell, I placed the slice of pie in a bag. I poured coffee into a cup, put on the lid, and rushed
Mary Jane
out the door.

“
Go on, he’s waiting for you.”

A look of horror spread across her face.

“
Everything’s fine. He’s not going to bite.” I placed my hands on my hips.

“
That’s what I’m afraid of. I want some nibbling on my ear,” she deadpanned.

I laughed. “Well, with any luck, that’s what you’ll get.”

“
How do I look?” She adjusted her clothes and repositioned her black Fedora.

I picked a piece off lint of her shoulder. “Fantastic. Remember, men can’t resist food. You know, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach or some such theory.”

She wiggled her hips. “Sure there’s food, but adding a little sway to my walk wouldn’t hurt, either.”

“
He’ll never be the same again.”

“
If this works out, you’ll be like my fairy godmother,” Mary Jane said.

I snickered. “I’m missing my magic wand, though.”

She let out a deep breath. “Yeah, here I go.”

I waved her on. “Let me know how he likes the pie.”

She smiled and I watched her walk away as if she was my first child going off to kindergarten. I sure hoped it worked. Not just to prove my magic abilities, but for Mary Jane to get herself a hunky man.

While Mary Jane was gone, the breakfast rush hit, which meant I was cooking and serving all by myself. Just what I’d been afraid would happen.

“
Where’s my pancakes?” a bald man yelled out.

“
Coming right up,” I yelled back. A bead of sweat trickled on my forehead. That whole ‘if you can’t stand the heat, then get out of the kitchen’ saying was so true.

Thirty minutes since I’d opened and almost an hour since Mary Jane took Sheriff Jasper the pie, I hadn’t meant for her to go on a date with him right there and then, only to line up a little rendezvous for another night. After all, he was supposed to be working, too. Maybe I should go check on her after the breakfast customers leave.

I’d just finished the thought when the bell on the door jangled. Mary Jane bounced through the door toward me with a sheepish grin on her face. Her carefully applied lipstick was missing.

“
What took you so long? I thought I was going to have to come look for you.”

“
Sorry, I guess time slipped away.”

I raised an eyebrow. “I guess so. And that’s not all that slipped away. Where’s your lipstick? Oh, wait. I know where it is, it’s on Sheriff Jasper’s face.”

She giggled. “He kissed me.”

“
I see that.”

“
Elly, he smells so good and his dark eyes shimmer like moonlight casting off the ocean. His muscles are like—”

I held up my hand. “Not to stop you from waxing poetic about him, but… Let me stop you right there before you get carried away.”

She blushed.

“
So the spell must have worked. He noticed you. It was easier than I thought,” I said.

“
Maybe I didn’t need the magic, after all.” Her face glowed with excitement.

“
Probably not, you just needed the confidence.”

“
Where are my pancakes?” the man yelled from across the room.

“
I need more coffee,” another angry voice rang out.

“
I’ve got it.” Mary Jane picked up the coffee pot.

“
Thank you,” I mouthed as she brushed past.

“
Again, I’m sorry I left you alone with the breakfast rush.”

“
Don’t be sorry. I’m the one who wanted you to go in the first place, remember? Are you happy?”

She nodded with a grin.

“
Then I’m happy and there’s no need to be sorry. Now let’s get these people fed before they form a revolt against us. It could get ugly.”

She laughed and grabbed the plate of pancakes and hurried over to the starving man. I looked up when the bell dangling on the door handle echoed across the café, hoping that it was Rory. Instead, it was Sheriff Jasper. He sure hadn’t waited long to see Mary Jane again. Could I have messed up the spell? What if he became obsessed and started stalking her? That would be the end of me.

Magic was a big no-no for me right now, anyway. I wasn’t supposed to do any magic per Tom’s orders until he gave the all clear. If they found out I’d cast a spell and messed it up, I’d be in magic jail for the
rest of my life.
Wherever magic jail was. Would I really practice magic if it weren’t for Mystic Café? Cooking up spells was the whole purpose of my magic—the entire reason all of this was happening.

“
Mary Jane, Sheriff Jasper
is here. Should he be here so soon? You just left him.”

“
He said he’d come right over for more coffee.” She brushed back her hair and adjusted her chest.

That was not a good enough reason. He’d never made a special trip just for coffee, not when he had a coffeemaker just a few steps from his desk. Although by the appearance of the pot I saw this morning, it looked more like mud than coffee so maybe he was in need of a top off.

But a refill probably wasn’t all that was on his agenda. I think he just wanted to see Mary Jane again. That made me nervous. I had to wait and see what happened, I guess. These spells were apparently full of some powerful mojo.

Maybe it was just the first hours of new love.
Love at first sight
? Did I believe in love at first sight? Visions of Rory popped into my head. I guess I did believe it was possible for some, and if for some, then why not me?

I wished Rory didn’t have the evil-ex following him around town. I’d never get a chance to find out if love was written in the stars for us. If I attempted to give him the magic reversal again, I’d for sure be busted. A little spell for Mary Jane was all I could endeavor for fear of being caught by Tom. I’d been warned for the last time. The thought of losing grandma’s café brought tears to my eyes. She’d never forgive me for that. I watched as Mary Jane and Sheriff Jasper made eyes at each other, and a tinge of jealousy settled in my stomach. Don’t get me wrong, I was happy for her, but it was only natural to want that feeling for myself.

“
More coffee, please.” The customer’s request brought me out of my reverie.

When Tom rushed through the door, as if he were on fire, the coffee poured across the table, missing the customer’s mug. He headed straight toward me with determination in his eyes.

When he was close enough for me to hear him, he whispered through gritted teeth, “Why are you still doing magic? What part of ‘don’t do magic’ do you not understand?”

Chapter Twenty-
Nine

“
Let’s talk back here.” I motioned over my shoulder.

Mary Jane grabbed a towel and wiped up the confused customer’s table. Tom hurried behind me. Without asking, I sensed his frustration and tensed muscles.

“
What’s wrong? Why are you so upset?” I crossed my arms in front of my chest.

He looked like a tightly coiled spring with his shoulders slumped, eyes narrowed and lips pressed into a thin line. “I told you no magic right now. Can’t you control yourself? I know you have natural talent, but that’s no excuse.”

“
I have natural talent?” I perked up. “Really? Grandma Imelda said I did, but I figured she had to say that. Like when I was nine and my mom said she loved that Chia Pet I bought her.”

“
Never mind that right now. Answer my question,” he demanded.

“
I just did a little spell for Mary Jane.” I pinched my thumb and index finger together, indicating a small amount.

“
There’s no such thing as a little spell. Now knock it off before you get me in trouble.”

“
Fine.” I crossed my arms in front of my chest again. “Don’t get your boxers in a bunch.”

“
Cute.” He smirked.

“
Maybe he’s wearing tightie-whities, or bikinis. You know, he’s awfully handsome when he’s angry.” Mary Jane snickered.

“
Too bad he’s so annoying,” I said.

“
That’s his job, to be annoying, right? He probably gets paid extra to be annoying.”

“
He must be very wealthy.” I stuck my tongue out at Tom.

“
It’s not nice to talk about people like they’re not there,” Tom retorted.

“
It may not be polite, but it’s a heck of a lot of fun,” Mary Jane quipped.

Tom sat on one of the stools in front of the counter, then rubbed his forehead with one hand.

“
I think a customer needs you, Mary Jane,” Tom said.

“
It’s nice to see you again too, Tom.” Mary Jane marched away, shaking her head.

“
So, what’s happening? Any news?” I leaned forward, placing my elbows on the counter and propping my chin on my hands.

He frowned. His only response was to reach for a napkin.

“
Don’t keep me in suspense, tell me what happened.”

“
I’m afraid it’s not good news.” He let out a deep breath.

“
Tom, do you ever have good news? I really didn’t expect you to come in and say you had good news.” I leaned back, standing up straight. “It’s like there’s a black cloud hanging over you and it’s full of nothing but bad news raining down on whoever you stand next to. Maybe I should lock the door and not let you in, that way I wouldn't get the bad news.”

“
Oh you’d get it.” He turned the mug over that was set in front of him.

I poured it full of coffee and placed flatware in front of him.

“
I’d just wait until you came outside to catch you.” He picked up a spoon, dipped it into the sugar, then dumped the heaping spoonful into his mug.

“
You play dirty like that, don’t you?”

“
I’m one of the dirtiest.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “I do what I have to do. It’s my job.” He dipped the spoon into the mug, stirring his coffee.

“
So I’m ready. Tell me the bad news.”

“
They’re not happy with the progress.” He took a sip from his mug.

“
I’m not happy either, but what can I do about it?” My voice raised a few decibels, garnering attention from around the café.

Tom leaned across the counter, lowered his chin, and looked into my eyes
.
“They’re considering going ahead with the closing of Mystic Café, effective tomorrow.”

“
They can’t do that.” I grabbed his arm. The urge to shake some sense into him rushed through me. But apparently, no amount of pleading and begging would stop this. “This is completely not fair. What kind of organization is this, anyway? This is my café!”

“
Elly, you knew this was going to happen. Are you making any progress? Other than kissing Rory?”

My blood boiled. Did he think I didn’t care about the café? “How did you know about that?”

“
I have my ways.” He took another sip.

I let out a deep breath, attempting to calm my irritation. “As a matter of fact, I talked to Kim.” I stood straighter, locking my gaze with his.

“
Well, you’d better step up your efforts or this place will be a used bookstore, or maybe a consignment shop.” He gestured around the café.

My stomach clenched. I narrowed my eyes. “This place isn’t closing.”

Chapter Thirty

My bed had never felt so good. I settled under the covers, hoping to pass out quickly and forget about the whirlwind of a day I’d experienced. Plus, I needed to forget about the fact that tomorrow the café would be closed for good.

Apparently, exhaustion had won the battle over me, because I woke the next morning to my phone ringing, still lying in the same position as I’d started in the night before.

“
I think you need to get over here right away,” Mary Jane yelled into the other end of the line.

I rubbed my eyes and stared at the clock, bleary-eyed. “Where are you?”

I was almost afraid to find out what had sent Mary Jane into this tizzy. She had a tendency to be overdramatic at times. Like the occasion when she cut her foot and swore it would need amputating. The nurse ended up spraying it with Bactine and slapped a bandage on it. With any luck, this was one of those instances.

“
The café.” Her words came out in a gasp. “Someone broke in and the police are over here right now.”

“
I’ll be right there.” Jumping from bed, I stumbled over the woven rug next to my bed and bumped into the dresser.

I grabbed the first pair of jeans within my reach and yanked a T-shirt from the drawer. My hands trembled as I slipped into the denim and pulled the shirt over my head. The top was too tight around the chest, but this was no occasion for a fashion show.

There was no time to tie my sneakers. I snatched up my purse and jumped into the Mustang, speeding off as fast as the law allowed without issuing a ticket.

The drive through the winding country roads seemed endless until I finally reached town. Maybe Mary Jane was wrong. There could be another explanation for the damage. How did they know someone had broken in? Who would break into the café? The crime rate in Mystic Hollow was almost nonexistent. The worst that happened around here was old man Phelps driving his lawnmower through town after he’d knocked back a beer or ten.