Ghost of an Enchantment Read online

  Ghost of an Enchantment

  J. E. McDonald

  GHOST OF AN ENCHANTMENT

  By

  J. E. McDonald

  Copyright © 2021 J. E. McDonald

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  Edited by Heather McCorkle.

  Cover Design by Mibl Art.

  All stock photos licensed appropriately.

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  Published in the United States by City Owl Press.

  www.cityowlpress.com

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  For information on subsidiary rights, please contact the publisher at [email protected]

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior consent and permission of the publisher.

  To Mom and Dad.

  For believing in me from the start.

  For supporting me no matter what.

  Praise for J. E. McDonald

  “Ghost of a Gamble is a contemporary, gothic tale filled with sparkling wittiness, budding romance, thrilling suspense, and scary ghosts!” — InD’tale

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  “Bree is utterly charming right from the beginning, and her dynamic with Zack makes for a wonderfully compelling story. Ghost of a Gamble is easy to sink into, with a supernatural plot that escalates all the way to the end.” — K. Caine, author of A Study in Velvet and Leather

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  “A heartfelt paranormal romance about a skeptic teaming up with a paranormal investigator, Ghost of a Gamble is sure to make you smile. Bree and Zack have perfect chemistry and their banter is irresistible.” — Kat Turner, author of Hex, Love, and Rock & Roll

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  “Bree was funny, and quirky, but also independent, which I loved. I enjoyed the quirky atmosphere, the hauntings, and the hot romance between these ghost hunters. A great read for fans of paranormal romance!” — J. E. Hunter, author of The Torc

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  “I adored Ghost of an Enchantment! Fun, magical, and romantic. Stella is everything I look for in a witchy romance heroine, and Wickwood is a delightful setting for these books. The pacing was perfect, and the magical mystery was right up my alley. Well done!” — Lisa Edmonds, bestselling author of the Alice Worth series

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  “Stella is a witch who doesn't trust cops. Unfortunately, Lucas is a cop--and the sexual tension between them is scorching hot, making Ghost of an Enchantment a fast-paced, compelling read.” — K. Caine, author of A Study in Velvet and Leather

  Contents

  Want More City Owl Press Books?

  Keep Reading Paranormal Romance

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Sneak Peek of Blackbird Summer

  Keep Reading Paranormal Romance

  Want More City Owl Press Books?

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  About the Publisher

  Additional Titles

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  Click here to sign up for the City Owl Press newsletter and be the first to find out about special offers, including FREE book days, contents, giveaways, cover reveals, and more!

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  Sign up now and become a City Owl Reader today! And join our City Owl Reader-Author group here for even more deals and a whole lot of community and fun!

  Don’t miss more of the Wickwood Chronicles coming soon, and find more from J. E. McDonald at www.jemcdonald.net

  * * *

  Until then, find more paranormal romance with BLACKBIRD SUMMER by Em Shotwell!

  When the world fears you, being Gifted is a curse.

  In the cornerstone of the rural south, Brooklyn, Mississippi, no one dares make eye contact with the strange Caibre family. Until the rewards are worth the cost. The townsfolk come, cash in hand, always at night, to pay for services only a Gifted can provide.

  No matter the Gifts prevalent in her family, at twenty-one, Tallulah is expected to follow the path laid out for her: marriage, babies, and helping her mama teach the family home school program. She’s resigned to live the quiet life and stay out of trouble…until she meets Logan.

  An outsider and all around rebel, Logan doesn’t care about her family’s reputation. Yet after a tragic loss wreaks havoc on the crumbling relationship between the Caibres and the townsfolk, Tallulah must decide if love and freedom are worth risking everything.

  BUY NOW!

  1

  Hands clenched around the steering wheel of her Miata, Stella drove toward Wickwood, the dust of the gravel road billowing out behind her.

  She swiped at the tear she’d been trying to hold in, kept telling herself Nana had seemed happy, unbothered she’d been displaced from her house and moved to Cedar Ridge two months ago. She’d smiled when Stella arrived, asked her to stay for tea, asked after Loki and Aubrey.

  Stella sniffed, gravel spraying into the ditch when she took the next turn a little too fast. She hated to see her grandmother in an institution. Nana raised her, and had always been a free spirit, so vivacious. This disease was taking her away piece by piece. Cedar Ridge might be one of the better homes in the area, but Stella needed to get her out of there before Nana lost herself completely. What good was being a witch if she couldn’t save those she loved?

  With storm clouds gathering above the city, Stella turned onto the main highway. The glow of Wickwood brightened the underside of the tempestuous clouds. As she neared the edge of town, the tension in her shoulders eased. Each mile closer, her grip loosened on the steering wheel.

  But even as the soothing energy of her hometown calmed her, it did little to ease her worries. On top of everything, three of her clients dropped her this morning, all in a row, canceling their website development contracts. She had more clients, but it would cut into her bottom line.

  At least she’d finished everything at the Granwin house on a high note. She’d completed her final cleanse and ward on the house two days ago. Only positive energy remained on the property.

  As the houses on the edge of Wickwood changed to the businesses of old downtown, she slowed her speed. Aubrey would be waiting. They liked to have drinks at Bitters Tavern a couple nights a week if they could, and today Aubrey, her best friend of seven years, had said she had a surprise for her.

  Usually, Stella liked surprises, but after the week she’d had, she didn’t know if she could handle it.

  Two blocks away from the bar, all the instruments on Stella’s dashboard blinke
d. “What the?” After holding her breath a moment, everything returned to normal. She kept driving.

  One block away from the bar, all the instruments when black. The engine sputtered, then died completely. “Shit.” Shoulder checking to make sure the next lane was clear, Stella thankfully had enough momentum to pull over. Unease coiled in her stomach as she rolled to a stop in a parking spot and shifted into park.

  One foot on the gas, the other on the brake, she turned the key.

  “Come on, Bessie.” Nothing. The engine wouldn’t turn over. She tried again. Still nothing.

  Shoulders suddenly heavy, she rested her forehead on the steering wheel and let out a shuddering breath. Now she’d have another bill, probably something substantial with the way her luck was going. Would this week ever end? At least she stalled near the bar. She could call for a tow, and since they lived together, she could catch a ride home with Aubrey.

  Inhaling deep, she grabbed her purse from the passenger seat, opened the door, and stepped out into the muggy evening air. As soon as she slammed her door, she felt an unusual presence nearby. She spun around, searching up and down the street. It wasn’t that late, some of the stores were open, and a few shoppers walked the block while cars drove slowly by.

  No one looked out of place. No one stared at her or paid her any attention. The feeling someone watched her slowly dissipated, but unease settled in her chest. She locked her car, tucked her purse under her armpit, and headed toward the bar, trying not to brush too close to anyone’s energy as she hurried down the sidewalk.

  A crack of thunder made everyone around her dash for shelter. The heavens opened. Running the rest of the way, she was soaked in under five seconds.

  Sneakers sloshing, she pushed open the door to Bitters. As soon as she stepped over the threshold, the energy of the people inside punched her in the gut, replacing the unease she’d had outside. She sucked in a breath, closed her eyes, and whispered the quick dampening spell Nana had taught her when she was little. Breathing in and out three times, she opened her eyes again and the vibrations dulled to a manageable level.

  Except one particular energy vibration coming from the bar. Sensual and sweet, it was a hot flavor so strong she could taste it on her tongue. She’d never felt such a compelling combination before, and her feet moved toward it before she knew what she was doing, her eyes scanning through the crowd to see who created it.

  “Stella!” Aubrey shouted from a booth in the corner.

  Stella stopped and blinked. Already halfway to the bar and not realizing it, she forced herself to walk toward Aubrey instead. With one last glance over her shoulder, she wove through the patrons standing at the tall tables in the middle of the room.

  “Sorry I’m late,” she said, patting the water out of her wavy blonde hair and sliding into the booth. Aubrey already had a lager waiting for her and she took a healthy swig. “I visited Nana before I came.”

  Aubrey’s ghost, Finn, was here too, hovering at her side, his energy a light shimmer that Stella had grown used to over the years. He’d been hanging around since they’d met in college.

  “How is she?” Aubrey asked, concern furrowing her brow as she played with the straw in her cola.

  “Okay, I guess,” she said with a shrug. “I just hate seeing her there, you know?”

  Aubrey reached over and gave her hand a squeeze. “I know.” She let go and tucked a strand of her chin-length brown hair behind her ear. “We’ll figure out something better for her.”

  Though she nodded, Stella didn’t see any solutions. None of her problems were going to magically go away. That wasn’t the way the world worked.

  With the energy from near the bar still pulling at her, she glanced over—but saw only the bartender and a couple of guys with their backs to her.

  “Happy birthday!” Aubrey said, recapturing her attention. Her friend pulled out a small package wrapped in silver paper and a bow, and placed it in front of her. Grinning, she said, “I know it’s a little early, and this doesn’t change our plans for your actual birthday in a couple of weeks, but I just had to give it to you now.”

  Before she could touch it, Stella felt the lure of the thing inside, its positive energy calling to her. “What is it?” she asked, her fingers twitching to snatch it.

  “Open it up and see.”

  Tentatively, she reached for the box. She touched it, expecting something to happen, but nothing did.

  “Come on,” Aubrey urged. “Why are you being so weird? Open it.”

  She picked up the package, turned it over, then with one last quick glance at Aubrey, she tore the silver paper to reveal a small, square jewelry box inside. Eyebrows raised, she lifted the lid.

  Resting in a layer of white fuzz, a necklace lay curled in on itself. An iridescent sphere, a stone polished to a gloss, hung on an antique silver chain. Flicking her eyes to Aubrey’s excited smile, Stella touched the pendant.

  She sucked in a breath. For a moment, the alluring vibration coming from the bar was overpowered by the positive energy exuding from the necklace. Many objects had energy signatures, but never this strong. She lifted it out of the box and her hand shook from the intensity of it.

  “Where did you get this?” she asked, not trying to stop herself from putting it on.

  “A man came into the store with it the other day and sold it with a bunch of other stuff. It had your name written all over it. I couldn’t fathom selling it to someone else.” Aubrey let out a sigh. “I knew it would look perfect on you.”

  The weight of the pendant nestled itself against her heart. This close to her, the energy warmed her whole body. She’d never been in contact with such an object before. Where had it come from?

  “Do you like it?”

  Stella opened her eyes to Aubrey’s frown and forced a smile. “Love it. It’s beautiful and unique.”

  “Oh, good. For a second there I thought it made you uncomfortable or something.” Aubrey took a sip of her drink.

  With the new energy of the necklace lapping at her, the dampening spell she cast when she entered the bar for its patrons waned, and the vibe from the direction of the bar intensified. Stella took a gulp of her beer.

  What was going on with her? She glanced at the bar to see what or who caused the vibration. Nothing had changed, just Cole, the bartender, serving the two guys sitting on stools. Cole had never given off this vibe before, so it couldn’t be him. It had to be coming from one of the other guys.

  “What are you staring at?”

  Stella’s attention snapped back to her friend. “Nothing. Just distracted. My car broke down a block away from here and I need to get a tow and a mechanic.” She touched the pendant, her fingers tingling. “But this is positively lovely. A thoughtful gift brightening my day. Thank you.” She took another sip of her beer.

  “Sucks about the car. I thought Bessie would outlive us all. Remember when were going camping that one time and we thought she was dying in the middle of nowhere, but we actually just forgot to get gas? That was hilarious.”

  “Ha. Hilarious. Yeah, right. We were sure laughing at the time.” Actually, it had been terrifying, but they were lucky enough to phone a gas station in the next town and a teenager drove a jerry can out to them. They’d been able to continue on to the national park without any further hiccups. “How was work today?”

  Aubrey let out a long breath. “Business was pretty slow. I keep waiting for it to pick up. I know I’m not the only antique store in town, but I know mine’s the nicest. I’m waiting for the rest of the city to notice.” She twirled her straw.

  Her antique store was the nicest in town. Filled with light, everything Aubrey touched resonated with love and caring. Every time Stella walked into the store she wanted to buy something, and it wasn’t just because Aubrey was her friend. She had an excellent eye when it came to antiques.

  Stella touched the pendant at her heart, another testament to her friend’s good taste. “How about I stop by and do another blessing?
Maybe a prosperity spell and a good luck spell too.”

  Aubrey smiled. “That would be great.”

  Stella stole another glance at the bar. Where did that delicious vibration come from? It was hard to think of anything else. And the titillating energy combined with the one hanging around her neck had her nerves twitching. She needed to get to the bottom of this.

  “Want another drink?” she asked Aubrey without looking at her. “I want another drink.” She hopped out of the booth, her sneakers still damp from the rain.

  “You could wait for the waitress.” Aubrey’s voice followed her to the bar. “And you’ve barely touched your first beer.”

  Stella wouldn’t have been able to stop her feet if she’d tried. With her new necklace propelling her forward, she followed the energy wake right to the end of the bar.

  She stopped behind the man on the left. The energy came off him so thick it was almost visible. Broad shoulders narrowed into trim hips. He must work out on a regular basis if the muscles in his arms were any indication. His short dark hair migrated into a line of scruff along his jawline, highlighting the strong ridge of his chin. Dense vibrations came off him, washing over her in waves, making it hard to breathe.