The Modern Girl's Guide to Magic (Charming Cove, #1)

by Linsey Hall

“Because we need you. The shop needs you. The whole town needs you. And if you don’t come home, we’ll lose everything.”

“You can’t be serious.” “As serious as an over-boiling cauldron.”

You’re out of luck unless you need a failed bakery assistant or sex toy salesperson who exploded a box of dildos and sent them flying down the street.”

Witches could manifest their desires by using the magic inherent in the ether, that ephemeral stuff that surrounded all of us. There was a limit to what a witch could do, of course, and some were more powerful than others. But me? Every time I tried to use my magic—or didn’t try, like at the bakery—it went disastrously.

Dark hair and a jaw that could cut glass complemented blazing blue eyes and a full mouth that looked far too soft for his face. Magical Britain’s Sexiest Bachelor read the text under the image.

I still had a soft spot for the town where I’d met her, the woman who’d pierced me through the heart even though she’d been too young. “Aria.” Her name rolled off my tongue like honey, as sweet as she probably tasted.

“Will Bellows was outside, and he’s a right tosser. He was throwing rocks at a squirrel, and I had to show him a thing or two about what happens to tossers like him.”

Now that I was home and amongst people who loved me and whom I loved back, it almost felt like I’d been starving in London—slowly withering away in the busy, anonymous rush of the city.

“Aunt Tabitha says you’re her cool friend in the city, and that having a cool friend like you makes her cool by default.” Tabitha grinned. “It’s faultless logic.”

“Seriously, though, did you see the way he looked at you? He wants you. Like, with the fire of a thousand suns. I don’t know what he did to you, but if I were you, I’d let him make it up to me.”

Callan Hawthorne was decent. Like, fundamentally decent. And yet, he’d taken my grandfather’s spirit from me—sort of.

I looked to the left, spotting a fat, fluffy sheep in the field next to us. The creature stared impassively at me, chewing on a clump of grass. I pointed to him. “That guy knows what’s up. I’m supposed to be the champion of Seaside Spells, but he’s more impressed with his grass.”

There was no sign marking Lionel Sparrow’s property, but everyone in town knew exactly where it was. For one, you could feel the magic from miles away. It sparked against the skin like champagne bubbles popping inside a flute, and it smelled like the most glorious assortment of flowers and greenery.

I wanted to dredge up whatever tiny bits of magic I had and fling it at them like a monkey threw poo.

Funny how one could be gone from home for so long but slip right back into old rhythms upon return.

Why did the man have to be so thoughtful? I was trying to hate him, damn it.

Tabitha whistled low. “If he didn’t look at you like the sun rises and sets on you, I’d be all over that.”

I had a hard time reconciling the current him with the younger one who had destroyed the place I loved most.

I liked that he thought that way. Except when it came to ghosts, maybe I didn’t need to be quite so independent. I wouldn’t mind a little backup if any of the creepers got into my room tonight.

I’d never been this close to someone like Callan. His sheer physical beauty was a drug, and I’d taken way too much of it. It clouded my mind and heated my body.

He wanted me as much as I wanted him. Despite my anger, I wanted to climb on him and prove I was tall enough to ride this ride.

He kissed me with ravenous desire, like he’d been waiting years to do so. And he held me like I was something precious—gently but firmly, unwilling to let me go.

I took a flaky pastry filled with a brilliant red jam and bit in. An explosion of tart, sweet berries made me roll my eyes back in my head. “Amazing.” Matilda chuckled. “I just hope the young lad can make you look that pleased.”

“Callan?” Her voice was raspy as she looked up at my face. “What are you thinking?” “That you look like a sunrise after a decade of darkness.”

“I’m not sure how I feel about being called cute. Makes me sound like a kitten or something.” “Oh, you’re no kitten.” The grin he shot me was wolfish. “Or if you are, you’ve got claws.”

A plant witch always recognizes one of their own. Unfortunately, there are only half a dozen of us in the world, so we don’t run into each other often.”

As I watched her walk away, I had to admit to myself that there was another reason I wanted her to win. Because I want her.

There was just something about her that made me want to never be out of her presence. Her wit, brains, and beauty were enough to keep me enthralled for the rest of my life.

Callan looked up from his spot on the couch. He’d built a cozy fire and had a book open on his lap. The scene was so homey—and he was so handsome—that I wanted to curl up next to him and read right alongside.

We’re family, which means we’re a package deal.” She gestured to me, Tabitha, Catrina, and herself. “When the garden gets you, it gets us, too.”