Enchantments and Espresso Read online

  “You didn’t happen to see anyone lurking near the entrance door around the time of … you know,” Suzanne dropped her voice although Kevin hadn’t come out to the reception area.

  “No.” Grandma Pat shook her head. “I told that nice detective everything I noticed, which wasn’t much, I’m afraid. I was too busy enjoying the bite size treats and my cup of tea. And then I’m afraid I felt a little tired.”

  “That’s understandable,” Maddie said.

  “Can I help you?” Kevin came out of his office, stopping in his tracks as he saw Maddie, Suzanne, and Trixie. “I don’t allow pets in the office.”

  “That’s a shame.” Suzanne stood. “We were thinking of hiring a new accountant. But if you’re not interested—”

  “I didn’t say that.” Kevin shoved his hands in the pockets of his charcoal slacks. “You might as well come through. I don’t have any appointments right now.”

  “He’s a little grumpy because his receptionist called in sick,” Grandma Pat whispered loudly.

  “She didn’t happen to stop by Claudine’s café in Estherville yesterday, did she?” Suzanne looked like she wanted to laugh.

  “I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about, dear.” Grandma Pat looked puzzled.

  “It’s an inside joke,” Maddie explained, casting an admonishing glance at Suzanne.

  “You young people and your jokes.” The elderly lady shook her head, then reached for the door. Kevin hurried to open it for you.

  “Thank you, Kevin.” Grandma Pat smiled at him, then left the office.

  “Come in.” Kevin jerked his head toward his inner sanctum.

  Maddie and Suzanne exchanged a look. Maddie was already having doubts about interviewing Kevin – for accountancy – and sleuthing – purposes. But Trixie didn’t seem to have any qualms. She led the way, following Kevin into his office.

  More beige.

  “What can I do for you two?” Kevin asked, ignoring Trixie.

  Maddie and Suzanne sat down on the two client chairs, Trixie sitting on the carpeted floor next to Maddie’s left leg.

  “Like I said in the waiting room, we’re looking for a new accountant,” Suzanne began. “Bob recommended you.”

  Maddie thought that was sort of true.

  “Suzanne does the book keeping and our taxes,” Maddie jumped in. “But now we’re getting busier, we’re thinking of hiring someone.”

  “You’ve come to the right place.” Kevin leaned back in his “executive” leather – or was it faux leather? – chair and steepled his fingers. “I’ve been doing Bob’s taxes for years so I’m well acquainted with the inside workings of a café. And I’ve also been looking after his grandmother’s affairs for a while.”

  “Do you have any other references?” Suzanne asked politely.

  Maddie cast a sideways glance at her – was she being deliberately polite?

  “Sure.” He nodded. “Most of the businesses in Redbud Glen come to me to get their taxes done. I also have some private individuals as clients.”

  “How much do you charge?” Suzanne asked.

  “One-fifty an hour.”

  Maddie and Suzanne exchanged an eyebrow raised look.

  “You don’t come cheap,” Suzanne observed.

  “That’s right.” Kevin looked smug. “If you want someone good, then you need to pay for it.” He straightened up and placed his hands flat on the table. “I’ve been meaning to apologize to you for the other night. I might have … gotten a bit carried away when I saw that knife. It was a shock, you know?”

  Maddie and Suzanne nodded. While she could sympathize with Kevin, Maddie couldn’t entirely forgive him for the way he’d accused Suzanne of being the killer.

  “Has Detective Edgewater interviewed you yet?” Maddie asked.

  “Yep.” Kevin nodded.

  “Did he ask you where you were at the time of the … murder?” Suzanne asked, her eyes bright with curiosity.

  “Uh-huh.” He looked like he wasn’t going to elaborate, then he added, “I was with the other guests in the middle of the café.”

  “How about you?” he asked when they remained silent.

  Maddie looked down at Trixie. She sat patiently on the floor, but for once she didn’t give Maddie any clues about what she was thinking.

  “We’ve told Detective Edgewater where we were,” Maddie said when Suzanne remained silent.

  “That’s right,” Suzanne finally said.

  Maddie wondered if she was thinking about the moment she spied the bloody knife on her tray.

  “If that’s all, I’ve got a lot of work to catch up on.” Kevin importantly shuffled some files on his desk.

  “Grandma Pat said your receptionist called in sick today,” Maddie commented as she rose.

  “Yeah.” He nodded. “So I have to do her work as well as mine – otherwise she’ll complain when she gets back that there’s too much work to do!” His chuckle sounded forced.

  Kevin ushered them out of his office. Maddie paused in the tiny waiting room. The receptionist’s desk was neat and tidy – no coffee mug or personal items littered the surface. A landline and a computer monitor were the only items visible.

  Perhaps Kevin had strict rules on employee neatness?

  “Let me know if you’re interested in hiring me,” Kevin said as he held the door open for them. “You can’t be too prepared for tax time!”

  “That’s true,” Suzanne conceded as they said goodbye to him.

  Once they were outside on the sidewalk, Suzanne put a finger to her lips. Maddie nodded and remained silent as they walked to the car.

  “Mrrow?” Trixie asked.

  “We’ll talk when we get inside the car, Trix,” Suzanne told the Persian.

  Once they were inside Suzanne’s car, she let out a huge breath. “There’s no way we’re ever hiring that guy!”

  “I agree.”

  “Mrrow!”

  “And his hourly rate is ridiculous!” Suzanne’s ponytail swished violently as she shook her head. “I don’t care if it would be tax deductible. I’d rather keep doing the books myself.”

  “His references weren’t very specific – apart from Grandma Pat and Bob,” Maddie said. “Did you notice his receptionist’s desk? It looked like it hadn’t been touched in weeks.”

  “And those magazines in the waiting area were so out of date – they were months old!”

  “Maybe he’s not doing as well as he makes out,” Maddie said thoughtfully. “And there’s no longer a receptionist.”

  “No wonder, with his sky-high prices.” Suzanne snorted.

  “But Bob and Grandma Pat use him.”

  “Maybe he gives them discount rates?” Suzanne suggested. “He and Bob are friends.”

  “Or perhaps he gave us “special” rates – special expensive rates.”

  “Oooohh.” Suzanne scowled. “You’re right – I bet that’s just what he did!”

  “At least he apologized to you for accusing you at the party,” Maddie said.

  “Hmph.” Suzanne didn’t look mollified. “I bet if we hadn’t visited him he wouldn’t have bothered. I don’t know what Bob sees in him.”

  “Me either,” Maddie agreed reluctantly. She didn’t like to look for the bad in people, but Kevin had seemed very sure of himself. Perhaps it was because he was on his own turf, or maybe she and Suzanne were wrong and his accountancy business was actually doing well.

  “Let’s go home.” Suzanne let out a sigh and started the engine. “At least we’ll get back in plenty of time for the lunch rush.”

  “Mrrow,” Trixie agreed, looking happy to be going back to Estherville.

  “Do you want to help us in the truck, Trixie? Or do you want us to drop you off at home?” Maddie asked.

  Trixie seemed to ponder the question, then tapped the car seat once.

  “I think she wants to come back with us to Brewed from the Bean,” Maddie told Suzanne.

  “Mrrow!”

 
“Cool.” Suzanne smiled. “I’m sure if any of our customers have been seduced by Claudine’s terrible coffee, they’ll be more tempted to come back to us if they see Trixie in the truck.”

  Trixie purred loudly, as if pleased with the compliment.

  “We can close up early this afternoon if you want, Mads,” Suzanne offered as they drove into Estherville. “So you’ll have plenty of time to get ready for tonight.”

  “I’ll have plenty of time if we close at four as usual,” Maddie protested.

  She’d been so busy pondering Grandma Pat’s presence in Kevin’s office that for a few minutes she’d forgotten Luke was coming over tonight.

  “Ooh, I know! I can come over and help you primp!” Suzanne grinned.

  Maddie’s eyes rounded. From experience, she knew how long Suzanne’s “primping” sessions took. And she loved experimenting with different looks – on Maddie.

  “I think I’ve got it. Thanks,” Maddie replied.

  “Mrrow,” Trixie said importantly.

  “See? Trixie said she’d help me.”

  “Well, pooh.” Suzanne mock-pouted. “Okay. But you have to tell me every detail tomorrow. And if my brother still hasn’t kissed you by tomorrow morning, I’ll deal with him.”

  Maddie turned around and gave Trixie a wide-eyed look that said, Yikes!

  CHAPTER 10

  At exactly eight p.m., the doorbell rang. Butterflies flitted in Maddie’s stomach as she took one final look at her outfit.

  She wore a lavender sundress with a cute flippy skirt just above her knees. The weather had recently gotten warmer and tonight seemed the perfect time to wear it. Besides, Luke hadn’t seen her in it yet.

  She walked down the hall, trying not to rush too much. She didn’t want to be out of breath when she opened the door. But who was she kidding? One glance at Luke was all it took to become breathless.

  “Mrrow.” Trixie patted the front door, as if by doing so she could open it.

  Maddie unlocked the door, smiling down at the cat.

  “Hi.” Luke stood in the doorway wearing freshly pressed jeans and a pale blue short-sleeved shirt.

  “Hi,” she murmured, attempting to tamp down the butterflies.

  After a moment, she realized they still stared at each other.

  “Come in.”

  “Mrrow,” Trixie invited.

  “Hi, Trixie.” Luke bent and smiled at the Persian. “How are you?”

  “Mrrow,” Trixie answered coquettishly, almost doing a twirl for him.

  Luke chuckled and followed Maddie and Trixie down the hall to the kitchen.

  “Would you like something to drink?” Maddie asked, wondering if she should have ushered him into the living room instead. If she wanted to kiss him, wouldn’t that be a more romantic room than the kitchen with its pine table and chairs?

  “Sure,” Luke replied.

  “Coffee? Juice? Water?” Maddie racked her brain for what else she could offer him. Why hadn’t she stopped at the liquor store on the way home and bought a bottle of wine? After all, Luke had called it a date this morning.

  “A latte would be perfect,” he replied, sitting down at the kitchen table.

  His smile made her heart stutter for a second.

  “Okay.” For a second, Maddie forgot what he’d asked for, then her brain kicked in.

  “Mrrow?” Trixie appeared in front of Maddie. She turned toward the living room and then back at Maddie. “Mrrow?”

  “Does Trixie want something?” Luke asked. “Has she had dinner?”

  “An hour ago.” Maddie smiled at Luke, appreciating his thoughtfulness toward the feline.

  “Mrrow,” Trixie said more insistently, trotting toward the living room and then back to Maddie.

  “Excuse me for a minute,” Maddie said, hoping Luke didn’t think she was being silly.

  “No problem.” He grinned at Maddie and Trixie.

  Maddie followed Trixie to the living room.

  “What is it, Trix?” she kept her voice low. “I was just about to make Luke a latte.”

  “Mrrow.” Trixie jumped on the sofa and patted the cover of Wytchcraft for the Chosen. She used her nose to nudge open the cover. Her paw pushed at the pages, as if she were trying to turn them.

  “Hang on.” Maddie sat down on the sofa and grabbed the heavy book. The pages were centuries old and crumbling.

  “Mrrow.” Trixie looked at her in approval.

  “Can this wait?” Maddie asked, keeping her voice low. “Luke’s in the kitchen.”

  “Mrrow!” Trixie sounded as if she knew Maddie was stating the obvious. She bunted Maddie’s hand, as if urging her to turn the pages.

  “Okay.” Maddie quickly turned a few.

  “Mrrow!” Trixie carefully placed her paw on the open page.

  “How to discover if someone is telling the truth,” Maddie whispered. “I know how to do this spell, Trix.”

  Trixie seemed to nod. She turned her head toward the kitchen and then toward Maddie.

  “Mrrow.”

  Maddie frowned. Why would Trixie want her to use the Tell the Truth spell now, when Luke was in the kitchen? It couldn’t possibly be because …

  “I can’t do that, Trix,” she whispered.

  “Mrrow?” Trixie looked at her inquiringly.

  “Because …” Why couldn’t she? Was Luke ever going to kiss her? Using this spell would be one way to find out if he did think of her in a romantic way or if he’d friend-zoned her. The full moon had just happened which meant she could use the spell again if she wanted to.

  “I’d be using it for personal gain,” she told the cat.

  “Broomf!” It sounded similar to the way Suzanne said, “Pooh!”

  “Are you okay, Maddie?” Luke called from the kitchen.

  Maddie started. “I’m fine. I’ll be there in a minute.” She raised her voice so Luke could hear her.

  She lowered her voice to the cat. “We can’t stay in here, Trixie. Luke doesn’t know about … all this.” She gestured toward the ancient book, and Trixie. “I don’t want him to find out yet.”

  Once again Trixie patted the page of the Tell the Truth spell.

  “You really think I should use it to ask him why he hasn’t kissed me?” Maddie was torn. Of course she was dying to know why her relationship with Luke hadn’t progressed past a kiss on the cheek or forehead. She’d had a major crush on him for years and it had seemed like a dream come true when he’d finally asked her out a couple of months ago. But now she was wondering if that was all it really was – just a dream.

  “Mrrow.” Trixie looked pleased with her.

  “I was thinking of making the first move tonight,” Maddie confided to the cat. But could she really do it? What if Luke jerked back, or moved his head so her lips landed on his cheek? That would be so embarrassing.

  But if she used the spell, she’d know for sure why he hadn’t kissed her yet.

  “Okay.” Maddie took a deep breath and scanned the words of the spell. She’d used it a few times previously, but wanted to make sure she recited it correctly. She wouldn’t have a piece of paper in her hand to read from when she returned to the kitchen.

  She closed the book, suddenly realizing Wytchcraft for the Chosen was out in plain sight on the sofa. Hadn’t she hidden it in the bookcase before Luke came over?

  “Trixie?” She picked up the tome and carried it to the big wooden bookcase, wedging it behind a few cozy mysteries. “Did you put the book on the sofa just now?”

  “Mrrow,” Trixie said smugly.

  Maddie stared at the cat. How on earth had Trixie managed to do that? Surely not physically – the book was heavy. Could the Persian have used … magic?

  Shaking her head in wonder, Maddie hurried back to the kitchen.

  “Sorry about that,” she said, trying to appear normal. “Trixie wanted … something.”

  “Mrrow.” Trixie appeared behind her, looking as if everything was right in her world.

  “Let m
e make you a latte.” Maddie turned on the machine and got out a glass.

  “Why don’t I do it and you sit down?” Luke placed his hand on her arm. A tingle raced up her spine. “You look a little … frazzled.”

  “Mrrow.” Trixie glanced approvingly at Luke, then hopped up on “her” kitchen chair.

  “You don’t have to do that,” Maddie protested weakly. “I like making coffee for you.”

  “Let me do something for you.” The smile he gave her turned her insides to mush.

  “Okay,” she murmured, sinking down on the chair next to Trixie.

  “Mrrow,” Trixie muttered, nudging her arm.

  Maddie looked down at the Persian, realizing her familiar wanted her to use the Tell the Truth spell on Luke now.

  But … wouldn’t that be cheating? Luke was doing something nice for her. Should she really take advantage of him and compel him to give her an honest answer?

  “Mrrow,” Trixie said reassuringly, as if she’d just read Maddie’s mind.

  And maybe she had.

  “Okay,” Maddie whispered, wondering if she was doing the right thing. Luckily, Luke had his back to them as he fiddled with the coffee machine.

  She closed her eyes, and silently uttered the words, seeing them in her mind, and whispering, “Show me,” at the end.

  She cleared her throat. Could she do this? Aware of Trixie staring at her intently, she said, “Luke?” Her voice squeaked.

  “Yes?” he turned around. His blue eyes were warm with curiosity … and something else?

  “Um …” She couldn’t do this, could she? Trixie bunted her hand. She decided to go for it. “Are you ever going to kiss me?” she blurted out. She couldn’t look at his face. She closed her eyes, mortified.

  “Yes.”

  A deep knowing filled her. He was telling the truth!

  “You are?” She opened her eyes and stared at him.

  “Yes,” he said again, smiling.

  “So why haven’t you?” she couldn’t help asking.

  “Mrrow?” Trixie sounded like she was asking the exact same thing.

  “Because …” he raked his hand through his hair, looking embarrassed, “I wanted the moment to be perfect. And when it seemed pretty close to perfect I guess … I don’t know.” He shrugged. “I didn’t want to move too fast. What if you didn’t want me to kiss you yet?”