Southern Karma Read online

  “Hugo, you’re almost too big to come in here anymore.” I sank my hips onto the counter. “What am I going to do with you?”

  The door opened. My gaze shifted to it. My eyes widened as Rufus Mayes walked in.

  He opened his arms. A coy smile danced on his lips. “Surprised to see me?”

  “Yes.” I stiffened. I couldn’t help it. It was an involuntary response to his presence.

  He smiled. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to cause any trouble. I’m on my way out of town.” He glanced up. “As soon as the shields are fixed there’s no telling the havoc it will wreak on my body if I’m inside Magnolia Cove.”

  “Yeah,” was all I could think to say.

  His dark eyes speared me. “I wanted to thank you.”

  “Thank me?”

  He took my hand. A jolt of heat snaked up my arm. It wasn’t magic. It was my body’s response to him. What the heck?

  “I wanted to thank you for letting me help you. You trusted me.” He paused, exhaled. “I know it was hard. But you did it, and for that I’m grateful.”

  I slid my hand away. “You’re welcome.” The tension between us thickened. We were staring at each other. Suddenly both of us shifted. We’d each felt it. “But don’t think it’ll change anything between us.”

  Rufus backed up. “Oh no. I still want your powers for myself. We could rule this world together, Pepper Dunn.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “Never.”

  He smiled coyly. “Then, another time.”

  He vanished from the store, disappearing in a cloud of smoke, exactly as he had entered.

  I released a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. I pressed the heels of my hands to my eyes. What a strange encounter.

  The door opened again. I sniffed and smiled, unsure of who the heck could’ve been entering this time.

  Axel strode in. He wore a black jacket over a white T-shirt. His jeans hung low on his hips. His dark hair hung loose around his shoulders.

  “Hey,” he said.

  “Hey yourself.” A slow smile curled on my lips. “If you’re here to take me to breakfast, I’ve already eaten.”

  He shook his head. I moved toward him. Axel stiffened. Just as he’d done before.

  I sank back onto my hip. I could take a hint when something was up. “What’s wrong?”

  His jaw clenched. He spoke slowly, deliberately. “I remember things. From when I was a werewolf.” His face twisted in anguish. “Attacking you. I remember that.”

  I reached for him. “I was okay.”

  He stepped back. “This time. You were okay this time. What’s to stop someone from tampering with the chain again?” Axel’s voice deepened to a growl. “I could’ve killed you. I could’ve killed anyone. I couldn’t live with myself if I hurt you.”

  “You didn’t.”

  “It doesn’t change anything,” he snapped.

  “Yes, it does.”

  His voice rose. “Pepper, will you listen to me?”

  My heart thundered against my ribs. This was bad. I knew it was bad. But I had to be strong.

  I cocked my chin. “What is it?”

  “I’m leaving.”

  I laughed like this was some big joke. “What do you mean, you’re leaving?”

  “I’m leaving Magnolia Cove,” he said, his voice hoarse. “I’m not coming back.”

  It was a punch to the stomach. The wind knocked from me. The world collapsed at my feet.

  “But you…but you love me.” I looked up at him. My vision blurred. The store tilted. “I love you.”

  He glanced away. “I have to go. I can’t stay here. Not when I could hurt you. I’m sorry.”

  He turned to the door.

  “But Axel, you wouldn’t hurt me.”

  He stopped and slowly pivoted around. His gaze was like a thousand fire arrows piercing my heart. “Yes. I would.”

  With that, Axel Reign, the love of my life, opened the door and left. He slid into his truck, fired up the engine and drove down Bubbling Cauldron.

  I pressed my forehead to the glass, closed my eyes and cried.

  * * *

  <<<<>>>>

  THANK Y’ALL!

  Pepper’s adventures continue in Southern Karma, the next book in the Sweet Tea Witch Mysteries Series.

  Click to order SOUTHERN MAGIC THANKSGIVING.

  I love to hear from you! Please feel free to drop me a line anytime. You can email me [email protected].

  Also by Amy Boyles

  SWEET TEA WICH MYSTERIES

  SOUTHERN MAGIC

  SOUTHERN SPELLS

  SOUTHERN MYTHS

  SOUTHERN SORCERY

  SOUTHERN CURSES

  SOUTHERN KARMA

  * * *

  BLESS YOUR WITCH SERIES

  SCARED WITCHLESS

  KISS MY WITCH

  QUEEN WITCH

  QUIT YOUR WITCHIN'

  FOR WITCH'S SAKE

  DON'T GIVE A WITCH

  WITCH MY GRITS

  FRIED GREEN WITCH

  SOUTHERN WITCHING

  Y’ALL WITCHES

  * * *

  SOUTHERN SINGLE MOM PARANORMAL MYSTERIES

  The Witch’s Handbook to Hunting Vampires

  The Witch’s Handbook to Catching Werewolves

  The Witch’s Handbook to Trapping Demons

  About the Author

  Amy Boyles grew up reading Judy Blume and Christopher Pike. Somehow, the combination of coming of age books and teenage murder mysteries made her want to be a writer. After graduating college at DePauw University, she spent some time living in Chicago, Louisville, and New York before settling back in the South. Now, she spends her time chasing two preschoolers while trying to stir up trouble in Silver Springs, Alabama, the fictional town where Dylan Apel and her sisters are trying to master witchcraft, tame their crazy relatives, and juggle their love lives. She loves to hear from readers! You can email her at [email protected].