This Spells Trouble by Madison Martin

Author:Madison Martin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Imberhouse Publishing

Mom was so flighty, but I was glad that she had Ted. He was a nice guy, eons better than her other boyfriends. And my father.

I opened the fridge, and inside were all the ingredients for a meal. I grabbed onions, peppers, garlic, and tomatoes for a tasty stir-fry. From the freezer, I pulled out some chicken breasts and got to work prepping them.

I added some spices and chopped up vegetables before throwing it all into a pan on the stove. The aroma of garlic and spices filled the air. Halfway through cooking, Caleb appeared in the kitchen. The damp, honey-colored strands of his hair were pushed back from his forehead. And he was shirtless. I smiled at him, trying not to react to the sight of his muscular torso and golden skin. That perpetual California tan.

“Need any help?” Caleb asked, leaning against the counter.

“No, I’ve got it,” I said casually. “Unless your cooking skills have drastically improved?”

“Nah,” Caleb said, shaking his head. “I’m still a hopeless case in the kitchen.”

“Well, dinner should be ready soon.” I flipped the vegetables in the pan, the sizzle and aroma filling the kitchen with a cozy warmth. The scent of soy sauce and garlic wafted in the air. “So, what are you up to these days, other than rescuing damsels in distress?”

Caleb chuckled. “Well, when I’m not donning my armor and riding to the rescue, I’m usually behind the camera lens. Work keeps me busy. I even had a few pieces published in travel magazines recently. LA’s been good to me. The city’s a canvas, you just need to know how to capture it.”

“Sounds like you’re living the dream,” I said, transferring the stir-fry onto plates. “Have you run into Elle? I heard she was in LA.”

“It’s funny you mention that. I’ve heard from friends that she’s big in the party scene, but we haven’t actually met up. I texted her, but she never replied.”

“Well, you know Elle.”

“Yeah. I don’t take it personally.” He grinned. “What about you? How’s the bookstore?”

I handed him a plate full of stir-fry and grabbed utensils for both of us. We made our way to the dining table and sat down. “It’s good. Business is steady, and I enjoy it. Right now, I’m kind of engrossed in a Brontë phase. I finished Wuthering Heights last week and now I’m diving into Jane Eyre. After that, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.”

Caleb took a bite, nodded appreciatively at the taste, and said, “Ah, the classics. You always did have a thing for tragic romanticism.”

“Guilty. I guess I like the drama on paper rather than in real life.”

“That’s probably wise,” he said. “Although, from what I’ve heard, it seems like drama has a way of finding you, Harp.”

“You have no idea.”

The mood became serious for a moment before Caleb broke it with his trademark smile. “Well, if you ever decide to swap the moors of England for the beaches of California, you know you always have a place to stay.”

“That’s a tempting offer,” I said, smiling back at him.

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