Secrets and Psychics (A Spellbound Bookshop Mystery Book 2) by J A Whiting

Author:J A Whiting [Whiting, J A]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: J A Whiting Books and Whitemark Publishing
Published: 2024-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

13

The gravel parking lot of the Woodland Brewery just outside of Hamlet was already jam-packed when Shelby pulled in with Lucy and Rachel. They climbed out and joined the crowd making its way to the lively brewpub and game area.

Strings of lights crisscrossed overhead, illuminating tables packed with chatting customers. The sounds of bowling balls crashing into pins and live folk music filled the warm evening air.

Shelby scanned the busy space until she spotted Lucy's boyfriend Ross waving them over to a picnic table he had snagged, where he was sitting with some other friends.

"Hey, glad you could make it," Ross said, giving Lucy a quick kiss. Ross and Lucy had been dating casually for years and the arrangement suited them both just fine.

At six-foot-three with sandy blond hair, the easygoing bed and breakfast manager made an amusing contrast to Lucy's fiery personality … but his calm steadiness perfectly balanced her free-spirited nature.

Rachel’s new boyfriend Chad arrived a few minutes later, face flushed from rushing over right after his bakery shift ended. Rachel happily tucked her arm through his, and the group claimed a lane under the enormous white tent for bowling. Shelby slid on her rental shoes, carefully selecting a neon pink ball she could manage. Ross entered all their names onto the scoreboard.

"Hope you're ready to lose," Lucy teased Shelby as she picked up a ball.

Shelby just grinned. "Bring it on." She knew Lucy's competitive streak well and was ready to match it.

The friends hooted and groaned through several hilariously bad rounds. Lucy emerged the victor in the end, doing a celebratory dance that had them all laughing.

Tired of getting trounced at bowling, they switched to playing cornhole outside. Shelby was winding up to toss a beanbag when a familiar figure across the lawn caught her eye.

Her breath caught in her chest. It was Travis. She hadn't seen the handsome detective since their last strategy session at the station a few days ago.

He was still dressed in a suit jacket and button-down shirt, looking out of place among the casually dressed crowd of people. Shelby watched him make his way over to a few people lounging around one of the fire pits.

A pretty brunette stood up to greet him, and when Travis pulled her into an embrace, Shelby felt an odd pang as she observed the easy familiarity between them.

Were they colleagues, old friends, or something more? She tried to ignore the uncomfortable feeling tightening her chest.

"Shelby, you're up." Rachel's voice broke through her thoughts.

She dragged her gaze away from Travis and his mystery woman and attempted to refocus on the beanbag game, but her tosses went wide, missing the board completely.

"Geez, Shelby, you're sure off your bean toss game tonight," Lucy remarked. “You okay?”

Shelby just mumbled an excuse about being tired and grabbed her water bottle. As she sipped, she snuck another look toward Travis's group.

He had his arm draped casually over the petite brunette's shoulders as they chatted with the other couple around the fire. His handsome face was lit with a smile that wasn't aimed at Shelby.

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