Chapter 26
It had been nearly a year since Bree Peters had left Befana Bay. She’d been crushed, certain that it meant the end of her career. And she’d been right. At least when it came to starring in big movie roles.
Today she was back in Befana Bay because she’d been offered a role on a show that featured a family of generational witches.
She’d been floored when McKenna Moss had called her out of the blue and offered her the part.
At first she’d recoiled from the offer and promptly declined without even listening to the woman.
But McKenna Moss was determined. She’d called.
Sent letters. Called again. Bree finally agreed to hear her out when McKenna had shown up at her front door in Scottsdale, Arizona, and personally apologized for not only firing her, but for her behavior toward Bree and the rest of the actors and production team.
She’d explained that not only did she not work for that studio anymore, but that she’d opened her own production company and everything had changed.
McKenna Moss now ran a woman-first production company where they did everything in their power to hire women and to promote from within.
She’d built the company from the ground up, and now that they had the greenlight to make the show she’d always wanted to make, McKenna wanted Bree there for it.
Not only because she wanted to make amends for her previous experience, but because she thought Bree was perfect for the role.
It had been a full-court-press hard sell, and McKenna had won in the end.
But not without some tough negotiating on the part of Bree’s agent.
The first season’s salary was enough for Bree to go to college for four years, put a down payment on a house, or invest in starting up her own business. It had just been too much to turn down.
Only now that Bree was back on Witch Tower Road and approaching Tangled Up in a Spell, her heart was racing, her palms were sweating, and she felt like she was going to hurl.
“Get it together, Bree,” she ordered herself and turned onto a side road that led to the house she’d be renting for the next six months.
When she pulled into her single-car driveway, she grinned at the sweet cottage and the bright flowers out front.
It was exactly like the picture she’d been sent by the real estate agent.
And when she got inside, she was just as pleased.
The cozy couches, stone hearth, and the sunny kitchen were exactly what she’d imagined.
After hauling her luggage inside and unpacking, she flopped onto the bed and stared up at the ceiling. Tomorrow she’d begin filming for the first time in almost a year. Her stomach filled with flutters of anticipation. She’d missed it. Missed it more than she’d realized.
But today, she was free. And there was one person she needed to see.
The person she hadn’t told she was coming to town.
The man she’d been dreaming about ever since she’d left Befana Bay and hadn’t been able to forget.
Bree took a few minutes to change into a flattering sundress and to touch up her makeup.
The scars on her cheek had faded, and when she wore foundation, they were hardly visible.
She’d been really self-conscious about it at first, but over the past year, she’d gotten used to it and hardly even thought about it.
But today, she added another dab of makeup, blended it in, and decided unless one was looking for the scars, they probably wouldn’t notice.
After one more look in the mirror, she decided she looked the best she could without the help of a professional makeup artist. Satisfied, she hopped back into her Mini Cooper, put the top down, slid on her oversized sunglasses, and with the radio tuned to her favorite rock station, she drove the five miles to Gothic Books.
The parking lot was empty when she pulled into a spot right in front of the majestic stone building.
Romantic and ethereal, it was the one place she’d felt totally at home when she’d been in Befana Bay the year before.
A smile claimed her face as she made her way up the walk and spotted a yellow bear walking hand in hand with a tiny piglet.
A happy tiger was just ahead of them, bouncing in circles around a blue donkey with the saddest eyes she’d ever seen.
And just like that, when she reached the front door, they disappeared.
She was overjoyed that nothing had changed. It was exactly as she remembered.
Feeling a little excited and a lot nervous, Bree walked into the bookstore and paused, removing her sunglasses as her eyes adjusted to the soft lighting after being in the harsh sunlight.
The foyer was cool and inviting, and already there were book spines lighting up with interest as she scanned the first shelves.
If there was one thing Bree loved just as much as acting, it was writing. Her two passions were film and novels.
Which made Gothic Books her favorite place to hang out in Befana Bay.
It was the books that had brought her here at first, but if she was honest, it was the man who’d kept her coming back.
Ignoring the texts that were calling to her, Bree made her way back to the counter where she knew he’d be.
And then she nearly stopped in her tracks when she saw him standing there, his dark curly hair a little wild.
He’d filled out, like he’d joined a gym, and he looked absolutely gorgeous with his sun-kissed skin.
A smile claimed her lips as she walked up to him. “Mateo. Hi.”
“Wow. This is certainly a surprise,” he said, that gorgeous smile of his reaching all the way to his eyes.
Bree didn’t know what came over her. Maybe it was the months of dreaming about him.
Maybe it was the giddy anticipation of being back in Befana Bay.
Maybe it was just her newfound motto in life to live every day as if it were her last. Whatever the reason, without any hesitation, she flung her arms around him and kissed him.
Mateo let out a small grunt before his arms went around her, holding her exactly the way she’d imagined he would.
And then their lips parted, and Bree tasted him for the first time. She melted into his sweet kiss, pressed herself against his firm chest, and decided no matter what happened over the next six months, coming back to Befana Bay had been worth it just for this moment.
Someone cleared their throat, interrupting the most perfect kiss of Bree’s life.
She reluctantly pulled away, her face heating with embarrassment. “Sorry,” she said to the furious woman standing there and glaring at them. “I think I got a little carried away.”
“A little,” the petite woman practically growled. Her dark hair was long and curly, perfectly falling into soft waves. “A little?” she repeated, her voice high pitched this time. Then she walked over to Mateo and slapped him so hard the sound echoed off the ceiling.
She stepped back, scowled at Mateo, and then turned on Bree. “I don’t know who you are, but stay the hell away from my man.”
Mateo looked horrified as he gaped at the woman. Then his eyes met Bree’s.
He opened his mouth to say something, but Bree cut him off. “I’m so sorry. I— Oh my gosh. I’m mortified. It won’t happen again.”
She turned and ran for the front door.
“Bree! Wait,” she heard Mateo call after her, but there was no way she was waiting for anything. She’d only been in Befana Bay for an hour, and she’d already made a fool of herself. Her hands were shaking as she got into her car. It took her a moment to get it into gear.
It was just enough time for Mateo to burst out of the front door and run over to her.
“I’m sorry,” she said again and then left him standing there while she took off, praying that the earth would open up and swallow her whole.
***