Chapter 1

Willow

Deadlines suck. Twenty days until my final manuscript is due. Who chooses a deadline that lines up with midterms? My flipping editor, that's who. I yell at my students for procrastinating and here I am in my office at 2 am, trying to figure out these blasted recipes.

"This may have been one of my more idiotic ideas." I grumbled as I shifted through the papers. The last two recipes were proving difficult to read, and it was going to make or break this textbook.

I heard a tinkling laugh as Tess flitted by my head and landed on my desk. She only stood about 6 inches tall, but every centimeter of her mocked me.

"So help me, I'll paper cut you if you keep it up. I haven't had near enough caffeine to put up with you. Or to keep me up until 2 am."

"We could go home and start afresh tomorrow. New coffee, new morning." Tess flicked her dark purple wings closed behind her and leaned against a book on my desk.

The words were starting to look like gibberish on the copies in front of me. My eyes felt pressure building behind them. I'd never make it to the witching hour, and I still had to teach tomorrow. Today. Crap. With a sigh, feeling every aching moment I'd sat in my desk chair, I got up and grabbed my jacket.

"Come on, let's go home. The research can wait a little longer."

I slung my backpack on my shoulder as Tess flew past me and locked the door behind me, not bothering to take anything else home. Time would fly all too quickly, and I'd be back at work anyways.

The hallways were bustling with those who were more nocturnal, and I waved at a few students heading to the computer lab or night classes. The college taught classes around the clock to accommodate students and professors from all walks of life. I mostly taught witches and humans, which meant day time classes. My office hours varied, and I had a history of staying too late which is why I recognized many of the students roaming the halls; the buildings never closed because there was everyone from vampires to humans taking classes here.

The trek out of the building and down the hill wasn't too bad, but it was chilly in the late night air, and I wished I'd brought a better jacket.

"You okay? Not too cold?"

Tess' wings flickered close by, and I could see her shake her head. "Heading that way, though. Soon I'll be cooped up again."

It was nearly October, and fall was arriving with full force. I hoped I'd actually get fall weather instead of going straight into winter. Pixies didn't do well in the cold. Historically, they hibernated. Now, they didn't always have to.

I passed my old dorm then and thought about how much fun I had had then. Parties when Piper could drag me to them, staying up late and watching movies or cramming for a test or writing a paper. Endless procrastination, and determination to do well. There were bad memories buried deep too. Memories of a certain guy who broke my heart. And then the girl who ripped the remains to shreds.

"Why did I walk to campus today?"

"Because you walk every day?" Tess said near my ear.

I swatted at her, knowing she'd dodge it. Just because it was true didn't mean I couldn't grumble. I only lived about a ten minute walk to campus, and parking was crazy expensive. If the weather was bad enough, I usually managed to find a ride in. I regretted every minute of that decision at two in the morning. But the walk was beautiful, even more so at 2 am with fairy lights strewn around the buildings.

Turning onto my street, I heard Tess shout, "Willow" as I started to cross the road. Before I had any time to react a car flew around the corner, nearly taking me out. I slammed against something solid and warm as my body was jerked back and I fell.

"Bloody hell, what was that maniac thinking?"

"I could say the same for you. Have you heard of looking both ways?" came from beneath me, and I realized the warm and solid thing was a man.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to. I did look. I just didn't–I mean," I scrambled as I tried to get to my feet.

All I managed to do was elbow him in the gut.

"Oomph." His face contorted. The light was low, but I could make out just enough to see he had a nice jawline. He sat up, shaking his head, laughing.

"I think I would have been better off in the path of the car."

Realizing I was still lying on the ground, I pushed myself up. My bag was still intact, and I was extra glad I'd left the heavy laptop and my work backpack at the college. Then I realized what he said.

"Oh, well, that's lovely. Sorry, but thanks again for saving my life." I grumbled, as I turned back to the road. Tess flitted up to my shoulder, chewing me out under her breath. Neither of us were at our best this late in the night. Though thinking about it, it was really early in the morning at this point, which was worse. I turned and looked at him again, holding my hand out to help.

He looked up at me, and took it. When our hands touched, the heat seemed to envelope me. I nearly gasped at the contact. Our eyes locked, and his eyes flashed amber. A witch.

"Not exactly safe to walk around at 2 am for anyone, you know. Only one of you can fly away." He noted, and smiled at Tess on my shoulder.

"I mean, I have my defenses. Stayed late at work, but I do it often enough." I cocked my head, looking over his dark clothes. My nerve endings were on fire, though I wasn't sure why they were reacting so strongly to a man I barely touched. I could always blame the adrenaline. "Thanks, really. I'm tired, need coffee, and really just wanted to be home asleep. I probably didn't look as closely as I should have."

"No worries. I was heading home myself. Okay from here?"

"Yep. Just across the street."

And why did I just give him a clue to where I lived? Idiot.

He nodded then dramatically looked both ways. "Wanna cross now?"

I silently cursed myself for feeling any attraction to a man so incredibly handsome and rugged…getting off topic, I made a point to look both ways before hurtling across the street, Tess in tow. When I turned back around, he was already gone.

"Well, that was odd."

"Being rescued, insulted, or turned on?" Tess asked me.

"Oh, why do I keep you around?"

"You like me fine when you've had coffee," she replied.

I'd already started walking up to my home, thankful to have no more paths to cross. My cottage vaguely resembled a mushroom. The roof was yellow, the house itself a gray color, with wooden shutters and stained glass windows. It was small with just two bedrooms and one bath (with one lovely clawfoot tub). But it was home, lit up with fairy lights and glowing mushrooms in the garden. I sighed, opened the gate, and went to collapse into bed.

A very annoying noise kept repeating in my ears. I flailed, trying to get it to shut up, and accidentally hit my phone onto the floor.

"That's your alarm, you know." Tess giggled on my nightstand. "Probably reminding you that you have somewhere to be."

"I realize that." I sat up and rubbed my groggy eyes. I got out of bed, found my phone, and turned off my alarm. 9 am. Suddenly it was way too early. At least I still had a few hours before I had to teach. A hot shower, all except for the excruciatingly cold water to wash my hair, and I felt like a person again. These were the mornings I regretted having my hair dyed funky colors - but then again that cold water always woke me right up.

"Coffee. I need coffee." I walked out of my bedroom and into the kitchen, staring around blankly. Maybe I should keep iced coffee in my fridge? Then I'd have to remember to buy it.

"You always need coffee. You should just make your own." Tess was wearing a black tutu skirt, holey leggings, and a black sweater. It made her look like a tiny goth witch. I loved her style.

"It's better at the café. They have a way with it."

"They use magic." She landed on my shoulder. That had taken getting used to, and I had to learn to ignore the fluttering of her wings when she sat there.

"Yes, making it extra magical to me." I loved magic. I always had. I'd dreamed of being able to do it, but sadly I was born normal. Magic was all around us – witches used it in potions and spells, but in the recent century had started using it for mundane things that they could share with the world. Coffee, baked goods, bath products. It was wonderful.

Tess rolled her eyes again. How a creature so small could do that so effectively, I wasn't sure. I grabbed my bag, and we headed outside into the still chilly morning air. The leaves were beginning to turn colors as fall took over. It was not too far into the semester, and midterms were coming up soon. I was barely ahead of grading, and ready to fall under a mountain of it again. And I had to finish my blasted research and the writing in… 19 days.

Coffee. Java. Wonderful Caffeine. Peppermint Mocha with an extra shot of espresso and a boost from the magic. That was what I needed. Then I'd figure it out.

I'd first discovered this magical café called "The Witches' Brew" when in college. It looked like a perfect witches' hangout, two stories of all stone and a thatched roof. A sign shaped like a cauldron hung outside, and there were tiny gnome statues in the garden that actual gnomes had gifted them. There was even a tiny sitting area for pixies, which Tess always loved.

The bell overhead rang out as I walked in, and I heard Charlotte sing-song good morning. I shook my head at my former student and started to order.

She put a large peppermint mocha with an extra espresso on the counter in front of me, along with a thimble size of hot milk and smiled.

"Hot, and fresh. Right?"

"I come in here too often, don't I?"

Tess barked a laugh, and I considered poking her in midair, damn the consequences of if she fell or took revenge on me later.

"No clue what you mean!" Charlotte's grin said otherwise, as she gave a little wave to Tess. I decided to pretend like I believed her.

I paid and was turning to leave when he walked through the door. I froze, cup raised to my mouth, and looked at the man who saved me last night or rather, this morning, wearing an apron and bearing a tray of muffins. Tasty looking cinnamon muffins.

Charlotte beamed, "Oh! Professor Willow, Tess, meet Mr. Sullivan, our new owner."

"New owner?" I asked. No one had said anything about a new owner. I came in pretty much every single day, and knew Maggie, the last owner, quite well. Why hadn't she mentioned it?

"Yeah, Maggie decided to retire. She sold the place. Surprised us with the news last week, then took off on a cruise, apparently. Oh, I should have told you sooner, I just... anyways."

I heard the slightest hint of a grouch to Charlotte's voice. That was something.

Then again, Maggie was good at disappearing on vacations, as the staff were well trained

."I had been wondering where she was."

"Excuse me, Charlotte," Mr. Sullivan said, as he began loading a tray on the counter. My mouth was watering and I gave in. The cinnamon smell was calling to me.

"Are those fresh?"

"They are. And fancy running into you. Glad to see you made it home okay. How are you feeling? Bruised?"

"You two know each other?" Charlotte asked, very interested.

I shook my head, terrified of the gossip waiting to follow me on campus. Bruised indeed. "No. The new owner was just kind enough to save me from being run over last night on my way home. Didn't even exchange names. I didn't realize…"

Charlotte looked depressed at that, then perked up with interest. "You were almost run over?"

I shook my head. "Idiot driving too fast on my street." I looked back at the case, and up at him. "I'll take a muffin, too. Please."

I was sore, even from just the little fall, and I didn't want to admit it.

After paying, I grabbed my muffin and waved at them. The new owner was still standing there, empty tray in hand, as I walked outside.

"Missed opportunity that." Tess seemed mightily annoyed with me. She kept flying around my head.

"What?" I asked Tess.

"I mean, just look at him. You still didn't get his first name. What kind of person ignores fate bringing you back together again so soon?"

"A tired one, with research to do, a muffin to eat, coffee to gulp, and a class on witches' literature to teach. I don't even remember his last name. Come on."

Tess stopped in midair, and shouted, "Oh! I forgot my milk. Wait." She flew back into the café. I pondered walking off, but stayed.

I stood there, breathing in the fresh air to wake up and waited. When I took a bite of the muffin, I was transported briefly to heaven. The muffin was glorious, hot, and crumbly, and everything I'd ever dreamed a muffin could be. A vast improvement over the previous items served. They'd always had great coffee–the bakery items, not so much. Perhaps I didn't mind Maggie selling so much. And then I wondered if he had been personally responsible for baking these. That'd be more important than his looks.

Tess appeared beside me, milk in hand, and smiled. "His first name is Winston. Mr. Winston Sullivan."

I quirked an eyebrow at her. "Did you ask?"

"I had a short conversation, is all."

I eyed her, but shrugged, and continued eating the muffin. It was turning out to be an okay morning after all.

"I'm an idiot. Have I mentioned that?" I said, growling over my second cup of coffee. Thank Goddess I had a pot in my office. Piper, to her credit, just laughed. I could hear papers rustling in the background, and knew that Piper was also at work.

"What did you do now?" Her voice tinged with amusement, and the knowledge she had from decades of friendships.

"I was almost run over last night, got rescued by the new owner of the Witches' Brew, ate a muffin, and thought today was going well. But I still can't make heads or tails of these last witches' recipes, I'm never going to finish this book, and I want to crawl under my desk and nap but can't because I have class in thirty minutes."

"I'm sorry, you were almost run over? And what guy rescued you?" Piper's voice notably pitched higher as she said ‘run over' and I realized perhaps I wasn't giving that enough importance.

"Ah, the new owner I mentioned. Winston Sullivan, apparently."

"Is he hot?"

"Piper!" I rolled my eyes, not at all surprised that she focused on the guy first.

"I mean, what other concern could I possibly have here?"

I dropped my head onto my desk. "I was almost run over?"

"Well. Almost. And you are currently at work, and on the phone with me, so clearly all is well there. What I can't figure out is whether or not he was hot."

"Maybe."

"Hmmm. Sounds like we need to have a girl's night. I'll bring wine. And you can tell me exactly how cute he might be."

"I need to work on my book. These last two spells are giving me trouble, and I may not be able to decipher them. I don't have time to describe him to you, and debating whether or not he was hot. Just go to the café."

"While that will certainly also happen, I need these details from you. We have drastically different taste in men, if you haven't noticed. Take the spells home. I can try to help."

Piper was a witch so she might be able to help me decipher the spells. Time to swallow my pride, and spill the beans about whether or not he was hot.

"It was after 2 in the morning, I was so tired, and there was barely any light."

"You saw him again at the café right? Was it dark then? I can take back my offer."

"Okay. Okay. That'd be perfect. Thank you. Six?"

"Six. Give me every single detail you got – start memorizing them now."

I hung up, and gathered the stuff up for my class, not picturing a hot man wearing an apron, with a tray of heaven muffins a single time.