Book 2 of the Misfit Bay Series

A confirmed bachelorette, Annie, has vowed to never have a boyfriend or be in a relationship that requires more than just sexy times. She’s just not made that way.

When she sees a man-eating alligator at her feet, she zaps him with her magic to find it shifts into the only man she’s been unable to forget since the one night they had together before she moved to Misfit Bay. It can’t be. Why would he be there now that she’s trying to stick to being single?

Now, her world is in a tizzy when a crazy scheme to turn her into an alligator goes all wrong. She’s gonna die from abstinence if the spell isn’t fixed soon. Only one man, or gator, can keep her sane, and he wants more from Annie than she’s willing to give.

Will true love finally tear down her walls? Or will wayward witchcraft cause her to be killed by a rival faction?

Chapter 1

Annie drew in a deep breath and then exhaled before stepping out onto the front patio of the Wicked Brew Cafe. “Welcome back, wolf guys. Here you go, two caramel cappuccinos, double espresso.”

Dennis’s eyes lit up as soon as he heard her voice. It was a new phenomenon she’d noticed. And it was something she couldn’t dismiss.

He eagerly took his cup from her. “Thanks, Annie. You know, I really miss these when we’re out on the rig … not to mention the service that comes with them,” he said, practically undressing her with his eyes. “Although those aren’t the only things I’ve come to miss when I’m out there,” Dennis said, beaming.

Annie couldn’t help but smile. “Oh, I’m sure,” she said, turning back into the café.

Taking advantage of a quiet mid-morning pause from customers, she quietly cleaned the espresso machine and lost herself in her thoughts.

“You’re thinking. Hard,” Maggie said.

“How can you tell?”

“You’ve been wiping that same part of the counter for three minutes. This isn’t like you. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong, per se. It’s just … well … it’s Dennis. Remember how I was clear with Dennis from the beginning?”

“Yeah, that all you wanted with him was a friends with benefits arrangement. Let me guess, he’s showing signs of having feelings for you?”

“Oh yeah. I mean, he hasn’t come out and told me, but I’ve seen the signs. The way he smiles at me, and he’s become super considerate and sweet. Not only that, but he stopped by with Clint just a little bit ago. They just got off the rig and haven’t even gone home yet. If it wasn’t for my little agreement, I think he would be pressing the issue right now.”

“Maybe he sees how Clint and Clara have been falling in love. It’s hard to ignore. And then he might be thinking you and he could have that same sort of romance. Is it so wrong?”

“No. It’s not wrong for him to feel that way. The only thing that’s wrong is I should’ve whipped out my wand and thrown an anti-love spell on him from the beginning. Some magical guardrails would save him from heartache.”

Maggie seemed to be chewing on her opinion, trying to avoid sounding too judgmental to her friend. “But the fact is, you didn’t put a spell on him. Have you thought about what that might mean?” she asked tactfully, walking back into the bakery.

What that might mean? Annie thought about Maggie’s question for a minute. Her answer was a flat-out no! She didn’t want any sort of relationship with Dennis or anyone else. It wasn’t like she was leading Dennis on. She had been one hundred percent clear from the beginning. Friends with benefits. That was it. That was all they would ever be. She had told him flat out to never expect more from her because it wouldn’t happen.

Wiping down the coffee grinder, she reassured herself she hadn’t been giving him any mixed signals. They’d had great sex. She never spent the night. They didn’t go out on dates or have evenings out on the town. Their interactions were limited to brief, fun hookups. Which was all she had wanted. Just to scratch that itch when she needed it.

Glancing back toward the outside tables, she saw that Clara was wrapped in Clint’s arms. They were engaged in what looked to be a passionate kiss goodbye. Bleh! That was so not for her. It was too much mushy-gushy romance. It just wasn’t her thing and would never be. 

“Those two are head over heels for each other. Better you than me.” She smiled. She saw that Dennis was also watching the pair kissing. It was hard to miss his sad half-smile and longing stare. “Yeah, you just think you want all that too. Don’t get carried away, buddy, because that’s not going to be us,” she mumbled.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear what you were saying,” Clara said, stepping into the café.

“Oh, I was just talking to myself. Say, am I right in observing that you and Clint seem to be moving things to another level? I mean, I know you’re mates and all, but what’s going on between you is starting to look like straight-up love. As in a forever love.”

Clara’s smile and twinkling eyes practically beamed happiness around the room. “Yes! I can’t hide it. We are. It’s the most amazing feeling I’ve ever had in my entire life. Like I’m on a magic carpet ride and …”

“Wait, did you say a magic carpet ride?”

“Yes.”

“Maggie! Get out here. I think Clint slipped Clara some drugs.”

“No! I’m serious. I feel like our emotions are carrying us away together. It’s the most amazing feeling.” Clara’s smile slipped away. “Did I just say carried away? Do you think Clint and I are getting carried away?”

“I’m probably the last person to ask for relationship advice. After all, I’m like the queen of noncommitment.”

Joining them in the café, Maggie leaned in toward Clara and squinted. “What kind of drugs?”

“She and Clint have fallen in love, and she is suddenly worried their emotions could be getting the best of them. Due to my own issues, I’m recusing myself from this discussion,” Annie said.

“I see. Well, after dissecting my own failed relationship, I’ve come up with some ideas of what it takes to make love work in the long term. There are the beginning phases. Those are the easy parts, which you’ve already made it through with flying colors.”

“What phase is that, exactly?” Clara asked.

“It’s clear that you make each other happy. And you can’t get enough of each other. So, on to the next step, which is harder. You must take an honest look at Clint, and you can’t find anything you would want to change about him, or him about you … not a single thing … then you should feel free to just go with it.”

“And then what?”

“And then comes the final phase. If you can imagine a future with the two of you together, then I’d say it could be that you’ve found the elusive happily ever after. The key is, to be honest with yourself. Above all.”

Clara nodded. “That makes a lot of sense. Thanks,” she said, her smile returning to her face.

Quietly soaking up Maggie’s sage advice to Clara, Annie wondered if she could apply any of it to her own life.

Be honest with yourself? Above all? 

That was easier said than done. Sure Annie liked Dennis well enough for their continued romps, and she had definitely missed the sex while he was gone, but that was about it. She didn’t have this deep, longing feeling that she needed to throw caution to the wind and run into his arms or anything crazy like that. The feelings she had were more like … cool … now I can get laid again. 

Sad but true. Even after all the months they had spent as friends with benefits, Annie had no emotional ties to Dennis at all. Not even the stirring of a single freaking emotion.