OCTOBER 31

“COME ON, BRIANNA, YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO.”

Brianna James angled her head and shot her best friend Kayla Pierce a sidelong glance. Not only was Kayla her closest friend, she was also her most valued employee. With her marketing background and merchandising skills, Kayla had helped increase sales and profits at Conjure, Brianna’s very own magic boutique centrally located in the quaint little town of Wilkins, Massachusetts.

Keeping a telltale grin from her face, Brianna folded her arms in defiance, and replied with casual nonchalance, “Who says I want to?”

Kayla refilled the crystal decanter with jasmine incense and then leaned into Brianna. She arched one brow, pursed her full lips, and whispered in a low, sultry tone, “You do, with your eyes and your body.”

Well, she certainly had her with that, Brianna mused, noting with dismay how easily her friend could read her. Once again Brianna stole a glance at the guy meandering through her magic boutique. Okay, so there was no denying she wanted to gobble him up like a scrumptious Halloween treat. But good God, did Kayla so blatantly have to point it out?

Brianna’s lascivious gaze swept the length of his long, muscular torso. Her body reacted to the gorgeous specimen before her, tingling and warming in her most private places. Even the short blond hairs at the nape of her neck bristled in erotic delight. Squirming on her stool, Brianna ran her damp palms over her jeans and resisted the urge to lick her freshly painted lips. Obviously, it had been far too long since she’d sampled anything so fine.