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“OH, WOW,” MADDIE GOODWELL murmured as she stepped into the hotel ballroom. Numerous stations, each equipped with an espresso machine, greeted her gaze.
The cream-colored walls and ceiling provided a neutral backdrop, and rows of black folding chairs were set out for the public to watch the competition.
“Exactly.” Suzanne Taylor, her best friend since middle school, sounded subdued for a second, before her blue eyes lit up. “This is so exciting! And your badge says you’re number eight.” She pointed to the white badge the registration clerk had given to Maddie a few minutes earlier, which she’d pinned to her lilac shirt.
Maddie nodded, her stomach squirming with anxiety. Yes, it was exciting, but it was also ... scary.
Today was the day the Seattle barista championships were being held. The winner of today’s event would go on to compete in the nationals. Just the thought of that possibility made Maddie’s nerves shred even more.
“It’s certainly different to last month’s competition in Estherville,” Maddie said in a low voice.
Suzanne nodded. “But you won then, and I don’t see why you can’t win today, either. Your coffee skills are awesome, Maddie. And I’ll be in the crowd, cheering you on.”
Maddie managed a smile, glad of her friend’s encouragement.
Last month in Estherville, the small town one hundred miles from Seattle, where Maddie and Suzanne lived, and worked from their coffee truck, Brewed from the Bean, there had been a coffee festival and cappuccino making competition. But there hadn’t been as many entrants as there would be today. The setup, here in the ballroom of one of Seattle’s largest hotels, made the contest in Estherville look like the first day of coffee kindergarten.
Suzanne looked around the empty room, then lowered her voice anyway.
“Did you cast a Coffee Vision spell this morning?”
“No.” Maddie shook her head. “I didn’t want to know what could happen today.”
When she was seven, Maddie had stumbled across a crumbling old book called Wytchcraft for the Chosen in the local secondhand bookshop.
One spell in particular caught her attention – how to tell someone’s future for the next twenty-four hours with the aid of a cup of coffee. When she used her own cup, she caught a glimpse of her future for the next day. When she cast the spell over a customer’s cup of coffee, she could peek into their future over the next twenty-four hours.
“I didn’t want to know if I won or ...” Maddie paused, “... lost.”
“I understand.” Suzanne touched her arm.
“Where is everyone?” Maddie frowned and checked her watch. “I know we got here early but I didn’t think we’d be the first ones to arrive.”
“Maybe there was a traffic hold up somewhere.” Suzanne wrinkled her snub nose. “We should—”
Before she could finish her sentence, there was a flurry of motion at the ballroom door.
“Am I late?” A tall guy in his late twenties strode into the room. Maddie couldn’t wrench her gaze away. He wore a black t-shirt sporting a white badge with the number fourteen, denim jeans – and tattoos. They decorated his muscular, uncovered arms in swirls of green and blue. He also sported a pierced nose and a crew cut. But somehow, his masculine, attractive voice and the good humor in his eyes belied his somewhat tough appearance.
“I don’t think so,” Maddie answered.
“You’re the first person we’ve seen,” Suzanne chimed in, seeming to be equally mesmerized by his arrival. “Apart from the registration clerk outside.”
His eyes crinkled with relief. “Good to know.” He grinned.
They stood looking at each other for a moment, and then he held out his hand. “I’m Connor.”
“I’m Suzanne.” She shook his hand. “And this is Maddie.”
“Hi,” Maddie murmured as she shook his large, calloused hand.
“Are you both competing?” he asked.
“Maddie is,” Suzanne replied. “She won the Estherville coffee festival last month.”
“It was only a small competition,” Maddie put in hastily. She’d been thrilled when she’d won that contest, and the prize had been a trophy and a wild card entry into today’s bigger competition, but now she was starting to wonder if she was out of her depth.
“Cool.” Connor smiled.
The ballroom door swung open and a stream of people hurried into the room. Maddie’s eyes widened as men and women of all ages swarmed toward the espresso stations.
“Everyone!” A tall, slim woman in her forties clapped her hands. Heads turned toward her.
“Now that I have your attention,” she barked, “I want everyone to find themselves a station. This competition will start on time. If you are not competing, go and sit down over there.” She waved a slender hand bedecked with diamond rings toward the rows of plastic chairs facing the espresso stations. She paused, seeming to look at each person in the room. “If you have not spoken to the registration clerk outside this room, do so now. Otherwise you will be disqualified if you are not wearing a numbered badge.”
“Yikes!” Suzanne whispered to Maddie. “I hope she’s not one of the judges.”
“Me too,” Maddie replied, her voice even lower than her friend’s.
The woman who seemed to be in charge wore her hair in a sleek brunette bob, and her clothes appeared to be designer quality, consisting of a tailored crimson suit with matching kitten heels decorated with a discreet gold bow on the heels.
In contrast, Maddie felt a little inadequate with her brown shoulder-length hair, lilac shirt and black pants, and low-heeled shoes.
“We better do what she says,” Suzanne said, her natural bounciness subdued. “You find a station and I’ll grab a seat.”
“I wish Trixie was here,” Maddie said wistfully.
“I know.” Suzanne smiled sympathetically.
Trixie, Maddie’s white and silver Persian, who might also be her familiar, was at home in Estherville. Well, not exactly at home. That morning, Maddie had experienced a whisper of intuition – something that didn’t happen too often, despite the fact she could cast three spells – and had left Trixie with her mom for the day. And Trixie had not been entirely happy.
Luckily, her mother had promised to look after Trixie, despite not being a cat person, or aware that Maddie was a witch.
“Do you wish Luke was here?” Suzanne asked mischievously.
Maddie blushed, despite her best efforts not to. Luke was Suzanne’s brother, whom she’d been dating for the last three and a half weeks. Maddie had been crushing on him for years but it appeared to be only recently that Luke had seemed to return her feelings.
He’d helped her practice for the competition. Maddie reasoned that feeling flustered around him would be good experience for this competition, but unfortunately he’d had a rush order come in to his classic vehicle restoration business, and hadn’t been able to make it today. She wasn’t sure if that was good or bad news for her nerves.
The staccato sound of someone clapping their hands snagged their attention.
“Find a station right now,” the tall slim brunette barked, glaring at Maddie.
Maddie gulped and hurried over to the stations. Most of them had been taken already, but she found one in the second row, next to Connor. He flashed her an encouraging smile as she checked out the espresso machine in front of her.
Everything was supplied for the contestants apart from the coffee beans. Maddie pulled out the beans she usually used in her coffee truck, dark roasted Arabica.
The ballroom door banged and Maddie looked up to see more people trooping in and taking seats in the audience section.
Suzanne met her gaze and gave her a little wave, a smile on her lips. Maddie thought her friend was more excited about today than she was.
“Now that everyone is here—” the tall brunette who seemed to be in charge checked her gold watch “—we can begin. My name is Margot Wheeler. I and the other judges—” she gestured to two men on her left who had come in a few seconds ago, the portly one a little out of breath “—will be sitting over there.” She gestured to a long table with three chairs.
“In round one, the first beverage you will make will be an espresso. After we have tasted each one, you’ll then go on to make a latte. Then the scores will be tallied, and the finalists will go on to make a mocha in round two, the final round. The overall winner will go on to the nationals, and also win one thousand dollars.”
“That grand would really help me out,” she heard Connor murmur.
Maddie nodded in understanding. Winning one thousand dollars would be a nice boost to her savings account – or she could put it back into Brewed from the Bean, or share the money with Suzanne, or—
“Don’t forget to mention my brand new mocha beverage, MochLava!” A short, blustery man in his sixties made his way importantly to the judges. He snapped his fingers, and a workman wheeled in a silver vat, as tall as Maddie’s five foot five.
“I didn’t know that was going to be here.” Margot Wheeler frowned.
“Since I’m the sponsor, I thought it was the perfect opportunity for some publicity,” the newcomer said importantly. He took over the microphone after directing the workman to park the vat near the judge’s table.
“I’m Fred Beldon,” he announced, drawing himself up to his full height of perhaps five foot seven. “The sponsor of today’s competition, and I will be the one awarding the check to the winner.” He gazed at the competitors as if expecting them to applaud.
After they politely clapped, he motioned to the silver vat. “Feel free to help yourself to a delicious mocha during the break between round one and two.” He chuckled. “Tasting MochLava may inspire you to make one almost as good!”
Maddie glanced at the judges, noting their polite smiles. She’d never heard of MochLava before, but her curiosity was aroused. Maybe she would try it, if she managed to get through round one.
“How gauche,” a sophisticated looking woman in her thirties on Maddie’s other side murmured. She wore what must be a designer suit, in shades of pastel blue and silver which went incredibly well with her blonde hair – the only jarring note the white badge with the number three. If her locks were colored at a salon, it was a skillful job – her hair looked natural and toned well with her fair skin and patrician features. Even her fingernails were nicely-shaped and boasted a French manicure.
Maddie looked at her own fingernails, which were clean, but of different short lengths, and felt a little intimidated by the posh woman’s appearance.
“Have you tried that vile stuff?” the elegant woman asked Maddie, her voice just as well-polished as the rest of her.
Maddie shook her head.
“Don’t,” the woman advised, before turning her attention to the judges.
“Thank you, Fred,” Margot, the female judge, said.
“This product will soon be in every coffee house in Seattle,” Fred Beldon continued, oblivious to the scowl Margot gave him.
“Not if I have anything to do with it,” muttered Connor.
She must really be out of the loop, Maddie thought, risking a glance at Connor – and his tattoos. She’d never heard of this new mocha drink, or Fred Beldon, but both the contestants on either side of her had. Was MochLava a specific Seattle beverage?
“We will now begin,” Margot Wheeler stated. The two male judges bobbed their heads in agreement. “You will have four minutes to make three espressos using your own choice of beans. When the buzzer sounds, all coffee making must cease. Does everyone understand?”
Maddie nodded, noticing that all the competitors she could see nodded as well.
“Your time starts now.” Margot rang a tinkly bell.
Maddie flew into action. This machine was slightly different to the one she used in her coffee truck, but she’d already taken a few minutes to familiarize herself with it.
The sounds of burring and grinding filled the room, so loud that Maddie knew she should have brought earplugs with her. She peeked to her right at Connor, who had buds of yellow foam sticking out of his ears. He obviously knew what to expect.
Focus.
The machine buzzed and whirred as she pulled a shot of what she hoped was her best espresso ever. The sweet, fruity notes lifted her spirits as she repeated the process twice more.
Maddie concentrated so hard, shutting out all the noise around her, that she startled when a loud buzzer went off. The espressos she’d made looked perfect to her eyes, but she knew it was up to the judges to decide.
All the competitors around her stopped what they were doing when they heard the buzzer.
“Phew,” Connor muttered. “That was close.”
She looked over at his station, his espresso looking just as good as hers in the tasting glasses.
The judges strolled around the stations, each with a clipboard, trying each espresso and making notes. When they arrived at Maddie’s station, Margot, the female judge, ignored her apart from writing down the number on Maddie’s badge. She lifted the glass to her lips and tasted the espresso. Was there a hint of pleasure in her expression? Or was it just wishful thinking on Maddie’s part?
The two male judges smiled and nodded at her, making notes on their clipboards, then returned to the judge’s table.
Maddie sneaked a peek at the posh woman on her left, who seemed satisfied with her performance so far.
“You will now make three lattes,” Margot announced, “in five minutes.”
The bell sounded again. Rustling on her left alerted her to the fact that her elegant neighbor was using different beans for this beverage. Had Maddie made a mistake by using the same beans for both drinks?
She told herself not to be silly. She’d experimented with various beans during the last three weeks, Luke and Suzanne her willing guinea pigs. She’d even tried out different combinations on her customers, and had kept coming back to her favorite – dark roasted Arabica.
She pushed her doubts to the back of her mind and focused on making the best latte ever.
Buzzzzz.
Maddie’s hands fell to her sides as the buzzer sounded. She noticed Connor doing the same, but the sophisticated woman on her left took a few extra seconds to finish pouring her latte. Maddie wondered if the judges would notice.
Once again, she waited for the judges to come to her station. She wished there was a stool she could sit on, as her legs suddenly wobbled. Looking out into the audience, she noticed Suzanne giving her an encouraging smile, and smiled back at her.
At least she could have a break now, before round two – if she scored high enough to compete in that final round. She might even taste the mocha concoction in the silver vat – if she was brave enough.
Margot Wheeler tasted Maddie’s latte first, her expression not giving anything away this time. Then the two male judges followed, nodding at her as they set down their glasses. Maddie watched them all write notes on their clipboards, before they turned their attention to her stylish neighbor.
To Maddie’s surprise, nothing was said about her competitor taking a few extra seconds to pour her latte after the buzzer sounded. Perhaps there was a little latitude about when to stop making their coffee after the time was up? Or maybe the judges didn’t notice. Maddie decided to put it out of her mind. If her neighbor’s latte was better than hers, she deserved to get higher marks than Maddie.
“We will now tabulate the scores and post them outside this room in thirty minutes. The semi-finalists will reconvene in two hours for the second round, where you will make three mochas,” Margot announced, checking her watch.
“Phew,” Connor murmured to her as he put a packet of coffee beans back into his satchel. “I could do with a break after that.”
“I know what you mean,” Maddie said. Now that the intensity of the competition was over for the moment, all she wanted to do was flop into a chair and relax – until it was time for the next round.
“How do you think you went?” Suzanne rushed over to her. A few other members of the audience headed toward the stations to chat with her fellow competitors.
“I don’t know.” Maddie scrunched her nose. “I think I did okay but—”
“You looked awesome up there,” Suzanne assured her with a grin. “I can’t wait until they reveal the scores.” She turned to Connor. “What was that about the mocha drink – MochLava?” She gestured to the silver vat near the judge’s table. The three judges seemed deep in discussion, Margot pointing at her clipboard with a crimson fingernail.
“It’s a new coffee beverage, mass produced in a factory in Seattle.” Connor grimaced. “Fred Beldon doesn’t have a clue about coffee – or chocolate – but he thinks he does. And he thinks he’s going to get rich with that swill.”
“I guess you’ve tasted it then?” Suzanne asked.
“Yeah. He visited a lot of the coffee shops offering samples. My boss thought it might be good for business, and we all tried it.” His face split into a grin. “And it was so bad, my boss told us never to speak about it again.”
“If it’s so terrible, why is he sponsoring the competition?” Maddie asked.
Connor shrugged. “Money talks, I guess. And if there wasn’t a sponsor, the competition mightn’t have gone ahead or offered a prize.”
“One thousand dollars is an attractive sum,” Suzanne mused, “along with an entry into the nationals.”
“Yeah,” Connor agreed. “And like I told Maddie, I could really use the money right now. But it depends if my coffee is the best today.” He turned to Maddie. “You looked like you knew what you were doing.”
“Thanks.” She smiled shyly. “Suzanne and I operate a coffee truck in Estherville.”
“It’s one hundred miles from Seattle,” Suzanne put in helpfully. “Maddie makes the coffee, and I’m in charge of the register and making goodies like health balls. Where do you work?”
Maddie hoped Connor didn’t mind the inquisitive question.
“In a hipster coffee shop not far from here. I’m lucky my boss knows his coffee beans, though.” He lowered his voice. “I’ve heard some coffee shops have decided to carry the MochLava because the owners will do practically anything to improve their bottom line – but they don’t realize just how bad the stuff is.”
“Now you’ve got me curious.” Suzanne’s eyes sparkled.
“Taste it and see for yourself.” He motioned to the silver vat.
“Come on, Mads.” Suzanne’s strawberry-blonde ponytail bounced as she headed over to the vat.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Connor chuckled as Maddie passed him.
There were paper cups next to the bubbling vat as well as a long-handled silver spoon.
Suzanne ladled a large spoonful into a cup, then handed it to Maddie. “Drink up.”
“You first.” Maddie doubtfully eyed the liquid concoction. It didn’t smell like good coffee – or chocolate – should. But she had to admit, she was a little curious.
“Ready?” Suzanne held up her own cup, and gently tapped it against Maddie’s.
“Okay.” Maddie took a tentative sip, her eyes widening as the mocha slid down her throat.
Yuck.
Suzanne swallowed, then blinked. “I don’t know if this is better or worse than one of Claudine’s mochas.”
Maddie stifled a giggle. Claudine was their nemesis and owned a coffee shop in Estherville. She was always stopping by their coffee truck and making snarky comments, while Maddie and Suzanne wondered how she stayed in business with her terrible coffee and curmudgeonly personality.
Luckily, there was a trashcan next to the mocha vat and they dumped their semi-full cups into the receptacle.
“Is it that bad?” A soft voice asked from behind them.
“Yep,” Suzanne admitted cheerfully as they both turned around.
A slim girl who appeared to be in her early twenties blushed under their scrutiny, as if surprised at her own courage at asking the question. Maddie recognized her as a fellow competitor – she’d had one of the stations at the back of the room.
“Want some?” Suzanne held out the ladle to her.
“Oh no.” The girl shook her head. “I believe you.” She reminded Maddie of a startled deer.
“I’m Maddie.” Maddie smiled gently.
“And I’m Suzanne,” Suzanne chimed in. “Maddie’s the one competing and I was in the audience.”
“I’m Ellie,” the shy girl replied.
“I love your earrings,” Maddie said, leaning forward as she admired them. Small pink and gold fairies dangled from the girl’s ears, and combined with her white blonde hair complete with wispy bangs, she could almost pass as a fairy herself. Somehow, Maddie suspected her hair was that shade naturally, not skillfully applied in a salon.
“Thanks.” Ellie looked pleased at the compliment. “My little sister said I should wear them for luck.”
“How do you think you’ve done so far?” Suzanne asked curiously.
“I don’t know.” Ellie shrugged. “I didn’t think there would be so many competitors here, but my boss said I should enter.”
“What sort of beans did you use?” Now it was Maddie’s turn to be inquisitive. She knew that to be a competitor today, you had to have won a barista competition, and be somewhat experienced.
“An Ethiopian blend,” Ellie replied. “I love the mellow sweetness and—”
“Ethiopian is one of my favorites.” Connor appeared.
“Really?” Ellie looked surprised.
“Yeah.” Connor smiled at her. “I’m Connor.” He held out a hand to Ellie.
After a second’s hesitation, Ellie shook his hand. “Ellie.”
“Where do you work?” Connor asked.
“At Hannon’s,” Ellie replied. “You probably haven’t heard of it – it’s just a small place.” She seemed to have trouble taking her eyes off his muscular tattooed arms and his nose piercing.
“Are you serious? I go there all the time when I’m tired of making coffee for myself.” He furrowed his brow. “I haven’t seen you there, though.”
“I haven’t seen you there, either.” Ellie blushed as if she thought she was being too forward. “But I’m usually in the back, making the orders.”
“Yeah.” Connor nodded. “The way that place is set up, you’d have a hard time seeing the barista. Where I work is different – the boss wants all the hipsters – and wannabes – to see the coffee being made in front of them.”
“What ...” Ellie swallowed. “What’s your favorite drink at Hannon’s?”
“A long macchiato topped up.”
Ellie’s eyes widened. “Were you there yesterday afternoon? At four o’clock?”
“Yeah.” He grinned.
“You’re him. Not many people ask for that specific drink.”
“You made my coffee yesterday?”
Ellie nodded.
Maddie wondered if she and Suzanne should give them some time alone. It looked like a potential romance was brewing.
But before she could tactfully withdraw, a man in his forties with dark brown hair and a grumpy expression on his face came up to them. He wore a gray shirt with mid-blue buttons rimmed in gold, and black trousers.
“How much longer do you think they’ll take to tabulate the scores?” He jerked his head toward the judge’s table, where the three judges appeared to still be discussing the results of round one.
Connor dragged his eyes away from Ellie and looked at his chunky functional watch. “Probably not too much longer, Brad.”
“I hope not,” the newcomer muttered. He cast a distasteful glance toward the vat of mocha. “Have any of you tried that – slop?”
“Yep.” Suzanne shuddered dramatically.
Maddie nodded.
“More fool you,” he replied. “Everyone who appreciates coffee in this city knows not to touch Fred Beldon’s stuff.” He eyed Maddie and Suzanne skeptically. “I guess you two aren’t from around here.”
“We’re from Estherville,” Maddie replied.
“Where?” He frowned.
“Estherville,” Suzanne said loudly, as if he were hard of hearing. “It’s one hundred miles away.”
“Oh. That explains it.” His brow cleared, as if immediately dismissing them from contention.
Maddie was taken aback by his rudeness. So far, everyone she had met had seemed friendly – even the elegant competitor at the next station to her hadn’t been rude like this man. Everyone apart from the judge, Margot Wheeler ...
“So how do you think you did?” Connor filled in the silence as he addressed the other man.
“I should get into the second round, no problem,” Brad replied. “This isn’t my first competition, that’s for sure. And—” he tapped his second top button which was a darker blue than the others “—I’m wearing my lucky shirt.” He smirked. “How about you?”
“I hope I make it to the second round,” Connor replied, “but I think there’s some stiff competition today.” He glanced at Maddie and then at Ellie, his gaze lingering on her.
“As long as the judges are fair, I shouldn’t have a problem,” Brad continued, a swift scowl marring his face as he glanced at the judge’s table.
Maddie blinked, not sure if she saw the frown or not.
“Look.” Suzanne nudged her.
Maddie followed her gaze. The three judges got up from the table and headed toward the entrance.
“Do you think they’re going to post the scores now?” Suzanne asked hopefully.
Maddie watched as Margot Wheeler pulled off a large sheet of paper from her clipboard as she walked out of the room.
“Maybe,” Maddie replied, not sure if she wanted to know what her score was. What if she didn’t make it to round two? She and Suzanne had closed the coffee truck today in order to make it to Seattle in time. What if all her weeks of preparation – and nerves – had been in vain?
But spending time with Suzanne – and Luke – would never be a waste of time. And Trixie had seemed interested in the practice sessions, too. The memory of Trixie’s pouting today when Maddie had dropped her off at her mom’s place on the way to Seattle flashed through her mind. It had definitely been a pout, despite Trixie being a cat, not a human.
“Maybe we should go and check it out,” Connor suggested.
“Good idea.” Suzanne smiled, flicking a glance toward the door the judges had just exited.
Ellie nodded.
“Sure. Why not?” Brad agreed.
They trooped through the door. Tacked up on the wall was a list of names.
Maddie’s heart accelerated. Now she would find out if she’d made it through to round two.
“Yes!” Connor sounded gratified. “And look,” she heard him say to Ellie, “you’re in round two as well.”
“Go and see.” Suzanne nudged her.
The others made room for Maddie to study the scores. Each contestant’s name, their badge number, and their scores were posted in order from the highest rank to the lowest. The competitors who had made it through to round two were highlighted at the top of the page.
Maddie Goodwell. Round Two.
Her heart stuttered and she blinked, making sure she hadn’t misread the chart.
She’d made it to the next round – and right now she was in third place overall!
Out of the three scores for her espresso and again for her latte, only one judge had marked her quite low. But the high marks from the other two judges had propelled her to the second round.
Her gaze drifted down the sheet, and she noticed that everyone seemed to have low marks awarded to them for both drinks, from Margot Wheeler. The scores from the other two judges were higher for everyone else, too.
Except ... her elegant neighbor, who had worn the badge with the number three on her blue and silver designer outfit, did not have such low marks from Margot Wheeler. Overall, her score was only one point lower than Maddie’s but the difference between her two high scores and one low score wasn’t as noticeable – her high scores weren’t as high as Maddie’s but her low score wasn’t as low as Maddie’s.
Maddie frowned at the anomaly – did it mean anything?
“Just as well,” she heard Brad growl behind her. He sounded as if he were grinding his teeth. “But there’s no way I should be in eighth place.”
Her eyes scanned the scores once more. His badge number was twenty, and she saw that Brad had made the last spot for round two.
“Oh, good.” The elegant woman who had been her neighbor during round one, glided up.
Maddie stepped aside so she would have plenty of room to study the scores, although Maddie knew she’d placed fourth.
“Yes, I thought so,” the elegant woman continued, a small smile touching her lips. She turned to Maddie. “How did you do?”
Maddie pointed to her name above her neighbor’s. “I made it to the second round.”
The sophisticated woman looked surprised for an instant, then smiled. “Congratulations. I see I just came in after you.” She gestured to the badge marked with a three on her lapel, then held out her hand. “I’m Diana Swift.”
“I’m Maddie,” she replied, shaking the other woman’s hand.
“Do you work as a barista?” Diana Swift asked curiously.
“Yes,” Maddie replied. “My friend and I run a coffee truck in Estherville, one hundred miles away.”
“That sounds very enterprising,” Diana Swift responded. “I only entered this competition as a way to get into the nationals. I’m starting my own chain of coffee shops, and the flagship store will be right here in Seattle.”
“Wow,” Maddie murmured, admiring the other woman’s ambition. She and Suzanne had spoken about expanding with another truck, but had decided the time wasn’t right yet. Diana Swift only looked around five to ten years older than Maddie.
“I have the finance in place and yesterday I signed the lease for the first store,” Diana Swift continued. “But a spot in the nationals will instantly give me credibility and will be a great selling point to customers.”
Maddie nodded. She’d been so focused on practicing – and alternately being flustered and enjoying Luke’s company in her coffee making sessions – that she hadn’t really thought that far ahead. She’d just concentrated on her performance today.
Besides, there was the whole matter that she might be a witch. Ever since she had turned twenty-seven a couple of months ago, the book she’d bought as a child, Wytchcraft for the Chosen, had predicted that a witch came into her full powers at that age. So far, that hadn’t happened. But with every full moon after that birthday, she’d discovered the ability to cast a new spell.
Now, she was able to cast the Tell the Truth spell and the Escape your Enemy spell.
The next full moon was in two days’ time ...
“That sounds very impressive,” Suzanne grinned as she joined them. “Hi, I’m Suzanne, Maddie’s friend and business partner.” She shook hands with Diana Swift. “I’d love to visit your coffee shop when you open.”
“I’ll invite you both to the grand opening,” Diana promised. “Do you have a business card?”
Maddie and Suzanne looked at each other.
“Not yet,” Suzanne replied. “But we will.”
Maddie didn’t think they needed a business card in Estherville, where a lot of people knew who they were and the quality of the coffee they served. Since they were parked in the same spot six days per week, at the town square, their truck was easy to find.
“A business card is essential if you want to be taken seriously,” Diana Swift told Suzanne. “Here, take one of mine.” She plucked a white and silver card from her designer purse. “Call me early next month. I should have the exact date of the opening by then.”
“I will,” Suzanne promised, placing the card in her purse. “Thank you.”
“I’ll see you in round two, Maddie.” Diana smiled, then headed down the hall to the main section of the hotel.
“I’m starving,” Suzanne declared. “Let’s get something to eat.”
“I don’t think I could manage anything right now,” Maddie protested, her stomach clenching at the thought of having to compete in round two. At least she’d made it this far. “But I’d love to sit down for a while.”
“Then let’s go.” Suzanne’s ponytail bobbed as she set off. “I spotted a café near the elevators.” She looked at her watch. “We’ve got over an hour before you have to get back here for the next round.”
Maddie followed her friend, hoping the café wouldn’t be too crowded. Luckily, there were a couple of tables vacant, and Maddie sat down in a steel chair as Suzanne scanned the menu.
A low hum of conversation filled the space, punctuated with the occasional clatter of cutlery.
“Are you sure you don’t want anything?” Suzanne asked, waving the menu toward Maddie.
“Just a glass of water,” Maddie replied. Although she loved drinking coffee as well as making it, she didn’t think she needed any caffeine right now, even though the floral scent of coffee beans wafted through the space.
“Oh, look,” Suzanne whispered, staring at a corner of the café.
Maddie followed her gaze.
“Isn’t that Fred Beldon, who’s sponsoring the competition?” Suzanne’s voice was hushed.
“Yes,” Maddie replied in a low voice.
“I wonder what he’s doing here?”
“Getting something to eat?” Maddie could see that the blustery man had a big plate of food in front of him.
“Does he really think his mocha drink is going to take off?” Suzanne crinkled her brow. “It tasted pretty bad.”
“I know.” Maddie nodded. “But if he has the right connections ...”
“And enough money,” Suzanne added. “Look at Diana Swift. She’s opening a chain of coffee shops but you’ve beaten her in the competition.”
“So far,” Maddie said cautiously. “There’s still round two.”
“And you’ve got a great chance of winning,” Suzanne said encouragingly. “You’re coming third right now.” Her eyes glinted with curiosity. “Do you know who’s in front of you?”
“Ellie is coming first, and then Connor,” she replied, a smile on her lips.
“No way!” Suzanne giggled. “That’s awesome, except it’s not you in first place. Do you think they’ll—” she glanced around and lowered her voice, although none of the other customers seemed interested in their conversation “—get together?”
“Who knows?” Maddie replied diplomatically, although she was secretly hoping they would. The combination of the big tough guy – although his appearance seemed to belie his personality – with the delicate looking Ellie mightn’t seem to be a good match at first, but Maddie remembered the way the two of them had looked at each other when they’d realized that Ellie had been making Connor’s coffee – for how long? Weeks? Months? Even years? It was like a fairytale romance.
Once again Maddie remembered the fairy earrings Ellie wore. Was there magic involved with the two of them meeting?
She shook her head as if to clear it. Although she was limited proof that magic and witches existed – even familiars – she didn’t know if fairies were real or not.
“We should get back.” Suzanne interrupted her musing after finishing her hazelnut latte and slice of banana bread.
Maddie had been so wrapped up in her thoughts, her friend’s voice gave her a start.
“How was the coffee?” She gestured to the empty glass.
“Not as good as yours.” Suzanne grinned. “But it wasn’t bad. A lot better than that mocha drink.” She tilted her head, indicating Fred, eating at his table in the corner.
On the way back to the ballroom, Maddie checked her watch. Fifteen minutes before round two started. She told herself to relax as she and Suzanne walked down the hallway, but it was no good. She was too keyed up again to do anything apart from forcing her feet in the direction of the ballroom.
A scream made Maddie freeze, one foot in mid-air. She turned to Suzanne, her eyes wide.
Before she could say anything, another scream rent the air.
“It’s coming from the ballroom.” Suzanne grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the noise.
They ran to the ballroom, Maddie hoping they wouldn’t come across something awful. Maybe someone had fallen down. Or stubbed their toe.
But she had a sinking suspicion in the pit of her stomach that it was something awful.
As they reached the ballroom door, Diana Swift rushed out, her eyes wild. “She’s dead!”
