Read No Shoes, No Shirt, No Spells (Mystic Cafe Series) for Free Online Page A

chance, and I blew it.
     
    He waved his hand as he studied me, no doubt taking in my messy appearance. “No, that’s not necessary, I don’t have the time. I’ll take my check.”
     
    I’d never get his business again. He knew a crazy person when he saw one. His friend would never come back, either. Heck, within thirty minutes probably everyone in town would hear about me knocking the food from his hand. I’d be out of business before the end of the day.
     
    He stood and reached in his pocket for his wallet.
     
    “ Are you sure?” I asked. “It’s no trouble.”
     
    He gave a half grin. Obviously, he felt pity for me. “It’s fine, really. How much do I owe you?” He opened his wallet.
     
    “ Nothing, of course. I can’t charge you for a half-eaten burger that I knocked out of your hand and proceeded to mop the floor with.” Heat rose in my cheeks.
     
    I wanted to tell him the truth and have him understand, but that was impossible. The truth was worse than the embarrassing lie I’d just come up with.
     
    “ Are you sure?” he asked.
     
    “ I’m positive. Again, I’m really sorry. I hope you’ll come back.”
     
    He eyed me up and down with a look I interpreted as full of mercy. “I’ll be back.”
     
    The odds of him returning were about as good as the odds of me taking that scum-sucking ex of mine back.
     
    As the thought entered my head, he flashed his gleaming white teeth at me. And this time I didn’t think it was a you’re-so-pitiful-I-have-to-be-polite smile, either. My stomach tingled as I watched the dimples on his face slide up into a full-on smile. His friend stood beside him, drawing my attention away from his gorgeous face, no easy task.
     
    “ How much do I owe you?”
     
    I looked to him. “Nothing, of course. I’m really sorry.”
     
    I’d lose my business one way or another if I had to keep dishing out complimentary meals. He smiled again and I watched as they walked out of the café. I hoped he wasn’t walking out of my life for good. I may have resolved to be done with men until the end of time, but I could use a regular customer like him.
     
    “ What in heaven’s name is wrong with you?” Mary Jane rushed over.
     
    “ What’s wrong with me?” I pointed toward my chest, then turned it around on her. “You’re the one not paying attention.”
     
    Her face turned red. She opened her mouth, closed it again, her jaw tightening as she swallowed down whatever she was going to say.
     
    Guilt clasped its strangling grip around me for calling her out on the catastrophe. Perhaps catastrophe was a strong word, but it was darn close to accurate. Mary Jane always had been a good waitress, though. Well, by the way Grandma Imelda raved, I figured she had to be fantastic. Plus, she’d never do anything to hurt me on purpose. Everyone makes mistakes. Heaven knows I had made more than my share.
     
    I decided to break the silence. “I thought I could stop him.”
     
    Her lower lip softened. “Once he’s had one bite, it’s too late. You’re going to have to practice that magic, or it’s going to be chaos in this town.” Mary Jane stacked dirty dishes in the tub behind the counter. She blew her bangs out of her eyes, and faced me again.
     
    “ Thanks for the advice.” I folded my arms in front of my chest. “I didn’t want this magic in the first place.”
     
    “ Too late for that now. Besides, the way I hear it, you don’t have any choice in the matter. It’s written in the stars.” She gestured toward the sky with an overly dramatic wave of her arms.
     
    “ Written in the stars, huh?” We stopped talking long enough for me to take a customer’s cash and hand him change. When he was out of audible range, I continued, “Where do you get your magical information from?”
     
    “ Your grandmother, of course.” She didn’t glance up as she wiped water off the counter.
     
    “ Of course.” I rolled my eyes. “Right from the source.”
     
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