Page 66 of A Witch in Notting Hill

Participate in a Full Moon Ceremony. Stay awake until the following sundown for maximum effect.

Commune with those who have passed on. They know more than any of us who remain in our mortal forms on Earth.

Convince a skeptic of the existence of magic. Use the experience to fortify your powers to effectively produce the Reversal.

Chapter 24

Oliver

First thing in the morning, I was alone in the back of the shop, shelving new stock and rearranging a table display for October. Halloween was right around the corner, which meant business was about to pick up, and I had to decorate accordingly. Tourists loved Halloween. And tourists loved spending money. It was a win-win.

Minus how painful it was to decorate the damn place every year and deal with the customers dressed as the witches fromHocus Pocusasking me to take their photo in front of the window displays.

I was stacking every book I could find with a purple or orange spine in a haphazard pile on an end table surrounded by votive candles and miniature pumpkins when Willow knocked on the front door, rattling the “Closed” sign and demanding my attention.

“Good morning,” I said, opening the door and motioning for her to come inside.

“I hope this is okay. You said I could come in early and I—”

“I meant it,” I assured her. “And it’s more than okay. On one condition.” She widened her eyes, and I tried not to count the shades of brown and gold. “You help me with these bloody Halloween decorations.”

A laugh escaped her in a rush of breath. “You made me nervous,” she said.

“You always make me nervous,” I countered, relishing the way surprise looked on her features. Her mouth a delicate O, her light eyebrows high on her forehead. If I regretted letting that bit of truth slip out, that expression was all I needed to change my mind.

“Lucky for you, I’m a pro at Halloween decorations.”

“All the Americans are.”

“Or I can just head back to my flat, and—” She hooked her thumb over her shoulder and took a step toward the door. I grabbed her hand, pulling her back toward me.

“I’m kidding,” I said. “I would love your help, Willow. I like you in my shop.”

She was almost right up against me, and I was certain she’d take a step back. Only she didn’t. So I didn’t, either. And we stood in the doorway of the shop at the crack of dawn, chest to chest, waiting for the other to make a move.

“Good,” she said breathily. “I like being in your shop.”

“I’m glad you took me up on my offer.”

“Needed to get out of the flat,” she said.

“Ah, so it wasn’t about me at all?” I teased, though I was desperate to know the answer. Because, selfishly, when I offered the shop as a safe haven, it was only partially about giving Willow a place to hide. The other part was about getting to have her here, all to myself.

“So what if it was?” she said, surprising us both and lifting her chin to meet my eyes. I’d expected banter. Expected some witty comeback. Not... the truth.

“I don’t believe in witchcraft, but I’d say you’re a mind reader,” I said. The hitch in her breathing was too much for this hour. I wasn’t sure if it was because of the light dig or because of my confession, but it sent me reeling. A single sharp inhale and I was already a goner. “Come in,” I said, leading her out of the doorway and farther into the shop before I made a fool of myself.

She followed me through the stacks into the back room where we first met over an exploded lightbulb. It had only been a few months ago, but it seemed like we’d done more in those few months than I’d done in the past year.