Page 1 of Mochas and Minotaurs

Chapter 1

Griselda

“For the last time,I’m not interested. Now get out before I throw you out.”

I telekinetically lifted the chair next to the unwelcomed real estate agent to show her that I did indeed have magic, and she backed away.

I didn’t usually flaunt my magic—preferring to keep my abilities hidden—but Kyla and the people she worked for had already scared away all my customers, and I’d had enough.

“You can’t do that,” she sputtered.

“Try me. This is private property, and I told you to leave. You’re not leaving, and that’s trespassing. Now get out!”

I released the chair and picked her up instead. I hid the strain such a feat was having on my magic reserves, hoping she didn’t call my bluff.

Her eyes went wide, and she shrieked, her arms flailing. “I’m leaving, I’m leaving!”

“Good.” I let her down.

She huffed indignantly and smoothed her hand down her skirt. “I should sue you for that.”

“Go ahead and try.” I flipped the bitch both birds and waved them in the air. I was done being nice yesterday.

Next to me, Nick, my employee, waved his phone in the air. “I have it all on video. She was using reasonable force. And Gigi asked you to leave nicely multiple times. I also have you threatening to make life difficult if she didn’t sign your papers. That doesn’t sound very legal to me.”

“No,” I agreed. “I wonder who would win in court. I doubt Arcane Development will stand up to bat for you.”

We’d been dealing with Kyla for long enough that I’d gone and done my homework. She represented Arcane Development Company, a land development company known for churning out cookie-cutter condos. They’d throw their real estate agent under the bus in a heartbeat. Kyla must know that. But she seemed the type who’d do anything if the pay was good enough, so I’d installed cameras last week to bolster my magical wards.

Realizing that she wasn’t getting anywhere with me, she turned and stomped out of my coffee shop, muttering, “Crazy witch,” not so subtly under her breath.

The chilly winter air blew in as she opened the door and I magically forced the door closed with a resounding bang, locking it behind her. “And stay out, Fuckface!”

Nick gawked at me. “Wow, Gigi! You’re scary when mad. I can’t believe you actually lifted her off the ground.”

“Me neither,” I said. Lifting a whole-ass person was hard work, with or without magic. I was a decent witch despite the sign on the coffee shop wall stating otherwise, but I wasn’t super strong either.

“Well, the attitude fits the new hair,” Nick said.

I’d gone from my signature red hair to raven black a few days ago, a color I hadn’t had since I was much younger. “Is that your thinly veiled way of calling me a bitch?”

Nick laughed. “I’d never dream of it! If I wanted to call you a bitch, I’d say it to your face, bitch.”

I grinned. I loved the easy camaraderie I had with my employees. It was how I liked it.

But my niceness didn’t extend to condo developers trying to buy my place from under me, especially when they’d offered such an insultingly low price. This wasn’t just my place of business; I lived right above the coffee shop as well. I loved my home. It wasn’t very big, but it was mine.

It had all started with that impromptu magical fight that had broken out in my parking lot. The story had been plastered on the front page of every Darlington news site.

The incident had started because my friend Penny drunkenly cast a love spell to find the perfect man. However, instead of the perfect man, the spell had sent every possible suitor at her, including an incubus and even a troll from another dimension.

The incubus had ended up being her mate, and they were now living happily together. So for what it was worth, the spell had done its job. It had also gotten my little coffee shop a hell of a lot of attention since all of her unsuitable suitors had rallied in front of it, eager to fight for her hand.

The suitors were gone, but that was when the real estate agents and land brokers sent by Arcane Development started coming around, who thought our little row of shops and homes would make excellent high-rise condos. It had gotten even worse when the young witch next door who owned Ever After Books found the love of her life and moved in with him. At the same time, the elderly couple who owned the antique shop next to her retired and bought a place with fewer stairs.

That had put two out of the three units up for grabs. But because Kyla had come on so strong and snooty, offending everyone here, both former neighbors had gotten together and agreed to sell to anyonebutArcane Development.

“I kind of feel bad for the guy who bought the units next door,” Nick said. “I saw him trying to move his gym equipment in after lunch, and Kyla was harassing him.”

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