Love Charm for Carlotta (A Short Story in the Love Charm Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

barely carrying through the silent night.
    For a long moment, she couldn't speak. But she refused to be
cowed any more by her painful memories. She would conquer them, and move on
with her life. This episode had been a bad mistake, worse even than she'd
imagined. Having sex with Jace had bathed her in the emotional memories of
their shared past, memories she didn't want to revive.
    But at least she could try to salvage her pride, even if
that was all she had left.
    "Let's not dredge up the past, Jace." Her voice
was strong enough to strengthen her resolve. "We both need to live in the
present."
    He peered into her face. "What about the future,
Carlotta?"
    "The future will sort itself out." She met his
gaze. "Right now, you need to go."
    He held her gaze for a long moment, then turned and picked
up his helmet and put it on. He swung his legs over his bike and then looked at
her as he sat there, his hands on the handlebars, his feet resting on the
driveway.
    "You need some time to absorb what's happened
today," he said. "And I have some things to take care of."
    He leaned forward. "But we're not done yet,
Carlotta."
    He started up the bike, turned it in her driveway, and sped
off.
    Carlotta closed her eyes, fighting the burning tears that
wanted to flow. She was done crying over that man.
    But one fear refused to be ignored.
    The love charm.
    What if it had worked, and bound her to Jace?
    Would she be forced to spend the rest of her life mourning him?

Chapter 6
    Carlotta woke up the next day with one fact beating in her
brain.
    She had to figure out a way to reverse the love charm before
she saw Jace again. Of course, she'd sent him away, and he was probably gone
for good. But she had to be prepared, just in case he reappeared at some point.
She'd been through this whole scenario already. Same guy. Same heartache. But – she would manage to achieve a
different outcome this time. It was time for her to be proactive with her life.
     She took advantage of a lull in the morning routine at
her little bakery in Vineyard Haven to call Ashley. The Blue Cupcake was in
good hands with her baker, Edith, crafting sweet pastries in the kitchen, and
Barbara handling the customers in the cafe.
    After five or six rings, Ashley finally picked up.
    "Hey, Carlotta," she said, "I hope you're
calling to tell me about your new love."
    Carlotta groaned. "No, and why must you sound so
happy?"
    Ashley giggled. "Morning romp with
Army guy. He just left for work."
    "Ouch." Carlotta sighed. "But I'm happy for
you."
    "So what's up with you? You sound down. Has anything
happened with the love charm?"
    "It misfired."
    Ashley laughed. "It's not a gun, you know."
    "It's a lethal weapon, I'll tell you that."
    "You have to give it time, Carlotta. Someone will come
along when you least expect it."
    "No. You don't understand. A man has appeared in my
life, and I could fall in love with him . But he could never
fall in love with me ."
    "How do you know that?" Ashley sucked in a quick
breath. "Wait, is he married?"
    "No."
    "So what is the problem?" Ashley had her
schoolteacher voice on now. Calm, controlled, the adult who
could fix anything. "What's his name?"
    "Jace Burton." Carlotta knew instantly she
shouldn't have answered that question. But the impulse was irresistible. She
wanted to say his name, to talk about him, to see him—everything. Oh, she was
in big trouble. She had to reverse the spell.
    "The hockey player?" Ashley whistled. "You know him?"
    "Yeah," Carlotta said with a lady-like snort. "The louse. We grew up here on the Vineyard
together."
    Ashley was silent for a moment. "You don't sound too
happy about that."
    "Let's just say he was a love ' em and leave ' em type of guy and I'm not that type of
woman."
    "How did he get back in your life?"
    "He just showed up yesterday at my house."
    Ashley laughed. "That sounds harmless enough. What
makes you think his appearance has anything to do with the love charm?"
    "The way my heart is acting."
    "Uh, oh.