“That won’t be a problem,” Hope said with finality as if it were already a done deal.
But Grace knew better. Kevin Landers wasn’t exactly her biggest fan after she’d helped her husband out negotiate him and his clients for years. “I doubt it will be easy to convince him,” she said. “But I’ll get there. Because if there’s one thing I know how to do, it’s selling houses.”
“Here, here!” her friends chanted, producing their wine glasses and raising them in the air. “To Grace and her new job at Landers Realty.”
Grace clinked her glass to theirs, glanced at her shimmering shoes, and then downed her wine. The world seemed to slow for just a moment before suddenly, a sense of calm washed over her and she knew deep in her bones that everything was going to turn out exactly how it should.
Chapter Two
Grace slipped out of her front door and walked the half mile to the short path that led to the bluff overlooking the ocean. The wind was calm for once, and the sun was just peeking over the horizon, turning the sky a mix of pale orange and purple. She wrapped her sweater tighter around her body and quickened her pace.
Once she exited the high grass of the pathway, she noted the remnants of their coven meeting off to the left. Damn. She must’ve had more wine than she’d thought since she never left debris behind. That was sacrilege. But she ignored the litter for the moment and stepped right up to the edge of the cliff.
It was at that spot, at the edge of the Pacific Ocean with the waves crashing on the rocks below, that she felt most at peace. It was where she often went to center herself at the start of the day ahead. And today was important. She needed to be ready for her job interview. If she didn’t land the position at Landers Realty, she was going to either need to start an agency herself—which was more risk than she was willing to take—or commute inland to the valley an hour each way to work every day. She had a friend who’d already offered her a position if she didn’t get hired in Premonition Pointe.
“Please, Eos, goddess of the dawn,” Grace whispered into the morning air, “send me your strength and your blessings for these new beginnings.”
A slight breeze kicked up, ruffling her long locks and forcing gooseflesh to appear on her arms.
Grace smiled. “You heard me.”
The wind stilled and the morning took on a slightly eerie silence, despite the waves still churning below. The first time she’d experienced the phenomenon, she’d been a little freaked out. The sound of the waves shouldn’t just disappear. They were still battering the rocks. But she’d learned this magical time happened every morning. It was what calmed her, helped her focus, and fueled her for her day ahead.
Grace raised her arms out to the sides, took in a deep breath, tasting the sea salt on her tongue, and felt all the tension drain from her body. This was her happy place. The small beachside town in Northern California, populated with a high density of witches like her, had become her home over twenty years ago. It was where she wanted to live and work for the rest of her life. And she’d be damned if she’d let Bill ruin it for her.
He’s waiting for you.
The words seemed to float in from the sea, barely a whisper.
“What?” Grace asked the universe as she frowned. “Who’s waiting for me?”
New possibilities await you. Open your heart and your mind. He’s waiting.
Grace sucked in a sharp breath. The words had been stronger that time, making her squint out at the ocean as if she might see whoever it was that had spoken. That was absurd. Of course she wouldn’t see anyone.
The words weren’t from Eos or any other goddess. They were from the magical energy that churned within the very heart of her adopted town—Premonition Pointe.
She’d heard of the “voice of Premonition Pointe” before. But it was the first time she’d ever heard it speak to her. Miss Francie, the town baker, heard the voice after her husband of forty years passed. And Penelope heard it after her husband ran off with a woman thirty years younger than her four years ago. Of course, not everyone had lost a husband. Some had illnesses to overcome. Others were just at a crossroads in their lives regarding their careers or relationships.
Grace had come to think of the voice as a guiding oracle of sorts. What had it told her? He’s waiting. Open your heart and mind. New possibilities await.
Sure, she thought. New possibilities sounded right up her alley. The only question was who exactly was waiting for her? Kevin Landers? She doubted it. In fact, she was certain he’d be happier if she ditched her appointment with him. But no way. It was too important to her.
Grace was determined to be open to new possibilities… whatever they were.
With her head held high, she turned, walked across the bluff, cleaned up the debris left from the night before, and hurried back to her cottage. She had an interview she needed to crush.
Grace strode into Landers Realty with her head held high and exuding confidence. Selling real estate was practically in her DNA at that point in her life. Doing the job wouldn’t be an issue. She just had to convince Kevin that he needed her.
“Good morning,” a waif of a woman, who couldn’t have been older than twenty-one, said pleasantly. “How can we help you with your real estate needs?”
Real estate needs? Grace almost smirked at the overly formal greeting but kept herself in check. She needed this job, and she wasn’t going to score any points by suggesting a more personal welcome. Peering briefly at the nameplate on the desk, Grace said, “Hi, Nina. I’m here to meet with Mr. Landers. Can you tell him Grace Valentine is here?”
“Oh, right. Grace,” the dark-haired woman said, her pleasant facade shifting quickly to something close to contempt as she stood on her slim six-inch heels. “I’ll see if Mr. Landers is free.”
“Thank you,” Grace said, giving Nina a wide smile. She was going to kill them all with kindness even if it did make her want to vomit. Moving over to the window, Grace stared at her reflection. She’d pulled her hair up into an elegant bun in an effort to hide her silver roots, but that had been wishful thinking. Nothing short of a scarf was going to hide her neglected dye job. Otherwise, she thought she cleaned up relatively nicely. Smiling to herself, she took in her black ankle-length trousers and the romantic blue blouse that matched the fabulous shoes her friends had given her the night before, and decided her outfit and shoes made her look better than she had in weeks.
When footsteps sounded behind her, she turned, feeling as if she could take on the world.
“Grace Valentine,” a vaguely familiar and incredibly handsome man said, giving her a warm smile as he held his hand out. “It’s nice to see you again.”
Grace felt a flutter in her gut as she took his hand automatically. The man had to be at least ten years younger than her, but there was no denying he was the most beautiful specimen she’d ever seen in real life. It was a miracle she wasn’t drooling. “I’m sorry. I’m having trouble placing you. Where have we met before?”
He chuckled. “I was the agent for the buyer on the Friendly Drive property that has that devastating view of the ocean.”
“Right.” She’d shown that property just a few hours before Bill had dropped the bomb on her that their marriage was over. The beautiful man shaking her hand had been representing buyers from a town inland, and she was pretty sure that’s where he was based, too. “Owen, was it?”