Page 5 of Hex Appeal

His eyes move to the candle again. “What about the jars?”

“Heat-resistant glass made for candles.”

“And the wicks?”

“Lead-free cotton.”

That earns me another thoughtful nod.

I cross my arms. “You ask a lot of questions for someone who’s just looking.”

The corner of his mouth twitches. “What can I say? I’m curious.”

“So am I.”

“About?”

I step closer. “What you need from a candle.”

His eyebrows rise.

“Everyone who walks through that door wants something. Confidence. Focus. A little more courage. A little less stress.” I gesture toward the candle in his hand. “So what are you hoping for?”

For a moment, he just looks at me.

Then he sets the candle carefully back on the shelf. “Answers.”

My smile falters.

He reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a leather wallet. When he flips it open, I’m not looking at a credit card.

I’m looking at a badge.

His entire demeanor changes. “I’m Fire Chief Welles Hawthorne. And I’m trying to figure out why your candles keep starting fires in my town.”

TWO

WELLES

I stop at the bottom of the steps and look up at the Victorian on Main Street.

I know the house. I know its owner, too.

Or former owner, I guess.

I’ve known Serena and Valerie’s grandmother for years, but I’ve only been inside the house once since her granddaughters took over. That was a couple months ago, when the place was still crawling with contractors and I came through for a safety inspection.

I never met either of the women. Just the contractors.

And it sure as hell didn’t look like this.

The bell above the door chimes when I step inside. For a second, I just stand there. The transformation is… impressive.

They kept most of the original layout, but opened it up enough that the first floor feels bright and airy. The foyer still has the winding staircase leading upstairs, with a long counter tucked beside it. Behind the counter, a row of pale cupboards stretches along the wall, all of them closed.

The whole place has a clean, modern look. Light wood. Soft colors. Simple lines.

The walls separating the foyer from the old dining room and parlor are still there, but the doorways between them have been widened. A few seating areas are scattered throughout the rooms with chairs and little tables.