Page 4 of Hex Appeal

She laughs as she heads for the door.

Pam is next.

I tuck her confidence candle into a bag and hand it over. “Tell your daughter to light it while she’s getting ready. She should think about three things she wants them to remember about her after she leaves the interview.”

Pam nods seriously.

“And tell her to say them out loud.”

“Anything else?”

“Shoulders back. Deep breaths. Maybe a little pep talk in the mirror. And she needs to read the burning instructions on the bottom of the jar.”

“You really know how to ruin a good spell.”

“Fire safety is very serious. And magical.”

A sound—like a snort—comes from somewhere behind her.

I glance toward the handsome stranger, but his attention appears to be focused on another label.

Finally, Jessie steps up with her candle. I take her hands across the counter.

“Okay. What do you want tonight?”

“To kiss a hot search and rescue guy?”

I laugh. “Besides that.”

She thinks about it. “To have fun.”

“There you go. Don’t waste time deciding whether he’s your future husband before appetizers arrive. Tonight, you’re going to feel beautiful, be completely yourself, and have fun getting to know someone new.”

“And if he hates me?”

“Who cares? More importantly, you need to decide whether or not you like him.”

Jessie snorts.

“And if it doesn’t work out, that doesn’t mean tonight was a failure. You’ll know a little more about what you want, what you don’t, and you’ll be one date closer to finding the one who’s right for you.”

“I like that.”

“Good. Now go be irresistible.”

She hugs me too before taking her bag and heading for the door. The bell jingles.

And suddenly, I’m alone with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Apparently Single.

He’s holding another candle. “What kind of wax do you use?”

The question catches me off guard.

“A pure soy wax.”

He nods toward the jar. “And the fragrance?”

“I create the scents myself from candle-safe fragrance oils. I buy from suppliers who provide the safety documentation, and I test every formula before I sell it.”