Charm Me

By Tena Stetler

Summer Dawn Riley’s an extraordinary elemental witch whose troubled past haunts her. She’s created a calm life for herself teaching yoga and keeping people at a distance. Her life takes a one eighty degree turn when she enrolls in a woman’s weapon’s class and meets ruggedly handsome Devlin Sawyer. Devlin, a former Navy Seal, has sworn off women after two long-term failed relationships, but there is no denying his attraction to Summer. She intrigues him like no other woman ever has. Despite her attempts to ignore him, Summer is drawn to Devlin. His magic signature is strong, but he’s no warlock. Will Valentine’s Day magic find them a future together?

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
• Release date: Jan 6, 2016
• ISBN: 9781509204670

Tena Stetler

Tena Stetler is a best selling author of paranormal romance. She has an over-active imagination, which led to writing her first vampire romance as a tween to the chagrin of her mother and delight of her friends. After many years as a paralegal, then an IT Manager, she decided to live out her dream of pursuing a publishing career. With the Rocky Mountains outside her window, she sits at her computer surrounded by a wide array of witches, shapeshifters, demons, faeries, and gryphons, with a Navy SEAL or two mixed in telling their tales. Her books tell stories of magical kick-ass women and mystical alpha males that dare to love them. Well, okay there are a few companion animals to round out the tales. Colorado is home; shared with her husband of many moons, a brilliant Chow Chow, a spoiled parrot and a forty-five-year-old box turtle. When she’s not writing, her time is spent kayaking, camping, hiking, biking or just relaxing in the great Colorado outdoors. During the winter you can find her curled up in front of a crackling fire with a good book, a mug of hot chocolate and a big bowl of popcorn.

Book preview

Inc.

Getting to her feet, she brushed the dust from her black yoga pants, tugged at the bottom of her bright orange tunic, and flipped the light switch on. A soft glow of florescent lighting flooded the large room, soothing Summer’s nerves. Guess she would never be the same carefree individual she was before the incident. Oh, shake it off. You’re safe and it’s time to get on with life. Come on Pip, let’s get this place open.

A massive stone fireplace towered in the corner. She picked up an arm full of wood and flung it in the general direction. Logs landed in the fire pit and neatly arranged themselves in a tepee shape. With a magic flick of her finger toward the hearth, flames raced up the aspen logs. That’s better.

She raised her arms, about to send the yoga mats back to their proper place when the heavy wooden front door creaked open. Piper rushed toward the door, teeth bared and a growl rumbled in her throat.

Summer whirled around and yelped as Devlin ambled into the room, black hair tousled and glistening with melting snowflakes. His nonchalance at the dog’s approach surprised her as he slowed to a stop. Piper sniffed around him, backed up a few inches, then stood at alert in front of Devlin.

You scared the bejeebers out of me. Summer held her hand to her chest as her heart thundered. What are you doing here?

Call your guard dog off and I’ll tell you. The corners of Devlin’s mouth curved up into a smile, a faint light twinkled in the depths of his dark eyes.

Piper, leave it…come. The dog gave Devlin a last sideways glance, trotted back to Summer, and sat at her side.

Charm Me

by

Tena Stetler

A Candy Hearts Romance

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

Charm Me

COPYRIGHT © 2016 by Tena Stetler

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press, Inc. except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Contact Information: [e-mail]

Cover Art by RJ Morris

The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

PO Box 708

Adams Basin, NY 14410-0708

Visit us at www.thewildrosepress.com

Publishing History

First Black Rose Edition, 2016

Digital ISBN 978-1-5092-0467-0

A Candy Hearts Romance

Published in the United States of America

Dedication

To my wonderful husband,

who always makes Valentine’s Day special.

~*~

Thanks to my family and friends

for their encouragement and support.

Chapter One

A Chance Meeting

Summer tugged open the heavy glass door to the gun club and walked inside. She’d never held a weapon, let alone shot one. If she had, things might be different. The inside of the club didn’t look at all like she’d imagined. Locked glass cases arranged in a U shape displayed a wide variety of handguns. Rifles and shotguns lined the back wall with targets for sale displayed on the sidewall. In the middle of it stood an outrageously handsome man. Well over six feet tall and smiling at her.

Good afternoon. May I help you?

His deep rich voice flowed over her like thick warm honey. She stared up at him, her mouth agape. His square jaw, high cheekbones, and bronze skin got her attention in so many ways. The dark blue t-shirt with Moon Ridge Gun Club emblazoned across the left front pocket clung to his well-defined muscles. Her gaze wandered further down and she sucked in a breath.

Are you looking for something special, or just browsing?

His seductive voice penetrated her consciousness. She blinked and closed her mouth as warm patches bloomed on her cheeks. So many ways to answer that question, none of them appropriate, so she kept the snark to herself. I…uh…saw an ad in this morning’s newspaper for a woman’s gun class.

Do you have your own weapon or do you want to try out some of ours? His full lips curved in a friendly smile that reached into his deep chocolate brown eyes. Have you handled or shot a gun before?

Uh…no…weapon—but I need to learn.

Okay, the introductory class is a great place to start. He reached below the counter, pulled out an application, and slid it across the glass. If you want to fill this out, we can get you signed up for the class next Wednesday evening. Will that work for you?

I think so. Summer frowned and chewed her bottom lip. With Jasmine gone, she could set her own hours, unless she had to cover a class for one of the girls.

Jasmine was the previous owner of Earthbound Yoga. A month ago, she’d sold the business for five-hundred cash to Summer, who managed the studio. Jasmine tried to give it to her, but she wouldn’t hear of it. She’d also taken over the loan on the historic building, that was a couple months in arrears.

Jasmine couldn’t cope with her husband’s cheating and final departure. She wanted a fresh start as far away from Colorado Springs as possible. Summer’s situation wasn’t exactly conducive to business ownership, but neither was searching for a new job.

A phone rings on the desk behind the man waiting on her. Excuse me. I have to get that. He laid a pen on top of the application and his eyes met hers. Short staffed today.

No problem. After he turned and picked up the receiver, she shook her head as if to encourage her brain to react properly. What was wrong with her? He wasn’t the first gorgeous hunk she’d seen, though it had been awhile.