Salem's Embrace

By Sherrie Lea Morgan

When magic and destiny collide, the result is perfectly wicked...

When her spark of magic failed to ignite, Meghan Nightshade fled Salem, Massachusetts in humiliation. After ten years following a solitary path, a deep sense of foreboding sends her racing home, where she can’t decide if the tall, dark, and protective man hovering at her grandmother’s side is blessing or curse.

Eathan Callaghan makes her body burn with need. Even his scent—of earth and freshly-cut wood—is a call stronger than a newly budding plant.

Eathan’s built a comfortable niche in Salem, and no one will bother its highly insular witch community, not on his watch. But when he investigates who’s lurking inside Earth’s Embrace herbal shop, he doesn’t expect to find a woman with moonlight dancing on her flawless skin and sparkling in her midnight hair. Or that she’d try to scrape him off like an old layer of paint.

The heat between them threatens to melt Meghan’s resolve to once again put Salem in her rear-view mirror. But when tragedy strikes and a young fledgling witch’s life is at stake, Meghan must decide if it’s time to confront the past—and show everyone who doubted her just how powerful she has become.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sherrie Lea Morgan
• Release date: Apr 4, 2017
• ISBN: 9780998119649

Sherrie Lea Morgan

Sherrie Lea Morgan is an active member of Romance Writers of America, her local chapter Georgia Romance Writers, Paranormal Romance Guild. She lives north of Atlanta, GA with her twin sister, two dogs and two cats. When not working her current manuscripts, she enjoys spending time with her family. Visit her at: www.sherrieleamorgan.com; www.facebook.com/sherrielea ; Sherrie Lea Morgan (@slmorganwrit) | Twitter

Book preview

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Salem’s Embrace

Sherrie Lea Morgan

Village Publishing

ACWORTH, GEORGIA

All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Sherrie Lea Morgan/Village Publishing

PO Box 2519

Acworth, Georgia/USA 30102

www.sherrieleamorgan.com

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

Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Book Layout © 2017 BookDesignTemplates.com

Salem’s Embrace/Sherrie Lea Morgan. – 2nd ed.

ISBN 9781949255616-1

I’d like to dedicate this book to two people without whom this work would not have seen the light of day. Debbie, thank you so very much for being my friend and cheerleader. Karen, you are the best beta reader ever.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Epilogue

a ring of truth

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chapter One

The hissing and sparks of the charcoal disc echoed against the walls of Meghan’s business office. The floor-to-ceiling tinted glass windows of her large corner office kept the sun from glaring in. Meghan took a pinch of the new herb mix from the glass container sitting atop her pristine cherry oak desktop and lifted it to her nose. She sniffed and then quirked an eyebrow at her assistant, Trent Dunn.

Oak moss, sage…and rose? she asked.

Trent grinned, his white teeth contrasting sharply against his chocolate-colored skin. You got it, boss. He scooted his leather-bound seat closer and leaned forward.

Why do I get the feeling you’re still waiting for something? Meghan said while she dropped the flakes onto the grey charcoal. The smoke spiraled and wavered in the air. She leaned forward and smelled the aroma. Her eyes widened. Wait…you’ve added allspice to it as well?

Yes, he responded and pointed a well-manicured finger at her. That’s it.

How did you get it to delay? I didn’t catch it from the raw, she said.

Good point, and one that the ever-mysterious Ms. Green in the lab will not tell me…yet. I’ll get her to talk. He rubbed his hands together.

Meghan chuckled and leaned back in her executive desk chair. Spinning around, she stared out the large plate glass window at the surrounding skyline of the business center. She sighed. I used to be like that. She turned back to Trent. Tall, dark, handsome…and taken.

Good. Let me know what you find out. Let’s package and market it.

Already in the process of being done, boss. Trent stood and adjusted his tie. I knew you’d like it. Can’t work with you this long without knowing that much.

I see. And I suppose you’ll be asking for a raise or something next? Meghan teased.

Well, see…Henry and I have a dream vacation planned…. His words faded, and he stared at her. What’s wrong? You suddenly went very pale.

I’m not sure, Meghan responded, rubbing the back of her neck. I’ve had this itch for two days, and it’s now burning. I talked to Memere, and she sounded fine, so it can’t be her. But it’s someone. She dropped her hand. Is Henry okay?

Yes, he’s wonderful. And I mean wonderful with capital letters. Trent grinned.

Meghan laughed and rolled her eyes. I agree with you there. I’ve seen him. How you got so lucky is beyond me. She shook her head. I’ll figure it out eventually.

It’s magic, he whispered, then broke into a laugh that resonated through her.

Magic…if he only knew. Darn itch.

Did you want me to call anyone for you? Trent offered.

No. She shook her head. I’ll figure it out eventually.

I’ll catch you later, then. Trent rose, grabbed the herb dish, and left.

Her door clicked, and she checked her email on the large monitor to her right. Something was wrong. Today was September 24th…one more week until October…nineteen days until her birthday. No, that wasn’t it. Plane reservations made, suitcases packed, and last-minute items needed to finish before leaving, but nothing significant. And yet, the itch became a scratch. A tiny burn scraped down her spine, and she shuddered. That was it. Time to figure out what was going on.

Meghan shot off a quick email, powered off her computer, stood, and shouldered her business bag. She punched in Trent’s number and spoke while she headed toward the elevator.

I’m scooting out early and getting an earlier flight. The place is in your hands. I sent the memo before I logged out.

Safe trip, Meghan. I hope everything is okay. Don’t worry about us here. I’ve got this, he assured her.

I know. She wasn’t assured in any way.

***

Back in her apartment, Meghan placed her suitcases by the front door, picked up the cat carrier, and went searching. The stiffness returned to her muscles, and she almost tripped over the hall rug.

Shay-shay, she called out. Come on, we need to go, or we’ll miss our flight. We’re going first-class. She checked the bedroom, bathroom, and her study. Shay-shay, let’s go, you big, hairy fur ball. Why do I bother trying? Threats did not work on her cat. Shay-shay. Come on, not now.

A meow came from the kitchen. Meghan rushed to find the rather round grey cat perched on the counter cleaning her claws.

Oh, like we have time for that? Here, she said and set the carrier on the counter. She jiggled the mesh bag, so the treats inside clattered around. At the sound, the cat stepped into the carrier. Take your time, sweetie. Darn thing. Quickly, she zipped it