Free The COMPLETE Witching Pen Series, Boxed Set by Dianna Hardy

bonuses that would help him realise his passion. A year later, having scrupulously saved, and gleaned all the knowledge he could, an antiques shop in South Kensington practically fell into his lap. The owners had gone bankrupt, and the shop was all but being given away, complete with stock. With the economy taking a downward turn, and the antiques industry growing too competitive in the current climate, no one would touch it with a barge pole. Karl bought the business for £1 and invested the money he'd saved into pulling it out of debt. He turned the entire shop around by giving it a niche: the British monarchy. Coins, stamps, postcards, letterheads, Tudor furniture … if it had anything to do with British royalty, he housed it. A new store name, a re-designed interior, and a busy internet presence complete with an active blog, had tourists flocking to Royal Treasures to buy something unique. Five years on, Karl had just started to make a handsome profit.  
    And it was Karl who had told Elena last year about the gift shop across the road that had just closed down. Bored of her mundane office job reviewing articles for a prestigious and stuffy magazine publication – not where she thought she'd end up after her Psychology degree – she was ready for the challenge of something new. She bought the shop, set it up with Karl's help, and never looked back.  
    God , she thought, still grinning from ear to ear, we really are like an old married couple!  
    The bell above the door tinkled, and her assistant manager walked in.
    “Hey, Elena.”  
    “Hi, Mary.”  
    Mary stopped in her tracks and eyed her suspiciously. “Something's different about you … did you cut your hair?”
    “No … wait – it's not blue is it?” She hurriedly ran her fingers through it.  
    “Nope – still that gorgeous, rich brown it always was … blue?”  
    “Nevermind.”  
    Mary made her way to the staff room at the back, her voice echoing through the corridor. “So, what gives?”
    “I don't know what you mean.”  
    “Liar.”  
    “Erm … less of that, thank you – I am still your boss.”  
    “And if you were anyone else, I would not be saying such things, but you're the best, nicest boss I've ever had, and I know something's up.” Mary's head poked around the door, flashing a cheeky grin. “Did you get some last night?”  
    “What?! Mary!”  
    “You did, didn't you! I can tell – you look all glowy.”  
    “Glowy?” She looked down at herself to make sure she wasn't actually glowing.  
    “Yes, you're positively beaming, and it's about fucking time you had a boyfriend.”  
    Elena rolled her eyes, but her smile widened.
    “Who is it?” asked Mary, refreshed and bouncing around the corner, her own blue-black hair bobbing up and down with every step. “Do I know him?”  
    Before she could stop herself, Elena's eyes flitted over to the shop across the road. The reaction did not go unnoticed.
    “Oh, my God! Karl – it's Karl!”  
    “Mary, sshhh...”  
    “It is, isn't it?”  
    “Well … yes...”  
    Mary squealed like a four year old and wrapped her arms around Elena. “It's about fucking time!”
    “You already said that, and stop swearing – people might hear you.”  
    “You two are so perfect for each other; I can't believe it's taken this long for you to finally get together – he's been in love with you since, like, forever .”  
    “I know, I know, but you don't need to make a big deal out of it, okay?”  
    “Hey, you're the one with an invisible coat hanger in your mouth.”  
    “Mary!”  
    “All right! I'll stop...”  
     But Elena found herself embraced in another bear hug.  
    Mary pulled back just enough to look at her with those piercing blue eyes that always seemed like they held a millennium of knowledge.
    “Elena, I mean it, I'm so happy for you two. I mean, I don't know guys your age that are like you  – you both act like you're an old couple most of the