The librarians curse, p.1
The Librarian's Curse, page 1
Librarian’s Curse
Little Creek Romance Mystery
Book 1
P.L. Harris
Daisy Lane Publishing
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organisations is entirely coincidental.
Published by Daisy Lane Publishing
Copyright © 2021 P.L. Harris
ISBN: (sc) 9780648771869
ISBN: (e) 9780648819349
Edited by Amanda Schubert
Cover by Victoria Cooper
(www.thebookcoverdesigner.com)
All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form by any electronic, mechanical, or any other device now known or invented hereafter without permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
These forms include, but are not limited to xerography, photocopy, scanning, recording, distributing via internet means, informational storage and retrieval system.
Because of the dynamic nature of the internet, any web address or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid.
Dedication
For Carolyn.
Thank you for the constant friendship, support, and encouragement you have always given me.
Also by P.L. Harris
Contemporary Romance
Callie’s Dilemma
Second Chance at Love
Chasing Love – Paw Prints of Love Anthology
Christmas Fever
Mask of Desire
Juliet’s Kiss
Romantic Suspense
In His Protection – Book 1 Burrum Ridge Series
Hidden Secrets – Young Adult Novella
Chapter One
Lily Keegan gripped the steering wheel, turning her knuckles pasty white, her breaths coming hard and fast against the pressure squeezing her chest. “I am not cursed. I am not cursed. I am not cursed,” she muttered, squinting her blurry eyes as the high-beam headlights from the oncoming car blinded her. The car behind her was just as bad, its lights reflecting off her rear-view mirror as it loomed closer, gaining on her quickly. Her gut clenched, and her heart plummeted.
What am I? The meat in the middle of a car sandwich?
She struggled to keep the wheels in a straight line, battling against the growing layer of rainwater coating the bitumen. The evening storm hadn’t made it any easier to navigate the mounting potholes. It was only a matter of seconds until one car rammed her head on and the other from behind, squashing her little Fiat flat in the middle like a lemon-yellow pancake.
“What the hell? I’m too young to die. No silly fake curse is going to end my life before I’m ready.” Lily slammed on the brakes and made a sharp left, her wheels sending loose gravel spraying across the road and into the line of the oncoming car. It indicated just how close she’d come to irrevocably changing the course of her life forever. The high-pitched tyre screeches faded away as she floored the accelerator, ignoring the speed limit.
The car fishtailed down the road and Lily kept her foot stuck to the floor, thinking of nothing else but keeping her life intact and her heart beating. She sucked mouthfuls of air into her starved lungs and a rush of adrenaline spiked in her veins. Her gaze shot to the rear-view mirror, hoping against hope…Black. No sign of cars, no sign of headlights. She grit her teeth together as the wheels skidded to a grinding halt outside the old, abandoned Piper house.
“What the hell just happened? It’s not as if you could miss my car - it’s bright yellow, for God’s sake.” Her trembling hand flew to her neck. The cold touch of the antique dragon-shaped necklace sent ice daggers up her arm.
Carmen was right; I should never have tried this on in the first place. Maybe I should have listened to her when she said it was cursed?
They’d just moved the entire Little Creek Town Library into the new purpose-built facility, twelve months in the making. Lily had been ecstatic; she would finally get to sort out the never-ending stack of old boxes from the archives. A dense layer of dust coated each one, hiding unknown secrets. It was anyone’s guess how long they’d been sitting in storage. It was though all her Christmases had come at once. Carmen Winslow, the head librarian, had taken over the job of manning the front desk, so it provided Lily the perfect opportunity to uncover some old treasures.
Her breath had caught in her throat when she’d uncovered the jewelled necklace, hidden inside a twelfth-century novel. Whoever had owned it obviously didn’t want anyone to find it; they’d cut a gigantic hole inside the pages of the book just to keep it a secret.
Carmen’s words replayed in her mind. “Do not touch it and whatever you do, never ever wear it - it’s cursed. I will have someone from the museum come and get it Monday.”
“There’s no such thing as curses,” Lily had said with a smirk.
But now she wasn’t so sure. “How did Carmen know it was cursed anyway?”
The hairs on the back of her neck stood to attention. In the short time since her shift at the library had ended, she’d stumbled down the library stairs...twice. Almost twisted her ankle, broken two fingernails, busted the zipper of her handbag, and snapped the heel of her shoe clean off, too. And now two idiots had tried to make a fiat sandwich with her car, turning her to mince-meat for sure.
Refusing to tempt fate any longer, she closed her cold, shaking hand and ripped the unnerving necklace from her throat, throwing it onto the passenger seat. “Perhaps there’s more to this ‘curse’ nonsense than I first thought?” Lily clenched her fists, her nails biting into her palms. “I guess there’s only one way to find out.” She shook the tension from her hands, then pushed the gearstick into first and took off.
Shortly after, Lily pulled up outside Carmen’s immaculately-kept, Tudor-style home on the outskirts of town. Aged in her late-forties, Carmen had worked in the Little Creek Library for most of her life, as her mother did before her. The town, about sixty kilometres west of Launceston, was nestled among the most beautiful Tasmanian countryside. The moment Lily had stepped inside the library four years ago, her heart had swelled with jubilation and she knew she’d finally found a place to call home.
She’d interviewed for the position of junior librarian, and it couldn’t have been more perfect. Carmen was like the grandmother she’d never met; warm, loving, and full of hugs, with just enough quirkiness to keep life entertaining. Warm fuzzies worked their way into Lily’s belly at the homely memory.
With a begrudging sigh, Lily retrieved the exquisite dragon necklace from the seat. Ironically, the cool metal now burned like hot coals in her hand. Her steely gaze stared at the antique piece, and she spoke to it as if it somehow understood every word uttered from her lips. “There’s a story behind you, and you can bet a million dollars I’m going to get to the bottom of it.”
The blood-red ruby in the dragon’s eye glinted under the stray glow of the streetlight beaming through her car window.
What the…?
Lily held her breath. The necklace appeared to be floating in her hand. Flinching, she shoved it inside her purse. “The car-squashing incident must have rattled me more than I thought.”
Biting at her fingernails, she hurried to Carmen’s front door. Rapping her knuckles on the wattle-embossed wooden panelling, Lily waited. And waited. She shivered against the blanket of cool evening air that settled in her bones. Startled, she flinched as the door flew open and there stood Carmen, doused in pink from head to toe. A smile turned the corner of Lily’s mouth up as she took in Carmen’s granny-looking outfit.
Carmen’s eyebrows squished together. “Lily, what an unexpected surprise. What on earth are you doing out this late on a Friday night?”
“It’s only eight o’clock,” Lily countered. “I’d hardly call this late.”
Carmen tutted, but gestured for her to come inside, waving her arms vigorously as she ushered Lily into her cosy, warm lounge room. “Yes, you’re right. I guess I’m an old fuddy-duddy who likes to be snuggled in her pyjamas by the time the sun falls behind the mountains. At my age, I don’t get out much at night, especially in winter.”
Lily baulked and stared at Carmen. “‘At your age?’ You’re barely old enough to be my grandmother,” she said with a smirk. A scowl crossed Carmen’s face at the age comment and Lily chuckled.
“Please don’t tell me you’re only leaving the library now? At this hour?” Carmen asked, folding her arms across her chest.
I wish I’d left when you did.
Lily’s chest tightened under Carmen’s scrutinising gaze. “I know I promised to leave early tonight, but our friendly feline returned.” A week ago, an unexpected furry visitor had made the book return chute her new home, much to their surprise. She shrugged. “I just couldn’t leave without putting a saucer of milk out for her and making sure she had somewhere warm to sleep. Then I stopped by to pick up some groceries at the corner store on my way home.”
“I don’t know what it is about the new library that has attracted our little friend, but it seems she’s here to stay,” Carmen muttered. She took a seat on the couch and picked up her steaming cup of tea from the coffee table. “How rude of me. Would you like a nice cup of tea to warm you up?”
The scen
Carmen paled and her hand flew to her chest as if she were having a heart attack. “Oh my God. What happened?”
“Why do you think something happened?” Lily asked, her voice rising a pitch or two higher.
Am I that transparent?
Carmen reached up and grabbed Lily’s arm, pulling her down onto the jade-green, Bridgewater sofa next to her. She eyed her intently, drilling her to the spot. “This afternoon, you were so adamant that curses weren’t real, you didn’t want to hear another word about it. So, I dropped the subject. Now, out of the blue, here you are, asking about The Cursed Dragon?”
Lily frowned. “‘The Cursed Dragon?’”
Carmen’s eyes lit up like a child about to receive their first Christmas present. “I knew it looked familiar when I saw it.” She paused, her gaze distant. “When I was in my late teens, I vaguely remember my mother talking about a cursed necklace that was supposedly lost hundreds of years ago, here in Little Creek. The story was in all the papers at the time. Mum said it had belonged to one of the original librarians who ran Little Creek Library. Not long before my father passed away, they were discussing it, and I remember her calling it ‘The Cursed Dragon’.”
Excitement bubbled deep in Lily’s belly. “What else did she say about it?”
Our very own mystery right here in our town. I can see the headlines now: ‘Little Creek’s own Librarian, Lily Keegan, solves centuries-old mystery.’
Carmen shrugged. “I’m not one to gossip, but I do recall her saying most people in town believed the woman who’d owned it was a witch. She’d cursed the necklace, enchanted it so bad things would happen to anyone who wore it.”
A witch? Bad things happened to people who wore it?
Lily swallowed past the knot in her throat, the image of the cars barrelling toward her a vivid memory in her mind. “Why would she do that? Do you believe it’s true…that the necklace is cursed?”
Carmen pursed her wrinkled lips together and took another sip of her steaming tea. Replacing the cup on the saucer, she admitted, “I didn’t back then. I was only young, just a teenager. But…”
Butterflies wrestled inside Lily’s belly as she bit her bottom lip to stop it trembling. “But what?” she asked, moving to sit on the edge of the couch, ready to soak up every word like a sponge.
“I remember Mum mentioning several odd incidents that had happened around town, which made me wonder if there was some truth to the witch story.”
Like falling down the stairs, nearly twisting your ankle, and people almost running you off the road?
Heat flooded Lily’s chest. Why hadn’t she listened to Carmen when she’d told her to put the necklace in the library safe? “'’Incidents’? Like what? Can you remember what they were?”
A spark fired in Carmen’s eyes, and she shot off the couch like a firecracker. “I can do you one better. Wait here - I think I have something upstairs that might help.”
Chapter Two
Brayden Fletcher stood on Carmen’s porch, his fiery blood pumping through his body. Breathing deeply, he drained the last few mouthfuls from his water bottle, droplets of sweat trickling down his moist neck. “Damn, that was a good run.”
He’d arrived on Carmen’s doorstep unexpectedly that afternoon, but, even though he hadn’t seen her in over a year, it was as if time had stood still; they’d picked up exactly where they’d left off.
The last time he’d seen her was back in Perth, at his mother’s funeral, and he’d promised to visit…but the time never seemed right. Until now. He’d taken a break from the fire department. ‘A holiday’, he’d told them. But, after his gigantic screw-up, he was questioning if he would ever return.
Grabbing Carmen’s spare key of out his pocket, Brayden made his way inside. “It’s only me,” he called, closing the door behind him. “Sorry I’m late - my run took longer than expected. I needed to do some thinking.”
He’d hardly taken a step down the hallway when he froze, his gaze glued to a petite woman standing in the lounge room. His chest tightened as she glanced at him with her wide sage-green eyes, holding him in a trance. It was as though he was looking at a younger version of Demi Moore, but just as stunningly beautiful.
“Oh, I’m sorry - I didn’t know Carmen had company.” Her voice sang sweetly as she spoke.
A smile tugged the corner of his lip up. “Don’t apologise,” he replied, moving toward her with his hand outstretched. “I’m Brayden Fletcher. I dumped myself on Aunt Carmen’s doorstep this afternoon without warning.” She took his hand, and a zing of electricity worked its way up his arm. He didn’t know whether it was her touch or the heating in the room that was thawing his tense body.
“Nice to meet you, Brayden,” she said. “I’m Lily Keegan. I work with Carmen at the Little Creek Library.” His eyes lit with understanding.
Ah, so this is the ‘little gem’ Carmen mentioned in her texts.
“‘Aunt Carmen’, did you say?” Lily added, a frown crinkling her forehead.
As he nodded, she folded her arms across her chest, and he chuckled at her scrutinising stare.
She cleared her throat. ‘I think we both know Carmen is not your aunt, seeing as she’s an only child.’
Brayden took a step back and raised his hands in defence. “Guilty as charged. But I can explain.” He grinned at her. “My mum and Carmen met in primary school and were always the best of friends. Carmen kind of became my surrogate aunt, and even after Mum and I moved to Perth, we stayed in touch. She’s the closest thing I have to an actual aunt.” His shoulders lifted in a shrug. “I guess I’m old school. I sometimes forget to call her ‘Carmen’ without the ‘aunt’ bit.’
“Oh, that makes sense.” Lily relaxed, unfolding her arms and lowering them down. “But you said they ‘were’ best friends? What happened?”
Brayden’s breath caught in the back of his throat, and his chest clamped tight. “Yes, they were. My mother passed away late last year.”
Her face softened. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”
The mention of his mother’s passing had slashed his heart all over again. “Thank you.” Opting to move on to a safer topic, he asked, “So, what brings you by?”
***
Oh my God. If he isn’t the sexiest man alive…Broad shoulders, tanned skin, tight abs, and a smile I want to lose myself in...
Lily couldn’t stop her eyes roaming over his taut biceps and firm pecs, barely covered by his workout singlet.
Men that good looking should be kept under lock and key. And he definitely should not be allowed to run free, with hardly any clothes covering his sexy body, in a town primarily occupied by single women.
She forced her gaze to stay focused on his yummy chocolate-brown eyes while her insides played tug-o-war with each other. Dimly registering that he’d asked her a question, she licked her lips and answered, “Um, I was just following up on an old book I found in the library this afternoon.” She wasn’t exactly lying; the necklace had come from inside a book, after all.
“Sounds interesting.” His gaze scanned the room. “So, where is Carmen?”
“Right here.” Carmen’s voice called as she descended the stairs.
Phew. Saved by the bell.
“I see you two have met,” she said, moving to stand between them with a huge grin on her face. “I couldn’t believe it when I opened the door this afternoon to find this young man standing on my doorstep. He’s on a short break from his job as a firefighter.” She patted his arm affectionately. “It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other. Even though he’s only passing through town, I’m glad he was able to stop by on his travels.”
The love shining in Carmen’s eyes filled Lily’s heart with warmth. “If you want to take some time off from the library while Brayden’s in town, I’m sure we can get someone to cover for you?”
