ItвЂ™s like being back in prison, you know?вЂќ Got to ask permission just to go to the bathroom. Now weвЂ™ve got to do mandatory drug testing. вЂњMan, you know the company just got bought out? This new guy comes in and starts changing everything around. вЂњWork?вЂќ It took a moment for Ruiz to switch gears, but when he did, he shook his head. вЂњFirst I have to figure out what caused this.вЂќ Before he could deny anything again, Dru changed tactics. But everything I touch, you know, it goes up in smoke.вЂќ вЂњCan you just, you know, make all these flames stop? It donвЂ™t hurt or anything. Clearly, he wasnвЂ™t going to admit anything. вЂњRest her soul,вЂќ he said quietly, and then cleared his throat. вЂњYou werenвЂ™t flipping through your grandmotherвЂ™s spell books again?вЂќ вЂњ Really.вЂќ Dru looked over the top of her glasses again, but he wouldnвЂ™t meet her gaze. He blew out a breath, puffing his cheeks out, and shrugged both flaming shoulders. вЂњDonвЂ™t worry, Dru! I got this!вЂќДru sighed and turned back to Ruiz. вЂњItвЂ™s magical flames,вЂќ Dru called after her, вЂњA fire extinguisher wonвЂ™tвЂ“вЂќДЄ resounding crash echoed from the back room, followed by the sound of something metallic rolling across the floor. вЂњOh, my word!вЂќ Opal hustled away with a clatter of heels. Ruiz pulled one hand out of his pocket and waved a little. Her endless common sense and deep magical knowledge meant that she was the one person Dru could rely on in situations like this, no matter what.Д«ut when Opal saw Ruiz on fire, her eyes went round. She was large and black, and every bit as fashionable as Dru wasnвЂ™t. вЂњOpal? Can you give me a hand with this?вЂќДЇrom the back room, expensive heels clicked as DruвЂ™s assistant Opal came up front. вЂњOh, IвЂ™ll have some questions for you, all right.вЂќ Dru peered meaningfully over the top of her glasses at him, then called over her shoulder.

вЂњI was just hoping you could put out the fire, you know? No questions asked.вЂќ вЂњNo, I donвЂ™t know how this happened.вЂќ He averted his gaze. Ruiz shoved his hands deep into the pockets of his dumpy stained work coveralls. вЂњSo, Ruiz, are you absolutely sure you werenвЂ™t trying to cast a magical spell? Because youвЂ™re not a sorcerer. She decided to go with withering disapproval instead. She did her best to look fierce, but being kind of nondescript, with messy brown hair and an вЂњI Heart DarcyвЂќ T-shirt, she didnвЂ™t really project fierceness. вЂњOkey-dokey.вЂќ Dru drummed her fingers on the counter top. But this was the first time he had stood in front of her cash register with his entire body crackling with magical flames. His name was Ruiz, and this wasnвЂ™t the first time heвЂ™d visited DruвЂ™s shop, The Crystal Connection. Without further ado, may I present Magic Carpet Ride! And keep reading after the story to learn more about Laurence and his series:-D Magic Carpet RideДru squinted through her glasses at her latest customer, who just happened to be on fire. This story is also available to subscribers of my author newsletter.вЂќ

This madcap adventure takes place before the events in the first book, No Sleep Till Doomsday, and reveals the very first time Dru uses her crystal magic powers to save the day.Д«y the way, this story also introduces DruвЂ™s favorite handyman, Ruiz, who ends up making a very funny return in the second book ( A Kiss Before Doomsday), where he helps to save the world, and sparks fly between him and Opal.

It introduces Dru and her best friends Opal and Rane at her sorcerer supply shop, The Crystal Connection. I asked Laurence to share a little background about Magic Carpet Ride, and hereвЂ™s what he said: вЂњThis is the very first Dru Jasper story. This is a quick, fun and very funny story, and it gives you a taste of LaurenceвЂ™s writing style and sense of humor. WhatвЂ™s nice about this story is that itвЂ™s actually an introduction to MacNaughtonвЂ™s world, so anyone can enjoy this, even if you havenвЂ™t started the series. Today IвЂ™m thrilled to share a short story set in this world called Magic Carpet Ride. Today I have something really cool to share with you! Laurence MacNaughton is the author of the Dru Jasper series, and Book #4, Forever and a Doomsday,В has just been released by Pyr Books.

Magic carpet ride