12
Cassie hated lying to Diana. Even if it was justified, it still made her feel like crap. And judging from Adam's expression, he felt the same.
"I don't like this," she said, her voice low as they followed Diana back to the clearing where they parked their cars.
"I know. But consider the alternative."
Her heavy sigh was caught up by the cool north wind. "Are we supposed to pretend it didn't happen?"
"Of course not." Adam guided her over a log and caught her elbow on the other side.
She stopped and watch Diana drive away. "This is only the beginning."
"How so?" Adam opened the door for her and she smiled faintly in thanks.
"Karin knows a lot more than she's telling us."
"Let me guess. A cosmic connection?" His usual dry humor was back in play and she smiled.
"Something like that." Cassie watched Adam in the rearview mirror as he came around to the driver's side. When he put the car in reverse, she asked, "Do you have to work today?"
"Later on. Why?"
"Maybe we can check out that Ren Faire over at the college." Cassie's tone was neutral, but her heart was doing handsprings at the thought of spending time with Adam.
Adam chuckled. "And run into Faye? No thanks."
She smiled tightly. "I was hoping to grill Karen on my father."
They stopped at an intersection and she felt him looking at her. "I know you want answers, but maybe you should give this a rest."
That was the last thing Cassie wanted. "I can't. It's all I think about."
Adam's husky response put her senses on high alert. "Sure I'm not mixed in there somewhere?"
Her face was suffused with heat. "Could be."
"And what about Jake?"
His casual tone wasn't fooling her. "I don't know, Adam." That was the only answer she could give right now.
They rode in comfortable silence until she realized he'd turned off toward the college. "You still want to do this?"
"Yes." The main street was jammed with festival goers and people in costume, and reminded Cassie of a grand masquerade. "Hey, there's parking over there."
"I see it." Adam beat out a Jetta and a Jeep to the spot, and smirked at the sound of curses rending the air.
Cassie felt the tingle of magic and realized Adam had stopped the other cars from moving forward. "That's cheating."
His smile widened as he hopped out. "I know, isn't it great?"
The crisp fall air lifted her spirits slightly as she walked next to him. "Yes, it is." She looked up at Adam and was stunned by what she saw in his beautiful eyes. Adoration shone down on her for a fleeting second, replaced quickly by sardonic amusement when they spotted Faye hawking her wares in front of the fortune teller's tent.