44

Friday was a momentous day for Adam. He and Cassie were finally appearing in public together, and he didn't care who saw them. Around the college, it wasn't likely they'd run into Diana or anyone else in the Circle, but so what if they did?

His Dad smiled broadly when he heard the news. "It's about time."

Adam smiled as he cleaned up the bar. "For you too, Dad."

Ethan's grin faded slightly. "Your grandmother would disagree."

"Aw, she's not that bad. I'll work on her." Adam was soft-pedaling it, for he doubted his grandmother would approve of Karin or her situation with Ethan.

His Dad sighed. "Thanks, but I should probably tell her the news."

"Are you sure? We could go together."

Ethan put his hand on Adam's shoulder. "I appreciate it, but Karin and I already discussed this."

Mary would instantly sense that Karin wasn't what she seemed. And if the truth spilled out, it would be finished before it started. Mary would make Ethan's life a living hell, and Adam doubted Karin would make waves with Mary. "Let me come with you."

His Dad visibly hesitated. "It's early tomorrow morning. Jim is covering for me until I get back."

Adam nodded as he glanced at the clock. "No problem. I better run, or I'll be late for school."

Cassie was rummaging in her locker when Faye accosted her. "Bet you'd like to know where I've been."

"Bet I wouldn't." Her retort cracked like a whip, but fell on Faye's deaf ears.

"I visited Adam's sweet grandmother and told her all about Karin Balcoin."

She managed not to react. "And I'm supposed to care because?"

Faye's shit eating grin slipped a notch. "Your name came up."

"Oh, goodie. What's next, tea and crumpets?"

"More like Jack and soda tossed with lime."

"Mmm, and I bet she doesn't like to drink alone," Cassie said, insinuating that Faye was the sort to get liquored up.

Faye's grin returned. "You're right. And I have to say, she really took to Jake."

Cassie had no interest in the ongoing misadventures of Chamberlake. "But not you?"

"On the contrary, she thought I was very helpful."

"Of course you were."

The bell rang and Cassie started to step away when Faye said, "Don't you want to know what she said about destiny?"

"I can only imagine."

"It's a load of crap."

"I agree."

"Really?"

Cassie smiled. "That you're full of shit? Absolutely."

The second bell rang and she smirked in Faye's face before running off to AP English.

Adam caught up with Cassie on the way to the parking lot. "Faye getting on your case again?"

She smiled. "Just the usual Faye drama."

"What is it this time, whining about crystals or accusing you of nefarious deeds?"

Cassie laughed. "She had a new angle. Something about scooping your grandmother on hot new romances in the Conant family."

Adam's heart skipped a beat. "Faye actually said that?"

"More or less. Is that bad?"

He smiled like it meant nothing. "Nothing I can't handle. Dad and I are going to see my grandmother in the morning. You can tag along if you want."

"I think I'll pass," Cassie said. "My grandmother needs help getting the garden ready, and I sort of promised I'd help."

"No problem." They got to her car and he touched her arm lightly. "Pick you up around 6?"

Cassie nodded. "See you then."

Faye spotted Adam headed at her with murder in his eyes. "I heard you visited my grandmother."

"That's right. We reminisced about her days with Henry." The two had dated half a millennium ago, and Faye never lost a chance to bring it up.

"We both know why you were there, Faye. My personal life is none of your business."

Faye leaned against her car with a smirk. "It is when it affects the Circle, and I'd say that Cassie and Karin have done far more than their share of damage."

There was a tiny grain of truth in Faye's usual web of lies. "No more than what you've done, Faye."

Her expression soured. "Whatever. Don't you want to hear what she had to say?"

Adam had no desire to hear Faye's version of anything. "I'll find out for myself this weekend. "

"Lucky you. She's really got her dander up."

"No thanks to you." He watched her retreat as Melissa caught up with her, apologetic expression flashing over her shoulder before linking her arm with Faye's.

Adam turned and saw Diana eyeing him warily. "I heard what happened."

He sighed. "Where does she get off?"

She walked alongside him. "You know how she is."

"That doesn't make it right, Diana."

She exhaled in frustration. "How do you think I feel? She was threatening to go to the cops and rat out my Dad."

"With what proof?"

"Exactly. We need to corral her before this gets further out of hand."

This sounded like the old Diana. "How do we do that?"

"Maybe talking to Karin will help. I don't know, maybe she can help contain this or something."

"Without her magic?"

"That is a sticking point, but she still knows all those spells."

That was the understatement of the century. "OK, I kind of see what you mean. I'll see what I can do."

Diana nodded her thanks before moving off toward her own car.

Cassie's grandmother fussed over her hair and brought in a gorgeous little black dress. "Grandma, this is too much. We're only going to dinner and a movie."

"You think Adam will show up in jeans and a T-shirt?"

She had a point. Even at the most casual of dances, Adam had worn a tie. "Maybe not."

"Exactly." Jane held the dress up against Cassie and nodded her approval. "This is the ticket."

"Where did this come from?"

"It was your mother's," Jane said heavily, the sparkle in eyes fading as memories took hold.

The silk dress looked brand new. "Never worn?"

"Only once to the prom with Ethan Conant."

A wave of sadness hit Cassie. "I'd be honored to wear it. Thanks."

It was a simple dress, but its lines followed and enhanced her curves. When she came downstairs to model it for Jane, Adam was already waiting and his mouth opened slightly at the sight of her. He was dressed in perfectly creased black trousers and a shimmering shirt that matched his eyes. It was perfect, sexy, and flamboyant, and something only Adam could pull off with panache. Any other guy would have looked silly, but he made it elegant. "Wow," escaped from her and she felt heat climb up her neck as he smiled shyly, his eyes falling to her feet before traveling up her body with a studied slowness that ended as his smoldering gaze snared hers.

"We should go," Adam said when Jane broke their mutual enchantment with a cough.

"Umm, yeah. We won't be late, Grandma."

She looked at her watch. "Can I expect Cinderella by 11?"

Adam grinned. "I think so. The movie gets out around 10:30."

"Call me if anything comes up."

Cassie saw something pass between Jane and Adam before he nodded. "Sure."

Adam swallowed hard as he looked over at his dazzling Cassie, still not believing she had chosen him. "You look beautiful," he said, his voice lowering to its usual whisper as emotion overtook him.

Cassie beamed at him. "So do you."

That broke the tension a little. "What, this little thing? Just something I had hanging around."

Her smile widened at the Ten Things reference. "Same here."

His eyebrows rose slightly. "You're kidding, right? That's fit for a prom, unless I miss my guess."

Cassie turned away from him. "It was my Mom's."

Adam had missed something. "I'm sorry."

She turned to face him, tears glistening on her cheeks from reflected lamplight. "It's OK. She went to the prom with your Dad wearing it."

That explained Jane's odd behavior when he'd arrived, just a second before Cassie came trotting down the stairs. She'd looked between them with tense eyes, and now he sort of understood. Jane was reliving her own daughter's time with Ethan, and comparing the two. Adam wasn't sure he'd come out on top, for he looked and acted a lot like his Dad. "Those were happy times for him."

"I'm glad."

Cassie stayed silent until they arrived at a cozy pub near the college. He'd eaten there a few times with Diana, and liked its private booths and live jazz music. Cassie apparently agreed, for her fingers started tapping along with the beat and a smile hovered on her lips. "What's good here?" she asked him as her blue eyes scoured the extensive menu.

"You can't go wrong with seafood or steak."

They ended up ordering appetizers and a seafood and steak platter for two. As they waited for their entrée, Cassie tucked into some bacon wrapped scallops. "My favorite," she admitted as she popped a scallop into her mouth.

Adam laughed. "Do I need to order another appetizer?"

"Maybe so." There was only one left and she finally speared it and held it up to his mouth. Adam took it delicately between his teeth and loved the way her eyes watched his mouth. Clearly, she was hungry for more than just scallops and he wondered if they should ditch the movie for more intimate activity. But no, he'd promised her a date and that is what she would have, even if it ended in the back of his truck.

Cassie grew more animated over dinner and he learned things about her he'd never realized. Like the fact that she hated opera (high pitched noises hurt her ears), adored British folk, followed car racing, and loved to write poetry. And in turn, he told her about his art (a sheaf of charcoal sketches, mostly of Diana and his Dad), dancing, and science fiction fixation (Terminator, the Arnold years).

Some folks got up to dance, and Adam held out his hand. "Shall we?"

"I thought you'd never ask."

The smooth jazz was sensual in a Kind of Blue vibe. Cassie surprised him by saying, "I love Miles Davis. Sketches in Spain is my favorite."

Adam pulled her closer and she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Mine too," he said softly.

Cassie said, "Don't laugh, but this is my first date."

If Adam hadn't known about her loner status, he would have called her on that. "I won't. What was wrong with those other guys anyway?"

That brought out her beautiful smile. "They thought I was a freak."

"Why?"

She shrugged. "Guess they didn't appreciate my taste in literature."

"Let me guess. Ethan Frome meets The Scarlet Letter?"

"More like H. crossed with Shakespeare."

"Are you into poetry slams?"

Cassie nodded. "I bet they have them at that coffee shop near the college."

"They do. It gets pretty intense sometimes. You should sign up."

She smiled. "I'll give that some thought."

The rest of the night was a sweet interlude in a sea of darkness. They laughed their way through "It's a Mad, Mad World," and ended up on the point in a passionate clench. Adam was crazy with desire and covered Cassie from head to toe with kisses and caresses that made her back arch. With curled toes, she dug her heels into his naked back and urged him on as he thrust into her with increasing force. Their senses galloped to the cliff's edge and jumped together into oblivion. When they could finally form coherent thought, they glanced at the time and saw it was well past 11. "Crap." Cassie finally managed to get her dress back in place. Her silk panties were a lost cause and she tucked them in her handbag with a laugh. "This slam was better than any other kind," she said when they got to the front door.

"Good to know." He saw a shadow moving behind the door and decided to be on his way before Jane gave him an earful. Besides, his grandmother would tear him and his Dad a new one when they arrived there tomorrow.