46

Adam headed straight to Cassie's house and strode quickly to the back garden. She and Jane were up to their elbows in peat moss, and Cassie looked downright adorable with dirt dotting her face like a chain of freckles on her snowy white skin. "Hey," he said. "Need a hand?"

Jane put him immediately to work on her dahlias, which were finally going in for the season. Digging the holes worked up a good sweat and took his mind off the stuff his grandmother had said. When they finished one bed, it was nearly lunch time, so Jane invited him in for a bite to eat. She set down lemonade and thick ham and cheese sandwiches. They were all ravenous, so it was awhile before Cassie asked, "So how did it go?"

Adam rolled his eyes. "Not well."

Jane said, "Margaret's always been rather opinionated."

He laughed at that huge understatement. "Well, she managed to piss off all three of us, and now my Dad and Karin are at odds." Adam launched into the whole story while they listened with growing disbelief.

Cassie said, "So you're saying that you are supposed to be the reborn William Conant?"

"When you say it like that, it sounds ridiculous," Adam said.

Jane shook her head. "Karin wouldn't make a mistake like that."

That had him puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"Anyone with the ability to cast a spell like that would know exactly the time and place she would emerge," Jane said.

That brightened his day. "So you're saying she really chose my Dad?"

Jane nodded. "Absolutely. I've seen the two of them, and there can be no doubt."

"That's great, but now Karin keeps talking about Francis Balcoin and a sacrifice," Adam stated. "Does that make any sense to you?"

Jane and Cassie exchanged uneasy glances. "Not really," Cassie said.

"What are you keeping from me?" Adam could easily smoke out a lie or subterfuge, and Cassie sucked at both, so he'd ferret it out of her.

Cassie sighed and handed him a beautiful white stone with fluted edges. "This."

"Am I supposed to know what this is?"

Jane jumped in. "It's a chalcedony rose. Rather rare around here, and a stone that aligns with our magic."

It looked like a big white stone to him. "So what?"

They swapped glances again before Cassie answered with, "It can be used as a vessel - for Francis."

Were they crazy? There was no way the guy would fall for that. "Seriously? He just got out of jail, you think he'll jump at the chance to return?"

"Of course not, unless we trick him," Cassie said with a half smile.

Adam had his doubts. "I don't know, Cassie. Those are awfully long odds. I'm sure Karin will figure something out when he makes his move."

She walked with him to the door and hugged him hard. "I wasn't going to tell you."

Adam touched her cheek and loved the way she leaned into his hand. "No more lies, remember?"

"Mmm," she said as if in a daze. "That was me telling you. Are we good?"

He shook his head. "Not yet." Adam leaned down and kissed each side of her mouth before molding her lips to his. He took his time kissing her, and moaned when her tongue traced the contours of his mouth.

Cassie leaned back slightly and gazed up at him innocently. "And now?"

Adam laughed. "I need a bit more convincing."

She stood on tiptoe and kissed his nose. "My grandmother's watching."

He turned to see Jane regarding them with amusement. "Thanks for stopping by, Adam. We'll see you soon?"

Adam nodded a few times. "Umm, yeah, sure. See you both later."

The door closed behind him, but not before he heard their light laughter at his expense. He looked back to see Cassie making googly eyes through the glass, and he stuck out his tongue before heading down the walk to his truck. As he passed Jake's house, he saw Jake sitting on his front steps. He threw Jake a sarcastic wave before picking up speed and heading back to the Boathouse, where a ton of work was waiting for him.