“You should definitely try to hook up with him again,” Amanda forced herself to say, and the words left a bad taste in her mouth. “You two make a cute couple.”
Vicky sighed heavily.
“What?” Amanda looked up at the mournful sound.
Vicky shrugged. “I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
“Why not?”
“You know the rumors about him being a total stud muffin? A different woman every night?”
Amanda gave her a tight smile. “Mm-hmm.”
“I don’t think it’s true. Not completely, anyhow. I mean, I know when he first moved to town he worked his way through a lot of girls. But lately…I think he might be a little more selective. Or maybe he’s just in a dating slump.”
“He went out with you.”
“It was only dinner. Don’t tell anyone, but we didn’t actually…do anything.”
Amanda’s eyes widened. “You didn’t?”
Vicky set her jaw. “Not that I didn’t try. I guess he just wasn’t that into me.”
“Wow.” Amanda couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She’d been sure Vicky and Jacob had slept together. And, at the time, Vicky hadn’t said anything to make her think otherwise.
“It stung a bit,” Vicky continued. “But I’m totally over it. I’ve got it bad for Patrick now.”
“Our boss, Patrick?”
She nodded enthusiastically. “Yup.”
“He’s recovering from a spinal cord injury, you do realize.”
“And as soon as he’s mobile again I will be helping him with his rehabilitation. And by that I mean his sexual rehabilitation.”
Amanda laughed. “I’m sure he’ll be happy to hear that.”
She was still thinking about what Vicky had just said. She’d believed completely that Jacob slept with any woman who even glanced in his direction. But he hadn’t slept with Vicky when he’d had ample opportunity. Maybe Amanda had imagined the flush in her cheeks, the excitement from getting her hands on Jacob’s irresistible, hard-muscled body.
“Speak of the devil,” Vicky said.
Amanda pulled herself out of her thoughts of Jacob and his body. “What?”
“He’s headed this way.”
“Who?”
“Who do you think?” Vicky was looking out the door of Amanda’s office. “Hey, Jacob. Looking good.”
“Right back at you, Vicky,” Jacob said as he stepped into Amanda’s office. Then his attention was all on Amanda. “Can I speak to you in private?”
“I can take a hint,” Vicky said. “I’ll get back to work.”
“No!” Amanda protested a little too loudly. “Please. Uh…just stay here. I have to go over my current caseload with you, anyhow. Whatever Jacob needs to say he can say now or it can wait.”
“All right,” Vicky replied, but she sounded uncertain.
Jacob’s lips thinned. “I guess it can wait.”
“Okay.” Amanda forced a smile.
What is this? Jacob’s thoughts were projected very clearly in her head. Afraid to be alone with me now?
“Yes,” she said out loud, then kicked herself for her truth-telling compulsion. Damn. Did it even work when he simply thought the question? That was so unfair.
It was like she was acknowledging her uncontrollable need to touch him. To run her hands over his beautiful body. To taste his mouth, rip open his shirt, and lick a slow line down to his…
Damn.
At the moment, she was glad that he couldn’t read her mind.
“Please, Vicky, have a seat,” she said.
Jacob groaned with obvious frustration.
Goddammit, he thought. She’s afraid to be alone with me now. How am I supposed to tell her I think I’m falling in love with her?
Amanda’s mouth went dry and her gaze shot to his. His green eyes widened. Obviously he hadn’t meant her to hear that last thought.
“Amanda…I…” he began and then closed his mouth.
Vicky watched curiously. “Am I missing something here?”
“No,” Amanda said quietly, looking down at her desk.
Jacob swore softly under his breath. “I’ll see you around.”
Then he turned and left her office.
Amanda’s heart thudded hard in her chest. This wasn’t happening. It wasn’t. Jacob couldn’t be falling in love with her. That didn’t make any sense at all. It was part of the curse. He only thought he was falling in love with her.
“Wow,” Vicky said. “That was intense.”
“That was nothing.” Her voice was barely audible.
“Yeah, right.” Vicky grinned. “Is there something between you two that I don’t know about? I thought you hated the guy.”
“I do.” But, of course, she didn’t. More lies he’d be able to see through with a well-placed question.
“Well, there is a thin line between love and hate, isn’t there? All it takes is a little push to stumble over to the other side.”
“It’s not like that.”
Vicky shrugged. “All I can say is that if I could get some guy to look at me that intensely, I’d be a happy girl.”
“You’re seeing things,” Amanda said firmly. “Now, let’s start going over my cases. Tomorrow’s my last day, after all.”
Vicky moved toward her and gave Amanda a big hug. “I’m going to miss you so much!”
Amanda hugged her back and felt her throat tighten. “I’ll miss you, too.”
“Are you absolutely sure you’re not going to change your mind and stay?”
“I’m sure. Everything’s in place. David will be back tomorrow before the party to help me move my stuff.”
Vicky made a face. “That David. He’s nice enough, I guess, but he’s just so boring.”
“That’s your opinion. I really like him.”
“Like him?” Vicky repeated. “I’d hope that you’d feel more than ‘like’ for the guy you’re planning on changing your entire life for. But that’s just my opinion again. All I can say is he’s no Jacob Caine.”
No, he wasn’t.
How am I supposed to tell her I think I’m falling in love with her? Jacob’s thought still echoed in her mind.
It wasn’t true.
It couldn’t be.
FOR THE REST of the day and night she stayed as busy as she could and found that it was possible to push thoughts of Jacob to the back of her mind. She could function.
But when she did think of him, it wasn’t only about how much she was attracted to him and how he’d made her feel when they’d had sex. No, she was thinking about him beyond the physical. The fact that she liked talking to him, liked how he challenged her and made her think about things from a different point of view. She felt a strange companionship when they were alone together.
Also, this was a man who knew what it was like to be a psychic, and he didn’t have a problem with it. In fact, he thought her abilities were, how did he put it? Amazing?
She wasn’t mad at him for grilling her mother yesterday about the past. He’d made her all but admit that Amanda’s father hadn’t left only because he didn’t want to deal with Amanda’s psychic abilities.
Could it be possible? she wondered.
The thought didn’t make her feel that much better about being abandoned by her dad at such a young age, but it did make her feel…different.
After all, his shunning of her had led to a lot of self-image issues. Maybe if she’d had two supportive parents who’d loved her unconditionally no matter how strange she was, it might have made the cruel taunts from the kids at school a little more bearable—and the nickname of Amanda the Strange wouldn’t get that immediate knee-jerk reaction from her that had turned her off Jacob in the first place.
SIX YEARS at PARA. She looked around the office after she’d cleaned out her desk on Tuesday afternoon. Hard to believe so much time had passed. Everyone else had left to get ready for her party that night at O’Grady’s. She felt a strange twinge in her chest
then. A sense of loss. She’d miss here more than she’d realized.
You don’t have to go, a little voice in her head reminded her. You can stay here with the people who accept you exactly as you are.
No, she’d go to the city with David. She’d make it work.
As far as she was concerned, the choice had already been made.
Besides, she hadn’t even seen Jacob since he’d mentally admitted to possibly falling in love with her in her office yesterday morning. He’d kept a low profile ever since.
It was better that way. It made things a lot easier.
And this magical pull she felt toward him that had reached near-painful proportions due to his very noticeable absence would fade over time.
She sure as hell hoped it would.
So, she’d go to the party. She’d try to have a good time with her coworkers and friends. And tomorrow her new life would begin. She clutched her heavy cardboard box filled with her personal belongings against her chest and tried to ignore the lump in her throat.
“Have to say, I’m sorry to see you go,” Patrick said.
Amanda jumped. She hadn’t even seen him wheel up to her office doorway.
“Thanks.” She smiled at him. “That means a lot.”
“You’re one of the best clairvoyants I’ve ever met, and I don’t feel any shame in telling you that I’m going to have one hell of a hard time replacing you.”
“I’m sure you’ll find somebody.”
“Maybe.” He gave her a half smile. “Everybody’s going to really miss you.”
He was such a sweetheart. “Are you trying to make me cry?”
“Depends if you’re swayed by sentimental statements or not.”
“Tissues may be required.”
He took a deep breath and leaned back slightly in his wheelchair. “I’m going to put this out there for you and you can do with it what you want. If you ever change your mind about this single-minded need to fit in with regular society, you’re welcome to come back.”
“That’s not necessary,” she said.
“Maybe it’s not necessary, but it’s still true.”
“You think I’m going to get to New York, find it’s too much for me, tuck my tail between my legs and run back here?”
“All I’m saying is that if you realize that there has never been anything wrong in your life to begin with, and that moving somewhere else doesn’t change who you are deep down inside, then there will always be a place for you here.”
The lump in her throat thickened and she had to swallow hard to get past it. She went to him, leaned over, and gave him a big hug which he returned. “I appreciate it, Patrick.”
His smile widened and he shook his head. “He’s right about you, you know. You are a very stubborn woman.”
Her eyes widened. “Who said that?”
“Jacob.”
She groaned. “Right. Well, everybody’s entitled to their opinion, aren’t they?”
“They are, indeed. Listen, Amanda, I wanted to tell you that I’m finished looking over the paperwork and everything’s in order for the Davis house. I am authorizing the exorcism and destruction of the clock. I already told Jacob, but I thought you’d want to know.”
“Oh.” A chill went down her spine. She’d expected this, of course, but it was still a bit unnerving to find out that everything was going to proceed right on schedule.
“I’ll send Jacob back this week to take care of things. Maybe Vicky can go to help with the exorcism itself.”
She shook her head. “I want to go.”
“You? But you’re through here. I’d thought you’d be happy somebody else is going to take care of it.”
“I’d like to help. There’s still time.”
“I thought you were leaving tomorrow.”
“I can delay my move for another day. David won’t mind.”
“He’s very understanding, isn’t he?” By his tone, there was no mistaking what Patrick was getting at.
Her face warmed. “I’d appreciate if you kept what you know about me and Jacob to yourself. There’s no need for any gossip to get around.”
“I totally agree.”
“Well…good.” She cleared her throat, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable. “Everything will be better once we take care of that grandfather clock.”
“So you’re completely convinced that the clock is the source of all evil in this situation, huh?”
“Of course I am.”
“It acts as a troublesome, magical aphrodisiac and that’s about it.”
“Exactly.” She frowned at his tone. “Why? Don’t you think that, too?”
He shrugged. “I have my doubts, to tell you the truth.”
“Such as?”
“Such as the fact that I found some information on Catherine Myles’s aunt in some PARA historical documents. She was a witch named Rose Embry who practiced her magic out in the open over near Albany at the turn of the century and died just before the Second World War, but there was no indication of her magic ever being black or malicious in nature. I originally had the impression she sold love potions, but that wasn’t exactly what it was. She specialized in spells that revealed secrets and pointed her clients to the truth in their hearts.”
“The truth in their hearts? What does that mean?”
He spread his hands. “Only that Rose’s wedding gift to Catherine in the form of an enchanted clock brings up a lot of unanswered questions. My guess is that she never would have wished ill on her. Perhaps she didn’t approve of her marriage to an overbearing man like her niece’s chosen husband, one that Catherine would have married mostly out of a need for wealth and security, but she wouldn’t have helped to set in motion the events leading to her death.”
“What about her servant, Nathan?” Amanda asked.
“Yes, Nathan. I must admit, I found nothing on him. But he was a man and Catherine was a woman. The clock’s magic may have revealed true feelings between them that normally would have been ignored or denied due to their social differences. The aunt’s truth magic just helped to peel away any reservations they might have had about engaging in a relationship, physical or otherwise.”
“Is this fact or are you only speculating?” Amanda asked.
“I’m afraid I’m only speculating.”
Amanda weighed what he was saying. What if the clock didn’t send out a curse to anyone in its presence, but a spell to reveal hidden feelings? Like a sexy, magical truth serum making its victims admit what they really wanted and unable to fight against the desire to be together?
If that was true, then why had Catherine and Nathan been forced to haunt the house for a hundred years after their deaths, unable to be together except for an hour a day during which they couldn’t even touch?
Didn’t sound all that romantic to her.
“Well, after the clock is dismantled and torched it won’t be an issue anymore,” she said.
“So you think it’ll be that easy? Burn the clock, break the spell and everyone goes back to life as usual?”
She narrowed her eyes. “What are you getting at?”
He grimaced. “Forget it. I need to keep my nose out of other people’s business. It’s going to get me in trouble.”
“Good idea.”
“However,” he continued, “I think you should consider what you’ll do if you still feel the same way about Jacob when there’s no enchanted clock to blame your problems on.”
“I thought you were going to mind your own business?”
He mock-zipped up his mouth and threw away the key. “I’m done now.”
“Promise?”
“Promise. I’ll see you later at O’Grady’s.”
She left, looking back at the office building one last time before getting in her Honda to drive home and get ready for the party.
She decided not to think about what Patrick had said, or, at least, think about it as little as possible. Life was moving forward. Time was not pausing to allow her to
contemplate any other outcome. She’d go to the party, smile and have some drinks. She’d say goodbye to all of the people who turned out. Tomorrow she’d go to the Davis house and help to exorcise the ghosts—part of her job she’d done dozens of times before—and get rid of the clock once and for all.
She’d bring her own matches to start the bonfire.
And then she’d be free to start her new life.
There was no turning back now.
11
JACOB had considered not going to the party at all, but he’d decided to suck it up and force himself. Put on a good front. Say goodbye to Amanda all proper and politely, wish her luck with her new life, and then almost certainly get rip-roaringly drunk.
It was a plan.
He needed fresh air after being at the small pub for half an hour and emerged into the evening just as Amanda and David walked up to the entrance. He couldn’t have timed it better if he’d tried.
Amanda looked incredible in a dark blue dress with a gauzy skirt that skimmed her curves and came a couple inches above her knees. She’d done her dark hair so it hung in long, soft wavy pieces, begging to be touched. Her makeup was natural, with a shiny gloss on her lips that made it difficult to look anywhere else.
He’d kissed that mouth. He knew what it tasted like. What she tasted like.
His body reacted to the sight of her.
Of course, the well-dressed boyfriend next to her worked like an ice-cold shower.
David thrust out his hand. “Jacob, good to see you again.”
“Yeah, you, too.” He shook the man’s hand. His gaze moved to Amanda.
“Thanks for coming,” she said softly. “It means a lot to me.”
She was going to be his undoing. He wanted to be tough, but all he really wanted to do was push David out of the way and take Amanda into his arms.
This is exactly why he’d tried to avoid falling in love with anybody for two years. There was no way he could pretend to be cool, calm and collected when he was dying inside with the need to touch her.
“My pleasure,” he said. “You look beautiful tonight, Amanda.”
“Thank you,” she replied. She was looking directly into his eyes. Intently. Where he’d expected to see stubbornness and disinterest, he could have sworn he saw regret.