“Can I meet with them together?” Joy asked. “Just so I can get a sense of who I might want to work with.”
“Sure. How about Friday at ten?”
They set up the appointment while Hope tried her best to see if she could dive into Serena’s thoughts. But as soon as she did, all she got were flashes of Lucas in various stages of undress. The only saving grace was that it was obvious the woman hadn’t seen him with his clothes off. Hope knew the images were only in the woman’s imagination because Lucas’s tattoo was missing and so was the jagged scar from when he’d had his appendix out. Not to mention he had an eight pack, not a six pack.
After realizing that Serena and Lucas hadn’t taken their relationship past the flirtation phase, she leaned over the counter and said, “I remember you from the open house at Against the Grain. You were there, right?”
“Sure. That’s where Lucas and I met.”
Of course it was. Although if she recalled correctly, he hadn’t given her the time of day. She wondered how Serena had wrangled a dinner invitation. “What did you think of his gallery? Sweet spot, right?”
“Sure.” Serena frowned. “I guess. I mean, his work is nice, but I think we all know Lucas is the main draw. That man is just so dreamy.”
Hope had to refrain from rolling her eyes. Serena was far too focused on getting into Lucas’s pants for Hope to seriously consider she was part of a drug running ring. “He sure is,” Hope said. “Good luck on that date Friday.” She turned to Grace and Joy. “Ready?”
They both nodded.
“It was nice meeting you, Serena,” Hope forced out.
“See you Friday,” Joy added.
Grace waved, and the three of them piled out onto the street.
“Well, that was—” Grace started.
“Brutal,” Joy said, cutting her off. “Hope, are you all right?”
“I’m perfect,” Hope said, spotting the mayor sitting on a bench under an oak tree while she sipped an iced coffee. “I’ll be right back.”
She left her friends standing on the sidewalk and crossed the square to where Iris Hartsen was sitting. “Mayor,” Hope said, holding her hand out. “It’s nice to see you.”
The mayor glanced up and smiled as she took Hope’s hand. “Ms. Anderson. What brings you to the square in the middle of the day?”
Hope waved at her friends. “We’re helping Joy make some redecorating decisions. I saw you here and thought I’d say hello and thank you for making an appearance at the Against the Grain open house. I know Lucas really appreciates the support.”
She gave Hope her trademark warm smile, the same one that got her elected with seventy percent of the vote. “I wouldn’t have missed it. It’s always a pleasure to welcome new business partners to the town.” Especially one that fits in perfectly with our plans.
Hope almost asked, What plans? But then she realized the mayor hadn’t said that last part out loud. She blinked. She couldn’t possibly be referring to moving drugs, could she? The mayor had worked hard to implement a free drug rehab program in the city a few years back. Surely she couldn’t be involved in supplying anyone with illegal substances.
“That rocking chair I bought is just to die for. Did you know my daughter is having a baby?” the mayor asked.
“No, I didn’t. Congratulations. That’s exciting,” Hope said. Images of the woman sitting in the rocking chair flickered in Hope’s mind, making her smile. How could she have ever suspected her of being involved in a drug ring? Even the mere thought made her feel foolish.
“It is. I can’t wait to hold that little girl in my arms while I rock her in that chair. Lucas is delivering it next week for the nursery. I know it’s a little extravagant, but it’s for my grandbaby, so it’s worth it.”
“I can’t think of a better reason,” Hope said.
They chatted for a few more minutes, and then Hope joined her friends back on the sidewalk in front of Magical Touch.
“Any dirt on Iris?” Grace asked, unable to hold back a chuckle. “Do we need to call in the DEA to raid the mayor’s office?”
“Shut it, Valentine. It always pays to make nice with the mayor, especially one who always seems to be in need of an event organizer,” Hope said.
“Right.” Grace pushed her windblown auburn hair out of her eyes, and said, “So to recap, we’ve interviewed a desperate ex-housewife and the mayor, who likely would win Miss Congeniality in any competition she ever entered. Are we making progress yet?”
Hope groaned. “This is going to take forever. There are like forty more people on the list, and not a lot of them have storefronts.” She eyed Joy. “How do you feel about talking to Gabrielle, the lifestyle reporter for the Premonition Pointe News?”
“Sure,” she said with a shrug. “Gabrielle and I are friendly. She does all the writeups for the Art Market shows in town. We talk at least a couple times a month.”
“Good. Try to find out if she’s heard any rumors about increased drug activity in town, and if so, see if she has any contacts over at the sheriff’s office. Maybe put a bug in her ear if she seems interested in doing a little digging.”
“I’m on it.” Joy pulled her phone out, and in a few seconds, she had the reporter on the phone. “Gabrielle, hi! Listen, I wanted to find out if you had any info on the young man who overdosed in the Pointe of View Café yesterday. Hope and I were there when it happened, and I just can’t stop thinking about him. I hope he’s all right.” She walked a short distance away and paused in the shade under an awning.
“She’s good,” Grace said.
“Very good,” Hope agreed. “You know who we need to talk to next?”
“Lucas?” Grace asked, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
Hope ignored her cheeky answer. They didn’t need to talk about how much it bothered her to find out Lucas had a date. Besides, Hope had two dates that weekend. She had no right to be upset about anything Lucas did. She cleared her throat. “We need to go see Gigi. All of her neighbors were there.”
“Rich neighbors,” Grace added. “Now that I think about it, that’s probably where we should’ve started.”
Hope nodded. “It makes more sense than investigating the guitarist or Kevin Landers.”
Grace threw her head back and laughed. “Can you imagine Kevin as a drug kingpin? For all his talk, I don’t think he’s ever once fired anyone. And he pawns practically all his work off on his assistant. The man is allergic to paperwork. He’d be toppled in less than a week.”
“I suppose we do need to talk to the guitarist, too. But I suspect anything I pick up from her with my telepathy will be exactly like Serena’s thoughts.”
“Oh, gods. Was it that bad?” Grace asked, her face pinched in sympathy.
“It was until I realized she’d never seen him naked. Then I was able to let those visions go,” Hope admitted. “I gotta tell you, it sucks hard having to hear about him dating.”
“I’m sure he feels the same.” Grace pointed across the square at two men standing in front of city hall. “Looks like Lucas just found out about your date with Matt.”
Hope followed Grace’s gaze and saw the two men standing together on the sidewalk. Lucas met her gaze, scowled, and then turned his ire on Matt, who immediately held his hands up in a stop motion and started backing away slowly.
“Oh hell,” Hope muttered and started to stride toward them.
Chapter Ten
“You can forget about that custom dining room table.” Lucas’s expression was stormy, and by the way his fists were curled into balls, he looked like he wanted to deck Matt.
“Hey, man. Let’s slow down a minute,” Matt said, running a hand through his silver hair. “I didn’t know there was something going on between you and Hope. It’s just dinner.”
“There isn’t anything going on between us,” Hope insisted as she came to a stop beside Matt. What the hell was going on here? Were they really fighting over her? She narrowed her eyes at Lucas. “What exactly did
you tell him?”
Lucas shifted his attention to hold her gaze. “Weeks ago, when he asked what I was doing back in town, I told him I was here to take care of my mother and to repair my relationship with you.”
“Lucas,” she said with a sigh. But before she could go on, Matt interrupted them.
“You said your ex. Not once did you mention Hope’s name,” Matt insisted. “Dude, I never would’ve stepped on your toes like that had I known.”
Matt frowned at him. “How could you not know Hope is my ex? Everyone knows that.”
He shrugged. “I’m new in town, remember? And I just spent the last few months with my kids and their families at the beach. How would I know Hope is your ex?”
“Um, excuse me,” Hope interjected. She had an intense desire to punch one or both of them. “I am not a piece of property for someone to claim.”
“Of course, you aren’t,” Lucas said automatically. Matt nodded his agreement.
“Then why would it matter if I’m your ex?” she asked Lucas. Then she turned to Matt. “And why wouldn’t you have asked me out if you’d known that? We’re not together. We haven’t been since the last time he ran back to the east coast. It’s been years.” She turned again, this time jabbing her finger into Lucas’s chest. “I am free to date whomever I want. You hear me? You. Left. Me. Twice. If you think there’s something between us still, you’re delusional.”
Lucas wrapped his hand around hers and pulled her in closer to him. “There’s always going to be something more between us, Hope. And you’re lying to yourself if you think otherwise.”
Her breath caught, and she couldn’t help it when her gaze landed on his mouth. Even though she was furious, her tongue darted out, wetting her lips in anticipation. Dammit. Why was this so hot?
Fire blazed in his eyes, and he started to dip his head as he leaned in for the kiss.
She placed a hand on his chest and shoved him back. “You’re full of shit. Don’t think I haven’t heard about your date on Friday night. If you were so determined to put things back together with me, then why are you taking what’s-her-face, Serena, to dinner on Friday night?” She gestured awkwardly toward the design shop across the square.
“What? I don’t have a date on Friday. And who’s Serena?” Lucas asked.
Hope rolled her eyes. “Don’t play dumb. The pretty redhead from the open house the other night? She came onto you then. Don’t deny it. I saw everything.” She was so angry with him she neglected to say that she saw him dismiss her. But had he really? If he was taking her out on Friday, they must’ve talked later.
He frowned. “I don’t remember a redhead. Unless you’re talking about the guitarist. But I certainly didn’t ask her out.” He glanced again at the interior design store, and recognition lit in his silver gaze. “Oh, now I know who you’re talking about. The assistant to the two designers, right?”
“Yeah, that one,” she said dryly. “Poor thing. She doesn’t know what she’s getting into.”
“I’m not taking her out on Friday. She came into the store to place an order yesterday, and while she was there, she mentioned they have a happy hour at Abalone. I thanked her for the tip and said I’d have to try it out. I think she said something about dropping by and maybe having a drink, but it sure as hell isn’t a date. Not like the one you have with Mr. Beach House here.” He nodded to Matt.
“I think maybe the date isn’t such a good idea,” Matt interjected. “Hope, it really looks like you could use some space so that you and Lucas can figure out whatever it is that’s going on here. I’m not really interested in being in the middle of someone else’s drama.”
“There’s nothing going on—” Hope started
“That’s a great idea, Matt,” Lucas said, cutting her off.
“I’m sorry.” Matt gave Hope an apologetic smile. “I just know better than to step in the middle of something.” He offered his hand to Lucas, and when they shook, Matt said, “Good luck, man.”
“Thanks.” Lucas nodded to him and then turned back to Hope and said, “Now, about Friday.”
“What about it?” she spat out, her blood boiling. “Looks like I’m going to be ordering a pizza now instead of eating oysters, clams, and halibut. Thanks to you. How dare you interfere—”
“Let me take you out,” he said. “Abalone or anywhere else you want to go.”
“You want me to go on a date with you?” she asked incredulously as she pushed her windswept hair out of her face. The ocean breeze had picked up, and the scent of sea salt washed over her, making a slew of memories hit her all at once. That always happened when the wind picked up. They’d had their first kiss on the beach one afternoon right before a storm. They’d had their first date at the cliff in his pickup, where they’d laid in the back of his truck and stared at the stars. And the night he’d left her for the east coast, they’d sat on the rocks as the water crashed below while they spent their last few minutes together.
“Yes. I want you to go on a date with me. Since I ruined your plans, let me make it up to you.” He flashed her that easy smile that had melted her resolve so many times before. It didn’t do the trick this time. She was still mad that he thought he had any say in who she dated. How dare he? Normally that would’ve been enough to tell him to screw off, but the thought of him meeting up with Serena for happy hour made her swallow a groan. Just thinking about the two of them together was enough to make her stomach turn. “Fine. You can buy me dinner on Friday, but only because you owe me. It isn’t a date. It’s an apology.”
His smile widened to a grin and his eyes twinkled with amusement. “You can call it whatever you want, Hope. I’ll pick you up at seven.” But we both know it’s a date.
Hope wondered if he’d projected his last thought just to get under her skin. Probably, and it made her want to wipe the smug smile right off his face. “You’re infuriating.”
“I know.” He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek then shoved his hands in his pockets and walked away, whistling as he went.
Hope turned around to head back to her friends, but they’d already caught up with her.
Grace let out a low whistle. “Wow, Hope. You have your hands full with that one. He has all the charm and sex appeal he had back in the day, but now his game is off the charts. I can’t believe he just got you to agree to dinner after all of that. How the heck are you going to navigate this minefield?”
Hope threw up her hands. “I have no idea.”
Joy patted her on the back. “At least he won’t be with Serena.”
“Why do you think I agreed?” Hope asked with a sad chuckle. “I’m a complete mess, aren’t I?”
“I wouldn’t say complete,” Grace said, linking her arm through Hope’s. “Maybe just a small one. Come on. Let’s take a break from sleuthing and find you something to wear on Friday. If you’re going to let him take you out, then we need to make sure you’re devastatingly gorgeous.”
“Grace, that’s not necessary,” Hope said, even as she let her friend pull her along toward their favorite boutique.
“Oh, yes, it is,” Joy said. “Besides, we’re going anyway. If I’m going to give Tinder a chance, I’m going to need something better than my long cotton skirts and fitted T-shirts.”
“But you look great in those skirts and T-shirts,” Hope insisted.
“I don’t think hippy mom is the look I’m going for,” Joy said with determination. “Now come on. It’s time to sex it up a bit.”
Hope and Grace exchanged a concerned glance. This wasn’t the Joy they were used to. And Hope was worried her friend was diving headfirst into something she wasn’t nearly ready for.
But Joy strode ahead, clearly determined to find a new sexy wardrobe, and who were Hope and Grace to stop her? If she wanted to get her sexy on, then so be it. Hope would just make sure she and Grace were there to pick up the pieces when their friend needed them.
Chapter Eleven
Hope put her Toyota Highlander in Park acros
s the street from Gigi Martin’s Victorian home on Seaside Drive. The beachfront neighborhood was full of gorgeous houses, most of them owned by well-to-do families from the larger cities. Now that it was early fall, maybe only half appeared to be occupied at the moment, but the street was still full of cars.
“Is Gigi having a party or something?” Joy asked as she glanced around at the expensive vehicles.
“She mentioned something about an informal gathering for the neighborhood,” Grace said. “Something about four o’clock cocktails.”
“Did someone say cocktails?” Hope asked, ready to down a couple of margaritas. They’d spent nearly two hours at the boutique on Main because Grace and Joy had insisted that Hope try on every single formfitting or low-neckline dress in the place. However, she had found a sexy black wrap dress that made her feel fifteen years younger, so maybe they’d been onto something.
“I could use a drink after that ego-crushing experiment,” Joy said as she tied her long blond hair into a neat bun. It always amazed Hope how Joy could quickly look so put together even when she was wearing yoga pants and a Not today, Satan T-shirt. She just had that elegant, graceful look about her that Hope had always envied.
“You’re kidding right? Your ass looks great in those jeans you bought,” Grace said. “And that blouse? It’s romantic and sexy. That Tinder date, whoever he is, won’t know what hit him.”
“Yeah, I like the blouse. I just… Maybe I should join a gym,” she said, pressing her palms to her stomach.
Hope just stared at her and then shook her head.
“What?”
“Nothing. I just think you’re being a little hard on yourself,” Hope said. “You already look amazing, but I fully support joining to get into shape. In fact, I’ll do it with you. Spin class, yoga, Pilates. What do you say?”
“Whoa, lady. I was just thinking about some yoga and maybe the elliptical. Spin class? Have you ever done that?” Joy asked.
“I have,” Grace said. “It kicked my ass.” She laughed. “I went once and never went back. Now I just use the pool.”
Witching For Hope: Premonition Pointe, Book 2 Page 7
