Page 19

“Not at all, lass. Enjoy.” He scurried away and Zoe raised her glass.

“To tropical islands and cold beer,” she said.

I giggled and drank.

“So, this weekend,” she announced, setting the mug down and leaning on the table. “Friday night, we’re hosting the book club. I have an extra copy of the book for you, so don’t worry. It’s a quick read, and frankly, I doubt anyone will be talking about plot.”

“Book club?” I laughed. “That’s our big weekend plan? Who are you and what have you done with Zoe?”

“It’s practically the entire coven in the club,” Zoe explained, sipping on her beverage. “Plus a few others. It’s going to be fun.”

“I…can’t,” I lied, playing with the condensation on my cider. Being trapped in a room full of old witches with all their auras and energy? I shivered involuntarily. “I have plans that night.”

“Sure you do.” Zoe downed the rest of her beer.

“I do,” I argued. “I have a date.”

“With the vamp.” She rolled her eyes. “Take a break. You wanted alone time enough to walk home tonight. He can postpone till Saturday.”

“It’s with me,” Sam said, dropping into an empty chair beside us, causing Zoe to whip her head around to stare at me.

My eyes nearly bugged out of my head as he winked. I was both appreciative and furious, and utterly speechless. If I denied it, my cover was blown. But if I went along with it, I’d have to go out with him.

“You did take a raincheck on our last date,” he reminded me. “I was glad you finally decided to cash it in. So sorry, Zo, no more changes.”

Murphy appeared and set a burger and fries down in front of me and a fresh beer down for Zoe. “You’re wanted, Mr. Sect Leader.”

I followed Murphy’s nod toward the entrance and saw a young, dark-haired woman in daisy dukes and a bikini top biting her nails.

“I already settled this,” Sam grumbled, pushing back from the table with a screech. His aura stretched, turning bright red, and my interest piqued as he stomped toward her.

The woman’s smile faltered when she saw his face, and her own aura turned a pale yellow as she chewed on her cuticles. Self-doubt.

“Who’s that?” Zoe asked, just as fascinated.

“Don’t know.” I chewed a fry.

“Wanna listen?” she asked, scooting in and feeling around in her purse.

“Zoe, we shouldn’t—”

But she pulled out a small black charm and squeezed it, activating its spell.

“Sam,” she said, closing her eyes, and his voice came through the tiny remnants even as he escorted the woman outside.

“Why are you here?” he asked.

“I’m sorry to bother you,” answered a breathy voice. “But it’s important. I think someone was in my house.”

“What makes you say that?” Sam asked as though he’d resigned himself to hearing her out but doubted she’d say anything valuable.

My own temper flared.

“I don’t know…it’s just things weren’t where I remembered putting them on my bathroom counter. My…birth control pills.”

“Probably because you were too drunk to remember messing with them,” Sam accused. “I saw you at the bonfire last night. We talked about how you should take it easy for a while and not date, but you were guzzling brews and grinding with at least two shifters.”

Zoe’s eyes met mine, mouth open.