“You came?” BJ sounded surprised.
“I did,” I agreed.
“Amy, this is Jodie.”
“Hi, Jodie.” I smiled.
Jodie smiled back. “Nice to meet you.”
“What can I get you to drink, girls?” BJ asked.
“Vodka, half-strength, and soda water, please.” I could have a couple of half-strength drinks early and still be fine to drive home.
Jodie smoothed down her hair. “Same, thank you, but full-strength obviously.”
“Try to behave yourself while I’m gone, Jodie.” BJ shot her the mock warning before sauntering off to the bar to order drinks.
I slid down next to her. “Are you BJ’s girlfriend?” I asked when he was out of earshot.
“Oh, goodness no. We’ve been friends since we were about eight. He’s a lovely guy, but we are definitely in the ‘friends only’ zone.” She leaned toward me, eyes glinting as she spoke in low, excited tones. “His family are witches.”
Vampires, ghosts, and now witches. I wasn’t even shocked this time. I kept my face blank, forcing a smile.
“His mom makes the best herbal potions. She can heal almost anything. My friend’s aunt was sick—she spent weeks unable to get out of bed, and the doctors couldn’t work it out. Vanessa came one day and gave her some tea, did some crazy chant, and the next day she was up like new.” She paused to look and see if my excitement matched hers.
“That’s amazing,” I offered, because saying ‘sounds like a load of shit’ is a little rude.
“Yes, and she does readings. Very accurate, apparently. Not that I’ve been of course.” She gestured with a slender, manicured hand. “But people come from all over the country to see her. Butpoor BJ seems to have missed out on his family’s abilities. He can’t tell futures or make a good cup of tea, unfortunately.”
I huffed a laugh, my eyes drifting to BJ’s tall frame and then across to the end of the bar. Ethan was perched there, staring at the drink he twirled in his fingers.
Jodie’s eyes followed mine. “He’s hot, isn’t he?”
“Oh, who, Ethan? I guess, if you like that kind of look.” I struggled with the disclosure.
She grinned. “You mean tall, dark, handsome, with amazing eyes, and the best ass? I most certainly do.”
Ethan’s lips curved up, as if he’d heard what she said, even though it was impossible.
The crowd moved apart, and I watched, enthralled, as Karson stalked through them. He cut a dark, impressive figure, like a lion moving through a herd of gazelles. He sat down beside Ethan and said something to him with hardly a sideways glance.
“What’s the story with Karson?” I asked, just to make conversation.
She scowled in his direction. “No one knows really, a bit of a mystery. He owns the bar. He just appears from time to time. He’s equally hot in a broody kind of way. He never goes home with anyone, though. Shame.”
I smoothed down the creases in my jeans. “Something tells me you don’t have too much trouble picking up.”
She grinned and flicked her hair over her shoulders. “Well, no. The boys do love a blond, you know?”
“Here you go, ladies.” BJ handed us our drinks, sliding in beside me. “And he does go home with them sometimes. Remember the young woman who was here for the night and was never seen again?”
Jodie’s eyes lit up, as she leaned forward. “Lucy, yes! Rumor has it he murdered her.”
Lucy . . . the missing girl on the notice board in the diner.
I reeled back. “What? No way!”
I glanced up at Karson. He was talking to Ethan, a lopsided smirk on his lips. He hardly looked like a killer—too handsome, too sophisticated. He had a darkness, I could sense it beneath the light in his eyes, but I couldn’t imagine someone like him with blood on his hands.
