SIX
Emma
I plopped down in the passenger seat and grinned at Beth. She’d had her burnt-red four-door 1964 Pontiac Catalina, her baby, was recently detailed, so her white leather interior really shone. That was one thing about Beth, when she loved something, shereallyloved it. This car would be better taken care of than my car ever hoped to be.
"The car looks beautiful, I said, grinning.
"Thanks,” she said.
"My car cried a little when it saw how beloved yours is.”
She laughed.
My gaze slid to the sunrise. Okay, so it was too late to be a true sunrise, but it was still a beautiful view, with the sunlight illuminating the ocean behind the houses. Man, I loved living in Mystic Hollow.
"We’re headed for our first lead on the werewolf case. I’m not sure if it’ll be that helpful, but I have a few other places to go if that doesn’t work out.”
"Perfect,” I said, settling back against the seat.
"So." Beth started the car and pointedly avoided looking at me. "What did you and Wade talk about?"
I needed to answer her without lying, but without knowing the truth. My subtle handling of the topic of dessert would be pointless if she knew about it. Then, she’d be even more awkward around Wade, and their romance would be completely derailed.
"Mostly the case," I replied, avoiding her probing glances. "He's looking into some things."
"Like what?" Her tone was casual, but her fingers flexed around the steering wheel, a telltale sign she was more interested than she let on.
"Stuff," I said. "Research, mostly."
"Emma," she pressed, "come on. You can't leave me hanging like that."
I sighed, relenting. "Fine. He's digging into some unicorn horn thing. But really, it's not as exciting as it sounds."
"Research on unicorn horn?"
"Yeah, he’s looking into who would want to kill unicorns and why.” I just didn’t mention the second half of our conversation, the part about desserts.
The heat rose to my cheeks.
"Wow." She turned the steering wheel, guiding us around a corner. "I shouldn't be surprised though. Wade has the craziest collection of animal books I've ever seen."
"Really?"
"Shelves and shelves of them." She nodded. "All sorts of creatures, myths, facts. It's like a library for the supernatural in his study. Magical creatures were his specialty when he was a professor," Beth continued, her voice taking on an enthused pitch. "It's not just books. He's got artifacts, too. Wade's place is like stepping into another world."
"Must be fascinating," I said, the corner of my mouth twitching upwards. "You've been spending quite a bit of time there to notice all that detail?"
Her cheeks flushed a pale pink, and she glanced over at me with feigned annoyance. "Shut up, Emma."
I couldn't help it; a laugh bubbled out of me, and soon Beth joined in, her earlier excitement melting into warm chuckles that filled the car.
The car slowed, tires crunching on gravel as we pulled up to the curb. I peered out the window at the neat lawns and the row of houses that looked like they'd been cut from the same white-shutters cloth. It was a nice neighborhood. I’d even dare to call it cute.
"Here we are," Beth said, killing the engine.
"Nice place." It was the kind of area where you'd expect block parties and kids playing in the streets, not harboring creatures of legend.
Beth unbuckled her seatbelt and nodded toward one of the houses. "That's Andrew Whit's place." She gestured to a pale blue two-story with a well-kept garden.
