Stone surveys the tiny house. “I never pegged you for someone who decorated like my great-grandmother.”
“I never pegged you for someone who liked lambicorns.”
“I don’t,” he says wryly.
“Me neither.”
The tension is back as we stare at one another. My hackles rise, but I quickly remind myself that he’s here to be nice.
So he says.
“Would you like some water?”
“Sure.”
“Please. Make yourself at home.”
As he sits in one of three options in the cramped space, I pour him a glass from the filtered pitcher.
“Spells and Craft,” he murmurs.
Shoot.I hadn’t realized the book was out. I’d brought it home from work wondering if it could offer insight into my blue sparks and the ley-line-seeing thing. But I haven’t had a chance to read it. My stomach has been too tied up in knots over everything that happened today.
I hand Stone a glass of water and take the book from where it sits on the coffee table. Then I shove it in a small bookcase.
“It’s just a bunch of folklore,” I tell him dismissively.
His gaze remains glued on the book for several beats before it drops to his glass. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” I set my own water on the coffee table doily and sit on the couch, tucking my legs underneath me. “I would ask how you found out where I live, but this is a small town.”
“It sure is.” He takes a long sip of water, watching me so closely over the rim of the glass that a shiver squirms down my spine. “You know, for a small town, there sure are a lot of secrets.”
Why’s he looking at me like that? “Really? I’ve never noticed.”
“I bet you haven’t.”
The lilt in his voice suggests the opposite. “That’s funny. It sounds like you’re suggesting I might know some of those secrets.”
“Don’t you?”
“Don’t I,what?”
“Have some of your own?”
“Secrets,” I deadpan.
“Yes.”
I run my fingers through my long hair. “I’m sorry, I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”
“I think you do.”
Trying to kill some of the tension in the room, I glance down at the lamb, who sits by his feet. “Your dadda has gone crazy. He’s suggesting I have secrets.”
I bring the glass to my mouth and sip the water just as Stone says, “I know about the ley lines.”
“You know about the ley lines? That’s great! When will you start fixing what’s broken?”
