WITCH IN THE HOUSE 
Jenna McKnight 
 
Chapter 1 

L ike a lemon drop on speed, the maid of honor darted across the front of the 
church, her yellow toe-length dress rustling with every step. The guests heads 
swiveled in unison as they tracked her agitated progress through the opposite 
archway, after which they turned to each other and resumed whispering. Not calm, 
smiling, happy-to-see-these-two-finally-going-to-tie-the-knot wedding speak, 
either.
Mason Kincaid, the groom, handled it like a pro; ten minutes earlier, hed 
retreated to the choir loft in the back of the church. Only his best man knew 
where he was, and that was because hed followed him. Something about doing his 
job.
Mason was standing shoulder to shoulder with Anthony now, feet spread 
comfortably, hands in the trouser pockets of his tux, watching another lemon 
drop rustle across the nave below.
There goes another one, he remarked.
Organ music played softly in the background, as if it were quite normal for 
bridesmaids and groomsmen to buzz back and forth across the church before the 
ceremony, half of them chattering on their cell phones, the other half comparing 
notes while frantically waiting for call backs.
Yellow dresses, black tuxes, Anthony mused over the swarm of activity. Looks 
like a hornets nest, my friend.
Please. Dont say that in front of Brenda. Mason raised his arm, 
absentmindedly lifting his sleeve and pronating in one smooth motion.
I think you can get tennis elbow from that, Anthony said.
From what?
Checking your watch every thirty seconds. What? Dont tell me you thought Miss 
Terminally Late would be on time once in her life.
Yes, Mason said, nodding with absolute certainty, turning the bezel on his 
watch, as if doing so would somehow make Brenda more aware of the time. We 
discussed it at the rehearsal last night.
Uh-huh.
And in the car on the way to dinner. Mason felt the need to substantiate his 
statement because Anthony was shaking his head with a look that said, You poor 
sap. On the way home, too. She swore she wouldnt be late.
He never knew whether to worry about Brenda when she wasnt on time or wring her 
neck when she finally arrived, but constant repetition had dulled the tendency 
to worry. Except this time shed promised. Shed never promised before.
All her friends were here. All shed talked about for weeks was her day. She 
loved fresh bouquets, candlelight, and ribbon. Her apartment had turned into a 
veritable testing lab for all three in her quest to mix the right sizes, right 
widths, right textures, blah blah blah. More than once, Mason jolted awake 
thinking he was the star attraction at a funeral.
It wouldnt have been so bad if Brenda had consoled him, but forty-two long, 
lonnng days ago shed gotten the crazy idea that waiting until our wedding 
night would somehow make it more special. This, after five years together.
He had to hand it to her, though. Every female guestand several of the 
menstopped in surprise just this side of the door, oohing and ahhing at the end 
result. The small, intimate Pensacola church normally inspired hushed hellos and 
quiet whispers, but today it was transformed into a vibrant, living hothouse, 
plush with cascades of white and yellow roses, mile upon mile of white ribbon, 
and row upon row of white tapers.
And just think, after today, life would go back to normal. After a week of sex, 
sun, and scuba diving, Brenda would move into his condo, not a candle, flower, 
or ribbon in sight.
Five forty-five. Fifteen minutes to go. Shed promised.
Candle flames flickered and fluttered along the center aisle as ushers escorted 
a few last-minute, wide-eyed guests to their seats.
Masons four-year-old niece broke out of safekeeping and tore down the aisle, 
her new Mary Janes raising a clatter on the narrow wooden steps as she climbed 
to the loft. Mason turned toward the uncontrolled sobbing that punctuated each 
step before Lily launched herself into his arms and buried her head against his 
neck.
Aw, did seeing all those people scare you, sweetheart? Mason crooned. He 
cuddled Lily against his chest, patting her tiny back.
Hand him a Glock and point him in the right direction, and he was a fierce 
adversary, a warrior. Hand him Lily, though, all warm and trusting and smelling 
of baby shampoo, and paternal emotions arose out of nowhere to throw him a 
curve. Every time. When he looked at strangers kids, he didnt feel warm and 
fuzzy and think about having his own. Not even when he had sex with Brenda.
Used to have sex, he amended.
Tell you what, he said softly, aiming to console the little girl. You dont 
have to walk up that big, long aisle if you dont want to.
Quietly, Anthony sang, Brendas gonna kill you.
Shes only four. Mason fell into a slow, automatic sway, soothing his 
nap-deprived little niece. Youd better let my sister know I have her.
Anthony handled that by cell phone, ending the conversation with, Hes right 
beside me. Really. Hes fine.
Dont tell me. She was afraid I took off.
She says its in my job description to make sure that doesnt happen.
Mason grinned, as if Anthony would even try. After all, they were guys. They had 
a bond, an obligation to respect each others freedom. They left most of the 
this-is-for-your-own-good bullshit to parents and siblings.
Hate to disillusion you, Mason said, but I believe youre supposed to ensure 
a clean getaway if I change my mind.
No way, man. Brendad hunt you down like last time.
She didnt hunt me down. And what do you mean, like last time? We were on a 
break.
She did hunt you downyoure just too stupid to know it. She found out where 
youd be and paraded another man in front of you. I warned you; you told me to 
stuff it. You fell for it hook, line, and sinker. This ringing any bells?
Mason tugged at his collar, thinking it was awfully tight and maybe he should 
have rented a larger size. No way Anthony was right.
Im guessing itd be bad luck to throw my best man off the balcony minutes 
before the wedding, so I want you to know Im resisting.
Anthony snickered.
Arent you supposed to be supportive today? Its, you know, in the job 
description.
Hey, Im supportive, Anthony said. Im not telling the maid of honor where 
youre hiding. Geez, does Brenda know about her?
Mason cast a nervous glance toward the steep, narrow stairs guarding him from 
his fiances girlfriend. Women threw themselves at him every day; he could 
handle that. But Brendas best friend? That was murder waiting to happen. He 
just wasnt sure whose.
Relax, shes up front with the others, Anthony said. Oops, looking this way.
Mason stepped back from the rail, hoping hed been quick enough to elude her 
sights. Go tell her you couldnt find me.
She saw you.
She cant see fifty feet without her glasses.
Is that in my job description? You have to let me know these things because if 
Im supposed to be looking out for you, my friend
Lets put it this wayif she comes after me, you have to throw yourself between 
us.
Take the bullet, as it were?
Absolutely.
Like when that moray eel came at us, and you ducked?
I was diverting its attention.
From you maybe. Anthony raised his hand briefly to acknowledge someone below. 
Relax. Ken just told her its me up here.
At six oclock, Lily got a second wind. She wiggled out of Masons arms and 
scampered off to watch the organist.
At the same moment, in the nave below, a skinny, uniformed courier marched up 
the center aisle between the tall, beribboned candelabra. In a nasal, 
high-pitched voice, he called out, Message for Mr. Kincaid. Is there a Mason 
Kincaid here?
Uh-oh, Anthony intoned. Another eel.
Mason cocked his head, assessing the situation in about one second flat. You 
dont suppose emergency rooms send couriers, do you?
Dont think so, buddy.
Police departments?
There isnt a cop alive whod be caught dead in that getup.
Morgues? Why are you looking at me like that?
Im waiting to see if you duck again or see what it says.
Oh, I can guess what it says.
Mason stared at Anthony until he finally sighed and said, You want me to get 
that for you?
If you wouldnt mind.
Okay, but dont kill the messenger. Meaning me, not him.
Anthony thumped down the stairs, with purpose if not speed. As he entered the 
nave, a hush fell over the church. You could hear a boutonniere drop as 
everyone, guests and wedding party alike, held their breath and craned their 
necks for a better vantage point.
The hell with reflecting. Mason was on the move now, nervously pacing the 
limited space in front of the choir benches, watching everyone below like a 
condemned man contemplating the crowd circling his gallows. The wedding party 
grouped into a tight pack near the altar, a couple of whom whispered into their 
cell phones, though who was left to call was anyones guess.
The guests scooted along the pews, sliding toward the center aisle in their 
Sunday best, cramming together so theyd miss nothing. And when Anthony accepted 
the envelope from the courier and glanced upward, all heads turned toward the 
rear of the church. All eyes raised to the loft. And just as quickly, upon 
seeing Mason, everyone turned back around, their whispers more urgent.
Mason no longer cared if they saw him. Hed done everything Brenda had asked. 
Hed committed to taking their relationship to the next level. Hed learned to 
navigate through the disarray in the apartment without complaint. Hed let her 
have her six weeks of chastity. Hed agreed to no more than four dives while 
they were on their honeymoon. After all that, he damn well didnt deserve 
getting stood up on his wedding day!
When Anthony stopped before him and proffered the envelope, Mason couldnt bring 
himself to touch it. Read it, he said, already planning which bar hed drink 
dry tonight.
Could be personal.
It sure as hell better be.
All right, all right, Anthony said, feigning calmness that did nothing to 
reassure Mason. Just remember what I said about killing the messenger. No 
throwing me over the rail or anything.
Would you just get it over with?
Anthony slipped his finger under the flap and pried it open. He pulled out 
several pages, looked them over, and said nothing.
To me, Mason snapped.
Shes pregnant.
That knocked the wind out of Mason. Hed thought hed known what was coming, in 
spite of all the time and expense and planning Brenda had put into the scene 
below, but pregnant? That sure as hell wasnt it.
He slumped onto the first choir bench. He had trouble catching his breath to 
speak.
But weWe were careful, you know. We
Theyd talked about kids. They hadnt agreed on how many; that was a topic for 
down the road. Neither of them had said, But if we get pregnant soon, its all 
off.
Shes feeling sick, is that it? Just cant make it today? Mason hated the 
hopeful tremor in his voice, because he knew in his heart that a little nausea 
didnt justify a courier instead of a phone call.
Anthony shook his head. As the quiet stretched between them, he asked, somewhat 
hopefully, You want me to go? You know, give you some space?
If she didnt want him, fine. But she wasnt taking his child, maybe a little 
girl as sweet as Lily, andSo why isnt she here then?
Anthony sighed, guyspeak for Dont make me tell you this.
Theres more?
Anthony nodded, stepping away from the edge of the loft, strategically keeping 
the stairs at his back for a quick getaway. Remember Lyle Thomas, the guy 
Brenda paraded around to make you jealous?
Its his?
Mason accepted that with mixed feelings, a small part relief, a large part anger 
at Brenda for toying with him. One second he thought he was going to be a 
father, the next he wasnt. One minute he was about to be married, the next he 
wasnt. He eyed the rest of the pages in Anthonys hand, and when he spoke next, 
any hint of a tremor was long gone.
Im guessing thats not all. Hell if I can imagine whats left, though.
His bill. Again, Anthony proffered the pages.
Hes billing me for knocking up my fiance? Mason bellowed, forgetting what 
great acoustics the church had. As his outrage permeated the far corners, it set 
off a riptide of two hundred guests snapping around in their seats.
No, idiot. Well, I dont think so. Anthony shuffled through the pages quickly. 
Flowers. Flower arranging. Candlesooh, that could be code, you think? Ribbon. 
Labor, deliveryhmmm, the sign of things to come. Setup. Who knew he was the 
florist, huh?
Mason snatched the bill out of Anthonys hand and quickly scanned to the last 
page, where Brendas flowing script instructed him to pay the bill in full 
within thirty days. Underlined, for Gods sake. And then circled in red.
Thats it. Im outta here. See that Lily gets back to her mom, okay?
Sure, but, uh, I thinkI mean, its my job to remind you
What?
Mason, you have to go downstairs and tell the guests.
I think they heard. Mason ripped the bill down the middle and tossed it in the 
air. Torn pages floated over the wall to friends and family below. You coming 
with me?
Where? Anthony dialed Lilys mother.
Mason stripped off his tie. The nearest bar. Better yet, I have two tickets to 
Arubayou choose.
 
Late the next morning in northeastern Missouri, Lyle Thomas ran through the 
front door of Jade Delarues historic home and made a beeline for the nearest 
fireplace.
Brenda backed out! he shouted with unrepressed glee, popping around the 
walnut-paneled study like a live wire, brushing snow off his butt and legs 
because hed slipped and fallen on the way in. Can you believe it? I cant 
believe it. I get another chance!
So, no wedding last night, Jade said, grinning at his exuberance.
Lyles excitement was catching, even though shed expected this very outcome. 
Unlike Harry Potter or Samantha Stevens, Jade didnt wave a wand around or 
twitch her nose, set things on fire, or summon quirky physical manifestations 
that talked back, but she did know her stuff.
Lyle threw his arms around Jade and hugged her soundly. He lifted her off the 
carpet and swung her in a circle.
She called last night and said she loves me and she was crazy to think she 
should go back to Mason. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I am so happy my 
sister dragged me here and made me tell you everything and made me let you 
help!
When Lyle set Jade back on her feet, she ran her fingers through her hair, 
attempting to restore some kind of order to soft, dark spirals that seized any 
opportunity to go their own way.
Thats great news, Lyle. Now we should
I didnt want to come, you know. I kicked and screamed all the way from 
Hannibal, but Mary kept saying that if I didnt want my one true love to slip 
away, then a road trip to see you was just the ticket. She said I had to be 
straight with you, or you wouldnt have anything to do with me, and I was.
There was no stopping him. It was as if hed come to life overnight. He circled 
the room, pausing only as he noticed the decorations for the first time.
You people celebrate Christmas? he asked with surprise.
Jade wasnt offended; unlike many, Lyle didnt utter you people in a negative 
manner.
We call it Yule, she explained.
Oh. Dont worry, by the way. Mary told me most people think youre just an 
herbalist, and I cant ever tell anybody otherwiseyou know, about what you do. 
Though why you do it here is beyond me. If my parents hadnt gotten married in 
January forty years ago this weekend, I sure as heck wouldnt be back here now. 
Not in Missouri in the middle of winter, no way. I wouldve begged off this 
trip.
Come on, Jade urged. She turned toward the door in an attempt to move Lyle on 
to the next step, as there was still work to be done. Lets go into the 
conservatory and
But what was the point in staying in Pensacola if Brenda was marrying that 
lowlife, right? Lyle motored on, then shot his arm in the air, and shouted, 
Mason Kincaid, eat your heart out!
Jades lips twitched with amusement. How many cups of coffee have you had this 
morning?
Five maybe six, I lost count, he said, running the words together.
Lyle!
He grinned. Sorry. Im just so happy.
You have what you want.
Yes!
Right. Then its time to thank the spirits for acting so quickly. Lets go into 
the
Cant. Im on my way to the airport now.
Oh, Jade said, taken aback. Generally clients were awed by her skills and 
followed directions without question. Some out of gratitude; some a little bit 
afraid of her, though no one ever said so. But were not finished.
Regular clientsones not shoved through the front door by well-meaning 
sistersnever left early. More work needed to be done to ensure Lyles success 
in the relationship department. It was precisely why Jade preferred working with 
fully committed guests, the ones who made their own reservations and arrived on 
their own.
It already worked, Lyle said with finality, clearly meaning case closed.
Yes, and now you have to
I have to get to the airport.
Jade blew out a breath, hoping hed notice her exasperation and come around. 
Seconds passed. She couldnt very well hog-tie him to the hearth.
Let me give you something before you go, then, she acquiesced. Its 
important. Itll take just a second.
She left the study immediately, leaving no room for argument.
When the coffee wore off, Lyle would be afraid that Brenda would leave him 
again, just as before, so Jade had assembled a charm bag. The pouch contained 
elements chosen just for him. Its purpose wasnt to keep Brenda with Lyle 
against her will, that would be wrong, but it would remind him to nurture his 
second chance at love. Carrying it would lend some stick-to-itiveness.
Jade returned to the study, and as she placed the red flannel bag in Lyles 
hand, she curled his fingers over it, and hers over his. She held his attention, 
demanding his focus as she instructed him with a sense of urgency.
Keep this on you every day, she said. Its small. It wont be noticeable in 
your pocket.
Whats in it?
A romantic charm.
Lyle danced from one foot to the other. Hed never stay long enough to learn 
about a postbreakup cleansing spell for Brenda.
He said, Ill check it out later.
You should. Its important you identify with it. Hed understand the 
birthstone beads shed sewn to the drawstrings, and the engraved, entwined 
silver rings inside. Not so the rest of it.
Lyle turned the bag to and fro in his hand, testing its weight, the feel of the 
contents. With a sly grin, he said, This wont get me arrested at the airport, 
will it?
Not unless theres a new ban on goat tail hair that I havent heard about. Or 
spikenard root. Now thisJade handed him a small glass vialis oil infused 
from the root. Add a drop to the bag every Friday.
You really think Ill need this? I mean, she called me. I think shes hooked, 
he said with a boyish grin.
Every Friday, Jade reiterated. Like clockwork.
Okay. That settled, Lyle darted toward the front door like a kid whod heard 
the recess bell. Thanks again for everything, Jade. If theres ever anything I 
can doI mean that.
Outside, he ran across the snow-covered garden rather than follow the meandering 
flagstone walk to the driveway. He managed to stay on his feet, but then nearly 
took out the curbside mailbox with his rental car.
Lyles abrupt departure left a few loose ends, which Jade disliked. Restless and 
uncomfortable, she stood in the open doorway, lifted her chin, and let the cold 
wind blow away all lingering negativity.
Her spirit renewed, she withdrew to the soaring glass-and-stone conservatory 
that filled an entire wing of the house. There she sought a peaceful conclusion, 
to tie everything up in a neat package.
She selected a long white taper from a cabinet darkened with age, rubbed it with 
fragrant oilone of her special blendsand sprinkled it with powdered orris 
root. Holding it in both hands, she closed her eyes and, working from the ease 
that came since practicing the Craft at her grandmothers side, quickly called 
her emotions to the surface.
Energy began to flow, to surge through her body like current through a wire. 
Jade directed that energy into the candle, charging it, focusing the powers of 
the universe on the matter at handBrendas jilted fiancas she said,
The all-seeing eye of fairness and love 
Shines down and sees from far above 
That whomever Brenda jilted, whatever his game, 
He deserves someone better to take his name. 
So no more heartache and no more trouble, 
True love he finds, on the double! 
Jade set the taper into a niche in the stone wall and lit it. The spell was 
done. Rarely did one of hers require more involved ritual, though she often 
embellished for paying guests. Over the years shed discovered that elaborate 
and involved were directly proportional to referrals, which is how shed dug 
Mystic Manor out of its financial quagmire after her parents had passed the 
family home on to her.
If shed left the conservatory then, everything would have been perfect. But 
after the effort spent on saving Lyles romance, after seeing how his sisters 
had progressed over the past year to impending motherhoodwell, it nagged at 
Jade, all of it. Pointed out her shortcomings in the relationship/propagation 
department. Made her want to take control.
Some people cooked for others. Some sewed for others. Jade cast spells, mostly 
for others. It was what she did, how she gave back for the gift shed been 
given, and she enjoyed helping people, but now it was time she did one for 
herself. Six years alone was long enough. She and her husband had planned to 
have children, and Doug was a sweetheart of a guy who wouldnt want his 
unfortunate disappearance to prevent her from having the family she always 
wanted. It was time to at least open herself to the possibility of a partner.
He, whoever he might be, had to be the right man for her to marry. Trustworthy 
to a fault. A calm, even-tempered individual, able to deal with needy people 
traipsing in and out of Mystic Manor on any given day. Smart. Funny. Helpful. 
Really open-minded. Eager to have children, along with the ability; mustnt 
forget the ability. Loyal, truthful. Good-looking, much taller than her 
five-eight, sexy as all get-outand why not? The universe held everything she 
wanted, as long as every step of her request was letter-perfect.
Timing couldnt be better; there was a new moon today. With the power of new 
beginnings behind this spell, she could meet and capture the heart of Mr. Right 
very soon.
Jade selected another taper, anointed it with oil, and rolled it in an herbal 
blend that felt personal to her, a combination of lavender, rosemary, and 
vanilla. During every step, she focused on all that she wanted and needed. For 
many witches shed mentored over the years, focus was the crucial step that so 
many glossed over, with poor results.
Holding the candle, she closed her eyes and spoke from the heart.
Spirits who see from far and near 
Know the values I hold dear. 
I am still here, alive and real. 
Enough time has passed for my heart to heal. 
Its time to love a man who is good 
So life can go on as it should. 
In this department, grant me every desire 
And send a man who lights my fire, 
A man who is loyal and true. 
Unbidden, an image popped into her head. Feeling a little impish, she grinned 
and impulsively agreed:
A Pierce Brosnan clone will do. 
Well, why the heck not? Thats what wishes were for. If Mr. Right came in the 
perfect gift wrap, who was she to argue?
Match to wick, the second candle joined the first in the niche, along with a 
rose quartz. Finished, Jade walked away; the spells would work their magic 
without her presence.
No sooner had she closed the door to the conservatory than the spirits, normally 
so cooperative, added their own two cents. Hot wax breached the rims and began 
to drip down both tapers. Slowly at first, then faster as the heat was boosted 
with another wave and yet another, the white rivulets meandered across the stone 
base of the niche like lava seeking a path across rocky terrain.
At the midpoint, they pooled, intermingled, and solidified into one.
Chapter 2 
A nthony searched high and low for Mason throughout Sunday and into Monday 
morning. Hed tried keeping tabs on him in the bar Saturday night, but at one 
point one of them had gone to the john, and theyd gotten separated.
Running out of places to search, and on the outside chance that Mason had been 
so bent hed ended up in the honeymoon suite, Anthony finally checked the hotel.
This is sick. Youre sick, he said scathingly when he found Mason in the 
king-size bed, sound asleep, half-buried by a dozen satin pillows that ran the 
gamut from red, to white-with-red-hearts, to heart-shaped.
All froufrou; totally Brenda. All a man like Mason wanted was one regular-size, 
same-as-he-grew-up-with pillow, and he was happy.
Wake up!
Mason stirred at last, unaccustomed to anyone entering his territory and 
shouting at him like a drill sergeant. He tossed frilly pillows adrift, 
completely oblivious to the metallic crunch of empty beer cans as he rolled over 
them.
Anthony wrinkled his nose. A honeymoon suite should smell like roses. This one 
rivaled a distillery.
I cant believe you stayed here. What on earth were you thinking?
Mason cracked his eyes open, squinting and throwing his arm up to block the 
midmorning light. What the hell?
Exactly.
After theyd left the church, Anthony had decided that if his best friend and 
partner wasnt married, then his best friend and partner was going back to work. 
Theyd both planned to take this week off, Mason on his honeymoon, Anthony 
skiing, but getting Mason back on his feet was more important. Even more 
important now that Anthony had seen how low hed sunk.
Ive been lining up a job so you can get out of town and forget all this, and 
youve beenAnthony scanned the suite with a disgusted scowlhere.
It quickly became apparent that Mason was far beyond inferring anything from 
whatever Anthony said or did as, arching his back, he slid his hand between it 
and the mattress and pulled out one minibar bottle after another. He tossed them 
carelessly, didnt bat an eye as they banged the wall and cracked the lamp. 
Seemed he didnt care much about anything except closing his eyes and passing 
out again.
No way, man. Anthony shook him without success. Time to step up the assault. 
Poking through an assortment of clear and brown and green bottles, which clearly 
outnumbered the squashed cans, he barked, Since when do you drink this stuff?
Evidence said Mason had gone through a couple dozen, and those, all without 
caps, all empty, were just the ones currently visible.
Get up. Were leaving.
Must you keep shouting?
Im not Anthony lowered his voice. Get dressed. We have to be at the airport 
in an hour. My uncle got us a job. Surveillance.
Mason wasnt listening. He stuck a finger in his ear and wiggled it vigorously, 
as if he wasnt thinking clearly yet knew something was amiss. You hear the 
shower?
Come on. Up, up, get dressed.
As Mason lay back and shoved more bottles and cans out of nose range, Anthony 
realized they werent leaving anytime today unless he took charge. If the babe 
whod been following Mason around Saturday night was using the shower now, well, 
thered be no getting him out of this suite until he was darn good and 
readythat could take a while after Brendas crazy six weeks of enforced 
abstinenceso Anthony picked up one slightly damp shoe, prayed to God it was 
liquor and not something yellow, and got down on his knees to look under the bed 
for the other.
He kept talking during this, hoping that as Mason heard details, his instincts 
would kick in and sober him up. No need to tell him just yet that the job was 
out of state.
Three guys took out large life policies six years ago and then disappeared. 
Together. The countys issuing presumptive death certificates. A year late, 
which is curious, but I guess no one was in a hurry. Are you getting any of 
this?
Uh-huh.
Youd better be, because we start today. My uncle already has teams on two of 
the widows. Were staking out the third. Theyre all friends, all still single, 
so to speak, and no surprise here, all have somewhat shady reputations in the 
community. The companys betting the alleged dead guys will sneak in just long 
enough to collect the checks. Maybe even the wives, who knows?
Paying around-the-clock surveillance teams would be a lot cheaper than issuing 
three million in death benefits.
What are you doing? Mason asked, peering over the side of the bed at Anthony. 
Obviously no instincts kicking in there.
Looking for your other shoe.
Shouldnt I get dressed first?
Got it. Anthony whipped up the bottom of the sheet and crammed a shoe onto 
Masons right foot.
Ow. Hey, you got it on the wrong one.
Trust me, after thirty years, I know the difference.
Its too small.
If you start whining, Ill quit feeling sorry for you. Anthony slapped on the 
second shoe. It was a tight fit, but he made it work. The shower stopped, and he 
said, Lets get out of here.
These shoes arent right. Mason lifted his head off the pillow, but nothing 
else followed, so he just stared at his feet.
The bathroom door swung inward then, only it wasnt the beautiful babe standing 
there with a short towel draped around her. It wasnt even a pity date. Hairy 
chest, legs of steelthe guy looked vaguely familiar, but Anthony hadnt seen 
him half-naked before.
And then it came crystal clear.
Well, you dog, you, Anthony said with a sly grin at Mason, who was blinking in 
confusion. When I said the bartender was cute, I meant for me, not you.
With a horror-stricken expression, Mason shot out of bed, denying everything, 
but his foot caught in the tangled sheet and tumbled him flat on his face on the 
carpet.
Anthony nudged him to see if he was out. Had to be; a guy didnt gash his face 
on a bottle like that without knocking himself senseless. A little tape would 
hold the skin together. They could spin by Masons condo, repack his bags for 
snow and ice, and still make the flight. Better get him to Missouri and in place 
before he sobered up, because he sure was gonna be pissed when he didnt wake up 
in Aruba.
 
Jade spent Monday morning removing the last of the Yule decorations throughout 
Mystic Manor, and a large part of the afternoon preparing for Imbolc, or 
Candlemas as West Bluffs church-loving population liked to call it. She was in 
and out of the conservatory numerous times, getting candles, placing them in 
every window and room of the house, ready to be lit at sunset. Never once did 
she feel that something was out of place until daylight began to wane. Then the 
hair on the back of her neck suddenly stood up.
Not a good sign.
She retraced her steps toward the conservatory until the feeling was strongest, 
right by the stone niche where, as a habit, she left dripless spell candles to 
burn. Right by the solidified pool of wax where there should have been nothing.
No, Jade whispered. Her pulse skittered with alarm. She stared hard at the 
wax, struck immobile with a sense of disbelief.
Sure, she was unhappy with the mess, the way the wax had oozed into every dip 
and crevice and then hardened, but that paled in comparison to two different 
spell candles running together. How many times had Aunt Helen thumped her on the 
head and warned her that every misplaced word, every poorly calculated action, 
had consequences?
How did this happen?
More important, How the heck do I undo it?
All of Jades tapers were supplied by Annie, one of her closest friends. They 
were hand-dipped and never dripped. Never. This had disaster written all over 
it. No way Jade could pretend there was no significance. The universe was too 
organized for things like this to happen without consequences.
She dug at the waxy white lump with her thumbnail and lifted off a small slab, 
but so what? The damage was done. The spell had more than enough time to begin 
to work. Possibly too long to break.
Nevertheless, she had to try to right it. She had to cast a strong, effective 
reverse spell immediately.
Though what spell? This wasnt something she had much practice at. Like, none. 
But every minute counted.
Clasping her crystal ring tightly, Jade put out a silent plea to Annie for help, 
which was really nothing less than a powerful, highly charged spell. Since Annie 
normally finished her candle dips in wax with a higher melting temperature so 
they wouldnt drip, and since she always was reversing her own spells-gone-awry, 
one could argue that Annie not only was somewhat accountable for this mess but 
would be an invaluable ally as well.
While she waited to hear from Annie, Jade rushed through the tunnel-like brick 
archway that led from the conservatory to the herb-drying room. There, in a 
closed cabinet, sat dozens of family grimoires, handwritten accounts of spells, 
charms, and remedies passed from one generation to another. She ran her fingers 
lightly over the gold-lettered spines, seeking guidance from the spirits before 
selecting one penned by Great-great-grandma, which seemed the most likely source 
because, as everyone in the family knew, Grandma Clarissa, poor thing, messed up 
as often as not.
An eclectic witch, Jade neither followed whatever traditions were in vogue nor 
favored one pantheon of spirits over another; she unashamedly sought help 
wherever most appropriate. Today she chose Cerridwen, as the Old One was the 
keeper of knowledge and transformation, and right now, Jade needed her 
expertise.
She laid the book flat and carefully thumbed through the delicate pages, 
preserved over the years from nibbling bugs with dried mugwort. Grandmas 
reversal spells focused on reversing hexes; maybe appropriate back in her day, 
but not so much now. Jade was just about to try another grimoire when Annie 
finally burst through the front door, shrieking Jades name.
Out here! Jade called back.
Annie tore into the drying room, pink scarf flying behind her, shoulders and 
pixie-cut hair covered with snowflakes. Like Jade, she wore an abundance of 
silver rings, but otherwise she was her opposite, blond and short.
Whats wrong? she gasped, breathless from rushing to Jades side. Youre pale 
as a ghost. Whose grimoire is this? Is there something bad in it?
When Jade didnt reply fast enough, Annie grabbed her and shook her until she 
did.
Thank goodness youre here. Jade hugged Annie with relief, then thrust her to 
arms length. You have to help me. I need to reverse a spell.
Annie blinked. You?
Jade thumped Annies arm so shed stop grinning and recognize the seriousness of 
the situation. She explained what shed done, even the Pierce Brosnan part and 
how the candles had dripped and
My candles? Dripped?
Annie, concentrate.
All right, already. Let me think. Take the wax, wrap it updo you have some 
fabric handy? Annie flinched as Jade grabbed her scarf and plunked the wax onto 
it. Annie snatched it back and glared at her.
What? Ill make you a new one, Jade said.
The heck you will. Courtney made it. Knowing the room well, Annie opened a 
drawer and pulled out a flannel square. She dropped the wax onto the center of 
it and took care to fold it away from Jade before handing it back.
Now what? If she hadnt been so flustered, so caught off guard, Jade wouldnt 
have asked at all, because even a toddler knew the answer to that. Oh, I know. 
I bury it at a crossroad.
At midnight.
Midnight? she wailed. This cant wait another six hours.
And sprinkle it with
Annie! Jade thumped her on the head this time. Something I can do now, 
please. Something with a candle, maybe?
Annie blinked, as if surprised she hadnt thought of that, since candle magic 
was the one thing that never backfired on her.
Oh. Sure. You can burn a seven-knob candle. No, wait, that takes a whole week. 
Okay, I know. What do you have, a black candle, maybe? A silver one?
Jade threw open a cabinet out in the main part of the conservatory, exposing 
shelves of tapers and pillars in a variety of colors, though predominantly 
white.
Annie pointed at the pillars. Use one of those, its easier. Get a knife.
Jade grabbed one and waited for further instructions.
Now turn it upside down and expose the base of the wick.
Of course! Pleased with the simplicity and logic of this reversal spell, Jade 
made short work of preparing the candle to burn backward.
Botanicals are your business, Annie said. I leave the anointing to you.
Im not using whats in Great-grandmas grimoire, thats for sure.
Dont have it?
Dont want to burn anything with pee on it.
Eww.
Maybe some arrowroot? And, hm, chamomile? Peppermint? Jade said, not really 
asking Annies advice but thinking aloud as she returned to the drying room and 
took stock of every precious dark-colored jar, selecting a few as she went. This 
was a concoction shed have to make from scratch, then shed oil the candle and 
roll it in the blend.
Annie said, Ill scrape up the rest of the wax. When Im finished, you want me 
to start lighting candles upstairs?
Thanks, Jade murmured, already turning words over in her mind, selecting and 
discarding several phrases one after the other.
It had been right to wish the best for Brendas ex, so she didnt want to 
reverse that. Nor did she particularly want to reverse the part where she opened 
herself to a new love. But any parts that connected the first to the second had 
to go.
With her mission clearly outlined, Jade took a deep breath and concentrated on 
grinding the bad part of her inadvertently commingled spells to a screeching 
halt. For this one, she was pulling out all the stops.
A concealed drawer beneath the work counter housed several wands, most of them 
very old, each wrapped separately in sumptuous red silk. Jade selected a 
beautifully crafted eighteen-inch iron wand for extra power, one embellished 
with a crystal tip and black tourmaline. In moments, she raised her energy to a 
high level, because intent alone wasnt enough; spells didnt work without 
energy. She used the wand to cast a circle and hold all that power within. As 
she marked the four directions with stones, each in turn, she said,
Guardians of the North, element of Earth, 
Two spells I cast; nurture them well, but smother any ties. 
Guardians of the East, element of Air, 
Two spells I cast; separate is good, together not wise. 
Guardians of the South, element of Fire, 
Two spells I cast; that which unites, set to flames. 
Guardians of the West, element of Water, 
Two spells I cast; alone like islands, nothing the same. 
Jade visualized Lyle calling one day soon, telling her that Brendas ex was 
happy and settled with a family of his own. She took special care to clear her 
mind of that thought before moving on to visualize herself happy and glowing 
with a new love of her own.
That done, Jade lit the upside-down pillar.
Calmer now, she sighed with relief at a job well done, a catastrophe averted. 
She slipped her ruby ring off her finger and laid it by the candle; the color 
lent speed to spells, the setting of silver wings enhanced it further. 
Conversely, the ring also would absorb energy from the spell, without weakening 
it in any way, allowing her to carry that energy with her later, until the deed 
was done.
A spell was no good if she doubted herself, if she continued to worry about 
Lyles ex-rival arriving in her life. Shed look back on this later and laugh. 
Next year, maybe. Right now, it was time to open the circle and leave the magic 
to work itself, and she did so promptly.
The sun had set while shed been working, marking the beginning of Imbolc. The 
festival celebrated not spring, but the first stirring of it, when animals 
awakened from hibernation and crocuses began to peek through the snow. Jade lit 
a taper, left the conservatory, and began lighting candles in the back of the 
house.
I skipped the office. Hope you dont mind, Annie said as their paths merged in 
the kitchen, and they continued toward the front rooms. Its such a mess, I was 
afraid to light anything.
No kidding. I didnt even put a candle in there.
Jade loved Imbolc. Her home took on the warm glow of candlelight, of flickering 
shadows and golden hues. Yule was over. The days were lengthening, the nights 
growing shorter. Soon it would be spring, bringing more clients for long, 
enlightening weekends.
Having guests was a mixed blessing. She couldnt have dug Mystic Manor out of 
debt without them, but some days she just liked to work in the drying room until 
lunchtime. Or wash her hair and lounge around in sweats all evening. It was, 
after all, her home, her refuge. It held the essence of generations of Delarues 
before her, and she didnt like just anybody traipsing through it.
Feeling better? Annie asked as they finished their circuit in the foyer.
Yes, Jade said, able to smile now with real relief.
It didnt last long, only until the front door burst open and two men blew in 
and slammed it against the wind. Both were tall, bundled in dark parkas, and 
dusted with snow.
Forget positive thinking. It was too late for that. All Jade could do was stand 
there and gawk at the sum of what shed wrought
Pierce Brosnans clone. 
No, no, no!
The most she could do as she stared at him was gasp, and that didnt nearly echo 
the alarm she was feeling. She shouldnt be gawking. She should be shouting 
vile, horrible things that would make him back out the door and run away, escape 
into the night, but try as she might, she could barely breathe, let along put 
two coherent words together.
Damn, she whispered at last. He was perfect; over six feet, with steel blue 
eyes, jet-black hair, the works.
Yeah, Annie echoed.
Guess I shouldve peed on the pillar.
Yeah.
Think its too late? Thatd send any sane man running for the hills.
Though from the looks of him, he might not notice. Bloodshot eyes, a couple 
days stubble on his face, and three white butterfly bandages closing a gash 
over his left cheekbonewhat a sorry-looking double. The scowl didnt help 
either. As he did a visual 360 of the foyer and great hall, silently noting the 
candles burning in every window and in several wall sconces, he lookedangry, 
like a guy who wouldnt mind stuffing a body into a trunk right about now.
He also looked really, really good in candlelight.
 
Whaddya think, wedding or funeral? Mason had snarled a few minutes earlier, as 
a strong wind whipped Anthony and him up the flagstone steps to Mystic Manor.
Swear to God, there was a candle burning in every friggin window. And this 
place had a lot of windows. All those flickering flames just reminded him of 
Brenda.
Try to forget youre hungover and pissed off, okay? Anthony said. They paused 
in front of the leaded-glass door and stomped snow off their hiking boots. 
Were supposed to have been out eagle watching all day.
It doesnt snow in Aruba. I could birdwatch in Aruba.
Yeah, but you wouldnt get paid for it. Now shut up and make like a guy whos 
never seen anything as beautiful as a bald eagle.
Anthony opened the front door. They rushed in, both of them shouldering it 
closed against the howling wind just as Mason said, Youre only pissed because 
I slept with your boyfriend, in front of a stunned audience.
Two very striking women, staring at them, wide-eyed. Both holding burning 
candles. One in slim, curve-hugging jeans that made her legs look as long as 
his, the other insomething unimportant. They had their heads together, speaking 
softly.
While the number on the street side mailbox matched their destination, thered 
been no sign to identify this as anything other than a private residence.
Ah, this is Mystic Manor, right? Mason zeroed in on the taller one in 
stiletto-heeled boots. If there was a God in heaven, shed be the subject. If 
not, if they were in the wrong house and had to stake out some other address, 
Anthony might have to find a new partner.
I am a trained professional, he reminded himself with anticipation. And, Ill 
admit, a little slow on the uptake this evening. So Ill need to spend extra 
time familiarizing myself with every luscious inch of
Yeah, we werent sure, Anthony threw in, the sound of his voice forcefully 
reminding Mason that he was supposed to be working.
With the wind no longer numbing his senses, Mason glanced around, getting the 
lay of the land, so to speak. He took in lots of gleaming dark wood, richly 
colored Oriental carpets, and holy cow, at the far end of the foyer, a central 
staircase rose, split at a wide landing, and turned back on itself. The house 
was toned down from a mansion youd see in the movies; more his idea of a 
luxurious hunting lodge where the weapons of choice were Jack Daniels and a 
royal flush.
Is that a Tiffany? Anthony asked in a reverent tone. Unlike Mason, he was 
staring up at the large, ornate window topping the landing. Backlit for effect 
at night, its palette of jewel tones was nothing short of magnificent.
Yes, he installed it himself. A little pride crept into Ms. Stilettos voice, 
but it didnt last long. Now, if youre looking for a place to stay, I can give 
you directions to several other establishments.
Other told Mason all he needed to know, which was good, because as soon as 
hed once-overed the decor, he was back to studying the woman with fantastic 
taste in heels. He couldnt possibly be sober, or she wouldnt look like that. 
Perfect skin. Who had perfect skin these days, with pollution and junk food? 
Hers was flawless, swear to God.
Long, dark hair fell beyond her shoulders, twisting like a spiral staircase, 
which immediately led his thoughts right up to the bedroom. Those silky curls 
would snare a lovers hand, holding it captive, winding around his fingers like 
ribbons.
Eventually he got to her eyes. They tilted slightly at the corners, speaking of 
mysterious, exotic ancestry. Green. Mesmerizing. Magnetic. His brain was so 
muddled, he couldnt figure out if he was drawn to her like a mosquito to a bug 
zapper because he was still drunk, or if being so saved him from frying himself 
to an ignominious end.
Anthony cleared his throat pointedly. Mason took a long, deep breath to clear 
his head, thinking mystery was goodin a relationship, not a surveillance 
subject. Forced to concentrate on the job at hand, he realized Jade hadnt 
actually answered the question, a trait shared by most people with something to 
hide. He was better off focusing on the candle in her hand. Thatd keep his head 
straight if he lived through it. The flame was nothing less than a sharp pin 
constantly pricking his sore brain.
Anthony took the lead, nudging the registry on the kidney-shaped desk. A guy 
down in town said this is a B&B. If you have any vacancies, wed sure appreciate 
two rooms.
At least Brenda didnt light them all at once, Mason muttered. Talk about dj 
vu. Only the ribbons and flowers were missing.
Excuse me?
Oh. Nothing, Mason said. A wave of his hand indicated all the burning candles. 
Just wondering what the occasion is.
Annies birthday.
There it was. Lie number one. And it slid off her lips so easily.
If Annie was the blonde, then the raven-haired beauty whod spoken had to be 
Jade Delarue, a.k.a. the Target. The name fit. Hed be hard put to say how 
exactly, but it did.
Didnt matter though, he thought, catching himself before he fell into her trap. 
There was a fifty-fifty chance Ms. Delarue had something to do with her 
husbands disappearance or knew something about it. Better than fifty-fifty. 
Three full-grown husbands, hers and those of her two best friends, didnt just 
go missing without leaving something to trace.
Annie was Team Twos target, which explained the dark van across the street. 
Mason didnt remember the third womans name. Hell, he was doing well to 
remember there was a third.
Im sorry, Jade said, opening a desk drawer, extracting brochures. I have a 
policy of booking advance reservations only
To Masons surprise, Annie grabbed Jade by the arm and pulled her aside with a 
cute, apologetic, One minute, okay?
Anthony seized the opportunity to round on Mason and whisper, Forget Brenda and 
the blasted candles for five minutes!
Look, Im tired and Im cold. I need to crawl into bed without worrying about 
the whole place burning to the ground around me, okay? Is that too much to ask?
Dont mess this up, Mason. You may not have little brothers and sisters 
depending on you for tuition, but I do, dammit, so be professional and stick to 
the plan.
Okay, okay, he grumbled.
I mean it. It cant get any easier than staying right under her roof.
Chill, man. I promise.
That securedAnthony knew Masons word was ironcladAnthony smoothly turned back 
to the women with his trademark disarming smile. Jade and Annie seemed to have 
resolved their issues just as quickly.
It sure would be helpful if we could stay here, Anthony said. You see, were 
chronicling the increasing numbers of bald eagles wintering over along the 
Mississippi, and with this house perched on a bluff the way it is
I guess I could make an exception for fellow nature lovers.
Jade smiled when she said it, but given her sudden change of heart, Mason didnt 
believe one enthusiastic note in her voice. Lie number two.
I know just the rooms, she said. Youll get the best views in the morning 
when the birds are more active.
Great, Anthony said with an affable smile. Isnt that great, Mason?
Great.
Anthony introduced them as freelance author/photographers, then smoothly took 
Jade into his confidence as he reached for his wallet. I hate staying in hotels 
with all our equipment. Too many people in and out of the rooms to leave 
anything behind during the day, if you know what I mean. Do you take charges?
No, but a check will be fine.
Jade quoted a rate that had no business outside of New York or L.A. And when 
Anthony dropped the pen in surprisenot much surprised him, but the Mystic Manor 
web site had been all about botanicals and zip on the B&BAnnie stepped forward 
and said, Ah, Jade, theyll be so busy doing their own thing, dont you think 
we could offer them the discounted rate?
Jades face went from What discounted rate? to Oh. Sure.
Of course, she said, pasting on a smooth smile. Annies absolutely right.
Lie number three. In less than five minutes!
Mason could feel Anthony itching to get back to backgrounding, which, due to the 
haste in which they took this job, he hadnt had time to complete. Not their 
normal MO, but life didnt always work out by the book.
Please, bring your things in and make yourselves at home. Mystic Manor prides 
itself on hospitality, Jade said with a warm smile, which faded a bit each time 
she looked Masons way.
They had better than theyd hoped forpractically the run of the house. He and 
Anthony could be in and out all hours of the day and night. They could even 
wander into other rooms with no more explanation than, An eagle flew this way. 
I thought maybe I could get a better shot from here.
As long as the rooms werent rented, of course. But then, if Jade Delarue was 
hiding letters from a missing spouse, they wouldnt be in those rooms. Mason had 
to work on the assumption, though, that if he had been here anytime in the last 
six years, he might have left something behind. And that could be anywhere 
between the rafters and the cellar floor.
Or she could be hiding communication from a co-conspirator, because one thing 
was certain: Jades husband hadnt disappeared alone.
When Mason unzipped his parka, Jade graced him with a smile, somewhat at his 
expense.
What? he asked.
Were generally not so formal around here.
He looked down at himself, not a clue as to what she meant.
The eagles dont expect a tux.
The tux is for you, sweetheart, he said with a wink. He started a grin, too, 
until it pulled at the tender gash on his cheek.
New style? Jade cocked her head, her grin equally sassy.
Damn, he liked sassy. If he was going to have half a chance of seeing this job 
through, she needed to stop talking and let him get a good nights sleep to 
clear his head.
Or do you always keep it rolled up in the trunk?
Great. Witty banter, and he was at a distinct disadvantage.
Jade stepped very close, staring at the gash on his cheek. She smelled 
delicious, and it took all the willpower he could muster not to lean in and 
sniff her hair. He might have been dumped at the altar just hours agotime spent 
unconscious didnt countbut hed have to be dead not to take a minute to admire 
this lovely creature gazing up at him. And right now, he very much did not want 
to be dead.
Ill make you something to put on that. Itll heal faster and wont leave a 
scar.
Im using one of those antibiotic creams.
She didnt roll her eyes but looked as if she wanted to.
Up and to the left. Jade handed him a beaded lanyard with an old-fashioned 
brass skeleton key and something else.
Whats this?
A mini dream catcher.
Oh, goody. Ill dream about a mini fire instead of a big one.
This fire was as dangerous as it was magnetic. In Jades presence, sporting a 
hangover to end all hangovers, Mason again felt like a stupid, misguided 
mosquito. If he wasnt careful, hed land on her, fry his guts out, and bite the 
ground in a pile of dust. Not pretty.
He had to move away, get away, get his wits about him so he could deal with her. 
Bed. Alone. Sleep.
Do you dream about fires often?
Forget it. Mason bounced the key in his hand and headed for the wide 
staircase.
Your luggage? Jade prompted.
Warm bed, Mason replied.
Though sleep could be far from coming. Of the three women left behind on the 
same day six years ago, all had remained singlegiven their looks, what were the 
odds?and two of them were in this house, right now.
It was going to be a pleasure getting close to Jade.
Chapter 3 
M ason spent his first hour at Mystic Manor soaking up bone-melting heat in a 
gleaming, old-fashioned, claw-footed bathtub. The tiled bathroom was large, 
stocked with plush man-size towels in an assortment of browns and greens. A 
beribboned basket of small packages bearing Mystic Manor Botanicals labels 
offered bath salts for sleeping, dreaming (a choice of lucid or calm), and 
healing. Mason wondered what happened if you mixed them.
Also in the basket were MMB soaps, shampoo, lip balms, bath sachets for energy, 
peace, breaking habits
Give me a break, he muttered.
The tub filled while he poked through the basket. Nothing labeled Brenda Reject, 
Black Weekend from Hell, or Abducted to Siberia. One was for nightmares, though. 
If that didnt fit the bill, he didnt know what would, so he untied the ribbon 
and dumped it into the water. The white stuff disappeared and left behind little 
brown and green floaty things.
A candle had been left burning, same as in the bedroom. Mason had blown them out 
before hed even turned on the water, thinking, What, one insurance check isnt 
enough? Now Ms. Delarue wanted to set fire to the house and blame it, oh so 
innocently, on a candle accident? The fire marshal would have a field day with 
the number of candlesticks left behind. From the foyer up to his bathroom, Mason 
had counted at least three dozen potential hazards.
As worn down as he was, he still wouldnt be able to sleep until he prowled the 
entire house later and blew out every goddam one.
Insurance moneywhat was wrong with people?
It wasnt as if Jade could just sell the property and leave the country on a 
yearlong round-the-world cruise, luxuriously ensconced in the Presidential 
Suite. A house like this, in this area, whod buy it? Who could afford it? Add 
its total replacement value to the death benefit, though, and the sexy Ms. 
Delarue could relocate to Europe. Or a Caribbean island. Hell, she could buy a 
whole damn island and burn all the friggin candles she wanted.
AlthoughMason pictured Jade in a bikini, with him, on a sandy beach, and warmed 
up far beyond tub temperature. He had a great eye for detail, even if he was, at 
the moment, supplying instead of observing. He dressed her in a forest green 
bikini, to match her eyes. Then, hell, he figured a nude beach would be a lot 
more fun and ditched the suit.
It wasnt Aruba, but it beat running around in the snow in a two-day-old tux. 
Hed nearly had heart failure when he woke up in the hotel room with the naked 
bartender, but every pearly shirt stud had been in place, his cummerbund still 
on, and the bartender swore all theyd done was drink to broken hearts.
Mason topped off his water a couple times as it cooled down. He was fighting a 
chill from hours of standing out in the snow because Anthony said they had to at 
least look as if theyd been out doing their fake job.
This was a great idea. Already he felt more like himself. He didnt even mind 
the herbs sticking to his chest like brown and green freckles.
An hour later, he rooted through his suitcase and found his black warm-up suit; 
better for prowling around the house after Jade went to bed. He wasnt sure yet 
if this contract was on the up-and-up or a bullshit assignment designed to keep 
him busy until he was sober again. Whichever, he needed a nap before he got 
started. Hed just flopped onto the queen-size bed when Anthony delivered a deep 
bowl of homemade soup.
Nice furniture, Anthony said. The bed and dressers were old and elegantly 
carved, yet heavy, not feminine and delicate. My room, too. Bet these are 
original.
Mason couldnt have cared less. More alert now that hed washed away two days of 
stink, he slipped into the pants and frowned at the bowl. Cream soup was for 
sissies, but other than a small bag of peanuts on the airplane, Mason wasnt 
sure when hed eaten last. Anything that smelled that good had to be lethal.
You think its wise, eating her cooking?
Its not as if her husband dropped dead, Anthony reasoned.
Who knows? Maybe she made their last meal before they left.
Then thered be a car. And bodies. Anthony wafted the soup beneath Masons 
nose. Taste it. You wont care.
Still, its cream soup.
Come on, Jade ate from the same pot. Besides, she only just met us, and its 
not as if my uncle advertised for a stakeout team. She couldnt be suspicious 
yet.
What is it? Potato? Mason leaned close and sniffed. Clam chowder?
Doesnt matter. Its the herbs that make it. Anthony shrugged. At least 
thats what she said. Cmon, man, you havent eaten worth a damn. Youll need 
energy to search this place. Its huge. Probably has hidden passageways and 
hidey-holes. Maybe secret entrances. Hell, maybe even tunnels.
What was his name again? Couldnt have been Delarue.
Her husband? Doug Stockard. Now eat! Anthonys phone vibrated on his belt, and 
he checked the caller ID. For cripes sake, call your sister, will you?
Tell her Im okay.
Youre not okay.
Then tell her Im alive.
Ive talked to her five times, at least. She wants to hear it from you. Cmon, 
man, she wont quit leaving messages on my phone.
Persistent, isnt she?
Yeah. Reminds me of someone. Wheres your phone?
Mason shrugged. He used just the tip of the spoon to taste the soup. That was 
all it took.
Oh. Oh my. Mason took the bowl before Anthony decided he wanted seconds. Id 
say no wonder she charges so much, but no meals worth those rates.
True. What could she offer foroh, hey, you think maybe we stumbled across a 
high-class bordello? And shes the madam?
I didnt think anything could beat Aruba, Mason said, grinning in spite of the 
pain beneath his eye. I was wrong.
 
Mason pulled the corded phone onto the bed and settled against the pillows, warm 
and somewhat content after the soup. Physically, anyway. Emotionally was another 
matter, but he didnt want to go there. Hed talk to his sister for a few 
minutes and then crash.
When you stormed out of the church, I couldnt tell if you were in a murderous 
rage or suicidal, Jen said when he called.
Me either. I went to a bar to figure it out.
A soft sound of amusement traveled the wire. Made everything come clear, did 
it?
For a while.
You all right? You sound like a gruff old bear.
Polar bear. Anthony says were in Missouri, but I dont know. All this snow? 
Could be Alaska.
Jen sighed, knowing shed get no more out of him on that score. Do you hate 
Brenda?
I hired a hit man.
Seriously, Mason. I have to see her at the Ladies League meeting next month, 
and I dont know whether to say hello or bitch slap her.
Damn, that sounds good. Can I come watch?
Sometime in the course of his long soak, hed decided he didnt hate Brenda. The 
big revelation was that hed never loved her either. What shed done and how 
shed done it was pretty mean, but when it came right down to it, shed started 
cutting the cord six weeks ago when shed made him waitnot to mention the break 
before thatand then on Saturday night shed severed it completely. Hed held up 
his end, putting on a tux, waiting at the church.
What the hell was I thinking? 
 
She came to his room later that evening, when Mason was alone. By she, he was 
hoping it was Jade knocking softly on his door, not Annie. Not that there was 
anything wrong with Annie, but how would he know since once hed seen Jade, hed 
barely looked in Annies direction.
She didnt slip through his door without turning on the light, which would have 
been a great finish to the hooker fantasy hed worked over in his mind after 
Anthony left. Instead, she waited quietly when he said, Just a sec.
He was still in his running pants, still warm enough from the bath and the soup 
that he didnt need a shirt. Hey, if she found that erotic and wanted to run her 
nails over his bare chest, who was he to stop her?
She could be like a spider after its prey, the big kind, the ones that run it 
down and capture it, and hell if he didnt mind so much. Thats how he knew he 
was in trouble. He didnt care. Even if she was a black widow whod screw his 
brains out and then kill him, at least hed die satisfied.
Widow. Oh shit, he thought as Anthonys briefing came back to him. Sure, sure, 
he was here to stake out her house and everyone in it, not enjoy the fringe 
benefits, but hed been fasting for a long, long time.
If one could call this a house. Hed read the brochure, which wasnt an 
advertisement; more like a thank-you for staying here, and by the way, heres a 
little history about us. Mid eighteen hundreds, ancestor immigrated to this 
country, took up shipping on the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, made a fortune 
in that and lumber, and so on. The first Mr. Delarue could have built along 
Millionaire Row in Hannibal with the other bigwigs, but he and his new bride 
treasured their solitude and chose this bluff instead, where they could take 
advantage of the natural light needed for the conservatory.
Hannibal didnt have natural light? News to him. Probably news to all the 
Hannibalites, too.
Conservatory; sounded like a doozy of a plant room. Maybe the madam had orgies 
in there.
Mason opened the door, expecting to see exactly who and what he got, except in 
his pruny, oversoaked condition, Jades black curls shone like tempting 
tendrils, no, fingers really, curling at him, beckoning him to step closer, to 
cross the threshold and follow her to her room, which would be dimly lit with a 
romantic glow, a red scarf draped over a small lamp
I hope I didnt wake you, she said, staring at the left side of his face. I 
noticed the light under your door.
She spoke quietly, as if there were other guests nearby whom she didnt want to 
disturb. That wasnt helping keep Masons thoughts in check. She was still in 
snug, fashionable jeans and a very soft-looking sweater. Pink. Feminine. None of 
that helped either.
Its best to start tonight, she said.
Mason swallowed hard and didnt realize for a couple seconds that she had 
something in her hand. She was holding it out for him to take, but it was only a 
small jar, and if he took it, she might leave, so he didnt.
When Jade reached out and touched his hand, lifting it from his side so she 
could give him the jar, Mason lost the power of speech. Oh, man, he was in 
trouble if things were starting out this way. The last time hed felt like this, 
hed been ten years old and found out the hard way that you have to learn how to 
swim before you jump in the deep end.
It was only because he had a hangover, because hed drunk every meal since 
Saturday night, and then some. If he could last until tomorrow, hed be fine. 
Hed be stronger tomorrow. Hed be himself. All business. All professional.
Jades touch was soft, her skin silky. The tiny jar that she set in his palm 
held her body heat and warmed his hand.
There you go, she said with a small smile that fed his fantasies. Just dab a 
little on that cut tonight and again in the morning.
He stared at the jar for a couple more seconds while he evaluated how helpless 
he could appear without overdoing it. Gashed face, two days of whiskers, but 
squeaky cleanhe was guessing he could get away with a lot.
How much is a dab? he asked.
A little bit.
Yeah, but how little?
Jade sighed. It was a good sigh, the kind a woman makes when she knows maybe her 
legs being pulled but doesnt mind too much.
I wouldnt want to mess up, Mason added, handing the jar back. Hed perfected 
the little grin, the little shrug of his shoulder that said, Im just a man. 
Help me.
You dont look so good. Jades brow creased with concern as she slipped past 
him into the room. Does your head hurt? Youd better lie down.
Okay, he was lying to himself. Shed said sit. The quilt was already turned 
down and the bed rumpled. He didnt want to push his luck, so he chose one of 
the two upholstered chairs by the small round table at the window.
Jade disappeared into his bathroom, and Mason couldnt come up with any reason 
why except every lascivious scenario hed already imagined, thanks to Anthony, 
until she returned with a cotton swab and her hair bouncing about her shoulders.
She started to unscrew the lid, but stopped mid-turn. Mason followed her gaze to 
the table, to the dead candle.
I need to relight that, she said. She gestured over her shoulder. The one in 
the bathroom?
Dont bother relighting them.
Its no bother. I just dont understand why theyre not burning.
I blew them out.
She looked alarmed. You blew them out?
I cupped with my hand. He smoothed his fingers over the tablecloth. See? No 
wax.
Jades alarmed look dissipated, though in all honesty, Mason didnt think it was 
the no-wax comment.
Its traditional to burn candles tonight, she said, turning her attention back 
to his gash. Its a holiday.
What? Isnt it, like, Groundhog Day or something? I dont like candles.
Jade grinned. You never invited a woman over for dinner and lit a pair of 
tapers?
Its a recent issue.
When she opened the jar, he wrapped his fingers around her wrist and pulled her 
closeunder the guise of smelling the ointment, of course. He didnt intend to 
get his face slapped. Man, thatd hurt.
All right? she asked, her breasts in very near approximation to his face, so 
the stuff couldve smelled like a skunk and he wouldnt have cared.
I dont know. What is it?
Healing Ointment.
Nice generic name. Never heard of it.
Her eyes glowed with pride. I make it.
Whats in it?
Alum, echinacea, goldenseal. Glad you asked? she asked with a teasing grin 
that Mason wanted to kiss.
Cant be too careful these days. He warned himself to back off. It wasnt 
working.
The recipes been in the family for generations. Nothing in herell hurt a big 
strong man like you.
Okay, she may not have said big and strong. So sue him. And the only thing 
in here now that could hurt him was her, because if in a moment of weakness he 
got lucky with the target and Anthony found out, itd take more than hard liquor 
to dull the pain. Not to mention more than three butterflies to hold him 
together.
Jade dipped the tip of the swab into the jar and transferred a small amount to 
her index finger.
Youre tall, even without your boots. He grabbed her hand, stopping her as she 
reached for him.
Studying him, Jade tipped her head in a way he found too enchanting, too 
distracting.
Damn, he should have kept his mouth shut. Apparently alcohol numbed the 
discretion gene.
Photographers notice those kinds of things, he said in his defense.
Ones who can focus maybe.
I havent had a drink since last night.
Let me guess. Last night ended well after the sun was up.
He grinned in spite of the pain. Maybe even after I was on the plane. So nice 
of Anthony to have taken a long bathroom break.
Let me do this.
Whats the rush?
I have to go hide the liquor.
Reluctantly, he released her hand. Im done drinking.
Didnt help?
Im really not much of a drinker.
Couldve fooled me. Hold still now.
She bent toward him and touched the gash under his eye with a soft, rhythmic, 
tapping motion.
Do you have a license for this? he asked, looking down her sweater.
Dabbing 101. They teach it at the junior college.
And you passed?
Hm, you know, when I saw you downstairs, I thought you fell on the ice or 
something. Now Im thinking someone punched you.
As Jade leaned closer, Mason thought maybe he owed Brenda a big thank-you. A 
pale pink bra should look virginal, but Jades was low-cut and cupped the nicest 
pair of breasts this side of the equator.
Her hair smelled herbal, but unlike something out of a commercial shampoo 
bottle, this scent was cleaner, more distinct and more subtle at the same time. 
Didnt make sense, but hey, she was inches away from finding herself tumbled on 
that big ol bed over there, so forget clear thinking. Prolonged abstinence in 
conjunction with as much alcohol as hed ingested over the weekendhed be lucky 
if he could get the job done right.
Ow! Masons hand flew to his face, and his brain scrambled to figure out how 
Jade had slapped him without moving her arm. And how the hell she knew she 
should.
Oh, that couldnt have hurt that much. Jade laid the stripped-off butterfly on 
the marble tabletop and had the gall to reach for his face again.
Mason didnt think she was coming at him with a sassy pat. He threw himself into 
Reverse, tipping the chair back on two legs until it hit the wall.
Hm, Jade said, following, leaning close, but forget looking down her sweater.
Stop! You pull off any more and itll open up again.
Jade tilted her head sideways for a different perspective, her lips pursing in a 
little moue as she gave the matter some thought. That wouldnt be all bad. You 
pulled it crooked, you know. Want me to fix it?
Get away!
He must have looked horrified, because she laughed and said, Just kidding. You 
looked so serious. Howd you do this anyway?
He watched her warily, delaying his answer until he knew she wasnt just trying 
to distract him for another strip-and-run. Also, he had to make up something 
good.
It was my own darn fault. I got in a hurry. You know how the eagles come in for 
a fish, wings open, talons spread. Great shot. Didnt want to miss it. Wasnt 
watching where I was going and tripped. He fell silent.
You were outside? She frowned.
You have an eagle that comes indoor and poses?
Thats funny. She tipped her head the other way.
Thats me. Great sense of humor.
No, I mean it looks funny. Theres fiber in it, like carpet lint. You sure you 
fell in the snow?
I may have landed on a scarf.
Jade ripped off the second butterfly.
Hey! Thats not dabbing, its torture.
Thats a 200-level class. I passed it, too. Come on, baby, one more.
Its the last one holding my face together. He was smart enough to put his 
hand over it and leave it there.
Your skins already holding. We should get those fibers out, though.
Jade took hold of his wrist as if she could simply push his hand away, and he, 
with lightning speed, used the connection as leverage to throw her off-balance 
and tumble her onto his lap.
Okay, she was quicker than he was. If that didnt convince him to sober up the 
rest of the wayfastnothing would. Jade didnt fall in his lap, but he was 
having fun lying to himself. She caught herself with her free hand on his bare 
chest, though, which was almost as good. Then she demonstrated there was some 
lightning speed in the room after all, but it was hers as she regained both feet 
a good yard from his knees.
Sorry, he said. Reflex action.
Yeah. Whats an eagle photographer without great reflexes?
Mason could tell it was a point of honor with her not to run out the door like a 
scared girl. This was her house, after all. He was a guest who could be evicted 
at any moment; not something he wanted to explain to Anthony or his uncle.
I havent always been a photographer, Mason said, hoping for mysterious and 
just dangerous enough that she wouldnt ask questions. Because when it came 
right down to it, if he had to lie to get a job done, he would, but lies had a 
way of complicating things.
Jade studied him for a moment, and maybe because he kept his ass glued to the 
chair, she went off guard. She wasnt hanging around for round two, though.
You know what a dab is now, she said, turning toward the door. Keep the jar.
 
Stupid, stupid, stupid. Alone in the hall outside Masons room, Jade thumped 
herself upside the head.
She ran her index finger over the outside of his door, tracing a pentagram 
thereon as she said, Back to the way before; this shall be no more.
She was used to word-of-mouth guests, people who knew she had only their best 
interests at heart. Women liked her because she was candid. Men came with a 
well-defined goal they couldnt attain on their own and therefore looked at her 
as a means to an end instead of a member of the opposite sex.
She should have turned Mason away before hed brushed the snow off his collar. 
But Annie, whom shed maim later, had pulled her to the side of the foyer and 
reasoned with her.
Itll be easier to get rid of him if he stays here, shed said.
If he stays here, then hes here.
I mean permanently. Think about it. Hes right upstairs. You have total control 
over his room. His bed. Botanicals arent my thing, Jade, but even I know 
theres something you can slip between the sheets
Of course!
Jade had several herbs that would do the trick. She had a pile of internet 
orders to fill tonight, but shed bump this to Priority One. Hed be history by 
noon tomorrow.
And if that doesnt work, Annie added, theres always his food.
Jade had forced a smile on her face and welcome in her voice, and shed let him 
stay. But as shed discovered when shed grasped his wrist moments ago, it 
wasnt only Mason she was fighting. Shed been so darned specific when shed 
cast the spell.
A man who lights my fire. 
Oh yeah, shed gotten him all right. He was right there on the other side of the 
wall. Finally, after six years of waiting, her libido had perked up, her heart 
had sped up, and shed probably radiated all kinds of pheromones that said, Take 
me, Im here, I havent had sex in six years, and you look like the man who 
could make up for it.
Too bad she had to send him packing.
Chapter 4 
W hy is Pierce Brosnan naked in the house?
Jade wasnt the first Delarue to live on catnaps, so a middle-of-the-night phone 
call from her mother didnt take her by surprise. The naked part did, though; 
had her fingers pausing right over the keyboard while she wondered how her 
mother could possibly know.
Was Mason naked right now?
She touched the brown jasper on her desk, the small stone sitting there as of an 
hour ago to reduce stress over the whole Pierce-Brosnan, light-my-fire fiasco, 
as well as to strengthen her personal energy. Incense burned slowly on a censer 
on the file cabinet.
Hello? Jade?
Is this a trick question?
She shifted the cordless phone to her shoulder and resumed her e-mail. Next 
weekends guest had heard about the snowstorm and wondered whether he should go 
online and purchase Arctic wear before his arrival. She was sooo tempted to tell 
him shed do a spell and make it all go away by then.
I saw him in the bathtub, her mother stated.
Congratulations. I see youre getting the hang of scrying. Not Monas strong 
point.
Finally. I met this lovely English gentlemananyway, hes very good, dont 
change the subject. What kind of spell does a movie star need?
Hes a clone, Mom.
Her mother chuckled. Has to be in two places at once, huh? No wonder you charge 
so much for spellcasting. Well, I always like his movies, but youll have to 
tell me which ones are the clone.
The clone doesnt act.
You know, thats interesting, because I got a sense that he isnt who he 
appears to be. I guess thats it. What does he do, then?
Photographs eagles. Some kind of freelance photojournalist.
Her mother hummed. No, thats not it.
Jades fingers stilled on the keyboard as she considered, then dismissed, the 
warning bell raised by her mothers certainty. Yes, thats exactly it.
Maybe you should look closer.
No way she was telling her mother shed screwed up; not after that comment.
If she had to botch a spell, it was lucky she did it in February. When her 
parents had divorced, theyd handed off Mystic Manor to herfar be it from them 
to figure out how to save it from auction. Theyd agreed to visit on alternate 
months. This was her fathers month, to use or not; regardless, no mother.
Maybe, Jade said, you need more time on the crystal ball.
Im using water, Mona replied, too off in her own world to take offense. Ill 
let you know what I see. Oh, before I go, I mailed you a package. Be sure it 
doesnt sit out in the weather when that horrid mailman finally gets there. 
Its, ah, something you dont have, if you get my drift.
Meaning, the importation of which would raise eyebrows, so her mother was being 
discreet.
Now, just one last thing before you go back to your e-mail
How did she know? Jades fingers shot off the keyboard before she realized her 
mother must have heard the keys clicking. That had to be it.
Lucky guess.
Whatever you say, darling. Now you know Ill be back the first of March, so if 
you have more clones up your sleeve, be a sweetheart, wont you, and get Sean 
Connery for me?
 
Mason stole out of his room, dressed all in black, carrying a small flashlight. 
His head felt clearer now that hed cleaned up, eaten, and caught a few hours of 
sleep. His steps were sure.
His sanity was in question. A stupid mosquitowhat had he been thinking?
He hadnt been. Alcohol-induced fear was to blame, thats all. Jade was a Siren; 
beautiful, alluring, mesmerizing. If he wasnt careful, the end result could be 
the same, but at least this way it was a more interesting game.
Todays mission: find proof that Jade Delarues husband was or was not dead. 
Then hed fly straight out of this frozen wasteland and head for some quality 
dive time with a sunken wreck. He had a date with a wreck. Submerge. Forget 
everything.
Knowing where to search in the house wasnt a problem. It was amazing what 
people stuffed into their drawers. Mail they didnt have time for. Mail they 
meant to answer later. Receipts for things they never should have charged in the 
first place because charges left trails.
Fortunately, many crooks were a little light in the IQ department. Jade looked 
pretty smart, though. Mason doubted shed leave a letter from a dead husband 
lying around, but you never knew. Hed look anyway because he was nothing if not 
thorough.
Was it legal? Was it admissible evidence? Hell, no. But it was a no-brainer that 
if he unearthed a postcard that said, Tahitis nice this time of year. Cant 
wait to see you. Bring the money, the widow would drop her claim. Simple 
leverage. If that didnt work, the insurance execs would pay him until he found 
something admissible, at which time theyd prosecute. Either way, theyd be a 
million dollars happier. Three million, if the postcard led to the others.
Hed slept like the dead, not stirring until almost first light, hours past when 
hed intended. Had to be the soup. Or the ointment. The Widow Delarue probablyd 
drugged him and rifled his gear to see if he was who he claimed to be. Hed been 
in no condition to pack for this trip, but Anthony would have done so 
accordingly: bird books, cameras and assorted photography paraphernalia, laptop, 
warm clothing, fake membership cards to writing organizations, fake letter from 
an editor. If she looked, Jade would find everything in order.
Creeping along the hall, he kept next to the wall where the floorboards were 
less likely to squeak. It almost didnt matter. He turned a corner and came upon 
a black dog standing guard. Huge was an understatement. This beast stood as tall 
as an Irish wolfhound and as broad as a bull mastiff. Possibly crossed with a 
buffalo.
Mason plastered himself against one of the built-ins that lined the hall, caught 
in a staring contest with an animal that showed no expression, that didnt 
squint at a flashlight beam shining in its face. Its bent-over ears didnt so 
much as twitch. Tail didnt wag; didnt even go up or down. It stood to reason 
that Mystic Manor couldnt stay in business if the dog ate the guests. Still, 
when he approached it, Mason used every precaution; gently, quietly, hand 
extended for a sniff. Show no fear.
Easier said than done when the dog dove for his crotch. He didnt think a sharp 
No! was going to cut it, and shooting it was out of the question, so he sort 
of danced past it sideways, twisting and turning, keeping one knee cocked and 
ready for a throat jab while doing a body slide along the wall.
He didnt breathe again until he was safely downstairs, and then not for long 
because there were clear sounds of someone moving around in the back of the 
house.
Mason went on instant alert as a drawer opened, closed. Then another. Dishes 
clattered, flatware jangled.
Too noisy to be Anthony, who wouldnt be searching the kitchen anyway. His job 
was backgrounding, and chatting up residents when he was taking a break from 
the writing, as hed tell them. Masons generally was behind-the-scenes black 
bagging, because he attracted more attention, though he did do the occasional 
legwork. It wasnt his fault that people, when they saw him, tended to say, 
Bond. James Bond, ask for his autograph, and question where his accent was.
Neither of them even suggested tapping Jades phone. No way theyd violate 
federal wiretapping regulations just to save someone elses money.
Water turned on, gushing into the kitchen sink.
It was too much to hope forthe missing husband arrives in the middle of the 
night and roots around for the insurance check. Case solved.
Aruba, here I come! 
Getting the check converted to cash before anyone was the wiser would pose 
little trouble for someone wily enough to vanish without a trace and stay hidden 
for six years. Especially with three involved. It was no secret that the best 
way for three people to keep a secret was if two of them were dead.
Hours further removed from his alcohol-induced stupor, Mason recalled that the 
check hadnt been issued yet. And unless the dead guy hummed soprano and 
believed brewing coffee was key to going unnoticed, someone else was in the 
house.
Mason went into character, popping through the door like a freelance 
photojournalist intent on beating the sunrise.
Ahhh, thought I smelled coffee, he said heartily.
The short woman emptying the dishwasher was about fifty, maybe sixty at the 
outside. She used blond highlights to camouflage the gray. She was very thin, 
probably from the amount of energy she burned as she flitted around the kitchen, 
exuding an eternally pleasant and helpful personality.
Mornin! Oh. Oh my! She pulled a pen out of her apron and stretched out her 
arm, clearly indicating that he was to sign it in lieu of a piece of paper. 
Heard you was here to photograph the eagles. Figured youd be up early. Guess 
thats a cover story. She winked. Her perpetual smile grew wider, her eyes 
brighter. Coffees ready. Hope you like it strong.
Im not who you think
If not, I can brew another pot. Wont take but a minute. Go on. Sign it.
Good Lord, if she didnt slow down, her head would start spinning. Hoping to 
calm her, he spoke slowly. Im Mason Kincaid.
She winked. Sure you are.
Really. He handed the pen back. I am. I only sign autographs for people too 
stubborn to believe me.
She didnt look convinced.
Going full tilt, she had an insulated mug poured and in his hand before he could 
move a step, then produced real cream and a bowl of sugar, neither of which he 
used.
Got stevia, too, she said. Its a natural sweetener. Jade grows it right here 
in the conservatory.
Black is fine, thanks.
Thats how I like it, too. You sure youre notNo, if you say youre not, I 
guess you arent. You wouldnt be so foolish as to lie to Jade. She squinted at 
him. You wouldnt, would you?
No, maam.
She cocked her head and studied him closer. You know, now that you mention it, 
you are a little scruffy to be 007.
I dont believe I mentioned that. One sip of coffee told Mason where the live 
wire got a good deal of her energy this early.
Cause let me warn you now, if you lie to her, she wont work with you. Not one 
bit, no, sir. So what would you like for breakfast? Waffles? Pancakes? French 
toast? Bacon and eggs? Anyway you like, over easy, poached, scrambled
Silence? 
omelet. Any allergies?
No.
How bout your friend?
No.
Anything in particular you boys dont like?
Brussels sprouts.
Oatmeal! She clapped her hands together, then rubbed them briskly. Oatmeals 
good on a snowy morning like this, especially when youre gonna be outside. 
Sticks to your ribs longer.
Mason couldnt get a word in edgewise, so he held up his hand to see if that 
would stall her. It did. Miss? he said, wondering if she was a relative of 
Jades.
Oh, my manners! Call me Weezy, everybody does.
You up this early every day, Weezy?
Up, yes, but not here, my heavens, no. I just pop in when Jade has guests, and 
like I said, I heard you was here for the eaglesyou know, besides the usualso 
I came extra early.
The usual? 
My daughter, she lives just down the road. She sees lights in the guest rooms 
at night?she gives me a heads up.
Isnt that nice? Mason graced her with his 
Im-here-Im-interested-tell-me-everything-you-know-about-the-target smile. I 
hope Ms. Delarue lets you go home early to make up for your trouble.
Oh, sno trouble. I go home when I want. I dont get paid none, so I set my own 
schedule.
There was an eat-in breakfast bar as well as a long plank table, durable but 
nicely finished. Weezy straightened the already-straight chairs, which lacked 
military precision by a mere millimeter. The canisters and toaster and blender 
suffered the same fate.
Ms. Delarue cant afford to pay you?
Heavens, I couldnt charge her, Weezy said with an appalled gasp.
Mason rubbed the back of his neck. And here hed thought all the alcohol was out 
of his system.
Not a cent. After everything she did for me?wouldnt be right. What kind of 
spell are you here for?
Excuse me?
Everyone stays for a spell.
Stay a spell. What colloquialism.
A week, maybe two, he replied. Whatever it takes.
Oh. Weezys smile wavered in a long moment of silence, then she darted toward 
the range and said, So, whatll it be?
Mason wasnt sure how hed blown it, but he had. Weezy no longer wanted to talk, 
so he fell back on his original plan. If he could keep her in the kitchen for a 
while, maybe he could get some other room searched before Jade got up.
Lets see. Mason sipped coffee while he plotted. How about bacon, a couple 
sausage links if you have them, pancakesDo you have something you can put in 
them? Like blueberries or pecans or chocolate chips?
Weezy laughed with delight as she dragged out the griddle and slapped it on the 
range. Just goes to show. Here I figured you for a plain pancake kinda man, 
just lookin atcha. Chocolate chips! Youre so naughty.
Its the haircut. Fools everybody. With the dog upstairs and Weezy in the 
kitchen, Masons thoughts returned to searching. An office, perhaps? Jade must 
have one. I, ah, have to make a phone call, he began.
This early?
Out of the country. Is there an office I can use? he asked, hoping she 
wouldnt tell him the obvious, to go back and use his room.
Upstairs, but Jade doesnt allow long-distance calls.
I have a calling card.
I guess thats okay then. If you get done before the pancakes, you can come 
back and visit with me. Or youre welcome to go out to the conservatory, but 
dont touch none of the plants in the far right corner. Thats where the 
poisonous ones grow.
Mason paused a beat on his way out the door. People really shouldnt say the P 
word to an investigator working a mans disappearance.
 
Where are you off to so early? Jade asked.
She was sitting at the plank table across from Mason, gently stirring her herbal 
tea, watching the sky turn pink as church bells rang nearby. Shed been minding 
her own business, planning her day in her head, until he started slathering gobs 
of butter on his second stack of pancakes.
I thought Id start at the lock and dam. Its not far from here, right?
How do you? She almost blurted, How do you stay so fit eating like that? but 
wisely decided she shouldnt mention that she noticed he was fit in the first 
place.
It felt good to have a man in the kitchen again, one who wasnt paying her, not 
for help anyway. One who had nothing to gain or lose riding on her skills. One 
who, when he looked at her with that sexy steel blue gaze, might just be 
interested in her for herself.
Sunrise, she thought. Focus on the sunrise!
Or the eagles. The birds liked feeding below the lock and dam. The churning 
water carried fish close to the surface, many of them stunned by the trip 
through the spillway. So of course thats where Mason would go to photograph, 
especially this time of morning.
How do I what? Mason paused with the syrup pitcher poised in midair.
With the full wattage of his attention on her, Jades pulse skittered 
alarmingly. A ripple of excitement that she hadnt felt in far too long raced 
through her body, making her giddy and flushed and hoping he didnt notice.
He was staring at her, so Jade oh-so-innocently said, What?
You just got that how-do-I-ask-him-for-his-autograph look.
She blinked. Are you famous?
No.
Then why would I ask for your autograph?
Mason sighed. Never mind.
You know its not open to the public, right? Its just a boat ramp.
Boat ramps fine. All I needs a place to park.
Parking wont be the problem; getting in and out in this snow will. If you can, 
you should work somewhere else until all the roads are clear. I dont think 
Clarksville got as much as we did.
Mason broke out in a smile. Thats an interesting ring.
It should have been a totally unremarkable smile. Shed seen it hundreds of 
times on the big screen. But close up and in person, it was warm and friendly, 
and crinkled the corners of his eyes.
Its an unusual setting. A pair of wings, is it?
Jade glanced at her ruby, thinking, My, he notices a lot. Maybe too much. It 
is. If youre feeling adventurous, you could snowshoe in.
Mason shuddered visibly, which made Jade laugh, and she said, I have a pair if 
you change your mind.
When hell freezes over.
Havent you heard? It did. Last night.
A flicker of amusement tipped one corner of his mouth upward, but Masons easy 
smile was quickly hidden behind his coffee cup. Jade stared, waiting for it to 
come back, until she remembered she had no business waiting, and looked away.
Thats almost believable, he said, but Im still driving. I appreciate the 
advice. Clarksville it is.
Be careful getting out of West Bluff. Our snowplowsand I use the term 
looselyare two locals who put blades on their pickups and see who can get his 
half done faster. Chuck does a good enough job. Turner, though, he thinks 
everybody needs a little adventure in his life.
The possibility of Masons sliding off the road into a tree worried Jade. If he 
landed in the hospital, he couldnt go home fast enough.
Yeah, that sounded plausible.
My Jeeps better in the snow than a rental car. Jade tipped her head toward 
the hook by the back door. The keys over there, on the ring with the tiger 
eye. Im not going out today, so take it whenever youre ready.
Jeeps are cold, Mason said.
Yes, its so much warmer in a ditch.
The corner of Masons mouth twitched again, and Jade thought it might be the 
beginning of a smilenot that she cared, no no, not at all. When he pushed his 
plate away with a disgruntled sigh and glanced at the key, she knew hed take 
the Jeep. It couldnt happen soon enough. She needed a few minutes alone in his 
room, and it wouldnt do to get caught.
Chapter 5 
T hrough the big mullioned window in the study, Jade watched Mason cruise out of 
the snow-covered driveway. Her bright yellow Jeep slid sideways and came to rest 
in the front yard, brake lights glowing.
Great. So smart of her to lend her vehicle to a Floridian without asking if hed 
ever driven in snow before. She wanted him gone, of course, but only back to 
Pensacola, not laid out by the side of the road.
As soon as Mason turned south onto the relatively clear street, Jade raced 
upstairs and threw open the door to his room.
Whoa! Anthony said, jumping back so as not to get bashed.
Jade halted in surprise, wondering what the heck she was supposed to say or do 
now that shed been caught red-handed. Oh! Sorry, I didnt know
I came in to get this. Anthony held up a coiled cable. For a second, he looked 
suspicious, but that quickly changed to mildly curious. Did you need 
something?
She had no experience searching guests rooms and wouldnt you know shed run 
into trouble the very first time. She felt cross-examined. Tried and found 
guilty. And darn it, she hadnt done anything yet but open the door.
I like to, ah, freshen up the bathrooms in the morning. Wipe down the sink. 
Make the bed. You know.
Dont bother with mine, okay?
Combined with his dark good looks, the smile Anthony flashed should have been 
romantic and distracting, but Jade felt oddly unaffected. Except for the guilt.
Seriously, even if Im out, he added. I hate having my stuff moved. I promise 
Im very neat, and you wont regret it.
As soon as Anthony was out of sight, Jade busied herself with making the bed, in 
case he popped right back in. While she did that, she looked around the room. 
She needed an article of clothing, something Mason had worn but not washed, 
anddidnt it just figure?he turned out to be a guy who didnt throw his 
laundry in the nearest corner. Not so much as a pair of socks, which she was 
sure he wouldnt miss. After all, how many people counted their dirty socks when 
they packed up to go home?
She got down on her hands and knees and looked under the bed, under the 
upholstered chairs, under everything, because the only alternative was to go 
through the drawers and his luggage, and if either of them walked in while she 
was doing that, itd be impossible to explain. As would locking the door while 
she worked.
Turned out, Mason was the kind of guest who filled the bottom dresser drawer 
with two-day-old, drunk-in, slept-in, getting-married castoffs. Jade wrinkled 
her nose, averted her face to lessen the odor of booze and smoke and sweat lest 
she pass out, and poked through the remnants of Masons wedding day. Pants, 
jacket, shirtall too bulky. As she came across his briefs, she wished shed 
thought to dig around with a pencil instead of her fingers, because this just 
seemed way too personal.
Yes! she said when she finally located his socks, still damp from being out in 
the snow yesterday.
She stuffed one into the front pocket of her jeans, shoved the drawer closed, 
and quickly ran down the back stairs to the kitchen. She was on a step stool, 
tearing through cabinets, when Weezy stopped beside her, arms akimbo. Weezy 
seldom stopped moving, so it was cause to notice that she was in her coat and 
hat, wearing a scarf that looked like a fat blue tire around her neck.
It was a present from my middle granddaughter, she said proudly. I taught her 
to crochet. See you in the morning.
Thanks, Weezy. You know, if its too cold for you to go out tomorrow, I can 
feed the guests.
Jade always offered; Weezy always brushed off her thanks. Dont be silly. I 
enjoy it. You need help finding something afore I go?
Jade pointed at Masons sock, now lying on the floor in a crumpled wad. I need 
something to put that in.
Weezy drawled, Washing machine might be good.
Im going to throw it in the river, so it needs to float. Jade explained 
everything, how burning the candle backward hadnt worked in time, her plan to 
banish Mason from Missouri. I need his sock to float downstream. If I dont put 
it in something, itll just snag on a stick and hang around forever.
Bet that feels odd. Spending all that time like you did trying to find your 
man, and now youre working to send another one away.
True. But trust me, it has to be done.
Weezy opened a drawer and offered up a tall Tupperware cup and lid. How bout 
this? Maybe someonell pull it out and toss it in the trash. Could be pretty 
ripe afore they see it, though, depending on how far south it goes. Hope they 
dont open it.
Eww. Ill write a warning on the outside.
 
Jade had a special pen for occasions like this. Over generations, the family had 
acquired many mismatched table knives. Uncle Henry discarded the blades, 
reworked the silver handles into beautiful ink pens, and charmed them for 
magical work. Jade used hers to print PENSACOLA on a piece of paper and dropped 
it into the cupas long as she was sending Mason away, she might as well aim for 
his home. In went the sock and Banishing Powder. Once the lid was secure, she 
used an indelible marker to print DO NOT OPEN on the outside and, just for 
kicks, below that she drew a skull and crossbones.
Now, to give it a proper send-off.
Warm in a long, midnight blue wool cape, Jade walked out to the backyard, 
through snow that had been heavily tracked by both Mason and deer. Mystic Manor 
was situated on top of a bluff, and as usual, it was breezy. She stood still for 
a long, calming moment, lifted her chin, and let the cold wind blow away any 
lingering negativity.
Feeling free and reenergized, she added a few rocks to the cup to weight it 
against the wind. Itd take a good, hard throw to ensure that it safely cleared 
snags on the bluff, railroad tracks at the very bottom, a few feet of shore 
beyond, and ice along the edge. It wouldnt do to have it hang up anywhere; 
Mason might never leave.
Under any other circumstances, that wouldnt be a bad thing. He hadnt been 
around long enough for her to see the positive inner qualities shed wished for, 
but as successful as her spell work was, there was no doubt he had them.
Still, he had to go.
Her stiletto heels dug into the snow like ski poles, anchoring her as she knew 
they would, but still, after practicing with a couple snowballs, it was clear 
that she needed a better plan. She tried again, using a snowshoe as a launching 
pad, swinging it like a tennis racket so shed get more range. By the third try, 
she was confident that Mason soon would be on his way.
There was enough energy and intent behind the whole process of getting this 
spell ready that no words were necessary. Still, Jade closed her eyes and 
envisioned Mason walking in the front door at the end of the day, glowing 
because hed gotten all the photos he needed, calling the airport, catching the 
next plane south. Shed even lend him her computer so he could print his ticket.
So mote it be, she murmured, then bent down, intending to pick up the cup and 
launch it on its way.
I thought snowball fights were hand-to-hand, Mason said.
Startled, Jade snapped up and wheeled around, having enough presence of mind to 
kick snow over the cup, though it didnt totally hide it.
Mason probably looked good in an unwrinkled tuxshed never knowbut without a 
doubt, he looked darn fine in jeans and boots. Mighty darn fine. It was a 
struggle to remember that was a bad thing. The strong pull she felt toward him 
weakened her focus.
Opting for offense, the better to steer her attention away from him and his 
attention away from the incriminating evidence on the ground, she said, Dont 
do that!
He appeared taken aback and came no closer. What?
Dont sneak up on me.
Sorry. He grinned, and Jade knew he hadnt noticed the cup at all. 
Occupational hazard. I get better shots that way. Besides, the snow muffles 
everything.
Funny, it crunches when I walk on it.
Practice. Sometimes I lie still for hours on end and wait for them to come to 
me.
Jade wasnt altogether sure he was talking about birds.
Mason tipped his head toward her boots. Careful you dont break your neck in 
those.
Youd be surprised how stable a heel is when its spiked into deep snow. I 
didnt hear the Jeep.
Probably for all the church bells.
Jade cocked her head and listened to the silence.
Point taken, Mason said, Theyre done now. What do they doring every hour on 
the hour?
West Bluff has a lot of churches. She didnt add that they had an equally 
large number of narrow-minded members because, who knew, maybe Mason was a 
Bible-toting regular himself, and the thought of offending him made her 
uncomfortable. Was the road closed?
No, I had to come back for an extra memory card. And then I saw you out here 
lobbing snowballs withIs that a snowshoe? Do people really walk on those?
Jade barely nodded, moving into position to block his view of the cup as he 
stepped closer.
I thought so. I just had to come out and ask. I mean, my friends in Pensacola 
are never going to believeLook out!
He reached her so fast, Jade didnt have time to dart away.
You almost tripped over this. He picked up the Tupperware.
Blast. Jade plucked it from his hand, relieved that his stolen sock wasnt out 
in the open between them. She tucked it safely beneath her cape.
Something wrong?
Its, ah, delicate. I dont want the lid to pop off by accident.
Really?
Mason looked so unconvinced, Jade simply said, Mm-hm.
He studied her for a long moment, mostly in the vicinity of the split arm 
opening through which the cup had disappeared. He noted the snowshoe, the river 
valley to the east. Rubbing the back of his neck, he said, Kind of a new twist 
on a message in a bottle, isnt it?
Pretty good at putting two and two together, Jade thought. Even if he didnt 
come up with four, he was too close for comfort. Smart, just as shed requested.
Its an experiment, she said vaguely, leaving it at that.
Mason nodded slowly, then shrugged as if that made perfect sense, and if not, he 
was too polite to say so. Ive got a pretty good arm. You want me to throw it 
for you?
Would the spell work if he threw his own sock in the current? No reason why not. 
As a spell, it was foolproof, unless the spirits had other plans. They were 
always the unknown factor.
You do want it in the river, right? he asked. Youre not aiming for the train 
or anything?
The river.
Helpful, too. What was he doing? Working his way through her list?
Mason swung his right arm in broad circles, warming up. He held out his hand. 
Well, come on, hand it over.
Shed look petulant if she refused. You sure you can throw that far?
I have to audition?
I can get it pretty far with the snowshoe. What if youre no good?
He chuckled at that, leading her to believe he was good at everything. She 
stifled a sudden urge to unbutton her cape and flap it to bring her temp down.
Is this right? he asked.
While shed been wondering how good he was, hed packed a snowball for her 
inspection.
You never played in the snow?
Just long enough to learn its cold, wet, and I dont like it.
She nodded at the snowball. Its good.
Mason stepped closer to the precipice.
Its a long way down, Jade cautioned. One slip, and youd better have a good 
swan dive.
He glanced over his shoulder. You live up here, and youre afraid of heights?
No. Just landing.
Mason held her gaze with twinkling eyes that heated her up even more and made 
her think twice about sending him away. But of course she had to.
He wound up like a pitcher, all grace and strength and ease, in spite of the 
bulky parka and heavy boots. The snowball flew twice as far as anything shed 
lobbed, so she handed over the Tupperware.
When he glanced at it, she said, Its not polite to read other peoples mail, 
and he smiled and didnt look any closer, just wound up again and threw it even 
farther than the snowball.
That okay? he asked, looking rather proud of himself as he brushed snow off 
his hands.
Looks good from here, thanks. Time to break this off before she got herself in 
trouble. She pretended to feel the cold, shivering and stomping her feet as if 
to get warm.
Mason chuckled. Yeah, thats how Ive felt since the plane crossed over 
Atlanta.
He has a nice laugh, Jade decided. A strong smile, not perfectly symmetrical, 
but showing some character. Straight teeth. But it was his eyes that made her 
smile back, even when a little voice inside her said not to encourage him. But 
how could she help it? It wasnt the shade of unweathered steel that attracted 
her, but the way they sparkled as he tipped his head and focused all his 
attention on her.
Youd better go in and warm up, he said.
As Jade shuffled through the snow and up the wooden porch steps, she felt 
Masons gaze on her back. She didnt have to turn and look. In fact, she refused 
to turn and look. She knew.
She stomped her feet on the mat both to distract herself and to knock off the 
snow before opening the door.
Youll let me know if it works? Mason called out.
Jade lost the battle. She turned back to him, and couldnt help smiling when she 
said, I promise, youll be the first to know.
 
What the hell? Mason muttered.
Hed spent the day knocking around Clarksville and all stops in between, 
capturing images of eagles, both bald and golden, from different points. They 
were quite amazing, really. Once, for five whole minutes, hed forgotten he was 
cold, and how turned on hed been watching a woman launch snowballs at the 
river. A woman he was investigating, and not for romantic reasons.
Between stops, hed collected information on Mystic Manor. He had to be out and 
about to establish his cover anyway, so he talked to antique shop owners, 
waitresses at small cafs and tearooms, and local shop owners who liked to chat 
and knew the area well enough to make recommendations. And what had he learned? 
That brochures on Mystic Manor were virtually nonexistent, so how did Jade 
attract enough business to stay in business? That many claimed the property was 
haunted, cursed, or something equally unkind, while others smiled warmly and 
said nice things about Jade and her parents, how theyd helped them or a family 
member in the past. Though when asked for specifics, there was a lot of hemming 
and hawing, and no one would say how exactly.
Hed finished his day by returning to Mystic Manor with more questions than 
answers, no new information about the missing husband, and now this.
He leaned closer and peered intently at the notebook computer sitting on the 
small table in Anthonys room. Sure enough, that was Jade on the monitor, 
crawling around his room on her hands and knees. Not that he was surprised to 
discover shed been in his room. Guilty people had a habit of being where they 
werent supposed to be.
One thing for sure, he no longer thought this assignment was designed solely to 
keep his mind off recent relationship issues.
Thats nothing, Anthony said.
It gets worse?
Whats wrong with your voice?
Throats scratchy, Mason said quietly, demonstrating an onset of laryngitis to 
go with it. He needed palm trees and sunshine and waves lapping on a sandy 
beach. Hed never before given a second thought to his neighbors colorful 
flowers, but suddenly he missed them.
Keep watching, Anthony said, gesturing toward the screen.
Mason shot his partner a glance, hoping the camera hadnt caught him flirting 
with Jade the night before. Keeping in mind that Anthony was still a little put 
out over the bartender non-incident, he made sure there wasnt an ounce of 
accusation in his tone when he asked, Since when do you wire my room?
Anthony grinned broadly. Hey, a guys gotta test new equipment.
Mason elected not to expound on the legal concept of expectation of privacy. 
Instead he folded his arms, taking extra care to hide just how interesting he 
thought Jades cute tush was, poking up in the air as she crawled along the side 
of his bed, peering underneath. Black jeans hugged her rear and thighs like a 
glove. And if she continued to wear boots with stiletto heels on a daily basis, 
he was going to have a helluva time keeping his mind on business.
I installed mine last night, yours this morning while you ate breakfast, 
Anthony said.
Mason relaxed a bit, that fear put to rest.
Youre looking better today. Anthony leaned close and sniffed. Smell better, 
too. You been eating oranges?
Its the soap.
Yeah? Which one smelled like that?
Luck Soap. Mason shrugged. Figured it couldnt hurt. How about you? Whatd 
you use?
Scorpio.
Id rather have luck than scorpions.
It doesnt mean scorpions. Its for people with their suns in Scorpio. Forget 
it. You know what? You dont look better after all. You want a refresher on 
Jades background?
Admit it, youre just mad about the bartender.
Forget the bartender.
Believe me, Id like to.
Are you ready now?
Shoot.
Dont tempt me. Anthony consulted his notes. Jades twenty-eight. Local girl, 
as you know. Attended one year of college in Columbia, Missouri. At nineteen, 
she began Mystic Manor Botanicals. Which is a good thing, because when her 
parents divorced and decided to leave the house to her instead of fighting over 
it, it was heavily in debt, and she was able to show the IRS that she had a 
chance at turning it around. At twenty, she started the B&B. Now that weve seen 
how much she charges, I understand. Sort of.
At twenty-one, she married our good friend, the missing Doug Stockard, whom she 
met in college. Kept her name; family tradition from way back. A year later, he 
disappeared. No children. She didnt do much the first year after that, but then 
she beefed up the business, put Mystic Manor in the black, and even has a nice 
nest egg.
So she doesnt need the death benefit, Mason said.
Wouldve come in real handy six years ago, though.
No other family?
Theres an uncle somewhere. Im looking into that. Her in-laws live in 
Hannibal, both on disability. Her husbands brother lives with them, no visible 
means of support.
Mason was taking it all in, filing it away to take out and examine later when he 
didnt have something as interesting as Jade to look at. Crawling across the 
screen, her hair tumbled forward, long, dark curls spilling over her neck and 
shoulders, trailing onto the carpet, getting in her way. She flicked it back 
absently with her hand. At one point, a long spiral caught on her pale yellow 
sweater, and if shed been in this room, he couldnt have stopped himself from 
reaching out and putting it right.
You all right? Anthony asked.
Fine. Why?
Well, if wed just come up from a dive, Id think you look like you have the 
bends.
Hm. Mason shrugged. Must be the cold. Is she active in the community?
Anthony studied him a moment longer before letting it go. I talked to some of 
the residents. He blew out an exasperated breath.
Let me guess. Shady reputation?
A mixed bag, let me tell you, and strong feelings all around. Have you heard 
the church bells?
Kind of hard to miss them. They brought back warm memories of childhood 
summers, when he and his brothers and sisters had lived behind a church and had 
the whole playground to themselves, except on Sundays.
You sure youre okay? Anthony asked. Now youre grinning kind of goofy.
Im fine. Go on.
Anthony didnt look convinced, but he continued. Theres Group A: church ladies 
who arent too happy when someone turns up her nose at joining a congregation. 
They dont even care which congregation, just pick one. And not just Jade, but 
Annie, as well. Group B, on the other hand, likes Jade because shes 
ecology-minded and eagle-friendly. When I told them I was working on an article 
on the birds wintering over here, they were eager to talk to me.
Mason nearly groaned in envy. Whatd you dosit in a toasty warm McDonalds? 
Drink hot coffee all day?
West Bluff doesnt have a McDonalds. No fast-food places.
At all?
Nada. Theres more. When I mentioned that Im staying here, at Mystic Manor, 
the dynamics got really complicated. I got a lot of those square-shouldered, 
were-a-small-town-dont-mess-with-one-of-ours looks. You know the one I mean. 
But then there were the others. Group C. Swear to God, Mase, they moved away so 
fast, I expected them to whip out wooden crosses.
Anthony shivered at the run-ins hed had. Mason wouldnt have been surprised to 
see him suddenly cross himself.
Ill get out again tomorrow, but I thought it was best I back off for a while. 
I also made contact with the other two stakeout teams. We divided up the work, 
so there arent three strangers in town suddenly asking questions.
Good idea. Hey, you should talk to Weezy. She wont run away.
Anthony grinned broadly. Energetic little thing, isnt she? Good cook, too.
Yeah, she could get paid for that anywhere. So why does she get up before dawn 
and cook breakfast for a couple of strangers for free?
Free, huh? Anthony was quiet a moment, mentally reviewing items hed learned 
since theyd begun the investigation. Mystic Manors solvent now. Jade should 
be able to pay her help.
Weezy says its voluntary. Says theres no way shed accept pay for helping 
Jade, and thats a direct quote.
Interesting. I heard that more than once today, how shes helped people. Maybe 
shes helping Stockard get rich. Anthony jotted a note to follow up.
Fascinated by Jades activities on-screen, Mason continued to observe her 
quadrupedal path through his room. Maybe shes checking for dust bunnies.
Uh-huh. Keep watching.
Within seconds, Jade was rummaging through his dresser drawers.
Whats next? My suitcase?
Keep watching.
My laundry?
Dumbfounded, Mason leaned closer to the screen and replayed the segment. From 
the way Jade scrunched up her face, it could be that shed gone into his room to 
find the source of a terrible odor and finally located it, but he didnt think 
so. His jaw dropped when she stuffed his dirty sock into her pocket.
Probably the closest Ill get to being in her pants. 
Still think its dust bunnies shes looking for? Anthony drawled.
When was this taken?
About thirty seconds after you turned out of the driveway this morning. Nice 
set of wheels, by the way.
It was cold and rough and drafty, Mason griped, then grinned ruefully as he 
dropped into a chair. And kept me out of the ditch more than once. Jade talked 
me into going to Clarksville today.
Because?
Im not sure exactly. Maybe because the road to the lock and dam is low on the 
snowplows to-do list. I checked; she was right about that. He related 
everything hed learned out of town, then indicated the playback. But after 
seeing this, Im thinking maybe she wanted me off the premises for a good long 
while. When I came back for a memory card, I caught her throwing Tupperware off 
the bluff into the river.
Anthonys brow shot up. Evidence?
I dont think she was unhappy with the product.
How big was it?
Tall cup, twelve to sixteen ounce capacity. Sealed, so itd float. Skull and 
crossbones drawn on it, which brings up another item. According to Weezy, Jade 
grows poisonous plants in the conservatory.
Think thats a ruse for ones the DEA would be interested in?
Possibly. But why float them downriver?
Mason rubbed the back of his neck, knowing he was about to suggest crossing the 
line in a big way, but rationalizing that surely the plain view doctrine covered 
indoor, public areas of a B&B.
How many cameras do you have? he asked.
Ill go into Hannibal and get more.
Mason glanced at Jades image one final time, looking forward to reviewing new 
footage of her shenanigans at the end of each day. Can you send copies to my 
computer as you get them?
No problem.
He looked forward to viewing them in private.
Chapter 6 
Y ou say youre staying up at Mystic Manor?
The local hardware store was long and narrow, with rough wood floors. It smelled 
of sawdust, old metal parts, and oil.
Anthony had stopped in to ask about a map of the area. It was one of his 
favorite gambits in a small town where everyone knew everyone else. After that, 
he generally hung around, letting people get used to him. It never took long 
before someone turned to him, and said, Youre new in town.
Once Mystic Manor was mentioned, he was practically home free.
Big place for one woman, he said, steering the conversation toward the Delarue 
family and friends. He discreetly switched on the digital recorder he carried. 
Later hed send a highlighted copy to Masons computer.
First guy to bite was gray, stoop-shouldered, and in no apparent hurry to do 
whatever it was people did when they retired and bought a business to keep from 
being bored.
Worked on the heating system there once, dontcha know? the owner said. Long 
time ago. Miz Delarues grandfather was alive at the time. Yessir, called me up 
from St. Louis to work on it. Took forever. Dang near needed a set of blueprints 
to keep everything straight and find my way around. Found one, too. On a wall in 
a bedroom. Dont that beat all?
Loved the town and came back here to retire, dontcha know? Didnt see too much 
of the old man after that. Not that he was antisocial or anything. A lot of the 
Delarues kept to themselves. Like the one who lives there now. Jade, is it? I 
think thats right. She was in here last month ordering wallpaper, dontcha 
know? She keeps pretty much to herself.
Seems odd for a B&B owner, dontcha think?
Anthony glanced at the display of bird feeders, both hanging and pole-mounted. 
Do you know if Mystic Manor has a feeder?
Yep. But she wont take to you feeding them birds just anything.
Anthony looked in the different bins, unable to identify anything except 
sunflower seeds. Shes particular, huh?
Well, I guess you oughta know, seeings how shes letting you stay there. You 
people have to pass some sort of written test or something?
Us people? Anthony asked.
Youn your friend.
No, no test, he said slowly, trying to figure out where this was going. My 
partner and I just blew through her front door when it was snowing.
Huh! And she let you stay? Now this heres what she bought when she was in to 
order wallpaper. He scooped ten pounds of seeds into a brown bag and stapled it 
shut. My cousin came into town last year, and she wouldnt let him stay there. 
Said he had to have an advance reservation, even though she was empty at the 
time. Seems odd for a B&B owner, dontcha think?
 
Mm, its toasty in here, Annie said as she poked her head around the doorjamb 
the next afternoon.
She was one of the few people Jade allowed in the drying room, and for good 
reason. This was the heart of her craft. The spicy-sweet fragrance of 
frankincense, burned daily for months and then years to bring their men home, 
still lingered.
This was the room that held the family grimoires, the books of remedies and 
spells theyd pored over after their husbands disappeared. It was the only time 
she, Courtney, and Jade had worked hand in hand. For months, theyd tried every 
spell, old and new, designed to relocate people, pets, objects. No method of 
divination had gone untried. Theyd gotten discouraged after so much effort 
expended over such a long period, their own spirits flagged, and as the effort 
drained their energy, theyd finally had to taper off. Nothing could work 
without energy.
Directly across from the deep entry arch was a stone fireplace that never sat 
cold, not even in the middle of summer. It must have seen more duty in its 
lifetime than all the fireplaces in the county put together. Presently, the 
black cauldron in it was hanging above a low flame, its contents rising to a 
gentle boil. The mantel held two white tapers, both burning, each with a remnant 
of black ribbon tied around it.
Annie was always awed by this old house, all the history, all the memories. Over 
generations, the drying room had accumulated many tools of the trade: a variety 
of mortars and pestles; nonmetallic mixing bowls, pans, spoons, funnels; 
censers; jars, most with cork stoppers; and on and on. More than once, Jade had 
donated a no-longer-used item to someone who would value and appreciate it. It 
was how Annie had acquired her first cauldron.
Jades hands were buried in a bowl of herbs, oils, and tragacanth glue, mixing 
it to a stiff, doughy texture. Shed been at it a while; hundreds of incense 
cones lined the table, drying on waxed paper.
Annie stepped across the threshold, moving around, checking shelves and baskets 
and bundles of herbs drying overhead to see what was new. Shed give anything to 
be half as good at the Craft as Jade. A quarter as good. No, make that 
one-tenth. Jade was her role model. Jade kept telling her she needed to believe 
in herself more, but shoot, all Annies spells except the candle ones kept 
blowing up in her face, so how was she supposed to believe in herself? Maybe the 
spirits didnt want her doing anything but candles. Even the Delarues, as good 
at spellcasting as they were, had to bow to what the spirits wanted.
There was one thing she could do well, though.
I brought you something. It should help. She pulled a silk pouch out of her 
purse and, from that, extracted a black seven-knob candle, one knob to be burned 
for each day of a seven-day banishing spell.
Oh, Annie, thats wonderful!
I made it with the right intention, but of course youll add your own. Inscribe 
each knob with Masons name, then do what you do best.
Id better use symbols since hes staying in the house. Ill start it right 
after I finish up here. Jade tipped her head first to one side, then the other, 
stretching her neck.
Have you been in here all day? Annie asked with concern.
Since about three.
She knew Jade meant A.M. You know, of all people, you have the ability to whip 
up a sleeping potion.
Grandma said
I know, I know, spare me, Annie said with a chuckle. Everything will come 
right when you find the right man. Sometimes I wonder if she was making a 
prediction or casting a spell.
It suits me to be up at night. I get a lot done.
Jades hair had come loose and was in danger of falling into the sticky mess, so 
Annie stepped behind her and retied the narrow ribbon holding it back. You 
still believe it? Even though you couldnt sleep when Doug was here either?
Jade grinned over her shoulder. Youre trying to give me advice again.
If I were trying to give you advice, Id remind you of one of the first things 
you taught me: that the spirits sometimes block our energy for a reason, or work 
against it, even, to give us whats best for us. So maybe were not supposed to 
know what happened to the guys. Not yet anyway.
Thank you, Alanna.
Annie shrugged it off good-naturedly. She used Jades office to bang out the 
syndicated Dear Alanna advice column that she penned under someone elses 
household name. All very hush-hush to anyone outside their circle of friends. 
Shed fallen into the job with a bit of luck and a well-timed spell that 
actually had worked. If everyone in town thought she was a lazy do-nothing with 
no visible means of support other than selling a few candles, so be it. She had 
food on the table and a roof over her head.
Theres a letter Id like to run by you when you have time, she said. I know 
what I want to say, but Id like your take on it.
Now is fine.
Annie pulled the copy out of her back pocket and unfolded it.
Dear Alanna, 


Recently I invited my best friend and her husband to stay with me while they 
were in town looking for a new home. I know they love their little dogs to 
pieces, but I was totally shocked when they showed up at my door with them. I 
have a small home, and she knows I have allergies, but she never even asked if 
it was okay. She just said theyd bathed them in special shampoo and everything 
would be fine. It wasnt. I had to use my inhaler around the clock. Shes my 
best friend in the whole world and I wouldnt hurt her feelings for anything, 
but what can I do to keep this from happening when they come back to close on 
the house? 
Annie refolded the letter. So what would you say?
Before or after I told her to grow a spine and stand up for herself?
Yeah, thats kind of what I thought. But my editors been telling me to tone it 
down.
Jades jaw dropped. But thats why people like Dear Alanna. Tone it down 
isnt in her vocabulary.
Movement outside the window caught their attention, Annies especially.
Jumpy, Jade commented.
You should see the dog lurking around in the woods by my house.
Lurking?
Darn things as big as a black bear. Annoys the cat no end.
This is awfully bad weather for someones pet to be out.
Pet? Think Cujo on steroids.
The glass panes were original and a little wavy, but Annie was able to make out 
the scowl on Masons face as he trudged through snow, camera in hand. She had to 
fan herself; grumpy or not, he was still a hottie.
I see hes still here.
Jade hummed, but the true meaning of that hum was as yet indecipherable. The 
weathers certainly cooperatingfor me. From the looks of him, he wont last 
much longer.
For a guy who just got dumped, he sure has thrown himself into his work. Annie 
watched Mason pause to photograph bright red cardinals crowding around the 
feeder. I dont know, me, I think Id have to spend a week in bed first.
Maybe his ex told him she was carrying another mans child.
No! He said that?
Lyle told me. Masons probably feeling lucky to break up sooner rather than 
later. Or, Jade mused as she watched Mason raise his camera, maybe 
photographing eagles soothes a troubled soul.
Annie observed her friend. As an eagle soared from the river valley and up over 
the bluff, right over his head, Masons scowl softened. He raised his camera 
halfway, but then his mouth fell open, and he forgot to take a picture. He 
tracked the eagle, gazing at it intently, and as he did so, Jades actions 
mirrored his, only she didnt have the excuse that she was watching one of 
natures most awesome creatures. Though Mason was pretty awesome.
It wasnt the cursory glance of a host toward a guest. It wasnt even the 
calculating glance of a witch looking for any signs that her reversal spell was 
working. Instead, it was the watchful eye of a woman staring at a man whose 
every movement caught her attention and held it far longer than necessary.
Earth to Jade.
Hm? Oh, sorry. I was, umm, calculating the next mixture. This is Business 
Incense. For a guy in Colorado.
You know, Annie began slowly, treading her way carefully. Theres a reason 
Im good at giving advice.
Yeah? Jade said absently, forming more cones.
Im good at reading people.
Uh-huh.
Annie leaned close, lowering her voice. Your mind may be telling you to get rid 
of him, but the rest of you is screaming, Im tired of being alone. Come help 
me sleep.
Jades laugh sounded false. Dont be silly.
I might not be as gifted or practiced as you, girlfriend, but silly, Im not.
Im telling you
Yeah? What have you done to get rid of him today?
Jade inclined her head toward a small plastic bag lying to the side. Cotton 
balls, soaked in Banishing Oil. One for his coat pocket. The othersIm thinking 
his camera bag and inside his pillowcase.
Oh. Maybe shed read Jade wrong. That ought to cover every minute of his day, 
I guess. What about the other one?
Anthony? Theyre partners. If one goes, they should both go, right? So Ive 
made enough for him, too. If something doesnt work, and I mean fast, Im going 
to have to start putting things away around here.
That puzzled Annie. The only messy room in the entire house was the office. 
Youre going to clean house?
Good grief, no. Jades laugh was momentary, then she was all serious again. 
Masons a professional, right? With a camera. All I need is for the inside of 
Mystic Manor to end up in a coffee table book on eagles. I already locked up my 
parents room, but theres so much of me in plain sight everywhere else, so much 
of what I do, things I dont want to reveal to just anyone and everyone
Especially not the saints of West Bluff, Annie finished dryly.
Exactly.
The majority of religious residents were rather paranoid about anything outside 
their parameters.
To the casual guest going in or out of the house, Mystic Manors pentacles were 
just a few stars, as unobtrusive as dentil molding, purely part of the 
architectural charm. The original Delarues wanted them for protection, of 
course, but at the same time, they didnt want to scream, Here we are, come 
burn us. Family baggage like that got handed down. From the cradle, Jade had 
been taught to be circumspect.
Photographs of Mystic Manor, published in a big, glossy book, lying open on a 
coffee table to be perused, would jump out and scream witch. Pentacles were 
embedded in the glass in the front door. A huge one was carved into the stone 
floor of the conservatory. A book like that in the hands of West Bluff 
residents, many generations of whom had heard rumors about the Delarues, would 
be all the proof they needed to further ostracize Jade.
Oh, Jade wouldnt mind for herself so much. Annie admired her strength that way. 
But she wanted to have a child and raise her at Mystic Manor, the same as she 
had been, to carry on traditions of the Craft. She wanted her to go to school in 
and be a part of the community.
What she didnt want was for her to go to the first day of kindergarten and get 
a pointy black hat slapped on her head.
Worse, over the years, the city limits had expanded to include Mystic Manor. 
Witchcraft, astrology, psychic readings, tarot, and everything else deemed 
non-Christian by those in power, was illegal within the city limits. Jade 
regularly cast protection spells to guard against intolerant people who would 
wish her harm, but Annie worried about her getting closed down, maybe run out.
Correct me if Im wrong, Annie said, but arent you the one who always says, 
Cast a spell and leave it be?
Jade sighed. Yes.
Then why are you supplementing with cotton balls and Banishing Oil?
Because its not working fast enough.
And the candles on the mantel?
One represents me, the other, Mason. The cut ribbon between them is symbolic of 
cutting the tie that binds.
They were both staring out the window again, but only Jade jumped when Mason 
suddenly turned and stared right back.
Did you notice he shaved? Jade mused aloud. Good thing I dont have neighbors 
living right on top of me. Theyd be running over here for autographs.
Masons hand waved about in the air, miming a request to join them.
Its about time, Jade said, nodding in agreement. See? Cast a spell and leave 
it be. He wants to come in and tell me good-bye.
Not us, Annie noted with interest. Me. Showed where Jades thoughts were, and if 
it was that obvious to her, a mere mortal, then she doubted Jades 
good-riddance-Mason spells were packing much punch with the spirits.
Annie didnt want to be in the way. She uttered a hasty farewell, rushed out the 
deep arch, through the conservatory and into the kitchen, where she ran into 
Mason struggling with frozen bootlaces and growling about the weather.
She tossed one end of her pink scarf over her shoulder. You dont like a little 
snow?
A little? He shivered inside his parka and grumbled. Whens it warm up around 
here? How longs it take all that to melt?
Its just a few inches. Six to eight at the most.
I saw a foot and a half.
Annie chuckled. Yeah, maybe where the snowplow pushed it. Anyway, the kids love 
it.
Masons laugh was colder than ice. Little monsters. They run up and down those 
slopes at the speed of light! Im always a half second from falling on my ass. 
Whatre their mothers thinking? They should keep them inside. Being out in 
record lows cant be healthy for them.
His run of grouchiness tickled Annies sense of humor. What record lows? Its 
almost thirty.
The disgusted look he shot her was colder.
You should come back in the summer. Its pretty then. That would be all right. 
Fair. His free will to do so then, because Jades spell was for now.
If Mason came back in the summer, Jade would have no reason to send him away.
 
Standing outside the door to the conservatory, all Mason could see through clear 
and etched leaded glass was an inviting collage of light and green. It was 
doubly welcome after being loaded down with two cameras, a pair of binoculars, 
several layers of clothes, a tripod, a camera bag, and having spent hours 
tramping through white death.
Snowdrifts; as a concept, they sounded innocent enough. Maybe even pretty. In 
reality, they were sneaky sons of bitches, lying in wait for unsuspecting 
photographers generally looking the opposite direction, up. All in all, hed 
rather take his chances with a shark.
The closer he got to the conservatory, the warmer the ambient temperature 
beckoning him forward.
Hed avoided this wing so far only because it was exactly that, a separate wing. 
It seemed private, even though Weezyd said otherwise, and considering that he 
had his own secrets to keep, he didnt want to appear to be a nosy guest and 
arouse suspicion if there was any chance hed be caught in the act. But now Jade 
had waved him in.
All of his senses came alive as he pushed through the double doors. Humid, 
earthy aroma of rich soil. Every shade of green imaginable. Twittering 
black-and-yellow finches.
Holy shit. I didnt know you could grow a jungle inside a house, he said, 
momentarily distracted from the splendor by Jade, waiting just inside. Waiting 
for him.
What the hellwhy not just admit that she aroused him more than Brenda and her 
two predecessors put together, all of whom had tried to rush him into marriage? 
There was nothing wrong in getting turned on. Jade was a sexy woman; he was 
healthy. If he got any healthier, he wouldnt be able to walk.
He quickly forgot that he was fighting a cold and short on sleep, that hed 
spent hours snooping through Mystic Manor in the middle of the night. The 
kitchen drawers were safe another day, as Jade had been up, too, and hed had to 
be content with searching the attic.
I thought the eagles were awesome, but this
Finally, a warm spot in the midst of all the snow. Mason circled a few paces, 
corralling his libido, looking up, around, all around.
This is like stepping into the tropics. All it needs is a surfWait, is that a 
waterfall I hear? How big is this?
It felt right. It smelled right. But son of a bitch, there were at least a dozen 
tall cabinets set into the stone walls, between windows. If he was going to 
black bag this areaand he washed have to be creative. One way in, one way 
out, probably Jades favorite area. Already it was his.
I took a sketching class last year, he improvised, raising his camera, 
snapping off a dozen pictures, constantly moving, changing angles, catching a 
few shots of Jade. The heat, while welcome, made him sleepy after being out in 
the cold, and he struggled against a yawn. Would you mind if I come in sometime 
and practice? All these leaves, the shapes, the textures.
Theres a hook in the wall if you want to take off your jacket, Jade said.
Im fine, thanks.
Are you losing your voice?
Fraid so.
Sore throat?
Not so far.
Um, Mason? Id appreciate it if you dont take photographs inside, she said 
nicely.
Oh. Sure. He shut off his camera with a boyish, been-caught grin, one of a 
small but effective repertoire. Secret plants?
Secret house, she shot back mysteriously.
No lie there. Last night in the attic, Mason had discovered that when one 
family, such as the Delarues, lived in a house for over 130 years and never 
moved, there was little incentive to throw away anything. But really, they 
should have. A lock of hair was a simple memento. Same with a favorite doll. But 
when the doll was wax and hidden in a dusty trunk, with human hair glued to its 
head and a pin stuck in its gut, come on, somebody was up to something.
He knew very little about voodoo or anything like it. The doll hadnt looked 
like him, but even though it was meant for someone else, would he start getting 
sick simply because hed looked at it? Professional or not, if he started 
throwing up or running to the john, he was outta there for good.
There was more. Saving photographs of the family pet was okay, but this family 
saved the damn pet! Hed nearly had a heart attack when hed opened a box and 
found a black cat. A real one, stuffed, back arched, tail up, its neck circled 
with a jeweled collar. His suspicions were confirmed when he opened a brittle 
diary and read how this particular familiar had assisted in magic rituals.
Did Jade know that one or more of her ancestors had practiced witchcraft? Should 
he be worried?
Nah. Witches didnt come in stiletto heels and fuzzy sweaters, green with white 
snowflakes today. Besides, all that stuff had been packed away forever.
Had any other Delarue spouses mysteriously disappeared?
He should check out more of the conservatory while he had the chance, especially 
the poisonous corner.
That is a waterfall I hear, he declared. He craned his neck this way and that, 
searching for the path that would lead him to it, as excited over the discovery 
as he was eager to take care of business.
Youll get overheated back there with your coat on, Jade warned.
Me? Mason did a double take, but she looked perfectly serious. No way. Sounds 
like heaven.
Okay, but the paramedics hate it when people pass out in the back. They charge 
double.
It was almost worth shedding his coat just to see what the heck she was up to, 
but he only unzipped it. He had naturally broad shoulders and he worked out 
regularly, but come on, she couldnt be so sex-starved that shed make up 
excuses to get him out of his clothes.
He wished.
This way? he asked.
Jade helpfully pointed to the left, and Mason set off along the meandering 
flagstones. While he should have wanted to be alone so he could photograph the 
plants and check them out later, he was, in fact, inordinately happy to hear 
Jade following him. Sneakers would have softened her steps; that tap tap could 
only be made by tiny heels on stone. Eventually the tapping was drowned out by 
the splash of cascading water.
It wasnt a huge fall by any standards, but indoors, it was pretty magnificent. 
Taller than he, nestled beneath a canopy of trees, it slipped over the edges of 
dark rocks and tumbled into a shallow pool. A turtle lurched off a boulder and 
swam away, following the pond as it narrowed and meandered through verdant 
vegetation.
Anthony had joked that this area might be used for orgies. Mason was rapidly 
approaching critical condition, a romp for two in mind.
It was out of the question of course. He was a professional. He was here to 
work. But he couldnt be arrested for fantasizing about Jade, himself, and the 
rock ledge. He could cushion it with the very coat shed wanted him to leave 
behind.
Jade bumped into him when he stopped, though it hadnt been abrupt at all. Not 
so sudden that she had to catch herself by putting her hand on his hip. Call him 
nuts, but first she tried to get him out of his jacket and then she picked his 
pocket?
How could she possibly suspect he wasnt what he claimed? Not one single item 
had come with him that didnt support his cover. Except the Glock, but she 
hadnt seen that.
He turned and reached for her, as if to steady her on her feet. She jumped away 
quickly and remained at arms length, affecting a wide-eyed, innocent look.
Mason wanted to put her at easehed say the job demanded it, but that wasnt 
the half of itso he revved up the boyish grin in preparation to say something 
clever and amusing. He was born knowing how to charm women, and in truth, hed 
honed the skill until it was childs play for him to get information out of the 
most recalcitrant females.
If Id known this pond was here, I wouldve packed my snorkel and
He began all right, but then choked like never before in his experience. 
Whatever hed been about to say was lost beneath the intensity of her gaze, the 
green of her eyes. He closed his mouth before he said something stupid, like how 
the color was a perfect match for the dark leaves all around them. Or how, if 
she kept it up, shed stare a hole straight through him.
He could no longer blame this weakness where Jade was concerned on the Black 
Weekend. His head no longer pounded or threatened to split open at the slightest 
sound. His gut no longer roiled with every movement. Sweat no longer oozed out 
of his pores at ninety proof.
The first rule of investigative work was never get involved.
He was so close to breaking it. Shattering it.
Are you all right? Jade asked.
The way she was looking up at him, eyes full of concern, Mason figured he hadnt 
blown itnot yet. He could cover his ass and claim he was feeling overheated 
after all, but she might call 911. He had to do better.
I, ahjust remembered. I was expecting a document, but I had trouble with my 
computer, and I was going to ask to borrow yours, but you werent around at the 
time, so I went out and started taking pictures
He was babbling, but Jade didnt seem to notice. In fact, she looked 
inexplicably overjoyed when she said, You want to borrow my computer?
Was he professional or what? If that wasnt permission to take a look at her 
files, he didnt know what was.
Chapter 7 
M ystic Manor. Youre staying there? Nice place.
Anthony put his feet up on the bed and listened to the days recording, 
thoughtful about what hed heard in line at the grocery store. Not that he 
needed to buy snacks, but sometimes, if the line was long enough, people got 
bored and talked, like the guy whod been behind him. Hed looked like a 
salesman, with carefully styled hair and a nice suit under a tailored topcoat.
That Jade, shes some looker, isnt she? I thought about asking her outwho 
hasnt? But she never attends any of the Friday night singles functions, and I 
got to wondering why she doesnt go to church. Because shes done something 
wrong, and shes going to hell anyway, so why bother?
Im not saying she did. Just wondering.
Far as I know, none of the others have asked her out either. Though maybe they 
did. Maybe she turned them down, and they just dont want anyone to know.
Know why, dont you? You heard about her husband disappearing? Newspaper 
reporters been going around interviewing people. Told her what I know. Youll 
want to keep your eye open for that.
Guy like you, traveling all the time, you have enough insurance? You know, if 
you travel out of network and get sick or injured, your out-of-pocket expenses 
can get out of hand. Heres my card. Stop by the office later, and well talk.
 
When it became evident that Mason and his partner werent leaving by midweek, 
Jade invited them to dinner for a little extra oomph on the riddance scale. What 
she wouldnt give for a fourth-quarter moon, the absolute best phase for getting 
rid of anything, including men who were there by mistake.
The dining room looked bare since shed removed every Craft-related knickknack, 
right down to the hand-carved trivets made by Great-uncle Norman, each 
displaying a different Nordic rune.
To minimize the bare spots, she dialed down the chandelier and wall sconces. 
Shed find something else later to fill in the spots. Maybe her old snowman 
collection. Shed packed it away when shed gotten engaged to Doug because it 
seemed the grown-up thing to do at the time.
An eye-popping bouquet of long-stemmed calla lilies and blue iris had arrived a 
short while ago. Jade placed that on the table, off to the side where it 
wouldnt block anyones view.
She set two tall white tapers on the long rectangular table and was just about 
to cast a spell on the salt when the phone rang. Ordinarily she wouldnt 
interrupt a spell to answer it, but it was Courtney, the men would be here any 
minute, and Jade had a huge favor to ask.
Hello, she answered quickly, eager to skip the social niceties and get right 
to the point.
Hes dead, Courtney said, just as abruptly.
Mason? Jade clutched the back of a chair, frightened that shed made another 
mistake, a horrible one this time, but only because shed just been thinking 
about him.
Dont be a smart-ass, Courtney said, her dry tone dispelling Jades qualms. 
This is the part where you always say, He could be missing, and I always say, 
A week is missing. A month is missing. Six years is dead. And if he isnt dead, 
Im going to kill him when he gets home. And then I could tell you the news.
Jade regained her composure and said, Guess youre not worried about anyone 
listening in.
Yeah, the mystery is sooo current.
Lets pretend we said all that then. Just go ahead and give me the news.
Its official. Were widows. The countys issued presumptive death certificates 
on all three of them. The insurance company will cut the checks any day now.
Howre you doing?
Courtneys sigh was a little ragged. I always thought Id know if he was dead. 
You know, feel it somehow. I still dont. I get a feeling of foul play, but not 
death. And I realizeit happens every day in this country right?we might never 
know.
Six years. Jade slid onto one of the chairs, lost in thought.
When had she finally given up on Dougs return? Or finding out what had happened 
to him? Shed never cared about the red tape, the legal delays in pronouncing 
him finally, irrevocably deceased. For a long time, if it wasnt official, she 
didnt have to believe it.
I guess its not as if we didnt expect this.
Time moves on, Courtney agreed.
You ever wonder how comes none of us has? Moved on, I mean. Were all young, 
intelligent, healthy, self-supporting
Simple. Men are nervous as cats around intelligent, self-supporting, pretty 
women who cant explain what happened to their husbands. Anyway, thats all I 
have. You called earlier?
Jade blinked, rapidly switching gears back to the reason shed called in the 
first place. I have a huge favor to ask.
Most friends would say, Sure, anything. But there was one thing Courtney didnt 
like to do at all, not for anyone. Not even for herself. Especially not since 
the guys went missing.
What? she asked warily.
Jade explained the whole Pierce Brosnan-clone mess. Please, Courtney, I 
wouldnt ask if it wasnt really important. Im not having any luck putting 
things right on my own. I can make a talisman, but She left the suggestion 
hanging in the air.
But you want me to make one for you.
Mine arent as powerful as yours. You know I wouldnt ask if I werent 
desperate, but the longer Masons here, the harder itll be to break this 
spell.
I dont know, Courtney said, drawing it out, stalling for time. Seems like 
you could repel the man if you try hard enough. Dont brush your teeth until he 
leaves.
Ew-ww. 
Thats the point. If youre afraid hes falling for you, make yourself less 
approachable.
I have limits. She had a pair of sweats she saved for wallpapering and 
painting. A mand have to be insane to think she was desirable in those.
So do I, Courtney said.
Please? Jade wasnt above begging, not for something this important.
Well Courtney fell silent, and Jade realized she was going to have to pay up 
big time. Valentines Day is coming up. Jazzys teachers looking for 
volunteers to make treats for the class party.
That wasnt so bad. I can bake.
Jazzy wasnt six yet; Courtneyd found out she was pregnant just days after the 
guys had gone missing.
You have to stick to tradition, though, Courtney warned. Pink hearts. Cupids 
with arrows, not broomsticks. No moons, no stars.
She was going to do it! 
Thankyouthankyouthankyou, Jade said in one breath, giddy with relief. If shed 
been religious, she wouldve crossed herself. No moons, no stars; Ill try to 
contain myself.
You will contain yourself.
Okay, promise. Hey, listen, I just heard the clone come in the back door. I 
have to go.
Ill drop it by soon.
Time was growing short as Jade hung up; Mason could stroll into the dining room 
at any moment. With a talisman from Courtney, she probably didnt need to do any 
more spell work, but she was just stubborn and proud enough to want to fix her 
mistake on her own. Besides, anything she learned in the process would go in her 
grimoire, to be passed down to future generations.
The sooner she got rid of Mason, the sooner she could get to work on finding the 
right man to help with that. Shed rerun the same spell later, only with an 
escape clause.
Jade slid the saltshaker into position in front of the candles and laid her hand 
on it while she affirmed her intention, the same one shed use on the wine and 
honey, too, just to be sure Mason got a dose.
The moon isnt perfect and neither am I, 
But we must quickly fix what has gone awry. 
Salt you are and salt youll stay; 
When consumed by my mistake, youll send him away. 
Mason was ravenous. Something about freezing his ass off all week to support his 
cover made him hungry, and the inside of Mystic Manor smelled as if a gourmet 
chef had moved into the kitchen and worked since dawn.
When he entered the richly paneled dining room, he couldnt help thinking Jade 
looked just as tasty. Which was saying a lot considering his teeth were still 
chattering, and there was a crackling fire calling him toward the hearth. Just 
looking at her standing beside the table in curve-hugging jeans and a peach 
sweater heated something else he thought hed frozen off.
Wonderful, he said with his new raspy voice, trying not to drool.
Its a great room, isnt it? Jade said, misunderstanding his comment. Just as 
well. My ancestors settled here at the beginning of the lumber boom. This 
rooms walnut.
His ancestors had been indecisive, moving from New York to Wisconsin, Kansas, 
and finally Florida. For his money, they couldve skipped Plymouth Rock and 
landed in the Caribbean.
Mason made a beeline for the fire to warm parts resistant to Jade, like his 
knees. I hope you didnt go to too much trouble. Anthony cant make it. He says 
to tell you hes sorry.
Jade gazed at the table set for three, looking perplexed for just a moment 
before she lit the candles and regained her cheerful composure. I guess itll 
still work.
Sorry. Did we mess you up?
Ah, I was thinking its a big table for just the two of us, but well be fine.
Nice flowers.
The card was right in front of him, though tucked deep inside the greenery, and 
he peeked when Jade wasnt looking. Not that he expected it to say, Miss you, 
babe, cant wait until were together again. Love, your other half, but he had 
to check. He certainly didnt expect what he read, either.
Many thanks, Lyle and Brenda. 
Pretty, arent they? Jade said.
Mason coughed. It was that or stammer out something stupid.
Lyle and Brenda? How?
They knew Jade? She knew them?
You okay?
Mason felt as if hed just been harpooned. He thumped his chest, making sure his 
heart was still beating. There, thats better.
Jade wiped her palms on her jeans, drawing his eyes to unsafe territory. Cold 
settling in your chest?
Mm. Yeah. My throat, too.
Try this.
She poured from a china teapot and handed him the warm cup. Mason had always 
thought tea, like cream soup, was for women. Hed been wrong about the soup. And 
this brew smelled really, really good. He leaned over the cup for a closer 
sniff, and the aroma alone began to soothe his scratchy throat.
Just shoot me now, he thought, because hed do almost anything to stop a cold. 
Hell, if shed poisoned the tea, and he fell over dead, at least his throat 
wouldnt hurt. And there would be flowers.
Ill be right back with our dinner.
Mason watched Jade leave the room, one second wondering if her ass was really 
that nice or if it was just the jeans, the next realizing that once she was out 
of sight, the room felt lonely. Andsomething else. Barethat was it. Thered 
been knickknacks when hed walked through the other day. Now the mantel was 
empty. Nail heads stuck out of the paneling, nothing on them. The built-in china 
cabinet displayed several patterns, but if he wasnt mistakenand he rarely 
wasa whole set of goblets was missing.
He couldnt afford to linger by the fire. Jade was getting their meal, and since 
he oughtnt risk eating food that he didnt know came out of the same pot, he 
hurried through the butlers panty and into the kitchen in time to see her ladle 
up both servings.
Can I help? he offered, a sharp eye on the lookout for any extraneous herb 
sprinkling, especially over his bowl. Just because he wanted to strip her naked 
and throw her down in front of the fire didnt mean hed completely lost his 
senses. Mm, what is that?
Stew.
Ive had stew. It never smelled like that. He stepped behind Jade for a closer 
whiff. He was drawn closer, involuntarily, until he was leaning over her 
shoulder, and it wasnt because dinner smelled so good.
Its the herbs, Jade said, drawing him back to the subject of food.
Can I help?
Sure, you can bring the honey and wine. Theyre on that counter over there, by 
the candle.
Mason gathered up the wine bottle and the jar of honey, then, because they were 
leaving the room, he leaned forward to blow out the candle. It was an unusual 
one, black knobs stacked one on the other, with scratches on the side.
I hope you like it, Jade said. Its locallyNo!
Mason snapped upright. What?
Never blow out a candle. You should snuff it, or pinch it.
Why? 
Its bad luck.
Oh. I used to blow Brendas out all the time.
Whos Brenda?
The woman who jilted me Saturday night.
Well, see?
Mason didnt know what hed expected. Sympathy, maybe? Surprise? Heightened 
sexual interest in salving his wounded psyche?that would be nice. At the rate 
he was striking out, he didnt have to worry about Anthony finding out there was 
a part of him that wanted to get very involved with this subject.
Yeah, she ran off with some guy named Lyle. Giving her time to, oh, come clean 
and say, Thats funny, I know a couple named Lyle and Brenda, too, he set the 
wine down briefly, licked his fingers, and reached for the candle.
Let it burn.
She was so smooth with her lies, hed lost count. But we wont be in the room.
Its in a safe spot. Dont worry about it.
It did look safe, sitting on a heavy glass plate far from anything flammable, so 
Mason let it be and followed Jade to the dining room, still mulling over her 
nonreaction to his getting left at the altar three days ago. Women didnt ignore 
a situation like that. Women commiserated with a jilted man. They couldnt help 
it; they were built that way. They wanted to comfortor find out what hed done 
wrong so they could bawl him out a second time.
Jade was doing neither, and for one very simple reason. If she knew Lyle and 
Brenda, she knew about him. Yeah, sure, there could be another couple with the 
same names, but if it was all that innocent, she wouldnt be keeping that to 
herself, now would she? So why were they thanking her?
Maybe if he kept filling her wineglass and kept her talking, shed eventually 
let something slip. Not admirable, but eminently effective.
As they set their bowls on the table, he said, Dont take this the wrong way, 
but why do women like candles so much?
I think a better question is why do you dislike them so much? Would you like me 
to take them off?
If she removed them, shed probably turn up the lights, dispelling the cozy 
atmosphere, and then she wouldnt be as likely to confide in him. Or shed see 
the gash on his cheek and move in to check it out, and while he wanted her 
close, oh man, did he ever, he knew his limits.
Theyre fine. Leave them.
Youre sure? Because that took quite a while for you to decide.
She grinned, slow and cute, glancing at him from beneath lowered lashes as she 
rotated one of the candles until it was just so. Probably giving him time to 
change his mind.
I was just thinking you need some of this tea, too, but you dont have a cup. 
Mason opened the china cabinet and set a matching one out for her. Only after 
shed had a couple sips did he savor the warm liquid on his throat and murmur, 
Oh, man, that feels good.
I made enough so you can reheat another cup before you go to bed.
How come herbalists dont put doctors out of business?
Doctors have their place. Jade took the tiniest little taste of her stew and 
made a face. I forgot to salt it, she said, and pushed the saltshaker across 
the table toward him.
Mason looked at it. He looked at her. Ladies first.
But youre company.
My mother would roll over in her grave.
Well, we couldnt have that, could we?
She gave in and went first, which would have eased Masons mind except that when 
she was finished, she set the shaker close to him. And then pushed it even 
closer.
He debated whether a person could successfully poison the salt below the top 
layer and not suffer any ill effects from the first helping. Impossible, of 
course, so he bit the bullet and seasoned his stew while Jade stared at every 
grain that fell into his bowl. He scooped up a bite, then with it halfway to his 
mouth, he paused.
Jades gaze was riveted to his spoon.
Arent you going to eat? he asked.
Oh, she said, flustered. She looked as if she might have blushed, but in this 
light, who could tell? Yes! Im famished. I hope you like it.
After his first bite, Mason said, Mm, you were right. Here, and, in challenge, 
pushed the biscuits toward her.
She took one and bit into it, so then he didnt know what to think, except that 
maybe he was letting his imagination run wild. But hed staked out some real 
scumbags since hed partnered with Anthony five years ago. People were capable 
of anything. You never could tell; some of them masqueraded as cute and innocent 
for years before they were caught.
Do you like honey? Its local. Its very good. She pushed the jar toward him. 
The wines local, too.
The table was starting to look unbalanced with everything getting shoved his 
way. He got in the last word, though, as he filled her glass. Ladies first.
Youre a guest.
Please. My mother raised me to be a perfect gentleman, and if you make me go 
first, then all that hard work goes to waste.
Jades eyes twinkled in the candlelight as she held up her glass and said, 
Cant argue with that. To mothers who raise perfect gentlemen.
As sound a plan as it was to get Jade tipsy and talking, she didnt cooperate. 
Mason figured she knew what he had in mind. She must. That or she wasnt much of 
a drinker. But the food and the fire and the ambiance was working anyway, and 
they talked about everything else through dinner, then lingered over a dark 
chocolate mousse. To-die-for mousse.
He hoped that wasnt literal, but what a way to go. Beautiful, intelligent 
woman. Low lighting. Crackling fire.
Are there herbs in this, too? he asked, trying to get his mind out of the 
romance gutter.
Sharing a cozy meal with Jade should not make him long for bouncing a little 
girl of his own on his knee. Chrissakes, hed never sat with Brenda and imagined 
having a child with her. He just missed Lily, thats all. In his rush to leave 
the church, he hadnt said good-bye. He should call her.
Damn. Jade licked her spoon like a kid licked a brownie mix spatula, only a 
helluva lot sexier. Masons mouth went dry as he watched every little dart of 
her tongue, up the spoon, down the spoon, around the friggin spoon, until it 
was clean, even though she had half a bowl left. After that demonstration of 
dexterityhe was a hundred percent certain that Jade had no idea how sexy she 
was, or how provocative, which just made her hotterhe had no recourse but to 
chug the rest of his wine.
Willpowerha! Hed sworn off alcohol two days ago, and if he didnt drink 
himself senseless in the next thirty seconds, he wasnt going to be responsible 
for reaching across the table and doing a little licking of his own.
He was startled back to sensible when Jade said, No herbs. Why?
Oh, just wondering.
Its dark chocolate, though. Darks healthy.
Do you hear bells? For once, it wasnt church bells.
Jade was already scooting her chair away from the table. Its the side door.
On the opposite side of the house from the conservatory, Mason recalled, the 
door led out to a porte cochre, where carriages used to pause so guests could 
enter in bad weather without getting wet.
You expecting guests? he asked.
Enjoy the fire as long as you like. Just close the screen when you leave the 
room, okay?
Now she was ignoring questions. It beat lying. Maybe.
Youre not coming back?
Sometimes these things take a while. She dropped her napkin beside her bowl.
Eyeing her half-eaten dessert, Mason asked, Anything I can do?
Do and you die. She obviously thought the temptation was too much, because 
after the slightest hesitation, she grabbed the bowl and took it with her.
Mason felt dismissedutterly, completely dismissed. The possibility of her words 
being a threat never entered his mind, because the thought of Jades rushing off 
to let her husband in sobered him up faster than throwing him out bare-ass naked 
into the snow.
But, hell, her husband wouldnt ring the bell. So who would? Shed gone to 
answer the door as if used to receiving visitors on cold, dark nights on the 
outskirts of West Bluff. What was so important?
Mason didnt know if Anthony had a camera on the side door, so he followed 
quietly, keeping his distance. By the time hed parked himself behind a tall 
potted tree in the unlit music room adjoining the side foyer, Jade was deep in 
conversation with the two men shed let inside. Big guys, rough-looking. 
Insulated coveralls, insulated coats, heavy boots.
Weight and hair color could change. Eyeglasses and beards came and went. But 
both these guys were too tall to be the dead husband. That didnt mean they 
didnt know anything about where he was, though, so Mason listened closely.
Nathan, you didnt drive all the way from Keokuk tonight, did you? Jade said, 
sounding surprised at what theyd told her so far.
She should be, if she meant Keokuk, Iowa. It wasnt as if there was a four-lane 
highway connecting it to West Bluff. What they had was two lanes, unlit, with 
snow, black ice, and headlight-crazed deer.
Nudged by his buddy, Nathan whipped off his bright orange knitted hat, turning 
it over and over in his hands. Sure did, Miz Delarue. Uncle Noahs been tellin 
me to come here for days, but my wife, she wouldnt have none of it. But now 
shes got herself all worked up over this, and with her expectin and all
Jade appeared comfortable with their arriving after dark, and apparently they 
knew someone in common. Mason made a note to ask Anthony who Noah was.
The first for-sale sign kinda got lost, if you know what I mean, Nathan 
continued to explain his plight.
Mason wasnt sure he caught that accurately, because the guy had a speech 
impediment, most likely due to the wad of tobacco he kept working. Mason leaned 
as close as he dared, risking personal eye injury from a tree branch.
But the owner, he come along and put another one up. Hell get suspicious if I 
keep takin em down. But we got no other place to live, so whatm I spose to 
do? So Uncle Noah, he says you can help.
You dont have a rental agreement?
No, maam.
So, can you? Help? the other guy said, softer but easier to understand. Then 
he whipped his hat off, too.
I believe so, Jade said.
Mason could tell she was thinking. About what, he didnt know. How to approach 
their landlord and talk him out of selling his rental property? Ways to convince 
a local motel to put the family up until they could find an apartment? Anthony 
hadnt relayed any pertinent background on Jade that gave a clue as to how she 
could be of assistance.
Thank you, maam. I preciate it, really I do.
Why dont you two go on into the dining room while I put something together? 
Jade said warmly. Theres a nice fire in there. Masonll show you the way.
Mason froze behind the tree. He just flat out quit breathing. Jade was talking 
in general terms; she couldnt know he was there.
She turned and stared straight at him. Okay, Mason?
He figured he had about fifteen seconds to come up with an explanation good 
enough to keep from getting booted out on his ass.
Chapter 8 
M ason had been eavesdropping? What was up with that?
The night air was cool and crisp. It was snowing again, big fluffy flakes that 
fell softly, refreshing the landscape with a fresh coat of white.
Jade pulled up the hood on her cape, tugging it with unnecessary force, a sure 
sign that Mason was getting to her, and she didnt mean just the fact that he 
was still at Mystic Manor. Sure, he was an eavesdropping slug, but, silly her, 
she hadnt specified that she wanted someone who didnt listen in on things that 
were none of his business. Shed asked for a man who lit her fire, and Mason did 
that so well, just thinking about the way he looked at her had her sucking in 
freezing air to cool her insides.
Focus. 
She should be thinking ahead to helping Nathan and his family keep their home a 
little longer, not self-combusting over the clone.
Better yet, she should be watching where she was going. The five-day-old moon 
was obscured by clouds, leaving only a few dim landscape lights to illuminate 
the walk to the drive. There were icy patches, even though Henry had shoveled it 
recently. Her uncle could go for days without being seen, but he seldom missed a 
chance to do something sweet like this. He didnt like to make a big deal about 
helping with the house and property, or packaging up her botanical shipments in 
the dead of night. Henry pretty much kept to himself.
Jade paused on the walk, taking a moment to face the bluffs edge, to let the 
breeze wash over her and blow away the negativity she was harboring over the 
eavesdropping incident.
Refreshed, she moved on.
The spell she was preparing to do for Nathan didnt require much in the line of 
supplies, not for her part. Witchcraft was all about intention and belief and 
trust. She could buy his family extra time as long as they believed in what she 
did. But people expected a witch to pull out a wand and cast a magic circle for 
every little thing, and if they didnt get what they expected, their negative 
energy worked against her efforts. So, draped from Jades shoulder was her 
trusty carryall bag, holding an athame, a wand, and a few other items she 
needed to take with her tonight.
Well, everything except her mind. That should have been thinking ahead, forming 
an ironclad, impossible-to-misunderstand intention, but in spite of every effort 
to stay clearly focused, a certain sexy eagle photographer kept winging into her 
thoughts.
And her line of sight. As if shed conjured him up, she found Mason leaning 
against the front of the Jeep, shivering in spite of his hat, his coat, and the 
engine rumbling beneath his butt.
Want some company? he asked.
No way he could continue to stay at Mystic Manor, not with clients arriving for 
the weekend. Having him on the premises made it easier to tuck banishing herbs 
into his pillowcase, but for what they were paying, her clients expected privacy 
and discretion with their spells, not an outsider lurking behind potted trees. 
Mason would have to be gone by Friday afternoon.
Geez, that was tomorrow already. Shed give him until evening.
Jade intended to glare at him, the better to get across the message that hed 
done wrong and wasnt welcome here, but shoot, how was she supposed to look at 
Pierce Brosnan, even a faux one, and not melt at his feet? Mason was every bit 
as sexy, in spite of the shivering. Maybe more so, because he was here, in 
person, someone she could talk to and touchif she wanted, not that she intended 
to touch, no, no, that wouldnt be right at all.
How could she give the cold shoulder to a man who appreciated eagles and put up 
with weather conditions he hated, just to bring them to life in glossy pictures 
for thousands to enjoy?
How could she ignore a guy who didnt press for more information on why shed 
been lobbing Tupperware off the bluffand one marked with a skull and 
crossbones, at that? Who volunteered his strong right arm to help, and was 
comfortable enough in his own skin to joke about auditioning for pitching 
services?
Mason didnt look the least bit uncomfortable beneath her gaze, so Jade figured 
shed failed horribly with the glare. Odd, but if she didnt know he was a 
photographer, she would have guessed hed lean toward a more exciting career, 
maybe even something dangerous. He just had that look about him, the way he held 
himself, always so poised and yet ready for more. Anticipating more.
He levered himself away from the Jeep and walked toward her in no apparent 
hurry, seemingly oblivious to snowflakes accumulating on his dark collar and 
across his broad shoulders.
She felt like lingering as well, but Nathan and his brother were in their truck, 
idling in the porte cochre, waiting for her.
Keokuks an hour each way, Mason said, his voice stronger since hed had a 
healthy dose of her tea.
She shouldnt be analyzing his voice. She should go. Right now. Just get in the 
Jeep and go.
He cocked his head to one side, seeming concerned about the long drive she had 
ahead of her. Maybe more. There could snowy patches on the road. Black ice.
With a deep breath of frigid air to stiffen her resolve, Jade opened the 
drivers door and tossed her bag inside, careful to remain silent until she 
could trust herself not to gush and give the impression he was welcome to stay.
I came out to shovel the walk, he said. Somebody beat me to it.
Persistent devil, especially considering how much he hated the cold and snow.
So I thought Id warm the Jeep for you.
See, just one more reason to like him. It had been parked in the unattached 
garage, but wouldve been freezing just the same.
He stopped in front of her, looking protective and, again, just a little bit 
fierce. You dont know these guys.
And you know that how?
His grin said, Okay, so I was bad. But I admit it, and Im a helluva cute guy, 
so youll forgive me.
And her heart, blast it, did a little pitter-patter and made her think, How can 
I be mad at him when its my fault hes here?
If a guy was at my sisters house for dinner, he said, and two strangers 
showed up after dark and asked her to drive off with them, Id sure want him to 
check them out.
Sure, you say that now, but
Hell. He blew out a breath. Id want him to pack a gun and go with her.
Mason wasnt looking at her the way a man looks at his sister, but Jade wasnt 
about to say so, because then he might move toward her with a line like, Yeah, 
howm I looking at you? or I was speaking hypothetically, but now that you 
mention it She wanted him thinking about leaving, not putting the moves on her.
Instead, Mason took her by the shoulders and softly kissed her cheek, his breath 
warm and moist on her skin, and damn, in spite of all her resolve to the 
contrary, she didnt have the wherewithal to spring away from him.
She felt herself nuzzle against him. He lingered close until she whispered, 
Whats that for?
Dinner. His voice was gruff, and not all attributable to his cold. He put two 
inches of space between them.
Jade gazed up into his eyes, trying to read him, but it was too dark, and he was 
too close.
Then, probably because shed been too surprised to lurch away from him, he 
slowly pulled her back toward him, closing the gap until he held her firmly 
against his chest. He was tall and big, and had no trouble wrapping his arms 
around her in a warm, secure hold that made her remember what shed been 
missing, and would take weeks to forget.
When he oh-so-slowly relaxed his hug, still allowing only a couple inches of 
space between them, she whispered, What was that for?
To warm you up.
She wanted to lie and say it didnt work. She wanted him to embrace her again, 
only longer, so shed have more to remember. So she could dream of how close 
shed come to getting it right.
She didnt dare. Instead, she forced herself to ease out of his arms, to turn 
away and stumble into the Jeep and slide behind the wheel.
The problem with continuously developing and casting spells to get rid of Mason 
was that she was always aware of him. Always evaluating his face and mooddid he 
look or sound unhappy enough to leave? Everything he said and did. Was he any 
closer to leaving? Or further from it?
As a result, Mason was always on her mind, and she noticed the little things 
about him that ordinarily might have passed unnoticed. The little smiles tugging 
at the corners of his mouth when he was amused by something she said or did. The 
heat in his eyes, which he quickly masked whenever she turned to him, but not 
quickly enough. The promising sizzle behind a kiss on the cheek.
Fine. He could stay until Saturday morning, but that was it.
Nathans truck died. Jade experienced a surge of incredible joy, thinking she 
might not have to leave just yet. Quickly followed by the voice of reason and 
Nathans truck revving back to life.
Jade saw Masons brow crease. He probably was thinking, Great, their truckll 
die out on the road, shell give them a lift and never be seen again.
Dont worry about them, Jade said. Theyre Noahs nephews.
And Noah is?
The milkman. Hes practically family. And had been ever since her grandmother 
had helped his father with a Steady Business spell. When Weezy was in the 
kitchen, Noah left extra yogurt in the refrigerator and hung out for an hour. 
Watch your toes.
She shut the door and threw the Jeep into gear, not leaving any time for Mason 
to talk his way into the passenger seat. She was often called out at odd hours 
to help someone. Even if she wanted to talk to Mason on the long drive, she sure 
didnt want him seeing what she did once she got there. Noah wouldnt have told 
his nephews she was a witch if he didnt know they could be trusted; no one she 
knew could vouch for Mason.
It was miles before Jade felt the cold again, miles during which she drove like 
a robot, following Nathans taillights through the snowy night as she relived 
Masons kiss, the touch of his lips, the pull of his arms. The heat in his eyes.
Focus. 
She didnt need to go to Nathans place, not technically. She could have handed 
the sea salt-valerian mix to him with explicit instructions on what to do, but 
his familys situation hit a little too close to home. When Mystic Manor had 
been heavily in debt, thered been talk about the town taking it over, charging 
tourists to traipse through her historic house and touch her furniture and carry 
negative energy into her conservatory while a local guide explained how 
riverboat shipping and a lumber boom had made a tycoon of Sebastian Delarue. 
While her living situation and Nathans were vastly different, the underlying 
stress was the same. It had been a difficult time for her, and she hadnt been 
pregnant, like Nathans wife. For all concerned, Jade wanted to handle this 
herself and get it done quickly.
As the air inside the Jeep warmed, Jade noticed a hint of oranges and nutmeg. 
She grinned to herself, then, because she knew Mason, whod driven it for hours 
today, had chosen Luck Soap from the assortment in his bathroom.
So, he felt he needed a little luck, hm? A little extra help from the spirits to 
move his book smoothly through publishing channels, perhaps?
He didnt have to know the soap was charmed to make it work; all he had to do 
was think about what kind of luck he wanted while he was washing, and, barring 
any negative thoughts he might harbor to the contrary, the energy he sent out 
would do the rest.
Funny hed passed over the Love Soap. Maybe hed given up on love for a while. 
Not that she could blame him, after being dumped like that.
Darn, there I go again, thinking about Mason. 
Jade wiggled in her seat, mentally grounding herself to the here and now, 
concentrating on the swoosh of the wipers and the winding road instead of Mason 
in the shower with her soap. Geez, she hoped he didnt think it was Get Lucky 
Soap. The way he looked at her sometimes, it was as if he wanted to gobble her 
up.
How could a kiss demand so much attention when no lips had met? That was silly. 
Ridiculous.
It was all the more special because it was different. She reached up and touched 
her cheek, right where Masons lips had caressed her skin. She wanted him to do 
it again, only mouth to mouth next time.
Good grief, she was in big trouble. No wonder he hadnt left Mystic Manor! The 
powerful attraction between them had overridden all her attempts to send him 
back. No spell to get rid of him was going to work if she wasnt a hundred 
percent behind it. The same went for the one she planned to do for Nathan.
She smacked the steering wheel with her palm. Concentrate! She could figure out 
what to do about Mason later. Right now, Nathan needed her help.
This spell was a simple one, but her intention had to be clear. Shed sprinkle 
the sea salt-valerian mixture in a circle around the rental, focusing on how 
Nathans family needed that house to live in a while longer. It would buy extra 
time for them to find another place. A nicer place. With lower rent. Closer to 
his job. In a nice neighborhood.
Now she was cooking!
The perfect number of bedrooms and bathrooms to fit their situation. Low 
maintenance. Good, safe appliances. No hidden detriments or dangers. A perfect 
place for Nathans wife to nest. That was a different spell. She had everything 
she needed for that one, too.
Maybe she could spend a little time thinking about Mason.
 
Mystic Manor, huh?
Anthony reviewed another recording, this one made at the local computer repair 
shop that afternoon. He always carried a busted laptop to break the ice. The 
tech had gone right to tapping buttons, bringing up screens that Anthony had no 
idea how to access.
Buddy of mine used to live there. Five, six years ago. No, a little more, I 
guess. Man, I sure miss him. Used to play poker together a couple times a month. 
You know, rotated where we played. But we never played there. Mm, this doesnt 
look so good.
Lucky bastard. Never met anyone could win as often as he did. He even won my 
bird dog once. Dog never was the same after that. Slept for a week when I got 
him back, then woke up and looked at me kinda like, Oh, man, you again. Like he 
was depressed to be home or something.
You met the old man yet?
That caught Anthonys attention.
Ah-hah! Youve got spyware on here. I can fix it. Give me a day or two.
 
So what excuse did you give Jade? Anthony asked when Mason related the 
postdinner, potted-tree fiasco.
Right then? Nothing. I froze, plain and simple.
Had Jade pressed, his only recourse might have been to pull out his Glock and 
shoot himself, but that would necessitate even more explanations, at which, 
apparently, he wasnt very adept.
He wouldnt be any better at explaining why he was in her closet at three in the 
morning. With her off at Nathans, and Annie and Weezy not likely to pop in, 
hed had the run of Mystic Manor all evening and into the night. Hed heard 
someone in the kitchen once, but since he hadnt seen anybody when he went to 
investigate, he blamed King Kong and counted himself lucky.
Hed searched every guest room; every box, tin, and trunk; every closet, 
cabinet, and drawer on both floors, except for the conservatory, which hed get 
to later.
Only one room had been locked, and it was a doozy. Talk about War of the 
Witches! Two altars stood on opposite sides of the blue room, and even though 
they both held candles, incense burners, and various small items, such as 
crystals, they couldnt have been more different. One was simply a scarf-covered 
dresser, without a speck of dust. The other was a marble-topped table, and whod 
notice the dust on it with a crystal ball the size of a bowling ball sitting on 
the tabletop? Oh yeah, Jade knew she had witches in the family.
Clothes in the closet and drawers belonged to a man and a woman, and it 
definitely wasnt the room Jade had shared with her husband, then locked up when 
he went missing. All the sizes and styles were wrong.
Tables held bowls of salt. Hed have to get back on the internet and find out 
what that was about. Family photos covered the walls, along with a framed 
collage of Mystic Manor during various stages of construction. Not exactly the 
blueprints hed heard about in Anthonys update, but maybe the old guy at the 
hardware store had embellished.
Nothing was revealed about Jades missing husband, so Mason had moved on to her 
office. He spent a lot of time going through hanging folders, trying to discern 
what devious method she used for filing, only to throw up his hands and conclude 
there was none. After that, when a quick scan showed six hundred thousand files 
on one computer alone, filed by the same devious method, he installed wireless 
network adapters in both of them. With Jades odd hours, and Annie and Weezy 
coming and going whenever they pleased, the only way hed be able to examine 
those files thoroughly was from the privacy of his room.
And that had brought him to her room. Masons flashlight lay on a shelf, and as 
he took a moment to rotate it toward a stack of shoeboxes, he caught a familiar 
smell. It wasnt the first time hed smelled cigarette smoke in the house, but 
hed yet to see anyone light up.
Hey, Anthony, you smoking out there?
Anthony was slouched on his tailbone on a chair. Hed kicked off his shoes and 
propped his feet on the windowsill on the far side of Jades queen-size bed, 
keeping an eye on the driveway as he listened to snatches of conversation hed 
recorded, sharing pertinent details with Mason after each one.
Yeah, I took it up five minutes ago. Figured after thirty years of clean lungs, 
I owed myself a treat.
You cant smell it?
No. I thought you had a cold.
Mason paused in surprise. Hey. Wow.
What?
Jade made me some tea. I guess it worked. My throats better, too. Which 
reminds me, you need to send your mother some flowers.
I do?
He told Anthony about the bouquet from Lyle and Brenda.
Ill do it first thing tomorrow, Anthony said. If Lyle stopped in and 
chatted, I might get something, but if he just called it in, well
Mason checked his watch often, hoping Jade would be home soon, even if it meant 
he had to quit for the night, because the longer she was out with those two 
bozos, the more he worried about her safety.
What do you know about Noah?
The milkman? Anthony said. Took over the business at fourteen when his father 
died. So, clear this up for meyou just walked out from behind the tree and led 
the guys into the dining room to enjoy the fire?
Thats about it.
Bingo! Letters from the dead husband in a shoebox. Undated, so Mason had to read 
them. Stockard wasnt much of a writer, and it was easy to see these were 
written before Jade had married him.
He went through every shoebox. Lots of stiletto heels. Even strappy sandal ones; 
man, what he wouldnt give to see Jade in those and a short skirt. Thinking 
about her in the red pair made him forget hed been awake since dawn.
You couldnt come up with a reasonable excuse, Anthony said around a yawn, 
because you always think youll never get caught.
Never have been.
Until now. Youd better have a good story by the time she gets back.
Nah, I covered my ass in the driveway. Told her, come on, a woman living alone 
in a relatively remote area, answering the door in the dark of nightwhat man 
wouldnt be concerned for your safety? If you were my sister, Id want me to 
check out the guys at the door. I think she bought it. Plus, I warmed up the 
Jeep for her.
I dont know, Mase. You give a woman hours to mull over something like that, 
shes bound to come back angry.
Anybody who loves chocolate as much as she does and leaves it behind to go help 
two strangerswhich, by the way, is nuts; you have to try some of her mousse. 
Anyway, someone who can do that isnt the type to hold a grudge.
You have to remember, this is a small town.
Say, did you see who shoveled the walk?
I figured you did.
Mason leaned around the jamb and stared at Anthony.
Right. What was I thinking?
We need a camera out there.
I dont know about you, but if I were playing dead, Anthony said, I wouldnt 
shovel my wifes walk.
You might if you were in town to pick up a million dollars.
Are you about done? I can hardly keep my eyes open.
Mason closed the lid on the red sandals and returned the box to the stack. Do 
you mind? Im being thorough.
Yeah? Whatve you found? Hey, youre not trying on her bras and panties, are 
you?
Very funny.
Mason snooped through built-in drawers next, suddenly engrossed in trying not to 
picture Jade in silky lingerie. His fingers slipped through stacks of it, 
searching for anything below the skimpy items. Some slinky. Some lacy. All sexy. 
It was several minutes before he realized Anthony hadnt said anything.
You still awake out there?
Yeah, just thinking. Is that why you didnt become a spy when you had the 
chance? You were afraid youd freeze up like you did downstairs?
Hell no. Spies get sent places they dont want to go. Cold places. Mason 
shivered just thinking about it. And they get shot at.
Youve been shot at.
Yeah, but they were all amateurs.
Thats not it. Youre a risk taker. Like scuba divingmost people go down to 
see fish; youre not happy unless youre exploring wrecks. And what you did in 
Jades officehow are you going to explain networking cards in her computers?
Theres enough wires under there to hold up a bridge. Shell never notice.
But if she does.
Then whats to say I put them there? Mason pulled a pink-flowered hatbox off 
the topmost shelf, disturbing the layer of dust on the lid as little as possible 
as he lifted it off. Hey, found something.
Anthony strolled over to the closet door. Anything good? Knife with dried 
blood? Murder pact signed by all three women? Love letters dated last month?
Mason spread the contents on the carpet, sorting through what was left behind 
when a husband disappears.
Passport. Birthday cards. Anniversary cards. Wedding photos. Same guy as in the 
pictures scattered downstairs. Three guys, hunting, fishing, a boat. Nice boat. 
I could live on a boat like that.
They owned it together.
I guess soa cruiser like that isnt cheap. What happened to it?
It was in their names; the husbands. It sat on a lift for a year, then the 
wives leased it out. What else do we have?
Pocketknife. Yo-yo. Wedding band; too small to be his. High-school diploma. 
College diploma. Hey, wait. Mason fanned through birthday and anniversary 
cards, taking a closer look. These are to him, mostly from Jade. Some are from 
his parents. This is the kind of stuff you save for somebody else, in case they 
come back. She didnt kill him.
He felt it in his bones, as sure of her as he was of his own name. Hed wanted 
to kiss her deeply by the Jeep. At the last minute, common sense had grabbed 
hold of him and steered him to safer territory. If there was any chance of 
enjoying Jades arms around him, the gun had to go. Fortunately he was carrying 
the baby Glock and could move it to an ankle holster.
He fanned through the contents again. No love letters from Jade to Stockard. He 
couldnt believe she hadnt written any. Jade was a font of feelings, of 
emotions. A woman whod love deeply and passionately and have no qualms about 
committing those feelings to ink.
The slimeball hadnt kept them. In that instant, Mason decided he didnt like 
Stockard. Dead or alive, didnt matter, even if the guy had met some untimely 
horrible fate and wasnt guilty of insurance fraud, he just plain didnt like 
him.
Stockard better hope he was dead, because if he was alive and had left Jade to 
think he was dead, to find out the man shed loved hadnt loved her back, itd 
take more than Anthony to hold Mason back from punching the guy out.
Uh-oh.
What uh-oh? Mason stared at the splayed contents to see what hed missed.
Jades back.
Mason began replacing items in the box methodically.
Really back. As in shes in the house.
Some lookout you are. Mason threw everything back into the hatbox, stuffed it 
back up on the shelf, and darted for the door. Time for bed, Goldilocks.
Dont go out there, Anthony whispered frantically. He dove deeper into the 
closet.
Im not staying in here. Id snore and give myself away. Or Jade would undress 
in the closet, hed whimper, and thatd give him away.
Mason could have made it out of the room in time, if not for King Kong blocking 
the door.
Shoo, he whispered, waving his hands.
The dog didnt budge, just studied him with an expressionless gaze that couldve 
been, Oh, brother, another human for dinner or Hey, Id better dispose of the 
idiot snooping through my mistresss belongings.
Mason didnt think Jade would still be angry about the eavesdropping incident, 
but if she caught him in another compromising position, say, her bedroom, shed 
throw him out for sure.
Unless she found the dogs teeth wrapped around his arm. Yeah! He could claim 
that he was in the hall, minding his own business, when the dog grabbed hold of 
him for no apparent reason and dragged him into her room. He was a huge dog. 
With big teeth. Not only would Jade buy it, shed be too upset to suspect a 
little creative ass-covering.
Here, boy. Nice dog. Cmere. Mason bent down to the dogs level.
Man, if the CIA could see him now.
Jades cell phone rang, and she said, Hi, Daddy, from a lot closer than hed 
expected.
Mason checked over his shoulder to find the dog had disappeared. As covers went, 
it hadnt been a very good story, but it was all hed had, and now it was gone.
Think youll make it later this month? Jade asked, nearing the top of the 
stairs. In fact, Mason could see the top of her head.
He dove into the closet.
Chapter 9 
A nthony huddled beneath a bottom row of Jades soft sweaters as Mason 
barrel-rolled across the floor and crashed into him. He scooted against the 
wall, giving them more room to hide.
Mason sucked in his breath and said, The light.
I unscrewed the bulbs.
Way to go.
Hey, just because I dont like getting caught in a womans closet doesnt mean 
I dont know what to do when I am.
They froze as Jade walked in, flicked the switch several times, and muttered a 
soft curse. They both breathed a sigh of relief that she didnt think, Hm, what 
are the chances of two bulbs burning out at the same time? and try tightening 
them.
She rummaged through the shelves, found what she wanted, and returned to the 
well-lit bedroom. Anthony peeked over Masons shoulder and through the clothes 
just long enough to see Jade strip out of her sweater and bra and toss them onto 
the comforter. Not much left to the imagination. Not that he was interested, but 
he could tell by the stiff set of Masons back that he was all eyes.
See anything dangerous? Anthony whispered, settling back and leaving the show 
to his partner. A gun? A knife? Little vials of poison?
Mason groaned, and muttered something about smooth skin and perfect breasts.
Bet youre loving this, Anthony said, more than happy to goad his partner. If 
she were that cute bartender you slept with, Id be loving this.
Oh for the love ofI didnt sleep with him.
Has she taken off her jeans yet? Ill bet her naked legs look really long. Is 
she wearing skimpy little panties?
Mason jabbed his elbow backward, connecting with Anthonys gut, but he was ready 
for it.
I bet shed look good in high-cut panties.
Have you called him yet?
Who?
The bartender.
Are you kidding? I was so busy keeping an eye on you so you didnt jump out the 
window that I never even got to talk to him.
And he was very upset about it.
He was?
I was drinking because Brenda jilted me. He was drinking because you ignored 
him.
Damn. Anthony punched Mason in the kidney. I knew I was right to be mad at 
you.
So call him.
Move forward.
No. Why? Mason asked.
I want to kick you, and theres not enough room.
Didnt I give you his number?
What? 
I told him you said he was cute, and he gave it to me.
You told him I said that? Really? What did he say?
Mason groaned again and mimed banging his head on the floor. He gave me his 
number, idiot.
Where is it?
Will you shut up? All this talkings ruining the view.
Anthony slipped both hands around Masons neck and squeezed.
Mason croaked, Ill look for it.
 
She was in one piece, thank God.
Mason felt like throwing his arms around Jade and hugging her again, and not 
because she looked tired and was dragging in with her eyes half-open, because 
neither was true. She looked as fresh and mysterious as ever, and he was 
prevented from grabbing her and kissing her right this time only by Anthonys 
fingers sunk in his windpipe. Damn near killed his erection.
Smooth skin. High, perfect breasts. Man, oh, man, he could lie here for an hour 
with this view, if not for Anthony. But when Jade went into her bathroom, 
Anthony darted out, and after a moment Mason figured he, too, was better off 
taking his chances at escape.
King Kong was in the hall again, only this time Mason wasnt playing his game. 
Hed nearly slipped sideways past him when the dog lowered his head and came up 
between his legs. Not a good thing. Mason cupped himself for protection, too 
late. He ended up in a fetal position on the Oriental runner, with tears in his 
eyes.
Mason? Jade said from the doorway, sounding confused to find him there. She 
might have said more, but he wasnt hearing too well, and through his tears, he 
saw shed gotten dressed.
When he could speak, he said, I tripped over the dog.
Uh-huh. She crouched beside him and felt his forehead.
Thats not what hurts.
I can see that. But since theres no dog, Im suspecting head injury.
Mason let go of himself and rolled onto his back so he didnt look so pathetic, 
though he still couldnt straighten his legs. Maybe you have some wonderful 
home remedy?
Jades brow rose, even as her eyes dipped south. An ice bag?
I was thinking herbs. Hand-applied, please.
I think that was a four-hundred-level course.
I could be your lab rat.
What are you doing up anyway? Its after three. Dont tell me you were 
sleepwalking.
Her tone was light, but there was an undercurrent that warned him she wouldnt 
buy that overused clich. No, hed have to do better.
Thatd be right out of a one-star movie, wouldnt it? he said, buying time to 
think.
Yes. It would.
She waited, and he came up with, I, ah, dont sleep.
You dont sleep?
Nope, he said decisively, invoking another rule of investigative work: Choose 
a plausible cover and stick to it. My laundrys piling up, so I thought Id 
look around for a washer and dryer.
A smile spread across Jades face then, lighting up the whole hall as she sat on 
the floor beside him, and it was very easy to imagine how wonderful life would 
be if he deserved that smile.
Do you mind it? she asked.
Doing laundry?
Not sleeping.
You get used to it after a while.
Its terribly hard on most peoples bodies. Unhealthy, in fact.
I feel fine.
She snickered. Yeah, you look it.
I must be healthy. He pointed at his cheek. Look, you can hardly see the cut 
anymore.
She rested her elbow on her thigh, chin on her palm, clearly comfortable as she 
tipped her head and studied him. Ive never known a man with insomnia.
As opposed to women? he joked, slowly rising until he was cross-legged on the 
rug, facing her. They had this whole huge house they could sit and visit in, but 
they stayed right where they were, and it felt intimate because there were no 
extraneous distractions, just each other.
Thats right. It runs in my family.
A sense of dread rose up and slammed Mason in the head. Ever cool and composed, 
though, he said, Really? and remembered another rule: Be flexible.
Mm-hm, Jade hummed.
Let me guess. You?
Personally, I find it great. I get so much more done than people who sleep all 
night. Dont you find that? Sure you do. Thats why youre trying to do your 
wash in the middle of the night. And your eagle bookIm sure youll get it done 
in no time and move on to your next project.
Jade seemed overly happy about that, Mason thought.
Washer and dryer are at the other end of the hall. Those double doors down 
there.
Hed already found those, of course. Aiming to withdraw more information, any 
information, he said, Must be small to fit in there.
Jades brow arched playfully. Youre planning on doing the blankets?
Just marveling at the plumbing it took to accomplish that.
He shut up while he was ahead. Though he wasnt sure he was ahead at all. There 
had to be a cellar somewhere; he still hadnt a clue how to get to it.
Weezys son-in-laws pretty handy, Jade said. Im glad we had this chat. 
Meaning she was done sitting in the middle of her hall, entertaining a man until 
he could walk again. Because now that I know you dont sleep, I wont worry 
about disturbing you if I knock on your door in the middle of the night.
Yes, yes, yes. Mason pictured himself never sleeping againnot at Mystic Manor 
anywayand in a good way. First thing in the morning, he was quitting this case. 
Anthony would understand. Well, no he wouldnt, but hed be afraid his recently 
jilted partner would take to the bottle again if he got all bent out of shape 
about it, so hed cut him some slack.
UPS finally delivered the wallpaper Ive been waiting for, Jade said. I need 
to do your bathroom.
No need to knock.
I wouldnt think of going in without knocking first.
Was she grinning? Sure she was. The corner of her mouth was tipped up. Just a 
little. Enough to qualify as a grin. Are you flirting with me?
Jade jumped to her feet. How about breakfast? Im always famished after, ah, a 
long drive. Lets go cook up a banquet.
Im not all that hungry. Not for food anyway.
Oh, but you have to eat something, Jade said. I cant give you bad news on an 
empty stomach.
 
Mason looked wary. Jade needed to stand firm, to tell him he had to pack up and 
leave for the weekend, but the words werent coming out.
He had insomnia, too! How perfect was that?
Her husband had been a light sleeper. Jade remembered tiptoeing around at night 
so she wouldnt disturb him. And unplugging the phone after ten oclock so calls 
from her mother wouldnt wake him. Like Mason, Doug usually asked her not to 
leave when someone interrupted their dinner, but he generally had ulterior, 
husbandly motives and tried to make her feel guilty for neglecting him. He never 
once stayed up until she returned.
This was so different. Tonight, when shed come in from the long, cold drive and 
found Mason still up, Jade had felt instantly warm, cozy inside and out, as if 
shed finally come home to what shed always wanted.
How could something be wrong when it felt this right?
True, he hadnt looked too good lying on the floor with his hands between his 
legs and his knees drawn up to his chest, but the point was, hed been worried 
about her when she left, and he was up when she returned.
And now, poor baby, she was going to reward him by tossing him out into the 
cold.
Shed spent the entire drive home staring through whooshing wipers, trying to 
get up the backbone to ask him to leave for the weekend. Trying to convince 
herself that the only reason she didnt want him to go was because, if he 
stayed, she could keep fresh Banishing Herbs hidden inside his pillow. Thats 
how she was supposed to feel. But look at him, standing there like a kicked 
puppy, waiting for the bad news.
How could asking him to go be right when it felt this wrong?
Shed relit the knob candle in the kitchen on her way in. She was tempted to go 
back down and snuff it out. But she couldnt. She needed a moment, needed space 
between them to lessen the attraction, so instead of giving him the bad news 
right off, she said, Just let me check my messages first, and ducked into her 
office.
Mason followed slowly. The phone rang a lot right after you left.
Jade stared at her answering machine. Six messages. That cant be good. She 
punched the PLAY button.
Ms. Delarue, this is Fred Smith. I heard youre having a blizzard up there. 
Just hang on to my deposit, and well reschedule when its warmer.
Jade punched ERASE. She should be ticked; she wasnt. Good news, Mason. No bad 
news.
I dont have to leave?
What are you, psychic? He wasnt more than a foot behind her. She turned 
slowly, studying him to see whether he was guessing or knew more than shed 
given him credit for.
The machine waited for no man and started on the next message. Mrs. Delarue, 
this is Tricia Sherwood from West Bluff News. Im calling to do a follow-up 
story on your husband. Id like to schedule a time
Jade punched ERASE, noticing Masons attention was now riveted on her machine.
Mrs. Delarue, this is Tricia
ERASE. Jade used her vintage knife pen to jot Tricia Sherwoods name on a piece 
of plain brown paper; shed do something special with that later.
Mrs. Delarue
ERASE.
Mrs.
ERASE.
Youre married?
Mason sounded surprised and just a little bit worried. After all, Jade recalled, 
hed gotten familiar with her in the driveway. A nice guy might be worried about 
the mystery husband coming home and knocking out a few teeth.
She debated whether to tell him her husband was away on business, but if Mason 
talked to anyone or read the newspaper, hed soon know the truth anyway.
Widowed, she said.
It was the first time shed said it to someone who hadnt heard about the 
infamous West Bluff Widows, the first time shed said it out loud since it 
became official. She had mixed feelings. Bad that it had to happen, of course; 
relieved that the slate was clear and she could move forward. Especially since 
Mason was standing close enough for her to feel his body heat, and if she were 
still married, shed have no business feeling the things she was feeling now.
Lust for him, sure; look at himwhat was not to lust over?
Like, definitely. He was easy to be around, and always had a twinkle in his eyes 
for her, which didnt hurt.
Attraction, oh yeah. But shed covered that ground already.
Sorry to hear that. Mason stepped away, rubbing the back of his neck like a 
man whod stuck his foot in his mouth and didnt quite know how to extricate it 
gracefully. She had to hand it to him, though. He tried. Not recently, I hope. 
I mean, Anthony and I practically barged in here, and if this isnt a good time, 
we can go.
Jades heart skipped a beat. Back to Florida?
No, wed have to stay around here.
Damn. Couldnt have been that easy, could it?
The books going slower than I thought it would. I dont have the right 
pictures yet. More sunshine would be nice.
Might as well stay here then.
Maybe if she let him think it was recent, hed quit looking at her like a hungry 
wolf. Maybe then she could get a rein on her own libido.
Dougs been gone six years, popped out before she could stop herself.
Surprise flickered across Masons face, while Jade warred with herself over the 
implications of what shed just said.
Why the heck does he have to look exactly like I specified? 
It wasnt that she had to have a man who looked like Pierce Brosnan, but the 
fact that he did tied his arrival directly to her commingled spells, reminding 
her shed made a mistake, and he wasnt fair game.
The medias still interested after all this time? he asked.
Its a yearly thing. Jade closed her eyes and tried to picture him short, fat, 
and bald. It didnt work; she still liked him. She hadnt seen every quality 
shed asked for yet, but so far he was right on the mark.
You okay? he asked.
Why the heck does he have to be so considerate? 
Maybe if she did something to repulse him. Or offend him.
Yearly? Like an anniversary? What was he, mayor or something important like 
that?
Or scare him.
No, nothing like that. Frustrated, determined, she blew out a breath and 
plunged ahead. They just want to know where I buried the body.
Chapter 10 
M ystic Manor? Say, were sort of in the same business. Tricia Sherwood. Youre 
working on a story about eagles, Im working on a story about the owner.
The twentysomething reporter wore a black beret over short red hair, Anthony 
noted. He toyed with the idea of introducing her to Mason, just to get him out 
of his mood, especially when she asked if he was available.
Come to think of it, Masons mood had picked up since theyd arrived. Hed seen 
and heard him flirting with Jade, a dangerous prospect, but on the other hand, 
he hadnt mentioned Aruba in, oh, hours, so he might not be a flight risk 
anymore.
Shes a widow, you know, Tricia said. Next couple days, shes going to be a 
millionaire. You know if shes doing anything special to celebrate? Throwing a 
party? Inviting famous people? I always wanted to write for the society section, 
but nothing big ever happens here.
Havent heard about any party, Anthony said. But its not a story. Its 
research.
Oh. Will it be a best seller? Maybe I should interview you now.
On second thought, Mason was doing just fine on his own.
 
Courtney strolled into Mystic Manor on Saturday morning to find Weezy holding 
court, cleaning, and cooking all at the same time. The atmosphere in the kitchen 
was bar-friendly, as usual when guests were in residence. Jade didnt mind, and 
Weezy and the clients seemed to love it.
Noah was standing at the open refrigerator, personally replacing aged dairy 
products with fresh. Not his job, but everyone in West Bluff knew the 
third-generation milkman had a thing for Weezy.
Brought you a pound of fresh butter, Weezy.
Good Lord, whatll I do with a whole pound?
Sour cream, too. I remember you make a mean stroganoff.
Have you ever heard of cholesterol?
He thinks fiber protects him from cholesterol. Buzz, the mailman, ate over the 
sink so he wouldnt have to bother about coffee cake crumbs. When he saw 
Courtney come in, he held up the coffeepot with a question in his eyes.
Oh, yes, please, Courtney gushed, hugging herself against the winter chill. 
Shed had enough of winter, the snow, the long, hard freeze. At least the sun 
was peeking out today.
Weezy plucked a recipe book off a shelf, muttering, Butter, butter, as if it 
would help her find what she was looking for.
Then again, in this house, it might.
I got aged cheddar, too. Five years. Can you imagine that with a good bottle of 
wine?
You delivering wine, too? Weezy asked, her back to him as she turned pages.
Noah looked at her hopefully and said, I could, but Weezy didnt pick up on 
it. Or if she did, she ignored it.
By the time Courtneyd peeled off her coat and all the winter accouterments that 
went with it, regulars plus one were in stitches over a story about one of 
Weezys granddaughters, and a mug of hot coffee was waiting on the counter. She 
blew on it and sipped it, turned to the newbie sitting at the long plank table, 
and said, Hi, Im Courtney.
Mason. He stood up and offered his hand; very impressive. Dead ringer for 
Brosnan, too. Damn, Jade was good.
The only thing Jade had ever wished for that she hadnt gotten, as far as 
Courtney knew anyway, was the safe return of their husbands. When the guys had 
gone missing, and the officials were doing their own search, she, Annie, and 
Jade had tried everything magical they could to find them. When theyd given up 
on that, Jade had cast spells for information on what had happened to them. 
Again, nothing. It was almost as if someone was working against her. But that 
was just silly. This anniversary thing had her imagination running wild.
It was one of the few times Courtney shook hands with someone where she wished 
she could read the vibes. Wouldnt it be great to know if someone was good or 
bad just by touching him? But nooo, she had to be stuck with the other side of 
the coin, leaving her vibes all over every gosh darn thing she touched.
Ill bet people ask for your autograph a lot, Courtney said.
I recognized him first, Buzz said.
Did not, Noah objected.
They both whipped out fresh autographs, whereupon Courtney grinned at Mason and 
said, You didnt.
Can you believe he tried to lie his way out of it? Noah stared at Mason and 
shook his head, as if to shame him.
Mason just grinned unapologetically and shrugged one shoulder, and Courtney 
thought if Jade didnt want him, she wouldnt mind talking to him for a while 
and see if he had an emotional block against single mothers.
Someone just pulled in the driveway, Buzz announced, meaning he didnt 
recognize the car.
Probably that damn reporter. Courtney rushed one last sip before she set her 
mug in the sink and prepared to get very busy. Shes been following me. If she 
comes to the door, dont answer it.
You want us to take her out on the playground and give her a noogie? Noah 
teased.
Why dont you just slip her agift? Weezys glance in Masons direction was 
fleeting.
Theres a thought, Courtney muttered. Is Jade in the conservatory?
Try the study.
Courtney caught up to Jade going from room to room, pulling snowmen from a dusty 
box, placing them on shelves, hanging them on walls. It was an eclectic 
collection, from Old World to whimsical, figurines to needlework.
Hey, these are cute. Courtney picked up a salt-and-pepper set, enchanted by 
their carrot noses and corncob pipes. Did you get them at that little antique 
shop on Main?
You never saw them? They come with a story. Jade unwrapped a snowman ornament 
and set it in the china cabinet. My great-great-great-grandmother JadeIm 
named for her, obviouslywas married here, at Mystic Manor, in the dead of 
winter. There was a storm that evening, so they couldnt leave on their 
honeymoon, and guests had to stay over. The next morning, all the trees were 
dripping with icicles, which Im sure was very beautiful, but that kind of got 
eclipsed by what the wedding party had done during the night.
Wait. Is this some kind of legend or something?
I read it in her diary.
Okay, Ill bite. Whatd they do? Courtney settled on a chair to listen.
They made snowmen. Or more accurately, a snowman and snowwoman consummating 
their marriage. If that wasnt scandalous enough, she was anatomically correct 
and on top.
In the 1800s?
Mm-hm. So you can see why her father built a bonfire and melted it. But not 
before the spectacle had drawn a lot of attention. So the next year, on their 
anniversary, my great-great-great-grandfather gave her a snowman as a reminder. 
And then one every year after that. But not always statues.
What a romantic. I cant believe I never heard this story.
Then when I was, oh, I dont know, five, I guess, Mom gave me the one that 
started it all. This one.
Jade handed it to her, but Courtney was so afraid of breaking it, she set it on 
the table right away.
I liked it so much, she gave me more of the collection each winter. I put them 
away when I got engaged to Doug, though. I guess that was right before you moved 
here. I thought it was the matureshe emphasized with finger quotesthing to 
do.
Jazzyd love to see them.
You should bring her over. I have two more boxes. Mugs, candles, bells, 
storybooks.
Shes asking about spells.
I swear, Courtney, I never
I know, I know. She sighed, making a decision. Maybe you should. She watched 
a Harry Potter movie at her friends house, and I swear when she came home, I 
could see little witchy wheels turning in her head, remembering every little 
thing weve said over the years when we didnt think she was old enough to 
understand. And there was that time she saw a wand on your kitchen table.
She was three.
She remembers.
Jade patted Courtneys arm, but she didnt feel very comforted by it. Jade was 
comfortable being a witch, and someday when she had kids, shed never hide the 
truth from them. But that hadnt been Courtneys plan. Wasnt much she could do 
about it, though, when she laid down her hairbrush or a fork or a key, and Jazzy 
picked it up just to feel it.
Better she learns it from you than Annie, I guess. Or worse, stumbles around in 
the dark on her own and sets the house on fire.
Ill help her. Tell her to wait until you bring her over.
Thanks, I will.
Jade stood back and assessed what shed done.
Courtney did likewise and said, The snowmen trivets show up really nice on the 
wood.
I dont know. Do you think theyre too immature?
No, a collection is special. This ones so romantic, and it says something 
about you. How tied you are to your familys history.
Jade chuckled. Yeah, thats exactly why I put away all the black cats and 
broomsticks.
But youve always wanted to keep that side private. I never understood why you 
put those things out in the first place.
They were gifts.
So?
Jades sigh was wistful. Youre right. I used to leave the snowmen out all 
year. I didnt realize how much I missed seeing them.
There you go. By the way, I came in through the kitchen. Met Mason. Courtney 
fanned herself and raised her eyebrows questioningly. Sure you still want the 
talisman?
He has to go.
Ooh, positive thought; thats good.
I tried to scare him away last night. Earlier this morning, really. I had a 
bunch of messages on the answering machine from Tricia Sherwood.
I know. Shes calling all of us.
Yeah, well, Mason heard them, and I wanted him to back off, so I sort of 
mentioned that she wanted to know where Id buried the body.
Courtney laughed. What did he do?
Suddenly remembered something he needed to do. At three in the morning. I 
thought he was going to pack, but hes still here.
He has a nice laugh.
Jade shrugged as if to say it was nothing special, then a second later, the 
corner of her mouth tipped up, and she nodded in agreement.
Noahs in there, Courtney said, charming Weezy as usual, and Masons just 
sitting back enjoying the show. Youre absolutely sure?
He has to go.
Courtney held up her hands in surrender. Okay, okay. Just checking to make sure 
this is what you really want. She reached into her purse and pulled out a small 
box, wood with an inlaid top, no bigger than the palm of her hand.
Thats beautiful. Jade admired it, but only briefly because she knew the box 
wasnt the important part. Now open it and let me see.
You dont need to see it.
What? she asked, affronted.
You know better. Im going to hide it in his room. You are not to go looking 
for it. Ill pick it up after hes gone.
I can take it up. Jade reached for the box.
Dont make me slap your hand, girlfriend. And pouting wont work either. Now, 
Jazzys teacher wants five dozen assorted treats by ten oclock on Valentines 
Day. Thats A.M. for people like you who live around the clock. And Jazzy asks 
if youll please, please, pleasethats just how she said itif youll please, 
please, please make a special one for her to give to a little boy she likes.
Jades eyebrows arched. Shes five.
I know, I know. Courtney knew her daughter and waved away any concern. Go 
ahead and do it, or Ill never hear the end of it.
Is she requesting a charm on it?
Over my dead body.
 
Anthony was rummaging through Masons drawers, searching for the bartenders 
phone number, when a knock sounded on the door. It was perfunctory, closely 
followed by a womans entrance. While he hadnt met her, from her photo, he knew 
it was Courtney, the third widow.
Abandoned wife. Whatever.
Jade was raven-haired and mysterious, tall, exotic, with a penchant for stiletto 
heels. Annie was a blond pixie. Both stood out in their own way, while Courtney 
seemed to do everything to maximize normalcy, to try to blend in. Average 
weight, simple makeup, brown hair tucked behind her ears.
Oh, she said in surprise, immediately reversing, pulling the door behind her 
as she went. Sorry. Wrong room.
Anthony closed one drawer and tackled another.
Ah-hah! The phone number was jotted inside a matchbook cover, and the 
matchbook was from a bar. Had to be it.
He snatched his cell off his belt, giving no more thought to why Courtney would 
enter Masons room by mistake.
 
Annie grabbed Courtney in the kitchen before she could get out the door. Were 
meeting in the drying room, she said.
Awareness and alarm skittered across Courtneys face. NoI have to
You have to do this, Annie said, combining empathy with a no-nonsense attitude 
that kept readers clamoring for more of Dear Alanna. Its time to help the guys 
transition properly. Itll help us move on.
Im fine. Really.
Then do it for Jade. Shes got a man right here whos hot for her, and I think 
she needs us to show her that its all right to fall in love again. That her 
world wont end if she does.
What about you? Courtney followed, albeit reluctantly.
I need this, too. I need to say good-bye, with my two best friends beside me.
Normally Jade would work in the conservatory, but with traffic in the house the 
way it was, shed elected to withdraw to the privacy of the drying room.
Unlike the others, Annie was short enough that she didnt feel the need to duck 
the curved lintel into the drying room, which felt cozy and intimate with 
flickering white candles, soft music, and the spicy-sweet fragrance of burning 
frankincense for protection.
Jade looped an arm around Courtneys shoulders and spoke with gratitude. Im 
glad youre staying for this. It would feel incomplete without you.
What she didnt say, Annie knew, was that Jade worried about Courtney blocking 
what came natural to her.
There was a cushion on the natural stone floor for each of them, and they 
settled in, triangulated around a small portable altar covered with a white 
cloth. On that sat a silver tray with the incense, a photograph of their 
husbands on the deck of their cruiser, three small pots of earth, and a bowl of 
tiny bulbs.
Tell me everything, Annie said, eager as ever to learn.
Psychopomps are the spirits who guide souls between the realms of the living 
and the dead, Jade began. Were here to share a favorite memory of our men in 
life, then send them on their way in death so they can be reborn at another 
time. Well keep it brief so the spirits dont think were asking to let them 
stay. Who wants to go first?
You, Annie and Courtney said in unison.
Jade took a deep, calming breath, then smiled softly. I remember the day they 
bought the boat. How proud they all looked, as if theyd built it with their own 
hands. How they wanted to share the moment with us and insisted we all sleep on 
it the first night.
Annie liked the boat topic and decided to stick with it. It seemed appropriate, 
since it was going to check on the boat that took her husband away. She took a 
deep, cleansing breath, then chuckled. I remember the champagne they bought to 
celebrate. I wasnt sure if the boat was rocking or if it was me. And after that 
first night, I remember the stories theyd tell when they came home on Sunday 
evenings, mostly of the fish that got away.
I remember how they seemed closer than brothers, Courtney said. That first 
summer, they started finishing each others stories. And laughed at the same 
things. And trusted each other. How spending time together restored their energy 
and centered them. They made better husbands when they came home.
They each took time to sit with private thoughts, and when no one said anything 
more, Jade proceeded. We should add a few things to the altar. Lets play to 
our strengths. Annie, youre good with candles. If you light this one, itll 
symbolize a torch leading the way on their journey.
Annie took a few moments to add her intention to the votive before she lit it 
and set it on the tray.
Courtney, if you add a key, itll symbolize opening the door to the next 
realm.
Courtney fished out a key, held it in her hand a moment, then laid it on the 
tray.
Lastly, Jade added a small knife and said, simply, To cut the ties that bind.
They reached for each other spontaneously, holding hands, completing the circle, 
each meditating on her own memories, her own hopes for her husbands peaceful 
repose.
I chose white daffodils, Jade said, explaining the bulbs. Floriferous seemed 
appropriate, because they produce several blossoms on each stem. We can each 
plant one now, signifying putting the men to rest, because we never were able to 
do that with their bodies. Later well plant the bulbs in our yards, so every 
spring theyll come up and visit with us for a while, and well remember how 
close they were, and how they died together, doing something they loved.
With only the soft sound of flutes floating on the air around them, each woman 
planted a small bulb in a pot.
They closed the circle together and, united with her sisters-in-craft, they 
embraced. Each went her own way, to place her bulb in a safe spot, to be 
nurtured until planting time.
 
By the time the moon finished its first quarter, Jade was beginning to think 
nothing would work on Mason. Nothing could be worse for a witch than to doubt 
herself. Negativity bred negative results.
But then she ran into Sarah at the gym. Once or twice a year, she asked Jade to 
cast a spell for her. Not always simple, but always successful. And Becca. Shed 
had a big problem with a mean husband until Weezy, who was her mother, had asked 
for Jades help. He was gone for good within three days.
When Jade finished her errands and returned home, she went into drying room and 
pulled out the diaries where she logged all the spells she did, for herself as 
well as for others, both locally and long-distance. Shed cast a lot of spells 
over the years. Shed helped a lot of people. She was good, damn it, so why 
wasnt Mason leaving?
Maybe Courtney had been onto something when shed suggested Jade not brush her 
teeth until Mason moved out. She couldnt do that, yuck, but she did have a last 
resortbaggy old sweats stained with wallpaper paste and paint.
Wallpapering didnt pay the bills, though; botanicals did. So Jade spent the 
evening in the drying room blending oils to fill mail-order requests, working 
late into the night. When she was finished, she left the final packing for 
Henry, who crabbed at her if she didnt leave something for him to do to be 
helpful.
Time to wallpaper.
She changed into paint-splattered purple sweats; gold from the kitchen, blue 
from the room her parents shared on alternate months, brick and tan from other 
guest rooms shed either done or touched up. Did she have to do this while Mason 
was in the room? No. But he wasnt paying full rate, she wanted him gone, and 
she looked repulsive enough to send him running out into the night.
She gathered up all the tools shed need, then set them down and, for good 
measure, mussed her hair. Then she carefully balanced the full load again and 
knocked on Masons door, not caring if he was deeply focused on the eagle book. 
If she interrupted his concentration enough, hed have to find a better place to 
work.
Not for a minute did she stop to think he wouldnt be decent.
There were two things on Masons body when he opened the door: a few drops of 
water glistening on his smooth, broad chest, probably because hed heard her 
knock after his shower and had been in a hurry to answer the door; and the 
towel, slung loosely around his hips.
Jade didnt move. She couldnt raise so much as a voluntary muscle twitch. Not 
to turn and run away. Not to stop her eyes from roaming over his well-muscled 
chest, down to a very impressive six-pack. Not to swallow and ask if she could 
come in and get the job done, which was good, because hed probably grin and ask 
What job? with a lot of innuendo that would leave her struggling for a 
coherent answer.
He grinned at her, lopsided, the way a man does when he appreciates being ogled, 
but isnt conceited about it. The way a man does when hes returning the favor.
It was going to be very difficult to hang wallpaper straight.
Chapter 11 
M ason stood on his side of the threshold with one hand on his hip, securing the 
towel. He didnt need a trained glance to log Jades balancing two rolls of 
wallpaper, a folded drop cloth, four-foot straightedge, sponges, and a bucket 
overflowing with tools.
More interesting, especially at this time of night and in his doorway, she was 
staring at his chest with a stunned look, uncertain whether to reach out and 
touch, or bolt.
No problem; he kept in good shape and didnt mind showing off, especially if the 
one looking happened to be Jade. He skimmed his hand over bare skin, right where 
she was staring a hole, and innocentlyyeah, rightasked, Did I miss 
something?
She sort of hummed in the back of her throat. Oh yeah, she wanted to touch.
Jade?
Hm? Oh. The straightedge slipped to the left, the drop cloth to the right, and 
the rolls of paper took on a life of their own. He reached out to help, but she 
yelped, No! Keep your hands where they are. Please.
Obviously mortified to mention that shed noticed the hand holding the towel 
together was the only thing keeping him decent, she turned bright pink and 
overjuggled everything until half of it landed on the floor at her feet.
No stilettos tonight, Mason noted with regret as he tucked in the end of the 
towel. As substitutes went, her ratty old sneakers had no laces and, overall, 
were in pretty bad shape. Her socks didnt match; one white, one gray, they 
didnt even come close. And moving up rapidly because all the good stuff was 
hidden behind the accessories shed regathered in a jumbled pile, what was with 
her hair? Her perpetually seductive, come-to-my-boudoir spirals were twisted and 
caught in each other like dozens of kinked telephone cords.
Hard night? he asked.
Grinning was out of the question. If she wanted to sweep him out of her life 
with ugly clothes, frightening hair, and talk of missing bodies, she was going 
to have to work a whole lot harder to scare him.
He was walking a fine line, though; a curious investigator on the sly, 
impersonating a wary guest.
She glanced at his towel, then tried to look as if she hadnt. I shouldcome 
back later.
He quickly stepped back, wanting to reassure her so she wouldnt disappear, 
acting as if he always wore nothing more than a towel while talking to hot women 
in the middle of the night.
Dont be silly. Ill get dressed. I guess you were serious about wallpapering.
She headed straight for the bathroom, and he, sorry to say, was a sick, sick 
dog. Even though she was fully covered by the most abused set of sweats this 
side of the garment district, he stared at her ass the whole way across the room 
until it disappeared through the door and turned the corner. Hed been watching 
her for days now. Hed always thought the sex-kitten sway of her hips was due to 
the stilettos. Hed been wrong.
From the bathroom, Jade said, Im so glad I found out that you dont sleep 
either. I need to get this done, and now that youve settled into this room, I 
really didnt want to ask you to move. But if youre working tonight and youd 
be more comfortable sitting with your laptop in one of the other rooms, feel 
free.
No, no, thats fine. Couldnt get me out of here with a crowbar.
Well, if I get too noisy, and you change your mind, feel free. Ill just close 
this and set up while you get dressed. Jade swung the bathroom door until it 
latched, leaving Mason in control of the door to the hall.
Leave it open? he wondered, rooted to the spot with indecision. Or close 
it?just in case wallpapering was a ruse and what she really wanted was him.
He probably was grinning like a hound dog, too, but he quickly masked all 
expression when Jade poked her head out of the bathroom a few minutes later and, 
noticing that he was safely covered in jeans and a flannel shirt, said, How 
does a photographer work without a darkroom, anyway?
I shoot mostly digital.
Oh, thats right. Memory card. She retreated, tramping across the drop cloth 
now covering the floor. So you crop and touch up and everything right on the 
computer?
Just what I was about to do. I could put it off a few minutes, though, if you 
need anything first?
She turned and smiled at him, and he thought, Please, God, dont let it involve 
hanging wallpaper.
The ladder.
While it wasnt what hed wanted to hear her say, it wasnt all bad; hed yet to 
find access to a cellar in this monstrosity. Tell me where it is. Ill get it.
In the hall.
Damn. He muttered, What am I? Cursed or something? because he couldnt catch a 
break. This time, when he brought the ladder in, he swung the door to the hall 
closed. If she planned on making a move on him, itd be one less thing to worry 
about.
He opened his photo-editing and word-processing programs, so if Jade stepped out 
to see what he was doing, hed look like the author/photographer he claimed to 
be, hard at work. He sat at the far side of the table so hed know when she was 
peeking at him.
He had a nice view of her body every time she bent down to run a large sponge 
over each new strip of wallpaper. At least from that angle, the bag went out of 
the sweats, and he wasnt nearly as sleepy.
He minimized those programs and picked up Jades office computer on the network. 
He started with e-mail, an easy way for a not-so-dead husband to keep in touch.
Dear Alanna, 


My sister is getting married next year to a man of another religion. I am 
concerned for her spiritual well-being, and for those of their future children 
as well. When I bring up this subject, though, she just brushes it off and says 
not to worry, everything will take care of itself and work out in the end. I try 
to tell her that important issues are at stake here, issues that can make or 
break a long-term relationship, but shes not listening. What can I do to make 
her listen to reason? 
What the hell? Mason thought. It was incoming mail, not outgoing. And there were 
more.
Dear Alanna, 


Recently I invited my best friend and her husband to stay with me while they 
were in town looking for a new home. It finished with, what can I do to keep 
this from happening when they come back to close on the house? 
Grow a spine? Mason muttered, thinking it must be easier for men. If a friend 
of his was that rude, hed simply say, Hey, man, youre cramping my style. You 
have to find another place to stay. Want a beer?
There were a hundred more e-mails just like those, in the Inbox. Thousands if he 
counted the ones filed away in folders.
There was a nationally syndicated Dear Alanna, of course. No reason Jade 
couldnt be moonlighting under a pseudonym. Interesting.
Mason looked beyond his screen and watched Jade carry a strip toward the ladder. 
If he had to miss a nights sleep, this wasnt all bad. Her whole body swayed 
rhythmically, and when he listened carefully, he heard her humming, soft and 
low. Too quiet to catch the tune, and he couldnt help wondering what it was, 
what kind of music she liked to listen to. It wasnt a professional thought. He 
was getting comfortable having nonprofessional thoughts about Jade.
When he refocused on the screen and moved on to another e-mail account, he found 
a history of e-mails addressed to Annie and none to Jade. So, this was the 
computer Annie used, which made her Dear Alanna.
He headed for Annies word-processing files next, unsurprised from what hed 
seen in the office that the files werent organized in folders. None of them 
were even properly named, carrying only the program-assigned first few words of 
each document as a title, such as If you have a troublesome neighbor. doc and 
If you want to increase success.doc. He assumed they had something to do with 
the Dear Alanna letters until he started opening them and found recipes. And not 
normal recipes either.
Carve a candle, he read under his breath. And dress it with All Saints 
Oilwhat? Nail a slice of bread to the front door? Cast a ritual circle?
Ohhh. Annies the witch. 
Mason quickly sent an instant message to Anthonys computer. He examined the 
file names closely now, looking for something along the lines of If you want to 
get rid of your husband.doc or How to collect buckets of life insurance.doc. 
No luck there, so he settled in and opened a lot of files.
He learned more about witches than he thought hed ever want to know. Annie, 
anyway. And she made lots of follow-up notes, like next time, try cinnamon. 
Hed never look at cinnamon the same way again. In fact, Weezy had put cinnamon 
on his French toast yesterday. He was debating eating breakfast out from now on 
when he heard Jades cell ring.
First of all, its not his bathroom, was the first thing she said. And Im in 
it because Im wallpapering it.
Not Hello. Not Hi. It piqued his curiosity, more so when she lowered her 
voice.
Whats the matter with them? I always wear these when I work around the house.
Mason developed a sudden need to consult, hmMaps! Of course. Hannibal, 
Clarksville, West Bluff; they just happened to be across the room near the 
bathroom door, and he scooted right on over there.
Thats the point, Mom. Look, I have to go. Talk to you later.
She barreled out the door, stepped around Mason, who was instantly poring over a 
map spread out on the triple dresser, and slid her phone across the carpet all 
the way to the door.
Looks like youve had a bit of practice at that.
Mothers, she said disgustedly, ramming her fingers through her hair, mussing 
it even more. Id shut it off, but then I forget to turn it back on.
She always call in the middle of the night? Oh wait, she has insomnia, too? 
Mason had all he could do not to stare at Jades hair. His fingers ached to 
pluck at that one hank over her right ear. Just to unhook it. Just to let it 
fall naturally. Would that be so wrong? To reach out and touch?
What? What are you looking at?
Oh. Sorry.
Do I have adhesive in my hair? Oh, tell me I dont She rushed into the 
bathroom and checked in the oval mirror shed already rehung over the sink.
Mason followed, sure shed freak out when she saw how she looked and would need 
a comforting pat on the back. Maybe a hug. Maybe something a lot more 
reassuring, like jumping on the bed and getting naked together.
Nope, looks fine, she pronounced with a bright smile.
Their eyes caught in the mirror. Like everything else in Mystic Manor, its dark 
wood frame was old, carved, and lovingly preserved. In it, Jade looked like a 
beautiful Medusa.
Sorry if I disturbed you, she said, turning around to face him.
I needed a break anyway.
He couldnt help it; he reached out. Jade arched backward over the sink and 
said, What? as he discovered that her hair was as silky as it looked.
Its just a littlewild. There, thats got it.
The bathroom seemed small with two in it. Or maybe it was just because it was 
the two of them. Warm from the lights and her working. Fragrant from whatever 
botanical soap and shampoo she used.
Pinch me, he said. I smell suntan lotion.
Jade made a face. I was going for coconut. Maybe I need to reblend
No, thats it, he said with excitement and, he supposed, longing. It smells 
like a beach.
Please. I prefer to be a bit more purist than commercial suntan lotion.
Beaches remind me of Aruba.
Jade started picking up her tools. Mason bent down and helped, getting in her 
way when he could so shed bump into him, because she had the sweetest way of 
putting her hand on his arm or his shoulder to fend off accidental body contact. 
If she had any idea it wasnt accidental or how much it turned him on, shed 
shove him into the tub and turn on the cold water.
You like Aruba? she asked.
Love it. I was supposed to be there this week. All week. Seven whole days. He 
couldnt help a sigh. A woman would call it wistful; he called it regret. See if 
he changed his life for a woman again.
They folded the drop cloth together. After a moments hesitation, Jade said, 
Sorry. You must be devastated.
Yeah. I had dives lined up almost every day. Theres a wreck not too many 
people get to see, and I was goingWhat?
She chewed the inside of her cheek; totally adorable as she chose her next words 
carefully. I meant getting dumped.
Oh. He put on his winning caught-with-his-hand-in-the-cookie-jar grin. Brenda 
and I hadnt been getting on too well.
Of course. Thats why you were getting married.
It made sense at the time.
Jade gathered up the folded drop cloth and some of the tools, then suddenly 
said, Oh! and froze halfway to picking up the bucket. She straightened up 
abruptly. You mean you didnt want to get married?
Nope.
She not only looked concerned for his feelings, happy that he wasnt devastated, 
but more than all that, and this was a stumper, she looked a tadrelieved?
Then why?
He shrugged it off, but she stood there and stared at him and waited for an 
answer, which he wasnt really sure of himself. That would take close 
examination, maybe hours of it. He was a guy; he had better things to do. So sue 
him.
Wow. Jades eyes narrowed as she peered closer. Did you stop breathing?
What can I say? She told me it was time to move to the next level, and I 
believed her.
Because I never saw a guy freeze up like that over a simple question.
It was a hard question. No simple answer.
She looked doubtful. No way to convince her but to hit her with an example. You 
try it, he said. Were you happily married?
Yes. See how easy that was?
Probably because Annie cast a happy spell on the poor bastard. 
Although, from the notes hed seen in Annies files, she wasnt too happy with 
her own results. There were a lot of try-this-instead-next-time and 
dont-attempt-this-one-again comments. Shit, maybe that little pixie had offed 
all three guys at once because she, what, used the wrong bottle of oil? Said the 
wrong words? Holy shit.
There, Jade said. You just did it again.
Was it too late to move out? Was Aruba far enough away, in case Annie tried a 
spell on him? Or got him by mistake?
Mason hadnt learned enough about witchcraft yet. If youd asked him last week 
if he believed in it, he wouldve said he didnt know enough about it one way or 
the other. But after seeing all the witchy stuff in the attic, the altars in the 
locked room, and hundreds of web sites devoted to the Craft, he had to figure 
that if some people believed in it strongly enough, there must be something to 
it.
If you dont blink soon, Im going to try CPR, Jade said slowly.
Mason pulled the sponges off her pile and dropped them to the floor.
What are you
Then the drop cloth.
doing?
I cant remember when Ive had a better offer. He had to tug at the bucket of 
tools, but Jade smiled suddenly and let it go, and he said, Are you any good at 
CPR?
She splayed a hand on his chest. I havent had any complaints. Do you want to 
get married?
Right now?
Its not a proposal. Ever.
No.
Her smile broadened, and her relief was palpable; not the reaction he expected 
from a woman pressing him backward, out the door, steering him on a straight 
path backward.
Mason gave in. He plunged his fingers into Jades hair and smoothed it into 
something less frightening, though at this point, she could have turned green, 
and he wouldnt have cared.
They shuffled toe-to-toe to the bed. With his hands cupping her head, he tipped 
his and teased her lips with his mouth, the tip of his tongue, not going too 
fast, letting her know where they were headed.
Jade, bless her soul, never wavered. Never slowed on her path. She backed him 
right up against the mattress and pushed on his chest, sending him tumbling 
backward. He, athletic sort that he was, grabbed her and hauled her down with 
him.
The computer beeped once, and he prayed it wouldnt distract her.
Jades green eyes bored into his, hot and twinkling and promising that he was 
finally going to get to see and touch what was beneath those hideous sweats.
Get those ugly things off, he growled, reaching for her top.
I wore them for you. She brushed his hands away.
Dont do it again.
She laughed and bent forward and teased his mouth the way hed done hers. It was 
easy to slip his hands under her shirt, more difficult to decide whether to palm 
her breasts or unhook her bra or drag her down on his chest. He wasnt used to 
being on the bottom. Wasnt used to being the one not calling the play.
Wasnt used to hot smoldering kisses with the goddamn computer beeping in the 
background like a trucks backup alarm.
Is that anything important? Jade whispered breathlessly against his lips.
Mason answered by rolling her over and stripping off her sweatshirt in one move. 
He sunk his weight onto her, between her legs, pushing her into the mattress.
Jade started laughing.
Mason lifted his head, barely, not willing to lose his place. Or give her time 
to change her mind. What?
Do you have a fantasy of making love in a parking lot?
Dont move. He dipped his head and captured her lips for a long, slow, hot 
kiss before he levered himself off and stalked toward the computer.
He knew that beep. Only Anthony could instant-message him on this computer.
It hit him then, a crippling grip deep in his gut that killed the mood quicker 
than running out of air on a thirty-meter dive.
The video camera. 
Hed forgotten to block it when hed come in earlier. Anthony would have seen 
everything if hed been monitoring, and apparently he had.
Hard evidence confirmed it. On the screen, in black and white and once for every 
beep, was a message that said it all: Are you out of your fucking mind?
This was his own fault, every bit of it. Normally hed care, but not for the 
reasons he would have suspected. Normally, this would be exciting, like spotting 
a reef shark circling the dive site and taking pains to avoid it. This, 
thoughthis had no good end in sight.
If Jade ever discovered a camera in one of her rooms, if she ever knew someone 
on the other end had not only seen but recorded her half-undressed, if she even 
suspected someone had watched her jump him, shed never talk to him again. Hell, 
if she discovered his Glock, shed probably shoot himand that was if he called 
it quits now. Imagine what shed do to him if he went ahead and ravished every 
inch of her, which pretty much had been his plan.
He slammed the lid shut.
Mason?
Its not you, he began, because he didnt know where to begin.
Jades eyebrows arched, as if he had to be nuts to think that she might think it 
was. And she was right.
Its me. Were, ah, moving too fast.
If she never spoke to him again, itd make the dont-get-involved rule a lot 
easier to follow. Thinking about her never speaking to him again, though, just 
left a big, gaping hole in the center of him.
He didnt want to examine it any closer than that. He might not like what he 
saw. Or he might like it too much.
Chapter 12 
W ell that was awkward.
Jade hadnt gotten into the hall on her own. Within a few short breaths, she 
found herself staring at the outside of Masons door. Her sweatshirt was on 
inside out, maybe even backward, but frankly, her head was spinning with too 
much confusion to care.
Shed seen hardness in Masons eyes, in the rigid way hed turned back to her 
from the computer, in every atom of his body, quickly replaced by regret and 
determination. Hed batted items around on top of the dresser, then swept her to 
her feet, into her sweatshirt, and out the door.
His parting words had been, You have to go.
Yes! The mixed-up spell was weakening. Shed thought so when he said he didnt 
want to get married. Now she was certain.
Wasnt it sweet? As much as he wanted herthat hadnt been a telephoto lens in 
his pantshed put on the brakes and called a halt. What determination. What 
chivalry!
What consideration, she thought with a sigh. Like any self-respecting woman, 
Jade wanted to be wanted for more than her body, but knowing a man thought she 
was hot after all this time was pretty darn nice, too.
And hed clearly said he was off the market and not interested in getting 
married.
Spirits forgive me for rationalizing a bit here, but Ive been without a lover 
for a long, long time, you know. Seemed that should make a short-term 
relationship acceptable, with the emphasis on short-term.
She could look for a serious relationship after Mason left. Call this a warm-up. 
Were her hormones waking up, or what!
Jade was still standing in the same spot in the hall when Mason yanked open his 
door and barreled out of the room.
Scuse me, he growled, brushing past. He rushed headlong down the hall, barged 
through Anthonys door without knocking, then ever so briefly turned back to 
Jade and said, Dont come in. No matter what you hear. Even if you think Im 
killing him.
Are you going to
Probably.
But
Ill tell you when to call 911, he said, slamming the door behind him.
 
Mason might have been able to sneak in a few hours of sleep after reaming 
Anthony a new one except that he was too keyed up. Not trying to figure out how 
to avoid any future sexual encounters with Jade; on the contrary, his hormones 
were working overtime on just the opposite.
Yes, it was wrong. But did he give a damn?
Ah, nooo.
Hed come this close to getting married a week ago, and it surprised him, shamed 
him even, that he hadnt felt then, for Brenda, what he was feeling now for 
Jade. Brenda had been simplethe relationship had been simpleuntil shed 
started all that lets take-a-break, wait-for-our-wedding-night shit. Shed been 
convenient.
Dammit alland it really hurt to admit thisshed been right.
His feelings for Jade were far different. More exciting. Like a deep wall dive 
with good visibility. Or being the first person to explore an uncharted wreck.
So even though hed had a long day, there was no sleeping that night. And he 
couldnt nap around Mystic Manor during the day. Sure, he could lock his door, 
but if Jade knocked, hed have to answerif he woke up at alland itd be clear 
hed been sleeping longer and deeper than a power nap. Thered go his insomnia 
cover. How could he talk his way around that?
No way around it; he had to get out of the house, which unfortunately took him 
away from the computer, away from his main resource, the internet. Anthony had 
stormed out in a huff and taken their rental car, so Mason borrowed Jades Jeep 
again. As destinations went, the library was looking pretty good. Itd be warm. 
They probably had computers. Seems hed stumbled into a hotbed of witches, 
probably more than he knew, and he wanted to learn more so as not to overlook 
anything. If it was boring, hed catch some shut-eye in the stacks.
He hadnt counted on a small-town library with small-town ways. Everyone stared 
at him upon his entrance; half a dozen people scattered among the tables and a 
man as old as dirt dusting the shelves. Instead of leaving Mason to his own 
devices, the overweight, middle-aged librarian abandoned her cart of returns, 
smoothed her full skirt, and approached him with a soft smile.
May I help you find something? she asked quietly.
Well, why the hell not? Im looking for books on
Oh, youre that eagle photographer! Youre the talk of West Bluff, dont you 
know.
I am? He squinted at her and lowered his voice. What have you heard?
She grinned with mature wisdom. Depends on whether Im listening to the men or 
the women.
Well, dont believe everything you hear.
Thatd be a crying shame. Now, what can I do for you? Oh, of course, you need 
local color for your book. We have wonderful resources. Right this way.
He let her help him find what he didnt need. It was easier that way. Then when 
he was settled on a hard chair in the middle of the room at a table covered with 
local books, he said, Mm, there is one more thing.
Yes?
Ive been in town several days now, and Ive been hearing rumors.
Woman my age, you learn not to believe everything you hear. Still, she said, 
the grin a little wicked now, cant beat the fun of hearing it. You need me to 
clear up something?
Im not sure. Maybe if I could get online, I could just surf around a little. 
Its about witches.
Her smile didnt just fade, it was wiped off the face of the earth, replaced by 
the coming of the next ice age. Mason stifled the impulse to shiver.
She gained two inches as her spine stiffened. Were a God-fearing community, 
Mr.?
Kincaid.
Thats not gossip, Mr. Kincaid. Its heresy.
I see. He didnt, until he heard the peal of church bells not too far off in 
the distance. Anywhere else and he wouldve thought it was Sunday, not Tuesday 
morning. Well, Id like to understand more about it, so Ill, you know, 
recognize it if I see it.
Not in these parts you wont.
Its not here?
You wont see it. Not in town, not in our homes, and certainly not in our 
library.
Holy cow. Any idea if the library in Hannibal
I wouldnt know, she cut him off, her tone pure frost.
No wonder the guest room was locked and Annie didnt run around in a pointed 
hat.
Witches did rituals; he knew that much. But what else was there to see around 
Mystic Manor? Who was involved? And how might witchcraft have been used against 
three unsuspecting husbands?
As for the scores of candles burning around Mystic Manor on his first 
night?probably ritual. Maybe Annie felt safer doing her thing away from her own 
home. If that was the case, then Jade knew. Shoot, being an herbalist, she 
probably supplied Annie with whatever herbs or oils or potions she used. All 
stuff he knew little about, but wouldnt it be nice to expand his working 
vocabulary on the subject?
Two altars in the locked room. He couldnt get online right now, so could he 
find a book on witchcraft and learn what the items on the altars were used for? 
Good or evil?
And if Jade was supplying Annie, then what about the damp cotton ball hed found 
in his pocket shortly after shed bumped into him in the conservatory? What was 
that all about?
He perused the local books so as not to offend the librarian, and also because 
word would get around town and substantiate his cover.
Driving down Main Street an hour later, he got a huge surprise when he saw 
Brenda walk into a needlework store. But then he realized that was nonsense; had 
to be a look-alike. Or sleep deprivation. Brenda had no ties to anyone in the 
Midwest, nor would she be shopping for needlework of any kind, so he pushed her 
out of his mind and moved on to the independent bookstore. Parking was at a 
premium, what with piles of snow plowed here and there, left to freeze in a 
giant maze. Again, no quiet corner with a chair, any chair, in which to sleep.
The librarian had been right; no witchcraft books there either. When asked for 
suggestions, the clerk looked left and right and over his bony shoulders, then 
leaned toward Mason and whispered, Try the internet.
How about Hannibal? he asked, equally quiet.
Um. Yeah. But you didnt hear it from me.
Thanks. Preciate it.
Back out on the sunny sidewalk, the smell coming from next door reminded him it 
was lunchtime. Inside the caf, the locals were hashing out the very popular 
missing husbands mystery. Theories abounded.
Samuel sneezed. Mason knew it was Samuel because a dozen people said, Bless 
you, Samuel, and plowed right on with their conversations.
The counter was bracket-shaped, long side toward the front door. Out of twenty 
padded chrome stools, nineteen were occupied by coffee-drinking, 
cigarette-smoking, predominantly male customers, every last one in a 
logo-emblazoned ball cap. All branches of the armed services were represented, 
as well as the Lions Club, John Deere, and the local gun club. The latter had 
the floor.
Heard now that times up and the countys issued death certificates, them 
widdasre getting five million each.
Mason knew for a fact that was an exaggeration.
Black widdas, if you ask me. This from Farmers Co-op.
Mason accepted a heavy white mug of steaming coffee from the gal behind the 
counter. He wrapped his hands around it for warmth and looked over the dry-erase 
menu board while pretending not to be overly interested in the conversation 
bouncing around the Formica top.
My cousins wifes brother said he seen DougI forget his last name
Stockard.
Yeah, Stockard. He said he seen him in town night before last.
Which ones that?
One lived up at Mystic Manor.
Lot going on up there aint right, you know what I mean.
Aw, Jades okay.
Aint saying shes not.
Reubens right. She has guests fly in to stay at her house, and how often do we 
see any of em in town?
They do tend to keep to themselves.
Amen, the waitress said with conviction. She reached up and touched the cross 
hanging above the pickup window.
What do you thinks going on?
Something kinky, thats what I think.
Sinful. Just sinful. Why Ive a mind to
What Samuel had a mind to do remained a mystery as the waitress cleared her 
throat and coughed. All eyes turned to Mason, stared at him through the fog of 
smoke. He sipped his coffee and set his mug down, so tempted to jokingly share 
the bordello theory, only this bunch might take it as gospel, and then where 
would that leave Jade? If she was innocent of anything, he certainly didnt want 
to be the cause of further hard feelings toward her.
You doing kinky stuff up there, son?
No, sir.
Course, if you was, you wouldnt say so, now would you?
Mason grinned good-naturedly, though nothing was going to change the fact that 
he was the outsider here. No, sir. But truth is, Im not doing anything except 
working on a book with my writing partner.
They didnt look as if they believed him.
Freezing my ass off, too. Know where I can buy some sweaters?
They gave him a couple options, one of which was in Hannibal. Speculation about 
Jade and Mystic Manor dropped off.
The special was baked spaghetti, canned green beans, small salad. Adequate, he 
supposed. No, better; it was nice not to worry about being poisoned. So nice, he 
was going to have to stop eating at Mystic Manor entirely. No more breakfast 
there for him. Too risky.
When he was finished, he left with a large coffee to go.
He bought half a dozen books on witchcraft at a bookstore in Hannibal, two 
sweaters, and a ball cap with a fish on it so hed blend in better, then settled 
in near the boat ramp at the lock and dam.
The first bald eagle that flew overhead took away his breath. Did a person ever 
get used to seeing these birds in their own backyard? If Jade were with him now, 
he could ask. Then again, if Jade were with him now, chances were he wouldnt 
have noticed much outside the Jeep.
He called Anthony. Weve been friends a long time, right?
Im on the other line with Ken. In light of our longtime friendship, can we 
make this fast?
Whos Ken? Oh, the bartender. Right. Thats great.
I was thinking faster.
We need to talk. Face-to-face.
Five seconds.
Get that camera out of my room now. That fast enough for you?
Dont look now, but that damn ethical streak of yours is showing.
Thought you were in a hurry.
Ive been watching you struggle with it since the night we arrived, when you 
promised you wouldnt do anything to screw this up.
Exactly. Thats why Im resigning, so theres no conflict there.
Anthony was silent for a long moment. I need you.
This is a bullshit assignment, man. Seriously. Way below our capabilities.
Seriously? Anthonys tone was low and dangerous, leading Mason to believe that 
he was going to go off about something.
Yeah, Mason said anyway.
When I called my uncle about finding us this job, Anthony argued smoothly, 
your capabilities were seriously in question.
Mine? Theyre never in question.
Mase, Mase, Mase. You left the church at 6:05, swearing you were going to have 
a drink for every year youd wasted on Brenda. By 6:15, youd called all our 
diving buddies, told them to ditch their dates and meet you at the bar. By 7:15, 
youd had five shots and upped your vow to two drinks for every year.
See? Shows how capable I am.
Uh-huh. At ten, you asked a nun if she thought youd be better off in the 
priesthood.
Mason grinned. He didnt remember it, but it sounded like something hed do. 
Wait a minute. Youre making that up.
Swear to God.
What was a nun doing in a bar?
Bachelorette party for her sister. Biological, not religious. At midnight, you 
were arguing with a woman that you needed to use the ladies restroom because it 
was cleaner than the mens.
Again, good argument for me. Not making your point.
Yeah, it sounded so lucid coming from a man with his head in a public toilet.
Disgruntled, Mason snapped, Werent you on the other line or something?
At one oclock in the morning, you were taking out a hit on the candles left in 
Brendas apartment.
You are so goddamn detail-oriented.
And youre damn good at what you do when youre sober. So if you think this job 
has been only a step above babysitting a five-year-old, I apologize. But the 
more you drank, the more I thought it was all you were going to be able to 
handle. And since I couldnt count on you for a more brain-intensive job, and 
since I knew youd rather die than go skiing, and since I needed you to get back 
on the horse and not sabotage our professional reputation, I took it.
Mason didnt have a comeback.
Youve known Jade a week.
Eight days. Mason winced; it sounded worse out loud.
Give it more time.
He blew out an exasperated breath. Hell, times no guarantee. I gave Brenda 
five years. Look where it got me. Im more sure of Jade now than I ever was with 
Brenda.
I need you.
I need her more.
You want to talk about need? Parker
Oh no, not with the kids, Mason groaned, because with the phone getting bumped 
around on the other end, he knew Anthony was going for his wallet.
Mason knew the photo well. Parker, the long-legged teenager, wearing a track 
uniform and a big grin.
He wants to drop out of school and help with the rest of the children, but I 
keep telling him to leave that to me. If I can just keep him in school, hell 
most likely win State again. Theyre scouting him already, you know. Full ride. 
That kind of money doesnt grow on trees, my friend.
Neither do women like Jade. It felt damn good to say it, too.
Were partners, Anthony continued, as unmoved as if Mason had said he needed a 
drink of water. Were under contract to do a job. And were going to finish 
this job right. The children are depending on me
Oh, dont go there. I love those kids, too, you know.
So wait. For their sake. Sleep with her after were done.
Its not just about that, sleeping with her. I dont expect you to understand 
this, hell, I dont expect anybody to understand this, but if I couldnt have 
sex with Jade for some reason, Id still need to be with her.
Silence.
I need her, man. Pure and simple. So bad, I can hardly breathe.
Oh hell, Anthony said with the air of one whod given up. Gotta go.
The connection went dead, leaving Mason to his own thoughts as the wind shook 
the Jeep and the river flowed by.
Eagle watchers came, a car here, an SUV there. They watched from toasty warm 
interiors until they spotted what theyd come for. Mature bald eagles, standing 
so majestic on bare branches, their white heads glowing when the sunlight hit 
them. Juveniles, not bald yet, difficult to distinguish from the goldens. In 
Pensacola, it wouldve been seagulls and pelicans.
No, wait.
No, couldnt be. Here? White pelicans? With black wings? He focused and shot a 
flock flying over the river, just so he could zoom in later to see if he was 
hallucinating now. Maybe he was; the tourists didnt seem to notice them. 
Swathed in ski caps and knitted scarves, the ones who got out of their vehicles 
hunched down into thick coats. They peered at the eagles through binoculars and 
cameras until they could no longer stand the biting wind, which blew hard along 
the river. And then they were gone, soon to be replaced by the next carload of 
day-trippers smitten by the national bird.
Mason clicked a few photos himself, then turned to the material hed brought 
along. To say the books were biased was an understatement. They were written by 
witches, for witches, and for people who thought they might want to be witches. 
Between yawns that had nothing to do with the material, he learned that contrary 
to what was depicted in movies and on sitcoms, witchcraft was not genetic. Witch 
adults didnt sit around waiting to see if their babies were going to wiggle 
their noses and make it rain in the dining room. The Craft could be learned. It 
could be practiced. It was a way of life. If you liked to follow rules, there 
was Wicca.
None of the books so far were antiwitchcraft, and little addressed how 
practicing the Craft could be bad.
He wasnt going back to enlighten the librarian. He looked forward to getting 
back to his room and burning the midnight oil on Google.
His whole body flinched once, and he realized hed nodded off. He sat up 
straighter and thumbed through the pages, stopping abruptly when he saw the 
picture of a seven-knob candle, just like the one in the kitchen. Was Jade?
Hadnt Weezy asked what kind of spell he was here for? It wasnt colloquialism, 
and she hadnt been asking for herself.
Jades a witch? 
Fuzzy sweaters, snug jeans, stiletto heelswell, hell, he didnt suppose witches 
had uniforms, but cmon, there should have been some clue. Bat earrings or bad 
teeth or a cackling laugh. Not silver hoops, a perfect smile, and a laugh as 
sexy as it was arousing when shed stripped off the butterfly bandages and 
dabbed goop on his face.
Annie and Jade? And, hell, probably Courtney, too.
The damp cotton ball in his pocket was making more sense. And maybe the little 
dried leaves in his pillow-case werent something that came out of the wash.
Had they turned to witchcraft after exhausting all other means of finding their 
husbands?
Or had they cast a spell to rid themselves of excess baggage?
 
Annie took the call. It was that or tell the Dear Alanna letter writer that if 
her husband had been showering her with diamonds and rubies for ten years, then 
he was going to continue to do so no matter how much she complained about it, so 
boo-hoo, live with it.
This is Mercy Hospital calling. Annie, is that you?
Annie sat back in her chair, keyboard forgotten. Gabby? Whats wrong? Though 
she knew Gabrielle from the gym, she worked as a nurse at the local hospital.
Gabbys laugh eased Annies mind. Not too much, if you know what I mean. Weve 
had a treat in the ER this afternoon. That sexy bird guy Ive been hearing 
about, Mason Kincaid.
He stopped in?
No, silly. EMS brought him in.
Oh. Oh! Hes hurt? Hed borrowed Jades Jeep again today.
Im kind of limited as to what I can say. You knowalong those lines?
It was after six; dark out. Annied heard no sirens.
But, Gabby continued, he asked me to contact his partner, Anthony. So I can 
talk to him. Answer his questions.
Of course. Just a minute. With her palm pressed to the phone, Annie cleared 
her throat, then lowered her voice an octave and adopted a deeper pitch. Mason? 
That you, buddy?
This is Mercy Hospital calling for Anthony
Yes, yes, whats this about? Is Mason all right?
As a matter of fact, he asked me to call. He fell asleep in his car. Must have 
been there for hours. Got a bit hypothermic. But hes all warmed up now and 
ready to go.
Annie snickered. He didnt freeze off anything important, did he?
Nope. Gabby cleared her throat. Anyway, sir, hed like you to come pick him 
up.
Will do. Right away.
Annie left the office and rushed down the hall, headed for the conservatory 
until she saw Weezy exit Masons room in a very sneaky manner, closing the door 
quietly behind her and her four-year-old granddaughter.
Weezy?
She jumped. What? Good Lord, dont give a body a fright like that. Im about to 
do a load of dishes. Gathering up coffee cups and such.
Did I say anything?
They both stared at Weezys empty hands.
There wasnt any, she said in a huff.
Annie opened Masons door and peeked inside. There, on the table, sat a mug.
Huh. Howd I miss that? Weezy didnt move.
I cant believe youre teaching your granddaughter to be sneaky.
Shes helping Granmommy clean, arent you, punkin? Sides, theres a bad bug 
going round her day care, and my daughter has to work.
Annie pushed the door wide. Better get it, dont you think? Otherwise your 
covers blown.
Weezy instantly went off the defensive. So you think something funnys going 
on, too, do you?
Why? Whatve you heard?
Weezy quickly gathered up the mug, and they headed down the back stairs as she 
shared what she knew. Theres talk in town. Anthony asking all sorts of 
questions, and not all of them book material, if you know what I mean. Mason 
listening to talk at the caf about what does or doesnt go on up here.
Have you been cleaning the oven again? Youre not supposed to breathe those 
fumes.
Weezy huffed and defended her point. Seems to me a mand be a bit more curious 
about the place he was sleeping. If you was a stranger in town, and you heard 
something peculiar about the place you was sleeping, wouldnt you say, Hey, 
wait a minute, Im staying there, tell me more about this?
Put that way, Annie grudgingly agreed. So, what do they say is going on?
Way I heard it, they accused him of staying for kinky sex.
No, Annie said, stifling a laugh.
Yep. But speaking of witches, he stopped at the library to ask about books on 
them.
So this is why youve been spending more time here. Youre keeping an eye on 
Jade.
Weezy grinned. Might be looking for the kinky sex.
Hon, if youd give Noah half a chance, you could quit looking.
Weezy waved off that thought, and Annie went on to find Jade in the 
conservatory. There was a woman with her, all dolled up in a dark business suit 
and conservative two-inch heels.
Okay. Sounds easy enough, she was saying to Jade. I put some of this in my 
bathwater the morning before I go to court. And I carry this bag with me all the 
time, until the case is done.
Thats right. Also, if you can get the name of the judge beforehand
Sorry to interrupt, Annie said, pausing in the arch. Hospital called. Masons 
in Emergency.
Color drained from Jades cheeks.
So, Annie thought, the wind still blows that way. She wasnt above helping it. 
Hes asking for you.
Is he all right?
Sorry, all that confidentiality stuff, you know?
For me? Well, IButHe had my Jeep.
Take my car. Keys are in my purse by the back door. She turned to the client. 
Hi. Im Annie.
Cora.
Well be fine, Annie said to Jade. Go.
Jade hugged Annie, not so much as a good-bye, but so she could whisper in her 
ear, Not one spell while Im gone, you hear me?
Chapter 13 
J ade abandoned Annies fifteen-year-old station wagon in a restricted zone at 
Mercy Hospital. She might not have closed the door when she got out; she 
couldnt remember, and she wasnt going back to check.
Was Mason ill? Hurt? Had he and Anthony escalated their previous shouting match, 
met away from Mystic Manor, and beat the heck out of each other? She couldnt 
see Mason coming out on the short end of that. He wasnt brawny, but there was a 
steady force about him, a hint of danger that said he could take care of 
himself.
The roads had been plowed and appeared safe, but thered been a drizzle last 
night. Had he slid on a patch of black ice and landed in a ditch after all?
Seemed more than just her hormones were waking up. On the spur of the moment, 
shed opened herself to a relationship, thinking she was ready for a lover. But 
in light of Masons pushing her out of his room and staying away all day, then 
frightening her with whatever this turned out to be, she didnt know if she was 
ready for all the baggage that came with one.
Mercy Hospital was small, a three-story brick building in a quiet, residential 
neighborhood. They handled simple things: appendectomies and births, cuts and 
fractures, common illnesses, various in-and outpatient therapies. Complicated 
cases went to Hannibal Regional.
Six years ago, shed waited day and night by the phone for a call from here, 
waited to hear that they had her husband. At first thats what shed expected. 
Days dragged into a week. Then thats what she wanted, because a call from here 
meant Doug hadnt been rushed to Hannibal, or worse, airlifted to St. Louis.
One week dragged into two, then a month, then several months. No one had to tell 
her that when the call came, it wouldnt be the hospital.
Jade charged through the automatic door. It led directly into the ER waiting 
room, where Mason sat doubled over in one of the hard plastic chairs, his body 
trembling.
Mason!
She flew to his side and dropped to her knees, her long cape swirling around 
their feet, cocooning them together in a dark puddle.
The pain must be terrible to make him shake like that. Theyre discharging you 
when youre like this?
There wasnt another patient in sight, and they hadnt even treated him yet? The 
nurse sitting next to him was doing nothing about it, either. Jade glanced 
around, desperate to summon a doctor to help Mason, but no one appeared. Shed 
take him home, dip into her bag of herbs and spells, and ease his pain herself.
Tell me where it hurts.
It was important to her to touch him, reassuring even though he couldnt sit up 
straight. She ran her hands over his body in assessment, starting at his head. 
No blood there. She skimmed over his shoulders, palpated his arms all the way 
down to his hands and fingers. No obvious fractures; no yelps of pain. Just one, 
long, sorrowful moan as he leaned closer to her.
Difficult to hide her frustration with such blatant lack of care, Jade snapped 
at Gabby. Why arent you helping him?
Lord, theres no helping Gabby dabbed at tears on her cheeks. Her eyes were 
crinkled with laughter, which vanished when she saw the look on Jades face. 
Why, Jade, what are you doing here? I talked toAnthony, was it? she asked in 
Masons direction, though he couldnt see her with his head hanging in his hands 
like that. He said he was coming.
Jade grabbed Masons head and lifted it so she could look him in the eye. 
Youre laughing!
He tried to speak but couldnt. Finally he caught a deep breath, and he looked 
much better once he sat up straight. Jade was relieved, of course. Not a bandage 
or a cast in sight. If Mason had wrecked her Jeep, he ought to at least have a 
bandage to show for it.
Why couldnt it have been this simple six years ago?
Why was she so glad it was now?
I thought you were hurt. You looked as if you were in pain.
Masons face brightened. Not with laughter again, not over what probably was 
another anecdote about one of Gabbys grandchildrenshe had a passel of thembut 
with pleasant surprise. You were worried.
Dont be silly. Jade shot to her feet. Its bad for business when the guests 
end up in the hospital.
It wasnt as if you had anything to do with it. Masons eyes narrowed. Did 
you?
Did you hit your head? Did he hit his head? she demanded of Gabby, who said 
nothing, but shook hers to confirm he had not. Jade took the chair on the other 
side of Mason and asked, What happened?
I went to the lock and dam today. He reached in his pocket and started to hand 
her the Jeep key, but he fumbled it, and it fell to the floor.
To photograph the eagles, Gabby tossed in helpfully as she picked it up and 
gave it to Jade.
Yeah, like every day.
Only he fell asleep.
No-o-o, he denied on a long breath. I dont sleep. Not like that anyway. 
Mustve passed out. Next thing I knew, I came tohe emphasized the coming to 
part, as opposed to waking upto flashing lights, a cop leaning over me, and 
some woman who kept screeching, I found him. Oh, Lawd, hes dead, and I foun 
him. Musta froze. Oh, Lawd, hes dead, and I foun him. I remember it clearly 
because she kept screeching. Did I mention she was hysterical? Over and over. I 
began to think she was right, because if I had to hear her much longer, I knew I 
was in hell.
Jade covered a smile with her hand; best not to encourage him.
Didnt work.
Oh, Lawd, hes dead, and I foun him, Mason repeated in a decidedly feminine 
voice.
Jade leaned around him to ask Gabby, Is he all right to take home? and Gabby 
laughed and said, Well, I dont know about that, but medically speaking, hes 
fine.
 
She was killing him.
Just seeing the frightened look on Jades face when shed run infrightened for 
him, because she thought he was hurtwas enough to stop Masons heart. It was as 
if someone had kicked him in the gut and socked him in the jaw at the same time; 
he knew hed been hit, he knew it was supposed to hurt, and damn if it didnt.
It sure as hell got his attention. What a way to go!
But still, she was killing him.
Oh, it wasnt her fault. He was the stupid one who thought he was being smart 
when hed opened his mouth and said he never slept. She just happened to be the 
one he wanted to believe it. She just happened to be awake nearly every friggin 
minute of every friggin day, so how, when, and where was he supposed to sneak 
in a solid six hours? He wouldve gotten a hotel room just for napping, but word 
would get back to her.
Jade walked beside him out to the car. His feet dragged along like concrete 
blocks. His legs werent much better. After he bumped into a plastic chair, she 
held on to his arm the whole way. Not bad; in fact, it turned out to be quite 
pleasant. She steered him with it snugged against the side of her breastnot on 
purpose, he was sureso he could think of little else. Hed have to have died in 
the Jeep today not to be consumed with carnal thoughts of Jade, him, and little 
else.
His heavy parka, a sweater beneath, her cape, probably another sweaterway too 
many clothes between them. He thought about telling her he wouldnt faint if she 
let go, but hey, if he didnt milk this for all it was worth, hed have to turn 
in his guy card.
They didnt have far to walk. Not nearly far enough. He could go for blocks with 
his arm tucked into her.
This is it, she said at the yellow curb.
Restricted zone. Nice if you can get it. He took a second look at the old 
derelict of a station wagon. With a crooked bumper and dented grill, it looked 
eager to get a couple suckers on board. This?
What? Big tough guy like you is afraid of a little adventure?
Adventures my middle name. He stepped toward the passenger side, and she let 
him go when she was sure hed made the curb. Id hold your door for you, but I 
see its already open.
Good. I see youre still conscious.
They settled in.
Youre sure this is safe?
At least I wont be falling asleep at the wheel.
Ooh, low blow. Except I wasnt at the wheel.
She turned her head and stared at him with that look that women owned, the one 
that said, Come again?
Well, okay, I was, but I was parked at the time. So I was perfectly safe.
So is this. Annie drives it every day.
Dull interior, worn seats, stained carpet. Candle business isnt so hot, huh?
Some people might take that as an invitation to hit you with their opinion of 
insurance companies who deny claims for silly reasons.
Please. I was on deaths door already today.
There was no proof that Annies husband didnt take her Suburban and go on a 
long trip, leaving her with the payments. So this is all she could afford.
Get it? Candles, hot.
I got it.
Didnt want you to think I froze any brain cells out there.
Im not so sure its working. She snickered and said, Oh, Lawd, hes dead, 
and I foun him. Musta froze
Mason leaned across the seat and angled his head for a perfect landing on Jades 
soft, slightly parted lips.
Oh, man. Hed meant the kiss to be quick, to be a fun way to hush her sassy 
mouth. He wasnt prepared for the slam that hit him dead center in his chest. 
Felt like a goddamn sledgehammer. How could a man ever be ready for something 
like that?
While Jade had been working hard to scare him out of her life, shed crashed 
past all his self-preservation alarms and swept into his heart.
Mason?
She pulled back only inches, her eyes wide and curious. He could feel her breath 
on his face, warm, soft. Trusting. Intimate. He wanted more. God help him, he 
did.
Youre thinking too hard. Jades hand slipped up, tentative at first. Her 
fingers caressed his cheek. So soft. So trusting. Her tongue darted out and 
tasted him on her lips.
He knew in his heart she wasnt guilty of anything. And if she wasnt, then he 
wasnt really stepping over any ethical boundary, right?
Please, God, he wanted to be right. He wanted to sweep her off her feet, take 
her to bed, make love to her every night for the rest of his life. It would be 
wonderful, too. Right up to the point where she found out he had a secret of his 
own, that hed been lying to her all along.
Sorry, love, I didnt think youd mind that Ive been lying to you since the 
second we met. Not about everything. Just the basics. Just who I am, what I do 
for a living, what Im doing here. You know, simple stuff. 
You stopped breathing again.
He grunted. Good thing youre driving then. Drawing on all his reserves, which 
were pretty low at the moment, he pulled back gently and settled himself next to 
the door. He busied himself with the seat belt, saying, Might need this.
Jade was slower to recover, he noticed. It seemed like forever before she pulled 
out of the lot, glancing at him often, studying him, trying to read his 
intentions, probably. Good luck with that; he wasnt sure what they were 
himself. He knew what he should be doing, thoughsteering the conversation, 
doing his goddamn job.
People were apt to talk freer in closer, more intimate surroundings. Reveal 
more. Let their guard down some. This front seat was a helluva lot more intimate 
than that castle-with-revolving-doors she lived in.
What did you say? Annies husband left with her car?
Abe. He was with Doug. Dont pretend you havent heard. It wont hurt my 
feelings any.
Abe. Biblical; odds were, a local. I admit, Ive heard some talk around town.
The residential neighborhood they drove through was quiet, lined with tall trees 
and brick homes, porches and awnings. A few dusk-to-dawn streetlights. In a nod 
to the lumber industry, he supposed, most houses were embellished with dentil 
molding, elaborate gables, even ornamental soffit carvings.
You want to tell me what happened so I can quit guessing?
She spared him a glance. Sure you can handle it?
Big tough guy like me?
Gabby says you were hypothermic.
Doc said pre. They warmed me up with coffee. God, he hoped it was decaff. Try 
me.
Jade sighed, long and low, girding her loins. You met Courtney, right?
Yeah, in the kitchen. Seemed nice.
Her husband was with them. He disappeared, too. Jade glanced his way to see if 
he was going to interrupt. Youre not going to take a flying leap out the door 
or anything, are you?
No, no, that would hurt. Ill pass.
They were good friends, bought a boat together. Wed had a recent ice storm. 
They decided to go to the lake and check on it.
Three full-grown men just up and disappeared?
He chewed the inside of his lip, deep in thought. Not about the husbands, 
though; about how he was doing a credible job of being just the right amount of 
surprised and curious. He stomped down the little birdie that said this was 
going to come back at a very inopportune time and bite him in the ass.
Thats what they say, Jade continued, not so hesitant to talk anymore since 
what shed said so far hadnt sent him running. Depending on whos talking, 
they A) ran off to South America to live the good life; B) got whacked in a drug 
deal gone bad; or C) bought a lot of life insurance that was too big a 
temptation for three small-town wives, so we stuffed their bodies into the car 
and drove it into the river.
These are your neighbors?
Jade snickered. For a guy who stops breathing real easy, Im surprised you 
didnt jump after all.
Doors stuck. He adjusted the vent to blow heat his way. Forget about them. 
What do you think?
Jade sighed. She slumped a little in her seat, so little, it was almost 
undetectable, but Mason noticed. He noticed lots of things about Jade. Little 
things, big things.
Very quietly, she said, I think something bad happened.
She drove carefully. The main part of West Bluff was built in a flat pocket 
along the river, surrounded by hills that had fed the lumber boom. Unlike up on 
the bluff, streets here crisscrossed in a rigid grid, with terribly imaginative 
names like Steeple Drive and Methodist Street routed into vertical markers at 
the intersections.
Feeling a little punchy from lack of sleep, he wondered aloud, Can a Baptist 
live on Methodist Street?
Around here its not so important what church you belong to as long as you 
attend. So, yes.
The station wagon creaked and rattled like any old car, but the heater worked 
just fine. Warm again, Mason tipped his seat back. His head rolled to a 
comfortable spot on the headrest, and his eyes drifted shut. No way he could 
keep up this pace. He might as well just admit it. Get it out in the open.
He might not be thinking clearly. Christ, twice in, what, less than two weeks?
Im exhausted. I cant take it anymore.
After a beat, Jade quietly said, I can put an end to it. I mean, if you want. 
If you need help.
Hair stood up on the back of Masons neck, a warning before a deadly strike. In 
light of our conversation, that soundsominous.
They rode another block, crossed Bible Boulevard.
Then Jade got it, and laughed. No, not like that. Geez, I grow herbs, remember? 
Some are very relaxing. Lavender. Valerian. Agrimony if you need something 
stronger, though that might make you sleep like the dead.
Not something he wanted to hear.
Passion Flower.
Mason lifted his head. Now that sounds interesting.
Doesnt work like it sounds. Itll put you to sleep.
Heard you have poisonous ones, too.
Not a car in sight, but Jade signaled a right turn anyway. Somebody in the 
family put those in a couple generations ago. Call me sentimental, but I have 
trouble killing anything, so I let them be.
Trouble? As in, Trouble, but I manage?
Come on, live dangerously, Kincaid. Your sore throats gone, isnt it?
After another cup of whatever shed brewed for him, he had to admit that it was. 
He yawned and settled back again. You could put the big drug companies out of 
business.
Doubt it.
He held his hands up like a scale in motion, seeking balance. I dont know. 
Natural remedy. Man-made chemical concoctions that cost an arm and a leg, and 
often as not, dont work. Sounds like a no-brainer to me.
You think I want the FDA looking my way? Red tape? Lobbyists? Uh-uh. No way. No 
thanks. If I had to deal with all that, itd be years before I could give you 
something to help you sleep tonight. That didnt make sense, I know, but go with 
it.
What could he say? No? How would he ever explain why he said no?
Oh, sorry, I was going through all your things in your entire house, and I found 
out youre a witch, and I think its possible you may have killed your husband, 
so 
Nah, he didnt think that.
I think its possible you may have drugged your husband so someone else could 
kill him 
He couldnt prove it, but there was no way Jade ever killed anybody or arranged 
to have it done. Just didnt wash.
I think you may have given your husband the wrong thing, or too much of 
something by accident, and he died, so if you dont mind, Ill pass. 
Maybe he could buy that. Accidents happened. A wife could get scared and think 
it was better to hide the body. Right?
And that explained the other two, how?
 
Jade drove on autopilot, working things out in her head while Mason got some 
much-needed sleep.
Six years ago, shed waited for the hospital to call and say they had her 
husband. Today, just when she was sure the original spell was weakening, 
reversing even, they called and said Mason was ready to come home.
Funny, in a cosmic sort of way. If it was a slightly warped, six-year-old spell 
come to fruition, it had to be the slowest one on record.
She was falling for him; no sense denying it. Shed thought she could be 
oh-so-modern about this, take it for what it was, for as long as he could stay, 
then move on.
Ha! Her reaction to seeing him in pain, real or not, had spoken to her loud and 
clear. For the second time in her life, she was hooked. Clearly, utterly hooked. 
Just as shed wanted to be. Just as shed wished.
Only this time, this relationship came with built-in problems. If the spell that 
started it all continued to reverse, Mason would leave for good. If it didnt, 
and he stayed, shed always wonder if he wouldve chosen to be here on his own. 
Especially since he said he never wanted to marry. Where did that leave her? She 
wanted a child. Would he have one without marriage? Did she want that? In this 
community?
Poor little thingmight as well stick a pointy black hat on her head and hand 
her a crystal ball when she sent her off to school.
Other than taking it one day at a time, she didnt know what to do. She couldnt 
just turn off these feelings she had for him. She had a few choice words for 
uncooperative spirits, though.
While Mason slept with his head against the window, Jade stopped at her post 
office box, picked up more mail orders for botanicals, then headed up the hill 
to Mystic Manor. If itd been any warmer out, shed have let him have another 
hour of sleep, parked in the driveway, but on the heels of a recent flirt with 
hypothermia, pre or otherwise, she thought better of it.
Turning off the engine didnt wake him. Neither did letting her seat belt 
retract with a snap against the post, nor closing her door. She walked around 
Annies relic and stared at Masons head, his cheek mushed against the glass.
So peaceful. Experiencing none of her inner turmoil.
That didnt seem fair, so she tapped on his window. Coming?
Nothing. She tapped again. Then, grinning, she knew whatd get him up.
Oh, Lawd, hes dead, and I foun him. Musta
Shed expected his eyes to flutter open, maybe a confused look, at the most a 
crooked, self-deprecating grin. But Mason woke up growling, she imagined, like a 
bear whod just had his hibernation cut short.
By the time he grabbed the door handle, Jade was off and running, shrieking, 
laughing so hard she couldnt see patches of ice, so she stayed off the walk as 
she charged through shin-high snow toward the back door.
She didnt have a prayer of outrunning him, and even though it was no surprise 
when he dropped her in a tackle, the air whooshed out of her, and she fell 
face-first into the snow and came up sputtering.
For a guy whod just been carted off to Emergency, Mason had a powerful grip. 
His arms were around her, so strong. His hands on her, so mobile, though she 
couldnt feel them as much as shed like through her cape and sweater and long 
underwear.
What are you doing? she laughed.
Checking for broken bones.
She elbowed him in the ribs. Between her cape and his parka, it was ineffective, 
it only made him laugh, so she grabbed a handful of snow and washed his face 
with it.
Now youll pay, he said, pinning her flat on her back with his entire body.
Im sooo scared. When she looked up into his steel blue eyes and saw the 
promise of just how shed pay, she trembled with anticipation.
Damn, woman He made a production of spitting out every flake of snow. I 
think you froze my mouth.
Didnt want you to fall asleep again. Not until she was through with him, 
anyway. If they didnt get inside, theyd melt a patch in the yard.
I could have frostbite.
Nah, youre too hot.
He did a double take, then grinned. You think Im hot?
I meant body heat.
He wiggled on top of her. Youre aware of my body heat?
Stop! she said, laughing and making light of it because she wasnt ready to 
admit it out loud. I cant feel anything through all these clothes.
Well, then! Ill fix that. He surged to his feet, scooped her up in his arms, 
carried her through the door.
The kitchen was warm, toasty, redolent with the aroma of something simmering on 
the stove. Out of the corner of her eye, Jade caught the glow of two candles, 
one red, one white, so she knew Annie was up to something, had cast some kind of 
spell, but Masons hands talked louder. He set her on her feet, and they were 
all over her, skimming her out of her clothes.
Long johns? he said when he pulled her sweater over her head.
Turnoff?
Hell no. Just makes me want to work harder.
She laughed against his mouth as he tugged her undershirt out of her tight 
jeans, struggled with the button at her waist, and tried to undo his belt buckle 
all at the same time. And then the laughter was gone, replaced by heat and 
impulse and instinct so basic that, after six years, it scared her.
I havent done this in forever, she whispered. Afraid shed scare him off; 
afraid she wouldnt.
I think its like riding a bike. But we can go slow. He stripped off her basic 
white shirt and stared at her breasts. Oh, not fair.
Jade looked down at herself. Black lacy bra, low-cut, her chest rising and 
falling in shallow breaths. What?
He crushed her lips with his. Not sure about the slow part, he murmured. He 
chuckled low in his throat and said, Bet you thought I was freaking out on you 
again.
You do, and theyll never find your body.
For the record, it wasnt me I was worried about. It was you.
Jade tilted her head back and looked up at him. Me?
I was afraid it was too soon. That I hadnt given you enough warning. That you 
should at least have some time to think it over first.
And now?
Times up.
Six years wasnt so long that Jade didnt remember one important thing. Probably 
the last sane thought shed have for the next hour.
Condom, she gasped against his lips.
Yeah, sure. Masons lips trailed kisses over the corner of her eye, down her 
neck. He slipped one bra strap off her shoulder. Oh shit.
You really have to stop that! Jade tried to step back, but he wouldnt let 
her, held her tight.
Sorry. Sorry. Ah, condom, he repeated, as if the word didnt make sense. You 
dont have any?
I wouldnt trust anything as old as Id have around. You?
Didnt think they went with a tux. I mean, Christ, what if I reached in my 
pocket for the ring and one fell out in front of the minister? Condoms were the 
last thing on my mind.
So I heard. I believe scuba diving was number one on your list.
It was a wreck.
It was your honeymoon.
His grin was pure light. If I was honeymooning with you, youd be on my list 
from top to bottom.
It was corny; she loved it anyway. Given that she didnt pull away with 
contempt, he nuzzled her neck, nipped at her ear, palmed her breast until she 
almost, almost, forgot what they were missing.
I cant believe I was supposed to wish for condoms.
He murmured a distracted, Hmm? and conducted damage control. Would you prefer 
to make love in front of a roaring fire or next to a tropical waterfall?
Make love. She didnt know if it was just a line for him, but as surprising as a 
smack in the head, she realized it hit closer to the mark for her than hooked 
on him.
While her momentary silence gave her time to think and opened her eyes, it had 
the opposite effect on Mason. He tugged her bra down around her waist and began 
to lavish attention on her breasts so fast the room started to spin. If they 
were going to stop, it had to be now.
Mason? When she pulled back, he reluctantly let her put some space between 
them.
Then all of a sudden, he snapped his fingers. Hey! Anthony. Ill be right 
back.
Suddenly standing alone, chilled and confused and self-conscious, Jade tugged 
her bra up. Ah, Mason, Im kind of nervous as it is
He charged up the back stairs.
Jade threw her hands in the air. Im not ready for an audience!
Chapter 14 
M ason barged into Anthonys room, relieved to find him there. Hed been making 
himself scarce lately, with no explanation. At the moment, who the hell cared?
Condom. Now.
Anthony slouched on both chairs by the table in front of the window, his ass in 
one, his sock feet on the other. Hold on, he said into his cell, laying it on 
the table as he got up. Already prepared for this from the earlier phone call, 
he slapped two packages into Masons open hand. At least you havent lost your 
head completely.
Two? That all you have?
Out. Anthony splayed a hand on Masons chest, shoved him through the door, and 
slammed it. Just as quickly, he opened it again. Your resignation still is not 
accepted.
Just two?
For Gods sake, man, make do.
Mason flew to the top of the stairs, then instead of running right down, he went 
to his room and brushed his teeth. He thought about shaving, too, but decided if 
he tried that in his condition, hed show up with more toilet paper on his face 
than on the roll, so he skipped it. While he was locking his Glock in a camera 
bag for the night, he heard voices downstairs. More company.
No. No, no, no, he said, a heartfelt prayer to stop anything from interrupting 
his plans. His and Jades; she was as ready for this as he. But as he descended 
the back stairs, his hopes fell as he heard a woman in the kitchen with Jade. 
Not Annie.
Sorry about the short notice, Jade. I kind of got caught short, what with 
Elisha having twins in the middle of the night. Deborah isnt due for three more 
weeks, but you know how babies are.
You want the usual?
Better make it extra. Mm, something sure smells good.
Dont touch it!
Mason entered the kitchen just as Jade descended on the range with a vengeance. 
Though theyd barely registered, hed smelled the soup and seen the two tall 
candles when theyd first come in. The candles lasted about two more seconds. 
Jade pinched out the red taper with an angry twist, broke it in half, and threw 
it into the sink, where it landed with a thunk. The white candle followed, along 
with a few muttered words he couldnt make out.
Bad candles? was all Mason could think to say.
Bad Annie. Ill explain later. Jade looked up at him with eyes that begged him 
to understand a sudden change in plans. Look, I need to get some oils together 
for Madeline. Shes our midwife. A terrific part of our community.
Madeline was about forty, with a huge green bag slung crosswise over her 
shoulder, red hair and freckles, and a sweet angelic look that probably 
reassured most mothers-to-be. That didnt last any longer than the candles, 
though. She was staring at the sink, and from her crestfallen look, she was 
either going to cry or pass out. Maybe both.
Im so sorry. Here Ive gone and ruined your dinner
Jade put her arm around her. Madeline, no, its not you.
with Pierce Brosnan, she wailed. If only Id called first.
We werent going to eat this.
Oh, sure, youre just cooking it for the aroma. Madeline didnt look 
convinced, but no tears fell. Smells divine.
Trust me, you dont want it. Annies not as good with herbs as she thinks she 
is, if you know what I mean. And hes not Pierce Brosnan.
Madeline blinked. Hes not?
Hes Mason Kincaid.
Oh. Right. Madeline winked.
Ill get those oils.
Jade steered Madeline across the room, and as smoothly as running water, handed 
her off to Mason. He wasnt sure if it was her idea or his.
Madeline, he said gently, sliding his arm around her shoulders, why dont we 
wait in the study? Its cozy in there.
Jade graced him with a grateful smile, her eyes warm with the promise of an 
amorous night ahead. Maybe even an adventurous one. Theyd need sustenance when 
they were through.
And, Mason? Whatever you do, dont touch that soup.
You sure? Madelines rightit does smell divine.
Not even if youre starving.
Mason steered Madeline into the study, all the while wondering what was wrong 
with the soup. Annie wouldnt slip in some of those bad herbs, would she? Nah, 
she had no reason to harm him, and she sure wouldnt harm Jade.
Madeline regained her composure. She brushed off Masons help, pulled the 
ottoman close, and burrowed her ample hips into the upholstered chair. What do 
you think thats all about? The soup, I mean.
I have no idea. Didnt smell like she ruined it, did it?
No, sir, it didnt.
As long as he had a few minutes to kill, Mason lit the logs, stacked and 
waiting, in the fireplace. Hed get a nice blaze going. Turn off the lights 
after Madeline left. Hed even let Jade light candles, which he knew shed want 
to do. Itd gotten so that didnt bother him so much anymore. Didnt remind him 
of his bad day at the church at all.
So. Youre a midwife, he said, once the kindling caught.
Yessir, fifteen years now.
Two sirs in a row. Mason smiled and tried to look more approachable.
Hannibal to Clarksville. Ive been buying botanicals from Jade for the last 
ten. Oh, I know what youre thinking. Ten years ago, she was barely legal. Well, 
in my defense, I came here originally to talk to her mother, and I was a little 
apprehensiveeven a little miffed, if you want to know the truthwhen she 
referred me down the genetic chain. So to speak.
Approachable must have worked; she kept going.
I mean, really, how could a teenager know enough about birthing and herbs to 
help me, when Id been doing it for five years? Let me tell you, though, after 
ten minutes, I was all ears. Yessir, Jades one remarkable woman. Say, youd 
better sit down. Mason, is it? She winked again. You look about ready to 
drop.
 
Jade sent Madeline on her way with the herbs and oils she used to help mothers 
ease new life into this world, thinking that maybe, just maybe, she herself was 
getting closer. Not that shed consider having a child if Mason werent sticking 
around for the long haul, but maybe just closer.
In the meantime, shed enjoy the duration without guilt. She wasnt worried 
about whether hed respect her in the morning. She already had that. He might 
not have liked her going off with Noahs nephews, but hed squared his shoulders 
and accepted that she was a person who followed her beliefs.
He didnt want to get married. Fine. Knowing what she knew, she wasnt about to 
talk him into it!
Funny that Courtneys talisman wasnt working. If Jade had seen less of anyone 
lately, it was Anthony.
She found Mason stretched out in front of the fire, his hair dark against a 
cream-colored throw pillow, his back to the door. While she felt like leaning 
against the jamb and watching him sleep for the next, oh, five minutes, she was 
more concerned about the fire. She didnt leave wood sitting around in 
fireplaces waiting to be lit, and he certainly hadnt stepped out in his sock 
feet to get some.
Which left Annie. At the very least, shed stacked it, maybe even lit it.
Shed also cast a spell in the kitchenthe lit candles were solid evidencebut 
Jade wasnt worried about Annies candle-only spells. Generally, those worked 
well for her. Not that she didnt have the best of intentions with other spells, 
but she just didnt seem to have the right focus, didnt think things through 
start to finish, didnt take into account human nature and all the repercussions 
that came with it. Frequent end result: disaster.
The fire called for countermeasures, no matter whod lit it.
Jade stepped outside for a handful of cut branches before padding across the 
carpet. Kneeling on her heels in front of the fire, tossing in a stick with each 
phrase, she said,
By the power of one, this spells begun. 
By the power of two, 
I clear my home through and through. 
By the power of three, I erase any lingering energy. 
By the power of four, Annies workings are out the door. 
By the power of five, only my spells survive. 
By the power of six, I quickly apply this fix. 
There. A nice, romantic fire throwing off some heat, warming the room. The 
better to remove their clothes by.
Jade stripped off her sweater, deciding with uncharacteristic wild abandon that 
she didnt care where it landed. There was only one thing she cared about right 
now.
Mason? Kneeling between him and the fire, she laid her hand on his arm and ran 
it up over his broad shoulder. Mase?
He snored and said, Mm? in the same breath. Hed gotten to sleep without any 
herbs after all.
Well, darn.
She splayed her fingers through his hair, in case he was only snoozing lightly 
and would wake up without a good swift kick in the butt.
He murmured again and tugged her down until she lay in the circle of his arms, 
protected in the hollow of his body. The fire was hot on her face, hot on her 
skin. As was Mason behind her.
She wasnt tired. Sleep was a waste of time. But she could lie here with him for 
a few minutes until he was sound asleep again. She could do that for him. He 
needed it.
A catnap here, with him, didnt sound so bad. She gave in and burrowed her head 
into a comfortable spot on his outstretched arm.
 
Warm tropical water. Neutral buoyancy. Full cylinder of air. Clear mask.
Mason awoke slowly, certain that he was in heaven. He savored something even 
better: the feel of Jade in his arms, the promise and excitement of making slow, 
passionate love, the thrill of every sigh hed elicit from her
He ran his hand along her body, hip to neck, startled to full alert when a phone 
rang in the distance, and he discovered he wasnt in the Caribbean. He still had 
Jade in his arms, though, and she wasnt fully dressed.
Silky skin. Silky black bra.
Okay, better than divinga real eye-opener, that one.
Shed had her sweater on when Madeline was here, hadnt she? Hed remember 
otherwise. Hed dreamed otherwise, but thats all it had been, a dream. Which 
was about to come true from the feel of things.
Did Anthony have a camera in here?
Ah, hell, he was covered; hed tried to resign.
He stuck his nose in Jades hair, deep in a mass of curls that had gone unruly 
overnight, and breathed coconut. No wonder hed been in Aruba-land. He snuggled 
closer, pressing himself against her.
God, let me wake her like shes never been awakened before. 
Jade sighed and hummed. Her whole body rippled as she woke gently, stretching 
head to toe. Mason pressed closer, wanting to let her take her time, impatient 
to get naked together.
Should he get up and stir the fire, which had burned down to a mass of coals and 
half a log? Grab the throw off the sofa? Thatd be good, in case Jade was 
concerned Weezy would pop in and find them going at it.
Going at it. That didnt sound nice. Well, it did, but not the way he usually 
meant it.
Had she bewitched him? Did he care?
Not the way she was snuggling against him now. There was barely enough room to 
slip his hand between them and undo his jeans.
Jade hummed again, a little more alert now. She rolled over onto her back, then 
continued around until they were face-to-face. Crying shame her bra came 
unhooked while she was turning around. It hadnt required much help on his part 
at all. Her breasts might be cold all exposed like that, though, so he covered 
one with his hand.
Mm, she said, arching her back, filling his palm. About time you woke up.
Youve been waiting for me?
You know it. Oh. My. Gosh.
He leaned back a bit, just enough to see that her eyes were open wide, and she 
was staring over his shoulder at the window. Snowing again? What better reason 
to stay here all day?
Its morning.
Sure is. He put his hand in the small of her back and scooted her closer until 
she could feel that his body knew it was time to get up, too.
Its morning, she repeated, as if a wondrous miracle had occurred. That or he 
didnt understand her idea of disaster. I slept all night.
Ill get the throw. He would have, too, if she hadnt clamped a hand on his 
arm to stop him.
You dont understand. Its morning.
Happens every day. He leaned in and pressed his lips to hers, kissing her 
until she was soft and breathless. Tell me you dont have anything against 
making love when the suns up.
She focused on him then, and a slow smile spread across her face. Why would I 
have something against that?
If youre worried about Weezy coming in, I can carry you up to the bedroom.
The doors closed.
You make love in here so often you have a signal?
No, goof, she responded to his teasing. Weezy wont come in when the doors 
closed because I meet with clients in here.
Leaving lots of good, witchy vibes in the room, he hoped. Anthony came through 
for us. Let me throw another log on the fire, and we can wake up real slow.
He was up and had his hand on the lid of the log box before she could say, Its 
just for looks. I dont keep wood inside.
He pulled out two logs.
Annie, she said.
Yeah, you mentioned her last night. Remind me to thank her.
Remind me to kill her.
He tossed the logs onto the coals, and when he had the fire crackling and 
blazing again, he turned to find Jade wrapped in the soft cream-colored throw.
You look like a burrito.
You like burritos?
I devour them. Wanna see?
Counting on it, big guy.
This time he wasnt lying to himself. This time that was what she really said. 
And as he knelt beside her, prepared to go slow and make the morning last, she 
lifted the edges of the throw and showed him that while hed been building a 
fire in the fireplace, shed been building one here, for him.
Her skin glistened from head to toe, so golden perfect in the light from the 
flames, which were nothing compared to the flames licking his insides. He ripped 
off his clothes, sweater to his socks, nothing between them finally except 
unspoken promises.
Jade pulled him down beside her.
He thought shed meet his energy with a shy, feminine reserve to remind him that 
it had been a long time, and he should go slow, but she opened her arms and 
turned her face to meet him and looked at him as if shed been waiting for him 
her whole life. As if he were the only man she could possibly be with. And in 
that moment, he knew it was the same for him. One door closes; another opens. 
Hed been saved from a disastrous marriage so he could be here, now, with this 
woman, who was quickly, inexplicably, becoming his everything.
He thought about telling her that he thought he loved her. Good sense prevailed.
A woman didnt want to hear I love you ten days into a relationship that had 
begun a mere twenty-four hours after his almost-wedding to someone else, even if 
it hadnt happened. It would be justifiable cause to mistrust the depth of his 
feelings.
A woman like Jade didnt want to hear I love you from a man with secrets, who 
eventually was going to have to answer for every goddamn thing he said. When the 
time came, he didnt want that picked apart, picked to death.
A woman would be justifiably skeptical if a man said it for the first time when 
they were making love for the first time. It would seem false, as if he thought 
he had to cajole his way into her panties.
Hed keep this to himself for a while.
I need you, he whispered against her lips, again and again, hoping she 
wouldnt take it for less than it was, because hed never needed anyone as much 
as he did her. Not just today. Not just until the stakeout was over. But 
forever.
Im here, she answered in kind, responding to his words, rippling against him, 
around him, every time he said it. Nearly purring like a cat.
He could feel Jades primal urgency, her need for him, as she wrapped her legs 
around his hips and pulled him closer, until he was nearly too mindless to 
remember a condom, but he did, and he put just enough space between them to take 
care of that before Jade tightened her legs around him again and pulled him 
home.
It was too fast. He wanted better for her, to take care of her, give her what 
she needed, make it special, and shed just driven him dangerously close to the 
limits of his control.
If we slow down, he murmured against her lips as he kissed her ceaselessly. 
God, would he ever get enough of this woman? I can last longer for you.
Next time, she said, arching against him, driving him deep. I need you now.
He splayed his fingers through her silky curls, letting them trap him as he knew 
they would, as he held her beneath him and, trusting that she knew what she 
wanted, what she needed, he thrust hard, sending himself beyond the point of no 
return.
Yes, like that. Mason, just like that.
Her words faded away, leaving behind a soft sigh that was his undoing. A soft 
sigh that at some point transformed into moans of pleasure, cries of pure joy, 
and her ragged breathing mingled with his until they were both sweaty and sated 
and limp with release.
Mason rolled them to their sides, and they lay entwined for long minutes, 
staring into each others eyes, their fingers floating over the others skin in 
a silent language of connection, of unspoken bonds. Bonds that Mason knew would 
be tested all too soon.
As their breathing slowed, and the air grew chilly, Mason pulled the throw over 
them again, snuggled Jade against his chest, kissed her temples and her hair and 
her face until they both fell asleep.
Chapter 15 
O h, hey. We forgot your Jeep.
Is this your normal pillow talk? Jade mumbled against Masons chest.
In all fairness, the earth had just moved twice, and theyd fallen back to sleep 
an hour ago, but she still wasnt ready to think. If she started thinking, she 
had a major dilemma to work throughto keep him or not to keep him?and there 
seemed to be no right answer.
Shed probably change her mind about the need to figure out when theyd pick up 
the Jeep the next time she had to go out, which, if she wanted to make love to 
this man again, one of them had to do.
And she did. Oh, she very much did.
You never lay in bed and talked with your husband?
I catnapped. Once he closed his eyes, he was dead to the world for a good six 
hours.
You neveron the floor in front of a fire?
Dead fire.
He took the cue and pulled the throw over her bare shoulder.
Well pick up the Jeep later, she said, stretching without moving too far from 
him. She liked the feel of his body alongside hers, his shoulder beneath her 
head. Can you drive?
Sure.
She smiled, and nibbled toward his nipple. Not too much exertion on the heels 
of hypothermia?
Did I seem tired to you? he asked with a sexy rumble that said if they had 
more condoms, hed show her just how tired he wasnt.
Then we can drop Annies car off for her. And stop by the drugstore.
When she groaned, Mason picked right up on it and said, What?
Everyone in West Bluff will know Im having sex.
Becausewere going to drop off Annies car together?
No, silly. Because Im going to stop at a drugstore on the way home.
Ah. Youre going to ravish me again.
Without a doubt. But
Timings bad?
Right on the heels of a presumptive death certificate?everyonell think Im 
celebrating. Not bad for me, mind you, she hastened to add. Didnt want him to 
think she had any regrets. Just looks that way. And then theyll think worse of 
you, and you might not get the help you need around town
Mason threw off the throw and sat up. Hannibals not that far. Do they know you 
there?
Jade bolted upright beside him. Ill wait in the car.
Mason chuckled. I feel like a teenager.
I made love to a teenager once. Shed met Doug in college.
You dirty old woman.
For that, she took the whole throw to herself when she stood up, wrapping the 
soft folds around her.
Mason gathered his clothes. Think I can run upstairs without running into Weezy 
or Annie?
I was going to compliment you.
Really?
Something about your stamina.
Go ahead.
She yawned. I cant remember.
 
That afternoon, Annie jumped into her station wagon and slammed the door. Shed 
left Tricia Sherwood in the slush two blocks back. The woman would not give up, 
following her for the past several days. Needling, needling, needling.
Something had to be done, and Annie didnt mind being the one to do it. This was 
the last straw. Shed let Tricia bump into her, literally dragged her down into 
the snow and came away with her black beret. Ha! By the time Triciad searched 
the snow and couldnt find it, Annie was a block away.
But TriciaBoy, could she run!
Annie gunned the engine and drove down Main Street as fast as she dared. There 
wasnt time to go home and cast a circle of salt and do a proper spell with 
candles. She had deliveries to make. Not that she didnt have candles with her; 
she did. Picturing herself getting pulled over with a lit candle in the car made 
her laugh. Imagine trying to explain her way out of that one.
Shed make do, though. Jade always said energy was important. Well, her heart 
was pumping now! She punched a cassette of rhythmic drums into the ancient 
dash-mounted player and visualized it not eating the tape.
She threw the beret onto the floorboards, ground it under her heel, tapped her 
hand on the steering wheel in time with the beat, and said, I want the media to 
stop hassling all three of us and gathering information on us. Tap, tap, tap. 
I want Tricia Sherwood exposed as a real troublemaker. Tap, tap, grind. She 
should lose her job. Tap, grind, tap. Everyone should see what shes been up 
to. She should lose her job. If she doesnt let up, I want the cops to get 
involved. Did I mention she should lose her job!
Grind, grind, grind.
As I will it, so mote it be.
 
Are you stalking me?
Mason whirled around at the sound of Brendas voice.
I saw you the other day outside the card store. And now youre here. Give it 
up, Mason. Its over.
Brenda! He was genuinely happy to see her. So that was you.
She glared at the box of condoms in his hand, then at him. If you dont leave 
me alone and go back to Florida, Ill file a complaint. I will. Lyles family 
lives here in Hannibal. The authorities will take me seriously. Ill get a 
restraining order if I have to.
What? No, wait, Im here on business.
I mean it.
Really. Anthonys uncle sent us to West Bluff.
Her glare softened. Anthonys here?
Well, not here. In West Bluff. I just ran over here for the day.
What, they dont have private eyes in Missouri?
Keep it down, will you? Mason glanced around to see if anyone overheard, then 
leaned close. I told you how it is sometimes. A local is too obvious. All it 
takes is somebody recognizing him and saying, Hey, whore you investigating 
today? and the whole stakeout is blown.
Brenda folded her arms across breasts that were bigger than normal. She mustve 
been wearing a bra that was too small for weeks, hoping he wouldnt notice, and 
now it didnt matter.
She narrowed her eyes at him. West Bluff, huh? Wherere you staying?
Mystic Manor.
She looked dazed for a moment, then burst out with a laugh. A guffaw, actually. 
If she didnt pipe down, everyone in the store would know he was an investigator 
working in West Bluff, and what was news in West Bluff? Three widows, thats 
what.
Brenda laughed so hard, she had tears running down her cheeks.
Is that healthy? In your condition?
She caught her breath. Im sorry.
Whatever.
I mean it, Mase. For everything. I handled it so badly.
Yeah, you did.
She started laughing again. But you are just so stupid.
Excuse me? It sort of sounded like an apology when you started.
He shouldnt have told her he was working, but in his defense, hed grown used 
to telling her everything. He hadnt said whom he was investigating, but that 
didnt matter. If she mentioned shed run into her ex, thered be questions, 
especially from Lyles family, whod think the same thing she had, that he was 
stalking her. She might reveal his real occupation. All it took was one person 
hearing something, innocently passing it onIt could be in West Bluff in no 
time.
Im working undercover, he reminded Brenda. You might consider that you owe 
me one and keep it to yourself.
I do owe you one, Mase. So here it is, listen up. Youre gonna shoot yourself 
for this. She leaned in to him and lowered her voice. Youre so stupid, you 
managed to pick the one B&B owned by a witch.
Well, that confirmed it. 
Brenda, Mason said, breaking into a genuine smile. Why do you think I care?
Im just saying.
Uh-huh. Well, listen, Im glad we bumped into each other today, because I 
wanted to thank you. So thank you. There. Ive said it.
Hed taken several steps away when Brenda said, For what?
He paused just long enough to face her and say what he had to say. For being 
you. For doing exactly what you did. For setting me free.
It was easy to put Brenda out of his mind as he stood in line to pay. He thought 
about how tough it would be to keep up his ruse of insomnia if he made love to 
Jade every night and promptly fell asleep until dawn. Hed cover his bases and 
ask for those herbs shed mentioned for sleeping. Not that hed actually take 
them.
He picked up when Anthony called. If his partner yelled about anything the 
cameras picked up last night, Mason could always resign again.
Hey, Anthony. Whats up?
Where are you?
Hannibal.
Good, I was hoping. Can you pick up three more cameras? Somethings wrong with 
ours. Im getting nothing.
At all?
Working one minute, then nothing. Nada.
Whew. 
Anywhere else, and Id think theyd been tampered with.
Mason lowered his voice. Maybe, ah, someone put a spell on them. Hed fallen 
asleep reading the witchcraft books, but if he believed 10 percent of what hed 
read, it wasnt inconceivable.
Hows your room? Anthony asked.
What? Fine, why?
I swear mine feelssmaller. Like a closet. I cant wait until this jobs done. 
Anyway, the cameras. To put a spell on them, Jade would have to know they were 
there first. And you saw them, theyre minuscule. Weezys granddaughters dusted 
right over them yesterday, didnt notice a thing.
Ill pick them up. Hey, Anthony
Yeah?
Hows it going with you and the bartender?
There was a long pause. What brought that up?
You know, just asking.
You getting sappy on me, Mason?
Resignations still on the table.
He heard Anthony sigh. Weve talked a couple times.
And?
Were going out when I get back.
Good. Mason was nodding to himself as he stepped forward in line.
Lets get this wrapped up ASAP.
Is this your I-smell-foul-play radar kicking in?
No. Well, it is, kicking in, I mean. But on top of that, I just dont like 
being here anymore. And before you say it, its not because of the bartender 
either.
I wasnt going to say a word. Im happy youre going out when you get back. 
Hey, gotta go, my turn to pay. Talk to you later.
Get back. Would he return to Pensacola with Anthony?
Yeah, sure, he had to. His blood was too thin to live in the Siberia of the 
Midwest.
Neither was he so dense that he thought Jade would relocate.
 
Did you have a nice night by the fire, dear?
Mo-ther! Jade was sitting in the Jeep, waiting for Mason to come out of the 
drugstore. She tried to squelch the voice of reason that said if he was staying, 
he deserved to know her secret, but sharing it with him could end whatever 
relationship they had.
And what was that really? She was supposed to be getting rid of him, but if 
things were going well, was it wrong to reconsider and think, well, maybe this 
is how things were supposed to work out? She was torn between accepting the 
situation and setting it right.
Pure rationalization; he had to go. Its just that her heart wasnt in it.
She had to tell him, then.
Hello? You still there?
Still here, Mom.
You sound funny.
Im on the speakerphone.
Are you alone? her mother asked, though she probably already knew the answer.
What, you cant tell?
Dont be sassy. Is he there now?
Hell be back any minute.
You two will make such pretty babies.
Im hanging up.
Oh, dont be so touchy. Its not like I watched.
Keep it up, and Im putting a blocking spell on you.
Mona sighed softly. You slept, didnt you?
All night, Jade admitted, aware that shed broken into a big, silly grin.
Does he know?
That I dont sleep? He says he doesnt either. How perfect is that?
Does he know?
Jade blew out a breath, resigned to telling the truth. I thought hed be gone 
by now.
Youre not still sending him away? Mona shrieked, and Jade was glad the phone 
wasnt by her ear.
Itscomplicated.
Lifes complicated, darling. Thats why were here, to work through things.
Itd be easier if I could figure out whether to accept the situation at face 
value or send him back.
Well, if you want my opinion Mona proceeded to expound on that.
Jade hadnt expected to fall in love with Mason, not once she knew he was the 
clone. Telling him she was a witch could scare him off, snuff out any feelings 
he had for her.
He deserved to know, though. To make up his mind based on the facts. If he hated 
her for it, if he ran for the hills, thatd take care of the decision for her.
Gotta go, Mom. My attorneys on the line.
 
Mason slid into the passenger seat and leaned across Jades phone for a kiss 
that was too short.
Jade. Elliot here.
On speakerphone, so Mason held back a bunch of sloppy kisses. The guy could be a 
client. Man, he couldnt wait to find out what Jade did for clients, what kind 
of people went to a witch for a spell, what they asked for.
My attorney, Jade whispered, starting the engine while Mason buckled up.
Elliot went through the social niceties briefly before moving on. Just wanted 
to catch you up and let you know everythings moving along as planned. The death 
benefit should be wired to your brokerage account today or tomorrow.
Thanks, Elliot.
Oh boy, Mason thought, going on high alert. If Stockard wasnt really dead, and 
the money was here, now was when hed show up. If he didnt have remote access 
to Jades account. If he hadnt been here all along. There was still the matter 
of cigarette smoke lingering in various parts of the house. Faint, it would come 
and go so vaguely that he couldnt pinpoint it.
No thanks necessary, Elliot said. I want those funds at your disposal as soon 
as possible.
Masons curiosity was piqued. Jade was in a hurry?
Youve been waiting long enough, Elliot said. I know you have big plans for 
them.
Chapter 16 
E ureka!
Mason made progress late the following afternoon. Damn curious, but there it 
was, a door in the back of a closet, of all places. Now why would someone hide a 
door? Multimillionaires didnt have a monopoly on panic rooms, and witches 
probably had more justifiable reasons to feel persecuted than the very rich did. 
Maybe Sebastian Delarue had been both.
Mason shined his flashlight in the closet, looking for booby traps.
God, I love this job. If he couldnt be wreck diving, this was the next best 
thing.
Well, other than making love to Jade. That went without saying.
Anyone could argue that the door wasnt hidden at all. Two feet deep, four feet 
wide, the closet wasnt full of brooms, shelves, or anything else that would, in 
any way, hide the rear exit. Though itd be an easy matter to hang a dozen coats 
in there and duck through them to escape. And maybe it had been used for 
something like that at one time, but right now, except for the basket of rumpled 
kitchen towels hanging on the wall, the closet was empty.
Mason prayed the pocket door wouldnt rub, because Jade was in the house, but he 
was getting desperate, this had to get done so he could clear the deck between 
them. He took a chance and slid it open.
Steps. Going down to the cellar. He closed the door behind him, then tested each 
tread carefully before putting his full weight on itno sense being reckless at 
this stage. At the bottom, he located an overhead chain and pulled it.
Fluorescent fixtures blazed to life. One glance took it all in. No windows. Two 
commercial-sized washers and dryers sitting on a black-and-white-tiled area, 
surrounded by a sea of smooth concrete that couldnt have been the original 
floor. Clotheslines. Hangers. Detergent. Clean towels stacked on a smooth, 
dust-free table. Everything that accumulates from doing a houseful of laundry. A 
nice, clean room to do it in. Compared to most Laundromats hed been in, you 
could do surgery down here.
Considering he was sneaking around in the house of a woman with a secret life, 
he was allowed a little catch in his heart at that thought, but further looking 
turned up no knives, buckets of organs, or restraints. Not that he seriously 
thought there would have been. Not Jade.
But a relative?he wouldnt bet money on a relative.
The walls looked to be plaster, a coating nowhere near a hundred years old. He 
recalled stories of murderous spouses hacking into the foundation, storing 
family members, and refinishing the walls.
Keep it together, Mason. 
No outdoor access; no surprise there, as hed searched from the outside. It had 
been a little tricky poking around in snowdrifts without leaving evidence of 
having been there. Not something he had a lot of experience with.
Mason caught another whiff of cigarette smoke, but he walked the whole perimeter 
and still couldnt trace it. The low-ceilinged space ran the length of the house 
from front to back, but not nearly from side to side. Darn small for such a big 
house, but still, it was big enough to throw a New Years Eve party for dozens 
of your closest friends.
 
Mason strolled into the conservatory, planning to sit on the bench, peruse the 
wireless network, and keep an eye on the driveway so hed know who was coming 
and going. Hed put off this area because it was the hardest to access without 
Jade, Weezy, Annie, or that damn dog seeing what he was up to.
The house was bound to be empty sometime, and when it was, he was finishing the 
whole wing in one swoop. Searching Mystic Manor wasnt something he had to rush, 
but it was the most logical way to move the job along. One bit of evidence, and 
he could pack up and go.
All of a sudden, leaving didnt sound so good.
Hed felt something powerful between Jade and him the second hed walked in the 
front door, the moment hed laid eyes on her. At the time hed been too hungover 
to recognize it for what it was, but thank God he remembered now. It wasnt 
because shed bewitched him; she hadnt had a chance to do so.
As the conservatory door closed behind Mason, warmth and humidity welcomed him, 
washed over him. Smells intermingled. One green plant looked much the same as a 
hundred others. He wondered which ones were the herbs Jade had given him for 
sleep. Hed dumped them down the toilet on the sly and slept like a rock with 
her in his arms, which is why she needed time to catch up on work and why he was 
taking chances with her in the house.
He often got a feeling that Jade wanted to talk about something, but either she 
backed off, or they were interrupted. Like an hour ago, a guy had come to the 
side door. That blasted door. Why did people need Jade so much, and in such a 
hurry? Couldnt they handle their own problems?
Sitting down, perusing e-mails on the other computer between Jade and 
prospective clients, Mason found that Jade was clear on what she would and 
wouldnt do, how she could help, how much it would cost, how long they could 
expect it to take. She referred them elsewhere if she felt someone was better 
qualified. There was also an abundance of thank-you e-mails, detailing how lives 
had improved after a visit with her, mentioning that theyd recommended her to 
friends. For the scary people looking for an underhanded way to get a job 
promotion or to make an uninterested person fall madly in love with them, Jade 
quashed any discussion of malevolent spells and did not follow with a referral.
It appeared she mentored a good number of witches, too, and not just around the 
state or around the country, even, but worldwide.
Trekking through files finally led Mason to a second website, its file tucked 
away in an insignificant-looking folder on the hard drive and having nothing to 
do with Mystic Manor Botanicals. Secretive woman that she was, Jade had labeled 
the damn thing Stationery and stuck her Craft web files in there. He opened his 
browser and visited. The site had an active blog, a bulletin board, and a 
password-protected areayeah, right, like that worked when he was on her 
computerwhere a small network of witches held their own discussions and 
consulted with each other.
So thats what she was up to for long stretches of time in her office. There was 
an increasing number of queries on the witches loop about where Jade was and 
what was keeping her so busy these days that she didnt have time to post. 
Speculation touched on whether it had anything to do with the anniversary of 
Dougs disappearance or a new man in her life.
Thanks to web surfing and the books hed bought, Mason followed this easier than 
he could have a week ago. Jade wasnt just practicing a little witchcraft on the 
side. She lived it and breathed it. Like oxygen, it sustained her.
Some of the witches were in the closet; some werent. Discussion showed how Jade 
had learned the Craft from her mother and grandmother, even her 
great-grandmother while shed been alive. How fearful those women had been of 
discovery and persecution, as each of them remembered generations before, the 
links in the chain reaching back so far that the legacy of historic witch-hunts 
had trickled down to the present day. Many understood Jades insistence that her 
secrets be protected. Many were of the opposite mind, that the more they were 
out there, the sooner people would get used to them and not be frightened.
Church bells rang in the distance, as if on cue. Yeah, he could see why Jade was 
staying in the closet. Although it seemed a good number of people in the area 
knew, so every day, as far as he could see, her secret was in some degree of 
danger. But if shed kept it hush-hush this long, she must know what she was 
doing. The whole family must. Maybe they did spells about it.
The large, deliciously warm conservatory worked its magic on Mason, set aside 
the reality of snow and ice, and made him long for Aruba. He wanted to take Jade 
there. If she wasnt already certified in scuba, hed talk her into that first. 
He wanted to show her what he loved most, share his world with her.
Ooh, that hit him right in the gut. Sharing his world meant telling her the 
truth, didnt it? The whole truth. He couldnt do that yet, but the longer he 
put it off, the deeper the hole he was digging for himself.
All dreams of diving with Jade flew out of his head when she ripped into the 
conservatory and threw down the same leather bag shed carried when shed gone 
away with Nathan. Eyes blazing, hair flyingman, she was a sight when she was 
riled!
She yanked open a cabinet, grabbed a candle. Any tighter and shed choke it. She 
paced small, agitated circles, muttering unintelligible words, driven by a 
powerful need to exorcise some invisible demon while every bird, frog, and 
insect hiding in this heaven on earth went deadly silent. Moments later, she 
slapped a mirror into a stone niche, rubbed the candle between her palms, lit 
it, dripped a few drops of wax onto the mirror, and stuck it there.
Whew, Mason thought. A spell, live and up close.
Jades intensity took his breath away. Even yards from her, Mason felt her 
power. If he didnt swoop up and grab her, charge back to the waterfall, and 
make mad, passionate love to her right now, he might go stark, raving mad.
Jade kicked the bag.
Maybe hed wait to swoop. He cleared his throat to alert her to his presence. 
Jade glanced his way, then her gaze quickly skittered off, as if embarrassed.
He tamped down his need for her and said, softly, Can I help?
Know a good hit man?
Ah
Never mind. Forget I asked. Thatll work just as well. She tipped her head at 
the candle, then said, Mason. You have time to talk?
In response, he closed the lid on the notebook.
Jades lips thinned into a disgruntled line as at first she hesitated, then 
swallowing any misgivings, she perched on the edge of the bench. She didnt cozy 
up next to him, but spared every inch of the boards as she plastered herself to 
the other armrest, leaving two lonely feet of space between them. Too far to 
nonchalantly drape his arm across her shoulders and comfort her, which she 
looked as if she needed. If he was going to do that, hed have to scoot over, 
but her rigid posture warned that shed take flight if he tried.
Idont know where to start really. She hung her head, stretching tight 
muscles in her neck. But two peopleuswho are becoming friends, or, ah, more
Mores good.
She flashed him a grateful smile, which just as quickly faltered. Yeah. We 
shouldnt, ah, keep secrets from each other.
Is this about the spell you just did?
Jades head snapped up. Her eyes bore into his, searching, as if in doing so she 
could divine the answer. Softly, warily, she said, You know?
His response was a sort of lopsided shrug, an arch of the eyebrows that he used 
to convey more clearly than words, How could I not? because he was afraid if 
he said it, itd come off cocky. His gaze slid from the large pentagram inlaid 
in the floor, to the candle burning in the niche, to the archway that led to the 
drying room and all its bottles of herbs and oils. And probably potions.
It was too soon for Jade to breathe a sigh of relief, Mason could tell, but she 
did look less wary. Eyes could be windows; wheels behind hers were turning a 
mile a minute. He read them clearly.
Should she flat out admit it, spell it out, tell it like it was?
Should she mince words, make light of it, talk around it?
What if, what if, what if?
Buying time, Jade picked wayward specks of herbs off her sweater where theyd 
caught in the rolled cuff at her wrist. Then, tossing her hair over her 
shoulder, she came to a decision.
He was pretty mad when he left, she said, referring to her visitor. Her voice 
was tight, but not shaky. No telling what evil thoughts hes having. The mirror 
will reflect them back to him.
Times three, Mason recalled from the reading hed done.
The candle sends the energy on its way, Jade explained.
Simple enough.
Much of witchcraft is.
The corner of her mouth twitched then, and Mason knew she was letting down her 
guard. For him. He was touched by her trust. Hed never betray it. She wouldnt 
think so, of course, when she learned he was deceiving her every minute of every 
day.
Nowadays, people are used to more-vivid imaginations drawing pictures for them 
about witchcraft, she said. Gone are the days of a nose twitch and whoosh, 
theres a brand-new car in the driveway. Now its pixies that pick up children, 
plants with deadly cries, snakes born from chicken eggs
Owls carrying messages, he added helpfully.
Whats so odd about that? she asked, matter-of-factly. A moment later, she 
burst into laughter. That does it, Im signing up for CPR class next week. No 
telling when Ill need it. She took a deep breath, perhaps for fortification. 
So youre not going to freak out about sleeping with a witch?
Not if you agree never to use witchcraft on me.
Without hesitation, she nodded.
You know how important this is to you?
She nodded again.
Its just as important to me that I hear you say it.
Jade looked him right in the eye and said, From now until your dying day, Ill 
never use witchcraft on you. Her gaze was steady, honest.
Good enough.
Mason, this is a big secret for me. Most people here wont tolerate a witch in 
their midst.
Yeah, I met the librarian.
Jade winced. And shes not the worst of the lot. Organized religion is rampant 
in West Bluff, if you havent noticed.
Kind of hard to miss that. And yet, he said lightly, you lob Tupperware 
containers into the river.
She shrugged prettily.
So whatd the guy whos getting the mirror treatment want?
He lied. He said he wanted help finding something, but it was obvious hed 
never lost it. He just wanted something that didnt belong to him.
How could you tell? Can you tell that Ive been lying to you, too?
He dropped a name.
Well, off with his head, then.
Dont think I wasnt tempted. The man he mentioned isnt local. He lives 
outside Paris, and the only place his name exists in West Bluff is in my 
computer. So I have a hacker on my hands. My tech guy, the one I trustedI cant 
let just anybody on my computer with whats on theremoved away two years ago. I 
guess Ive fallen behind the times.
Cant you just do a spell to hide your files or something? Lock up anyones 
computer who hacks in? Look, I dont pretend to know how witchcraft works, but 
what good is it if you cant protect what you have?
Spells are like any other energy. They wane. They have to be repeated. I do my 
best to protect my secrets from people who mean me harm, but its time-consuming 
to keep after it. Ill have to find someone.
Hed offer to help, but really, itd be like hiring a well driller to dig his 
grave; it was getting deep fast enough, thanks anyway.
You know anything about computer security?
He grimaced. I can take a look at it. But why trust me?
She smiled. You havent ratted me out to anyone yet.
I could tell you were keeping it under wraps.
You didnt tell Anthony?
Hes just as observant as I am. But not to worry; he wont tell anyone. Though 
it seems you have a lot of local traffic through here for not wanting anyone to 
know.
They all have reasons to keep it to themselves.
But, Jade, they dont. Noah told Nathan. Nathan brought someone with him.
Well, I do sacrifice a rooster at the end of each spell and tell them thats 
whatll happen to them if they ever talk.
Mason felt hair stand up on the back of his neck.
Jades laugh revived him like sparkling chimes.
Oh, I get it. CPR again.
She grinned with unsuppressed amusement, literally bouncing on the bench like 
Lily did when she was proud of putting one over on Uncle Mason. Only with Lily, 
it wasnt for real. With Jade, he was constantly caught off guard.
Damn, he had more reading to do.
Im sorry, she said, though she didnt look it. That wasnt very nice.
I can tell you wont try not to do it again.
True.
Jade scooted across the bench and nudged him with her shoulder until shed 
burrowed in beneath his arm. Right where he liked her. He felt complete when he 
held her. Even Aruba was a distant thought; scary as that should have been, it 
wasnt.
Dare I ask what Annie did to the soup?
With Annie, you never know.
Does it have anything to do with, saypoisonous herbs?
Oh my gosh, no! Is that what you thought? Annies a kind and gentle creature 
who wouldnt hurt a fly.
But I wasnt supposed to touch her soup.
Okay, she wouldnt hurt a fly intentionally.
Calmer now that Jade had quit ranting, the tiny birds dared to take flight 
again, flittering around overhead, going about their business. One flew close by 
the niche, its slipstream causing the candles flame to flutter and dance.
Now that youve told me your big secret, may I ask questions?
Jade cuddled close. Youre comfortable with this?
So far.
Then Ill tell you anything, if you agree to tell me when Im getting out of 
your comfort zone.
Im a pretty open-minded guy. We may never get there.
Well see. Ask away.
Lets see. Oh, I know. Cant believe I almost forgot. What was with all the 
candles the night I arrived?
Imbolc.
He tilted his head and stared at her. God bless you.
She laughed at that. Imbolcs a celebration, a fire festival really, marking 
the midpoint between the winter solstice and spring equinox. We light candles to 
celebrate light and new life.
Ah. Lets see. Do you ever eat without candles?
They frown on it at McDonalds.
Uppity bastards. No class.
So youre getting used to them?
Theyre growing on me. Its not one here or there so much as the dozens you had 
going that night. The last thing I remembered was hundreds of candles in the 
church and then all of a sudden I sort of woke up here, and it looked like a 
repeat. He fell silent.
Of the worst day in your life?
I thought so at the time.
You recover quickly.
Its complicated. That was putting it mildly. So complicated, in fact, that I 
meant every word when I thanked my ex.
For dumping you.
He poked her in the ribs and made her wiggle, which had its own rewards. You 
like saying that, dont you? I prefer letting me off the hook. We werent 
right for each other. Granted, she might have chosen a better way to do it. A 
better time. Still, I cant help feeling grateful. He set the notebook on the 
floor, leaning it against the bench. Im thirsty. What say we open a bottle of 
wine?
A drink to truth and honestyyes!
I was thinking of cozy dinners, crackling fires, and new friends.
Youre trying to get me drunk again, she said with a bubble of laughter.
I never got you drunk.
You tried.
Sweetheart, I have plans for tonight. He nuzzled her neck, zeroing in on the 
sensitive spot behind her ear. And I want you sober for every last one of 
them.
Chapter 17 
B &B Owner Dies Second Time 
Jade shrieked when she read Fridays headline in West Bluff News.
Across the master suite, Mason dropped a log short of its mark and crouched in a 
protective stance, looking like Bond about to whip out a gun. Christ! Dont do 
that.
Sorry. ButBut
He straightened quickly and set about righting the log with tongs before the 
room filled with smoke.
Wow, Jade said. There was a lot there to admire.
He looked at her over his shoulder. What?
Rambo and Bond rolled into one. Whered you learn that who-do-I-shoot-first 
crouch?
Movies.
Life should be so easy. Shed made a promise that, on the surface, was all fine 
and good, and shed never break that promise. Truth was, though, shed already 
used witchcraft on Mason, but if she confessed that the only reason he was there 
was due to a spell shed cast, hed be hopping mad that shed done so already, 
or that she hadnt told him up front yesterday. While he seemed to be an 
upstanding guy, she hadnt known him even two weeks, so how did she know he 
wouldnt retaliate by giving away her secret?
Wouldnt that make a great front-page headline?
Witchs Husband Dies Twice 
Couldnt be much worse than the trash she was skimming. Who are these people 
theyre quoting? Listen to this. We played poker every week. News to me. We 
werent allowed to play at Mystic Manor, though. Bullshit. Anonymous, of 
course. Now I ask you, is this responsible reporting?
Mason puffed up. You want Rambo and Bond to deal with them?
He made her laugh. You kind of lost it without the scowl and the crouch. I half 
expected you to whip out a gun.
The dog stole it.
Do you see imaginary dogs often?
If I did, theyd be little ankle biters.
A beat passed when neither said anything. Jade decided there was no time like 
the present. Seriously, Mason. You know a lot about me, but I hardly know 
anything about you.
I shoot pictures, love, not people. Totally boring. What else is there to 
know?
Exactly. She waited expectantly, knowing there was a lot more to this man than 
met the eye, yet he was very tight-lipped about it.
Hed taken ten minutes this morning to prepare a tray and bring it upstairs, 
piled high with Weezys flaky, homemade cherry turnovers, juice, and even the 
damn newspaper. He pushed it aside and proceeded to crawl on top of Jade and 
show her he wasnt boring at all.
He nipped at her neck, pushing the narrow strap of her nightgown off her 
shoulder. Guess your mirror trick didnt work on the reporter.
Its not a trick. Call it a spell or call it magic, but not a trick. And I told 
you, the energy wanes. As was her focus at the moment. I forgot to renew it. 
Ive been busy.
She glared at him, because really, if he werent so sexy and persistent and 
here, she wouldve remembered that the reporters would feed off last weeks 
death certificate and this weeks wire transfer, the fact that thered been a 
memorial service on the first anniversary of Dougs disappearance and now, 
according to the article, maybe thered be another.
Could she have prevented this attention-grabbing headline by talking to Tricia 
Sherwood?
Not likely, if experience was any judge.
But because Mason was so sexy and persistent, along with funny and just 
downright likeable, she couldnt maintain the glare longer than five seconds, 
which is exactly how long it took him to nibble his way to her breast. Heat 
arrowed right to her core, and she unashamedly stretched and purred beneath him.
Shed never had a Bond/Rambo spy fantasy before, but she was working up to it.
 
Mason awoke to a ringing cell phone later that morning. He scratched his chest 
and blinked, trying to orient himself.
Oh, right. Jades room. No wonder he was so warm on the right side. Jade was 
snuggled in to him, using his shoulder as a pillow, her nude body soft and 
pliant and plastered to his, just as he liked. She might have insomnia, but it 
seemed if he kept her satisfied and worn-out, she was his for the whole night.
A double reward.
The phone started up again, insistent.
Mine or yours? he asked through a yawn.
Are you kidding me? I have a cheery little ring, not a foghorn. Jade rolled 
away, her touch replaced by a cold draft as she pulled the covers with her.
Damn. Mason answered with a brusque, Hlo?
Im looking at our friend, Anthony barked.
Instantly on high alert, Mason bolted to the edge of the bed. Im listening.
Right at him.
Jade couldnt overhear, but all the same, he hurried into the adjoining bathroom 
and closed the door. For good measure, he turned on the water.
Better get down here, Mase.
Get a picture. He stepped into his jeans, sniffed yesterdays shirt to see if 
it would do.
Cameras not working. Get on it, buddy. Hes the right height, gone a little 
pudgy around the middle and in the face, but the bone structures dead on. Pun 
intended. Im sitting outside the caf at Main and Chapel.
 
I dont know. You think its Stockard? Mason snapped off a dozen long-range 
photos with Anthony hovering behind him.
Could be.
Not positive, though. Hungry?
Couldnt keep me out.
Ordinarily, Mason would leave the big camera and lens in the car when 
approaching a subject, but since he was supposed to be out photographing eagles 
anyway, he kept it with him as part of his cover. He had a palm-size camera in 
his pocket and the Glock in its holster.
Like everyone else, he and Anthony were wearing ball caps today. Anthonys said 
Petes Garage, Love em & Leave em.
Friend gave it to me, Anthony said, when Mason stared at it.
Accepting gifts from strangers. Mason tutted. The bartender will be 
devastated.
Leave it to you to wear a fish.
Couldnt find one with a sunken boat.
I guess not.
They settled at a four-top by the window. Mason didnt have to ask Anthony to 
point out the target; it was like looking at a bad after photo.
Mason ordered coffee, eggs, hash browns, bacon, the works. Anthony ordered 
coffee and a corned beef sandwich, and commented that the only thing he still 
liked about West Bluff was Weezys cooking.
Youre not getting bad vibes? Anthony asked. In general, I mean?
Nope.
Anthony studied Mason intently. Yeah, guess not.
That why youre making yourself scarce?
I keep moving around, hoping something will catch my attention and make sense. 
Anthony shrugged. Nothing so far.
They both watched Pudgys beer glass and flatware like hawks; photos would be 
good, fingerprints conclusive.
I thought that was you I saw come in here.
Lyle stopped by their table, blocking the view. Mason sat back in his chair and 
sighed with deceptive calmness.
Brenda told me she talked to you. I cant believe youre here.
Mason kicked out a third chair. Take a load off, Lyle.
Looking surprised at the invitation, Lyle sat. Eyebrows raised, Anthony tossed 
Mason a silent query.
The florist.
Ah. Anthony sat up straighter.
Dont go reaching for any hardware, boys, Lyle said, and Mason and Anthony 
both chuckled at the ridiculous line, so much so that Lyle frowned and said, 
What?
Nothing, Mason said. Want a beer? Its on me.
His thirty days arent up yet, Anthony said, meaning Masons.
What? Oh. Hey, I dont expect you to pay that. That was Brendas doing. She 
went crazy with the red marker.
Being a little hormonal, was she?
Lyle flashed a proud poppa-to-be grin, then remembered who he was flashing it 
at, and his expression sobered.
Im not stalking her, Mason said. I explained
She told me what you said. I know what you do.
Mason threw up a hand. So much for confidentiality. Look, Lyle, you cant be 
telling anybody why Im here.
He knows why were here? Anthony whispered harshly across the table.
Not exactly, Mason said, trying to save the job hed resigned days ago. Pure 
reflex.
It was easy enough to figure out, Lyle said. I cant believe someone thinks 
Jade is capable of murderhe had the decency to lower his voice, further 
attesting to the fact that he knew and liked herand I think its despicable 
that youre staying in her house, accepting her hospitality, while you try to 
prove she did it.
Anthony leaned toward Lyle. Thats not exactly why were here.
Lyle surged to his feet, sending his chair scraping backward. He forgot to keep 
his voice lowered. If you dont agree to leave town right now, Im going up to 
Mystic Manor and tell Jade what youre up to.
Heads swiveled their way. Anthony mumbled a curse, then tried to smile their way 
out of the unwanted attention.
Sit down before I shoot you in the foot, Mason said lightly, banking on Lyle 
thinking he wasnt joking.
Color draining from his face, Lyle sat. If Mason hadnt snaked his foot out and 
pulled the guys chair under him, his tailbone wouldve kissed the floor.
Jade had helped Lyle. Somehow. Mason knew that without question. And now Lyle 
was feeling protective.
The threat of having his cover blown before he had a chance to reveal his own 
secret had been worrying Mason long enough to make him do more thinking about 
relationships than hed ever wanted to do. Jade was the most confident, 
comfortable-in-her-own-skin, selfless woman hed ever met. Being with her, part 
of her life, was like nothing hed ever been prepared to feel.
In fact, it didnt seem right. People didnt go around every day feeling like 
this. They couldnt; wasnt possible. If they did, everybodyd know it. No, what 
he had with Jade was something special. Something indescribable. Something worth 
fighting for. And that meant protecting his secret at all costs.
The way I figure it, you owe me one, Mason said.
IWhat?
You stole my bride, Lyle. Since the guys at the neighboring table were openly 
staring, Mason turned his head and included them in the conversation. There I 
was, all dressed up in my tux at the church. And where was my bride? Running off 
with this lightweight. Now I ask you, doesnt he owe me one?
Nods all around. Hopefully they were forgetting Jades name had even been 
mentioned.
See, Lyle. They think you owe me. For Lyles ears only, he added, I just a 
need another day or so. Then Ill tell Jade everything.
I dont think
I know where you live, Lyle.
Lyle rose to his feet again, with a whole lot less surge this time. He sputtered 
and headed for the door, but, last thing before he left, he turned back to Mason 
and nodded. One day.
Might need a couple.
He didnt linger. Pudgy was behind him, in a hurry to leave, urging him through 
the door.
Hey, Stockard, the gruff short-order cook behind the counter barked. Forgot 
tpay again, asshole.
Anthonys head twisted toward their target. Mason quickly checked the counter, 
only to see Pudgys spot already cleared. Fingerprints, gone.
Dont have my money yet, Caleb. Ill pay when I get it.
Aw, go crawl back in your hole, the grizzled cook sneered to Stockards 
departing back. To those remaining at the counter, but no one in particular, he 
said, That widdas no friend amine, but seems to me somebody oughta do er a 
favor and tell er the truth bout that lowlife.
Chapter 18 
P ink hearts, as agreed. Cupids with arrows.
Jade was wrapping dozens of West-Bluff-correct homemade treats for Jazzys 
party. Valentines Day was the next day, but with no school on Saturday, the 
class was celebrating early.
She was just about to leave when Buzz stomped snow off his boots and came in 
with the mail. It was already ten oclock. If she didnt deliver these in the 
next fifteen minutes, the teacher was going to have heart failure.
Did they change your route again? she asked. Buzz normally timed his arrival 
to chat with Weezy and Noah, who both started at the crack of dawn.
Buzz sighed loudly, alerting Jade.
What?
Supervisor says I have to give you this. He handed her a slip of paper. Im 
sorry as all get out.
Jade read the notice that her mailbox was not regulation and must be replaced, 
as well as relocated to the other side of the road. What?
It isnt right.
Ill say its not!
No, I mean I looked at it. It is regulation. Youre just being hassled.
Jade slapped the notice onto the breakfast bar. Well, thank you, Tricia 
Sherwood.
Shoulda let Noah give her a noogie.
Yeah.
Im real sorry I had to be the one to give it to you.
How do I appeal it? No, wait, I have to deliver these to Jazzys classroom. 
Tell me tomorrow, okay?
Ill bring the forms. You bring the power.
He looked at the treats hungrily. Jade pulled back the red-heart-covered clear 
plastic and put two on a napkin for him. If she hadnt been flustered by the 
time and the notice, she wouldve done it sooner.
Thanks. Oh, one more thing. Buzz reached inside his coat and pulled out a 
brown box. Long and narrow, it had specks of raw earth stuck beneath the clear 
packaging tape holding it together. Expecting this?
Mother.
He immediately held it at arms length, gingerly. Great. I was keeping it warm. 
My innards arent going to suddenly shrivel up or anything, are they?
She squinted at him. Hmm. How do you feel?
Funny. I know you gotta go. Ill set it in the drying room.
 
After the party, Jade found a ticket on her windshield. Malfunctioning 
taillight. How the heck could someone know it malfunctioned when the car was 
parked?
Small pieces of red plastic on the asphalt were a clue. Thanks to Tricia 
Sherwood, Jades low profile was blown. People were suspicious of her. Generally 
she stayed beneath their radar, and they left her alone.
She promptly conferenced Annie and Courtney, and warned them to be on the 
lookout for trouble.
She snuck up on me in the tampon aisle, Annie griped. I hate that.
You know what you can do with that? Jade began to suggest a simple spell.
Oh-h-h-h trust me, Annie said with a drawn-out laugh. Already did it.
Well, Courtney said. I got pulled over with Jazzy in the car and questioned 
by that shit-ass sergeant whos lived here for
The cops, Annie gasped. She sounded distressed, but Jade thought now wasnt a 
good time to go into it.
Thank you for interrupting. Now I can say it again. That shit-ass sergeant 
whos lived here for ten years because he thought I fit the description of 
someone suspected of childnapping.
From Courtneys language, Jade surmised Jazzy presently was not within earshot.
Shit-ass? Annie giggled.
He questioned my child.
Ooh. Hes lucky it was you, Annie said. Jaded make sure he was too busy to 
do that again.
 
Out of curiosity over the whole witch thing and with more information under his 
belt, Mason revisited the locked bedroom.
One altar sat on top of an old, dark, heavily carved dresser. Mason opened the 
top drawer. Hed checked them all previously, but hadnt found anything to point 
toward finding Stockard or his body, and hed moved on. He lingered now.
Candles in every color of the rainbow. Red for sex, love, lust, and right now; 
he had no trouble remembering that one. Orange and yellow, he didnt remember 
what they were for. All colors related to more than one intention, but he wasnt 
going for a degree in this stuff.
Hey, not bad for a few hours of reading, though. Maybe Anthonys discomfort had 
to do with a spell in the house. Maybe not; he hadnt felt it the first week.
The second drawer held a large flat box with dividers, a rock or crystal in each 
cubby. There was incense, not one or two, but many. Little jars of oils: 
rosemary, patchouli, jasmine. Like candle colors, every item had multiple 
intentions. Now he knew what the charcoal discs were for, how a witch would 
light one and sprinkle a crumbled herb or a mixture of herbs on it as it burned, 
scenting the air.
Energy, Jade had said. Witchcraft was all about energy.
Mason got the feeling this altar belonged to Jades mother, the other to her 
father.
The marble-topped table had only a center drawer with a few white candles, two 
oils, and a dozen cones of incense divided into two bags. Seemed the crystal 
bowling ball sitting on a heavy three-legged silver stand was the main tool 
here. He hadnt read enough yet to know what that was about. All he had was a 
picture in his mind of a gnarled old crone bent over it, holding a young womans 
smooth hand, telling her how many children shed have and what tragedies would 
befall them if she didnt heed the signs.
Maybe hed seen too many movies.
His phone vibrated on his belt, and he answered.
Its probably not him, Anthony said wearily. I turned up a photo of 
Stockards lazy-ass brother. Unless Dougie killed the guy and took his place, 
which isnt totally inconceivable coming from someone who stands to make a 
million bucks doing it, it was Davy Stockard we saw today.
Mason started pacing. Which would explain the other two, how?
Exactly. And I think his parents wouldve noticed.
Anybody talk to the guy who sold them the insurance?
Courtneys husband brokered the deal. Looks aboveboard.
Damn.
Mason signed off, thinking about look-alike brothers while he stared at the 
crooked collage of building photos, which fell off the wall when he straightened 
it. Catching it was fortuitous. Besides saving it, he discovered papers stuffed 
inside the back.
He unfolded old, faded, cracked paper, heavily marked with minuscule notations 
and hard-to-decipher glyphs.
Hallelujah, a set of building plans.
The cellar was there, all right, and just as large as the house, not the little 
laundry section hed found. If he was reading it right, there should be a full 
cellar, divided roughly into thirds. Hed been in the middle one. He traced what 
appeared to be a passageway with his index finger. If it was, then access to the 
southern section was rightabout
He turned his head and stared at the closet. Now that hed seen what was behind 
door number one downstairs, he had every reason to get to the back of this one.
Like the other, this closet had a pocket door in back leading to a set of 
stairs. This time they dropped two stories into a completely separate cellar. 
One with cigarette smoke, mens clothing and freshly laundered sheets, 
metalworking tools and silver table knives. No one was there, but the shower was 
still wet.
Eureka! 
 
The best way to learn anything was to let people talk.
Well, except Lyle. If Lyle talked, Mason was in deep shit. While the 
mild-mannered florist had appeared intimidated by Masons warning that he knew 
where he lived, that he might even shoot him in the foot, it also seemed he 
liked and respected Jade. Probably enough to overcome his fear and blab.
Mason made a quick call. Hey, Anthony.
Hey yourself.
Have you found out how Jade and Lyle know each other?
Not even his checkbook is talking.
Something had to give. The camera in the locked bedroom hadnt picked up anyone 
going in or out, though it was obvious someone was. In fact, the replacement 
cameras seemed to have bugs in them, too, so he was just writing it off as one 
heck of a protective spell on Mystic Manor in general and staying more alert.
Even if Jade didnt know she knew anything, a simple fact, even a pseudofact, 
could flip a switch and turn this whole case around. Now that she knew he knew 
her secret, Mason could prompt her. Hopefully shed keep talking, filling in 
holes as she went.
Timing was perfect when Jade asked if he had time to join her for dinner on 
Saturday evening. It was obvious she was expecting him to say yes; she already 
had a tray of appetizers out, along with place settings for two.
Its a B&B, he said, careful not to appear too eager. By definition, you 
dont have to feed me dinner.
Im a good cook, though.
Darlin, you could burn it to coal, and Id eat it.
Why, you charmer, you. She batted her eyes and made him laugh.
He eased up behind her and looked over her shoulder to see what she was rinsing 
in the sink.
Its salmonyou like salmon, right?
Just checking to make sure you didnt filet that reporter, he kidded, opening 
the topic.
If I did, shed be in the river, not my sink.
I read the article.
So did a lot of others. I had to wash egg off my Jeep. Courtneys ready to 
kill; Jazzy went out to ride her sled, but she was teased so much, she ran 
home.
Crying? Mason guessed, his heart going out to a little girl hed never met.
According to Courtney, Jazzy was so mad, she went online looking for a fix 
those mean ol kids spell.
Im sure I couldnt spell spell when I wasWait, I dont know why, but I 
thought she was little.
Jade snickered. Five.
I hope youre going to do something about that.
Oh yeah.
Mason was filled with new insight, which around Jade usually amounted to a whole 
lot of new questions. Like how you kept kid witches from hurting others with 
spells before they were old enough to cast responsibly.
Listen to him! Maybe the Black Weekend booze had fried a few brain cells after 
all.
As he watched her work, he found himself longing for babies with dark, curly 
hair, and he didnt care if they wiggled their noses and made donkeys fly.
Somebody stole Annies purse in the grocery store, and the management didnt 
even want to call the police for her.
But if they dont know youre witches
People dont like people who are different, who dont fit in. And when 
something bad happens to outsiders, our so-called Christian residents are quick 
to think the worst. Doug didnt believe it either, at first.
He didnt belong to a church?
Oh no, he and Annie and Courtneys husbands all belonged. Three different ones. 
They were all very personable men, very social, Courtneys husband in 
particular. Their plan was to charm people from the inside out.
Was it working?
She bobbed her head in a yes-and-no kind of way. The trouble with that was 
eventually, when they went missing, there were three very vocal congregations 
pushing the police to charge us with a crime.
If he let her go on like this, hed lose control of the mood. Can I help with 
something?
You can pick out a bottle of wine.
Chardonnay?
Sounds good.
He found the opener and did the honors. Youd think the paper wouldve 
mentioned a few facts, like what your husband did.
You mean other than boating and fishing with his buddies?
Yeah, you know, for a living. Was he an herbalist, too? Did you run the B&B 
together? Just curious. You dont have to answer if you dont want.
I dont mind. Jade pulled Brussels sprouts out of the refrigerator.
Ah Mason said.
She grinned. No Brussels sprouts?
Feel free to cook some for yourself.
Thats okay, they wouldve just been a small side. I have a veggie casserole 
ready to come out.
Mason poured two glasses and handed one to Jade after she pulled stoneware out 
of the oven and set it, steaming, on a pair of side-by-side trivets.
Mm, smells wonderful. He leaned over the dish and savored the aroma. Keep 
this up, and Ill be a fresh-herb convert before you know it. Are those the 
trivets that disappeared from the dining room wall?
My, youre very observant. I know, I know, photographer. But still, I think 
its weird how much you notice. You probably know how many freckles I have on my 
face.
None.
She smiled at him, because he was right. Because hed noticed. What color my 
eyes are? She closed them so he couldnt cheat.
Green.
Too easy.
Mid-to-dark, more than one shade, like mature tree leaves in late summer when 
theres been plenty of rain.
Jade blinked and stared at him. Wow.
He grinned triumphantly and popped a cherry tomato into his mouth. Now that 
weve established my incredible powers of observation, what are the 
hieroglyphic-looking symbols on the trivets?
Runes.
As in fortune-telling stones?
Yes and no. Theres much more to runes than that. Sometimes I carry them with 
me
Youd need a big purse.
She smacked him with a pot holder.
Hey, not nice.
Youre lucky I didnt have the wet fish in my hand.
He tried a cube of white cheese, decided he liked it, and ate the whole thing. 
Go on. You carry them with you. What else?
I carve runes on candles, draw them in the earth, and on slips of paper I put 
in charm bags. You look a little confused. Maybe itll be easier if you think of 
them as shorthand for specific kinds of energy. Using pot holders, she lifted 
the pan aside just long enough to show and tell. For instance, Jera, on the 
left, symbolizes rewards, like a harvest; a time of celebration. The other one, 
Algiz, is a defense rune, for protection.
Are we celebrating something?
Jade picked two red napkins sprinkled with tiny white hearts out of a drawer and 
waggled them in the air, tipping her head to the side in that come-kiss-me way 
Mason found utterly irresistible. Is it too soon?
For? Funny she didnt mention the huge death benefit and whatever big plans 
she had for it. Oh, Valentines Day! Fine by me.
Good. Thought youd gone off the deep end there for a second.
I was going to warn you about fortune hunters.
At least I know youre not one.
Hows that?
When you walked through my front door, you didnt know me from Eve.
When I walked in your front door, I didnt know my hand from my foot.
Jade laughed. He loved it when he made her laugh.
Fear not. I have remedies against men with ulterior motives, she said with a 
wink, as she rolled the napkins into brass heart-shaped rings and set them on 
the tray.
Boy, youre prepared.
B&B, service industryremember?
Yeah, but I thought you provided a different kind of service. One that doesnt 
pay too much attention to traditional holidays.
You catch on quick.
So the second one, Algizare we protecting something?
Me. From further backlashes from that blasted news article.
In Chicago, nobodyd think anything of a widow inheriting a death benefit. It 
just seems bad because you live in a small town.
Thats how I like itbelow everyones radar.
Will this protect Annie and Courtney, too?
Theyll do their own spells. Oh. She looked as if shed made a terrible 
mistake. Maybe you didnt know theyre witches, too?
No. No, I didnt. Damn, he hated lying to her. But how could he know, except 
to admit hed been snooping? Great opportunity, though. So, what about your 
husband? Doug, was it?
Thats right, you asked about him. Lets see. Carrying the tray, she led the 
way into the dining room, where Mason quickly helped her set up. He helped with 
the bed-and-breakfast side when he wasnt teaching, but when it came to plants, 
unless it was a rose or a dandelion, Doug didnt know one from another.
Whatd he teach?
English.
Excuse me. I will start e-nun-ci-at-ing every syl-la-ble now.
Only if you want to sound like a robot.
Good. Wheres the candles? I know you want candles. Or is it, where are the 
candles?
In the drawer behind you.
He pulled it open. An assortment, of course. Red?
Whites fine.
Candleholders?
Pick a pair.
He glanced into the china cabinet, then back at Jade. Is this a test? I pick 
the right pair and win the heart of the maiden in the tower?
She tipped her head again. He wished shed never stop doing that.
Not a test. The hearts still up for grabs.
At her words, his heart soared with hope, and he tucked incredible joy away 
until he could safely show it the light of day.
He selected a silver pair of candlesticks, heavy, elaborately carved. What 
would you call this? Gothic?
I may have to get out my pointy hat.
Id like to see that sometime. He couldnt stop grinning as he pushed the pair 
together. So, are you doing a spell every time you eat?
She stared at him.
What? He examined the candles; nope, not crooked.
Im waiting to see if you stop breathing.
Ah. Im over that.
Not breaking out in a sweat either.
Im telling you, Im all man.
She laughed again, which was just as hed intended. He didnt spew out corny 
lines like that for any other reason.
I guess you need to light them then.
No, go ahead, she said.
Want to carve runes on them first?
Mason. Theyre not for spells. Light them.
So, time wont come to a standstillyour mother wont suddenly float inyour 
dog wont start speaking in EnglishActually, thatd be a good thing. Then Id 
know what hes thinking.
Whats with you and a dog?
Love. Hes a little scary.
Whats scary is that you think I have a dog.
Mason waited for a punch line that didnt come. No dog?
Jade shook her head slowly, which did nothing for the hair standing up on the 
back of his neck.
Bear, then. It could be a bear.
She laughed at him. I promise. No animal will appear and speak English before 
you.
The fish wont walk in here by itself?
The fish! Jade rushed from the room.
Chapter 19 
M ason was having a perfectly good wreck-diving dream when the sound of flutes 
edged its way in. As dreams so often do, it made perfect sense to turn his back 
on the wreck, to swim over to a mermaid playing beautiful, haunting music 
underwater.
It was Jades smooth porcelain face, her long raven-colored curls floating 
within the aura of light surrounding her, her sexy green eyes beckoning him ever 
closer, her naked breasts playing peekaboo behind a school of colorful, darting 
fish. He shooed them away, pulled her into his arms, and began to make love to 
her.
The tail got in the way, though. Damn.
Mason woke with a pillow squashed in the circle of his arms. The soft notes of 
the flutes, though, were for real, and he rolled through the darkness to find 
Jade gone. The clock read midnight. Last he remembered, shed said she was going 
to soak in a bath and come back.
Had her insomnia returned? He hoped not. For the first time in his life, he 
discovered there were many pleasures in sleeping with someone, other than sex. 
Warmth, comfort, companionship. Trust.
Nope, dont go there. No need to ruin a perfectly good hard-on.
He went in search of Jade, fully prepared to spread her out on the nearest 
furniture and make love to her right there. He walked through the house, trading 
one fantasy for another as he went from room to room without a glimpse of her.
The conservatory! The waterfall. He might get the ultimate fantasy yet.
As it turned out, he didnt find her there, either, but the flutes sounded 
closer. Lyrical notes drew him to the window looking out on the backyard.
A full moon rode high in the sky, bathing the snow-covered yard in so much 
reflected light, it was almost as bright as day. The windowpanes were flawed and 
wavy, so Mason stole into the kitchen for a better view.
Jade wore a white cape tonight. When she raised her arms to the sky, palm up, he 
caught a glimpse of bare thigh that made him wonder if she was nude underneath. 
Looked like some kind of ritual. Hopefully he hadnt arrived too late to watch 
her work naked beneath the stars. He couldnt tell if he was witnessing the 
beginning, middle, or end.
No, not the beginning. There was a circle drawn in the snow, a mound piled in 
the center, four small snowmen built around the perimeter, evenly spaced every 
ninety degrees. East, south, west, and north. Hed read a little about this. 
Shed marked the four quadrants with snowmen. The one to the east, nearest the 
river bluff
He ran up to his room, grabbed his binoculars, and resumed watch through his 
window. Damn, it was cold. He dragged the quilt off the bed and wrapped it 
around himself. He could see her breath on the air now, the short, furry boots 
beneath her cape. Her body moved rhythmically to the tune of flutes, and drums 
now, too.
The snowmen were clearer from here, each one holding something different: a 
striped windsock; a red candle, lit; a snowflake ornament, shimmering in the 
moonlight; and a potted plant. The mound must be a temporary altar, as she 
struck a wooden match and lit a white candle resting in the center and incense 
off to the side. There was a plate of cookies, a mug of steaming liquid. Small 
blobs scattered around looked like flower petals, but from this angle, with 
white on white, it was impossible to tell.
Jade faced each direction in turn, speaking to the night. He was just about to 
open his window to see if he could hear what she was saying, but she turned 
toward him then, and he thought better of it.
If she got naked soon, he wanted to join her. Not nude, of course. Not even if 
it were summer. If there was a camera out there somewhere, he didnt want 
someone else recording it.
He wanted to be closer. Gathering the quilt tighter around him, he raced down 
the back stairs to the kitchen window.
Jade was eating a cookie, tipping the mug to her lips. When she set the plate 
and mug on the ground, Mason figured that must be about it. She took a remote 
out of her pocket; the music stopped.
She held out one hand, palm up again. She stood silent for a long moment, then 
turned and waved for him to join her.
How does she do that? he murmured. No fool he, he shoved his feet into the 
hiking boots he always left by the back door. Snow kicked up over the tops and 
trickled inside, but he kept going.
Love your cloak, she teased.
I hope you dont mind
Take it off.
Huh? He came to a standstill three feet away.
She tossed her cape aside, white velvet pooling on white snow. A silky white 
gown clung to her body, hugging every curve, delineating every valley, making no 
attempt to hide winter-chilled nipples.
Hell, if Eskimos lived through colder nights than this, maybe he could handle 
it.
Jade glanced skyward. Wiccans call this a Chaste Moon.
I hope that doesnt mean the nighties not coming off.
She smiled slyly. Well see.
Are you Wiccan?
Im eclectic, but this is one of their traditions I like. Its why I made 
snowmen to mark the directions. They believe a Chaste Moon is time to do 
something fun, to let your inner child play.
She flopped on her back. After she shrieked against the chill, she made big arcs 
in the snow with her arms and legs, laughing as if she didnt have a care in the 
world. Mason hugged his quilt tighter.
Come on! she said.
I think I should tell you what I believe.
We can make a whole party of snow angels. Jade jumped up, moved six feet, and 
flopped down to make another.
I fervently believe its way too damn cold for a Florida boy to try a stunt 
like that.
Jade shrugged one shoulder. Okay. Then she got a wicked gleam in her eyes. 
But Im starting a new tradition. After you indulge your inner child, you get 
to have grown-up fun.
If I lie in that snow, I wont have anything to have grown-up fun with.
Jades laugh floated on the breeze that kicked the windchill down another ten 
degrees.
Hows playing by the waterfall sound to you? she asked.
Mason dropped the quilt.
 
The conservatory felt warmer than usual after a half hour in the cold night air. 
Earthy, in a basic, sexual sort of way. Moonlight reflected off the snow, softly 
lighting the perimeter plants, and candles flickered and glowed along the 
flagstone path that led Jade and Mason through the interior, to the waterfall.
Theyd left their boots and the CD player by the back door. Jade couldnt 
remember where shed dropped the cape, but shed find it tomorrow. She had 
better things in mind right now. Mason had witnessed a ritual. Not only had he 
not run away, hed stepped forward to join her. Shed never felt so close to a 
man. So in tune. So accepted. So in love.
Its quiet, Mason whispered as the glass doors swung closed behind them.
The birds are asleep. She often worked here through the night, and one phase 
of the day seemed as normal as any other.
She could have seduced Mason outdoors, but each time theyd been in here 
together, when hed looked at her, shed seen the heat in his eyes and known 
that while he wanted to make love to her anywhere, it would be more powerful for 
him in here.
He was always watching her. Studying her. As if without a camera in his hand, he 
needed to memorize every curl of her hair, the arch of her eyebrows, and having 
seen the heat in his gaze, probably every curve of her body. It gave her a heady 
feeling, powerful even, to know he found so much about her sointeresting.
Wait for me by the waterfall, she said softly, letting his hand slide out of 
hers.
He tightened his grip. Not a chance.
I have a hot drink simmering in the cauldron. Theres enough for two.
I want you first.
Ripples of excitement zinged through her as he led her deeper along the path, 
heating her to the point where she might have to go back out in the snow or 
self-combust. At the waterfall, Mason pulled her to him slowly, reeling her in, 
tempting her with his need for her, a need that shouted right now, when shed 
intended to make love to him slowly, to show him how deep her feelings ran.
His gaze, as soft as a caress, slid over her body. Her pulse skittered, racing 
out of control, with nothing more than their fingers touching. If he turned the 
seduction up a notch, shed be a puddle of desire within seconds.
She stepped into his space, so close she could feel his breath on her hair. The 
toga-wrapped quilt was chilly under her hands, and she began to ease him out of 
it.
Mason reached for the thin strap on her shoulder.
You first, she said.
I want to see you. His voice was rough with desire, which spurred Jade to make 
quick work of the quilt until Mason stood naked before her.
He was beautiful. Sparks of appreciation and lust and desire flared in her core, 
and she moved closer, breathing him in, shivering as every nerve she had came 
alive and cried out that this was right, he was right, and nothing about loving 
this man could ever be wrong.
Hed offered no commitment. She didnt care. People disappeared from commitment.
Not her, though. Shed been holding on to her heart for six long years, waiting 
for the right man. Shed spent her entire life waiting for someone who would 
make her feel desired, cherished, the way Mason made her feel as he gazed into 
her eyes and lowered her to the quilt.
This ones for you, she whispered, releasing his mouth, working her way south.
He dragged her back up, breast to chest.
But Her gaze wandered to the waterfall and back to his eyes, which had 
darkened with a desire so intense, she wished hed let her do something special 
for him. I thought this would be your fantasy.
His grin was so hot, she nearly had an orgasm.
My fantasy, love, is to hear your screams of pleasure over the waterfall.
My, arent we confident?
He laughed and rolled her onto her back, and she let him have his way, let him 
tease and lick every inch of her, and when she couldnt help herself, when she 
got so noisy that she was grateful the cascading water drowned out some of her 
cries, Mason took her even higher, letting her top the mountain and crash over 
the edge, landing safely in his arms.
Mason felt the change in Jade. He recognized deep passion when it was directed 
straight at him. For the first time in his life, it didnt scare the crap out of 
him.
It didnt, but knowing that she could take it all away when he finally told her 
the truth did. It was a dilemma over which he had little control.
 
It took days for everyone to be gone at the same time, but finally Jade was out, 
Weezy was gone, and there was no sign of Annie or the dog Jade said didnt 
exist.
Well, hell, he knew it existed. The real question was who it belonged tonothing 
with that much meat on its bones was lost and starvingand how it kept getting 
into Mystic Manor.
Mason had returned to the conservatory, at last, when Brenda called.
Lyle told me what you said.
Brenda. Hi. Mason wedged his cell phone between his ear and shoulder and moved 
on to the next cabinet, progressing steadily deeper into the wing.
Lyle doesnt believe he owes you anything, Brenda continued. I didnt handle 
things at all well, so Ive been stalling him, maybe even talked him out of 
telling Jade, because if anybody owes you, I guess its me.
Mason was silent.
Mase? You still there?
My mother taught me not to argue with a pregnant woman.
Brenda chuckled. I always liked your mother. Listen, dont say I told you, but 
Lyles furious.
He doesnt seem the type.
I know, she said with a great deal of surprise. I think impending fatherhood 
has brought out his protective instincts. Really weird.
Changing your mind?
Uh, no-o-o.
Just curious.
Look, Mase, if youre really on a job, well, I just didnt want Lyle to blow 
your cover, thats all. Are we even?
Sure, Bren. Appreciate it. I hope the baby looks like you.
She just laughed and hung up.
Mason closed the last cabinet. Not a darn thing the insurance company would want 
to hear about. It had been a waste of snoop time, and somewhat of an eye-opener, 
but nothing compared to the drying room, which he got to next.
Yes, he knew Jade was a witch.
Yes, hed read half a dozen books cover to cover.
Still, when he straightened up on the far side of the low, deep arch, which was 
like a tunnel to another world, he was in the midst of a hanging garden of 
herbs. Old shelves, some warped with age, held hundreds of dark glass bottles 
with cork stoppers, all sizes, shapes, and colors. And a cauldronmy God, a 
cauldron!hung over glowing embers.
The books covered cauldrons, of course. But reading was one thing, and seeing a 
working one up close and personal quite another.
He peered over the rim. The simmering liquid didnt smell bad; it also didnt 
smell like anything hed want to taste. And even if it did, he wasnt stupid 
enough to consume an unknown concoction put together by a woman who grew toxic 
plants. Itd be a helluva note to die by accident and have Jade finally charged 
with a crime. He wasnt going to touch the plant in the sink either. He wasnt 
even going to smell the plant in the sink.
Jades life certainly was very different from any hed ever known. If nothing 
else spelled it out, everything in here did. And not just on the surface. 
Standing here, seeing a cauldron, an athame, a crystal-tipped wand, the altar 
set up on the mantel, it hit him. An in-your-face reminder that witchcraft was 
very real.
To an outsider, Jade seemed perfectly normal.
Scratch that. That implied she was abnormal, which she wasnt. Just different. 
But the differences, all piled on top of one another as hed been turning over 
rocks, turned out to be no less than cultural differences.
Whoa, whats this? he murmured.
Mason opened a secret drawer holding eighteen soft pouches, more or less. Lumpy 
pouches.
Damn. For the first time, instead of excitement at a find, all he felt was 
dread. If he opened those, hed be nothing more than a trespassing, lowlife 
snoop.
Hed searched a lot of places over the years. Houses, apartments, gyms, pool 
houses, sheds, garages, offices, warehouses, secret retreats, motel rooms, 
vehicles, storage lockers, even a toll booth once, and on and on. All sanctioned 
by someone with a need to know and the money to pay for it.
But he couldnt do this. He couldnt open these, not even one of them. It was 
simple enough to feel them, know they held wands, and move on. Nothing in there 
needed to be disclosed to a third party. Not even to Anthony.
He might not be able to tell Jade the truth, but she deserved his respect.
 
I saw it! Anthony said when Mason topped the stairs the following afternoon. 
Sounded like a damn buffalo running down the hall. I lost him when he turned 
the corner.
Mason caught Anthonys air of excitement. Just now?
Yes! He was coming from back there, and I know you said he just kind of stares 
at you, but his tail was tucked between his legs.
Mason studied the empty hallway where the dog had come from, then snapped his 
fingers. The locked bedroom! He jogged toward it, calling, You coming? over 
his shoulder.
He neednt have bothered. Anthony was on his heels.
Mason had the lock down pat, and he was in the room so fast, he thought he saw 
the closet door swing shut. He knew he heard footsteps on the stairs.
He drew his Glock; Anthony followed suit. They took precautions as they opened 
first one door, then the other, and hurried down the steps.
Ive been down here, Mason said. Foundations solid. No way out. Hes 
trapped.
Lets be very careful then.
Hey! Mason called out. I know youre down here. You know youre down here. My 
partners going to cover the only way out. Why dont you just make it easy on 
both of us and show yourself?
Nothing.
Maybe you should tell him why were here, Anthony suggested. So he doesnt 
think were crazed witch-hunters.
Good idea. See why I teamed up with you?
You teamed up with me because you were out of work and needed to pay off the 
diving shop.
Of course, if hes Stockard, hell be madder at two PIs who want to turn him in 
than two, whatd you call them, crazed witch-hunters?
Anthony waved his gun. Go on. Ill cover you.
Hey! Mason called out.
You really after Stockard? a quiet voice asked.
Mason and Anthony zeroed in on his location behind a tall antique armoire, then 
glanced at each other, thinking definitely male and probably too old.
But you couldnt be too careful.
Were here to make sure hes dead, Anthony said.
Uh, partner, if youre going to speak up, you should think it through first.
Huh?
That sounds like were here to kill him.
Oh.
If hes alive, he deserves killing, Id say. A gray-haired man poked his head 
around the corner of the armoire, testing their forthrightness.
Too old, Anthony said. Too short.
Hands up, the elderly man stepped out and sort of waved in the direction of 
their drawn guns. Too damn old to shoot.
Oh. Sorry, Anthony said, holstering his weapon.
Not so fast, Mason said. Who are you?
Henry Delarue.
Uncle Henry, Anthony said, his tone laced with respect. You are one hard man 
to find. Ive been looking all over for you.
I like my privacy.
You couldnt find him? Mason asked.
Lost his trail twenty years back.
Hes in the goddamn cellar.
Hell, you havent even found the whole cellar.
True. Mason addressed Henry. How do we know youre not in cahoots with 
Stockard?
He was okay. He was good to Jade, I guess. Henry put his hands down. But if 
hes alive, and Im the one finds him, you can bet the law wont be catching up 
with me.
Mason holstered his gun. No way that answered his question, but if the guy liked 
his privacy that much, hed have nothing to gain from helping Stockard 
disappear.
You the one sleeping with my niece? Henry asked Mason.
You the one screwing with our cameras?
Henry cackled. Not bad for an old fart, eh?
What? Anthony said, affronted. That was you? You know what those things 
cost?
Cant say as I care.
Were looking for any evidence that Stockards alive and defrauding the 
insurance company, Mason explained. Theres only one place I havent searched 
yet. You going to show me where it is?
Henry shook his head. Theres things there not fit to see. If Stockards there, 
it must be what he deserves.
Chapter 20 
T he moneys a dead end, Anthony said, sprawled in a chair by the window while 
he and Mason compared notes. Theyd begun meeting in Anthonys room each evening 
so thered be no possibility of Jades slipping in to see Mason while they were 
talking business.
It wasnt that he was opposed to their relationship. How could he be, when he 
liked Jade, and when he himself was caught up in the excitement of twice-daily 
phone calls with that cute bartender? Neither of them really liked the club 
scene. Turned out they knew some of the same people, so they all planned to 
catch a play in Old Town when he returned, then grill a late dinner and hang out 
on the beach. So he understood how Mason was feeling.
Still, the timing was all wrong. Masons sleeping with Jade while he was passing 
himself off as a freelance photographer was unethical, no matter what the 
reasoning. If discovered, itd reflect poorly on Mason and the agency, and that 
in turn would effect Anthonys ability to earn a living and keep his siblings in 
school.
Mason was looking good these days, working overtime to find the last cellar, 
back to himselfmaybe betterfully recovered from the wedding that almost was. 
Lucky guy; getting hitched to Brenda eventually would have broken his spirit.
Mason had the other chair. Dead end? You sure?
Jade put the money in trust for Stockards parents and his brother.
All of it?
Every last dime. The parents are disabled, havent worked since long before he 
disappeared. Guy I talked to said Jade was following her husbands wishes.
Mason smacked his palm on the armrest, a display of triumph and determination as 
he sat up straighter. That does it then. Giving it all away is proof that if 
her husband is alive, she knows nothing about it. So its time I
No! I beg you.
What? You didnt even let me finish.
Stockard couldve cooked this up with his parents.
Mason scowled at him.
I know, I know, I dont believe it either. Only because the other two didnt 
fit into the equation at all. Unless Stockard had killed them to muddy the 
waters. Nevertheless, you cant tell Jade anything.
Anthony, please, I need to tell her.
Anthony pulled a two-column newspaper clipping out of his wallet and unfolded 
it.
No, no, not that again. Mason groaned. His head dropped back on the 
doily-covered cushion, his eyes rolled, and his tongue hung out like a dying 
dog, and Anthony ignored those theatrics because he had something to say and he 
damn well was going to make his point.
Remember when Priscilla was written up in the newspaper for reviving that kid 
at the beach? Got a nice awarddid you know that? She wants to be a doctor. You 
have any idea what it costs to send a kid through medical school these days?
Just shoot me now. No, dont, Mason said, getting up suddenly. Not until 
Priscilla can save my life. Hell, Im going to bed.
Alone?
Not effing likely.
Mase
Turn on the TV. Loud.
A movement on the monitor caught Anthonys attention. He jumped to his feet as 
one of the few cameras still working caught someone sneaking into the house. 
Shit. Mason, wait.
Yeah, yeah. He kept walking, reached for the doorknob.
Wait!
Mason wasnt listening, so Anthony fired a rolled-up pair of socks at his back.
Hey! Mason spun around, hands up to ward off more ammunition.
Wheres Jade? Davy Stockard just came in the side door.
Maybe he wants her to do a spell for him.
Hes got a gun.
Anthony had never seen blood drain from anyones face as fast as it did Masons.
 
Your husbands in the conservatory!
Mom. Hi. How are you? Jade propped the cordless phone between her ear and 
shoulder while she continued sorting through a dozen cardboard boxes. Uncle 
Henry had packaged her botanical shipments as usual, but hed left a note 
apologizing for being distracted by recent eventswhat, he didnt sayand 
suggesting she do a double check, so she was matching contents with invoices 
when her mother called.
Now you listen to me, Jade, Mona said imperiously, and with a sense of urgency 
that wasnt unlike her. This is serious. I see your husband.
Sure you do. Buried under the yew, I suppose? Seems appropriate, dont you 
think, since its used to raise the spirits of the dead.
He has a gun.
You know, that plants been growing like a weed the past couple years. I wonder 
if thats why.
You are such a sassy brat.
Mason likes it. Jade smiled to herself. Its good to see youre still 
practicing. Whatre you using today? Water? Crystal ball?
You know, if you hadnt spent so much time on your mail-order business, Doug 
mightve been happier.
Good going, Mom. Youve been dying to say that for six years.
Well, its true! Why else would he drive off in the dead of winter with two 
other men?
Ah, to check his boat?
Who goes to check a boat in the winter?
Anyone whos concerned about it after an ice storm.
He shouldve stayed at home, Mona said angrily.
Hindsight, Jade thought, but she said, So who are you mad at? Me, or him?
I wanted grandchildren, Mona said with a huff.
Yeah, well, Im working on that.
You are? Monas surprised sigh clearly said Jade was forgiven.
Jade thought it a good note on which to end the call.
Your fathers getting married.
Okay, not a good time. So this is what had her mother a little peevish, making 
up some preposterous story about Doug being in the conservatory just to justify 
an attention-getting phone call.
Thats why hes not there this month. Mona misinterpreted Jades silence and 
took up the slack. Poor baby, you want me to come home?
No! No, Jade said, softening her tone. Dad might want to bring her by and 
introduce her. It is his month, you know. We all agreed.
Davy Stockard stepped through the arch, entering the drying room on the tail end 
of a revolver.
Oh. Mom, you know what you were seeing a few minutes ago?
Of course, dear.
Can you see him now? Personally, Jade couldnt take her eyes off of him.
Well, no, Im not concentrating now.
Let me congratulate you, thenyoure getting pretty darn good.
Am I? Mona sounded proud of herself. Hey, whaddya mean? He is buried there? 
He was shot? What?
Hang up, Davy said.
Mom? Gotta go.
Is that him I heard?
Its Davy.
Hang up! Davy shouted.
Jade set the phone down without pushing the OFF button, hoping it wasnt asking 
too much for Mona to listen in, wise up, and send help. Soon.
Davy. Hi.
I want my money.
Davy, we talked about this. Remember? Jade spoke slowly, holding his 
attention, buying time. The moon wasnt high yet, but it was full; anything 
could happen. We all got together. Your mom and dad, and you, and me.
Marigold, yarrow; she carefully assessed her supply of herbs in case Davys 
finger slipped and she ended up with a new orifice.
She continued a dialogue with Davy, feigning calmness and serenity. Dougs 
lawyer was there, too, remember?
Doug promised hed take care of us.
He did, Davy.
He said if anything happened to him, thered be money.
There is. Its in a trust to help take care of your parents. And you.
Its not fair!
Your brother worked for his money.
I owe money. The caf. The gun store. The taxidermist, cause I got a ten-point 
buck. The gas station. New tires. Sears, cause I bought Mom something nice for 
Christmas, cause Im supposed to get money.
Doug paid for that policy. Itll take care of necessities, like an apartment, 
your food, your medical bills
All my friends. I been telling em Id pay em back when I got my share.
but if you want extra cash, you have to get a job.
Jade had set it up the way Doug had wanted, in spite of knowing her in-laws 
would gripe about this and that, why they couldnt have more. It was their 
nature. The revolver was unexpected, though.
A rap at the window drew Jades and Davys attention toward the backyard.
Anthony? Without a coat and hat?
Davy was as distracted as Jade, which was the whole point, she realized, as 
Mason flew through the arch and tackled him to the floor. Honestly, shed barely 
had time to get scared, and there he was, doing his Bond-Rambo thing again.
Ow! Hey, get off! Davy shouted. He quickly ceased struggling.
Mason rose to his feet, Davys weapon in his possession. As he dumped the 
bullets, he seemed to be wrestling with a decision. He looked at Jade. I should 
call the police.
Mason pocketed the bullets and tucked the revolver into the waist of his jeans 
as if hed done it a thousand times. Very sexy. Watching him was far more 
interesting than trying to figure out what to do about Davy.
Without taking his eyes off Davy, Mason added, Or you could just let me finish 
him off.
Hey, no, man. Jade knows I wouldnt really hurt her. Davy scrambled to his 
feet, watching Mason warily.
Hed be easy to kill, Anthony said, strolling in as casually as if they rubbed 
people out every day. He punctuated with a little twisting motion of his hands, 
like wringing a chickens neck.
Davy grabbed his throat and swallowed hard. No, no, hey, man. Keep the gun. 
Honest. Im too chicken to hurt anybody. Tell em, Jade.
Mason pinned him with a long glare before turning to Jade. What do you think?
You shouldnt have brought a gun in here, Davy, Jade said. You went too far.
I know. Im sorry. Davy hung his head.
The police? Masons brow lifted in question, as if he already knew the answer.
Well Jade thought of what Doug would want her to do. Shook her head.
Right. Then its only fair, Davy, that you know Ill be watching you. That if I 
so much as think you might scare Jade again, Im going to take action. Mason 
stepped into Davys space and looked him in the eye when he growled, And I 
dont mean calling the cops. You get my drift?
Davy nodded like a dashboard chihuahua.
Anthony zeroed in on the source of a thin, reedy voice and picked up the 
cordless phone. He listened a moment, then handed it to Jade. Your mother?
 
Snow still covered the landscape, but the walks, streets, and most driveways 
were clear when Mason stepped outside on Monday morning. He had no camera, no 
destination in mind, justoutside.
Conscience botherin you? Henry appeared out of nowhere, as he had several 
times in the last few days. Now that he knew why Mason was snooping through the 
house, he didnt keep to himself so much anymore. It wasnt that he was more 
sociable so much as he was being more obvious about keeping an eye on him and 
his partner. Kind of a warning: Im everywhere. So behave yourselves or you can 
disappear, too.
You have anything to do with those guys disappearing? Mason asked.
Nah, I liked Doug. He was good to Jade. Never lied to her or anything.
Ouch. Im not doing it on purpose.
Sure you are.
Okay, but Im not doing it to be mean. Its temporary. Shell forgive me.
No comment.
Wont she?
Henry didnt say anything for a minute, then tipped his head to the sky. See 
that moon?
Pretty hard to miss. It rode overhead, the eastern side lit by the 
early-morning sun.
Moon in the fourth quarter, Henry said, is the best time to end things. Not 
just anything, mind you. Things you want to go away for good. Permanent-like.
That so?
Like keeping your purpose here a secret, Henry suggested.
This is a witch thing, right?
Henry shook his head. Oh, witches use it, all right. Astrologers use it. Lots 
of people. Farmers.
Farmers?
Sure. Best time to treat weedsand other pests. Gets rid of em for good.
Mason stared down at the old man. Wouldnt be trying to tell me something, 
would you?
Henry shrugged. Im just saying.
 
Who knew professional photographers were so tough? Jade said, teasing Mason as 
her friends congratulated him effusively on saving her from Davy.
Ah, it was nothing, Mason said, grinning because it felt good that Jade wasnt 
hiding how she felt about him from her friends.
Shed just relayed the days-old story to the Monday morning rendezvous around 
the plank table. Not once had she said, But dont tell anyone, or pulled her 
hand from his grasp. She was so trusting, he felt like a heel. Getting things 
out in the open couldnt happen soon enough to suit him.
You were so brave, Jade said, kissing his cheek.
Stockards a loon, Noah said.
Ill say, Buzz agreed. Lucky he didnt mistake you for 007, when we all 
know its just a part you play.
Mason loved watching the easy way Buzz teased Jade, mussing her hair, sorting 
through her mail.
Ooh, Noah said, next time we see him, we should tell him you really are a 
secret agent.
Jade, too, Buzz agreed eagerly. Whatll her number be?
I need a number?
Yeah, you know, Mason joined in. If Im 007, you get to have a number, too. 
Otherwise its not official.
I see. What would you suggest?
I wouldnt give you anything less than a ten, Mason said, earning him instant 
adoration from all the women and knowing smirks from the men. Not that he gave a 
flying fig what anyone except Jade thought. Personally, hed give her a twelve, 
but hed tell her that in private.
Two-year-old Hannah started to scramble to her feet in the child seat, and Mason 
smoothly scooped her onto his lap.
Shes messy, Weezy said, hustling to his side. Shed been watching Mason with 
open skepticism, as usual. She didnt seem to buy his story that he was in the 
writing phase of the project, where he could spend more time around Mystic 
Manor and less out photographing eagles.
Mason cuddled the toddler the same as he had all his sisters children. Shes 
fine. You ready for more nana, Hannah? he asked, then teased her with the 
rhyme in a singsong voice until she giggled. Seconds later, he realized everyone 
else had fallen silent. What?
Nothing, the guys said, shrugging it off.
Weezy had a new look in her eyes, friendly, like the first time theyd met, 
before shed figured out hed wedged his way into Mystic Manor without an 
invitation.
It was nothing, though, compared to the way Jade was looking at him. If there 
was any question this woman wanted to have babies, it was gone now. His babies. 
Christ, that sounded good.
That did it. He was telling Anthony today to find someone else to finish this 
job. He was coming clean. Theres be no more talking him out of it.
Buzz and Noah began tossing around ideas on how Courtney and Annie could spend 
their new money. Anthony called. When Masons phone vibrated on his belt, he 
snapped it up, passed the toddler to Weezy, and politely withdrew to the dining 
room.
We have to talk, Mason said right off.
My uncle called. Were done. Im outta here.
They pulled the plug?
Packing as we speak.
Finished! 
Think thisll work out the way you want? Anthony asked.
Id be a whole lot happier if someone had taken one look at us and confessed.
People disappear every day; fact of life. Jade accepted it a long time ago. 
There never was a chance you were going to be her knight in shining armor, but 
you, my friend, have to look on the bright side.
Theres a bright side?
Stockards disappearance eventually brought you to Jades door.
Yeah, thats worked out so well. I hate that Im going to hurt her.
I know. Listen, I booked the first flight out for me. Figured youd want to 
stay a while. You know yet how youre going to tell her?
Im open to ideas.
Lyle flew out last night, so you dont have to rush. Ease into it gently.
Right.
And keep your gun handy.
 
Meanwhile, back in the kitchen, Noah said, Hey, we havent hashed over any Dear 
Alice letters lately.
Alanna! Annie and Jade corrected.
Oh, yeah, yeah, thats right. Never can remember that name. Always enjoy them 
though.
I printed some off the e-mail account, Annie said, pulling folded pages out of 
her purse. I was going to work on them while I wait at the dentists office, 
but sharing with you men is always so, ah, enlightening, she said 
tongue-in-cheek.
Hear that, Noah? Were enlightened.
I heard that.
Not exactly what I said. Annie passed the letters around the table.
Jade looked forward to this as eagerly as the men. They all had a different take 
on things, which Annie often found useful, and they often had spirited debates 
over what advice was right.
The first two were no-brainers.
Tell him to talk to his basketball coach at school, Buzz said, referring to 
the one Weezy read aloud from a high-school athlete. Noah was all nods next to 
him.
Weezy jumped all over the letter Annie read from a young grandmother. It takes 
more than just the parents to make sure kids turn out right. She has to correct 
those babies now or theyll just be a handful later. Dont mean she cant love 
em and hug em just the same.
Whos next?
I got one, Noah said.
Dear Alanna, 


Theres a man living in a womans house pretending to be something hes not. 
Since this woman helped reunite me, my fianc, and our unborn child, we feel we 
owe her a favor and maybe should tell her about this man. Trouble is, he is my 
ex-fianc, a private investigator working undercover, and since I recently 
dragged him to the altar and then jilted him (through no fault of his own), I 
feel I owe him too, sort of, and should not let my fianc blow his cover. 
Three sentences. Thats all it took to ruin Jades life. She marveled at this, 
stunned into a block of icy calm because it was the only way she could keep 
breathing, keep her heart beating.
How could no one around notice that her world had just ended?
Hey, wasnt Mason just jilted? Buzz asked, oblivious. We should get his take 
on this.
When Jades world stopped spinning, she glanced at Annie. She appeared equally 
startled, though Jade would bet she didnt feel as if a semi had run over her.
Annie said, Wow, look at the time, and jumped to her feet, but Noah held the 
letter out of her reach and said, Theres more.
Could it get worse? Jade wondered, sick to her stomach as Noah continued.
Do I sit back and do nothing? Sort of let one favor cancel out the other? Do we 
tell her and jeopardize my ex, or not tell her, knowing shell probably get 
hurt? 
Jade stared nowhere in particular. The wall maybe. Another dimension. She was 
afraid if she connected with this, shed break in two.
I can poison his coffee, Weezy said, touching Jades shoulder, drawing her 
back, surprisingly still upright in her chair.
I can cut his brake lines, Noah offered.
Jade scooted her chair back and stood up. She didnt remember her knees ever 
shaking like this before. It made her mad.
Jade? someone said. She didnt know who.
To no one in particular, she said, Im going upstairs. When he comes back, 
stall him.
Chapter 21 
I t hurt that Mason hadnt confided in her. Jade wondered why for all of three 
seconds.
Of course he hadnt confided in her. She was the damn case.
Or the death benefit was, or her husband. It was all the same deceitful thing.
She tore through Masons room, on a tear to find whatever there was to find. She 
couldve stormed into the dining room and asked him to his face, but if he was 
the liar she thought he was, hed just deny it. His steel blue eyes wouldnt 
even blink.
She knew it was true. She knew it, knew it, knew it, and like a fool, tears 
welled up and blurred her vision.
Stupid not to trust her instincts.
Stupid to let him stay when she had a policy not to.
She rummaged through the top drawers of the high-boy before it dawned on her 
that if Mason was hiding something, itd be secure under the disgusting clothes 
hed arrived in, so she knelt and yanked open the bottom drawer.
Empty. Too bad. The smell alone couldve knocked her out and put her out of her 
misery.
Anthony, she remembered, had asked that she skip the daily cleanup in his room 
because he hated having his stuff moved. While it wasnt that odd a request at 
the time, and hed let the girls change his linens, it now raised Jades 
suspicions. She stormed into his room without bothering to knock.
Oh! Jade. Hi. Anthony body-blocked the open suitcase on his bed. The look on 
her face must have said it all, because he started gushing. Honest, he wanted 
to tell you days ago, but I wouldnt let him. We had to stay undercover. See, we 
already had a couple weeks time in
Really. It was all she needed to hear.
There was a lot at stake
Now youre just making me madder.
Oh-kay, he said, closing the lid behind him.
The socks in the river and the Banishing Oil and every other spell to get rid of 
Mason hadnt worked, so Jade knew the Universe had a different plan in mind. 
Knowing it didnt make her any less angry. This was just plain unacceptable. She 
wanted him out of her life now.
She ignored the stabbing pain in her heart that accompanied that thought. Mason 
was not a part of her. She ran to her parents room, found it unlocked, threw 
her arms up in the air at the realization that shed had no privacy for three 
weeks and hadnt even known it. She helped herself to a red pillar out of Monas 
dresser, took it back to Masons former room, and lit it with enough energy to 
chase out the hardiest of men. She didnt even have to call it up; it was just 
there, pulsing through her body, scratching to get out.
Then she threw open the window and really set to work.
It was cathartic, throwing Masons belongings out into the snow. By the time he 
picked them up, theyd be frozen. Considering how much he hated the cold, she 
toyed with the idea of turning the hose on everything.
And yet, none of her efforts made her happy. Far from it. She had a knife in her 
heart, tears running down her cheeks. If she had to go through any more 
relationships like this to find the right man, she might as well not even try.
Because Mason had been the one. She knew it, the same as her heart knew how to 
beat.
Hed been the one.
And for her, losing him had more far-reaching consequences than she could have 
imagined. Without Mason, thered be no babies. No children to raise in the house 
where shed grown up, to tutor in the ways of the Craft, the lore of the plants.
Because worst of all, having found Mason, then lost him, she knew she had no 
heart left to share.
 
Luggage in hand, Anthony ran down the back stairs, saying a quick prayer of 
thanks to have escaped unharmed. He had less than an hour to make it through 
airport security and safely on to the gate. After that, he could forget about a 
very angry Jade and concentrate on his hot date in Pensacola.
He found Mason in the kitchen, backed against the wallpaper by one small 
grandmother with a butcher knife. The kid was nowhere in sight. You had to 
admire a mob that had its priorities straight.
Whatd you do, tell everybody at once? he asked, frantically searching angry 
faces for any signs of a second assault, not breaking stride on his way to the 
door.
Anthony, wait! Get her off me!
You have a gun. Use it. Anthony paused at the door for one last word of 
advice. Oh, changed my mind. Lose the gun before you talk to Jade. Shes really 
pissed.
 
Time to come clean. 
Mason felt some measure of relief in the knowledge that he would no longer have 
to work out the logistics of how and when to tell Jade. Of course now he had to 
work out how not to get a pissed-off witch to fight back by casting an angry 
spell on him.
Though shed promised.
Yeah, as if shed feel honor-bound to keep her word to a man whod been lying to 
her.
She couldnt be as scary, though, as Weezy pressing him up against the kitchen 
wall with a butcher knife beneath his chin.
Shoe! Hannah shouted, looking out the window.
Courtney, Weezy pleaded, hiding the knife reluctantly.
Sorry. She just got away from me for a second. Courtney picked up Hannah to 
take her back to the dining room, where shed retreated as soon as everyone had 
turned on Mason.
Camra! Hannah pointed out the window. Camra fall down in snow.
Everyone watched as another Nikon flew by, sans parachute, and landed in the 
snow next to Masons shoes.
Does she know how much that camera cost? Mason grumbled.
Weezy, Buzz, and Noah glared at him. Annie whispered words, a chant maybe, and 
he wished shed glare at him, too, instead of whatever she was up to.
Jeans, new sweaters, and dark briefs got hung up in the bare redbud trees 
between the house and walk, but the cameras plunged right through the branches 
and hit the ground.
Oh, quit looking like that, Jade snapped at him as she stormed into the 
kitchen seconds later.
My cameras, he said weakly. Inside, he was relieved that she was still talking 
to him.
My dignity, she spat back with a hostile look that held him against the wall 
better than the knife had.
You want us to tie im up? Buzz offered.
Take im down to the dungeon? Noah suggested eagerly.
Dungeon? The third cellar he hadnt found was a dungeon? Good God!
Jade scoffed. I dont want to be cleaning up after him. I want him to leave.
Hearing her say it hurt more than Mason had thought possible. More than a knife 
and dungeon combined.
Jade slapped his notebook computer onto the breakfast bar. Mason bit his lip, 
keeping his objections to himself lest it go out the window, too.
She opened a drawer and pulled out a hammer.
Oh no, he said. He wasnt given to a lot of introspection, but even he knew 
the computers fate was symbolic of their relationship.
Jade spun it around so Annie could see the screen. Check it out. Everything 
thats on your computer? Right there.
What? Annie said in disbelief.
No, Mason said. Its just networked.
Jade tucked her chin and glared at him as Annie tapped keys and scrolled through 
files.
Really, he said. I can see whats on your computers, but I didnt copy 
anything to the hard drive.
Computers? she emphasized the plural.
He nodded weakly. But in my defense, it was my job, and I didnt share what I 
saw with anyone. There, whew, hed gotten it out, though as Jades glare grew 
colder, he didnt think his defense stood a chance in hell.
As Jade spoke to her friends, her smile was calm. It dripped calm. Id like to 
have a few words with Mason in private. Would you all mind?
Hell no, Annie said, her relief palpable. As she brushed past Mason, she 
whispered, Shouldve let me do a spell. At least then youd have a chance.
Shit, this wasnt how hed imagined it. Would telling Jade now help, or hurt? In 
the commotion of everyones leaving, Mason narrowed the gap between himself and 
the woman he loved.
Worried? Jade asked, misinterpreting what must be a look of utter confusion on 
his face.
Earlier, hed known it was too soon. If the words left his lips now, shed
Jade slammed the hammer into the keyboard.
Mason winced at the crunch. Really, he said. Its a perfectly innocent 
computer.
Unlike you.
He kept his mouth shut; wisely, he thought.
Three weeks. Youve been paid to live under my roof and lie to me for three 
weeks?
She gave the computer two more whacks, turning her head to the side when shards 
of housing and bits of keys flew into the air. Slivers of gray skittered across 
the counter. Some lodged in her yellow sweater.
I dont imagine you come cheap. Who has that much money?
Mason still didnt answer, until she turned toward him and waited expectantly. 
The, ah, insurance company that issued your husbands life policy.
What, they were willing to pay you thousands of dollars to find something they 
could use against me?
No! They just didnt want to pay if your husband turned out to be alive. People 
do that, you know. Scam insurance companies. To the tune of thirty billion 
dollars every year.
Yes. People can be very sneaky. The monitor went next. When the whole mess was 
mangled, Jade threw the hammer aside and brushed her hands clean. There. Now 
theres nothing left in my house for you. You can go.
Jade
Her hand shot up. Do not wasteyourbreath.
Mason stepped closer to Jade. He wanted to reach out, to pull her into his arms 
and hold her, tell her it would all be right again, itd just take time.
Youre right. Im a heel. But I was doing my job
Her hand shot up again. Dont. Talk.
Jade, please, this is what I do. You have secrets. I was undercover. Whats the 
difference?
The anger that boiled in her eyes told him that of all the questions he could 
have asked, of all the arguments he could have presented, that was the wrong 
one. When she spoke to him again, it was with quiet venom.
I wanted an honest, trustworthy man I could count on to keep my secret, not a 
lying, sneaky slug whod keep secrets from me. I let you stay in my home. Her 
eyes burned into him. I shared my sanctuary with you. My conservatory. My 
friends, who mean the world to me.
Every word was true. He knew it, and he felt like a heel. Shed let him close, 
and what had he done?
I let you into my bed, she said without breaking stride. I fell in love with 
you, you big slug, and you, she enunciated very clearly, so thered be no 
misunderstanding how angry she was, disrespected that.
 
Jade stormed into the conservatory, instinctively seeking comfort, a safe womb 
in which to curl up and hide. The thought of living without Mason hurt just as 
much as knowing hed lied to her.
She stood stock-still among her plants. Never before had she been too upset to 
draw succor from them, too distraught to draw in healing energy, too angry to 
see straight. She didnt even hear her cell phone at first. When it registered, 
she collapsed on the bench under a tree and curled into a fetal position. It was 
useless to try to hide her sniffle when she said, Hi, Mom.
Talk to me, honey. Tell Mommy why the redbud trees have mens briefs in them.
Monas regressive maternal tone should have made Jade smile, but instead, she 
felt more tears well up. She rubbed her eyes, trying to stop them.
Starting at the beginning, she told Mona her feelings about moving on with her 
life, finding love, having children, the works. As she talked, as she relived 
the last three weeks, the highs and lows of being in love and having her heart 
ripped in two, tears ran freely down her cheeks.
I screwed up, Mom, she said finally, plucking at her shirt, dabbing it to her 
face until it was soaked. But I tried to fix it. I tried to send him back, 
honest.
I know, sweetheart. I know you, and thats what you would do. But, Jade, 
sweetheart, now I want you to listen to me. Youre very hurt and angry, and you 
have every right to be, Im not saying you dont. So you wont like this, but if 
you think about it, youll know its true.
Jade was blubbering too much to argue.
The spirits know what you need and what you dont, sweetheart. Sometimes, in 
spite of all we do, they step in and give us whats best for us. Youre very 
good at what you do, and I dont want you to lose confidence over this. It 
happens. Accept it. Then go kiss and make up.
Are you nuts? Jade stared at Mason, jumping up and down, snagging clothes off 
bare branches. You want a lying, sneaking, slug for a son-in-law?
You didnt call him that to his face, did you?
I most certainly did. I want him out of here. Uncle Henrys out in the yard 
with him.
Yes, de-briefing the tree. Thats a good one, isnt it? De-briefingNever mind. 
I see him.
Okay, Mom, I think you should stop scrying now. Youre starting to scare me.
Whatre you going to do? Mona asked.
What else could she do? I already did it. Soon as hes done out there, Uncle 
Henryll make sure he leaves.
 
Mason stood in the snow, his coat unbuttoned, his hat somewhere, in his pocket 
maybe, his gloves gone who the hell knew where. Who the hell cared?
Jade felt used. He got that. She was too mad to listen to anything he said in 
his defense. He got that, too.
It looked as if his bags had been jettisoned from an airplane and exploded on 
impact, splotches of dark clothing dotting white snow. Henry Delarue milled 
around the detritus of Masons belongings.
You gonna take me on next, old man? Mason asked.
Henry laughed. No, I reckon you dont need me heaping hurt on top of guilt. Oh, 
dont look so surprised. You forget, Ive been watching you for weeks now. You 
and that other fella. What kind of partner runs off with the car and leaves a 
man stranded, anyway?
The kind who understands that Im not leaving here until Jade realizes I love 
her and we belong together.
Henrys lips pursed. He nodded his head. Ive seen how you look at her. Finish 
picking up your things.
Im not leaving.
You can stay with me.
With that unexpected but very welcome invitation, Mason swept everything into 
his suitcases. Ready.
This way then.
He followed the old man away from the house. Ah, Henry?
Jades uncle shuffled through the snow as if he hadnt heard him. Across the 
driveway, into the yard, angling north and slightly toward the street. Snow 
crunched beneath their boots.
Henry?
Into a grove of pine trees, whose boughs dipped under the weight of the snow.
Henry!
Almost there.
Deep in the grove, the land dropped off a bit. Henrys steps slowed, finally 
stopped. Mason halted beside him, staring into a ravine cut by surface runoff. 
He wouldve been embarrassed if anyone knew that he felt reassured by the weight 
of his Glock.
You planning on leaving my body down there?
Henry tipped his head toward the ravine. Remember the third cellar you were 
looking for? Entrance is down there.
That right? Yeah, the Glock was feeling pretty good.
I cant take you in through the house.
Well, thats true enough.
Henry grinned up at him. I can see youre kind of nervous about this, so Ill 
go first.
Mason dogged Henrys heels down a sloping path. By all rights, the surveillance 
job was finished. He was off the clock. Satisfaction in locating the remaining 
cellar couldnt be justified by anything other than curiosity. Besides, itd 
keep him on Jades property.
Their heads were well below street level when Henry peeled frozen vines away 
from the hill, saying, Theyll grow back next spring. He reached inside and 
patted the wall until he found what he was looking for.
A torch? Mason said. He didnt know why anything surprised him anymore.
You dont expect me to go in there in the dark, do you?
Afraid of spiders?
Im not too fond of that big black dogs been hanging around.
Torch lit, Mason followed Henry into a narrow tunnel that looked like a natural 
crack in the rock. There was no snow in here, and without the wind, it felt 
warmer. Jade says there is no dog.
Maybe Jades not supposed to see him. Henrys voice sounded uneven as it 
bounced off rough edges.
Why not?
Might not be real.
Felt real to me.
Henry glanced over his shoulder. You touched it?
Damn thing hit me in the nuts and left me to die.
It attacked you? So Henry resumed his march toward the house, not sharing his 
thoughts.
So, its just a dog, right?
Dont know, son.
What else could it be?
Shapeshifter. Watcher.
Mason had heard of the first and didnt buy that for a minute. Whats a 
watcher?
Witch sends an animal out to do its watching. When it returns, the witch 
absorbs everything it saw and heard while it was out and about.
Okay, Im not buying that one either.
Yeah. Probly just a dog. Henry left the narrow passageway and stepped into a 
larger space. He flipped on a series of very dim wall sconces. Ah, good, they 
still work. Not much call for electricity down here.
Holy shit, Mason said when he stepped into the third cellar. He set down his 
suitcases, eager to look around.
No, no, no, Henry said. Pick those up. Were not staying here.
Mason did as bid, but he didnt follow Henry in a straight line across the floor 
either. Not when the walls were ringed with candleholders, and there was a 
flat-topped four-by-six boulder in the center of the floor to stare at.
Thats an altar, isnt it?
Its ancient history, Henry said with disdain, moving through the area without 
pause.
Jade doesnt cast spells down here?
The early Delarues were coven members. Thats when this was used. The outside 
entrance allowed local witches to come and go unobserved. Man could go hunting, 
walk in the woods, disappear for a few hours, no one thought anything of it. 
Used to be an old path up from the river, too, but its too treacherous these 
days. I reckon nobody wouldve noticed a canoe or two on the river at night. 
Sure easy to hide them down below, climb up here, melt into the darkness again 
when they were done. Or go fishing. Come on, son. Speed it up.
You dont like it in here.
Not so much.
There bones and stuff in here?
Youre creepin me out.
Mason couldnt stop staring at the dark splotches on the altar as he strolled by 
it. Not feeling too great myself.
Staring at that, hed missed the fireplace on the far wall. Hanging inside was a 
black iron cauldron, big enough to boil a body.
Henry said, Gimme a hand, and when they swung the cauldron out, the floor of 
the fireplace rose.
Gives new meaning to ash dump, Mason muttered, only marginally relieved that 
when he poked his head into the hole, he could see that the electric wiring 
extended into the subcellar.
You first, Henry said.
Me? I dont know where Im going.
Im too old. What if the ladder breaks? I need you to cushion my fall.
I dont know
Look at it this way. You know I wont be waiting down there to bash you over 
the head.
Yeah.
You know the dog didnt climb down there, so he wont be ripping out your 
throat.
Not feeling too positive knowing youve been thinking of my demise.
Oh, for cripes sakes. Henry elbowed him out of the way.
Mason pulled him back. Never mind, Ill go first. You hand my bags down when I 
get to the bottom, okay?
To say he tested every rung on the ladder was an understatement. The lone bulb 
at the bottom didnt do much to show him exactly how deep he was going, and he 
was relieved when he felt the floor only seven or eight feet down.
Was Jade wondering where he was? If he called her later, when he called her 
later, would she pick up?
Hey, Mason, Henry said, tossing both suitcases into the hole at once.
Ow. What?
Nice knowing ya.
Chapter 22 
S leep began to elude Jade again. So did common sense, as she found herself 
wandering through Masons room in the middle of the night, sniffing his scent on 
the pillow, the open bar of Luck Soap on the sink, the towel hed used.
Shed grown used to sleeping through the night, waking up in Masons arms. Shed 
never stop missing that. Shed never stop missing him.
Hed lied to her. All along. What was true? What wasnt? How would she ever 
know?
Obviously she needed a spell to get her life back on track. With a 
fourth-quarter moon, though, it was appropriate to cast an ending spell, not one 
for starting over.
She played with different phrases, all revolving around ending her feelings for 
Mason, ending her relationship with him, ending his ability to walk upright 
without dragging his knuckles.
She didnt address issues of a new love or a child; no one could replace the 
connection shed had with Mason, and the thought of growing old without children 
hurt too much.
 
Mason was convinced hed gone absolutely, positively, friggin nuts. Staying in 
snowy, icy, frigid West Bluff. Hiking through a crack in the bluff to move in 
with a practical jokerthat bit at the ladder was so not funny. Henry snored 
like a grizzly bear curled up deep inside its winter den. Every night, Mason lay 
on his back on a blow-up mattress, staring up at the dark, thinking overtime how 
to get it all: Jade, marriage, kids, the whole nine yards.
Was she able to sleep without him?
Oh, man, he had to come clean about the insomnia, too. Their whole relationship 
was a redo.
Henry snorted awake and said, I can hear you thinking.
Think shes cooled off yet?
You should buy her a trinket.
I dont think Jades the trinket type.
Shows what you know about women. Henry snored for a minute, then snorted again 
and said, She collects snowmen. You know, statues, ornaments. Trinkets.
So much at stake. Now that Mason was free to tell Jade he loved her, he had to 
be sure he got it right, so shed believe in him and have no doubts. No way he 
was relying on Henrys advice. Buy her a trinket, Mason scoffed. Advice from a 
crusty old bachelor, of course.
Still, he wasnt sure where to begin to win over Jades heart, so he started 
with thumbing a ride into Hannibal the following morning for necessities, like a 
car.
Along the way, an idea started to take shape. Females had been trying to force 
commitment on him since before he knew what they were good for, and here he was 
on the opposite end, needing advice.
Hows it going? Anthony asked when Mason called.
Ive rented a car.
Staying for a while then. Thought you might. Made any progress?
Bought a heavier coat. Fire-engine red and fire-engine yellow, it was designed 
for someone horrendously color-challenged. Also very lofty, according to the 
salesclerk. He didnt mention that he was now wearing insulated overalls that 
came only in a camouflage pattern intended to fool deer and turkeys destined for 
the food chain. You know how to make a snowman?
Anthony chuckled. When the out-of-the-blue question wasnt followed by a punch 
line, he sobered up and said, You serious?
Yeah.
Geez, nothing to it. Start with a snowball and roll it around the yard until 
its really big. Then stack one on top of another, stick some rocks in the head 
for eyes, maybe put a hat on top. While youre doing that, Ill start filling 
out a medical claim. Whatll it befrostbite or mental health benefits?
Both.
Mason set to rolling a ball of snow around the front yard until it got bigger 
and bigger and started to look like, hm, a blob. His first attempt was pathetic. 
Frosty didnt look like anything to sing about with his raggedy coat of dead 
leaves and gumballs. In fact, he required heavy grooming.
He drove through West Bluff again, a good way to warm up and take stock of the 
competition at the same time. Seemed snowmen generally were constructed in three 
tiers, but it wasnt a hard-and-fast rule. Most were short. All were stout. 
Several were impaled with dead branches. He rather enjoyed that.
By afternoon, he was standing back, admiring his third snowman. Better; decent, 
even, but too generic and not nearly good enough to impress Jade. Henry had told 
him the story behind the collection shed adored since she was five. Mason might 
not understand women as much as would be good for him, but he did understand 
that Jade was traditional and romantic, and hed better figure out how to relate 
to that. He retreated inside via the tunnel to think while he thawed his insides 
with hot coffee.
He had five snowmen taking shape on Thursday when Jade stepped out onto her 
front porch. She was wearing her long cape, so it gave Mason hope that shed 
stay and talk, though her arms were crossed over her chest tight enough to ward 
off anything he had to say.
Most people do that in their own yards, she said.
Mason patted a more-artistic snowman, one with sculptured shoulders and arms. 
You werent supposed to see them yet.
Pretty damn hard to miss in my own front yard.
Oh, yeah, still pissed. 
I started yesterday. His boots crunched through the snow until he stopped at 
the bottom of the steps, cautious to keep his distance lest she shut down 
completely, because he so desperately wanted her to hear him out instead of 
storming into the house. I want you to know that I havent told anyone your 
secret. I never will.
No comment.
Okay, make conversation. You look tired. Is your insomnia back?
Jades brow puckered ever so slightly, warning him that maybe he couldve worded 
that better, and damn, he wanted to, she deserved his best, she deserved the 
truth, so he tried again.
I guess I should tell you, I dont have trouble sleeping. Well, I do now, of 
course. Now Im brokenhearted, and who can sleep like that? But I mean other 
than that.
It was a lie?
It was.
You have no idea how badly I want to do a truth spell on you.
I know I hurt you very, very deeply. You have every right to be angry.
Pfff. You think I need permission from you?
I will never lie to you again.
Jade looked away, angry, not listening. She blinked back tears and paid more 
attention to a squirrel scampering in the oak tree overhead than on what he had 
to say.
I mean it, Jade. Not so much as a half-truth. Not even by omission. Ask me 
anything. Ill tell you.
You used me.
I dont suppose I can change your mind about that. But I want you to know I 
love you.
She didnt take the bait. Whereve you been staying?
With Henry.
In my basement?
Mason tried one of his trademark cute smiles and shrugs, then discarded those 
and went with pure honesty. I think its better I stay close. That way I can be 
here when youre ready to hear me out.
He dug at the snow with the toe of his boot. He thought about asking to go 
inside where it was warm. He knew he had to just get it done.
For the last year or two, Brenda just kept at me. Kept saying we should move 
our relationship to the next level, and the next level was marriage, and before 
I knew it, we had a church reserved.
Jade sighed and glanced at her watch. He took the hint.
Im over thirty, and Ive never asked a woman to marry me.
She startled, like a doe in the road. Youre not
Jade, I love you.
Her eyebrows arched as she called him on it. And we both know your track record 
with the truth.
He would not be dissuaded. I never knew what falling in love was until I met 
you. I cant imagine the rest of my life without you.
There, she almost smiled.
Youre delusional, she said. She stormed into the house, closing the door with 
a resounding bang.
Mason grinned broadly, happier than a man had a right to be. After all, the love 
of his life was still talking to him.
 
Damn Mason Kincaid.
Jade had thought hed gone back to Pensacola. Shed thought shed never see him 
again. But when shed stepped out onto the front porch and laid eyes on him, her 
stupid, traitorous heart had thumped in excitement before settling down to an 
uneven skipping beat that made her oh-so-aware of every word he said, every 
breath he took, every look of hope and sign of regret.
And then the jerk had proposed! Almost.
Mystic Manor had never been so lonely before. Not even after Doug had gone 
missing. As much as shed loved her husband, she didnt remember him being as 
much a part of her heart as Mason had become in three weeks. Maybe that said 
something about marrying too young, or maybe the feelings had waned in his long 
absence. It didnt matter which. It only mattered that shed risked her heart 
and had it battered and broken.
Jade worked through the night on an order of ritual inks for an occult shop in 
Denver. After that, she had a long list to keep her occupied. Changing clothes, 
grocery shopping, going by Annies because now that she had capital, she wanted 
input on enlarging her cabin and workshop in the woods. After that, shed find 
other errands. Anything to keep busy. Tomorrow morning, she had clients flying 
in.
When she turned onto her street late that afternoon, traffic was backed up all 
the way down the bluff. The typically five-minute drive took twenty, and all the 
way up the hill, bumper to bumper, she murmured charms to assist victims of 
whatever terrible emergency was blocking the road, whether it be an accident or 
a fire.
At the top, she found the source of the problem. Masons five snowmen had 
tripled. You could tell he was from Florida and didnt have a clue, as they all 
faced the front porch. They were pretty neat, though. Not just round balls 
stacked on each other, but sculpted with some thought put into making each one 
unique.
But still!
No wonder people were lined up, staring. And not just locals. Tourists came to 
West Bluff to see the eagles, why not make it a two-fer?
Mason was waiting for her by the garage. He opened her door, all smiles, even 
when she hit him with her most scathing frown.
What about low profile is so hard for you to understand?
Relax. Theyre not here to see you.
Theyre staring at my house.
Trust me, if theyre talking about anyone, its me, not you.
She grinned a little, and though she tried to cover it by getting out of the 
Jeep, Mason noticed anyway. He noticed too much. Now she knew whya trained 
investigator.
What? he asked.
I overheard something in the grocery store about an abominable snowman. I just 
figured it out.
Without asking, he grabbed half a dozen bags of groceries and waited for her to 
lead the way.
What? All of a sudden you want permission to enter my house?
Seems right, since Henry isnt here to invite me in.
Oh, he was so slick, getting that in. It doesnt bother you at all that I dont 
want you here?
Will you marry me?
The look she gave him should have indicated clearly that she thought he had two 
heads, but since he didnt look the least put out by her opinion, she said, 
No, to make it perfectly clear.
Then I cant leave.
So. If I agree to marry you, youll leave?
He grinned at her. Now thatd be silly, wouldnt it?
 
What in Sam Hill are you doing out in the front yard? Henry asked. Hed made 
dinner: a paper plate of grilled cheese sandwiches and canned spaghetti.
Making snowmen. Mason was so hungry, he tucked into his food as if it were 
Jades herb-enhanced stew.
Theyre gonna melt, you know.
Mason shivered. When does it warm up around here?
Could be next month. Could be next week.
Guess Id better hurry then.
What dyou have in mind, son?
Youll see. Is there a resale shop in town?
Yeah, down on Baptism Road.
Let me guess. Thatd run along the river.
If you dont find what youre looking for, theres always Clarksville and 
Hannibal. Cripes, son, you eat like a growing boy. You want some more?
Thanks. You have an internet connection down here?
You see one?
Hell, I didnt see a hidden entrance under your bed from the third cellar 
either, but that doesnt mean its not there. He sat back while Henry dumped 
the pan of spaghetti onto his plate. I havent had this stuff since I was a 
kid. Its pretty good.
What do you want on the internet?
Honeymoon reservations. Think Jaded like Aruba? If she didnt take to diving, 
hed be content wherever she wanted to spend time. All he wanted was to be with 
her. Do you know if shes certified?
Henry stopped abruptly, stared at Mason, then shook his head. Speaking of 
certifiedSon, shes not gonna say yes. Especially with you spending all your 
free time outside in the snow, when you could be buying her something shed 
treasure, like, oh, I dont know, a diamond ring.
But thats just the point, dont you see? Im doing something I hate in order 
to give her something she loves.
Shes right. Youre delusional.
Persistent.
Like I said.
Mason had never worked so hard to win a woman. Hed certainly never envisioned 
working at getting one to accept his proposal, certain that the rest of his life 
hinged on the outcome.
Without Jade, hed benothing. Without purpose. Wandering lost and alone. God, 
it sounded so lame. He didnt dare say any of that out loud. The sad part, 
though, is that it was true. Now that hed fallen in love, truly in love, 
second-best would never do. If Jade didnt want him, if she couldnt love him 
back
No, he couldnt think that way. Hed pull out all the stops. Hed give it his 
best shot.
Chapter 23 
A nnie jumped into the passenger seat of Masons car. Drive. I dont want Jade 
to see us together.
Sitting in the driveway, Mason looked at her quizzically and started the engine.
Youre not giving up, are you? If anyone asked her opinion, Jade and Mason 
were meant to be together, but it was Saturday already, and Jade wasnt giving 
in.
If youre here to give me advice, he drawled, I hope its better than 
Henrys.
As they eased toward the street, Annie gazed at the growing army of snowmen 
gathering under the towering oak trees, and said, Im really good at giving 
advice. Maybe if I knew what you were up to.
Everyone in West Bluff and all of the tourists wondered what he was up to. You 
couldnt walk into a store, caf, or gas station without getting drawn into 
speculation.
If you spray snowmen with a hose, do they get all shiny like icicles?
Annie laughed. I have no idea.
Whats so funny?
Theres a pool going on you. When youll turn hypothermic.
Whats the deciding factor? When I walk off the bluff?
Thats one of the criteria. Turn left here. Ill be able to hike back through 
the woods. Annie settled back against the door. Its a shame they assigned you 
guys to watch Jade, when, of the three of us, she has the most to lose.
Her low profile, and all?
Its more than that. I mean, come on, the citys run by the same people who run 
the churches, and West Bluff has ordinances against people like us conducting 
business within the city limits. One breath of her spellwork gets out, and 
Jades in for a fight.
Good grief, Annie, there must be dozens of people around here who know shes a 
witch.
Yes, and they havent said a word, she said pointedly.
Neither have I. And I wont. Thats a promise. Anthony and I didnt share any 
of that with the insurance company or the other teams.
Annie was silent for a moment. Other teams?
Mason grinned. Didnt want you to feel left out.
Ahh, the black van. Shed seen it a few times. Mostly shed noticed because 
shed been driving her old wreck and thought how nice it would be to have the 
van for deliveries.
So whos betting in this pool? Noah and Buzz?
Everyone who ever talked to you or saw you since you came to town. Pots up to 
eight hundred dollars.
Really? You betting?
Sunday, 11:00 P.M.
Now see, thats no good. Im in bed every night long before then.
Annie shrugged. Its a witch thing. Fourth-quarter moon. Hard aspects to Mars 
and Plutothat could be accidents and death. Speaking of witch things, I didnt 
just jump in your car to see if you were still lucid. We all like you, Mason.
His brow rose in silent question.
Well, youre right, not everybody. Someday you can tell me why Miss Lisabet has 
it in for you. Shes the librarian. But I mean those of us who got to know you. 
Weezy and Noah and Buzz. We all like you, and we think youre good for Jade. So 
Im here to offer to do a spell for you.
No!
What?oh, quit looking as if youd rather hit a tree. Its a good offer. My 
candle spells always work.
Ah, wouldnt that be unfair to Jade? Unethical, even?
Annie was put out at his reaction. Do you want her or not?
Oh, I want her.
Well, then?
Mason pulled off to the side of the road, thinking it over carefully before he 
turned to her with his answer. You know what, Annie? I appreciate it. I do. But 
I love Jade, a lot, and I dont want to do anything that she might consider not 
on the up-and-up when she finally comes around and says yes.
She saw nothing in his eyes but intense honesty, and pain. Youre that sure of 
yourself?
He shook his head. Between you, me, and the fence post, Im scared shitless. I 
think Im only going to get one chance. Im sure this is it. And I have nohe 
winced in place of an expletive, which just made it that much more 
heartfeltclue how its going to turn out.
 
Jade spent the day with her guests from Montana, whod laughed at the weather 
report and said nothing less than a blizzard could have stopped them from coming 
to Mystic Manor. They had a spring wedding planned and wanted spellwork to cut 
all ties to former spouses. Shed scheduled them for this weekend in particular, 
due to the Balsamic Moon.
Clients came with emotional baggage; they couldnt help it. When the Abernats 
retired for the night, Jade stepped out into the backyard, closed her eyes, 
lifted her chin to the breeze, and let it wash over her. She needed this time to 
remove negativity, to cleanse herself for the following day.
No moonlight tonight, Mason said behind her, his voice deep and seductively 
quiet.
For a huge body that rode the sky in a predictable pattern, people sure could be 
clueless. She could have explained that a fourth-quarter moon sets before the 
sun; she didnt bother. She was afraid if she talked to him, shed be opening 
the door where shed locked up all her feelings for him.
You doing a spell?
Jade sighed. She didnt open her eyes; better not to encourage him. Im trying 
to relax.
Good. He waited a beat. Is it working?
She couldnt help smiling. That wasnt too big a betrayal, not like a laugh. 
What was it about this man that made her want to push him off the bluff but hold 
him tight at the same time?
I just have one question, he said.
If I were doing a spell, it would be to send you home.
Yeah, I figured. But, he said pointedly, stepping close, blocking the wind, 
Im still here.
She opened her eyes. Need a ride to the airport? She flashed him a look that 
she hoped showed irritation, but instinctively knew shed failed horribly when 
he smiled and said, Cant go yet.
He reached out slowly. Jade steeled herself for his touch, thinking that now 
that she knew the truth, it should feel cold and deceitful, but her traitorous 
body thrilled at the sensation of his warm hand grazing her cheek, tracing the 
line of her jaw. When he wrapped his fingers behind her neck and drew her close, 
she breathed him in, not finding the cleansing shed sought from the wind but 
something deeper and far more satisfying.
Mason leaned into her, and their lips met. She was powerless to stop it, to 
break it off, not because of his hold, but because of that intangible property 
that pulls soul mates together.
He teased her at first, touching and releasing, brushing over the corner of her 
eye, the curve of her ear, the length of her neck, turning foreplay into an art 
so hot, she thought theyd melt a crater in the snow.
Mase she whispered on a long sigh. It was too late to ground herself. Too 
late to pull away.
I love you, he said, his lips brushing hers.
No.
I do. I will never hurt you.
You already have.
But youll forgive me.
She didnt want to. If she opened her mouth, she was afraid shed agree.
Marry me, Jade?
She shook her head slowly. Summoning all her strength, she took a step back, 
feeling lonelier than ever as Masons hand fell away.
When hell freezes over.
He grinnedthe last thing shed expected.
Havent you heard? he said. Last night, it did.
 
Jades insomnia was back with a vengeance. It wasnt the peaceful, good use of 
time she remembered, but eight more hours each day to regret the moment Mason 
had blown in her front door.
The next afternoon, he was charming her Montana guests in the study. He might as 
well wear a shirt that said, Able to deal with needy people, as requested. Karl 
and Diana Abernat sat side by side on the sofa, laughing as if they found him 
highly amusing. Mason stood close to the roaring fire, one arm propped on the 
mantel as casually as if he owned the place, marveling aloud that the Abernats 
had tons more snow in Montana and came here instead of the Caribbean.
Oh, Jade, have you seen Masons snowmen? Diana asked, bubbling with 
excitement. Theyre just lovely!
I havent looked today.
Oh, but you must! Quick, before we leave for the airport. Diana slipped her 
arm through Jades and led her out the front door, onto the wide porch. 
Goodness, theres a lot of traffic. Karl! We should leave soon.
Jade gritted her teeth. Theyre taking pictures. People were abandoning their 
cars on the narrow shoulder, walking through her yard, taking pictures of the 
snowmen. And more. Of my house, Mason.
Mason bent down and whispered in her ear. Dont worry, I covered all the 
pentacles with pine branches. I hope its not bad luck.
She relaxed a little, solely due to his foresight and absolutely not because she 
liked how his warm breath tickled her ear.
What a wonderful idea! Diana said. Karl, honey, get the camera out of my bag, 
will you? My goodness, I dont know which one is my favorite!
There were plenty to chose from, Jade noticed. Since yesterday, theyd 
transformed into unmistakable icy replicas of people she knew. Courtneys 
likeness had its arm around a pint-size Jazzy. Annies was topped with a blond 
wig and a pink scarf.
A wig? Jade gave Mason what she hoped he interpreted as the evil eye. You put 
wigs on them?
He smiled and shrugged. Wigs, hats, whats the difference?
Weezys model wore a flowered apron, brandishing a skillet in one hand and a 
spatula in the other.
Buzz was easy to pick out, and Jade said, Im pretty sure its a felony to put 
a federal uniform on a snowman.
If they arrest me, you can destroy the evidence.
If they lock you up, Ill destroy the key, she said, trying so, so hard not to 
smile. The trouble hed gone to wasnt lost on her.
The reporter had a black beret, a notepad and pen. The milkman carried bottles, 
and she supposed the dopey-looking ones with thick overalls and earflaps were 
supposed to be Noahs nephews. Miss Lisabet wore wire-rimmed spectacles and 
carried books. Gabby had a stethoscope draped around her neck; the extinct 
nurses cap must have come from an antiques store. Madeline bundled two blue 
receiving blankets in her arms.
Oh, I love the twin snowbabies! Diana gurgled, snapping pictures. I cant 
wait to show these back home. Nobody there does anything like this. Mason, you 
must really love the snow.
Jade held her tongue, because she knew how much he truly hated it. Yet it was 
obvious hed done this for her.
Notice how the looky-loos hang back behind the wall instead of intruding? 
Diana said. Its cozy, like an enclosed garden. They can tell theres something 
private about it.
Used to be, Jade said in a dry tone. Ah, Mason, can I get your opinion on 
something inside?
Sure, love.
Shed no sooner gotten Mason alone in the foyer than he shoved the door closed 
and pressed her up against it in a kiss so hot, the fire in the study paled by 
comparison.
Will you marry me?
When Jade could speak again, she said, Ill call the police and have you 
removed first.
I met the chief. Sherman, right? Nice guy. He stopped by to do traffic control 
and visit with Henry. Tell me, is there anyone in town who doesnt know your 
secret?
Only a few thousand you havent met. Mason, you have to stop this. You have to 
leave. You know you want to go back where its warm, where theres no snow. 
Remember? Eighty degrees? Surf pounding?
Go back? Im not leaving.
Your jobs in Pensacola.
Youre here. There are companies thatll refer work to me. Sometimes Ill 
travel. You know, Im glad were having this little talk.
Its warm in Pensacola.
But youre here.
Jade growled low in her throat and shoved him to arms length. That does it. 
Ive tried to be nice, but if you dont leave today, Im locking you out.
I saw a hose in the garage. Would you mind if I borrowed it?
Yes! I would!
Mason grinned. Didnt think so.
She growled and pushed past him, unable to think straight when he locked those 
steel blue eyes on her. When he teased her as if she still loved him.
 
After the guests departed, Jade spent the night catching up on the witch 
network, interrupted only by an e-mail from Anthony. She leaned back in her 
chair, wondering how hed gotten her private address.
Oh, of course, she muttered with a du-uh attitude. They were detectives; she 
probably didnt have a single secret left.
Anthony was brief and to the point.
Dear Jade, 


No one would hire us to do the more critical stuff if we blew cover whenever it 
suited. See attachments. Then if youre not going to get over it and give a 
great guy like Mason a break, will you please send him back to Florida where he 
can be of some use? 
Also, a small wood-inlaid box got into my luggage by mistake. Sorry. Im 
returning it by FedEx. 
Jade started to hit the DELETE button, then thought, Why not? The attachments 
were carefully chosen and included news articles on how Mason had successfully 
protected a senators twelve-year-old daughter from a crazed stalker (now 
serving time), retrieved an elderly womans life savings following a scam 
(thank-you note included, inviting him to Thanksgiving for the rest of her 
life), and caught a temp agency using unsuspecting employees as drug mules.
So he was good at what he did, so what? So his work was sometimes important. Big 
deal.
Too antsy to stay at the keyboard, she stepped out back to let the breeze work 
its magic.
The sky was pitch-black, the stars brilliant pinpoints of light. Somewhere below 
the horizon, the moon eased into the next new cycle. The time of endings had 
come and gone. Yet Mason was still here. Was her mother right? Jade breathed 
deeply and tried to accept that the Universe must have special plans this time 
around. It wasnt easy. She wasnt convinced.
There were ways to learn more. In the conservatory, she lit a candle, sat on the 
stones with it behind her, and gazed into the pool at the base of the waterfall 
where she and Mason had made love.
As she grounded and centered herself, she reviewed the little things that hadnt 
made sense before: Masons familiarity with a handgun, the Bond-Rambo crouch 
shed teased him about. And she supposed the three death benefits hadnt been 
small potatoes to the insurance company, so she could see why theyd surveilled 
the house even though she didnt like it.
As Jade quickly transitioned to an altered state, the surface of the water 
changed from fluid, to misty, to dark velvet, then ceased to register on her 
consciousness at all, mirroring the changes in her perspective. In the void, she 
saw two lit tapers running together, but instead of melting into a common pool 
of wax, they merged and formed one perfect candle.
She closed her eyes and bathed herself in white light. When she gazed into the 
water again, she saw herself lying in Masons arms, sound asleep.
The divination was as clear as day. No visions of life alone. No getting tarred 
and feathered and run out of town. But still
She tried once more. When she saw bridesmaids with straw hats, silk shawls, and 
bouquets of roses, she gave up.
 
The front doorbell of Mystic Manor rarely rang, so when it did, it drew Jades 
attention.
Hi, Im Tricia Sherwood. The redhead on the porch looked so proud of herself, 
as if shed single-handedly turned the front yard into the most popular tourist 
attraction in two states. This mornings logjam had snagged the school bus. The 
children were noisy, hanging out the windows, pointing toward the house.
Jades smile was saccharin. Welcome to my nightmare.
Oh. Tricia grimaced. You dont like being popular?
Jades acerbic laugh clearly said, Oh, my dear, you are sooo naive. Sorry, I 
dont give interviews.
Oh, no, thats not why Im here. I just got a promotionWell, I guess you dont 
care about my silly ol promotion. Anyway, I thought Id stop by and see if that 
sexy eagle photographer is here? Tricias giggle was replaced by a concerned 
frown and a glance over her shoulder. But now that Ive seen the bridesmaids, 
Im thinking Im too late.
What bridesmaids?
You havent seen them? Tricia stepped aside, giving Jade full view of her 
front yard. She faded into the background when Jade saw the transformation that 
had brought traffic to a standstill.
Oh, my, she said with a long sigh.
Mason clearly had gotten inventive with the garden hose, misting the branches 
until the vapor froze in hoarfrost. Trees, bushes, vines; all were layered. The 
sun hit it, setting ice crystals aglitter like millions of sparkling diamonds, 
turning it into a winter fairyland that eclipsed her namesakes morning after.
Tricia?
Yes?
Traffics moving again. Go away.
Oh. Okay.
In contrast, the snow sculptures had a smooth, glossy coat of ice and bore an 
amazing resemblance to a wedding party. Annie and Courtneys likenesses 
currently were decked out in straw hats and silk shawls, baskets of flowers, and 
rhinestone buttons up the front. Jazzy held a basket of rose petals, Uncle Henry 
wore a top hat. Weezy was draped with a mink stole.
I hope the furs not politically incorrect, Mason said. He stopped at the foot 
of the steps. But the antique mall was overrun with them, and I sort of thought 
Weezyd like it.
He had iron stakes under one arm and a plastic bucket in the other.
For a guy who hates the cold, you sure outdid yourself. Jade heard awe in her 
own voice, too late to squelch it, knowing Mason wouldnt miss it. He never 
missed anything.
Came out kind of pretty, didnt it? Ill be honest with you. He didnt say it 
as if making a point, but all the same, it did. I was going for a smooth ice 
effect, but the crystals are pretty nice.
Its called hoarfrost. We dont see it very often. As soon as the sun gets hot, 
itll disappear.
Im guessing thats before July.
Jade laughed. Probably before noon.
I have a few other things to be honest about.
You want tocome inside?
In a minute. Hold on. Oh, wait. Here. He set everything down and stripped out 
of his heavy coat.
Youll freeze, she said with demurral.
He jogged up the steps, holding it out. Ive worked up a sweat. Go ahead, take 
it. This sweaters warm enough. When she didnt, he stepped close and draped it 
around her shoulders. There you go.
His voice carried a ragged edge, Jade noted, the kind that had nothing to do 
with the state of his health and everything to do with what lay between them, 
holding them apart. He stood in front of her, tugging the edges of the coat 
together. She stared at his bold-patterned sweater and thought how soft it would 
feel if she just put her head on it. How strong and hard his chest would be 
beneath her cheek.
Mason backed away, holding her gaze until he tumbled backward down the steps and 
landed in the snow.
I could lie here and pretend Im hurt, he said. But Im not.
Being truthful doesnt mean you cant ever tease me again.
The stakes turned out to be a dozen garden candleholders, which he stuck in the 
snow around the sculptures and topped with pillars out of the bucket.
I got the candles from Annie. She swore they were charmed with good intentions 
and nothing more.
She knows about this? Jade indicated the bridesmaids.
You mean did I explain?no. I just plug away; people just watch. I started the 
perimeter wall around the snowmen with the idea of a church wedding in mind. 
Then it dawned on me that you wouldnt get married in a church, but with the 
whole town driving by every day to see what changes Ive made, I couldnt very 
well outfit them with capes and wands.
Living in the basement couldnt be fun. Spending hours in the snow. Getting 
rejected every day.
Loyal and true. 
Mason lit the wicks, one by one.
I see youve overcome your hatred of candles.
Ive overcome a lot of things. Youre the most important thing in the world to 
me. I know, what with our history and all, that youre having some doubts about 
believing that, but it doesnt make it untrue.
Im not sure what to believe anymore.
I know, he said, and when he gazed up at her, she believed him. You just have 
to jump in with both feet. Like me. Hell, if Id met a witch six months ago, I 
wouldve, I dont know, bought a wooden cross and worn garlic, or something.
Thats for
But look at me now. You promised not to cast spells on me. I believed you. He 
lit the remainder of the candles in silence.
Your lips are moving.
Candle magic. Im making wishes.
Jade felt her brow arch. Youre using witchcraft on me?
Not exactly. One of them is: Dont let anything I did here endanger your 
secret. The others are: Give me strength to tell you everything; keep me safe 
when I tell you how I snooped through your house, looking for evidence that your 
husband was still alive.
How snooped?
Top to bottom.
Everywhere?
He walked up the steps. You have no secrets. Unless theyre hidden in your box 
of tampons. I left that alone.
Jade grinned. Sounds like a good place to hide my valuables.
He came to a standstill before her, trying to stop a teasing grin that would not 
be controlled. And most important: If at all possible, please let you forgive 
me before I freeze my nuts off.
Jade bit the inside of her cheek, refusing to grin at his humor. You should 
know, one of the first rules of witchcraft is not to tell others what youre 
wishing for.
Spellcasting 101, Ill make a note of it, he said, his head bobbing in 
acceptance. And why is that?
Because if people know what youre wishing for, they can work against you.
Theres one more. If youre ever going to agree to marry me, please make it 
today.
I cant.
It wasnt the answer he wanted. She could see disappointment register in his 
eyes, in his very soul.
Its not that simple, she said, knowing she had confessions of her own to 
make.
They say love never is, but you know what? Life never seemed so clear to me or 
so purposeful before I fell in love with you. Mason focused on nothing briefly 
as he chose his words, then looked at her with such longing, it nearly broke her 
heart. It is simple, Jade. Just take it one day at a time. Ill never give you 
cause to regret it. And every day youll know that. And someday, a week or a 
month or a year from now, youll look back and realize its true.
Heres the deal. I used witchcraft on you. It was before I said I wouldnt, but 
I think you should know that I cast the spell that brought you here. Actually, 
as long as Im telling you everything, it started before that. I cast the spell 
that helped Brenda make up her mind and take a stand, which is when you got 
dumped
Jilted is starting to sound so much better.
And then I cast a spell for the perfect man, and they kind of gotmingled. 
There, shed said it, got it all out between them. Because with secrets like 
that between them, there was no hope.
Masons disappointment disappeared, replaced with a broad grin. You think Im 
perfect?
Focus, Mason. If you cant focus, few of your wishes will come true.
But they might?
Hush, Im not done. Then I cast a lot more spells to send you back.
How many?
I dont know, she said, exasperated.
Cotton ball in my pocket?
She nodded.
Tupperware in the river?
She had trouble looking him in the eye, but she did it anyway. She owed him that 
much. Throwing a used article of clothing into the current signifies the owner 
getting swept away. I used your dirty sock.
Oh, right, the one you stuck in your pocket.
How could you know that?
Mason winced, clearly uncomfortable with this. I havent confessed everything 
yet. There were wireless cameras in the house, too.
She wouldve shrieked, but she was too stunned. Is there anything else?
God, I hope not. You?
I did maybe a dozen spells. But I stopped after I said I wouldnt do any.
Hm. He glanced at the dozen candles hed just lit. I dont want to brag or 
anything, but it seems your success rates not as good as mine. I was going to 
ask for a good witch recommendation, but, hm, now I dont know. See, theres a 
certain woman I want to charm into marrying me, but she keeps telling me no when 
I want her to say yes.
Have you asked her lately?
Hope flared in his eyes. He stuck out his hand. Mason Kincaid, private eye.
What?
I thought, now that all our secrets are out, we should start over.
Jade slipped her hand into his, and didnt resist when he pulled her close, 
folding both her hands inside his. Will you marry me, love?
She loved when he called her love.
Because, honest to God, I need you so bad, its hard to breathe without you. 
Its hard to wake up in the morning without you, and go to sleep, and eat, and
Yes, Mason. I will.
He released her hands and swallowed her in the circle of his arms, hugging her 
one moment, kissing her the next, lifting her off her feet and swinging her 
around until they fell off the porch together, and Jade didnt remember wishing 
for persistent, but was grateful nonetheless.
Damn, Im freezing, Mason said, pushing snow aside, brushing more off Jade.
She graced him with a seductive smile and said, I know a warm spot by a 
waterfall.
Authors Note 
Dear Reader, 


I hope you enjoyed Jade and Masons love story. They turned out to be two of my 
favorite characters! Next up in the Witches of West Bluff series is Annies 
story, then Courtneys. Join me, wont you, to see whats in their future. 
Fondly, 
Jenna McKnight 
Acknowledgments 
Thank you to the witches around me who generously shared their beliefs, their 
way of life. Among them, Jan O., my friend. If I took a few liberties with the 
Craft, its because they all told me that each witch must do what feels right to 
her. And so I gave Jade, Annie, and Courtney free rein to do things their own 
way.
And where would I have been without all the great resources on Craft, the shop 
owners who like to share, the wonderful authors who live their lives in tune 
with the energy around them? May the Goddess and Spirits of your choice smile 
upon all of you.
Many thanks also to P.I. Dale A.F. Johnson, retired police officer, who 
generously allowed me to tap his knowledge of firearms and laws. Any 
incongruities herein are plot devices, not errors on his part.
About the Author 
Jenna McKnight began writing stories when I was about nine. Back then, I was 
enthralled by televisions rugged cowboys, suave spies, and debonair doctors. 
Now Im into more tangible characterslike Greek gods, angels-in-training, and 
ornery ghosts. Hey, no sense growing up too much. When Im not writing, I like 
to meet up with friends around the country, hike, and dig through antiques 
malls. Sometimes I get to do all three at once, and then Im in heaven.
You can keep up-to-date on my new books at www.jennamcknight.com. Fan mails 
always welcome at P.O. Box 283, Grover, MO 63040-0283. Ill be happy to reply if 
you include a SASE.
Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite 
HarperCollins author.
Avon Contemporary Romances by 
Jenna McKnight 
WITCH IN THE HOUSE
LOVE IN THE FAST LANE
A DATE ON CLOUD NINE
A GREEK GOD AT THE LADIES CLUB
Copyright 
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are 
drawn from the authors imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any 
resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely 
coincidental.
WITCH IN THE HOUSE. Copyright  2007 by Jenna McKnight. All rights reserved 
under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the 
required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right 
to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may 
be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or 
stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in 
any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or 
hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins 
e-books.
Microsoft Reader August 2007 ISBN 978-0-06-153645-8
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