Hidden Sins (40 page)

The way the sun was setting, I didn’t think he could see inside, but it somehow felt like his eyes were on me, watching me fidget. Okay. That was probably wishful thinking, but it really did feel that way. So much so that I refused to look in his direction, even though it was killing me not to check him out.

“Can he see through the windshield, do you think?” Brandy mused.

“Why?” I asked. “I don’t think so, but I’m not sure since the privacy glass is down.”

“Well, it looks like he’s captivated by someone back here and it’s not me,” she stated.

“Yeah. Then he definitely can’t see back here,” I said, feeling the heat run up my body.

“I’m pretty sure he can, and all I can say is lucky you.”

I turned my attention back to him and saw him speaking with Bernie, but I will admit his gaze did manage to gravitate in this direction.

“I think I’d trade my soul for one night with him,” I whispered.

“That’s my Gabby,” Brandy chuckled. “You just needed a Mr. Perfect to show up.”

“He’s completely unattainable,” I replied, daring myself to look at him once more. “That’s why I can say it. He’ll drive off, so will we, and I won’t have to worry.”

His hand gripped a leather wallet, and my gaze followed up his long, muscular arm as I watched him stuff it back in his pocket. How could a slight movement do this to me? His laughter echoed all the way to the car as he patted Bernie’s shoulder and dipped his head to peek through the windshield. This time there was no doubt who he was looking at as our eyes locked, sending a shiver up my spine. His long lashes outlined his amber eyes, and they were like liquescent gold as the sunlight caught the bronze flecks just right. I didn’t even think that was a possible eye color, except maybe in a little movie I happened to love back in high school and college, but still those were contacts. These weren’t. His lip quirked up, and he gave a slight nod. So slight, I wasn’t even sure it happened.

Brandy squealed and tightened her grip. “He’s coming this way,” she said.

“Quick. Sit over there.” I pointed to the backseat, and she dove toward it. I started laughing but followed right behind her. I felt the giddiness of high school fill me to the brim, and I had no idea why.

“How come we just did that?” she muttered, ready for the next commandment as she adjusted her dress.

“I have no idea,” I confessed.

I pointed at the Grecian God as he peered into the darkened glass next to us. He did a double tap on the window with his knuckles as his lips twisted into a cocky smile. When he stood back up, I noticed his shirt hugging his flat stomach and began dreaming about my fingers skating across it and started chuckling.

“What’s so funny?” Brandy quipped and I shook my head.

“I have no effing idea, but this mirage of a man is turning me into a mess.”

“He’s no mirage,” she replied.

I watched as the man threw us another lopsided smile, but I also knew this time he couldn’t see us. He just seemed to like the idea of messing with us.

“So, you got the President inside here or a bunch of giggling high school girls on their way to prom?” His voice low, scalding my insides.

Brandy looked at me horrified. “This is why you hate riding in this thing,” she stated.

I nodded quickly, keeping my eyes on the guy who was slowly moving toward the door.

“Completely pretentious modes of transportation will never lead to good things.” I took a deep breath in.

“Yep. My bet is that it’s a bunch of sixteen year olds,” he said coyly, arrogance filling his every word and gesture. “Waiting to get—”

Brandy’s breathing stopped at about the same time mine did.

My heart fell to my toes as he opened the door and ducked his head inside the limo. He was gorgeous. No. That’s not true. He was beyond gorgeous. His amber eyes filled with mischief as he looked at Brandy and then at me.

He looked to be in his late twenties. I heard Bernie talking, but I couldn’t decipher what he was saying. All I could do was look at this piece of perfection as he toyed with us and obviously enjoyed it. My hand slid up by my necklace as I attempted to block my scar from his view, but all that did was make me more self-conscious.

“Are you two okay?” he asked.

I nodded, speechless, and looked away.

“That was quite a hit,” he continued. “I’m an EMT if…”

I whipped my head around, intending to give him a mocking glance, but instead I wound up blushing as his smile turned to a wonderfully wicked grin with his eyes capturing my discomfort.

“If he can do that with his eyes, I can’t even imagine what he can do with…” Brandy whispered in my ear.

“What was that?” the man’s voice rumbled, eyeing me, not Brandy.

“Okay, you’ve had your fun,” I told him, flushing from the inside out. “We’ve got an event we’re late for.” I watched his eyes follow my lips as I spoke, which did nothing but create a hornets nest inside of me. How could his eyes do that to me, penetrate me like that?

“You’re right. What was I thinking? You’re the only ones who have a place to be.” He flashed me another wide grin. The intensity in him shifted only slightly as he pretended to be annoyed. “I wasn’t on my way to anywhere in particular. In fact, I had only planned on driving back and forth on the bridge all night. One side… Then the other…”

“I didn’t mean that where we had to go was more important than you,” I sputtered out. This is what I hated about riding in these things. Limos automatically put people in the ass-hat category. However, wanting to live up to the already laid reputation, my lips pinched together, and my arms crossed automatically.

“Maybe we’re headed to the same place,” he replied, his eyes carefully reading my actions, teasing me. “Although, judging by how you’re dressed, it’s doubtful.”

I frowned and looked away from the guy and mumbled, “You really should drive more carefully.”

The guy laughed and my eyes flicked back to his. “That’s what most people hear when they’ve just gotten rear-ended,” he replied. “Well, I think I struck out here so my insurance will be in touch.” He gave me a wink and ducked out of the car.

I watched Bernie and the guy trade goodbyes quickly before he jogged back to whatever vehicle was pulling the trailer.

Brandy reached for the bottle of champagne and replenished both of our flutes. “I think someone’s got a crush on the mystery man.”

“I do not.”

“You always get this way when you do,” she continued laughing.

“What way?” I demanded.

“Snippety.” She smiled as if she’d won the battle.

Bernie climbed back into the car, apologizing profusely, and Brandy and I both resituated back to the side seat. I watched as the utility trailer pulled away and we followed.

“It looks like it did more damage to this car than his trailer,” Bernie said. “It’s gonna be in the shop for awhile.”

“That’s a shame,” Brandy replied sarcastically. Finally the woman was on my side about riding in this car.

“So what’s that guy’s name?” Brandy asked Bernie. I jabbed her in the ribs, and all she did was laugh.

“Jason something or other,” Bernie replied. “I’ve got it written down. He certainly got a kick out of you two, didn’t he?”

“Jason,” Brandy repeated it for me as if I didn’t hear it the first time. “That’s a nice name.”

She was about to get on one of her ‘pair up Gabby’ kicks so I quickly deterred her, hoping her champagne consumption would aid in my rescue.

I turned to her and asked, “You wanna know what’s more ridiculous than showing up to places in a limo?”

“What?” she asked playfully, batting her lashes and forgetting about setting me up with the stranger.

“Pulling up to a place in a busted-ass limo,” I replied, and we both started laughing. Dating crisis averted once again.

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“Mom!” I hollered more for my benefit than hers.

I wasn’t in earshot yet, but I loved the way my voice carried into the wind off the sea. The constant sloshing of the waves guided me to the rocky beach where my mom was collecting her thoughts and anything else that might catch her fancy. It was a pleasant night with only the moon’s warm glow lighting my way on the very uneven path that weaved through the overgrown blackberries and tall beach grass. Doing my best to dodge the prick of the thorns, I carefully managed to stay on the trail. I didn’t need to be all scarred up for my upcoming celebrations.

This little stretch of beach was hard to get to and rarely frequented by anyone, which was why we loved it. The beach wasn’t what most people pictured when they thought of a beach. The beaches along Washington’s coast, more often than not, had tiny rocks and pebbles in place of sand and many boulders and downed logs that made for awfully fine seating, not places to spread out on a beach towel and soak up the rays.

The makeshift trail finally ended, allowing me to spot my mom’s pile of things. I hoped she was ready to leave. It was getting a little chilly, and I hadn’t prepared to be here long. We had a crockpot full of chili waiting for us both, but she wanted me to meet her here at our special spot, so she could tell me something. I had no idea what it was that she wanted to tell me, but since so much was going on in my life right now it could be about anything. I just graduated from high school. My eighteenth birthday was almost here. Our huge summer solstice celebration, Litha was fast approaching, along with the big event, my acceptance into the Witch Avenue Coven on the same day.

“Mom?” I yelled, as I trudged my way over to her bag, looking around the empty beach.

Only the crashing of waves answered.

I didn’t see her anywhere.

“Mom?” I tried again, batting down the worry that wanted to make its way into my consciousness.

Realizing my voice was no match for the roar of the waves, I started walking toward one of the larger boulders, in case she was sitting where I just couldn’t see her. The pebbles were loose, creating an extra treacherous journey since I was only in flip-flops. Poor planning on my part, but I didn’t think that I’d have to hunt her down. She could be sidetracked so easily.

Finally making it to the mammoth piece of black rock, I became annoyed when I saw she wasn’t there. I wasn’t in any way prepared to be marching up and down the beach looking for her. I grabbed my cellphone out of my pocket and dialed her number as I went back toward her pile of things to sit. Maybe I should stay put, and she’d return soon enough. As the phone rang on my end, I got closer to my mom’s pile and heard her bag ringing. Darn! She didn’t take it with her—odd. That was always a rule of hers when hiking or at the beach. We carried our phones with us at all times.

I squatted down to see what she brought with her, hoping an item might lead me in the right direction to find her. If she were gathering plants, then I’d know better where to go. I opened up her bag and panic set in immediately. The shirt she was wearing when she left our house was stuffed in her bag, wrapped around the shoes she was wearing. This made no sense. Her wallet and jewelry were in this bag. She wouldn’t just leave all this stuff for a stranger to steal. Something was wrong. Jumping up, the insides of the bag dispersed onto the beach, but I didn’t care.

“Mom!” I screamed, kicking off my flip-flops so that I could run up the hill closest to me.

Reaching the top of the hill, I scanned the grassy area quickly seeing nothing. Spinning around, I looked back toward the rocky beach. From this vantage point, I was able to see everything and nothing. My heart started pounding as I began dialing 9-1-1.

“911, what is your emergency?” The operator answered.

“My mom. She’s missing,” I cried into the phone, dread spreading everywhere.

“Calm down, ma’am. Where are you located?”

Calm down? I’m not hyper, just scared!

“I’m at the beach just off of Snoqualmie Avenue, down the trail,” I replied

“Is your mother in the water? How long has she been missing?”

“I don’t know!” I screamed into the phone. “Please just send help.”

Okay, now I’m panicking! I can’t calm down. My mom isn’t where she’s supposed to be.

“Ma’am, help is on the way. What is your name?”

“Triss,” I replied, as I ran back down the hill to search the beach or the water, or anywhere but where I was.

Could my mom be in the water? I didn’t even think of that. She wouldn’t be in the water, would she?

“And what is your mother’s name?” the operator asked blandly.

“Veronica Spires,” my voice panted with the exertion.

“Where are they? When will they get here? She needs help!”

I reached the edge of the water. The waves were lapping against my bare feet. Looking out toward the sea, I saw nothing but water and rocks illuminated by the moon’s light. There was no way she would be out there. She never went into the water without someone with her. Oh, my God, where could she be?

The police sirens, off in the distance, were becoming louder by the second. Help was on the way but not nearly soon enough.

“Veronica! Mom! Veronica!” I kept hollering. “Where are you?”