* * *
Days passed, and nothing strange happened to any of the three of us or Max, so I decided the whole thing was just a hoax and that there was no reason to get so worked up about it.
When the weed whacker started whirring outside, I jumped up. I peered through the window and saw Fred working in the back yard, so I thought it was the perfect time to tell him my findings and see what he thought.
When Fred noticed me, he turned off the machine. He was covered in dust and dirt, with a pile of decapitated towering weeds lying at his feet.
“How about a drink?” I said, offering him a bottle of water.
He brushed off his clothes and smiled. “Thank you, Taylor.”
“You’re welcome,” I said, staring up into his eyes that were as green as the grass he was trimming.
“I’m just about to take a break. Mind if I spend it with you?” he asked.
“I’d love to. I found out some things, and I’d like to talk to you about them.” Fred was cute and a good friend, so I didn’t see any harm in sitting outside with him for a few minutes. My dad controlled his breaks, but I didn’t see him anywhere around, so I led Fred to the porch swing and sat down with him.
“Taylor,” he said, “you really like Jesse, don’t you?”
I wondered why he cared, and then it dawned on me that he might have a crush on me. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, but I didn’t want to lie to him either. “I’m not sure where we stand, but yes, I like him very much. Honestly, I have the biggest crush on him.”
“I’ve been watching him…a lot,” he said.
That surprised me. “Do you like him too? If you do, I’d totally understand. I mean, he’s so hot that guys and girls might both be attract—”
“No! I don’t like guys, Taylor!”
“Oh.”
“It’s just that…well, his whole family has these creepy, light blue eyes.”
“Creepy? I think they’re beautiful.”
“Far from it. They’re hiding some deep, dark secret. Something’s just not right with those people. You shouldn’t be alone with any of them.”
“I’ve been alone with Jesse a lot,” I said. “He’s the perfect gentlemen, and he absolutely loves animals. How could you think he’s…”
“Some kind of sicko?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
His eyes widened. “I’ve, uh…well, I’ve seen things.”
Curiosity struck me. “Like what kind of things?”
He cleared his throat, but not another word came out of his mouth.
“Either you’re just jealous of Jesse, Fred, or you know more than you’re letting on,” I said. “If this concerns Jesse, I want to know what you’re talking about.”
“I caught him reading a book.”
I gasped. “Oh my gosh! A book, you say? I definitely need to stay away from him.”
“No, not just any book. It had all these weird symbols and was written in some language I couldn’t understand.”
“What are you saying?”
He let out a long breath. “I think Jesse and his family are witches.”
“Witches?”
“Yes. I catch them in lies, and, like I said, I’ve seen things—lots of things.”
“Care to elaborate?”
His gaze narrowed. “If you talk about these things, you’ll end up missing or dead.”
“You can trust me. I won’t tell a soul.”
He sighed. “Well, for one thing, I heard Jesse’s sister tell a man to do something I know for a fact he wouldn’t normally do.”
“Is Jesse’s sister pretty?”
“Kierra? Yeah. She’s smoking hot.”
I chuckled. “There’s your answer. Men are putty in a pretty girl’s hands.”
“I know that, but there’s more to it than that.”
I touched his hand. “Fred, I think I know where this is all coming from.”
“You do?”
“Yes. That weird altar freaked all of us out. You started thinking about witches when you saw those symbols, and now you’re jumping to conclusions about Jesse’s family.”
“I’m not just jumping to conclusions, Taylor, and I don’t think Jesse’s family are the only ones. I think this town is being run by witches.”
My jaw dropped. “Yes, we found a possible site where ceremonies are held, but that doesn’t mean the entire town is evil. It just means—”
“It means we need to do a whole lot of digging.”
My gaze narrowed. “Do you really think the town is hiding something?”
“Yes, and I’m sure Jesse knows what’s going on. Why don’t you do some prying? Maybe you can get him to talk.”
“I know we’ve been together a lot, but I highly doubt he’s gonna spill all his deep, dark secrets to me. Besides, maybe we’re just getting carried away. I mean, Jesse is a bit mysterious, but—”
“I’m just saying that there’s more than meets the eye around here.”
“Now I’m scared to tell you what I found out.”
“Why?” he asked.
“Because you’ll get carried away even worse.”
“I won’t. Tell me.”
I cleared my throat. “I couldn’t identify the weird symbols, but the words are a warning, in Latin, like Julie said.”
He arched a brow. “Well? What’s it mean?”
“It’s a warning not to tread on sacred ground. It said if we walked on the land of their ancestors, we will die.”
“If it’s just some kind of warning, a threat, why was it written in Latin?” he asked. “How do they expect anyone to obey a warning they can’t read?”
“I think it’s a curse,” I said.
His eyes widened. “Are you saying all three of us are gonna die just because we had to go after your dumb dog?”
“I pray not, and I keep trying to tell myself how crazy it is, but I can’t deny the voice that spoke to me. It felt real.”
“You know what I think?”
“That I hallucinated it?”
“No, not at all. Maybe the witches are putting some kind of spell on us, maybe using their powers to mess with our heads.”
“I don’t know. It sounds so crazy.”
Suddenly, the door swung open, startling us, and my dad came out. “Fred, I’m paying you to work, not flirt with my daughter. Taylor, please go do the dishes,” he said sternly, not one to mince words.
“Nice talking to you, Fred,” I said. “I’ve gotta go, but we’ll talk later.”
“Okay.”
I smiled. Fred was a nice guy, but he had the biggest imagination, and I decided I wasn’t going to let it rub off on me. There was no way Jesse and his family were witches and warlocks, and I wasn’t even sure if I believed in the Latin curse we’d found. It was all so farfetched, and I was sure I’d probably imagined the entire thing—or at least I hoped so.
Chapter 14
I was reading on the porch when a black SUV pulled up. I thought it might be Jesse, but Julie got out of the passenger’s side.
“Taylor!” she said.
“Hey.”
“Put the book down, girl, and let’s go have some real fun.”
I cocked a brow. “What?”
Her eyes lit up, and her face was beaming. “Go put on your bikini. We’re going swimming in Big Bear Lake.”
My gaze shot to the SUV full of girls. All the windows were down, and the music was blaring. “Who are you with?” I asked.
“Just some girls I met in town. You’ll love them. Now go grab a towel and suntan lotion. Hurry!”
“Nah, you go on,” I said. “I’m not really in the mood.”
“Don’t tell me you’re still freaked out by that voice you heard.”
“I can’t help it. I’m trying to decide if I’m crazy enough for a padded cell or doomed enough to be scared about it.”
“So some ghosts talked to you. So what? They were probably screwing with you anyway. After all, we’re all alive and brea
thing.”
“True. Do you believe in ghosts?” I asked.
“Yes. If I didn’t, I’d be telling you to put on a straightjacket instead of a bikini.”
“Wow. It’s nice to know my new BFF doesn’t think I’m a nut.”
“Just one thing.”
“What?”
“Do you see dead people?”
I laughed. “No. I’m afraid my sixth sense isn’t that well tuned.”
She grinned, glad I’d gotten her movie reference. “You really need to come with us,” she said.
“Why?”
“Because Jesse’s already there, and I promised him we’d swing by and pick you up.”
Suddenly, my interest in the beach was piqued, and my heart jumped with joy. “I’m in! As long as there’s not talk about animal skulls or mysterious voices.”
“Got it. Your secret is safe with me.” She gave me a nudge. “So hurry and get ready. You’ve got five minutes.”
I hurried inside, threw my curly hair into a tight ponytail, put on my bathing suit, then quickly brushed my teeth. I hurried downstairs and jumped into the SUV.
Julie introduced me to the other six girls. They shook my hand and smiled and seemed nice enough.
We drove to our destination and made found a nice spot on the shore. I was surrounded by large granite boulders and tall pine trees with a glittering lake before me. Big, fluffy clouds floated lazily by in the giant blue sky. I inhaled deeply to take in the fresh, woodsy scent of the piney air. Everything was so scenic and beautiful.
“I love it here,” Julie said.
I pointed at a tiny island straight ahead. “Is that China Island?”
One of the brunettes nodded; I hadn’t yet remembered all of their names. “Yep. Pretty small, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“See the cluster of boulders over to the left, about thirty feet away from the island?”
I squinted against the sunlight. “Yeah. Where all those guys are jumping off the rocks?”
“That’s where we’re gonna swim. It’s the best spot in Big Bear Lake.”
“Let’s go!” shouted a blonde girl with a pink streak in her hair.
I slipped my shirt and pants off and adjusted my red and purple bikini. I walked over the stony pebbles and jumped into the cold water that felt great on such a hot day. I glided forward, using long, powerful strokes. As I got closer, instant recognition hit: The guy about to jump off one of the tallest boulders was Jesse. An instant later, he splashed in.
When I swam to the rocks, he helped me up. My breath froze as I watched the sun glint off his slicked-back black hair. Water beaded his eyelashes and dripped down his face in glistening rivers. His red swim trunks were adorable, but I was almost disappointed that he’d opted to wear a shirt. “Hey, you,” he said, smiling at me.
I couldn’t stop the smile from curling up on my lips. “Hey.”
“Are you ready for a fun afternoon?” he asked.
“Definitely.”
“Hey, Jesse,” Julie asked, “can I see the scar?” He arched a brow, and she explained, “From the bullet wound.” She inched forward, but he stopped her.
He laughed. “No.”
“I get it,” Julie said. “You’re shy.”
“Far from it,” he said.
“I thought guys loved showing off their scars,” one of the girls said.
“Which boulder do you wanna jump off of? Are you feelin’ like five feet or thirty?” Jesse asked me, changing the subject.
“The highest one,” I answered.
The guys wooted, and Jesse grinned. “Ah. A daredevil after my very own heart,” he said.
I climbed up to the highest point, where there was a perfect view of China Island. Sucking in a deep breath, I braced myself. I made sure there wasn’t another jumper jumping from a lower level, and everything looked clear below.
Jesse walked over and held my hand. “We’ll jump together.”
I smirked. “Let’s do it.”
“Cool. On the count of three. One…two…three!”
We jumped together, holding hands, and landed with a huge splash.
“Woo-hoo!” I screamed. “That was awesome!” I glanced at Jesse, blinking the water out of my eyelashes. There was no way I could avoid drooling over those rippling muscles and glittering eyes. I was mesmerized as I stared at his dazzling, breathtaking male beauty, from his beautiful skin and full lips, to the sculptured lines and angles of his forehead, to his amazing cheekbones and chiseled jaw line, to the droplets of water that clung to his face. I could have easily lost myself with that handsome hunk. Maybe Fred’s right, I mused to myself. Maybe he is dangerous.
All of the sudden, he grabbed me around the waist and threw me in the air.
I landed with a splash, laughing as streams of water poured down my face. “Oh, I’ll get you for that! I’m gonna dunk you!” I threatened and started to swim his way.
“Don’t think so!” he teased.
We screwed off for a while, then swam to shore to rest while the others continued jumping off the rocks. The moisture on my skin gave me a cooling sensation beneath the hot sun. I stood and saw Julie and the others still jumping off the rocks.
When I turned around, Jesse met my gaze. His blue eyes pierced mine, and shimmering remnants of the lake gave his skin a glittery shine. Softly, he cupped my cheek. The heat from his touch surged through my body, and I could have sworn that the whole crazy world had stopped all around me. If someone had asked me my own name in that moment, I wouldn’t have remembered it.
My pulse skipped a beat when he shot me that beautiful grin, all those white, bright teeth, like a gorgeous movie star. Those beautiful baby blues entranced me all over again, staring right into my soul. I cleared my throat and forced my brain into motion. I tried to think of something to say, but nothing came to mind. The light caught in the blue speckles of his eyes and took my breath away. I drew in air, but more blood rushed to my face like a tidal wave. He, on the other hand, was entirely composed and unaffected, and I knew I was making a complete fool out of myself.
His hot breath rippled across my skin in that unforgettable moment, and his strong arms slid around me and wrapped me close. A shudder ran through me, from head to toe. I leaned against him until I could feel the warmth of his skin against my racing heart, and I lifted my arm to touch his flushed cheek.
He didn’t flinch or even react; he just smiled and kissed my fingers where they touched his lips. “I’m crazy about you, Taylor,” he said. “You’re all I think about.”
“I felt the connection the second I met you.”
“Me too.” His eyes fixed on my lips, and he moved closer to lower his mouth on mine.
Our lips connected in a slow, gentle touch. In spite of the smoldering temperature, a shiver ran through me. I closed my eyes, savoring his sweet taste. Goosebumps rippled my skin as his strong hands wandered down my back to my middle. I lifted my arms and guided them around his neck. He drew me unbelievably closer; I was already standing so impossibly close. Tangling his fingers in my hair, he kissed me slowly and passionately on the lips. My heart was drumming so hard within me that I wondered if Jesse could hear it. I wanted him to deepen the kiss. I wanted it to go on forever. When his hot breath touched my skin, I shuddered in excitement. Hot, searing kisses from his open mouth trailed down my neck.
“Taylor! Jesse!” the others called from the boulders.
Suddenly, he broke our embrace and turned in the direction of our friends. “We’re being paged,” he said.
I stared into his eyes, unable to move or even breathe. I was completely mesmerized.
Gripping my hand, he grinned. “Ready?”
I nodded mindlessly, and he led me back into the water. My head was still spinning, my skin still tingling where his lips had left a trail of moisture. Even though the kiss was over, my heart continued to race. I sighed like one of those girly girls and tried to switch on my brain again, but all I felt was a mushy, hazy feeli
ng that reminded me of staying up late to watch those sappy Saturday night romances.
Jesse submerged and then resurfaced a few feet past me. I cut the water with expert precision to catch up with him.
One of Jesse’s friends grabbed his shoulder. “You gotta see Frank dive backward, man.”
I smiled as his friend dragged him off.
“I saw you swim off with Prince Charming,” Julie teased. “What happened?”
I pulled her aside. “He kissed me!”
“I knew it!” she squealed.
“He’s so amazing, Julie.”
“Is he a good kisser?”
“It was wonderful, but there was no, uh…”
“Tongue action?”
I blushed and shook my head. “You guys called us back over here too soon.”
“It wasn’t me,” Julie said.
“There’s always next time.”
“Or maybe even later today.”
I laughed.
“Taylor!” Jesse’s voice called. “I’ve gotta drive Frank and the others back. Wanna meet up later?”
I walked over to him and smiled. “I had a great time, and yes, I’d love to meet you later. Text me, and we’ll think of something.”
He kissed my cheek. “See ya then.”
“Bye.”
He shot me a big smile, then turned to leave. I watched him dive off the boulder and swim off into the distance.
“Why wouldn’t he take off his shirt?” one of the girls asked.
“He’s just shy,” another answered.
“Why on Earth would a guy like that want to hide that perfect bod’? Did you see those muscles?” a strawberry-blonde girl said.
“Taylor,” the brunette said, “you should have just ripped it off of him.”
I smiled. “Maybe I will next time.”
We all laughed, then swam back to shore and sunbathed for a few more hours. As I lay on my blanket, I couldn’t stop thinking about him, recalling how great his lips felt against mine, like soft rose petals. His every touch was special, and he totally captivated me.
Suspending Reality Page 55