Once she was dressed, she snagged a cup of coffee and carried it out to the front porch like she always did. Settling in the large wooden swing, she took a sip and watched the sky lighten as the sun readied itself to come up over the horizon.
Today, she fully expected Rance Sleighter to make an appearance. Her entire body heated as she pondered what she’d do if he tried to kiss her. And then, she wondered if she’d be disappointed if he didn’t.
Inside the house, all was silent and still. Her entire family still slept. Her mother, Amber, didn’t believe in getting up before sunrise and Pearl and Sapphire were teenagers. Enough said.
This morning in addition to opening up Dogs Off Leash, she’d be helping out her mom by opening their store, Jewels and Essence. Over the weekend Amber and Opal had each taken turns, since they’d given their healthy-oil classes to twenty-two attendees who’d signed up in advance. That part of the business had really taken off. While interest in aromatherapy had blossomed worldwide, Jade had a feeling the popularity of theirs had a bit to do with the way the townspeople believed she had magic.
Opal and Amber weren’t bothered by this. In fact, they capitalized on it whenever they could. Pearl and Sapph rolled their eyes and giggled whenever the topic of magic came up.
It appeared the only one bothered by the rumors and gossip was Jade, the so-called sexy witch. When she’d first learned of the tales of her sexual prowess, she’d been mortified. And then, the embarrassment had settled into a simmering anger, which made her retreat from any attempts at dating. Of course, it didn’t help that she’d recently turned twenty-nine and, with thirty looming on the horizon, was more than ready to settle down and have a family. With the ridiculous expectation looming over her, all any of the men in this town were interested in was seeing if it was true.
Recently, she’d signed up for an online dating service and was careful only to go out with men from one of the neighboring towns, where they’d have no idea who she was. So far, while she hadn’t met anyone she couldn’t resist, none of the men she’d dated had any preconceived ideas about her. That had been a relief.
She yawned and checked her watch. Time to finish her coffee and get inside and eat. Her first clients would be dropping off their dogs at 6:00 a.m. sharp.
When she’d decided to open Dogs Off Leash, her mother and grandmother had scoffed. Her aunt and uncle had rolled their eyes and her sisters couldn’t have cared less. Only Grandpa Sam had clapped her on the back and told her he thought she had a fine idea. Since Grandpa rarely spoke to anyone since the dementia had taken hold of him, Jade considered his words a high compliment.
In the year and a half since her doggy day care had been open, business had been brisk and increasing in increments. She’d taken her profits and reinvested in the business, adding on to the fenced dog play areas and hiring additional staff.
Even better, she loved her business. Every morning she greeted the day with a smile on her face, eager to get to work. Raised as a child without pets, she adored being around the dogs, often sitting on the floor and rolling around with them. Even Sapph had taken to stopping by to play, much to the amusement of her twin sister.
Once she’d eaten, Jade hurried to her room to grab her watch since today she needed to make sure to be aware of the time. With the timepiece clasped securely around her wrist, she went back to the kitchen, intending to make one more cup of coffee to take with her. When she got there, she stopped short, surprised to find her mother sitting at the kitchen table, her head down.
“Mom?” Jade hurried over, alarmed. Amber never rose before sunrise. “Is everything okay?”
When Amber raised her face, her cheeks were wet with tears. “Your cousin Diamond has gone missing.”
Diamond, aka the Wild Child. Still... Jade stared. “But she just came to the family meeting the other day.”
“I know.” Amber sighed. “My sister says she didn’t come home after that. They assumed she went out with friends, but she’s not answering her cell. They have no idea where she is and they’re worried sick.”
This said a lot. Amber’s sister Emerald wasn’t the dramatic type. If she was worried, this meant she believed she had good reason. Of course, ever since Diamond had started running around with a partying crowd, Jade had been concerned enough for the both of them.
“What are we going to do?” Jade asked quietly. “I assume we’re going to organize a search or something?”
“I don’t know. Em said something about Diamond’s new boyfriend. No one has actually met him, but Di never stopped talking about him.”
Which meant, Jade thought privately, he probably didn’t exist. It wouldn’t be the first time her cousin had made up a boyfriend. Especially since none of her friends had actually seen him.
“It isn’t like Di to just disappear,” Jade mused. “Unless she’s pulling some sort of stunt for attention.” Attention appeared to be the one thing Diamond couldn’t seem to get enough of. Add to that the fact that several of Di’s close friends had done this exact same thing, and Jade figured they considered it a trend or something. Jade had never pretended to understand how her cousin or her friends thought.
Amber’s frown deepened. “You do have a point, but I can’t see her willingly causing her mother this much worry. Something must have happened to her.” She took a deep breath. “Will you help?”
“Of course. What would you like me to do?” When her mother raised her gaze, Jade knew. It always came down to this. Anytime someone had a problem, the family sent Jade to talk to Libby. To be fair, they had no choice, as Jade was the only person Libby would speak to.
When Libby agreed to respond to Jade’s questions, her answers were always correct. Not seventy-five percent of the time, or ninety. But one-hundred-percent, every-single-time correct. Worse, when Libby went into one of her trances, she’d relay to Jade her visions. Often, these were ten times more vivid than any dream.
Of course, the family knew Jade had magic, though they erroneously assumed she could do more with it than she could. And everyone regarded Libby as a Seer as well as a lake creature. Because there was no way any normal person could have all the answers. Only those who had been caretakers before her knew the truth. Amber knew. The magic was real and special. Because Libby wasn’t a normal person, or even a normal shape-shifter. She was one of a kind. Maybe the last of her kind. And Jade believed fervently that Libby didn’t deserve to be bothered with small stuff.
Jade had gotten to the point of hating to have to ask favors of Libby. She wasn’t sure her cousin Di taking off for a few days warranted asking for magic.
“Please,” her mother pleaded, correctly interpreting Jade’s hesitation. “Your Auntie Em specifically asked me to ask you since you and she are so close. She knows your connection to Libby. If I still had the ability, I’d ask her myself.”
And therein lay the problem. No way could Jade say no now. Not to a worried-sick parent and her favorite aunt. Even if her cousin was a little bit...wild. Jade wondered if her aunt Emerald knew that several others in the crowd Di ran around with had taken off at various intervals for a few days, only to reappear suddenly, acting like nothing had happened.
“Fine. I’ll do it.” Grabbing her stainless steel coffee mug, she poured one more cup, keeping herself busy as she added cream and sugar, and stirring.
“When?” Amber pressed. “Can you run out there this morning?”
Reminding herself that her mother felt a sense of urgency even if Jade did not, Jade sighed. “Remember, you asked me to open up your store for you?”
“I can take care of that.” Amber stretched. “I feel much more rested. So you’ll talk to Libby today.”
Jade nodded. “Yes, of course. After I get DOL open and make sure my employees show up, I’ll head on out to the lake.”
“Oh, thank you.” Amber gave a wan smile over the ri
m of her coffee cup. “Let me call Em. She’ll be so relieved.”
Jade slipped out of the room as her mother turned away to make the call. What was Diamond up to? While of course Jade hoped her cousin was all right, if this disappearance was some sort of prank, Jade would let the younger girl have a stern lecture. The time had come for that girl to grow up and start thinking of others besides herself.
At least they had Libby. Either way, she knew Libby would be able to help.
Pushing away the bad mood that now threatened to ruin her day, Jade took deep breaths and willed herself to return to the calm, serene happiness she’d felt earlier while having her first cup of coffee. She had to get the doggy day care up and running for the day and no one could be out of sorts around dogs. The thought made her smile. It seemed the pups could always sense emotional distress and would work extra hard with wiggles, wagging tails and doggy kisses to cajole a smile or a laugh.
As a shape-shifter, sometimes she thought the dogs sensed the inner wolf inside her. Other times, she guessed they didn’t even have a clue.
Arriving at DOL, she hurried inside and unlocked the door. Inside, she went from room to room, flipping on lights as she passed through. She checked to make sure both the indoor and outdoor play areas were clean and ready. After she’d made sure the gates were closed and the toys put up, she was ready. Dusting her hands off on her jeans, she smiled as she heard the sound of a car pulling up. The day had just begun.
Some days, her morning crew barely beat the first of the dogs. People liked to drop off Fido or Lucy before work and pick them up after. After a day of play with the other dogs, by the time the client returned to collect their pet, the animal was exhausted in a happy way. People loved it, the dogs had a great time and everyone won. Jade laughed out loud sometimes when she realized what a terrific job she had.
By the time the sun shone in the cloudless blue sky, Jade had a packed house. Her employees were already outside in the play yards, which were segregated due to dog size. Happiness colored the air, making the place practically sparkle with joy—on the faces of both dogs and people.
She didn’t want to leave. How many people could say that about their jobs? Still, duty called.
“I’ve got to go run an errand,” she told Sue, her most long-term employee. “Keep an eye on things until I get back, okay?”
Sue nodded, her short gray pixie cut swinging. “Are you going to...the lake?” Her hushed, almost reverent tone made Jade smile. Everyone acted as if visiting Libby was some sort of sacred duty. Which in a way, it was, she supposed. Though not like the others appeared to think. She didn’t bring offerings of food, though occasionally she’d take out a bottle of wine and a couple of glasses for the two of them to share. There were no rituals involved, no magic. Nothing but a little conversation. If Libby happened to be swimming as her beast, she’d emerge from the lake and shift into her human form, heading into the small cabin she occupied year-round. There, she’d put on one of the numerous dresses she owned, some of them reminiscent of years gone by. She’d brew a pot of tea, and she and Jade would hang out.
Hanging out with the lake creature. Who knew what people would think if they realized? She supposed the shape-shifters in town wouldn’t be surprised, but the humans would be simply flabbergasted. As far as they were concerned, the lake creature was a myth, like bigfoot or the Loch Ness monster. Long ago, the local shifters had made it law to keep Libby’s existence a secret from the rest of the world. This, they reasoned, was the only way to protect her.
Until Rance had shown up, this law had worked for decades.
Today Jade would take the proper precautions to make sure she wasn’t followed—Rance Sleighter immediately came to mind—and drive out to the lake to have a chat with Libby. She hated to have to ask the other woman to access her prophetic abilities, but she would. She had to ask about Diamond vanishing.
Until she knew more, Jade decided not to say anything about her cousin’s disappearance to anyone outside of the family. News—aka gossip—traveled fast in a town this size.
“Yes, I am going to the lake.” Her grin widened at Sue’s gasp. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
* * *
Though showing up again at Burnett House unannounced would have Jade Burnett considering him a major pain in the ass, Rance hadn’t gotten to be an excellent photojournalist by worrying about annoying people. Plus, if he were completely honest with himself, he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Jade and her exotic green eyes. He’d actually caught himself viewing the photos he’d taken of her again and again. Even if he hadn’t been chasing a story, he knew he had to see her again.
Checking his watch, he debated whether or not to knock on the door. While he figured everyone would be up by now, he wasn’t entirely sure of their schedules. He knew Jade often had a cup of coffee on the porch swing in the morning, so he decided to wait for her there. He internally winced, aware this could be considered a total lack of manners, but he hadn’t gotten where he was by being a Southern gentleman, so he stayed put.
A few minutes after he’d sat down, the front door opened, making his heart speed up.
Instead of Jade, one of her sisters wandered out on the front porch, taking a seat near him on another chair. Her flowing bell-bottom pants and tie-dyed shirt made her look like a poster child for Woodstock.
“Hi. I’m Sapphire,” she said, grinning. “Jade’s baby sister. Or one of them.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“Jade almost got engaged once, you know.” The teen’s expression went somber. “She really loved him, too.”
Engaged? That had come out of nowhere. Still, he found it intriguing. Though he knew he shouldn’t, he couldn’t keep from asking. “What happened?”
Jade’s sister looked away. “He turned out to be different than she thought.”
And that’s all she would say. No amount of questioning or cajoling would entice her to say any more. Rance figured he now knew where all the rumors about Jade’s supposed sexual prowess had originated. If he ever got his hands on that guy...
The other twin appeared. Unlike her colorful sister, she wore all black, with matching fingernails and lipstick. “Sapphire? What are you two doing?” she asked, narrowing her eyes in suspicion.
Sapphire grinned again, her moods as mercurial as any teenager. “This is Pearl,” she explained before turning back to her sister. “I’m trying to talk to Jade’s boyfriend.”
“Ewww. He’s too old,” Pearl responded. And then, just when Rance was trying to decide if he should be flattered to be referred to as Jade’s boyfriend or annoyed because these teenagers thought him too old for her, Pearl spoke again. “Don’t hurt her,” she ordered. “If you do, we’ll come after you.”
Since he had no idea how to respond to that, he nodded. “Your sister tells me Jade was once engaged?”
“Almost,” Sapphire corrected. “Almost engaged.”
Pearl shot Sapphire a dirty look. “You told him that?”
Sapphire shrugged. “Not in any detail.”
“Girls?” Amber appeared, her expression stern. “Did you two get your rooms clean? You know I asked you to do that before you went anywhere.”
The identical guilt flashing across both their young faces gave her their answer.
“Go.” She pointed. “I’ll sit out here and keep this nice man company.”
Once the twins had disappeared back inside, Amber took a seat next to him. “Looking for Jade?” she asked.
He nodded. “Would you mind letting her know I’m here?”
Instead of agreeing, she tilted her head and eyed him. “First, why don’t you tell me why you’re really here?”
Surprised, he cocked his head. “Ma’am? I believe I already did.”
“No. I mean why you’re in Forestwood.” Waving his answer
away, she leaned close. “I looked you up on the internet. Plus one of the twins’ friends is apparently a big fan of yours. Like he said, a photojournalist of your caliber doesn’t waste time on a fluff piece about a fictional lake monster. So why don’t you tell me why you’re really in town?”
He nodded. She was right. However, she didn’t know about the promise he’d made to a dying child. “I haven’t lied about my purpose,” he said. Then, picturing Jade’s beautiful face, he sighed. “I may have more than one reason for staying in town these days, but I promise you, my main focus is on Libby.”
Her loud gasp told him his mistake. “Jade gave you her name?”
Though her shock appeared palpable, he didn’t know what else he could do but nod. “She didn’t mean to, if that helps any.”
“Let me explain something to you.” Anger simmered in Amber’s green eyes, so like her daughter’s. “If you hurt my Jade, you’ll answer to me.”
“The twins just told me the same thing,” he mused. “Why does everyone find it necessary to warn me of this? Do I look like the kind of man who goes around hurting women?”
“Not because you want to, but looking the way you do, with that Southern drawl of yours, I think more women are hurt than you realize.”
He didn’t want to dignify her response with words, so he said nothing.
“Whatever you might have heard...” Amber continued.
“Stop.” Interrupting, he touched the back of her hand. “I know about the nonsense they repeat in town. I don’t care. I’m attracted to Jade—what red-blooded man wouldn’t be?—but I’m not in the market for anything serious. I’m pretty sure she’s not, either.”
“But you’re not positive. I don’t want you toying with her emotions.”
“I can promise you, ma’am. I never toy with any woman.”
His words coaxed a reluctant grin. “And there’s that accent again. No wonder my daughter has trouble resisting you.”
“Does she?” He grinned right back. “Because if that’s truly the case, then I’m the last to know.”
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