Deceptions (The Mystical Encounter Series Book 2)

by Kimberly Readnour

  “Your gift?”

  “Yeah, my gift. You said earlier you would make it up to me when you left,” he answered, rather seductively.

  Groaning, I said, “I suck. I’m the worst girlfriend ever.”

  “Nah, you’re actually pretty great.” The thickness in my throat was choking, and I bit my lower lip to keep from confessing. “You can just owe me later, how’s that?” he added.

  “I owe you big time.” More than you know, I silently added. My vision blurred as the tears threatened to spill over. I blinked a few times, rolling my eyes toward the ceiling in the hopes of staving them off. I hated lying to him, and once my role in arresting his mother was unveiled, he would hate me too. I hated that the most.

  “Hmm, I think I’ll hold you to that. Do something tomorrow then?”

  I swallowed hard to prevent my voice from cracking. “Okay, that sounds great. I’ll see you then.” I clamped my jaw shut to keep from wailing. I had to end this conversation. The thread I dangled from was about to unravel, and he wouldn’t understand my breakdown without an explanation.

  “Okay. It’s a date. I’ll call you tomorrow at nine–o’clock. Oh, and Heather?” After pausing for a second, he added, “I love you,” before hanging up.

  The prevailing silence in the house made me slump further into my bed. A hint of a sad smile crossed my mouth while I stared at the darkened display on the phone. Barry snuck in his “I love yous” whenever the opportunity presented itself. Those three little words usually impassioned me, but tonight sadness trumped any excitement. I’ve actually betrayed him twice. The news about his mom and my feelings toward him weighed equally on my heart. I’d yet to tell him that I loved him back, and I questioned my reasons. Confessing your love to someone was stressful, and I didn’t want to get hurt. I’d survived people shutting me out and ignoring me, but I didn’t think I could handle Barry’s rejection.

  When the news about his mom came out, he would be so upset I doubt he’d ever talk to me again. Please let him understand the situation I’d been placed in. This certainly would come as a surprise. An underlying reason existed behind Barry’s evasiveness about his mom, and he clearly didn’t want me to meet her. Was it because of her illegal wrong doings? Surely he didn’t know. If he did, would he have let on to me that he knew? Would I if it was my mother? I wasn’t sure, but I’d definitely be embarrassed if people found out. At least I knew his embarrassment wasn’t about me. Yet, anyway.

  ~12~

  Discretion

  The sweet scent of fluffy goodness tantalized my tastebuds as I walked into the kitchen the next morning. My mom stood by the stove, pouring batter onto the griddle.

  “You’re making pancakes?” I asked. The microwave beeped, and when I opened the door, my mouth watered at the scent of hot maple syrup. Yum!

  “Yes, thought I’d surprise you,” Mom said. “So how did it go yesterday?”

  I placed the warmed container on the table, screwed the lid on, and smiled. I had always been fond of this syrup dispenser.

  “It went all right. There was a missing college student named Nicholas, and Detective Tanner thought my abilities might help find him. I wasn’t much help at first, but then I finally had a vision that showed his truck sliding into a ditch. He had rolled several times and was suspended upside down for awhile, but we were able to get to him in time,” I said, grabbing a mug.

  “Yeah, I spoke with the detective last night. He told me that you helped save that boy’s life.”

  I stilled, holding the coffee carafe mid–air. “What else did he have to say?” I asked, holding my breath.

  “Nothing much. He claimed to have called for you, but we ended up talking for awhile.”

  The breath I had been holding escaped through my parted lips and I finished pouring the coffee. I snuck a peek at Mom. Her grin gave her away. She liked the fact that he had called. Good! Maybe something would become of it. Mom deserved a nice guy like Detective Tanner.

  “Anyway, I came home last night and you were asleep. When he called, I didn’t want to disturb you. You must’ve been exhausted, since you never came out of your room,” Mom said, flipping the pancakes.

  “Yeah, I was.” I sat down at the table and waited for breakfast. That was one conversation about yesterday completed, now I only had one left. The one I dreaded the most. As if he knew I was thinking about him, my phone lit up and displayed Barry’s name.

  “Hey,” I said. I quickly scooted out of my chair and darted into the living room.

  “I have an idea,” he said excitedly. “Why don’t we spend the day in the park? Pack a picnic, maybe toss a ball around?”

  I glanced at the clock with the phone up to my ear. He normally doesn’t call this early, but he must’ve wanted to secure our plans before anyone interrupted them.

  “Toss a ball?” I asked, scrunching my nose. The picnic part sounded nice, but baseball?

  “Yeah, you know…‌play catch.”

  “That sounds good, but won’t it be a little cold outside?” That sounds good? Really? I hate anything sports related.

  “Nah, it’s going to be warmer today. Pack a light jacket, wimpy,” he said.

  I laughed. “Okay, I’ll be waiting.” The brightness of the sun did promise a beautiful day. I swear, these wild temperature swings were the official calling card of the Midwest.

  “Sweet…‌ I’ll be over to pick you up in a half hour.”

  I maneuvered my way into the living room, going directly toward the front window. The suspicion that Barry had stayed at his grandma’s house was confirmed the moment I knelt on the chair and peered through the panes. Just the sight of his car created a smile on my face.

  “Barry, I can just walk over when I’m ready,” I said, hinting at the absurdity of him picking me up. “There’s no need for you to have to drive twenty yards to get me.”

  He laughed. “Fine. I know it makes more sense, but it isn’t right. You’re a lady and deserve to be treated as such.”

  The widening smile couldn’t be stopped as the heat rose on my cheeks. What evoked this sudden surge of pleasure? His way with words always made me feel special so why the sudden change?

  “Well, nobody could ever say chivalry is dead with you around,” I teased, trying to make light of the situation. He was a gentleman, though.

  “Hey, what can I say? Call me old–fashioned,” he said with amusement. “Ah, I know you secretly love the affection.”

  My insides warmed to the playful inflection of his voice. “Yeah, I do.”

  “All right, come over as soon as you can and we’ll take off.”

  “I’ll be there. Give me at least an hour.”

  After pressing the end button, uneasiness crept through my conscience, erasing all happiness. The playful smile shifted into a frown as I turned away from the window, flopping into the chair. Wanting to feel secure, I drew my legs into my chest and wrapped my arms around them. My chest tightened as the investigation weighed heavily on my mind. How am I going to make it through the day?

  Remorse consumed my every thought. The phone, still warm in my hand, mocked me. I continued to stare, my thumb hovering above Barry’s number. Should I call him back and cancel? Although tempting, he’d question my reasoning if I cancel again, bringing forth questions I couldn’t answer. This couldn’t be over soon enough.

  Disgusted with myself, I squeezed the phone and banged it against my forehead. “Why…‌ Why…‌ Why?” I repeated. Tossing the phone, I sprang up to go eat my pancakes. If I didn’t hurry, his impatient self would pick me up despite our plans.

  ~~~~~

  “Hey. I was just about ready to come and get you, slowpoke,” he said as I stepped onto his grandma’s porch. He was sitting in an old wooden rocking chair, apparently waiting for me.

  He rose when I reached the top of the wooden slats and wrapped his arms around me despite the small cooler I carried. His hands slid over mine, grasping the cooler handle and sitting it on the ground.


  “What do we have here, Miss Riding Hood?” he asked in a deeper, flirtatious tone, closing the distance between us. His smile widened mischievously, revealing his pearly whites.

  My insides clenched from his velvety voice. He wanted to play a game? I’d play along. Shifting my eyes toward him, I whispered, “My my, what big teeth you have.”

  His eyes dilated. As he leaned down, he nestled his face against my neck, planting a few kisses in the sensitive area below my ear. He inhaled as if sniffing me. “You better watch out for me, little girl. You smell edible.”

  Shivers shot through my body and warmth spread throughout my insides. Too dazed to offer any rebuttal, I stood there with my mouth partially open while he continued kissing my neck. My hormones kicked into overdrive, and I tried to keep from visualizing what he meant by “edible.” Incapable of holding back, I surrendered to the emotions, leaning into his body as his strong arms tightened their hold.

  Not missing a cue, he drew my lips to his. What started out as a slow, tantalizing kiss turned into a need that wouldn’t be filled now or anytime soon. That didn’t stop him from pressing his lips against mine or squeezing my waist, pulling me tightly to his body. Our bodies pressed together revealed his reaction to our impromptu liaison. At least I wasn’t the only one affected that way.

  When our lips released, he leaned his forehead to mine. We stood there for a few seconds, trying to get control over our emotions.

  He brought his hands up to my face and traced his thumb across my lips. “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered. I released the grip I had on his shirt, and he shut his eyes, chuckling. “God, I hope Grandma wasn’t watching out the window.”

  Turning a few shades darker pink, I gently pushed him off me. “Let’s go,” I suggested, picking up the cooler.

  He grabbed the rest of the supplies and we turned toward the steps and walked the short distance to his car.

  After opening my car door, he leaned over slightly, smirking. “With a greeting like that, I may have you pick me up from now on.”

  “You wish,” I replied, grinning.

  As he walked around the car, I wondered just how much further he wished to take our relationship. The hyperactive hormones racing through my body screamed to let it happen, but I wasn’t ready. Not mentally.

  As we left, he shifted in his seat and ran his left hand through his hair. Hmm, something bothered him. “I hope you don’t mind, but I have to stop by my house to pick up the extra baseball glove.”

  My eyes shifted toward him as I nodded. Internally I sighed. The grimace on his face still proved he didn’t want me going to his house. By this point I should understand. If my mother was somehow connected with the distribution of marijuana and sleeping with a married man, I’d be ashamed, too. I just wondered what part of that scenario he was trying to hide from me.

  After pulling into his driveway, I grabbed ahold of the handle, ready to exit as soon as he parked. Normally he opens my door, but if I waited for that to happen, he might leave me in the car while he grabbed the glove. I could just as easily have stayed in the car, but my curiosity was piqued.

  Barry gave me a questioning look, but remained silent as I followed him to the back of his house. The jingling of his keys rang out as apprehension oozed from every pore. Not sure what he expected to find, but it was clear my presence made him uncomfortable. He didn’t even reach for my hand.

  As we approached the back steps, uneasiness swept through me. I should’ve stayed in the car. Honestly, there wasn’t a need for me to go inside, especially if it caused him that much stress. Even though I was curious, what would it accomplish?

  “Barry, if you don’t mind, I’ll just wait here while you go get it.”

  His entire body relaxed as he smiled widely. “I’ll only be a second,” he said, leaning down to kiss me.

  Exasperated, I plopped down on the top step, scanning his backyard. Located in the middle of town, the yard was sizably smaller than ours, but tidy. A couple of full–grown maple trees stood toward the back, providing the only shade. Empty flowerbeds lined both sides of the steps, but held promise. A medium–sized wooden shed sat off to the right. The stain, a faded grayish color, desperately needed refreshing, but the building had character. Two empty urns adorned the door while a series of windowpanes completed the look.

  The windows were hazy and dark, like they were covered by a film or something. How odd. I leaned forward, straining to get a glimpse and frowned. A black sheet completely covered each window pane from the inside. Strange.

  Barry came barreling out the door. Noticing me eyeing the shed, he said, “That’s Mom’s little escape. She spends hours inside there, planting and growing her flowers. She keeps it locked, claiming it’s her refuge from reality. She doesn’t want anyone in there messing up her solitude.” With a shrug, he added, “I’ve never seen her set–up, but I imagine the flowers are about ready to be planted.”

  Two things simultaneously occurred to me. One, that that was the most Barry had ever told me about his mom. And two, I could almost guarantee that more than just flowers were being grown inside that shed. Bile rose, leaving a sour taste in my mouth at the idea of having to tell Tanner. One day was all I asked. One day to spend with Barry with no outside influences. If I could turn back the clock, we would’ve headed directly to the park and tossed around the baseball I didn’t even like.

  Those thoughts needed to be pushed aside, and fast. Suspicions and doubt couldn’t darken my features, they needed to be genuine. Forcing a smile, any concerns disappeared behind my fake facade. “That’s awesome that she can grow her own flowers,” I said cheerily. “I remember last fall when we drove past here they were beautiful.” I tried hard to mask the wavering in my voice.

  “Yeah, well sometimes I think she cares more about those damn flowers than she cares about me.” He deadpanned while spinning the glove around in his hand. His eyes were empty as he stared at that stupid shed‌—‌I wanted so badly to smooth out the hard lines that formed across his face.

  “I’m sure that’s not true,” I said softly. “They just steal her free time that’s already limited due to her job.”

  With a sigh, he leaned back against the railing. “She wasn’t always this way. Something inside her snapped after my dad died‌—‌at least, that’s what Grandma told me.” Glancing up, I studied him as he continued talking. With a faraway expression, his mind resorted to the past.

  “Dad died when I was young, about three years old. A drunk driver came around a curve too fast, plowing into the side of his door. They say he died instantly.” With a glance back at the shed, he added, “Mom’s never been right since. Grandma thinks something died inside her that day too. All I remember was sadness taking over the house like a black cloud. That’s when I started going over to Grandma’s house regularly. I guess I wasn’t enough to keep Mom going. Now she works in a bar close to the city. It’s frequented mostly by college students since it’s not too far away from campus. Every time when a few older classmates come back, they razz me about seeing her.” He shook his head disgustedly as he glanced back at me. After a pause, he added, “I guess I shouldn’t complain, huh? At least our house is decent.”

  “I’m sorry, Barry‌—‌we can’t pick family. I think we both got dealt a rather shitty hand for a parent. I know I did with my father, but we can’t ask for a reshuffle‌—‌we just have to make do with what we’ve been dealt. At least we both have someone who cares about us. My mom, mostly, has turned things around. There’s been a drastic improvement in our relationship over the last few months, and you have your grandma. She’s so awesome, Barry, and it’s obvious how much she loves you.”

  As I stood, he offered his hand to help. While he grasped my hand, he smiled tenderly and gave me a tug. He leaned over, planting a soft kiss on my cheek. “And we have each other,” he whispered into my ear, instantly causing soft goose–bumps to form.

  My eyes closed. Yes, but for how long? I wanted to melt into his chest,
conjoining us together. Solidified as one, the chance of us breaking apart would decrease significantly. I would not survive this day. Overwhelmed with guilt from needing to call Tanner, I kept my expression neutral as we returned to his car.

  ~13~

  Play Ball

  “No. No. No. You have to keep your eyes open,” Barry yelled, motioning his hands to get me to stop. He ran toward me.

  The flabbergasted smile he wore alerted me I was doing something wrong. We were at the park playing catch in an open grassy area by the baseball fields. While we weren’t technically on the fields, the closeness gave the essence of being a baseball player.

  “If you don’t, you will catch the fly ball with your face,” he added.

  I laughed. “Hey, I never said I was a sports guru.”

  “Oh, believe me, I know. I better start with a few lessons before putting you in the outfield,” he teased, laughing.

  My eyebrows rose while I gave him an incredulous smile, which only succeeded in making him laugh harder.

  Barry slowed to a trot when he approached and positioned himself behind me. His arms slid on top of mine and I melted, becoming a puppet under his control. The tingles his touch created were distracting, and I inhaled deeply to concentrate on what he was saying.

  “Okay, first you want to keep your eyes on the ball the entire time‌—‌no closing them. Then, estimate where the ball will land. If you think it will fall behind you, then back pedal, keeping your eye on the ball. If you think it will fall in front of you, then move toward it, keeping your eye on the ball.”

  With a wily smile, I nodded. “Got it‌—‌keep my eye on the ball and adjust to where it should land.” I mocked.

  “Uh–huh.” He deadpanned. “Remember, it’s for your own good. I want to keep that pretty face of yours from getting hurt.”

  “Okay, sorry. I’ll get serious,” I replied, trying my best to sound stoic, but that silly grin wouldn’t leave my face.