White Witch (18 page)

“Dude, I just want a big, greasy burger. Meet you there.”

Keller starts the truck and heads toward Squeaky’s, following way behind Egan’s speeding Ducati.

“I don’t think that’s keeping a low profile.” Keller points at the motorcycle as it grows smaller and smaller.

“He needs to remember we’re witches, not immortal.”

When we park at Squeaky’s, I place my hand over Keller’s on the ignition before he can shut off the engine. “Can I borrow your truck? I want to go check on Toni.”

“I can take you.”

“No, I think this might be a girl conversation.”

Keller glances out the window toward where Egan is already in line to order. “How long will you be gone?”

I laugh. “You two could use the time to get over this testosterone bout.” I want to lean over and kiss him, but I just squeeze his hand instead before slipping out the door to walk around to the driver’s side. “I hope this doesn’t take long, but if you guys get finished and want to leave, call me. Egan can drop you off at your house.”

Keller gives me a resigned face that makes me laugh again. “Talk fast.”

Saturday is “go into town and do your weekly shopping” day in Baker Gap, but even with the extra cars on the streets, I still make it to Toni’s in five minutes. Mrs. Dawes is on her way out the front door to weed her flowerbeds so she lets me in. I wave at Toni’s younger sisters, twins I can’t tell apart, as I run up the stairs.

I knock on Toni’s door before gently pushing it open. She’s curled up on her bed watching a
Buffy
DVD. Season three, the prom episode. I wander across the room and sit on the edge of the bed.

“What’s going on?” I ask.

“Angel just showed up at the prom. This scene always makes me cry.”

“That’s not what I mean, and you know it. What was that stare-and-run at the RV park this morning?”

Toni remains silent, watching the TV screen as “Wild Horses” plays in the background.

“Toni, talk to me.”

She sighs and clicks off the TV. “I froze. My brain completely froze, and I forgot how to speak.”

“Because Egan was wearing a towel? He’s cute, but
 . . .”

“Cute? He’s drop-dead gorgeous. So gorgeous I couldn’t breathe when I looked at him. Frozen brain, no speech, no breathing. So not a good first impression.”

I decide not to tell Toni about Egan’s “spaz” comment.

“Hon, you’re not the first girl he’s had that effect on.”

Toni leaps from the bed and paces across the room. “But they were probably just as stunning as he is. They were like you.”

“You’re pretty.” What am I doing? I should be warning her about Egan. He’s dangerous for her, in more ways than one.

“Please.” Toni stops in front of the mirror on the back of her closet door. “My mom’s right. I’m not the type of girl guys notice.”

“Don’t believe everything your mom says. A guy would be lucky to have you. Just
 . . .”

Toni turns toward me. “Just what?”

“Be careful around Egan.”

“I assumed he was one of the good guys.”

“He is, as far as the covens go.” I stare across the room at her window. “It’s just not a good idea to get attached to him.”

“Were you two
 . . .
involved?”

I jerk my attention back to her. “No. Why does everyone keep thinking that?”

Toni shrugs. “You’re being all weird about him.”

“I’d warn you about him even if he wasn’t a witch. He’s not exactly the sticking-to-one-girl type.”

Toni looks back at the mirror. After a few seconds, she walks away from it as if it’s betrayed her. “I think you’re worrying where there’s no need to.” She flops down on the bed beside me. “So, Egan, huh? It fits him.”

“How do you know? You saw him for maybe ten seconds.”

“It just does. It sounds like what he looks like, a fallen angel.”

I snort. “Egan Byrne is no angel, fallen or otherwise.”

Despite my warning, I can tell Toni’s already crushing hard on Egan. Maybe I’ll have better luck convincing Egan not to encourage Toni’s feelings. Egan bringing the Beginning Book to me proves that he’s a good guy. But he also has a track record of only staying with a girl until the next one catches his eye.

Toni rolls onto her side to face me and props her head on her palm. “Did he say anything about me after I left? Did he think I was a total flake?”

I sigh. “Actually, he just stepped back into the bathroom to change. Then the three of us did research all day.”

“About what?”

“The history of the covens.” Thankful to have a different topic to discuss, I tell Toni about the Beginning Book, our search through Reverend Dawes’ library, and his suspicions after he barged in on Keller and me kissing.”

“So the book’s still under his desk?”

“Yeah, Keller’s going to try to get it tonight after his dad goes to bed.”

Toni slumps into her desk chair. “I can’t believe I missed the excitement, all because I freaked out.”

“Trust me, this was not the good kind of excitement.” After a couple more minutes of chatting, I stand. “I better get Keller’s truck back to him and save Squeaky’s from Clash of the Testosterone. I just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

“Lame, but I’ll live.”

“Toni Dawes, you listen to me. You are not lame. You’re freakin’ awesome. You’re pretty, you rock, and you’re a great friend. I better not hear another self-derogatory comment come out of your mouth. There, I’ve spoken my mind. I’m going now.” I head for the bedroom door.

“Jax?”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks.”

I smile at her and wish I could play matchmaker for her. I’d do it in a heartbeat if I didn’t know Egan’s dating history. Granted, he can’t play the witch field now, but that doesn’t mean he won’t simply switch his routine to non-witch hotties. I won’t let Toni be one of them.

When I pull back in at Squeaky’s, I’m glad to see that not only have the boys not ripped each other to shreds, they’re actually talking and laughing. Good, I have enough to worry about.

“Hey,” Keller says when he sees me. “How’s Toni?”

“Oh, fine. Just up to her ears in homework.”

“And you two aren’t?” Egan asks, way too astute for my peace of mind.

“Her mom is a teacher, so she’s got a lot of pressure.”

Suddenly famished, I order a cheeseburger and fries.

“What, no chocolate milkshake?” Keller asks with a mischievous smile.

“I’ve tempted fate one too many times today, thanks.”

I’m nearly done with my meal when a familiar car rolls into the lot and parks next to Keller’s truck.

Keller sees her, too. “Did Toni say she was coming here?”

“No.” Damn, I haven’t had time to reiterate my warning to Egan not to toy with Toni.

Keller wads up his used napkin. “Why is she just sitting there?”

“Maybe she’s on her cell.” Or maybe my friend wants to sit with us but is petrified of facing Egan again. I get up and head across the parking lot. But before I can reach Toni’s car, she steps out and takes a visible deep breath before walking toward me, a large quilted bag over her shoulder. What has she done, literally packed a bag of self-confidence to bring with her?

“Hey.”

“Hi.” Toni sucks in another deep breath as if she’s reminding herself to breathe.

“What’s up?”

“Decided to stop being an idiot and hiding in my room. There’s work to be done.” She focuses on the spot behind me where I know the guys are sitting. She’s not shaking, but I can tell from the look in her eyes that she’s still nervous.

Realizing the likelihood of keeping her away from the investigation is nonexistent, I give in to what she obviously wants. “Okay, let me introduce you.” If Toni gets hurt, I’m never going to forgive myself—or Egan. I lead the way to the table, but I don’t have a chance to make introductions before Egan speaks.

“Ah, it’s the fair runaway drummer. Glad you could join us.”

Toni smiles and makes a funny squeaking noise.

Egan reaches across the table, and Toni manages to force enough brain cells into firing that she takes his hand. Of course, she looks like she’s going to melt like fondue when she does, but she manages not to slobber or faint, so that’s a plus.

“Egan Byrne.”

“Toni Dawes.”

“Toni, it fits you.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, cute, spunky.”

By the look of sheer pleasure on Toni’s face, you would have thought he’d called her the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. I give Egan a narrow-eyed stare, but he only winks at me in return.

Toni recovers enough of her scattered wits to slide the bag off her shoulder. She pulls a black book from it and places it on the table. “Is this what you’re looking for?”

We all stare back at her, our mouths half open.

“How’d you get that?” Keller finally asks.

“I went by your house and told your dad I’d left my sketchbook for art class there the other day. I said I’d been borrowing his computer to e-mail the Met in New York and thought I’d tossed the book down somewhere in his office. Unlike you, he’s not suspicious of me, so he told me to go in and look around. Found the book under the desk, stuffed it in the bag, kissed Uncle Jacob on the cheek and waved bye-bye. The end, mission accomplished.”

Toni’s speech increases in pace and her face becomes more excited as she relates the story. “It was kind of a rush. If this is how you feel when you go hunting, I think I’m in, even if I have to pull a Buffy and sneak out my bedroom window at night.”

Egan laughs and catches one of Toni’s hands in his own. “I like this girl.”

The wattage of Toni’s smile could light up half of North Carolina.

All I feel is an awful sense of impending doom.