Page 89 of In the Pursuit of Haven
Scrooby took a deep breath. “Like I said, watch your back, buddy. There’s way more at stake than you think.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Amuscle on Jessie’s cheek twitched as he stared down at the map. We’d found our way back to Haven’s secret room. No one, except us, knew about it, and we could keep all our discoveries hidden like she had.
Plus… there was that phone call Jessie had made to “leave his family alone.” That was to Hunter, wasn’t it?
My heart thudded dully at what that could mean.They’re still communicating… and Jessie isn’t worried about coming back to the lighthouse. At all. He doesn’t think Hunter will come for us. What is going on?
It was after three in the morning, so maybe that’s why I felt so uneasy. Or maybe it was because I was jumping at every shadow after Scrooby’s story. My eyes burned as I stared over at Jessie and tried to decide what answers he’d give me. “Who do you think gave me the tip to find The Lady at the auction?” I asked him. “Do you think it was a Shepherd of the Relics?”
“I hope not,” he said after a moment, “because that would mean we were on their radar since day one.”
“Why would they try to help us?” I asked. “What would be the point?”
Jessie shrugged. “Maybe they’re tired of waiting?”
The thought I’d been used for some nefarious purpose was chilling. Tearing my mind from all the possible dangers, I pressed a Sticky note onto the map on Gerry with an updated“One step closer to finding it”note, and then another one on Winter Island with“Relic found.”It felt really good checking these off.
So why was I second guessing myself?
“Tomorrow’s the big day,” Jessie said. “We’re going to pick up at least four of these Relics.”
My eyes lifted to his. We’d plotted how we’d do that on our way to the island, but what was the fourth one? “The cane too?”
“It’ll be the easiest one. It’s just at the ‘witch’ museum.”
The museum where Judehatedme! “You happen to remember when Ruth told her best friend that she wished I’d stub my toe on Old Dimond’s rattle and get an infection and die?” I asked.
His brow lifted. “What? No! She didn’t mean that. She loves me.”
He was so dense. “Andthat’swhy she hates me. Duh, Jessie!” My annoyance that he was keeping more things from me came out in my voice. “So guess what? We’re not getting that cane from the ‘witch’ house.”
Jessie let out a guffaw and encircled me into his arms. “Baby, you’re selling yourself short. Don’t you have a flawless reputation in your circles? Just say you noticed the cane needs a good cleaning or it’s the lead to a great discovery, and hey… the bonus is that it actually doesn’t have to be a lie. No need to fight your conscience.”
“Ha!” I wriggled away from him. He loved to throw my scruples in my face, but at least I had them. “Clearly you haven’t made the acquaintance of Ruth’s father. I honestly think he hates me more than she does, and I don’t even know how that’s possible!”
“Who? Jude?” Jessie looked stunned, then cheerful. “No worries. He loves me.”
Oh, brother! Just like Ruth loved him.
Pushing a stack of Haven’s notebooks aside, I sat on the edge of the desk, crossing my arms. “I’d just love to see how Jude treats youafteryou didn’t marry his daughter.”
“The same as before. Of course…” He pressed closer to me, his eyes sparkling playfully. I knew he had something mischievous up his sleeve when he winked. “He never did think you and I were going to last. We can just come in all huffy—you telling me I can’t handle the cane…”
I gasped. “Are you kidding me?”
He laughed. “Yeah, I am.” He reached up and smoothed a tendril of my hair behind my ear. “How about you just let me weave my magic?”
This was going to be a crash and burn. Jessie’s charm was seriously rusty since he’d gotten tangled with Hunter and the rest of those criminals. I wasn’t the only one who could see right through him. I threw him a spiteful look. “What magic?” I asked.
The storm in his eyes centered on me. Too late, I realized that I’d issued a challenge. “How about I show you exactly what kind of magic I’ve got?” He reached around me, catching my waist in a possessive grip. He slid me closer, bending to find my neck with his lips. His breath was warm against my skin as he nuzzled the sensitive spot there.
Yeah, he literally knew my every ticklish spot.
I jerked upright with a startled laugh and reflexively reached for him to steady myself. “Sorry, but I just don’t think that’ll work on Jude.”
His voice turned serious. “I don’t care about Jude.”
