Read Online Darknight (The Witches of Cleopatra Hill Book 2) by Christine Pope - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Christine Pope
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Wow, there were three words I never thought I’d be stringing together.
After I’d ladled a good portion of the beans into the bowl I had waiting, I picked it up and the smaller one holding the cheese and took them out to the dining room. Connor had the wine open, and a good measure poured into each of the glasses. The candles flickered in the center of the table, and I noticed that he’d used the dimmer to turn down the lights overhead.
Are you trying to seduce me, Mr. Wilcox? I thought, and then realized I wasn’t as put off by the notion as I probably should be. Uh-oh.
Giving myself a mental shake, I went back to the kitchen and got the plate of tamales, and turned off the lights before returning to the dining room. I noticed he’d been busy, too; more of that instrumental guitar music played in the background.
“Who are these guys?” I asked as I sat down. “I could have sworn I’ve heard them before, but….”
Connor replied, “Black Forest Society. You’ve heard of them?”
That was it. I’d only been able to catch one of their shows because they traveled around the state a lot, and the one time they’d played the Spirit Room when I was there, they didn’t even have a CD available yet. “I saw them once in Jerome about six months ago, I think.” Yes, that sounded right. It had been a warm summer evening, with the doors of the bar open to the streets and people coming and going. Back then I’d thought I’d have plenty of time to find my consort.
Instead, he’d found me.
Connor put a tamale on his plate, then picked up another one and set it on mine. I murmured a thank-you as he said, “They play up here in Flag off and on. One club they play at is just a couple of streets over from here. I’ve always liked their music, so I was glad when they finally got their CD out there.”
“I didn’t even know they had one. It’s good.”
A pause as he took a bite of tamale. His eyes widened. After he was done chewing, he said, “And these are amazing. I’m surprised your aunt runs a shop and not a restaurant.”
I didn’t bother to ask how he knew that. It was pretty clear to me that the Wilcoxes knew a lot more about us McAllisters than we did about them. Or at least, than I knew about them. There’d been a lot of secret-keeping back in Jerome, and I still didn’t have any clear idea as to how much I’d been kept in the dark.
Connor seemed to realize his slip-up, because he glanced away from me and took a sip of his wine. Because I was feeling slightly irritated, I only said, “Thanks,” then added, “so what did Damon want today?”
Of course he didn’t answer right away. He took another bite of tamale, shut his eyes as if savoring the taste, then answered my question with another of his own. “You saw him?”
“Yes, I was taking a break and looking out the window, and I saw him drive up.”
Now it was Connor’s turn to look annoyed. “Nothing. Just checking in.”
“He doesn’t have a phone?”
“Doesn’t trust them for the important stuff.”
Wow, he really was paranoid. Then again, what with our own government sniffing through our phone calls and emails, I supposed that was one thing I couldn’t really give Damon Wilcox much grief over.
“I think he needs a hobby,” I remarked, and finally sipped at my tempranillo.
It was on off-hand remark, the sort of thing I’d said about more than one person on occasion, but Connor didn’t appear amused by it. “Oh, he has hobbies. I’m just pretty sure you wouldn’t approve of them.”
“So why don’t you tell me about it?” I said the words as a challenge, not expecting to get an honest answer.
To my surprise, Connor seemed to take my question seriously. Maybe the tamales had loosened him up. “You know he’s a physics professor, right?”
“No. I mean, I knew he was a professor of some sort at Northern Pines, but I didn’t know what he taught.” I did my
Wow, there were three words I never thought I’d be stringing together.
After I’d ladled a good portion of the beans into the bowl I had waiting, I picked it up and the smaller one holding the cheese and took them out to the dining room. Connor had the wine open, and a good measure poured into each of the glasses. The candles flickered in the center of the table, and I noticed that he’d used the dimmer to turn down the lights overhead.
Are you trying to seduce me, Mr. Wilcox? I thought, and then realized I wasn’t as put off by the notion as I probably should be. Uh-oh.
Giving myself a mental shake, I went back to the kitchen and got the plate of tamales, and turned off the lights before returning to the dining room. I noticed he’d been busy, too; more of that instrumental guitar music played in the background.
“Who are these guys?” I asked as I sat down. “I could have sworn I’ve heard them before, but….”
Connor replied, “Black Forest Society. You’ve heard of them?”
That was it. I’d only been able to catch one of their shows because they traveled around the state a lot, and the one time they’d played the Spirit Room when I was there, they didn’t even have a CD available yet. “I saw them once in Jerome about six months ago, I think.” Yes, that sounded right. It had been a warm summer evening, with the doors of the bar open to the streets and people coming and going. Back then I’d thought I’d have plenty of time to find my consort.
Instead, he’d found me.
Connor put a tamale on his plate, then picked up another one and set it on mine. I murmured a thank-you as he said, “They play up here in Flag off and on. One club they play at is just a couple of streets over from here. I’ve always liked their music, so I was glad when they finally got their CD out there.”
“I didn’t even know they had one. It’s good.”
A pause as he took a bite of tamale. His eyes widened. After he was done chewing, he said, “And these are amazing. I’m surprised your aunt runs a shop and not a restaurant.”
I didn’t bother to ask how he knew that. It was pretty clear to me that the Wilcoxes knew a lot more about us McAllisters than we did about them. Or at least, than I knew about them. There’d been a lot of secret-keeping back in Jerome, and I still didn’t have any clear idea as to how much I’d been kept in the dark.
Connor seemed to realize his slip-up, because he glanced away from me and took a sip of his wine. Because I was feeling slightly irritated, I only said, “Thanks,” then added, “so what did Damon want today?”
Of course he didn’t answer right away. He took another bite of tamale, shut his eyes as if savoring the taste, then answered my question with another of his own. “You saw him?”
“Yes, I was taking a break and looking out the window, and I saw him drive up.”
Now it was Connor’s turn to look annoyed. “Nothing. Just checking in.”
“He doesn’t have a phone?”
“Doesn’t trust them for the important stuff.”
Wow, he really was paranoid. Then again, what with our own government sniffing through our phone calls and emails, I supposed that was one thing I couldn’t really give Damon Wilcox much grief over.
“I think he needs a hobby,” I remarked, and finally sipped at my tempranillo.
It was on off-hand remark, the sort of thing I’d said about more than one person on occasion, but Connor didn’t appear amused by it. “Oh, he has hobbies. I’m just pretty sure you wouldn’t approve of them.”
“So why don’t you tell me about it?” I said the words as a challenge, not expecting to get an honest answer.
To my surprise, Connor seemed to take my question seriously. Maybe the tamales had loosened him up. “You know he’s a physics professor, right?”
“No. I mean, I knew he was a professor of some sort at Northern Pines, but I didn’t know what he taught.” I did my
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