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way.”
    She gave him a steely smile. “Tell me, do you find that there are a lot of rules that get in your way, Trask?”
    He shrugged. “I admit that, on the highway of life, I tend to ignore the occasional guard rail warning sign.”
    Foster glanced from Alexa to Trask and back again. He looked politely baffled. “Guess I’m missing the joke here. What’s this about guard rails and signs?”
    â€œMs.Chambers happened to notice my Jeep at Avalon Point the day I arrived,” Trask said. “She saw me standing on the wrong side of the guard rail. Made her nervous.”
    â€œI see.”
    â€œThen I offered to give her a ride home.” Trask watched Alexa’s face. “But she said that she didn’t think it was safe to accept lifts from strangers.”
    Foster smiled expansively. “I think I get the picture. Obviously a little misunderstanding. So you stopped at the Point to admire the scenery? It’s pretty incredible, isn’t it?”
    â€œI wasn’t admiring the scenery,” Trask said.
    Alexa raised her brows. “I imagine our landscape must come as something of a shock after Seattle.”
    â€œIt’s different.”
    Foster changed the subject with a diplomatic aplomb that Alexa could only admire.
    â€œCongratulations on the new hotel,” he said. “It’s going to be a major asset to Avalon.”
    Trask nodded. “Thanks. We’re pleased with it.”
    â€œYou certainly chose the ideal time to open,” Foster enthused. “The Spring Festival is the big event of the year. The town will be filled with visitors.”
    â€œI think it will be a good launch,” Trask said. “The hotel officially opens to guests two days after the reception. We’re booked solid, not only for the festival, but for the next several months.”
    Foster nodded. “I’m not surprised. Avalon is becoming a major destination point in the Southwest. The positive energy of the vortices in this region make this a very special place.”
    â€œGenerally speaking, I’m not into metaphysics.”Trask glanced at Alexa. “But I do believe in the old saying that what goes around, comes around.”
    â€œInterestingly enough,” Foster said, slipping into his pedantic mode, “that adage is based on ancient karmic doctrine which holds that all actions have consequences, not only in the material world but in the personal and metaphysical realms as well.”
    Trask did not take his gaze off Alexa. “Translated, that probably means that no good deed goes unpunished.”
    â€œI’ll keep that in mind the next time I see you standing on the wrong side of the guard rail,” Alexa said. “How long do you plan to be in town, Trask?”
    â€œAs long as it takes.”
    Alexa could have sworn that she felt a chill wind blow across the café terrace. But the scalloped edge of the green awning did not so much as flutter.
    He was playing games, she thought. Why? Were the rumors right after all? Had he returned to Avalon on a mission of vengeance?
    Trask sampled his coffee. The hard line of his mouth curved in rueful dismay. “The quest goes on.”
    Alexa tensed. “What quest?”
    â€œI’ve been looking for a decent cup of coffee ever since I arrived in town. So far no luck.”
    Foster laughed. “I’ve heard that people from Seattle have an obsession with coffee.”
    Alexa raised her brows. “If you want coffee, Trask, you came to the wrong place. Café Solstice is known for its tea. The owner blends it himself.”
    â€œLooks like I’ve got a problem,” Trask said.
    â€œCould be.” Alexa had had enough. She scooped up the festival binder and rose to her feet. “You just said you don’tput much stock in metaphysics, Trask, but maybe the fact that both our scenery and our tea leaves you cold is a sign that you won’t be staying