Read Online First Visions by Heather Topham Wood - Free Book Online Page A

it is.”
    “I passed out the description you gave me
over the phone, so at least that’s a start. It helped that there’s
damage to it, narrows down the possibilities.”
    A short time later, they arrived at the diner
and were seated in a booth in the back. The waitress took their
drink orders as Kate perused the menu. “Are you paying? Because
this affects what I’ll be ordering.”
    “Do you always antagonize everyone or is it
just me?”
    She gave him a flirtatious smile. “No, it’s
just you.” She laughed. “I was just kidding. I wasn’t really
expecting you to pay. I don’t have a lot of money, but I’m not a
total broke ass.”
    She had a thought. “Hey, do I get a salary
for this? You know helping to solve the case?”
    “No, you’re doing it simply out of the
goodness of your heart.”
    “Aww bummer, I wouldn’t mind the cash to get
my own pad. Don’t want to be thirty years old and still living at
home. That might be what ends up keeping me single forever,” she
complained.
    His gray eyes remained fixated on the menu as
he asked, “No one special in your life right now?”
    “No, but I’m on the prowl for a guy. After
the whole Matt Spencer thing, I rarely ventured out of the house.
Kind of hard to meet anyone when you’re as sheltered as me,” she
answered.
    Noticing his impassive expression, she
decided to test out the waters. “Hey, do you know anyone you could
set me up with? Got a cute brother or anything?”
    He gave her a long measured look before
answering. “Kate, we just met, would you really trust me enough to
pick out someone for you to date?”
    “Well, you’re a cop, right? Who could be
better than that to screen potential boyfriends? Nothing is more
telling than an extensive criminal background check,” she
replied.
    “No one is coming to mind, but I’ll be sure
to inform you if that changes,” he said dryly. However, his tone
implied she wasn’t likely to be hearing from him anytime soon.
    She looked over at the menu at him and spoke
in a more serious tone. “Anyway, back to the whole money thing. I
don’t want anything for helping, you know that right? I got the
sense Nikki thought I was trying to scam you guys. I might be a
pain in the ass, but I’m not a shitty person.”
    He drummed his fingers lightly on the table.
“Kate, you don’t have to explain anything to me. I get you. Don’t
worry about Nikki—she’s very skeptical about this type of thing.
It’s definitely nothing personal. She called my own aunt bat shit
crazy for believing in psychics.”
    I get you? What the hell was that supposed to
mean? His comments were making her feel unsure and suddenly
exposed. Quickly, she decided to change the subject. “Your aunt
doesn’t have any abilities?”
    “No, she just always felt there was more to
the world than we could see. Most of her major life decisions are
based on answers she receives during tarot card readings. Some of
her ideas are pretty out there. But I learned from a young age how
to take things with a grain of salt,” he explained.
    “Is she local?”
    “Not anymore. Kind of lives off the grid now.
She met this guy from Maine and moved up there about five years
ago. He makes these amazing homemade brooms and Aunt Lizzie helps
him run his business.” He gave a fond smile as he thought about his
aunt. “You should meet her one day, you’d love her.”
    “She sounds cool. Although introductions
might be a little awkward. How would you present me? As your
psychic sidekick?”
    Before he could reply, the waitress returned
for their order. He ordered a grilled chicken sandwich and potato
salad. Against her better judgment, she went for the cheese fries
with a side of gravy.
    Jared gave her an undisguised look of
distaste once the waitress had left. “How can you eat that crap?
Sounds disgusting.” As he let his gaze run over her body, she felt
heat rise to her cheeks. “Why are you so thin? You should be a
hundred pounds overweight if