past. He’d changed his mind
in regards to the cult after he’d caught sight of the person standing on the corner
watching them as they’d made their way to the truck. That wasn’t an innocent action
by any means, which was why Neal had decided it would be safer for Charlotte and Mandy
if he were to stay with them. Why would his presence in town cause ATD to feel threatened?
He had a hard time believing that Mandy was that important to them. What was the consequence
if Neal and Charlotte talked Mandy out of dating Garreth?
“I made coffee.” Charlotte’s soft voice came from the doorway and when Neal turned
his head, her beauty struck him. She’d removed the sweater, and the long sleeved red
shirt she was wearing molded to her breasts. Her hair had been let down and the natural
waves fell around her face. He remembered how soft the strands had been and his fingers
itched to feel the silky texture once more. Staying here for the next two nights was
going to be a hell of a lot harder than he’d originally thought. Her eyes dropped
to his weapon. “You didn’t even wait for us to leave the stadium.”
“One can never be too cautious. Char, it’s better to have it and not need it than
need it and not have it. Coffee sounds good, by the way.” Neal had a feeling that
Charlotte stayed up for Mandy on the weekends and seeing as it was only twenty-two
hundred, they still had two more hours before curfew. Considering that she’d yet to
tell him what Mandy’s friend had said, that should take up at least fifteen minutes.
After that he’d have to make some shit up to pass the time. “You wanted to tell me
something back at the game.”
As they made their way down the hall and into the kitchen, Charlotte caught him up
to date on what had transpired earlier that day. By the time she was done and asking
for his opinion, they’d taken their mugs into the living room. He didn’t take offense
when she chose the chair instead of the couch where he was now sitting. It was better
for both of them.
“A ritual ? How reliable is Becky?” Neal took a sip of the hot bitter liquid and then set it
down in front of him on the coffee table. He zeroed his gaze in on Char, who’d tucked
her legs underneath her. She looked like she did back when they’d been in high school.
“We need to get her to speak with the sheriff.”
“I told her to do that but he wasn’t at the game.” Charlotte glanced at the clock
on the wall, but it was so early he wasn’t sure how to reassure her over Mandy being
out with Garreth after what Becky had said. He wasn’t sure he could reassure her. “Are you going to talk with Sheriff Plinkton tomorrow?”
“First thing on my agenda.”
“And what exactly is your agenda?” Char picked at what Neal thought was imaginary lint since he couldn’t
see anything from where he was sitting. He figured it was due to her worry over her
sister and not what had taken place at the game. He shouldn’t have said anything about
touching her. He was here solely to help her sister and he’d do well to remember that.
“Mandy is not going to be happy when you try and tell her that you’re not fond of
Garreth either.”
“I’m going to speak with Sheriff Plinkton, the mayor, and then make an informal swing
by Robert and Patricia Ashe’s land.” Neal could see the skepticism written across
her beautiful features. He couldn’t remember a time that emotion hadn’t been there since her parents had passed. He’d tried his best to soothe it from her
then and he fought the urge to do it now. He needed a breather. “I’m going to take
a look around the property and see if I notice anything that stands out.”
Charlotte didn’t say anything to Neal’s declaration, so he stood up and walked toward
the door. He could feel her blue eyes trailing him as he exited. The temperature had
dropped but he didn’t bother with a jacket. It was
in regards to the cult after he’d caught sight of the person standing on the corner
watching them as they’d made their way to the truck. That wasn’t an innocent action
by any means, which was why Neal had decided it would be safer for Charlotte and Mandy
if he were to stay with them. Why would his presence in town cause ATD to feel threatened?
He had a hard time believing that Mandy was that important to them. What was the consequence
if Neal and Charlotte talked Mandy out of dating Garreth?
“I made coffee.” Charlotte’s soft voice came from the doorway and when Neal turned
his head, her beauty struck him. She’d removed the sweater, and the long sleeved red
shirt she was wearing molded to her breasts. Her hair had been let down and the natural
waves fell around her face. He remembered how soft the strands had been and his fingers
itched to feel the silky texture once more. Staying here for the next two nights was
going to be a hell of a lot harder than he’d originally thought. Her eyes dropped
to his weapon. “You didn’t even wait for us to leave the stadium.”
“One can never be too cautious. Char, it’s better to have it and not need it than
need it and not have it. Coffee sounds good, by the way.” Neal had a feeling that
Charlotte stayed up for Mandy on the weekends and seeing as it was only twenty-two
hundred, they still had two more hours before curfew. Considering that she’d yet to
tell him what Mandy’s friend had said, that should take up at least fifteen minutes.
After that he’d have to make some shit up to pass the time. “You wanted to tell me
something back at the game.”
As they made their way down the hall and into the kitchen, Charlotte caught him up
to date on what had transpired earlier that day. By the time she was done and asking
for his opinion, they’d taken their mugs into the living room. He didn’t take offense
when she chose the chair instead of the couch where he was now sitting. It was better
for both of them.
“A ritual ? How reliable is Becky?” Neal took a sip of the hot bitter liquid and then set it
down in front of him on the coffee table. He zeroed his gaze in on Char, who’d tucked
her legs underneath her. She looked like she did back when they’d been in high school.
“We need to get her to speak with the sheriff.”
“I told her to do that but he wasn’t at the game.” Charlotte glanced at the clock
on the wall, but it was so early he wasn’t sure how to reassure her over Mandy being
out with Garreth after what Becky had said. He wasn’t sure he could reassure her. “Are you going to talk with Sheriff Plinkton tomorrow?”
“First thing on my agenda.”
“And what exactly is your agenda?” Char picked at what Neal thought was imaginary lint since he couldn’t
see anything from where he was sitting. He figured it was due to her worry over her
sister and not what had taken place at the game. He shouldn’t have said anything about
touching her. He was here solely to help her sister and he’d do well to remember that.
“Mandy is not going to be happy when you try and tell her that you’re not fond of
Garreth either.”
“I’m going to speak with Sheriff Plinkton, the mayor, and then make an informal swing
by Robert and Patricia Ashe’s land.” Neal could see the skepticism written across
her beautiful features. He couldn’t remember a time that emotion hadn’t been there since her parents had passed. He’d tried his best to soothe it from her
then and he fought the urge to do it now. He needed a breather. “I’m going to take
a look around the property and see if I notice anything that stands out.”
Charlotte didn’t say anything to Neal’s declaration, so he stood up and walked toward
the door. He could feel her blue eyes trailing him as he exited. The temperature had
dropped but he didn’t bother with a jacket. It was
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