“However,” he continued, “I think you should consider what you’ll do if you still feel the same way about Jacob when there’s no enchanted clock to blame your problems on.”
“I thought you were going to mind your own business?”
He mock-zipped up his mouth and threw away the key. “I’m done now.”
“Promise?”
“Promise. I’ll see you later at O’Grady’s.”
She left, looking back at the office building one last time before getting in her Honda to drive home and get ready for the party.
She decided not to think about what Patrick had said, or, at least, think about it as little as possible. Life was moving forward. Time was not pausing to allow her to contemplate any other outcome. She’d go to the party, smile and have some drinks. She’d say goodbye to all of the people who turned out. Tomorrow she’d go to the Davis house and help to exorcise the ghosts—part of her job she’d done dozens of times before—and get rid of the clock once and for all.
She’d bring her own matches to start the bonfire.
And then she’d be free to start her new life.
There was no turning back now.
CHAPTER 11
Jacob had considered not going to the party at all, but he’d decided to suck it up and force himself. Put on a good front. Say goodbye to Amanda all proper and politely, wish her luck with her new life, and then almost certainly get rip-roaringly drunk.
It was a plan.
He needed fresh air after being at the small pub for half an hour and emerged into the evening just as Amanda and David walked up to the entrance. He couldn’t have timed it better if he’d tried.
Amanda looked incredible in a dark blue dress with a gauzy skirt that skimmed her curves and came a couple inches above her knees. She’d done her dark hair so it hung in long, soft wavy pieces, begging to be touched. Her makeup was natural, with a shiny gloss on her lips that made it difficult to look anywhere else.
He’d kissed that mouth. He knew what it tasted like. What she tasted like.
His body reacted to the sight of her.
Of course, the well-dressed boyfriend next to her worked like an ice-cold shower.
David thrust out his hand. “Jacob, good to see you again.”
“Yeah, you, too.” He shook the man’s hand. His gaze moved to Amanda.
“Thanks for coming,” she said softly. “It means a lot to me.”
She was going to be his undoing. He wanted to be tough, but all he really wanted to do was push David out of the way and take Amanda into his arms.
This is exactly why he’d tried to avoid falling in love with anybody for two years. There was no way he could pretend to be cool, calm and collected when he was dying inside with the need to touch her.
“My pleasure,” he said. “You look beautiful tonight, Amanda.”
“Thank you,” she replied. She was looking directly into his eyes. Intently. Where he’d expected to see stubbornness and disinterest, he could have sworn he saw regret.
Oh, no you don’t, he threw the thought at her. You made your choice. You need to stop messing with me now.
Her eyes turned an icy shade of blue. “I’ll see you inside, David.”
She brushed past them and entered the club without another word.
“Sorry,” David said, a confused expression on his face. “I’m not sure what’s with her tonight. She’s acting very preoccupied.”
Jacob pressed his lips together. “Yeah, well, I guess she has a lot on her mind right now.”
“I guess she does.” David got a faraway look in his eyes and then he smiled. “I think she’ll love it in Manhattan. She was never meant for small-town life.”
“If you say so.”
“Where are you from, Jacob?”
“Seattle, originally. I moved to Mystic Ridge two years ago.”
“To work for PARA?”
“That’s right.”
“Amanda’s worked there for six years.” He shook his head. “I’m amazed that after such a long time with such an unusual company she is still one of the most well-adjusted and ordinary girls I’ve ever known.”
“Amanda’s not ordinary.”
David’s lips quirked. “I meant it as a compliment, of course.”
“Amanda is not ordinary,” Jacob said again. “She’s extraordinary.”
David frowned. “I meant no offense.”
“Of course you didn’t.” Jacob willed himself not to get angry. He counted to ten and then twenty until the compulsion to punch David went away.
“I’m simply saying that working in a field such as paranormal investigation brings with it certain experiences that must be difficult to shake off,” David continued. “Strange sights, scary situations and the like?”
“Sometimes.”
“If I didn’t feel that Amanda wanted a change from that life, I never would have suggested that she move to be with me.”
Jacob cringed. “She’s a big girl. She knows what she’s doing.”
“She really has no idea how wonderful she is, does she?”
“I thought you said she was ordinary.”
“Ordinary isn’t an insult, like I said. Amanda herself wants to be ordinary. To move away from the strange world of so-called paranormal phenomena. To be a regular, taxpaying citizen.”