Witching For Grace (Premonition Pointe #1) - Deanna Chase Page 0,85

Joy once a week. If things kept working out, they were considering asking her to join their coven.

And then there was Lucas. They didn’t talk about him. No one did around Hope because she always shut them down. She was aware that he’d purchased a house somewhere in town, but she hadn’t bothered to find out where. She was also aware that he was taking care of his mother. Honestly, she admired him for that. If she had to do it, she wasn’t sure she or her mother would survive.

Hope’s phone buzzed, and when she took a peek, she groaned. It was her mother. Of course it was. Why was it that every time she thought of her mother she heard from her? But Hope knew the answer to that question. They lived in Premonition Pointe. Clairvoyance was an everyday thing.

Hope read the text and felt a moment of panic. I’m at your house. Going to stay for a few weeks. Where’s the extra key?

She quickly typed back a response, steering her toward the sunflower pot to the right of the door and then adding, You could’ve given me some notice. I would’ve put fresh sheets on the guest bed.

It was last minute. Sorry, Bunny. I didn’t have a choice.

What did that mean? She considered texting again but dropped it. If she was here, she wasn’t going anywhere for the foreseeable future. The only thing to do was stay out late and party it up with her friends. Too bad it was only two in the afternoon.

While Hope was busy angsting about her mom’s sudden appearance, the rest of her friends had gotten up from the table and were waiting on her. “Is it time to go already?” she asked.

“I thought you were bored out of your mind?” Grace asked with a laugh. “Now you want to stay?”

“No, I just… never mind.” Hope rose to her feet and followed her friends outside. Once they were next to Grace’s car, Hope pulled her into a hug and said, “I’m proud of you, you rock star Realtor. Good job.”

“Thanks, Hope. I love you for coming. I know it was dull,” Grace said.

“Nah. Joy and I entertained ourselves, didn’t we, Joy?”

Joy snickered. “Yep.”

“What did you two do?” Grace demanded.

“Nothing much,” Hope said. “We did give out the number of a phone sex operator to everyone who hit on us though. So that should be fun for her. A bunch of new clients. We deserve a kickback, I think.”

Owen threw his head back and laughed. “Did I ever mention how much I love your friends?” he asked Grace.

Grace smiled at him. “Glad they entertain you. Now take me back to your place. We have more celebrating to do.”

Hope watched them go, and for the first time in forever, she felt a pang of sadness. It wasn’t jealousy. It was just an ache for the intimacy they shared. She sighed and walked Joy to her car before heading to her own. Just as she was opening the door, she got a text from her newest client, Against the Grain Interiors.

She’d been contracted to coordinate an open house once a month for the next six months, a grand opening party, and at least two showcases. The contract was shaping up to be one of the largest on her books this year. The only strange thing was that she hadn’t met LK in person yet. She thought that was kind of weird, but all the locations and dates checked out. It also helped that the large deposit check had cleared without an issue.

Need to go over some details. Do you have time to meet in person today or tomorrow?

There it was again, that clairvoyance. Hope smiled to herself. Sure. Today is good. Text me an address, and I’ll be right over.

A moment later, an address popped up on the screen. Hope didn’t waste any time. It was either meet with her client or go home to find out why her mother was in town. The client won, hands down.

Hope punched the address in her GPS, and when she got to the home, she let out a gasp. It was the craftsman Grace had finally sold a few weeks earlier. She smiled when she spotted the chicken coop that was already set up and the two golden labs that were running free in the yard. The place was perfect. Just the kind of home she’d always wanted. Now she was dying to meet the owner.

Feeling lighter than she had all day, she strolled up to the front door and knocked.

The door opened almost immediately, revealing none other than Lucas King in all his tattooed glory.

LK.

She gaped at him. “Lucas? What the hell?” Without waiting for an answer, she spun on her heel and started to head back to her car.

“Wait!” He bounded out of his house and moved to stand in front of her, blocking her from getting back in her vehicle. “I really do need someone to tackle all of my events. This wasn’t a ploy to get you out here.”

“No? Then why didn’t you just tell me who you were?” she asked, sounding bitter to her own ears.

“You know why,” he said softly. “You wouldn’t have returned my calls, and I’d have been stuck finding someone inferior from fifty miles away.”

He was right about that. She was the best damned party planner on the coast. She sighed. “I don’t appreciate being lied to.”

“I didn’t lie… exactly,” he said. “I just omitted.”

“Same thing,” she insisted.

“Maybe. But please, Hope, can’t we put us aside for a while and work together? I really need someone I trust to do this. I just don’t have the time between my woodworking and my mother. It’s been… a lot.”

She’d heard about his mom, and her heart was breaking for him. She’d always loved Bell King. The woman was beautiful inside and out. What she hadn’t known was that Lucas was now a woodworker. Impressive if his business was as successful as he had made it sound during their emails for the event planning. Judging by his budget, she had to believe he wasn’t pulling her chain.

“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea,” she hedged.

“Hope Anderson? Is that you?” a woman called from the porch.

Hope spun and smiled at Lucas’s mom. She was so cute in her capri pants and T-shirt that said Witches rule the world. “How are you doing, Mrs. K?”

Bell frowned, glanced around, and then disappeared back into the house.

“What—”

“It’s the dementia,” Lucas explained. “One minute she’s fine, and the next, she’s not. I have to go check on her.”

“Okay.”

He paused and then said, “You’re not bailing on me, are you? Like I said, I really need the help.”

Knowing in her heart that she could never say no to helping him, especially knowing what he was facing with his mother, she said a silent prayer for strength and shook her head. “No. I’ll stay.”

Those last two words hung in the air, and she knew in that moment both of them were wondering what would’ve happened if he’d uttered those words fifteen years ago.

Lucas’s expression softened, and he said, “Thank you.” Then he took her by the hand and led her into the house she’d always envisioned the two of them living in.

***