Hold Tight (The Embrace Series) (11 page)

I had a few questions of my own—starting with
Who are you really?
and
What do you know about Natalie’s disappearance?
—because even though our scrying ruled him out as the person Natalie was with, I was willing to bet he knew more than he’d let on. I wondered if truth serum existed. But since I didn’t have a hidden library in my room on all things witchy and the computer was in the family room with Dad and Caden, researching one was out.

Caden talked about the tools he was familiar with while I fantasized about shining a bright white light into his eyes and demanding the truth. But then again, my interrogation might not have to be so obvious. Maybe a calming spell would relax Caden enough to spill his deepest, darkest secrets.

I recited the first few words of the spell I had memorized a month ago but then stopped. It was an all-or-nothing thing. Once cast, we’d all feel its effects, Dad included, and I didn’t want him to be so relaxed that he went against his better judgment and hired Caden regardless of his credentials. I’d never forgive myself if I cost Dad time and money due to incompetent help. I sighed, flattened myself against the wall so they wouldn’t see me, and listened instead.

Caden seemed to be a jack-of-all-trades. He had experience with hand tools, power tools, painting, plumbing, light electrical work, and supposedly he made a mean firehouse chili cheeseburger. He even managed to work the Rolling Stones into conversation.

“Thanks for coming by,” Dad said at last.

I bolted to the kitchen. “Finished?” I asked Chase to look busy.

Dad joined us as I stuck Chase’s cup into the dishwasher.

“Did he get the job?”
Please say no. At least not until I have time to talk to Isaac to find out if I’m overreacting about the smoke smell.

Dad fixed himself a plate as he spoke. “I told him I’d call him once I decided, but he’s qualified, and I need someone who can start right away, so I’ll probably call later this evening and make him an offer.”

The doorbell rang before I could respond.

“Are you expecting someone else?” I asked.

“I don’t know. I told Jerry at the hardware store to go ahead and send over the people he’s worked with before.”

The joys of running a handyman business out of your truck meant no real office, but Dad and Jerry had known each other long enough to have developed a good working relationship. I wouldn’t have been surprised if Jerry even prescreened the applicants.

“I’ll get it to give you a couple minutes to eat,” I offered.

Dad nodded and scooped up a forkful of meat.

I dried my hands on a dishtowel and walked to the front door. A guy in his late teens, maybe early twenties, faced me. He stood with his hands in the pockets of his red plaid flannel jacket. Pale blue eyes peered at me from beneath honey-brown hair.

“Are you here to interview for the job?” I asked.

“Yes.” He glanced at his watch. “Am I early?”

“No. Come on in.” I led him to the family room. “Why don’t you have a seat, and I’ll get my dad.”

He didn’t sit, though. Instead, he took in the pictures on the mantel.

“Um, who do I tell him is here?” I asked.

“Reed.”

Reed had on navy pants and worn work boots, as if he’d come straight here from another job.

“He’ll be right with you.”

“Thank you.”

Upon returning to the kitchen, I told Dad he had another applicant waiting.

“Great,” Dad replied through a full mouth.

“Jeesh, did you inhale dinner?”

“It was great.” He chugged his soda and placed his plate in the sink.

“This guy looks more competent than the last,” I commented.

Dad’s eyes narrowed. “By the way you were coaching Caden, I figured you were hoping he got the job.”

That was before I’d gotten another funny feeling about the guy. “I wasn’t coaching—”

“The Stones? I was standing in the next room. Not hard to overhear you.”

He left to interview Reed. Chase went to his room to play. I made myself a plate and called Isaac.

“It wasn’t anything Caden did. I don’t know.” I held my phone to my ear with one hand and used a fork to push cheesy noodles around my plate with the other. “He smelled off.”

“Do I even want to know why you’re sniffing the people your dad’s interviewing?”

“Isaac, I’m serious. He reeked heavily of smoke—like wildfires-burning-for-days smoke—yet Chase didn’t smell anything. What do you think that means?”

“You were standing way too close to the guy.”

“Isaac!” I started to wish I’d called Kaylee instead.

“Okay. You said he didn’t give off any witchy vibe, no scent of his magic or spark from your powers colliding. Right?”

“Yeah.”

“Then I think he’s a decent guy who needs a job. Madison, your brother has lit up the bathroom and not noticed. I think the kid’s nose is broken.”

I laughed. Isaac was right. Chase wasn’t exactly known for his keen sense of smell.

“Feel better?” Isaac asked.

“I guess.”

“I gotta go, but I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

“And Madison?”

“Hmm?”

“Stop smelling the help.”

“Ha, ha!” I ended our call.

Isaac was probably right. I was making a mountain out of a molehill. I worked on my homework until Dad came back into the kitchen.

“So who gets the job?” I asked him.

“They’re both qualified.” Dad grabbed a beer from the refrigerator and took a seat across from me. “Caden has more overall experience, but Reed has a carpentry background. That might come in handy.”

“I’d go with Reed,” I said and closed the book I’d been reading. I felt ninety-five percent better about Caden after talking to Isaac, but there was still a tiny part of me that wasn’t sure I wanted him working with my dad. “Caden’s too young to have done everything he said he has.”

“Caden gave me references. Reed didn’t.”

“Reed looks like a hard worker.”

Dad chuckled and took a swig of beer.

“What?” I asked.

“You only like Reed because he’s a pretty boy.”

“That’s not true.” The part about me liking him, that is. Under the work clothes, Reed was definitely a pretty boy. “I have a boyfriend, remember?”

“Doesn’t mean you’ve become blind to other guys.”

“I’m so not having this conversation with you.” I got up and shoved my chair under the table, annoyed that he thought I’d judge a person by looks alone. If he wanted to know the truth, Caden was just as attractive as Reed. Only, Caden’s dark features and five o’clock shadow gave him a mysterious bad-boy appearance, whereas Reed’s baby blues and shy demeanor made him seem more like the boy next door.

Neither of them had the down to earth, boy-you-want-to-be-with quality Isaac had.

“You’re the one that’ll have to work with the guy,” I said. “So if you hire Caden and find out he doesn’t know the difference between a drywall screw and a wood screw, don’t complain to me.”

I left him to think about that.

Chapter 10

The Inquisition

Thursday after school, I slipped my lambswool turtleneck sweater over a thermal top, put on an extra pair of socks, and grabbed my pink ski jacket. It wasn’t until I dug through the pile of discarded clothes, shoes, and other miscellaneous items at the bottom of my closet and found the floor that I remembered Brea had the boots I was looking for.

Two sharp honks let me know Isaac was out front. I stepped into my sneakers, grabbed my ice skates, and hurried outside. Fifteen minutes later, we were at the open-air ice rink that had been erected in the heart of Gloucester.

It had snowed the night before, blanketing the grass with a light layer of powdery white fluff. The sun shone bright, warming the air and making high-thirties seem comfortable. The outdoor rink was already hopping with skaters. For the first time since I’d known Isaac, he didn’t emanate confidence.

“I’m not so sure about this,” he whined as he stumbled onto the ice. “If man was supposed to balance on thin blades, God wouldn’t have made our feet flat.”

We’d been outside for less than ten minutes, and his nose was as red as the daisies Brea had given me. He hugged the white safety wall with gloved hands. I glided by him, doing a basic upright spin before coming to a stop.

“Show off,” he mumbled.

I stifled my laughter and fixed his skullcap so that I could see his beautiful eyes better. Then I snaked under his arm to offer support. “I’ll help you.” When he kept one hand firmly planted on the wall, I added, “You’re going to have to let go.”

“Right.”

Frowning, he cautiously raised his fingers a few inches above the wooden barrier. I wrapped my arm around his waist and guided us forward. We’d gone maybe three feet when Isaac tried to take a step. A rapid
stomp-stomp-stomp
followed. Isaac grunted, his arms flailed, and then we were sprawled across the ice.

“What did I tell you,” he joked as he untangled his skate from mine.

I smiled. “Next time try skating and not walking.”

He pulled me closer so that I was practically sitting on his lap. “We could take off these ridiculous contraptions and go get a cup of hot chocolate.”

I gave him a peck on the lips. “Tempting, but we just got here. We might as well go once around the rink before we leave.”

At the rate we were moving, that might take an hour.

His eyes narrowed. “You’re determined to get me out there.”

“I haven’t been skating all year, and I really miss it.” In the past, Kaylee, Sarah, and I would hit the ice the first weekend they opened the skate park, but now that we each had boyfriends and I’d been stuck watching Chase all the time, our schedules hadn’t synced up. “It’s a lot of fun once you get the hang of it.”

“Of course
you
think it’s fun. You can stand on these things.” He kicked the heel of his blade into the ice, leaving a thin groove behind. “Did you take lessons?”

“I had a couple. My mom loved being out here. She got me my first pair of skates when I was seven. I think they’re still in my closet.” Actually, I knew they were. I’d found them when looking for my boots. “She said I was a natural and signed me up for skate lessons through the park district. Nothing serious, but I did learn a few tricks.”

“So you love skating because your mom loved it.”

“Yep.”

He sighed. “Fine. No more arguments from me.”

“Thank you.” I stood and held out my hand, but Isaac didn’t take it.

Instead, he yanked off his glove and ran his fingers over the long steel runner on his skates. I caught the scent of vanilla and spearmint. This time, when I pulled him to his feet, he didn’t wobble. We glided almost gracefully several times around the rink.

“You cheated and put a spell on your skates, didn’t you?” I asked. Not that I was complaining. The cool air caressing my cheeks felt exhilarating, and with Isaac able to stay on his feet, he enjoyed himself too.

Isaac grabbed my hand, pulling me forward to face him. With his free hand on the small of my back, we skated as one. He smirked moments before his eyes lit with mischief and his powers encompassed us. Spearmint kissed the crisp winter air. A squeal escaped my lips as we twirled, moving through the other skaters like we’d been doing it all our lives.

At the far side of the rink, we came to an elegant stop. Isaac’s strong arm held me in a low dip inches above the ice.

I giggled. “Okay, I forgive you for using witchcraft.”

“That’s really nice of you,” he teased. His mouth brushed mine, and I automatically drew in my powers. He pulled me out of the dip and lifted me to my toes as his chilly lips moved over mine. After a few seconds, he asked, “You ready to get out of here?”

“Yeah.” I nudged him with my arm. “Thanks for sticking it out.”

“It was my pleasure.” He gave me one of his crooked smiles and bumped my shoulder with his.

We followed the flow of skaters around the rink until we reached the exit.

“You two make skating look easy,” Caden said.

“Hey.” Isaac jerked his head up the way guys do to say hello. “You going out there?”

One glance at Caden’s hiking boots and I knew the answer to that question before Caden shook his head.

“It’s not my thing,” he replied.

“I know that feeling,” Isaac muttered as he clomped his way over to the bench and sat.

Running into Caden was actually a good thing. It created the perfect opportunity for me to quiz him about Natalie because, even though the magical evidence pointed to Natalie choosing not to be found, I had to know if he knew anything about it. If he said she was okay, I’d let it go.

“I got the job,” Caden said.

“Congrats! What will you be doing?” Isaac asked as he unlaced his skates.