White Lies (The Arcane Society #2)(15)
Author: Jayne Ann Krentz

“In their defense, I’m sure they think it’s best for all concerned if the whole thing just goes away. Murder in the family is never good for business, let alone your social life.”

“It’s more than that,” Elizabeth replied. “I think Mom’s afraid that everyone in Stone Canyon secretly believes I’m unstable. She’s worried that I won’t be able to find another husband.”

Clare smiled. “Are you looking for one?”

“No.” Elizabeth shuddered. “It’s going to be a long time before I even think about marriage again, if ever.”

“You’ll get past what Brad did to you,” Clare said. “You just need a little time.”

Elizabeth put her fork down. “Actually I’m more concerned about you than I am about myself. You paid a very high price for rescuing me from Brad. First you got dumped by your fiancé and then you got fired. We both know it was because of the gossip that went around after the murder.”

“What the heck.” Clare reached for the small blue ceramic pot that contained salsa. “Screw ’em if they can’t take a joke.”

She concentrated on spooning salsa over her scrambled eggs. It took her a couple seconds to realize that Elizabeth was staring at her.

Clare looked up. “What?”

Elizabeth shook her head and then, unexpectedly, started to giggle. The giggles turned into laughter. She clapped a hand across her mouth in a vain attempt to stem the tide.

Clare ate her spiced-up eggs, waiting for Elizabeth to get herself back under control.

Eventually Elizabeth sobered and reached for her coffee cup. “Thanks, sis, I needed a good laugh.”

“Happy to be of service.”

Elizabeth tipped her head to the side. “Are you really that laid back about what happened to your career and engagement?”

“I wasn’t at the time but in hindsight, it did not turn out to be the end of the world. As far as the engagement goes, I was having a few doubts anyway. I don’t think Greg and I would have made it for the long haul.”

“I agree. You didn’t even feel that you could confide in him about the paranormal side of your nature.”

“That was certainly part of the problem.”

“You couldn’t have kept that secret forever. Sooner or later it would have come out and Greg probably would have assumed that you were delusional. That’s how most nonsensitives react when told that someone has psychic abilities.”

“True.” Clare hesitated, thinking. “But there was another aspect of our relationship that was starting to worry me, too.”

“What?”

“In the whole time we were together we never had a single fight.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“I’m not sure,” Clare admitted. “But it started to get irritating. We always did what I wanted to do. I made all the decisions. I picked the restaurants where we ate. I chose the shows. He always let me set the pace in bed. It got old.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Elizabeth waved her hand in Clare’s face. “Back up to the part where he always let you set the pace in bed. I thought that was one of the things you liked about him. You told me you appreciated the fact that he let you control things in that department.”

“Sometimes you just want someone else to take charge for a while.”

“Really?” Elizabeth smiled knowingly. “And just when did you come to that little epiphany?”

“I don’t know,” Clare admitted. “The thing is, I could only allow someone else to take charge if I trusted him completely.”

“You will recall that I did warn you that it was probably a mistake for someone with your level of talent to marry someone who could never in a million years understand your true nature,” Elizabeth said.

“It seemed like a good idea at the time,” Clare said.

“Famous last words.”

“In fairness to Greg, my paranormal issues aside, I’m just not the type who can hand over the reins to someone else.”

“You can say that again.” Elizabeth chuckled. “In your case I think someone will have to come along who is strong enough to take the reins away from you.”

Clare winced. “Not sure I like the sound of that.”

“See? You’re resisting the very thing you say you want. That control streak in your personality probably goes with your level-ten trust issues.”

“Probably. Catch twenty-two, I guess.”

Elizabeth sobered. “Well, I for one will always be profoundly grateful for your particular talent. I don’t want to think about what would have happened if you hadn’t seen through Brad’s wall of lies.”

“Luckily we don’t have to worry about Brad anymore.”

“Thank heavens,” Elizabeth said. “But I’m starting to get concerned about Valerie Shipley.”

“I think it was seeing me last night that set her off. Once I’m out of town, she’ll calm down.”

“I’m not so sure of that. In fact I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that she’s the one who picked up the phone and spread the gossip that got you fired and caused Greg to end your engagement.”

“I wouldn’t dream of arguing with your intuition,” Clare said. “You may be right that Valerie got me fired from the Draper Trust. But I don’t know for certain that it was the rumors about my connection to Brad’s murder that caused Greg to dump me.”

“Hah. You asked him why he was ending things, remember?”

“Yes,” Clare admitted.

“And what did he do?”

“He told me there was someone else.”

“Which was?”

“A lie,” Clare said.

“I rest my case.”

Chapter Nine

The voice mail message from Jake was waiting for Clare when she turned on her cell phone after leaving the resort restaurant. It was brief and to the point.

“This is Jake. When you’re ready to pick up your car let me know. I’ll come and get you and take you out to Stone Canyon.”

Clare punched the key to erase the message. “Talk about a take-charge type,” she said. “I think Jake Salter could give me lessons.”

Elizabeth pulled dark glasses out of her purse. “What was that all about?”

“He just left me a message telling me, not asking, mind you, telling me that he will come and pick me up and take me back to Stone Canyon.”