The Hidden Grimoire by Karla Brandenburg (pride and prejudice read TXT) 📕

I looked toward the entrance to the restaurant, where Sharon had disappeared. I was no further along than when I’d started a week ago. I was done looking over my shoulder. “No, I think we’re done.”

Chapter 37

Something about the look in Jason’s eyes before we’d interrupted them at dinner wouldn’t let go of me. The conversation Kyle and I had overheard had been strictly business for him, as if there had never been anything between him and Sharon other than work. After more than three years, that might be true, but how could he be so oblivious to Sharon’s feelings?

At breakfast, Kyle tapped a knife against his water glass to get my attention. “I know it’s early, but your eyes are open. What are you thinking about?”

I checked the dining room to make sure Jason and Sharon weren’t nearby. “I can’t shake the feeling I’m overlooking something.”

“Want to talk it through? Sometimes Roxanne and I do that at work when we’re trying to connect evidence.”

I managed a smile. “I’m sure it’ll come to me.”

“What? You don’t think I have detective chops?”

“It’s your day off,” I said. “Don’t want to overtax your brain.”

“Wait. I have to pay taxes for my brain?”

I slugged him in the shoulder, and he laughed.

“At least I know you’re paying attention,” he said.

I leaned on the table. “Let me ask you something. When you see Kelly Goddard, what do you talk about?”

His eyebrows winged up. “Jealous this morning?”

“No, but my experience with exes isn’t enough to paint a good picture. I get that Jason and Sharon were talking business, but every word out of his mouth was like a dagger to her heart, even after all this time. Either she should be avoiding him so as not to subject herself to the hurt, or he should be sensitive enough to leave her alone, don’t you think?”

“You and I are a better example. The weekend Narcy was lurking around town, I had no idea how much I hurt you. I felt like I was walking around in a daze—until she left.”

A quiver of misery reared its ugly head. When Narcy had woven her spell, Kyle hadn’t even remembered our relationship.

When Narcy had woven her spell.

“What if Sharon was telling the truth?” I said half to myself.

“About?”

I met Kyle’s gaze. “About LeAnne. But then why couldn’t I see past LeAnne’s mask?” Her aura had been orange, the negative attribute potentially indicating recklessness.

“And now I’m lost all over again,” Kyle said. “What are you talking about?” He narrowed his eyes, then widened them. “Wait. Unmask. This has something to do with what you were doing in your workshop.”

“Sharon and Jason were dating until LeAnne showed up,” I said. “Sound familiar?”

I surveyed the dining room once more. Hannah was beside the hostess stand, going over something with the hostess. I raised my hand to wave her over. She smiled, held up a finger and finished her conversation before she joined us.

“I see a fire in your eyes,” she said. “What have you discovered?”

I cast a sideways glance at Kyle. “I did the unmasking thing, like you said, but I’m wondering if there would still be a way for me to overlook, well, you know.”

“What are you thinking?”

I told her how my suspicions had shifted to LeAnne.

“When she stopped in the store, was there anything different about her?” Hannah asked.

“No, other than she was moving slowly, but I would expect that after just giving birth.” I relayed her visit, her invitation to Friday dinner, and our play date for today. “Wait.” I grabbed hold of Kyle’s arm. “She was wearing glasses.”

Hannah pulled a chair out and sat beside me. “And she’d just given birth.” She shot a wary glance at Kyle. “How much does he...?”

“I get it,” Kyle answered. “Which doesn’t mean I’m very comfortable right now.”

Hannah smiled. “With good reason.” She turned to me. “When witches are pregnant, their gifts go into hibernation, in a manner of speaking. They’re still there, but the strength to use them is subdued by the change in body chemistry.”

“Which might account for me not noticing before,” I finished for her.

“The glasses,” Hannah said. “They might change the way the light hits her eyes, if you know what I mean.”

Kyle sat back and folded his arms. “Even I know what you mean.”

I held onto his arm to keep him engaged while I spoke to Hannah. “I’m supposed to see her today. I told her I’d come over to visit Georgia and the baby while Jason’s out of town.”

“I suspect she has more in mind than a social call,” Hannah said. “If she is what we think she is.”

“You’re not going over there alone,” Kyle told me.

“She has to,” Hannah said. “If you’re there, Brynn won’t know what LeAnne’s agenda is. On her own, LeAnne will be more forthcoming. As long as Brynn knows what she’s walking into, she should do fine.”

Experience was an ugly teacher. I wouldn’t have believed Narcy capable of trying to kill me. But LeAnne? She’d appealed to me as family, invited me to be part of their lives. I liked LeAnne, and had a hard time picturing her as another Narcy.

“I’m not saying she has an agenda against you,” Hannah said, following my train of thought. “But she is after something.”

Another woman’s man, and she’d won. “If she has gifts,” I said, testing my thoughts out loud, “she doesn’t need me to guide Georgia.”

“You came to me for help,” Hannah said. “She might not have been prepared, like you weren’t, for Georgia to show her skill so early. She might be looking for a support system.”

“But if she’s the reckless woman you see...” I put a hand to my forehead. “Her aura was orange.”

“What does that mean?” Kyle asked.

“It could mean she’s self-centered,” Hannah replied. “Forewarned is forearmed. You can play to her personality. As long as you know who she is, you can guard against any negative intentions she holds, or develops.”

“I still think I