Deadly Prophecy: A Second Sight Series Spin-Off Page 14

  Jenna had planned out events for the weekend to give her cover story substance. The group would have dinner together the first night at one of the local restaurants. The next day, they would have a small service at the spot where Derek’s body was found. Afterwards, Jenna requested his friends bring her around to places Derek visited on the vacation. Jenna had also phoned the detectives working the case to expect her at the station. The end game was to have concrete evidence to give the police after his friends departed. Declan hoped being back at the beach house would act as a trigger to the group. As Derek haunted their memories, Declan had a better chance of seeing a relevant psychic vision.

  “So has Kate given you an update on Carl?” he asked minutes later, turning down the radio. Jenna always seemed to give him a loaded look when he mentioned Kate’s name. He had mentally filed his fight away with Kate to deal with at a later undetermined date.

  “Nothing about Derek. She actually thinks Carl isn’t involved after all. She can hear his thoughts and nothing about Derek has gone through his head.” Jenna twisted her hips to face him. “What’s the thought reading about?”

  “Another quirk about our gift. We can sometimes experience what someone else is thinking or feeling during a vision.”

  “Sometimes?”

  He cast her a sidelong glance. “There’s not really a hard and fast rule, but Kate and I have a theory. Your mental defenses have to be lowered, so usually we can hear the thoughts of children and people with certain mental illnesses.”

  “But you never have visions from the dead?”

  “No,” he said gently. “To be honest, I tried for years to see if I could. My dad died years ago, so I would try to reach out to him. But it never happened. I even visited a few people who called themselves mediums. Haven’t found a legitimate one yet.”

  “So you think dead is dead?” She tried to sound unfazed, but he could note the underlying devastation in her voice. How much easier would it be if he had the ability to raise the dead? As an alternative to chasing down half-baked theories, he could simply ask Derek who had killed him.

  “No,” he said quickly. “Every authentic psychic I ever met almost died. I had my ski accident and Kate had meningitis. That has to mean something, right? There has to be something on the other side if we both came back with abilities we never had before.”

  Jenna’s shoulders remained tense while she sunk back into the white leather seat backing. “When Derek died, I literally felt myself shatter. The pain was so unbearable I thought I was going to die right alongside him.” Her eyes clouded over as she traveled back to the rawness of a loss she never saw coming. “The entire first week after he died, I stayed curled up in a ball on his childhood bed. My parents kept our bedrooms untouched, even after we both had moved out. And I would look at his things, his pictures, his books, and try to sense his presence through them. But there was nothing. Just a huge void where I used to feel him.”

  Staring straight out at the highway, she added, “Finding his killer is the only thing keeping me from falling apart again. Honestly, I’m not sure what I’ll do when this is all over. A part of me wonders if, once his murder is solved, if I’ll cease to exist.”

  He put his hand on top of hers. Comforting didn’t come natural to him, but he found it instinctual with Jenna. “You have friends and family and school. From what I’ve seen of your brother, he would want you to live life to the fullest.”

  Her eyes connected with his and tension sizzled in the air between them. Amazingly enough he could imagine the countless possibilities existing between Jenna and himself. Normally, he’d pull the car over to the side of the road and bury himself in her. He could see the scene play out in his head. She would feel soft and warm under him. Her hands would touch him in all the right places as he pulled apart her legs. And then….

  Stop being a little shit, he admonished himself. He was basically plotting how to seduce a client in the throes of an unimaginable grief. Jenna needed a friend, not a new fuck buddy.

  But could he be more than that? If his premonition showed him in a relationship with Kate, didn’t that mean he had the capacity to commit? Wasn’t there some existential rule out there about finding the right person? Now that he was coming to grips with Kate not being the one, maybe he could break the holding pattern he seemed stuck in. He was no psych major, but it could’ve been that his avoidance of serious relationships stemmed from his desire for Kate to have a change of heart. With that ship having sailed, he had to reassess everything.

  Although he immediately wanted to jump into bed with Jenna, he hadn’t made a single move. The opportunities were there and he resisted because he respected her too much. The time they spent together gave him a chance to get to know her. And he liked her as a person. Fucking weird. He usually had to fake it, but nothing was forced with Jenna. He felt like he could talk to her about anything and she actually cared about what he had to say.

  He cleared his throat. “Do you want to have dinner some time?” Jesus, he sounded awkward. But in his defense, he hadn’t asked a girl out on a real date since middle school. At her silence, he hurriedly said, “After this is all over, of course.”

  She tilted her head to stare at him. Mind reading would really come in handy at the moment. “Are you asking me on a date?”

  He shrugged. “I think so. Isn’t that what one does on a date? Go out to eat together?” He was genuinely perplexed. He never dated, so he didn’t have a clue about etiquette. Besides splitting Taco Bell with Kate, he honestly couldn’t remember the last time he shared a meal with a woman. Dinner with Jenna was undeniably appealing. She was smart and sexy and would no doubt keep Declan on his toes. Taking her home with him after dinner was a draw too, but he was willing to take his time with her. Falling in love was supposed to be about give and take. If he rushed her, he could lose her before they got started.

  Jenna laughed. “Yes. But I’m surprised.”

  “Why?”

  “I thought you weren’t interested,” she said quietly. Her face filled with color. How spectacularly endearing to witness her embarrassed by the confession.

  His mouth fell open. “Are you kidding?”

  “No,” she said, pulling away her hand, placing it demurely in her lap. “I assumed you were too upset about Kate getting married to be interested in anyone else.”

  Her opinion was fair. He’d been a shit show from the second he received Kate’s call about her engagement. But he was pulling it together to the best of his ability. And he had not only Radha to thank for the turnaround, but Jenna too.

  “The truth is I like you… a lot. And I can’t picture not talking to you or seeing you again, even after we solve Derek’s case.” His hands shook as he tried to keep them steady on the wheel. “I felt something for you, probably as early as the first time you called me for help. But I thought pursuing you would compromise the investigation. I thought you were on to how I felt.”

  Jenna didn’t respond, but he could see the physical effect his words were having. Her breathing was more labored with her face still a deep red color. Declan was usually good at reading the opposite sex, so he hoped the chemistry he had with Jenna wasn’t all in his head. Even though he might be open to more than sex, he understood Jenna might not be so quick to jump into a relationship. She hadn’t yet dealt with her grief entirely. Until she could live with her loss, she couldn’t start something new.

  He would have to tread carefully. Jenna mattered to him. If they dated, he’d have to transform completely. Yet he was unafraid. No-strings-attached sex had steadily lost its appeal. Hurting her would ruin him. He’d never risk her heart if he weren’t ready to completely give himself over to her.

  “You could get any man you want, men who are hundred times better than me. And I’m almost afraid of solving the case because I know I’ll probably lose you at that point. I’m not the end game guy. I’m an antidote. I’m a story you can tell to your future husband.” His eyes stayed locked on the road. His
throat seized up as he waited for her to agree. She had witnessed him at his worst, he was crazy to think she would want a future with him.

  Nervous laughter died in her throat, as she seemed to realize he was completely serious. “That’s what you think?”

  Cringing at the sympathy in her tone, he tried to redirect the conversation. “I’m not trying to make you feel sorry for me. I have no one to blame but myself for how women perceive me. I’m a shit to women. I don’t do big romantic gestures. I invite them over for sex and that’s all.”

  “What do you think most relationships between people in their twenties look like, Dec? Most of my friends actually prefer that kind of setup. They want to focus on their careers without a committed relationship to worry about. They want to go out and find a sexy hookup for the night. You shouldn’t assume the women you were involved with wanted more than you were willing to give,” she said diplomatically. Inwardly, he had to agree. Declan never made promises he didn’t attend to keep.

  “That’s not how I feel with you,” he admitted quietly. “I swear. But I’m not good with words. I don’t know how to express I’ve never felt this way before. I feel like it sounds so trite. But you’re different; everything is different about my feelings when I’m with you.”

  He dared a glance in her direction. The conflict on her face ripped him to shreds, but he would choke his disappointment down. Only moments ago, Declan had suggested dinner. Now, he was pouring his heart out like a lovesick Romeo. Talk about putting unfair pressure on her. “Don’t say anything now. I shouldn’t have put any of this out there. But before we get to the beach house and the pretending begins, I want you to realize nothing will be forced. Acting like a boyfriend who adores you will come natural to me.”

  “Dec, I—” He could see her visibly stop herself short. “Okay.”

  He wanted to pretend her non-response hadn’t gutted him. But he had vowed not to push her. He couldn’t keep chasing after women who didn’t reciprocate his feelings. He had tried to insert himself in Kate’s life, almost making himself indispensable, but that hadn’t changed a damn thing. Kate hadn’t gone through a lobotomy, suddenly waking up one morning in love with Declan.

  Although the thought of losing Jenna crushed him, he wouldn’t make the same mistakes twice. She would have to decide on her own if she wanted to be with him. There would be no premonitions forcing either of them to feel something that wasn’t real. And if she did choose to give him a chance, that would mean so much more.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Declan’s heart pounded hard against his rib cage as he pulled the car into the driveway. He’d seen the house over and over again in his visions. But the déjà vu still struck him speechless. He could never quite describe the strange sensation of having your dreams come to life.

  The beach house stood about a half acre away from the road with large pine standing proudly along the property line. The yellow paint job against the white window and door trim made the home appear inviting. A collection of rockers and patio furniture were set on the porch as well as the house’s second-story deck. To add to the charm, outdoor ceiling fans circulated on the deck. From Declan’s standpoint, bad things couldn’t happen in a house like this.

  He noted two cars already parked in the open lot at the front of the yard. He gestured with his chin to the Land Rover and the Mercedes. “Do you think they suspect we have ulterior motives for getting together?”

  Jenna took her time answering. “Yes, but I think they would find it odd if I wasn’t invested in the case. When I spoke to Liam and Adam on the phone, I didn’t hide the fact I was coming down to touch base with the police as well. I believe showing my face at the station is important, so they know we’re still looking for answers.”

  “Whose rides?” he asked, unbuckling his seat belt.

  “Liam’s and Adam’s. I told everyone to take whatever room they wanted in the house. Obviously no one wanted Derek and Brianna’s bedroom. Not even Bri.” She shivered despite the warm air. “Is it morbid for us to stay in the bedroom?”

  Staying in the room felt eerie, but he understood Jenna’s logic. Consistently, she grasped at ways to feel close again to her brother.

  Good thing he didn’t believe in ghosts because he wouldn’t sleep for the entire weekend. He wasn’t exactly sure how he felt about entering a space where Derek had spent his last days breathing. He had seen Brianna’s memories of being with Derek in that room and they were full of ups and downs. He had laughed, yelled, and lived completely within those four walls. But he admired Jenna for her strength. She didn’t give the room power over her emotions.

  Popping the trunk, he unloaded their two duffel bags before walking alongside her to the front door. The block was quiet, probably a different atmosphere from the summer. School was back in session with the summer crowds dispersing after the Labor Day weekend. In a few short weeks, he suspected the entire town would be shuttered. Off-season shore towns gave him the creeps. There was something sad about how the area would become a virtual ghost town for nine months out of the year.

  He shot Jenna an encouraging smile as his hand started to turn the front door knob. “No turning back now. Let’s do this.”

  ***

  After an hour at the beach house, Declan came to the conclusion rich kids were the dullest, most one-note people he had ever come across. No wonder they were hardcore drug users; getting messed up was probably the only way they could tolerate each other’s company. Despite the gathering being a memorial for Derek, his name had barely come up in conversation. Instead, Liam and Adam were trying to one-up each other over who was the best at spending his father’s money. Chelsea tried to engage Jenna in conversation, but had given up after Jenna’s vague responses. Purposely, Jenna was keeping her distance. She didn’t want to extend too much kindness in case she was in the midst of rubbing elbows with her brother’s killer.

  Brianna had yet to arrive and as the clock ticked closer to their planned dinnertime, Declan wondered if she was showing up at all. He could tell Jenna was anxious about her not coming too—her eyes wandered to the door every couple of minutes.

  “So, dude, how’d you meet little J?” Adam asked sitting down close enough for their knees to almost touch. Instinctively, he shifted his body away from him. Adam’s body odor was ripe, making Declan wonder how Chelsea could stand the stench.

  Declan relayed the story they had concocted on the drive down. “She was the party planner for my sister’s wedding.” He almost laughed at the thought. Maybe Jenna could arrange a jailhouse wedding between Radha and Joey. Lulu could wear a prison stripe onesie while acting as a flower girl. The thought reminded him he’d have to visit Joey soon. His ex-dealer should know Declan was back in the picture and he’d have Declan to contend with if he hurt his sister again.

  “Jenna’s family throws the best parties. Not sure what they’re going to do with the business if J decides to go ahead and be a nurse. Especially with Derek gone….” Adam said quietly. He looked across him to make sure Jenna was still talking to Liam. “I think Derek’s parents assumed Jenna would quit nursing school and take over Derek’s management position after he died. But Jenna was never really into it. She plans a few smaller gatherings for the company, but you could always tell she was relieved not to inherit the business.”

  “Sometimes you have to do what makes you happy,” he said without inflection. Declan wished he shared the sentiment. None of his actions following his accident contributed to his overall happiness. If he were Jenna, he would’ve tossed aside his dreams without a second’s thought. He craved security and only money seemed to provide that sensation. Declan had slept in shelters, picked food off of the plates of discarded restaurant trays, sold his painkillers to junkies—whatever it took to survive. Maybe his annoyance with the people in the room had more to do with resentment than he initially realized. They’d never had to struggle a day in their lives.

  But as he glanced over at Jenna, he didn’t experience the
same bitterness. She wasn’t the clichéd spoiled little rich girl. She might have grown up surrounded by a good family with plenty of money, but she had turned out a hundred times better than the losers her brother hung around with. She had class and a generous nature—qualities more valuable than a trust fund.

  Despite most of their conversations revolving around Derek, he had noted the general goodness about her. When they had stopped for lunch on the drive down, she had over-tipped the tired waitress. As the busboy cleared their table, she had been sure to tell him a hearty “bless you” as he sneezed on Declan’s sleeve. At each tollbooth, she had made sure to wish each frazzled and grumpy collector a great day.

  To be honest, most of the women attracted to Declan were complete narcissists. The only thing they had wanted to hear from him was how hot he thought they were. And he was fine with the arrangement. Because he was probably more of a narcissist than he would care to admit. He had used the women to get the validation he craved.

  Come to think of it, he had used Kate. Not only had he enlisted Kate to make his psychic business money, but he had used her to try to find a way to be happy once again. She was supposed to be the key to get the life and love he’d always wanted. His pursuit of her was never about her wants and desires. If he’d been serious about her, he would’ve stopped sleeping with other women the moment he laid eyes on her. They were destined to fail before he spoke a single word to her.

  He tapped Jenna softly on the knee to grab her attention. “Can I talk to you for a sec?”

  She gave him a nod, excusing herself from a conversation with Liam. Liam’s gaze was measuring as he watched Declan take Jenna by the hand. Declan led her through the house into the backyard, breathing in the much-needed fresh air. He closed the sliding glass door firmly behind him. Jenna’s green eyes were full of trepidation as she waited for him to speak.

  Without a second’s hesitation, he cupped his hands over her cheeks and pulled her in for a kiss. His mouth encased hers and although he felt the desire to take her all at once, he forced himself to slow down. Declan kissed her gently—memorizing what she tasted like and how she felt in his arms. He paid attention to every small detail: the way she smelled like fresh linen, the sound of her soft moans, and how her fingers traced his jaw line as he kissed her.