eth, then jumped up. Her eyes flamed with disbelief. “Hey! Quiet with that kind of talk. I’ve been talking to her for the past year because the doctors said she might eventually respond to something I said.” Her voice cracked with emotion.
Jason groaned. Stepping closer, he wrapped his hand around her shoulder and pulled her against him, whispering in her ear. He tried not to allow his body to react to her familiar, fragrant scent.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “That came out wrong. And you’re right. I don’t know anything about this…situation. Go on.” He jerked his head toward the woman in the bed. “If this is a subject she’d enjoy, keep talking.”
Appeased, Lauren nodded and sat down beside her sister again, picking up where she’d left off. “The diary mentions an offering. A woman I know-she’s Wiccan-she read from a book and explained how offerings are something people use to place a curse.” Lauren glanced down as if to gather her thoughts. “If only you were able to talk to me, I’m sure you’d have some great theory about what it could be.”
To Jason’s shock, Beth’s eyes began to move rapidly. Almost as if in response to Lauren’s words. But it can’t be possible, Jason thought.
He remained silent, deciding to observe more.
“The diary also mentioned the heart of the house,” Lauren continued. “I keep wondering where that could be?”
Beth gripped the bedrail harder, her knuckles turning white.
Uneasy, Jason glanced at Lauren, but she was still staring down at the floor. She must have long grown used to talking to herself.
“I really need to look into our family history,” Lauren said, surprising Jason. “I know our family founded the town. The original Perkinses were shipping magnates, right? So what could they have had of value to use as an offering? Unless it wasn’t of monetary value but emotional?” She swiveled in her chair until she faced him. “Maybe I’ll research curses, too. Or at least I can ask Clara what she thinks.”
Jason enjoyed how her cheeks flushed pink whenever she was excited about a topic. Or when she was excited about him, he thought wryly at a completely inappropriate moment.
A sudden gurgling noise interrupted them and Jason redirected his gaze. Beth’s eyelids were fluttering like crazy, her jaw twitching.
“Beth?” Lauren looked up and began stroking her sister’s cheek.
Her sister calmed down, silent once more.
“The doctors said there can be periods where she’ll act like she’s coming out of it, but it’s just the body responding to stimuli,” Lauren said sadly.
Jason frowned. He didn’t see it quite the same way. From no reaction to boring topics to an extreme reaction at mention of the curse. Coincidence?
Very odd, Jason thought.
And extremely curious.
HOW COULD HER SISTER be with him, Beth wondered.
And how stupid did Lauren think Beth was?
She’d introduced him as Jason. No last name. As if Beth wouldn’t know everything about the current generation of Corwins. Beth recognized the snowboarder from his photographs. The ones in the portfolio she and her grandmother had compiled.
It was obvious from the way Lauren and Jason Corwin looked at each other that their relationship was more than just business.
Again.
Apparently Lauren thought she could tempt fate twice. Beth had looked out for her sister the first time, turning Lauren’s personal diary over to their grandmother when she’d made the mistake of sneaking around with Jason Corwin when she was only seventeen. But now that she was locked in here, there was nothing Beth could do to protect her sister this go-round. Beth barely remembered not to shake her head in disgust and frustration. Some people never learned.
Jason Corwin and his failed Olympic bid were living, breathing proof that the curse was still in effect, striking any Corwin man who fell in love. And wasn’t that what the first Mary Perkins had intended when she’d used diamonds as an offering? So why would Lauren want to be the woman on the receiving end?
Nothing in the curse protected a Perkins. Because no Perkins worth their name would get involved with a Corwin man. Perkins women chose their men carefully, used them and kept or disposed of them depending on need. Like Beth’s current lover.
She still hadn’t heard from him, but now that she knew there’d been a fire in the house, she was certain he’d received her message and targeted the electrical box. Unfortunately he hadn’t been smart enough to use a decent accelerant. At least she’d chosen gasoline to set fire to The Wave. Unfortunately she’d been so beside herself worrying about her grandmother losing the election, she’d had a breakdown, causing her to get caught red-handed.
Beth clenched her teeth so hard her jaw ached. She still couldn’t believe she hadn’t been able to hold it together, but that was the past. In the lucid months she’d spent in here, she’d realized she was the sole remaining Perkins who believed. It was a huge responsibility. One she’d live up to. She’d never make such a foolish mistake again.
Success depended on planning. And Beth had a plan. With the construction on the new wing complete, she couldn’t count on seeing her lover again. She had to get in touch with him one last time. Because he had to get her out of here.
She was reaching her breaking point and she didn’t know how much longer she could keep up the catatonic charade. She thought she’d covered her shock over seeing Jason Corwin. She wasn’t so certain about her reaction to Lauren’s news about the hidden diary.