Chasing Shadows (Shadows 2)

"Jenny McAllister, the jig is up. What are you hiding?"

Jenny's voice became hushed. "I'm going out to dinner with Marcus. But I'm not supposed to tell you that."

"Why? What's the big secret?"

Jenny's voice got even softer. "It's our first date. Marcus doesn't want anyone to know in case it's a bust."

I burst out laughing. "Poor Marcus. He's so afraid of rejection that he wants to keep such a momentous development a secret." I paused, pondering Jenny's hushed tone. "Is he there with you now?"

"Shh, he's back!" I heard Jenny smother a laugh and then clear her throat. She switched to her normal voice when she spoke again, clearly not wanting Marcus to realize what she was talking about. "Yes, that's correct."

"Is he listening to your side of the conversation?"

"Yes, that's the assigned reading."

I rolled my eyes at Jenny's deceptive tactics. Leave it to Jenny and Marcus to make a simple date so complicated. They were also a lost cause in coming over for dinner tonight.

"Well, I hope you and your assigned reading have a fabulous time tonight. Remember, call me tomorrow with the details."

Jenny giggled, sounding happy. "I will. Talk to you later."

I waited impatiently for Sarah to come home and then pounced on her before she could even take off her coat, shepherding her back outside so we could go grocery shopping. I was relieved that Kendra wasn't with her because I didn't want her big eyes watching me while I vented about her brother.

I told Sarah about my vision and my encounter with Neal on the drive to the grocery store. I frowned when she started laughing.

"Caitlin, you have to admit—it does sound like you were hitting on the guy."

"Can't you ask someone of the opposite sex over for dinner and not be hitting on him? A dinner with other people, no less!"

"I guess, but not out of the blue and not with someone you don't even know. And having a pretend conversation at a bar doesn't count as knowing someone. Honestly, I don't blame Simon for being annoyed."

I crossed my arms, not expecting her response. "But you should've seen the way he acted. He practically ordered me to make sure Neal understood that I belonged to him. Belonged to him. Have you ever heard of anything so archaic?"

Sarah glanced at me with an amused expression and then turned her attention back to the road. "Actually, I think it's kind of romantic. He wants you so much that he can't stand the thought of any other guy thinking he has a chance with you."

I sighed, knowing that I wasn't going to sway Sarah to my side. "Hopefully Simon will get his head on straight when he sees that Neal isn't interested in me tonight. Right now I can only concentrate on shopping for food. Vanquishing vardogers and jealous boyfriends will have to wait until later."

I filled Sarah in on my conversation with Jenny while shopping, and she was as amused as I was by their evasive tactics. I started making dinner as soon as we got home, assembling the lasagna and nervously checking the clock as it got closer to seven. Taking steps to actually get to know the people in my visions was unchartered territory for me, and I hoped I was up to the task.

I jumped when the door

bell rang but I let Sarah answer it since I was knee-deep in garlic bread. I was relieved when I heard Grant's voice and I quickly put the bread in the oven.

"Hey, Grant," I said as I walked into the living room. I gave him a quick hug, shivering from the cold that was still clinging to his body from the frigid temperatures outside.

"Hi, Caitlin." Grant put his nose up in the air. "What's that I smell? Garlic?"

"Garlic bread and lasagna."

Grant's eyes lit up and Sarah socked him lightly in the arm. "Plus salad. I made the salad."

Grant grinned, wrapping his arm around Sarah. "Luckily, that's my favorite. No one can chop lettuce like you, babe."

Sarah laughed, pushing him away as he leered jokingly at her.

"I hate to break this up, but I just wanted to let you know, before he gets here, that someone new is coming over tonight. His name is Neal."

"Neal? Who's Neal?"