Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 28845 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 144(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28845 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 144(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
“We found some charred wood, and the rocks on the foundation indicate a fire as well.”
Nodding, I said, “If you come across anything else, call me.”
“Sounds good. I’ll let you know when we open the site back up.”
After one look at Matt, I exhaled. “Let’s find a towel or something before you get into my car soaking wet.”
Two hours later, I sat in my office and poured over old records in an attempt to figure out who that house might have belonged to. I knew Charlotte had lived there, but was this the house Hollie and her mother had been talking about? The one that had burned down with Charlotte and her father still inside of it?
A knock on my door caused me to look up. I saw Matt standing there with a strange expression on his face.
“What’s wrong?” I said.
“I need to talk to you.”
Standing as well, I motioned for him to come in. He shut the door and made his way over to me. He had changed since we’d visited the dig site and was now wearing slacks and a polo shirt.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
He drew in a deep breath and then laughed on the exhale. “You’re going to think I’m crazy.”
It was my turn to laugh. “Try me.”
He rubbed his hand on the back of his neck as he looked down at the floor and then back up at me. “I think Sarah put a hex on me or something.”
My brows shut up in surprise. “Why do you think that?”
“Ever since we walked out of that restaurant earlier and that gust of wind hit us, shit has been happening to me.”
“Describe shit.”
“Okay, well, that lady whose shirt just happened to pop open... I actually went out on a date with her a few weeks ago. I liked her, but not enough for a second date. I saw her in the restaurant and for a fleeting moment as we were leaving, I found myself wondering what her breasts looked like.”
“Why were you wondering that?”
“I saw her getting up to leave and…well, fuck, Lucas, I’m a guy!”
I held up my hands. “Fair enough.”
“You don’t find it strange that I wanted to see her breasts and then a minute later they’re in my face?”
“Not really.”
He sighed. “The apple pie?”
“Okay, I will admit that was a crazy coincidence.”
“The water bucket?”
I laughed. “That was simply bad luck.”
He rolled his eyes and started to pace in front of me. “I went home and changed and then came back here. I decided to walk to the office, and for some stupid reason Sarah popped into my head and I stupidly wished I could see her. Not five seconds later, she came out of a store and we ran into each other. And she gasped when she looked at me. Then she said something off-the-wall weird.”
“What did she say?” I asked.
“She lifted her hand and pulled something out of my hair. Then she mentioned something about a dandelion.”
I frowned.
“That’s not the worse of it.”
Crossing my ankles as I leaned on my desk, I said, “Go on.”
“In my mind…in my mind, Lucas, I wanted her to kiss me. Suddenly she walked to me, lifted up on her toes, and planted a kiss right on my lips. Then she jumped back and shook her head. She touched her lips and accused me of kissing her! Me, kissing her! She was the one who kissed me!”
It was hard not to smile. “Did you enjoy it?”
“Did I enjoy it? That’s what you’re asking me? Maybe you should ask why everything I’ve been wishing for is coming true!”
I shrugged. “It’s your lucky day, maybe?”
“No, it was very clear to me that Sarah didn’t want to kiss me. She turned and practically ran away.”
“Matt, I think you’ve had a long day and you’re over-thinking everything.”
Someone knocked on my office door.
“Come on in!” I called out.
Maxwell Cash walked in and smiled at Matt. “Here you are, Matt. I’ve been looking everywhere for you. I have some news for you. Good news.”
Matt slowly stood and whispered, “Oh no.”
“Lewis Harding has stepped down as Assistant City Manager, and Frank would like to offer you the job.”
I pushed off my desk and reached for Matt’s hand to shake it. He stood there dumbfounded.
“Look at that, Lucas,” Maxwell said. “He’s so happy he can’t even speak.”
“Something like that.” I watched all the color drain from Matt’s face.
Giving Matt a hard pat on the shoulder, Maxwell said, “Come to my office first thing tomorrow, and I’ll go over everything. Then you can decide if you want to officially take the job.”
With a wave in my direction, Maxwell swept out of my office. Matt turned to face me and then stood frozen in place.
“Let me guess,” I said, “you wished you could get the Assistant City Manager job?”