Cold Hard Magic Read Online Free PDF Page A

seen.
     
    "Want to try bungee jumping?" he asked.
     
    Her eyes focused sharply on his for a heartbeat or two. Then she let out a loud bark of a laugh. Her eyes widened and her fist immediately covered her mouth. He thought was adorable. And he was definitely smitten.
     
    Her cheeks went from tomato red to cotton candy pink.
     
    "I don't think I'm ready to have my gateway opened by potential death," she said, her lips tilting upwards. Her hand tightened her grip in his. "What did Patricia say about your aura?"
     
    Rob took a deep breath. "Well, she did say there was a lot of light purples which just means I'm refining my spiritual self."
     
    Nancy nodded and moved closer to him. Her dark denimed knee was now touching his and he forgot what else he was going to say.
     
    "Anything else?"
     
    Rob blinked. "Oh," a low chuckle escaped his lips, "yeah. She saw some bright yellows which relates to success and some green which is potential for injury." His brow furrowed.
     
    "What type of injury?"
     
    Rob shrugged. "She didn't say."
     
    "How long was that interpretation good for?"
     
    "Hmmm," Rob paused, "I think she said about a year."
     
    "You haven't been injured since then?" Nancy asked. He shook his head. "When is the year up?"
     
    "The year is up on the thirteenth."
     
    "That's tomorrow!" she said. "See, you have nothing to worry about." She used her free hand to pat his shoulder.
     
    They sat in silence, holding hands and watching people move about their lives.
     
    "I can read palms," Rob said out of the blue.
     
    Nancy turned, her eyes sparkling. "Really? Do me." Her cheeks bloomed a bright pink again. "Ummm."
     
    A lopsided smile tilted his lips. He loosened his grip on her hand and brought it to closer to his eyes.
     
    “Let’s see," he started. "Always use the left hand because that's the closest to the heart. Now, see this line?" He traced a sharp indentation on her palm. "This looks good. I can see a long life."
     
    "Why is there a break in it?" she asked.
     
    "Have you ever been in a bad accident?" He asked. She shook her head. "Ever thought your life was in peril?" She shook her head again. "Hmmm, usually a break means a suspension of life—"
     
    "Death?" she squeaked.
     
    "No, no," he said hurriedly. "More like a fork in the road. Something significant that will be important in your life. But see? It continues just fine.
     
    "Now, this here," he pointed to another line, "shows that you're sort of a happy person.”
     
    Nancy nodded in agreement.
     
    “Here’s something interesting," he paused as he studied her hand. "I see a barn.”
     
    Nance stopped nodding. “In my future?”
     
    “Or past.” Rob peered closer. “Did you grow up on a place with a barn?”
     
    “Nope.”
     
    “Been in a barn lately?”
     
    “No.”
     
    “Barns have some specific meaning to you?”
     
    “No.” Nancy suddenly perked up. “But I passed one on the way over here!”
     
    “Well there you go!” Pleased, Rob smiled and let go of her hand. He looked down as she folded her hands across her lap and realized he really liked it better when he was holding it.
     
    "Would you like to get an early dinner?" he asked. "Sampson's has an early bird that can't be beat." He looked at her hopefully.
     
    "We just had smoothies," she pointed out. "I'm kinda full."
     
    "Right," Rob agreed. He tried to think of something else that could extend their time together. Movies were out. The only thing playing in the mall was a stupid movie about sparkling zombies. As if real zombies would sparkle.
     
    "What about sweet bread?" she asked. "I always have room for gooey sweet bread. How about you?"
     
    "I love sweet bread," he said.
     
    "Well, let's go then," she said, grabbing his hand and pulling him up. "My treat since you got the smoothie."
     
     
     

Chapter 6
     
     
    Rob entered the Hendersen’s bedroom, quietly shadowed by the nervous, older couple. The room was tidy and well kept. Like the rest of