Frog Hollow (Witches of Sanctuary Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

home,” I say, dropping my gaze. The same shame that has haunted me my entire life forces its way back to life.
    Fingers wrap around my wrist, halting my escape, and when I look up, I catch the shocked fury in her eyes. “Did he say something to you?”
    “No.” My voice cracks, and the lie is obvious. “It’s not like—” I try again, but her eyes light up with fire. “I don’t want to cause a scene. He doesn’t want me to talk to them, so please let me leave unnoticed.”
    Her free hand slaps across the bar top with a resounding boom I didn’t think possible from such a small woman. Every eye in the place turns to her, every voice muted. “David Reid Thomas!”
    I wilt in my seat, closing my eyes, trying to pretend this isn’t real, that she isn’t calling him out for being mean to me in front of half the town.
    A high-pitched scratch echoes through the room, the sound of a wood chair on tiled floor. I shrink deeper against the bar, but it’s too late. Reid stands at the table, his questioning eyes on his aunt. “What’s up, Cari?”
    She lets go of my arm to round the bar, stopping just short of his table, cocking her head and her hip to the side. I grew up around enough hot-tempered women to recognize the gesture. This will end badly for me. In an effort to save my own skin, I slide off the stool and ease silently toward the exit.
    “I want to know who the hell gave you the right to tell Fiona’s daughter not to talk to Seraphina.”
    I round the hostess stand when she spins around and points at me. Instinctively, I jump behind the brown-headed girl and close my eyes as if somehow that might help.
    “Well?” the volatile lady, apparently named Cari, asks again.
    Footsteps creak across the room, and I can’t make myself open my eyes.
    “Julie.” Reid’s voice is stern but unnaturally pleasant. “Do you mind?”
    My shield shifts in front of me, and I peek one eye open to find Reid standing in front me with an I-should-have-known look on his face. I shoot him an innocent smile.
    He rolls his eyes, glancing back at the table where his sister and two friends gawk at us. Cari stands in the middle of the room, her hands on her hips, waiting for an answer to her question.
    “I didn’t know she would make such a fuss.” I nervously smile back at the faces around the room. I’ll look anywhere but at Reid at this point.
    “You obviously don’t know Carolyn Hughes.” His chin is set tight. He’s trying very hard to rein in his temper. “Besides, this is her restaurant. She can make a fuss if she wants to.”
    Abby tucks her purple hair behind her ear and climbs up on a chair to peer over the crowd at us. I turn sideways, trying to hide my face. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to make it worse,” I whisper. “I’m leaving.”
    I dart toward the door, but he catches the tail of my shirt. I stumble backward as he steps forward, slamming into the stone wall of his chest. His lips touch my ear. “Wait here.”
    Immobile, I watch him stalk back to the table, passing by Cari, offering her nothing more than a hard stare. He goes directly to his sister with his hand held out. “May I have my keys back?”
    Abby stares down at him from her perch. “Why? What’s going on? Is that really her?”
    “Abby,” he begs. “Please?”
    She crosses her arms over her chest, displeased with his answer. Abby’s boyfriend, Grady, sticks his hand in her purse that sits on the table and lobs the keys toward Reid. Reid gives him an appreciative smile. “Make sure these two make it home for me, will you?”
    Grady gives Reid a quick nod, and the next thing I know, he’s in front of me again, pointing toward the door. I look back at Abby, a twinge in my heart as she gives me the slightest of smiles. Reid catches my elbow and spins me toward the door. The bell rings over our heads, and the crowd erupts in murmurs behind our backs.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 4
     
     
    NAMING THE UNKNOWN
     
    It’s