Stolen Away Read Online Free PDF Page B

across from the park.”
    “Rowanwood High. That’s where I go.” He knew someone from my school. He officially wasn’t a stranger anymore, so Eloise’s voice nagging in my head to be careful could shut up now.
    He drank from his cup, then motioned to my laptop with it. “Found yourself a witch, have you?”
    I shook my head. “There’s only one dowser in this whole county and apparently she’s booked solid.”
    “Not surprising.”
    “Not with this heat spell,” I agreed. Which was makingthe café feel like a jungle. Even the windows were sweating. I hoped my face wasn’t shiny or my hair damp.
    “I could help you with that,” he offered.
    I tilted my head. “You could? How?”
    His smile was a touch sardonic and more than a touch self-deprecating. It was difficult not to get distracted when a boy smiled like that. “That kind of thing runs in my family.”
    “Really? What would you need? Those metal rods?” I’d seen them on one of the websites.
    He snorted. “Hardly. A branch is all it takes. Apple or willow is best for water witching.”
    “Apple branches won’t be a problem,” I told him. “My grandparents have an apple orchard on the outskirts of town. That’s where they need to dig a new well because even the rain barrels are empty.”
    “I could try now if you’d like.”
    It was a struggle not to pounce eagerly on the opportunity. He was gorgeous, he was sexy, and he was smiling at me. “That would be brilliant, thanks,” I said as casually as I could. By which I mean: not even remotely casual.
    It felt warmer than usual in the café. And I was thinking all sorts of naughty things. Like whether or not it would be hot enough in the fields that he’d have to take his shirt off. I could just tell by the way the worn cotton clung to him that he had really nice arms. And shoulders. And abs. I shut my laptop and slipped it into my bag, hiding my red cheeks. “My car’s just out front.”
    We walked outside. He was taller than I’d thought, and his eyes were even more mysterious in the bright sunlight. I stopped in front of Granddad’s old Buick. It was gray and hideous, and older than I was, but it was all mine. I opened the driver’s door and paused. He was still standing on the sidewalk, watching me. “What’s wrong?” If I had latte milk foam on my lip, I’d just die.
    “You shouldn’t let strangers into your car.”
    I grinned. “Now you sound like my best friends.”
    “They’re right. I’ll meet you there.”
    “Do you have a car?”
    He inclined his head. “I’ll follow you. Which is your grandparents’ farm, in case we get separated?”
    “It’s Jack Frost Farms, off County Road 7.”
    “So your last name is Frost?” A faint frown puckered his brow, as if he’d thought it was something else.
    “No, my mom’s maiden name was Frost. My last name is Blackwell,” I explained. “Here, give me your phone number,” I suggested, whipping my mobile out of my pocket so fast it nearly flew out of my hand. “And I’ll text you mine, so if you get lost I can give you directions.” Now I’d have his number. And he’d have mine.
Well played, Jo
, I congratulated myself cheekily. Poor Eloise, how could she not find this sort of thing fun?
    “I’ll see you there, Jo Blackwell,” he said, after giving me his number.
    I shivered at the sound of my name on his lips. Then Ijust nodded because I couldn’t think of anything else to say. I drove away, glancing in my rearview mirror to see if he was following me but I couldn’t tell which was his car. It only took about ten minutes to reach the end of town and another five to get to the farm. I passed the Christmas tree lot and Granddad on his tractor a few acres back. The Christmas pine tree crop was part of the reason the farm was named after Jack Frost. Granddad never could resist a pun or any kind of wordplay. It drove Nanna batty.
    I texted Eloise once I’d parked the car. ROCK STAR. AT THE FARM !!! I texted Devin